District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office reached an agreement today with Todisco Services, Inc., a company doing business as Todisco Towing, to resolve allegations that it failed to obtain a court order before enforcing a lien on a vehicle owned by a U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant who was deployed overseas, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). 

The compliant alleged that Todisco Towing impounded the Staff Sergeant’s vehicle, refused to allow him to pay the towing and storage fee by phone, and ultimately sold the vehicle and its contents, which included costly military tactical gear and several irreplaceable items of sentimental value, including a family photograph album and a sweatshirt belonging to a friend who is now deceased. 

The SCRA provides financial and housing protections and benefits to military members while they are in military service. One of the SCRA’s protections requires anyone holding a lien on the property of a servicemember to obtain a court order prior to auctioning off, selling, or otherwise disposing of that property. This means that companies have an obligation – before selling or disposing of property – to determine whether the property is owned by a servicemember protected under the SCRA, and if so, obtain court approval prior to disposal.  Companies can conduct a search on the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) website, to determine whether an individual is a protected servicemember.  

Under the agreement, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Todisco Towing must pay the Staff Sergeant $5,000 in damages and the United States a $1,000 civil penalty. Todisco Towing has also implemented new policies and trainings to prevent future SCRA violations. 

“While he was serving our country overseas and protecting our national security, this servicemember had his car and items of deep personal significance sold off by Todisco despite his efforts to pay the outstanding fees. This is shameful treatment of people serving our nation as part of the armed forces,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is strongly committed to enforcing the rights of the members of our military who sacrifice so much for all of us to enjoy freedom and security every day.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hillary H. Harnett and Torey B. Cummings handled the matter.

This lawsuit resulted from a referral to the Justice Department from the U.S. Air Force. Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/. For more information about the Department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers. 

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in connection with conspiring to illegally traffic and straw purchase firearms.

Gustavo Rodriguez, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL and one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Feb. 5, 2024. Rodriguez was initially charged by complaint on Jan. 17, 2023 along with Cory Daigle and Shakim Grant. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2023. 

According to the charging documents, from in or about August 2022 through November 2022, Rodriguez and, allegedly, Daigle conspired to create false entries in records required to be maintained by Daigle, an FFL, in order to conceal the illegal sale of multiple firearms via Grant to Rodriguez, who could not lawfully purchase or possess firearms. Specifically, Grant and, allegedly, Daigle made and signed false representations on required forms to disguise Rodriguez’s identity as the true firearm purchaser. Rodriguez is prohibited from possessing a firearm. It is further alleged that the defendants attempted to coverup the illegal straw purchase by providing false information to law enforcement.

Grant pleaded guilty in May 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18, 2023. Daigle has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial.

The charge of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Worcester man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in connection with his alleged role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. 

Hector Torres, 32, was indicted on one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Torres will appear for arraignment in Worcester at a later date.

In or about June 2022, Torres allegedly conspired with others to possess and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine. 

The charge of conspiring to distribute 500 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. 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 for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Acting Chief Paul Saucier of the Worcester Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – Two North Shore men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged roles in a conspiracy involving the distribution and manufacturing of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances.

Elmidio Crisostomo, 28, of Lynnfield, and David Depena, 30, of Lynn, were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Both men were previously arrested and charged by complaint in June 2023.

It is alleged that Crisostomo and Depena used an apartment in Lynn to manufacture counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances. Crisostomo and Depena then allegedly distributed thousands of these pills to customers in towns including Malden and Revere. It is further alleged that, during a search of the Lynn apartment in June 2023, a large hand-crank-style press used for manufacturing pills as well as multiple kilograms of pills and powder containing fentanyl and other controlled substances were recovered.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release 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 Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department and the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman 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 member of the transnational criminal organization known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, has been arrested on RICO charges in connection with the murder of an Allston man under a Chelsea bridge in December 2010.

Adam Rodriguez, a/k/a “Pelon,” 33, was charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, more commonly referred to as RICO or racketeering conspiracy. Rodriguez was arrested yesterday and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday afternoon, was detained pending a hearing set for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2023.

According to the charging document, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization with tens of thousands of members located in the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. MS-13 branches, or “cliques,” operate throughout the United States, including in Massachusetts. In furtherance of its mission, MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence, specifically against rival gang members; kill informants; and support and defend fellow MS-13 members in attacks. MS-13 rewards members who commit acts of violence with promotions within the gang and punishes members who break gang rules.

