District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for firearms offenses.

Benjamin Hunter-Blake, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 114 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. In April 2024, Hunter-Blake pleaded guilty to one count each of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, unlawful possession of machinegun, and unlawful possession of unregistered firearm (a silencer). 

On Jan. 27, 2023, during a search of Hunter-Blake’s Springfield residence five pistols, including a .40 caliber pistol with an attached “Glock switch” machinegun conversion device and an assault rifle style pistol with silencer and a high capacity drum magazine containing 22 rounds of ammunition; four other Glock switches; and a large collection of ammunition, large capacity magazines, and other firearms-related items were seized. Hunter-Blake’s mobile phone, which contained evidence that Hunter-Blake had been obtaining and distributing other firearms, including Glock switches, to other individuals, including at least one person with a felony conviction, after two state firearms convictions and while on pretrial home conferment for a third state firearms case was also found.
    
Hunter-Blake was convicted twice in state court on firearms felonies and is currently under indictment and house arrest for a third state firearms case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives,  Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.  
 

BOSTON – The President of a freight forwarding company has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a license. 

Kirill Gordei, 34, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer which is a commerce control item. Gordei was arrested on June 30, 2024 in Florida and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida yesterday. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. 

Gordei is a citizen of Belarus and the United States who resides in Hallandale, Fla. He is the President of Apelsin Logistics, a freight forwarding company, located in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites both of which are registered and hosted in Russia.

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 11, 2023, Gordei allegedly falsely claimed that he was shipping an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer – an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic, industry research, government and omics laboratories – to Uzbekistan when it was, in fact, destined for Russia. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, a series of stringent export controls were implemented that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports, reexports and transfers to or within Russia were expanded to cover the most sensitive items subject to controls on a Controlled Commerce List. The Spectrometer, which was valued at over $600,000, was on the Controlled Commerce List and required a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security to export to Russia.

“By allegedly smuggling sensitive technology to Russia, Mr. Gordei undermined the critical framework established to protect national security. This case highlights the importance of enforcing export controls, especially regarding sensitive items on the Controlled Commerce List, which include technologies vital to scientific and industrial advancement. Our office will prosecute those who attempt to circumvent U.S. laws for personal or commercial gain, particularly when such actions have potential implications for global security,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“As alleged, Gordei defrauded U.S. government export regulators and smuggled advanced scientific technology to Russian customers, placing personal profit over national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will use every available tool to disrupt illicit supply chains used to funnel illegally sophisticated technologies to Russia and other hostile powers.”

“Freight forwarders play an outsized role in the export of items overseas and, accordingly, are expected to help uphold the law rather than subvert it,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod.  “Here, Kirill Gordei — the president of a freight forwarding company — is alleged to have willfully evaded restrictions designed to degrade the Russian war machine by obfuscating the value and ultimate destination of a mass spectrometer.”

The charge of Export of Commerce Control Items provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of smuggling goods from the United States provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States provides for a sentence of 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 upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and Assistant Secretary Axelrod made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service; and the Transportation Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of the National Security Unit is prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section. 

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 – An Easton man was charged yesterday in a superseding indictment for allegedly using Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to secretly purchase a home in the name of a close relative.

Bill Dessaps, 47, was charged in a superseding indictment with a second count of wire fraud conspiracy. Dessaps was previously indicted in January 2024 on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering, and one count of bank fraud. In January 2024, five other individuals were charged for their alleged involvement in the PPP fraud scheme.

According to the charging document, Dessaps – the operator of an Abington-based used car dealership – allegedly conspired with individuals in Massachusetts and Florida to submit a fraudulent PPP application on behalf of Dessaps’s dealership. It is alleged that the application they prepared and submitted for Dessaps’s dealership falsely stated that the dealership had 40 employees and average monthly payroll expenses of $334,720. As a result of the applications, it is alleged that the lender disbursed a PPP loan of $836,800 to Dessaps. After receiving these funds, Dessaps allegedly made kickback payments to one or more of the individuals who assisted with the application.

The superseding indictment further alleges that, after Dessaps received the PPP loan, he purchased a $750,000 home in the name of a straw buyer—his close relative—because his credit score would have prevented him from obtaining a mortgage on favorable terms, and because he purchased the home using PPP funds, a purchase the PPP prohibits. It is alleged that Dessaps, his close relative, and a real estate agent submitted false mortgage application documents to a lender, including forms and forged records that inflated the relative’s income and assets. For a portion of the home costs, Dessaps allegedly transferred PPP proceeds into a joint bank account that he and his relative controlled. After a lender denied the close relative’s application for a secondary loan for the remaining funds, Dessaps and his real estate agent allegedly arranged a sham gift of $127,500 from the real estate agent’s girlfriend to the close relative, which Dessaps wired to the girlfriend. Through these and other misrepresentations, Dessaps obtained a $510,000 mortgage on the home and lived in it.

The original indictment also charged Dessaps with attempting to obtain a “Second Draw” PPP loan through another fraudulent application in March 2021.

The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transaction. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra W. Amrhein of the Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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 Worcester man who was previously charged with unlawfully possessing a machinegun was sentenced on June 28, 2024 for drug charges.

Jose Rivera, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 75 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In April 2024, Rivera pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun, receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment for a felony, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

During a search of Rivera’s residence on March 7, 2023, three Glock switches – including one attached to a loaded Glock .40 caliber firearm were recovered. Glock switches convert semi-automatic Glock pistols into fully automatic machineguns and are considered machineguns under federal law. Three large capacity magazines, including a 50-round drum magazine and boxes of ammunition were also seized. Rivera also possessed cocaine intended for distribution as well as a scale, tray, and small plastic baggies, and $9,000 in cash. Rivera received the Glock .40 caliber firearm on or after Oct. 9, 2021, while he was under indictment in state court for felonies punishable by a term of imprisonment of over a year.         

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Interim Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.  For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

A citizen of Belarus and lawful permanent resident of the United States has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a license.

Kirill Gordei, 34, of Hallandale, Florida, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer, which is a commerce control item. Gordei was arrested on June 30 in Florida and made an initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida today. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

“As alleged, Gordei defrauded U.S. government export regulators and smuggled advanced scientific technology to Russian customers, placing personal profit over national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will use every available tool to disrupt illicit supply chains used to illegally funnel sophisticated technologies to Russia and other hostile powers.”

“Freight forwarders play an outsized role in the export of items overseas and, accordingly, are expected to help uphold the law rather than subvert it,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Here, Kirill Gordei — the president of a freight forwarding company — is alleged to have willfully evaded restrictions designed to degrade the Russian war machine by obfuscating the value and ultimate destination of a mass spectrometer.”

“By allegedly smuggling sensitive technology to Russia, Mr. Gordei undermined the critical framework established to protect national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “This case highlights the importance of enforcing export controls, especially regarding sensitive items on the Controlled Commerce List, which include technologies vital to scientific and industrial advancement. Our office will prosecute those who attempt to circumvent U.S. laws for personal or commercial gain, particularly when such actions have potential implications for global security.”

According to court documents, Gordei is the President of Apelsin Logistics (Apelsin), a freight forwarding company, located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites, both of which are registered and hosted in Russia.

According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 11, 2023, Gordei allegedly falsely claimed that he was shipping an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer – an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic and industry research and government and omics laboratories – to Uzbekistan when it was, in fact, destined for Russia.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, a series of stringent export controls were implemented that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports, reexports and transfers to or within Russia were expanded to cover the most sensitive items subject to controls on a Controlled Commerce List. The spectrometer, valued at over $600,000, was on the Controlled Commerce List and required a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to export to Russia.

If convicted, Gordei faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge; up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the unlawful exports charge; and up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for smuggling goods from the United States. A U.S. district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Commerce Department’s BIS is investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service and Transportation Security Administration provided valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

This action was coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty yesterday for his involvement in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. 

Luis Torres, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug felony. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2024. In December 2022, Torres was indicated by a federal grand jury.

Torres conspired with others to coordinate delivery of a package sent from Puerto Rico known by him to contain 4 to 6 kilograms of cocaine and to take possession of the cocaine with the intent to distribute it. In June 2022, law enforcement intercepted the package and executed a controlled delivery during which another individual accepted the package while Torres sat in a car nearby. Torres was arrested at the scene and $26,480 in cash from the car in which Torres was being driven was recovered. Torres admitted he received cash as an advance payment for one of the kilos of cocaine. 

The charge of conspiring to distribute five hundred or more grams of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of using a communications facility to facilitate a drug felony provides for up to four years incarceration, a fine up to $250,000 and supervised release of up to one year. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A Mashpee man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a scheme to artificially inflate the trading price of Getty Images Holdings, Inc. and attempting to cover up the scheme.

Robert Scott Murray, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2024.  

Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (Getty) is a visual media company and supplier of images, videos and music, headquartered in Seattle. Getty’s stock is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GETY. Murray was a long-time investor who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of multiple public companies, including Stream Global Services and 3Com. In April 2023 Murray owned approximately 300,000 GETY shares. Thereafter, Murray issued press releases and sent emails in the name of Trillium Capital LLC – a “venture investment company” located in Massachusetts of which Murray was the sole owner and manager – urging that Getty add Murray to its board of directors. Murray’s efforts to join Getty’s board of directors failed.

Murray proceeded to make false and misleading statements, including through press releases and in media interviews, with the purpose of artificially inflating the GETY trading price so that Murray could sell the GETY shares he owned at the artificially inflated price. On Friday, April 21, 2023, GETY shares closed at a trading price of $5.06 per share. On Monday, April 24, 2023, prior to the market opening, Murray caused the publication of a press release in which Trillium Capital made a proposal to acquire Getty for “$10 per share.” When the market opened, GETY shares traded at $7.88 per share, nearly 56 percent above the prior closing price. Murray then sold all the GETY shares he owned within less than one hour for approximately $1,486,467. Murray’s friend, who Murray had previously instructed to buy GETY shares, also sold shares that same morning at Murray’s direction for approximately $558,328.

On or about Dec. 6, 2023, Murray instructed his friend to delete all their text messages and to mislead law enforcement agents who had approached her by falsely telling them that they had not exchanged text messages. Murray instructed the friend that text messages are “like virginity, once you delete your virginity you ain’t getting it back.” When approached by law enforcement agents in February 2024, Murray falsely denied telling his friend to buy Getty shares.

The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Murray alleging violations of the securities laws.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. The Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to unlawful reentry.

Wilson Hernandez-Bautista, 34, plead guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2024. Hernandez-Bautista was indicted by a federal grand jury December 2023.

Hernandez-Bautista was deported from the United States on Oct. 9, 2013. Sometime after his 2013 removal, Hernandez-Bautista unlawfully reentered the United States. In On Nov. 23, 2024, Hernandez-Bautista was convicted of rape of child with force in Essex County Superior Court. While serving a five-to-seven year sentence, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement became aware of Hernandez-Bautista’s unlawful presence in the United States. 

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd Lyons, Field Office Director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 
 

BOSTON – A former Northeastern University employee was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of staging a hoax explosion and making false statements to a federal law enforcement agent about the hoax.

Jason Duhaime, 46, formerly of San Antonio, was convicted of intentionally conveying false and misleading information related to an explosive device and two counts of making materially false statements to a federal law enforcement agent. United States Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 2, 2024. Duhaime was initially arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Oct. 2, 2022, and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury Duhaime on Oct. 27, 2022.

“Bomb hoaxes like the one the defendant fabricated here have real life consequences. Communities are put in fear, law enforcement personnel are diverted from other important duties and there are significant financial repercussions,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As we experience a wave of bomb hoaxes in schools, houses of worship and other gathering places, we will work closely with our local, state and federal partners to hold accountable anyone who tries to inject fear and distress into our community.”

“Staging a hoax explosion and lying to the FBI about it isn’t a harmless act. It’s a crime,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The FBI and our partners take all threats to life seriously because protecting human life is our absolute priority. Anyone who pulls a stunt like this should expect the FBI to investigate and you should consider whether you really want to end up where Jason Duhaime is now awaiting sentencing for three federal felonies.”
        
As of September 2022, Duhaime was employed as the New Technology Manager and Director of the Immersive Media Lab (the “Lab”) at Northeastern University (“Northeastern”).  At approximately 7:00 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022, Duhaime called the Northeastern Police Department and reported that he was injured by sharp objects expelled from a plastic case he opened inside the Lab that evening.  Specifically, Duhaime told an emergency police dispatcher that he and a Northeastern student who was working in the Lab that evening had collected several packages—including two plastic “Pelican cases”—from a mail area and brought them into the Lab.  Duhaime said that when he opened one of the cases inside a storage closet, “very sharp” objects flew out of the case and under his shirt sleeves, causing injuries to his arms. Duhaime also reported that the case contained an anonymous “violent note” threatening to “destroy the lab” and stating: “In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! Take notice!!! You have two months to take operations down or else!!!!! WE ARE WATCHING YOU.” 

Duhaime’s report and concern about a second, unopened Pelican case triggered a significant law enforcement response that included, among other things, the assistance of the Boston Police Department’s bomb squad, the assistance of multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies, and the evacuation of a portion of the Northeastern campus.   

In statements to first responders and in subsequent interviews with law enforcement on both Sept. 13 and 14, 2022, Duhaime provided statements about the incident that were consistent with what he told the emergency police dispatcher. He expressly denied fabricating his story about the Pelican case, the anonymous threat letter, and the injuries to his arms. 

During a search of Duhaime’s office at Northeastern on Sept. 14, 2022, several laptop computers were found. A subsequent forensic examination of one of the computers revealed a word-for-word electronic copy of the anonymous threat letter that Duhaime claimed was inside the Pelican case. According to evidence presented during the trial, this electronic copy of the threat letter was created and printed between approximately 2:50 p.m. and 3:56 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2022 – just hours before he reported the incident to the Northeastern Police Department. 

The charges of intentionally conveying false and misleading information related to an explosive device and making materially false statements to a federal law enforcement agent each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; Michael A. Davis, Vice President of Campus Security and Chief of Police at Northeastern University; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in cooperation with the Northeastern University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Timothy H. Kistner of the National Security Unit are prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A former driving instructor was sentenced yesterday for conspiring to defraud the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) into issuing driver’s licenses to applicants who did not pass the road test.

Ngan Dinh, 48, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to two years’ probation with the first six months to be served as home confinement with GPS monitoring, a fine of $4,000, and a $5,450 forfeiture. In March 2024, Dinh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud. 

Dinh, a naturalized U.S. citizen who speaks Vietnamese and some English, circulated business cards to the Vietnamese community. The potential licensees who contacted Dinh were Vietnamese immigrants who did not speak or read English. They relied on Dinh to help them comply with RMV rules and requirements they did not understand. Instead, Dinh bribed a road test examiner at the Brockton RMV to misrepresent to the RMV that Dinh’s customers had passed the road test – when in fact they had not. Some customers did not even show up for the test. 

Customers paid Dinh as much as $1,200 – with Dinh insisting that all payments be in cash. Dinh persuaded some customers to pay him such large amounts by lying to them. For example, he told some applicants that the RMV was not offering road tests because of the pandemic, which was false, and that he could get them licenses because he was a “certified rep” for the RMV – a non-existent position. Dinh paid the RMV employee a $100 cash bribe for each of his customers and kept the rest of the money for himself.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Wichers and Adam W. Deitch of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawful reentry.  

Julio Pimentel-German, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24, 2024.  Pimentel-German was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.  

Pimentel-German was previously deported from the United States on June 1, 2021.  Sometime after his 2021 removal, Pimentel-German unlawfully reentered the United States.  Immigrations and Customs Enforcement became aware of Pimentel-German’s unlawful presence in the United States upon his arrest for the drug-related offenses in July 2022. On Sept. 28, 2023, Pimentel-German was convicted for possession to distribute fentanyl, trafficking fentanyl, and possession of a firearm without a permit, among other charges in Essex Superior Court.  

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd Lyons, Field Office Director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A Massachusetts businesswoman was sentenced on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, for submitting fraudulent loan applications seeking COVID-19 relief. 

Vanessa Nixon, 45, of Framingham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to five months in prison and three years of supervised release. Nixon was also ordered to pay $468,832 in restitution and forfeiture. In March 2024, Nixon pleaded guilty to bank fraud. 

Nixon was the owner and operator of multiple businesses in Massachusetts, including Mass Homes Investments LLC, Nixon Homes LTD and Alpha Auto Body, Inc. Between April 2020 and November 2022, Nixon submitted multiple fraudulent loan applications in the names of her various businesses to banks and the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program that fabricated millions in business income. Nixon also created fake tax documents that she submitted with the loan applications to substantiate the fabricated business income. In total, Nixon received more than $468,832 in loans that were subsequently forgiven by banks and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

BOSTON – A man identified as a member/associate of the Heath Street Gang was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in a public housing development.

Michael Van Rader, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 22 months in prison to be followed by six years of supervised release. In April 2024, Van Rader pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility.  

On or about Sept. 3, 2023, Van Rader was arrested on the grounds of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, a public housing complex in Jamaica Plain, in possession of a distribution quantity of cocaine. At the time of his arrest, Van Rader was barred by the Boston Housing Authority from trespassing at the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments and was on probation in connection with a state firearm-related conviction. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Boston Housing Authority Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. 

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at  https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

BOSTON –Magellan Diagnostics, Inc., a medical device company headquartered in Billerica, Mass., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to criminal charges relating to its concealment of a device malfunction that produced inaccurately low lead test results for tens of thousands of children and other patients. 

Magellan pleaded guilty to two counts of introducing a misbranded medical device into interstate commerce, in violation of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). United States District Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Oct. 9, 2024. 

According to the plea agreement, Magellan also has agreed to pay a $28.1 million fine, $10.9 million in forfeiture, and a minimum of $9.3 million to compensate patient victims.   

Magellan’s LeadCare Ultra and LeadCare II devices detected lead levels and lead poisoning in the blood of children and adults using either venous (i.e., blood draws through the arm) or fingerstick samples. LeadCare II, which was predominantly used to test fingerstick samples, accounted for more than half of all blood lead tests conducted in the United States from 2013 through 2017. LeadCare Ultra was predominantly used to test venous samples.

Magellan admitted today that it failed to timely notify the FDA about a serious malfunction that caused the company’s LeadCare devices to produce inaccurate blood lead level results when used to test venous blood samples. Magellan also admitted that it changed the user instructions for the LeadCare devices without prior FDA notice or approval. 

Magellan first learned that a malfunction in its LeadCare Ultra device could cause inaccurate lead test results – specifically, lead test results that were falsely low – during the FDA clearance process in June 2013. Magellan, however, released LeadCare Ultra to the market in late 2013 without informing customers or the FDA of the malfunction. In August 2014, LeadCare Ultra customers independently discovered the malfunction and complained about inaccurate results. FDA regulations required the company to file a medical device report about the malfunction within 30 days, but Magellan did not do so. 

In November 2014, Magellan sent a letter to its LeadCare Ultra customers advising them of the malfunction and recommending that they wait 24 hours before running their tests. This contradicted the instructions for use approved by the FDA. Magellan did not, however, report the malfunction to the FDA or advise the FDA of its change to the instructions until April 2015, nearly 21 months after Magellan discovered the malfunction and almost 8 months after customers discovered the malfunction on their own. 

Magellan’s testing in 2013 also indicated that the same malfunction affected the LeadCare II device when it was used to test venous samples. Magellan, however, did not notify the FDA about the LeadCare II malfunction until November 2016. 

In August 2015, Magellan changed the label instructions for the LeadCare Ultra device to require users to wait 24 hours before using the device to test blood samples, rather than testing the samples immediately. FDA regulations required the company to provide advance notice of the label change and file necessary reports of device correction, but Magellan did neither.   

The FDA ultimately found that the LeadCare devices could not accurately test venous samples, leading to a recall of all LeadCare devices using venous samples and a warning to the public not to use LeadCare Ultra, LeadCare II or LeadCare Plus for testing venous blood samples because of the malfunction and a recommendation that doctors retest certain patients

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no safe level of lead in the blood. Lead exposure may cause irreversible lifelong physical and mental health problems. Young children and pregnant women are most vulnerable to lead exposure, especially those from low-income households and those who live in housing built before 1978 because those homes are more likely to contain lead-based paint and have fixtures containing lead. 

As part of the criminal resolution, Magellan has agreed to compensate all patients who were demonstrably harmed for the pecuniary damages they suffered as a result of the malfunction in Magellan’s blood lead testing devices. If you or a family member believe you received an inaccurate blood lead test result from a LeadCare device between 2013–2017, please complete the questionnaire located on the FBI’s website at www.fbi.gov/MagellanCaseInquiry. Information about the status of the case is located on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/magellan-diagnostics-inc. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Herbert, Kelly Lawrence, and Leslie Wright of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Bronx man pleaded guilty today to travelling to the Worcester area to distribute approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. 

Jose Luis Lopez Genao, 32, of Bronx, N.Y., pleaded guilty today to one count of distribution of and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Sept. 23, 2024. Genao was arrested and charged in December 2022. 

In and around June 2021, Genao and other subjects were identified as receiving large shipments of fentanyl from outside the United States and then distributing it throughout the Springfield and New England areas. On Dec. 8, 2022, Genao travelled from New York to the Worcester area to deliver approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. Genao was arrested immediately after he delivered the fentanyl to a government witness. 

The charge of distribution of and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised released, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.  

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Massachusetts State Police; Chicopee, West Springfield and Easthampton Police Departments; and the Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Unit is prosecuting the case.  

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

BOSTON – A Lawrence woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to separate fraudulent schemes that targeted banks and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Luz Paulino, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy, one count of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. United States District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 9, 2024. 

Paulino was initially charged by criminal complaint in December 2019 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2021. While on pretrial release, Paulino fled the United States and remained a fugitive for 19 months before Panamanian authorities returned her to the United States.

Paulino owned and operated Agape Financial Services, a Lowell-based company that provided tax preparation and notary services. In early 2020, Paulino filed false and fraudulent federal tax returns for calendar year 2019 using the stolen identities, names and Social Security numbers of individual victims. The fraudulent tax returns reported false information regarding wages, employers and dependents, among other things, to claim tax refunds. To conceal her involvement, Paulino falsely represented to the IRS that the returns had been prepared by two former employees of Agape. Paulino then used the fraudulent returns to obtain Refund Advance Loans in the names of her victims, and then cashed the loan checks using false identification documents and forged signatures.  

Paulino also used stolen identities of individuals living in California, Michigan, Indiana and elsewhere to apply to the SBA for $2.1 million in COVID-19 Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Between June 2020 and October 2021, Paulino’s false applications listed fictitious companies that purportedly suffered lost revenues during the pandemic. She used the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds to purchase a 2020 Cadillac for $86,000 and to wire more than $395,000 to a jewelry business in the Dominican Republic, among other expenditures.
   
The charges of bank fraud conspiracy and bank fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of $1 million, restitution and forfeiture. The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. The charges of aggravated identity theft each provide for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, up to one year 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations; and Melix Bonilla, Acting Chief of the Lawrence Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department's response to the pandemic, please visit Justice.gov/Coronavirus and Justice.gov/Coronavirus/CombatingFraud.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

BOSTON – A Boston area man was sentenced today for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

Keiarri Dyette, a/k/a “Kemo,” 26, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 42 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In March 2024, Dyette pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, dealing in firearms without a license and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Dyette was identified as a member Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston. According to court documents, Cameron Street members use violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect, and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear, and enhance its reputation. They allegedly possess, carry, and use firearms to murder and assault their rivals. Like many members of Cameron Street, Dyette had tattoos and or wore clothing featuring the letter “C” or “KC” (for “Killa Cam”) that signified his membership in the gang:

    
As part of his role in the Cameron Street enterprise, Dyette used a pistol to assault a rival NOB/Wendover gang member in a parking lot on Hancock Street in Boston. Additionally, Dyette sold firearms and worked with other Cameron Street members to distribute cocaine and marijuana. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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.

BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty today to unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. 

Robbie Delgado, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Oct. 2, 2024. Delgado was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.

On Feb. 8, 2024, Delgado was found in possession of a Baretta .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Delgado is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition following a 2019 state conviction in Hampden County of armed robbery and armed assault with intent to rob, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by four years’ probation.

The charge of possession of the firearm by a previously convicted felon provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian A. Kyes, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Salvadoran man living in Somerville pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. 

Tony Joel Salvador Umanzor, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 9, 2024. In May 2024, Salvador Umanzor was indicted by a federal grand jury. He has been in federal custody since his initial appearance in federal court on May 9, 2024.

Salvador Umanzor was removed from the United States on Oct. 10, 2018 following a state conviction in 2013 for trafficking oxycodone, for which he was sentenced to five years and one day in prison. Sometime after his removal, Salvador Umanzor unlawfully reentered the United States, and was located in April 2024 following a state arrest for unrelated conduct.

The charge of illegal reentry subsequent to conviction of an aggravated felony provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. If convicted, the defendant will be subject to deportation upon completion of an imposed sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A Natick man was sentenced yesterday in connection with fentanyl trafficking. During a search of the defendant’s apartment the body of a missing 24-year-old woman who had died of a drug overdose was discovered.

Rafael Ashworth, 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to six years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of 10 – 12 years in prison. In February 2024, Ashworth was convicted following a six-day jury trial of one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

“This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of drug trafficking on our communities. Mr. Ashworth’s conduct not only exposed our communities to dangerous drugs, it contributed to the tragic loss of a vibrant young woman,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to combat drug trafficking and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers in Massachusetts and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “This sentence not only holds Mr. Ashworth accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”

Police found a deceased woman in Ashworth’s apartment after receiving a report of an overdose death. Approximately 100 grams of a substance containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin, counterfeit Xanax pills containing etizolam, an illegal benzodiazepine, a large metal press used for pressing counterfeit narcotic pills, kilograms of pill-making material and other paraphernalia associated with drug packaging and distribution were also located in the apartment. When police found the deceased woman, she had been dead for several days.  Ashworth made no effort to contact police or paramedics. When police first entered Ashworth’s apartment, he told police officers that he had not seen the deceased woman in weeks.
    