The superseding indictment alleges that, on Dec. 18, 2010, Rodriquez and other members of MS-13 murdered an Allston man under a bridge in Chelsea. It is alleged that law enforcement recently matched Rodriguez’s voice to a Jan. 26, 2011 recording of an MS-13 meeting in which he acknowledged his participation in the murder. Also on the recording, Rodriguez was allegedly beaten for 13 seconds by other members of MS-13 for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gang’s permission. The superseding indictment further alleges that Rodriguez committed other attempted murders with members of MS-13 following the December 2010 murder.

The superseding indictment also charges William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 30, with RICO conspiracy. Pineda Portillo was originally indicted in 2017. After an arrest warrant was issued for Pineda Portillo, law enforcement determined that he had been deported to El Salvador under a different name. 

Pineda Portillo was arrested in May 2022 on the outstanding warrant and returned to Boston after he was allegedly encountered crossing the border into Texas. 

A subsequent investigation determined that a car owned by Pineda Portillo’s father was allegedly used to transport Rodriguez, other MS-13 members and the victim to the scene of the December 2010 murder in Chelsea. Pineda Portillo also allegedly worked to sell a firearm to someone he believed was a fellow MS-13 member, but who was instead a cooperating witness working with law enforcement. It is further alleged that Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he believed was an informant. Pineda Portillo remains in custody awaiting trial.

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

The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, in New England; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty, and Meghan C. Cleary of the Office’s 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 superseding indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A previously convicted felon has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for unlawfully possessing a Glock pistol and 18 rounds of ammunition.

Michael Whitfield, 42, of Brockton, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Whitfield was previously charged by criminal complaint on Sept. 13, 2023. 

According to the charging documents, 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. It is alleged that there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle and an empty tequila bottle was observed on the passenger seat floor. It is further alleged that 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, the Massachusetts State Police, the Brockton Police Department and the Brockton Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – Three individuals have been arrested in connection with operating sophisticated high-end brothels in greater Boston and eastern Virginia. Commercial sex buyers allegedly included elected officials, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, attorneys, scientists and accountants, among others.

The following defendants have been charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity: 

• Han Lee, a/k/a “Hana,” 41, of Cambridge, Mass.;
• James Lee, 68, of Torrance, Calif.; and
• Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, Mass.

Han Lee and Junmyung Lee were arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston later today. James Lee was arrested in the Central District of California and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. 

According to the charging documents, from at least July 2020, the defendants operated an interstate prostitution network with multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Mass., as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Va. 

It is alleged that the defendants collectively established the infrastructure for brothels in multiple states which they used to persuade, induce and entice women – primarily Asian women – to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution. 

Specifically, the defendants allegedly rented high-end apartment complexes as brothel locations, which they furnished and regularly maintained. The monthly rent for the brothel locations were as high as $3,664. It is further alleged that the defendants coordinated the women’s airline travel and transportation and permitted women to stay overnight in the brothel locations so they did not have to find lodging elsewhere, therefore enticing women to participate in their prostitution network. 

The defendants allegedly advertised their prostitution network primarily on two websites – bostontopten10.com and browneyesgirlsva.blog – which offered appointments with women in either greater Boston or eastern Virginia, respectively. Both websites purported to advertise nude Asian models for professional photography at upscale studios as a front for prostitution offered through appointments with women listed on their websites. The websites listed the height, weight and bust size of women available for appointments and depicted nude and/or semi-nude photographs of each. The women listed as available on the websites updated frequently, with updates to include “coming soon” or “open” to reflect an impending arrival of new women arriving in the area. 

Each website allegedly described a verification process that interested sex buyers undertook to be eligible for appointment bookings– including requiring clients complete a form providing their full names, email address, phone number, employer and reference if they had one.

It is further alleged that the defendants maintained local brothel phone numbers which they used to communicate with verified customers and schedule appointments via text message. In these text message exchanges, the defendants allegedly sent customers a “menu” of available options at the brothel, including the women and sexual services available and the hourly rate. Additionally, the defendants allegedly texted customers directions to the brothel’s location – a high-end apartments – where they engaged in commercial sex with the women. 

According to the charging documents, the defendants charged sex buyers a premium price for appointments with the women advertised on their websites, which ranged from approximately $350 to upwards of $600 per hour depending on the services and were paid in cash. The defendants allegedly concealed the proceeds of the prostitution network through depositing hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash proceeds into their personal bank accounts and peer-to-peer transfers. Additionally, it is alleged that the defendants regularly used hundreds of thousands of dollars of the cash proceeds from the prostitution business to purchase money orders (in values under an amount that would trigger reporting and identification requirements) to conceal the source of the funds. These money orders were then used to pay for rent and utilities at brothel locations in Massachusetts and Virginia.

Over the course of the investigation, a wide array of buyers were identified, including, but not limited to, politicians, high tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors that possess security clearances, professors, lawyers, scientists and  accountants. 

The investigation into the involvement of sex buyers is active and ongoing.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

The charge of conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sexual activity provides 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 United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Central District of California; the Eastern District of Virginia; the U.S. Postal Service; and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquelle Kaye, of the Asset Recovery 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 Tewksbury woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for embezzling more than $1.8 million from her employer, collecting unemployment assistance while employed fulltime and related tax charges.

Joanne Dinoto a/k/a Joanne Mara, 49, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 62 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Dinoto was also ordered to pay restitution of $2,195,592. In March 2023, Dinoto pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of filing a false tax return.

Beginning no later than October 2008 and continuing through April 2020, Dinoto stole more than $1.8 million from her employer, a flooring company based in Acton, by falsely inflating her compensation, using her employer’s corporate credit card for personal expenses, and forging at least two checks to herself drawn on her employer’s checking account. To hide her scheme, Dinoto modified her employer’s accounting records. Dinoto later collected unemployment benefits from the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance under her true Social Security number, even though she was then working full time for a different employer, a lighting company based in Wilmington, under a fake Social Security number. Between 2015 and 2020, Dinoto did not report more than $1 million that she embezzled from the Acton company or received from the Wilmington company on her federal income tax returns.  

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations made the announcement today. The Acton Police Department and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A New York man has been arrested for allegedly using counterfeit United States passports in the name of three Massachusetts residents to withdraw money from their bank accounts. 

Jean Andre Bontiffe, 40, was charged with one count of making or using a forged passport, one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Bontiffe was arrested in New York on Nov. 6, 2023 and will appear in federal court in Boston at 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2023. 

According to the charging documents, on Aug. 9, 2022, Bontiffe was arrested by law enforcement in New York for attempting to pass through TSA screening at LaGuardia Airport using a counterfeit California driver’s license in the same name as one of the Massachusetts victims. A subsequent investigation allegedly revealed that, between July 20 and July 22, 2022, Bontiffe traveled to Massachusetts from the Bronx, N.Y., and made nine attempts to withdraw money from three different Massachusetts residents’ bank accounts – stealing a total of $13,800. On July 20, 2022, Bontiffe allegedly entered a TD Bank branch in North Andover and presented a United States passport and a Discover credit card, both in the name of a Massachusetts resident who had an account at the bank, as proof of identity and attempted to withdraw $4,500 from that account. Due to unmatched signatures, the bank denied the transaction and confiscated the passport and credit card prior to Bontiffe fleeing the scene. 

The charge of making or using a forged passport 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 bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 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 Paul Creazzo, Chief of the Mamaroneck (N.Y.) Police Department made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – Two Lawrence men have been sentenced in federal court in Boston for conspiring to distribute fentanyl to individuals at the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Deiby Bladimil Casado Ruiz, 30, was sentenced on Nov. 1, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Pedro Antonio Sanchez Bernabel, 31, was sentenced on Nov. 6, 2023 by Judge Talwani to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  

On July 21, 2023, both Casado Ruiz and Bernabel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl. Between July 27, 2022 and November 2022, Bernabel and Casado Ruiz conspired to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Specifically, the defendants sold fentanyl to individuals at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bedford, including one veteran who was seeking treatment at the Medical Center for a substance use disorder. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the VA Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Bedford VA Medical Center Police Service and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Callahan, Lauren Graber and Kelly Lawrence of the Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Colombian man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking, money laundering and extortion conspiracy connected to organized crime in the Republic of Colombia.

Fabio Yepes Sanchez, 57, of Medellín, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In June 2023, Zapata pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of extortion conspiracy, one count of interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering, and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Yepes Sanchez was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2020 along with co-conspirators Mario Zapata Velez, Miguel Colindres and Juan Pablo Ariasgil. 

Yepes Sanchez and Zapata Velez were members of La Oficina de Envigado (La Oficina), a criminal organization based in Medellín, Colombia. La Oficina originated in the 1980s when its members provided enforcement and collection services for the Medellín Cartel, including deceased Medellín Cartel leader Pablo Escobar. Today, La Oficina is involved in international narcotics trafficking, drug debt collection, money laundering, extortion and murder for hire. 

Yepes Sanchez and Zapata Velez conspired to use threats to extort approximately $750,000 in drug debt from two cocaine traffickers based in Massachusetts. Yepes Sanchez and Zapata Velez also conspired with Colindres and Pablo Ariasgil to obtain and sell five kilograms of cocaine from the Massachusetts traffickers and then repatriate the drug proceeds to Colombia, in partial satisfaction of the outstanding drug debt.