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Natick Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leah Foley and Stephen Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced on Friday, June 21, 2024 in federal court in Boston for robbing a local market using an airsoft gun in December 2021.

John Schurko, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to three years in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. In February 2024, Schurko pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery. 

On Dec. 12, 2021 at approximately 8 p.m., Schurko entered the Harvard Market in Malden, displayed what appeared to be a black handgun, went behind the counter and demanded money from the clerk. On Dec. 16, 2021, Schurko’s getaway vehicle was located in a hotel parking lot in Medford where he was subsequently arrested. A search of the vehicle recovered, among other things, a black Airsoft gun that resembled a real firearm. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin; Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley; Billerica Police Chief Roy Frost; and Woburn Police Chief Robert F. Rufo Jr. made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine throughout Quincy and Weymouth has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston. 

Aderito Patrick Amado, 34, of Brockton and Quincy, was convicted on June 21, 2024 of two counts of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine – and conspiracy to do the same; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of possessing firearms as a convicted felon; and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024.

In September 2022, Amado was indicted by a federal grand jury along with co-defendants Erica Vieira, Neylton Fontes and Chaasad Cyprien. The defendants were subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in December 2022 and, later, a second superseding indictment in October 2023. Amado was charged in a third superseding indictment in May 2024. 

“This case is emblematic of the fentanyl crisis facing our communities. Dozens of pounds of illegal drugs, high-capacity firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars all in the hands of a man while he was already on probation for a state drug conviction. Mr. Amado will now pay a severe price for choosing to pump this poison onto the streets of Massachusetts,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Mr. Amado had drugs, cash and guns everywhere – in his apartment and his stash house. Given the unrelenting scourge of illegal drugs and overdose deaths, this office is as committed as ever to prosecuting drug-dealing criminals. This case should serve as a warning to others: if you want to engage in illicit narcotics activities, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Aderito Patrick Amado was part of a conspiracy that brought in and sold vast amounts of fentanyl and cocaine all over southeastern Massachusetts. We’re talking multi-kilo quantities of dangerous drugs that he protected using illegal firearms,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s conviction is a win for the FBI’s Metro Boston Gang Task Force as we work with our partners to get dangerous drugs and criminals off the street. The ultimate goal here is to free our communities from the clutches of violent drug traffickers who have zero regard for the incredible damage they inflict on people’s lives.”

“I would like to thank the Detectives assigned to the Quincy Police Drug Control Unit, our local, state and federal partners and particularly the prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s office for bringing this case forward. Taking this individual off the streets undoubtedly saved lives in our community,” said Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy. 

Until at least January 2021, Amado helped lead a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine in and around the Quincy and Weymouth areas. The investigation determined that the drug distribution conspiracy operated primarily out of a stash house in Weymouth, with additional evidence located inside Amado’s apartment in Quincy and his Jeep Cherokee. 

Specifically, a January 2021 search of Amado’s Quincy apartment resulted in over 40 grams of fentanyl, over $270,000 in cash, a money counter and a loaded Glock being recovered. Additionally, the Weymouth stash house was, in essence, a drug factory – housing two presses used to form controlled substances into kilogram-sized bricks and extensive drug paraphernalia, including blenders, digital scales and packaging equipment. The stash house also contained more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine as well as three firearms and ammunition, including two high-capacity magazines and a speed loader. Given Amado’s status as a felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Evidence presented at trial included information from a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor that placed Amado at both his residence and the stash location essentially every day over a two-month period while on probation for a state drug conviction. Additionally, web history information from one of Amado’s devices showed that he conducted online reviews of various items ultimately recovered from the stash house, including the kilogram presses, firearms and cutting agents.

Vieira pleaded guilty in May 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024. Fontes pleaded guilty in May 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16, 2024 and Cyprien pleaded guilty in April 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2024.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and conspiracy to do the same, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl 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 possessing a firearm as a convicted felon provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, to be served from and after the term of imprisonment imposed for any other count, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Chief Kennedy made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph and Brockton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case. 

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

BOSTON – The final member of a large-scale nationwide methamphetamine trafficking ring has been convicted. Throughout the investigation over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

Brian Keleman, 55, of Pascoag, R.I., pleaded guilty on June 21, 2024 to two counts of the second superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Sept. 17, 2024.

“This final conviction represents the culmination of a very important investigation involving over 150 pounds of methamphetamine and high-powered weapons. The dismantling of this organization underscores that federal, state and local law enforcement is doing everything in our power to get dangerous drugs off our streets, protect our community and hold those accountable who continue pump these deadly substances onto our streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“With Brian Keleman’s conviction, Operation Ice Cats has officially crushed a large-scale, multi-state drug trafficking organization that brought over 160 pounds of highly addictive meth to New England,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking operations like this and bring those involved to justice, as we work to make our communities safer."

“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise, DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of Massachusetts,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Drug trafficking, along with the violence that all too often accompanies it, is a serious threat to the safety and security of our communities. This should serve as a warning to those who attempt to distribute this poison in Massachusetts.”

Keleman was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2021 with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The superseding indictment also charged 10 other defendants with controlled substance offenses, firearm offenses, and money laundering offenses.  

In approximately October 2020, investigators received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. In late 2020, investigators identified Reshat Alkayisi as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Keleman worked for Alkayisi at his illegal marijuana grow operation and also delivered methamphetamine to some of Alkayisi’s regular methamphetamine customers who further distributed that methamphetamine throughout New England. 

Between April and May 2021, Keleman delivered over 21 pounds (nine kilograms) of pure methamphetamine to Alkayisi’s customers. On June 1, 2021, four packages were seized containing a total of approximately 100 pounds (over 45 kilograms) of 100% pure methamphetamine from Keleman that he picked up on behalf of Alkayisi from a UPS store in Rhode Island. 

Keleman is the 11th and final defendant in the case to plead guilty. The remaining 10 co-defendants are awaiting sentencing. 

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine to which Keleman pleaded guilty provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a maximum of a term of supervised release of life and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

BOSTON – A Blackstone man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for defrauding his former employer – a company that operates a national chain of second-hand retail stores – by using others’ identities and repeatedly falsifying working hours for employees and taking all the wages for himself. 

Anthony Prizio, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Guzman also ordered Prizio to pay $431,399 in restitution to his former employer and $86,190 to the Internal Revenue Service. In February 2024, Prizio pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud, one count of tax evasion and one count of unauthorized use of another’s identity. 

From January 2019 until July 2021, while serving as manager of the company’s Worcester store location, Prizio devised and carried out a scheme to steal over $430,000. As the store manager, Prizio had access to the store’s timekeeping system for employees’ working hours, human resources portal and un-activated payroll paycards issued to certain employees for wages. Prizio used his position as store manager to repeatedly enter false hours worked for employees, including employees who no longer worked there. As part of the scheme, Prizio caused payroll debit cards to be issued in others’ names, which he then took for himself.  Prizio used some or all of the wages for his own use on personal expenditures. Additionally, Prizio took steps to conceal his fraud by misrepresenting the productivity of the Worcester store to make it appear that the store processed more items, as well as by entering false paid sick and bereavement for employees to fraudulently cause payment for fictitious hours without adversely affecting the productivity measurement of the store. Prizio failed to pay taxes on any of the income derived from this fraudulent scheme.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Stoughton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that shipped dozens of parcels containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to various addresses throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The defendant was also sentenced for his role in a bank and wire fraud scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. 

Patrick Joseph, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 138 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2024, Joseph pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and cocaine base, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

From February 2020 to May 2021, Joseph facilitated the transportation of 10-20 kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, and eventually to Massachusetts via the U.S. Mail. The cocaine seized by investigators was found concealed in two-kilogram quantities inside air fryers and locking cash boxes before being sent through the U.S. Mail. The investigation led to the search of several drug stash locations and the seizure of dozens of kilograms of cocaine.  

During the investigation it was learned that Joseph was involved in a scheme to defraud a COVID-19 pandemic relief program. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created a temporary loan program directed at small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Independent contractors were eligible to apply for PPP loans, which were processed by private financial institutions and fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. If an independent contractor used the loan funds for approved purposes, such as payroll, the loan could be forgiven by the financial institution and paid for by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Joseph participated in a scheme that obtained over $220,000 in proceeds through fraudulent PPP loan applications submitted between April 2020 and April 2021. Joseph and co-conspirator Yves Montima submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications, both in their own names and on behalf of others, at several financial institutions. The fraudulent loan applications claimed independent contractor income that did not exist and substantiated that non-existent income through falsified tax documents. In addition to receiving the proceeds from the loans submitted in their own names, Joseph and Montima received kickback payments from individuals on whose behalf they submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications. In November 2021, Montima pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy and was sentenced in September 2023.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations in Boston provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Christopher Markham of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

BOSTON – A Reading, Mass. man has been charged with allegedly trafficking in wildlife parts from endangered and protected species. 