In May 2022, Ariasgil was sentenced to four years in prison and four years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy. In April, 2023, Colindres was sentenced to 51 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the cocaine conspiracy. In September 2023, Zapata Velez was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the international narcotrafficking and extortion conspiracies. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department; the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and the Government of Colombia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Jared C. Dolan of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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 – A third man has been arrested in connection with a conspiracy to traffic cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston metro area. 

Alan Robinson, 25, of Littleton, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, firearms trafficking, and knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Robinson was arrested on Nov. 3, 2023 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing set for Nov. 7, 2023. 

According to the charging documents, Robinson engaged in a controlled purchase with a cooperating witness to sell them four firearms – which included two ghost guns, one of which was an assault rifle, knowing that the cooperating witness was a prohibited individual. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at Robinson’s residence, where approximately 3.3 kilograms of powdered cocaine was recovered, as well as several firearms and accessories including a ghost gun assault rifle. 

The charge possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of firearms trafficking 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, The charge of knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of a minimum of five years and up to life in prison, 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 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 Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes 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 Texas man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for advertising child sexual abuse material on the dark web.

Neal Staton Grubert, 35, of Bertram, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathanial M. Gorton to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. On July 12, 2023, Grubert pleaded guilty to one count of advertising child pornography. 

In May 2020, Swedish law enforcement authorities determined that a Swedish citizen was producing images and videos of himself sexually abusing his three-year-old niece and distributing them on various dark websites. The investigation identified Grubert as an administrator of one of the websites. Following the Swedish individual’s arrest, a forensic examination of their phone revealed several images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children, including images and videos in which Grubert’s face could be seen watching the exploitation as it happened via webcam while logged onto this dark website. Specifically, Grubert was masturbating while directing the Swedish individual how to molest his niece. A subsequent undercover investigation located images and a video uploaded and published by Grubert in his role as an administrator on the dark website. 

The other individual pleaded guilty to charges in Sweden and was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Swedish Police Authority; Swedish National Operations Department; Swedish National IT Crime Centre; Swedish Prosecution Authority; Swedish National Public Prosecution Department; and Swedish National Unit against Organized Crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke A. Goldworm and Benjamin Tolkoff of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted 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. 

BOSTON - An estimated 10 million doses of controlled substances have been seized, including eight million doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder. The total street value of the drugs seized is upwards of $8 million. Three men have been arrested in connection with allegedly running this large-scale drug trafficking organization (DTO) on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Emilio Garcia, a/k/a “6”, 25, of Lynn, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; Sebastien Bejin, a/k/a “Bash”, 33, of Lynn, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possess controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; and Deiby Felix, 40, of Lynn, was charged with one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. The defendants will appear in U.S. District Court on Nov. 13, 2023.  

According to the charging documents, in July 2023, an investigation into an overdose death in Salem, Mass., led investigators to a DTO allegedly led by Garcia, Bejin and Felix. The defendants were surveilled for three months, which culminated in search warrants at locations identified in the investigation, and their arrests on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. 

On Nov. 1, 2023, searches were conducted at four locations in Lynn, Mass. These were identified as locations frequented by Garcia and Bejin. The searches resulted in what is believed to be, one of the largest single-location seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Massachusetts and the region. Over 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of controlled substances were seized. The seizure included nine kilograms (20 pounds) of pink heart shaped fentanyl-laced pills pressed to look like candy. 

In total, an estimated eight million individual doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine laced pills and powder was seized. The street value is believed to be upwards of $8 million.

More specifically, according to the charging documents, the following drug quantities were seized from the basement of a two-family residential home that was occupied by multiple families and small children: 

• More than 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of white powder and rock like substances which field tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine base.;
• More than 17 kilograms (37 pounds) of suspected raw methamphetamine which equates to approximately more than 3.5 million individual doses;
• Approximately 280,000 counterfeit Percocet pills, believed to contain fentanyl, weighing 28 kilograms (61 pounds) with a street value in the range of approximately, $1.4 million to over $7 million;
• More than 27 kilograms (59 pounds) of counterfeit Adderall pills, believed to contain methamphetamine; and
• Approximately 1.8 kilograms (four pounds) of brown rock and powder-like substances, which tested positive for cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine. This quantity of fentanyl equates to about 900,000 individual doses.

Additional narcotics and five firearms were also seized during the searches. 

“The only thing more depraved than trafficking deadly fentanyl is trafficking deadly fentanyl designed to look like candy to appeal to teenagers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is focused on attacking every link in the global fentanyl trafficking chain, and we will not stop until those responsible for the fentanyl poisoning epidemic are brought to justice. We also continue to urge families to have open and honest conversations about the urgent threat posed by this epidemic, and the fact that just one pill can kill.”

“This seizure by the FBI's North Shore Gang Task Force saved lives in communities throughout Massachusetts," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Not only was this seizure one of the largest in the history of Massachusetts, but some of the pills were created to look like candy, potentially presenting an enormous risk to children. The FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue those involved in narcotics trafficking to keep drugs off our streets, and out of the hands of children."

“The doses of controlled substances seized in this case exceed the number of residents in Massachusetts,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “The fact that we now are seeing fentanyl-laced pills pressed to resemble candy only underscores the urgency of this fentanyl crisis.”    

“Today, we’re announcing the arrests of three alleged drug traffickers and what we believe to be the largest seizure of fentanyl and methamphetamine from a single location in New England history. We believe this crew’s constant churn of drug transactions has kept the Bay State awash in dangerous and deadly narcotics and is tied to the overdose death of at least one person from Salem, Massachusetts,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The overdose epidemic has-and does-to this day—wreak devastation on all our communities. There is no demographic this does not touch. Let this case serve as a warning that if you, or a loved one, are buying pills off the street, or getting them from a friend, or from anywhere that is not a pharmacy or physician, they might not be what you think, and it could cost you your life.”

Surveillance during the investigation revealed that Garcia and Bejin would travel to the Broadway stash location on a daily basis and then bring quantities of suspected from the premises to supply lower-level dealers. One such location that appeared to be supplied from the main stash location was an address at 341 Western Avenue in Lynn, where Deiby Felix is alleged to reside. A search of 341 Western Avenue revealed more than three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressed pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, consistent with those found in the Broadway stash location and a firearm.

The charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, 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.

Attorney General Garland; FBI Director Wray; Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and the Chelsea, Lynnfield and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang 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 – GE Aerospace, an operating division of the General Electric Company, has agreed to pay $9,413,024 to resolve allegations that its Lynn, Mass. manufacturing plant (GEA Lynn) sold parts to the United States Army and the United States Navy that were either not properly inspected or were nonconforming, in violation of the False Claims Act. 

Headquartered in Evendale, Ohio, GE Aerospace manufactures aircraft engines that it sells to U.S. military customers. Engines that GEA Lynn sells to U.S. military customers must meet the requirements established by engineering drawings. To meet those requirements, GEA Lynn further requires employees to follow manufacturing planning instructions including parts inspections, among other requirements. GE Aerospace admits that, at times from July 24, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2019, GEA Lynn did not conduct required parts inspections and sold engines containing parts that did not meet certain required specifications to U.S. miliary customers. Specifically: 

1. Between July 24, 2014 and Aug. 11, 2017, GEA Lynn did not consistently use functional gauges to inspect features on certain parts; 
2. Between July 24, 2014 and Sept. 2018, GEA Lynn omitted at least two inspections of curvic features on certain part numbers; and
3. Between July 24, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2019, GEA Lynn sold engines to the U.S Army and the U.S. Navy that contained unallowable metal fragments. 

“GE Aerospace failed to follow important inspections requirements on engines it sold to the military,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “These rules exist for a reason – making sure the men and women we depend upon to protect our national security have the highest quality equipment. Our office is committed to combatting and stopping defense contracting fraud, and we will aggressively pursue these cases.”

“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the DoD procurement process,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office. “Failing to inspect parts as required by contract specifications compromises military systems and potentially endangers the lives of U.S. service members. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to investigate DoD contractors that submit false claims to DoD agencies and threaten the DoD supply chain.”

“The provision of non-conforming parts for Department of Defense aircraft engines could pose a substantial threat to warfighter safety and readiness,” said Greg Gross, Special Agent in Charge Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Economic Crimes Field Office. “We thank our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice for their significant efforts on this complex investigation. NCIS remains committed to ensuring the integrity of the DoD procurement process.”

“The results of this investigation shows that our agents, and those of our partner law enforcement agencies, are relentless in their pursuit of those who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and put our Warfighters lives at risk,” said Supervisory Special Agent John Scarlett, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office, Northeast Fraud Resident Agency. “This case should send a clear message to all who do business with the Department of the Army that we are committed to identifying and stopping contractor fraud.”

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, DCIS SAC Hegarty, NCIS SAC Gross, and DCIS SSA Scarlett Northeast Fraud Resident Agency made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Ross and Alexandra Brazier of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter. 

BOSTON – A Connecticut man was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of fraudulently obtaining over $500,000 from his former employer, New England Sports Network (NESN). 

Ariel Legassa, 51, was convicted of seven counts of mail fraud and three counts of unlawful monetary transactions. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec. 20, 2023. In February 2022, Legassa was arrested and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury.