Adam Bied, 39, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and three counts of violating the Lacey Act which prohibits trafficking in wildlife. It is alleged that the wildlife was protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

“The illicit trafficking of endangered wildlife for financial gain is a grave offense that poses a significant threat to global conservation efforts and preservation of these species. Mr. Bied’s alleged conduct reflects a blatant disregard for the laws in place to safeguard our planet’s biodiversity. These laws and international treaties exist to protect endangered species from exploitation and to maintain ecological balance,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “In addition to the criminal charges, our office is seeking to forfeit the hundreds of animal parts seized from Mr. Bied’s home and a storage unit, including orangutan skulls, tiger skulls and jaguar skins. This forfeiture action sends a clear message that we will not only prosecute those who engage in illegal wildlife trafficking, but also take legal actions to strip them of their ill-gotten gains.”

According to court filings, beginning at least from January 2018 until June 2021, Bied bought, sold and traded in wildlife parts and products, with knowledge that many of the transactions were in violation of U.S. laws and regulations and knowingly failed to declare this wildlife upon importation into the United States. 

Specifically, Bied allegedly placed orders with individuals in Cameroon and Indonesia who were in the businesses of killing and acquiring wildlife – including endangered and protected species – which he then resold or traded to customers in the United States. Bied did not possess a United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) import/export license or necessary CITES permits, and allegedly failed to declare the wildlife to the USFWS upon import.  

The United States Attorney’s Office also filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to forfeit over 100 wildlife parts from endangered, threatened, or protected species seized by the USFWS in July 2021 from Bied’s residence, storage unit, and a vehicle. As alleged in the civil forfeiture complaint, many of the seized wildlife parts required a CITES permit and/or a USFWS declaration for lawful import and a USFWS import/export license to import wildlife for commercial purposes. Other wildlife parts are alleged to have been acquired in violation of the ESA or the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). The civil forfeiture complaint alleges that the wildlife parts are subject to civil forfeiture under federal law. 

The wildlife parts identified in the civil forfeiture complaint include:

• Orangutan skulls;
• Tiger skulls;
• Leopard skin, skulls and claw;
• Jaguar skin and skull;
• African lion skulls;
• Polar bear skull;
• Narwhal tusk;
• Otter skeleton;
• Harp seal skull;
• South American fur seal skull;
• Elephant seal skull; 
• Babirusa skulls;
• Mandrillus skulls;
• Wallaby skull; and
• Jackal skull.

Federal wildlife statutes and regulations prohibit international and illegal trade in vulnerable wildlife species. The ESA, the Lacey Act and CITES, as well as the accompanying regulations, prohibit the import, export, possession, transport, purchase and sale of protected species. The restrictions apply to live and dead wildlife specimens, as well as the skins, parts and products made in whole or in part from listed species. Additional documents are also required for wildlife protected by the CITES treaty, which regulates trade in endangered or threatened species through permit requirements. 

The lawful importation of vulnerable wildlife species requires a CITES permit(s). The lawful importation of any foreign species requires a USFWS wildlife declaration. Individuals are also required to have a USFWS import/export license to import wildlife for commercial purposes.

The charges of conspiracy as well as the charges under the Lacey Act each provide for a sentence of up to 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 upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and Ryan Noel, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, Northeast Region, made the announcement today. This case was worked jointly with the United States Marshals Service and the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadine Pellegrini, Chief of the National Security Unit, is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.

The details contained in the charging document and civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The United States must establish that the wildlife parts are subject to forfeiture by a preponderance of the evidence.

BOSTON – An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Boston charging former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran and his sister for allegedly attempting to cover up a sham job offer from the sister’s company to Tran. 

Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement. His sister, Tuyet T. Martin, 54, of Pelham, N.H., was indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury. Martin was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston this afternoon. Tran will appear at a later date. 

In November 2023, Tran was arrested and charged in 28-count federal indictment for his alleged fraudulent collection of Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits and his willful omission of consulting and rental income from his tax returns in 2020, 2021 and 2022. 

“The charges against Dean Tran and his sister represent a serious breach of public trust,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Their alleged calculated effort to defraud the government and deceive federal investigators demonstrate a disturbing disregard for the law. Our office remains committed to uncovering and prosecuting fraud and corruption, as this case makes clear.”

“Anyone who obstructs a federal investigation is attempting to subvert the course of justice,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today, former Massachusetts State Senator Dean Tran and his sister Tuyet Martin are accused of doing exactly that, in an effort conceal Mr. Tran’s alleged attempts to steal tens of thousands of dollars from public assistance programs at the expense of those in need. Make no mistake, the FBI and our partners will not hesitate to bring to justice anyone foolish enough to try to interfere with our cases.”

“An important part of the mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud involving the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) unemployment insurance program as well as allegations involving the obstruction of DOL investigations, including those conducted by the Office of Inspector General. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate these types of allegations,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

“The indictment and arrest of Tuyet T. Martin demonstrates the IRS’s commitment to not only prosecuting those who break the law but also those who knowingly and willfully obstruct Federal investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, Boston Field Office. “Martin lied to Special Agents in an effort to obstruct an ongoing Federal investigation. Martin attempted to protect her brother, former State Senator Dean Tran, from being arrested but now she must face justice for her actions.”  

According to the indictment, as part of the investigation into Tran’s unemployment benefits and tax fraud schemes, an investigation began into a purported job offer from Martin to Tran at Alecon Enterprises, Inc., where Martin was an owner and the CEO. In June 2022, during the execution of a search warrant at Tran’s residence, it is alleged that Tran made false statements to agents about a job offer letter from Martin and whether Martin had actually written the letter and her signature on it. It is further alleged that Martin concealed and attempted to delete emails between her and Tran regarding the employment offer letter. Additionally, Martin allegedly provided false testimony before a federal grand jury in July 2023 regarding the employment offer letter.  

The charge of obstruction of justice provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of perjury provides for a sentence of up to 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, DOL-OIG SAC Mellone and IRS-CI SAC Chavis made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Mulcahy and Dustin Chao of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Waltham man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for attempted sex trafficking of a 12-year-old girl.

Misael Fabian Medina, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 15 years in prison. Medina will be subject to deportation proceedings to Guatemala upon completion of his sentence. In March 2024, Medina was convicted by a federal jury of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child; and one count of attempted coercion and enticement. 

“Children are sold for sex far too often in our society. Our office has prosecuted several individuals who have trafficked minors, often highly vulnerable girls. This prosecution is squarely aimed at addressing the demand that fuels this despicable practicing of selling sex with kids.  Medina showed up at a hotel with $200 in his hand in order to have sex with a 12-year-old girl. This sting operation should send a message to every person using a smart phone to troll for sex with minors, that the federal government is out there aggressively enforcing the laws against this reprehensible conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.      

“Misael Fabian Medina was ready to pay to sexually abuse a 12-year-old child before he was arrested by HSI special agents. Today’s sentence will keep him off the streets and away from children he could harm,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Sex trafficking is driven by demand and we work every day with our partners to investigate and bring predators like Medina to justice.” 

In November 2022, Misael Medina responded to an online advertisement offering sex with two young girls. Through an ensuing text conversation with undercover agents who were posing as the seller of the two girls, Medina agreed to pay $200 to engage in a sex act with a 12-year-old girl. Shortly thereafter, Medina went to a greater Boston hotel to meet with the purported seller. Once at the hotel, he met with an undercover agent and confirmed he had the money to pay for the commercial sex act. During that meeting, Medina was arrested and found to be in possession of a box of condoms.

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and SAC Krol made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty and Jason A. Casey of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

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

Brayan Zepeda, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Julia E. Kobick to eight months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Zepeda will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On March 28, 2024, Zepeda pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. 

Zepeda, a citizen of Guatemala, was deported from the United States on Jan. 12, 2023 after serving several state sentences for domestic assault and violation of a restraining order. At some point thereafter, Zepeda returned to the United States and was arrested by the Littleton Police Department in October 2023. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.  

BOSTON – A Haverhill man was indicted today for allegedly filing a Massachusetts Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) claim in 2020 for a man who was living in Brazil at the time, and therefore ineligible to receive PUA benefits.

Julio Roncaly Morais, 41, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. 

According to the charging documents, Morais filed a Massachusetts PUA claim on June 3, 2020, on behalf of a co-conspirator who was living in Brazil before and after the PUA claim was filed. In the PUA application, Morais allegedly certified under penalty of perjury that the co-conspirator was a resident of Massachusetts and was able and available to work in Massachusetts but was unable to due to the pandemic. As a result of this claim, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance paid a total of $5,202 in benefits before suspending payments due to an inability to reach the co-conspirator.  

The charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 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 upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in charge for the Homeland Security Investigations New England Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Woburn and Norwood Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Begg Lawrence, James D. Herbert, and Samuel R. Feldman of the Criminal Division are 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 former Boston Police Sergeant was sentenced on June 18, 2024 for his involvement in a long running overtime fraud scheme at the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) evidence warehouse.

William Baxter, 63, of Hyde Park, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to three years of supervised release, with seven months to be served in home detention. Baxter was also ordered to pay a fine of $20,000 and restitution of $9,223. In June 2021, Baxter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. 

From March 2015 through June 2016, Baxter submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips for overtime hours that he did not work for two overtime shifts at the evidence warehouse. The first, called “purge” overtime, was a 4 – 8 p.m. weekday shift intended to dispose of old, unneeded evidence. The second shift, called “kiosk” overtime, involved driving to each police district in Boston one Saturday a month to collect old prescription drugs to be burned.

For the “purge” shift, Baxter claimed to have worked from 4 – 8 p.m., but he routinely left at 6 p.m., and sometimes earlier. Additionally, Baxter knowingly endorsed the fraudulent overtime slips of his subordinates who, allegedly, also left early from this shift. For the “kiosk” shift, Baxter and, allegedly, others routinely submitted overtime slips claiming to have worked eight-and-one-half hours, when in fact he and, allegedly, other members of the unit, only worked three-to-four hours of those shifts.

Between March 2015 and June 2016, Baxter personally collected approximately $9,223 for overtime hours he did not work. 

Baxter was one of 15 police officers charged in connection with committing overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department’s evidence warehouse, 10 of whom were convicted either by guilty plea or jury verdict. Of the remaining officers charged, four were acquitted in April 2023 and one officer passed away while charges were pending. 

From 2015 through 2019, BPD received annual benefits from the U.S. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Justice in excess of $10,000, which were funded pursuant to numerous federal grants.  

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Grady and Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A former Boston Police officer was sentenced today for his involvement in a long running overtime fraud scheme at the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) evidence warehouse.

Joseph Nee, 50, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to two years’ probation. Nee was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and restitution of $12,636. In June 2021, Nee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds.  

From at least January 2015 through August 2017, Nee submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips for overtime hours that he did not work for two overtime shifts at the evidence warehouse. The first, called “purge” overtime, was a 4 – 8 p.m. weekday shift intended to dispose of old, unneeded evidence. The second shift, called “kiosk” overtime, involved driving to each police district in Boston one Saturday a month to collect old prescription drugs to be burned. 

For the “purge” shift, Nee claimed to have worked from 4 – 8 p.m., but he routinely left at 6 p.m., or earlier. For the “kiosk” shift, Nee submitted overtime slips claiming to have worked eight-and-one-half hours, when in fact he and, other members of the unit only worked three-to-four hours of those shifts. As a result, between January 2015 and August 2017, Nee personally collected approximately $12,636 for overtime hours he did not work. 

Nee was one of 15 police officers charged in connection with committing overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department’s evidence warehouse, 10 of whom were convicted either by guilty plea or jury verdict. Of the remaining officers charged, four were acquitted in April 2023 and one officer passed away while charges were pending. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Grady and Kunal Pasricha of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Florida man was indicted today for allegedly embezzling at least approximately $5.7 million from his employer, a Florida-based portfolio company owned by a Massachusetts investment firm.

Paul Schnitzer, 51, of Clermont, Fla., was indicted on one count of wire fraud. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Schnitzer was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on May 21, 2024.

According to the charging documents, Schnitzer worked as the finance director for the portfolio company. It is alleged that between January 2022 and May 2024, Schnitzer made over 100 transfers, most disguised as “equity distributions,” from the company’s operating account into his personal account. To hide these transfers, Schnitzer allegedly provided falsified financial reports with inflated cash balances for the company to the investment firm. It is also alleged that Schnitzer secretly used a line of credit to replenish the company’s operating account after he had stolen from it.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the loss to the victim. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Michigan man was sentenced today for defrauding internet users through scam virus alerts and distributing controlled substances online. 

Doyal Kalita, 37, of Redford, Mich., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. Kalita was also ordered to pay $272,293 in restitution to victims in this case and forfeiture of $2,542,784. In February 2024, Kalita pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to import Schedule II and Schedule IV controlled substances, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. 

In 2015, Kalita and co-conspirators organized a scheme to defraud internet users through the use of deceptive pop-up screens that falsely told victims that their computers were infected with viruses (or were otherwise damaged) and directed the victims to call for technical support. In fact, the victims were connected to Kalita’s call centers in India and in Michigan and were scared or deceived into buying products and services that they did not need. 

Contemporaneously, Kalita and his co-conspirators launched an online drug distribution scheme that sold prescription drugs, including opioids and other controlled substances, that were shipped from suppliers in India and Europe to individuals in Massachusetts and elsewhere in the United States. Kalita and his co-conspirators facilitated online sales from multiple foreign drug suppliers and received controlled substances from abroad before repackaging and distributing them throughout the United States. To conceal the nature of the transactions, Kalita and his co-conspirators used PayPal and merchant accounts that purported to belong to non-existent consulting companies, health supplement stores, auto parts suppliers and travel agencies. In some instances, Kalita and his co-conspirators created fake travel itineraries and receipts to deceive credit card processors in the United States in order to keep the drug business from being detected. 

Two of Kalita’s alleged co-conspirators remain fugitives. 

In January 2023, Manish Kumar – a partner in a Mumbai-based prescription drug company and one of Kalita’s suppliers – was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 87 months in prison, three months of supervised release and was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.

In June 2023, Robert Polanco, one of Kalita’s co-conspirators in the money laundering scheme, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 38 months in prison and three years of supervised release and was later ordered to pay $216,900 in restitution to fraud victims.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and the United States Food & Drug Administration made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs & Border Protection; United States Marshals Service in Boston; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

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

BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced yesterday for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

Daronde Bethea, a/k/a “Freeze,” 32, of Boston and Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 250 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. In February 2024, Bethea pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly known as RICO conspiracy; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

“This defendant will now pay a very heavy price for all the violence inflicted on our communities,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The number of law-enforcement agencies that work together to secure this conviction and lengthy sentence is a testament to the federal state and local collaboration to combat violent crime and keep the law, abiding men and women who live in these communities safe.”

“This is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety," said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. "Sending a career criminal like Daronde Bethea to prison sends a message to the community that violent gang members will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe, which is a top priority for ATF.”

“As we all know, drug trafficking in our communities, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, is a serious threat to our families and communities,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “These crimes rob the neighborhoods of safety and hold law abiding citizens of Massachusetts hostage to drug fueled lawlessness. This is unacceptable and will not be allowed to happen.  DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes.”

"The Boston Police Department is proud to work with our federal and state partners to bring violent criminals to justice. Criminals create gangs and other organized structures to disrupt the lives of residents using violence and intimidation, often targeting the vulnerable. This sentencing is an example of how we in law enforcement can bring our resources together to target those bad actors," said Commissioner Michael Cox, Boston Police Department. "We will continue to work with our partners to do all we can to protect the families and individuals we serve here in Boston." 

Bethea was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston. According to court documents, Cameron Street members use violence, including murder and attempted murder, to preserve, protect and expand its territory. They allegedly use social media to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes, and denigrate rival gangs. They allegedly possess, carry and use firearms; distribute controlled substances; commit armed robberies; and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income for the gang.

As part of his role in the Cameron Street enterprise, Bethea committed an attempted murder with a firearm of a rival gang member in Dorchester in June 2018. As the victim got into his car, Bethea shot the victim multiple times causing the victim to have a collapsed lung.

In addition to the attempted murder, Bethea was involved in two violent home invasion robberies – in November 2017 in Dorchester and July 2018 in Canton. During a chase from the Canton home, Bethea was captured on a police cruiser camera possessing a loaded handgun that was later recovered.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; ATF SAC Ferguson; DEA Acting SAC Belleau; and BPD Commissioner Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

BOSTON – A member of a nationwide drug trafficking ring pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug trafficking charges. During the investigation, over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

Emil Dzabiev, 44, of Scarborough, Maine, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Oct. 2, 2024. 

Dzabiev was arrested and charged along with seven others in July 2021 and was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment that added three defendants in September 2021.

In late 2020, Reshat Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Dzabiev was identified as one of Alkayisi’s regular customers who routinely purchased methamphetamine and redistributed it in Maine. In May 2021, Dzabiev was stopped after a meeting with Alkayisi and found in possession of approximately 455 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine in his vehicle.

Dzabiev is the 10th defendant to plead guilty in the case. Alkayisi pleaded guilty in April 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024. 

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

BOSTON – A former Corrections Officer was sentenced to probation yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine, fentanyl and other controlled substances.

Gregorit Sanchez, 29, of Haverhill was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to five years’ probation with the first year to be served on home detention. The court determined that Sanchez’s Guidelines Sentencing Range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines was 30-37 months in prison. The government recommended a sentence of 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2024, Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances. In December 2021, Sanchez was charged along with 20 other individuals.

Sanchez was a Corrections Officer with the Middleton House of Correction in Middleton, Mass. On Nov. 11, 2021, Sanchez attempted to smuggle a package containing fentanyl, cocaine, Suboxone and other contraband into the Middleton House of Correction for co-defendant Elvis DeJesus, who was being held in the Middleton House of Correction after his arrest on state firearms charges. DeJesus intended to distribute the drugs inside the jail. Sanchez was stopped as he arrived to work at the jail and the package was seized. The package contained 33 grams of fentanyl pills, 1 gram of crack cocaine, 14 grams of powder cocaine, and Suboxone sublingual films, as well as cigarettes and a SIM card for a contraband cellphone that Sanchez had previously procured for DeJesus and that DeJesus used to coordinate drug distribution from inside the jail.

DeJesus pleaded guilty in June 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 15, 2024.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and other controlled substances provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.
 
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Essex County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, is prosecuting the case.
 
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to fraud and false statements charges in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

Antawn Davis, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for Sept. 16, 2024. Davis was charged and arrested in February 2024 along with over 40 alleged Heath Street Gang members/associates, who were charged with racketeering conspiracy; drug trafficking; firearms charges; and financial frauds, including COVID-related fraud.

In April and May 2021, Davis submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of his purported business. The applications contained multiple false statements, including the purported business’ total gross income in 2020 and the purpose of the loan. Davis also submitted false tax records in support of his loan applications. Based on the fraudulent applications, Davis received approximately $49,999 in PPP loans, which he then spent on non-business-related expenses, including transactions at a casino and at Saks Fifth Avenue.

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Harry T. Chavis Jr, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

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

BOSTON – In observation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy touted the District of Massachusetts’ ongoing commitment to protect older Americans in the fight against elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increases understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, Acting U.S. Attorney Levy emphasized the importance of awareness and education.

“Millions of adults aged 60 and older become victims of abuse every year – with nearly one in 10 annually experiencing some form of elder abuse, neglect and financial exploitation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Levy. “Protecting seniors from abuse and exploitation is one of our top priorities. Our office has successfully prosecuted a number of individuals in recent years who have preyed on this vulnerable population through financial scams. We remain relentless in this fight for elder justice, and we will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement and community partners to hold people accountable for such misconduct and recover stolen funds whenever possible.”

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. 

Earlier this year, Chukwunonso “Douglas” Umegbo, a/k/a James Abbott, a/k/a Michael Philips, a/k/a Richard Armani, 39, formerly of New Bedford, Mass. was sentenced to more than three years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering charges involving funds obtained from “romance scam” victims. From 2018 through 2019, Umegbo used fake identity documents to open bank accounts in the greater Boston area, which he used to receive more than $568,000 from at least 45 romance scam victims. Among them was a senior who fell victim to the scheme following the loss of her husband of 57 years and lost her car, house and retirement savings to the fraud scam. 

In honor of this year’s WEAAD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts has developed an Elder Justice Outreach Prevention Program aimed at bringing awareness, education and resources to older adults across Massachusetts in partnership with local police departments and older adult centers. A team made up of members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the IRS and USPIS who travel across the state, educating older adults about heightened awareness in the areas of online scams; romance scams; contractor scams; and telemarketing scams, to name a few.

Yesterday, Acting U.S. Attorney Levy spoke to over 500 hundred older adults alongside Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn at the Bristol County Celebration of Seniors about important information they need to protect themselves from financial exploitation and how to report elder fraud.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams.

Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely reporting suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

For more information and resources from the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. 

If you need assistance or to report elder abuse, please contact your local adult protective services agency through the Eldercare Locator or by call the helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday – Friday 9am – 8pm EST. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm EST. 

BOSTON – A Boston man, who is a Level 3 sex offender, was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Bryan Horgan, 58, was charged with possession of child pornography. Horgan was initially charged by complaint and arrested on April 26, 2024. He has remained in custody since that time.

According to the charging documents, Horgan was identified as the owner of a Microsoft account uploading child pornography. During a search of Horgan’s residence, it is alleged that one of his electronic devices contained several video files of child pornography depicting children as young as infants. It is further alleged that another device contained filenames with words and phrases indicative of child pornography. 

Horgan was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.  

Due to Horgan’s prior convictions, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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 Nigerian man, formerly of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to his role in separate schemes to launder criminal proceeds from fraud and obtaining a United States passport through false statements.  

Chukwunonso Obiora, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. United States District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024. Obiora was arrested on a complaint in October 2023 in Atlanta, Ga. and was ordered held pending trial. He was indicted in January 2024.

According to the charging documents, between at least as early as March 2021 and May 2023, Obiora and several co-conspirators agreed to receive and withdraw the proceeds of business email compromises (BECs) from bank accounts that they controlled, and to direct those funds to other co-conspirators, in exchange for a cut of the criminal proceeds.  

BECs are a type of fraud scheme that targets companies that make regular business payments by wire. Cybercriminals use email to impersonate trusted parties to the payments in order to trick the victim companies into sending money to bank accounts controlled by participants in the scheme.

The defendant’s money laundering conspiracy—of which he admitted to being a leader and organizer—involved the following steps:

• obtaining individual victims’ means of identification and using that information to create fake driver’s licenses, incorporate businesses and open bank accounts in the victims’ names; 
• providing the bank accounts to co-conspirators involved in the BEC schemes as accounts to which victims could be tricked into sending wires; 
• withdrawing money quickly from the bank accounts once the wire transfers arrived, before victim companies learned that they had been tricked into sending money; and
• depositing the proceeds into other accounts, and wiring BEC scheme proceeds to the defendant and others in Nigeria, China and elsewhere.

The defendant and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal the existence of the conspiracy, including by forging business invoices and writing false memos on checks to suggest that the BEC scheme proceeds deposited into Destination Accounts were legitimate business revenues; and by making false statements to banks regarding the nature of the BEC scheme proceeds that were deposited into Destination Accounts. 

The defendant and his U.S.-based co-conspirators shared at least as much as 40 percent of the deposited BEC scheme proceeds as payment for their roles in the conspiracy. Across just two-plus years, the defendant and his co-conspirators engaged in at least $6.5 million in financial transactions involving the proceeds of BEC schemes.

After immigration authorities removed the defendant from the United States in December 2021, he agreed with a close relative who is an American citizen to obtain a U.S. passport in the relative’s name, which the defendant could use to re-enter the United States illegally. The relative reported his passport lost or stolen and, in May 2023, applied for a new passport at a U.S. Post Office in Watertown, Mass.. The sworn application had the relative’s name on it, but a picture of the defendant. The relative sent the issued passport to the defendant, who, in October 2023, used the passport to travel from Nigeria to Detroit, Mich., where the defendant presented himself as his relative at the U.S. border.

The charge of passport fraud conspiracy provides a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of the financial transactions that were the object of the conspiracy, forfeiture and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A New Jersey was indicted today in federal court in Worcester for allegedly using a fraudulent passport card at a Shrewsbury credit union while attempting to withdraw money from a customer’s account.  

Elizabeth Clemente, 42, was indicted on one count each of forgery or false use of a passport and aggravated identity theft. Clemente was arraigned in federal court in Worcester earlier today. Clemente was charged by criminal complaint in January 2024. 

It is alleged that on Nov. 7, 2023, Police responded to a credit union in Shrewsbury where employees reported that Clemente allegedly attempted to withdraw money by impersonating a real credit union account holder, “Person #1.” While speaking with law enforcement, Clemente allegedly first identified herself “Heather.” When pressed for further identification information, Clemente allegedly provided the name of “Person #1”, however it is alleged that Clemente could not remember her date of birth or address. When further questioned, Clemente allegedly handed law enforcement a fraudulent U.S. Passport Card. The passport card bore Person #1’s name and actual date of birth, but contained Clemente’s photograph.

The charge of forgery or false use of a passport provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory 2-year prison term to be served consecutively, 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Shrewsbury Police Chief Kevin Anderson made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester 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 New Bedford man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits.   

Anthony Patterson, 62, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2024. Patterson was charged in May 2024. 

From 2013 to 2023, Patterson collected Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, which are only available to people with limited financial means. During two interviews with the Social Security Administration in 2012 and 2022, Patterson made sworn false statements regarding his marital status and living situation to conceal household income and resources. As a result, he collected $92,582 in SSI benefits that he was ineligible to receive.