According to evidence presented at trial, from approximately December 2020 to January 2022, Legassa orchestrated a scheme to defraud NESN. In early 2021, Legassa negotiated a contract with a New York company to provide web development services for NESN. At the same time, Legassa created a fake business under the same name as the new vendor.  He then used this company to receive fraudulent payments from NESN.  During the life of the contract between the New York company and NESN, in addition to approving legitimate invoices from the New York company, Legassa created and approved eleven fake invoices from his fake business.  In all, NESN paid Legassa’s fake company $575,500. Legassa then spent the funds on personal expenses, including a private plane, a Tesla, a BMW, a Land Rover and credit card bills.  He also transferred the funds into other accounts under his control.

“Mr. Legassa thought he could outsmart NESN and the law. Clearly, he was wrong,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today’s jury verdict emphasizes that fraudsters who abuse the trust of their employers like Mr. Legassa will be found and held accountable, no matter how deceptive and sly their schemes may be.”

“Everyone would love more take-home pay, but defrauding your employer clearly isn’t the answer,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Ariel Legassa must have launched this scheme because he thought he’d get away with it. Fortunately, our investigative team —and this jury — didn’t let him and he’ll now be held accountable for his actions.”

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Saltzman and Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
 

BOSTON – Two men have been arrested in connection with conspiracies to traffic cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area. 

Malcolm Desir, 32, of Brockton and Cordell Miller, 27, of Haverhill, were charged with one count each of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, being a felon in possession of a firearm and firearms trafficking. The defendants were arrested this morning and were detained following an appearance in federal court in Boston today. 

According to the charging documents, Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area. Over a three-month investigation beginning in August 2023, Miller allegedly sold several firearms to a cooperating witness during controlled purchases and offered to sell distribution weight cocaine. It is alleged that the drug deals were handled by Desir, who distributed the powder cocaine in a number of controlled purchases. During one controlled purchase, Desir also allegedly sold a firearm he had purchased from Miller two years prior. It is further alleged that Miller recently facilitated the controlled purchase of four firearms – which included two ghost guns, one of which being an assault rifle – directly from one of his sources. 

The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to do the same, 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. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm 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. The charge of firearms trafficking 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; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldwork of the Major Crimes 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 New Bedford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for the July 2021 robbery of a Bristol County Savings Bank branch in Dartmouth. At the time of the robbery, the defendant was on supervised release for a 2015 federal bank robbery conviction.
 
David A. Frates, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 77 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $20,000 to the Bristol County Savings Bank for the bank robbery. Frates was also sentenced to 33 months in prison for committing the offense while on federal supervised release for a prior bank robbery conviction. The 33-month period is to be served consecutive to the 77 months imprisonment, for a total term of 110 months in prison.

On July 21, 2021, Frates was arrested and charged with the July 19, 2021 robbery of the Bristol County Savings Bank, and has remained in custody since that time. He pleaded guilty in March 2022. 

On July 19, 2021, an individual – later determined to be Frates – entered a Bristol County Savings Bank branch in Dartmouth. Frates approached a teller and demanded $20,000. The teller handed Frates money from the bank’s vault and Frates exited the bank. A subsequent investigation identified Frates as the robber and he was arrested on July 21, 2021. At the time of his arrest, Frates was in possession of over $9,000 in cash.

Frates was convicted in 2015 of federal bank robbery charges for the armed robbery of a St. Anne’s Credit Union branch in New Bedford and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. In May 2020, that sentence was reduced to 81 months in prison based, in part, on changes in the United States Sentencing Guidelines. 
 
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Dartmouth Police Chief Brian P. Levesque made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A California man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his involvement as the principal stock trader in a sophisticated securities fraud scheme that generated tens of millions of dollars in illicit profits.

Joseph A. Padilla, 54, of Carlsbad, Calif. and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 66 months in prison and one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit $3 million and pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. On Aug. 17, 2023, Padilla pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, two counts of securities fraud and one count of attempting to cause the production of an identification document without lawful authority. Padilla was charged in March 2023 along with an alleged co-conspirator.  

Padilla is a former stockbroker who was barred from the securities industry in 2012 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Between 2020 and 2022, Padilla conspired with others to commit securities fraud by facilitating and participating in market manipulation schemes involving the concealed-control of the shares of penny-stock companies.

Specifically, between in or about January and July 2021, Padilla participated in a market manipulation scheme involving the shares of Oncology Pharma, Inc., a thinly traded company that traded on the over-the-counter securities market under the ticker symbol ONPH. As part of the scheme, a co-conspirator allegedly caused nearly all of ONPH’s free-trading shares to be transferred to multiple brokerage accounts for the benefit of Padilla’s clients at the Cayman Islands broker Valor Capital, with which Padilla had a close, unofficial association. Padilla then engaged in manipulative trading in ONPH designed, at least in part, to artificially drive up the company’s stock price. Padilla then began dumping the ONPH shares, which were under common control, to unsuspecting investors in Massachusetts and throughout the United States during a promotional campaign, generating illicit proceeds in the tens of millions of dollars.

Additionally, between February 2021 and April 2021, Padilla participated in a similar scheme involving the shares of Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc., a thinly traded company that traded on the over-the-counter market under the ticker symbol FPWM. As part of the scheme, Padilla orchestrated an effort designed, at least in part, to artificially increase Charlestowne’s stock price. He then facilitated the sale of millions of Charlestowne’s shares during a promotional campaign to unsuspecting investors in Massachusetts and throughout the United States, generating illicit proceeds in the millions of dollars.

Padilla was arrested on a criminal complaint in August 2022 and released on pre-trial conditions, which included surrendering his passport and not obtaining another passport. While on pre-trial release, Padilla attempted to acquire a fraudulent Ukrainian passport so that he could flee prosecution. Padilla was arrested in January 2023 for violating his terms of release and his pre-trial release was revoked. 

If you traded in ONPH and/or FPWM during the time periods indicated above and believe that you may be potential victims of this fraud, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-padilla-et-al. 
   
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 United States Attorneys James R. Drabick and Ian J. Stearns of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

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

BOSTON – A Fitchburg man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Satron Pridgen, 45, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He will appear in federal court in Worcester on Nov. 6, 2023 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.

According to the charging documents, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2023, Pridgen was in an altercation outside of Mill City Pub in Fitchburg. It is alleged that, during the altercation, Pridgen pulled out a loaded pistol which he used to beat another man in the head multiple times. When law enforcement intervened, Pridgen allegedly ran off and attempted to discard the firearm by a dumpster before being apprehended.  

Pridgen is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to numerous prior convictions out of Worcester Superior Court including: a November 1999 conviction of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon for which he was sentenced to nine to 10 years in state prison; an October 2011 conviction of armed assault with intent to rob, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a career criminal for which he was sentenced to 12 years in state prison; and an October 2011 conviction of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of cocaine, for which he was sentenced to nine to 10 years in state prison.

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

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 Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.   

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, 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.

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 Cambridge man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for federal drug and firearm charges. 

Ahsan Arty, a/k/a/ “Hass,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Arty pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to possess and use firearms during and in relation to a drug offense. 

In February 2021, Arty conspired to sell crack cocaine to an undercover officer and was captured on recording brokering the drug deal. Intercepted communications revealed that Arty also conspired with others to distribute cocaine.

In August 2021, Arty travelled to California as part of a promotional music tour for an associate. While in California, Arty went to the residence of another associate and stole approximately four kilograms of cocaine. Text messages recovered during the investigation showed that Arty sent the kilograms of cocaine to Massachusetts and later began distributing them upon his return. 

In December 2021, Arty and another man traveled to Lawrence to rob an individual who they suspected of having drugs and valuables in their residence. During this incident, Arty was armed with a handgun. They entered the residence and pistol-whipped one of the individuals and demanded the whereabouts of drugs and cash. Ultimately, the drugs and cash were not present. Arty was identified through surveillance video of the vehicle utilized in the incident and text messages proved his involvement.

In February 2022, Arty and two other accomplices broke into the residence of an individual in Everett that he suspected of having drugs and cash. The individual was not present. While inside the residence, Arty stole car keys and luxury brand clothing and recorded a livestream video that he published on the internet. Following the break-in, the victim posted a video online with jewelry and cash suggesting that the break-in was poorly executed. The next morning, after viewing the video, associates of Arty attempted to break-in and rob the victim at the same apartment and multiple rounds of gunfire were discharged during the incident. According to text messages recovered in the case, Arty came to pick up the robbers and ultimately taking them on a high-speed chase from responding law enforcement. The vehicle was later located and impounded. Text messages also captured Arty and the robbers developing an alibi for the vehicle’s use in the robbery and chase. 

In April 2022, Arty was arrested outside of a Boston nightclub due to a report of him having a firearm. When law enforcement responded to the scene, Arty drove his vehicle at the officers and struck a nearby vehicle. Arty and another passenger were immediately taken into custody. Two firearms, including a 9mm firearm that was equipped with a selector switch, rendering it capable of firing fully automatic, were located in Arty’s vehicle. It was learned during the investigation that the target of the February 2022 burglary and robbery was believed to be inside of the nightclub and that Arty was outside of the premises waiting for an opportunity to rob him as he exited.