The charge of theft of government money provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Bradley Parker, Acting 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 James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A former nurse was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for adulteration of fentanyl at a local hospital.

Caroline Sheehan, 39, of Lowell, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to three years of probation and ordered not to pursue employment that requires a registered nurse license or permits access to prescription narcotics. In February 2024, Sheehan pleaded guilty to one count of adulteration of a prescription drug with intent to defraud and mislead.

In March 2021, while working at a Massachusetts hospital, Sheehan removed a bag of intravenous fentanyl solution from an automated dispensing machine. Sheehan used a syringe to remove fentanyl from the IV bag, injected saline into the bag to replace the fentanyl she had removed and returned the bag to its drawer in the machine. A hospital employee saw a blood stain on the IV bag and removed the IV bag, which laboratory testing confirmed contained less than the declared concentration of fentanyl, from the machine before any of the adulterated fentanyl solution was administered to a patient. Sheehan later admitted that she had withdrawn fentanyl from the IV bag and replaced it with saline to avoid getting caught. Sheehan later admitted that she had been stealing prescription drugs from the hospital for months, replacing the siphoned drugs with saline solution, to feed her substance abuse addiction. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; Robert Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Begg Lawrence, Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
 

BOSTON – A previously convicted felon pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to unlawfully possessing a Glock pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition.

Michael Whitfield, 43, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2024. In November 2023, Whitfield was indicted by a federal grand jury. 

On March 6, 2023, upon arrival at a motor vehicle accident scene in Brockton, law enforcement observed Whitfield in a vehicle with significant damage, its airbag deployed and a broken passenger door window. There was a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and an empty tequila bottle was observed on the passenger seat floor. A Glock 19X .9mm pistol loaded with 18 rounds was found on the driver’s side floorboard between Whitfield’s legs. 

Due to a prior felony conviction stemming from 2006, Whitfield is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, Brockton Police Department and the Brockton Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A Nahant woman and Winthrop man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to conspiring to commit wire fraud and tax evasion.  

Gary P. DeCicco, 65, and Pamela M. Avedisian, 61, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled DeCicco’s sentencing for Sept. 18, 2024; Avedisian’s sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. DeCicco and Avedisian were indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2018.

Between April 2012 and February 2013, DeCicco repeatedly told the IRS that he did not have the ability to pay his over $340,000 tax liability and that he had very little cash, no vehicles or real property and no ownership interest in any asset with a positive value. However, DeCicco had ownership interests in several businesses, vehicles and real properties titled in his name and the names of Avedisian, Lynnway Auto Sales Inc., and other entities, in order to conceal those assets from the IRS during that time period. In addition, beginning in March 2013, after the IRS accepted DeCicco’s proposed monthly payment plan (based on the false information DeCicco provided about his assets and income), DeCicco bought and sold numerous real properties, boats and high-end cars and concealed those assets and his income from the IRS, often with Avedisian’s assistance.   

In addition, Avedisian owned a property in Nahant that was subject to a mortgage in excess of $1 million. In October 2015, DeCicco and Avedisian conspired to defraud the mortgage holder by proposing the sale of the property for significantly less than the outstanding mortgage, in what is commonly referred to as a “short sale.” By their very nature, short sales are intended to be arms-length transactions in which the buyers and sellers are unrelated and act independently, allowing sellers to cede their ownership of the property in exchange for the short-selling bank’s agreement to release them from their unpaid mortgage debt. In order to get approval for the sale, DeCicco and Avedisian concealed their long-term romantic and business relationships from the loan servicing company and falsely represented that Avedisian could no longer make payments towards the mortgage on the property. In fact, just two months before the “short sale” closed, Avedisian purportedly received $3.5 million from the sale of another asset to DeCicco. 

The conspiracy charges each provide for up to 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 on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit are prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was sentenced today for embezzling nearly $90,000 and for fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits.

Jamesa Rankins, 27, of Brockton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Rankins was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $104,698. In November 2023, Rankins was convicted by a federal jury of one count of theft of government money and three counts of wire fraud. 

Rankins worked as a Sales & Service Distribution Associate at the Montello Post office in Brockton for approximately four and a half years. Prior to her termination in January 2021, Rankins had the ability to generate postal money orders, including replacement money orders. Customers could obtain replacement money orders without paying any additional fees if the original postal money orders were lost, damaged or erroneous. Beginning around September 2020, Rankins issued approximately 126 fictitious replacement money orders to an associate for money orders that were not lost, damaged or erroneous. In many instances, the fictitious replacement money orders actually invalidated properly issued money orders. In total, Rankins issued nearly $90,000 worth of replacement money orders.

Beginning in May 2020, Rankins also applied for and obtained Pandemic Unemployment Assistance from the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance despite being employed by USPS and thus being ineligible to receive unemployment assistance. In total, Rankins collected at least $15,000 in unemployment benefits to which she was not entitled.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. 

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. 

BOSTON – A Taunton man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Jermaine Rodrigues, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Oct. 10, 2024. In July 2023, Rodrigues was indicted by a federal grand jury. 

In June 2022, Rodrigues possessed two Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, .300 blackout firearms – one of which was equipped with a laser sight and optics affixed to the top rail. In addition, Rodrigues possessed almost 100 rounds of .300 blackout ammunition.

The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Taunton and Fall River Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorneys Luke A Goldworm and Meghan C. Cleary of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

BOSTON – The former project manager of a now-defunct luxury home building business in West Springfield. Mass. has been convicted following a five-day jury trial of conspiring to defraud the United States.

Jason Pecoy, 44, of Wilbraham, was convicted on June 7, 2024 of two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Sept. 12, 2024. 

“Jason Pecoy was convicted for his role in an elaborate scheme with his father and Kevin Kennedy to defraud the United States by concealing money and maintaining false books, all so that Kennedy could avoid taxes for the construction of two luxury homes,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Jason Pecoy decided that assisting in his father’s illegal efforts to support Kennedy’s greed was more important than following the law. This conviction is a reminder to others that criminal actions have consequences.”

“The conviction of Jason Pecoy demonstrates the IRS’s commitment to identifying and prosecuting all who choose to violate the tax laws,” said Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office. “Pecoy made every effort to conceal his income from the IRS and evade paying his fair share of his taxes. Tax evasion is not a victimless crime, it impacts every American by stealing resources vital to maintaining public infrastructure and enhancing social welfare.”  

Jason Pecoy was previously indicted in December 2019 along with his father, Kent Pecoy, and Kevin M. Kennedy, the former owner of a golf management company, for conspiring to defraud the United States by concealing cash payments for the construction of Kennedy’s two homes in East Longmeadow and West Dennis. The defendants were later charged in a superseding indictment in January 2020. On Dec. 11, 2023, Kennedy was convicted by a federal jury for conspiracy to defraud the United States and making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution. He was sentenced to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release on April 24, 2024. On May 16, 2024, Kent Pecoy pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution. Kent Pecoy is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20, 2024.

From 2009 through 2016, Kennedy conspired with Kent Pecoy, the owner of Kent Pecoy and Sons Construction Inc. (KPSC), and his son, Jason Pecoy, a KPSC project manager, to obstruct and impede the Internal Revenue Service and the collection of taxes by concealing Kennedy’s cash payments for construction of the East Longmeadow and West Dennis homes. Kennedy paid the Pecoys in cash, all of which the Pecoys failed to deposit into business bank accounts, but rather distributed the cash directly to vendors and subcontractors. When they did deposit the cash, the Pecoys deposited funds in amounts less than $10,000 to avoid the filing of currency transaction reports. The evidence proved that the Pecoys created and maintained separate ledgers documenting Kennedy’s cash payments, created and maintained false contracts and cover sheets, and created false entries in KPSC’s accounting system to conceal the cash payments.

The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.   

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and IRS SAC Chavis made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Eric B. Powers of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced on Friday, June 7, 2024 for illegally possessing a firearm while under house arrest for three state firearm charges.

Trevon Bell, 27, of Boston and Lynn, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 78 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. Bell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in November 2023. 

As part of a 2021 investigation into a violent Boston gang, law enforcement intercepted a Snapchat “chat” comprised of individuals who regularly displayed images of themselves in possession of firearms. 

One of the individuals identified in the chat was Bell – a member of the violent Boston-based Heath Street gang. Bell had been indicted on three separate unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition cases in state court for which he was released on home detention with location monitoring via GPS bracelet. However, the investigation revealed that, while on state pre-trial release, Bell had posted numerous videos of himself in possession of firearms to Snapchat, including a Nov. 24, 2021 video that showed him in possession of a black semi-automatic Glock 9 millimeter firearm. The firearm has since been recovered: 

    
The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Quincy and Lynn Police Departments and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.