At the time of the offense, Arty was on pretrial release for multiple pending state firearm offenses. These included a January 2019 arrest for possessing a firearm in Boston and a July 2019 arrest for possessing a firearm in Revere. During the Revere incident, Arty fled the scene of an accident and later attempted to flee law enforcement. 

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; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow; Everett Police Chief Steven A Mazzie; Lawrence Acting Police Chief William Castro; and Revere Police Chief David J. Callahan made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston of embezzling over $90,000 and fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits.

Jamesa Rankins, 27, of Brockton, was convicted of one count of theft of government money and three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 2, 2024. In July 2022, Rankins was indicted by a federal grand jury.

“The public’s trust and confidence in our government is eroded when federal employees abuse their positions for personal gain. That is exactly what happened in this case. Ms. Rankins exploited her position to embezzle nearly $100,000 in money orders from her employer, the U.S. Postal Service, at the same time she was trying to fleece taxpayers by fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today’s guilty verdict should be a stern warning to all who contemplate scamming the government – you will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable.”

“The Special Agents of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are committed to maintaining the integrity of the Postal Service and its personnel. When a Postal Service employee abuses their position and decides to break the public’s trust, USPS OIG Special Agents will work tirelessly with their law enforcement partners to bring those responsible to justice. The dedicated work of Postal Service employees should never be overshadowed by those who compromise their integrity for personal gain. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great relationships we have developed with our law enforcement partners and with the District of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office.

“Jamesa Rankins violated the public trust placed in her as a U.S. Postal Service employee by fraudulently collecting unemployment insurance while she was employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Rankins stole taxpayer funds intended for those Americans who lost their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, Northeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

Rankins began working for USPS around 2016, most recently as a Sales & Service Distribution Associate at the Montello Post Office in Brockton. In this role, Rankins had the ability to generate postal money orders, including replacement money orders. During the relevant period, customers could obtain replacement money orders without paying any additional fees if the original money orders were lost, damaged or erroneous. Rankins issued over $90,000 worth of replacement money orders to another individual where the original money orders were not erroneous and had not been lost or stolen. On at least one occasion, Rankins personally negotiated one of the replacement money orders at a check cashing business.

Rankins also applied for and obtained unemployment assistance from the Massachusetts Division of Unemployment Assistance despite being employed by USPS and thus being ineligible to receive unemployment assistance.

The charge of theft of government money provides 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 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. 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, USPS OIG SAC Modafferi and DOL OIG SAC Mellone 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 are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – Two men were sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for their participation in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

Adiangel Paredes, 37, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Paredes was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine). 

Jonathan Villot, 32, was sentenced by Judge Hillman to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2023, Villot pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. 

Following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization in the Fitchburg area. Intercepted communications, surveillance and controlled purchases identified Paredes as a fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine supplier and Villot as a cocaine distributor. 

Between September 2018 and November 2019, Paredes conspired to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine as well as a fentanyl and heroin mixture. Nearly 850 grams of the fentanyl and heroin mixture supplied by Paredes in three controlled purchases was seized during the investigation. In addition, Paredes is responsible for distributing an additional 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and at least 550 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture.

Between January and July 2020, Villot distributed cocaine to a cooperating witness on three occasions. For two of those deals, Villot sent co-conspirator Ivan Torres to deliver the cocaine. Torres pleaded guilty to the indictment and was sentenced in September 2023 to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In addition to the sales to the cooperating witness, Villot is responsible for distributing an additional two kilograms of cocaine in February 2020.

Over the course of the investigation, over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine and over 50 grams of crack cocaine were seized, as well as a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000. 

The defendants are the 16th and 17th to be sentenced in this case. All 18 defendants have been convicted – either by guilty plea or jury conviction following trial. The remaining defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16, 2023.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments and U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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 – A Lowell woman pleaded guilty today to her role in a scheme to use the stolen identities of United States citizens from Puerto Rico to fraudulently purchase vehicles. 

Arialka Moya, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and false representation of a Social Security number. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Feb. 7, 2024. The defendant and multiple co-defendants were charged by criminal complaint in September 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2020. 

According to charging documents, in January 2019, Moya visited a Massachusetts car dealership and applied for a loan to purchase a vehicle worth over $60,000. In support of the car loan application, Moya provided stolen biographical information of a real United States citizen, including a fraudulent Puerto Rico driver’s license and a Social Security card, as proof of identification. 

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 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of false representation of a Social Security number 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 United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, in New England; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen, Haverhill, Woburn and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Adam W. Deitch of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF), a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local, and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring, and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity, and benefit fraud schemes.

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 Fitchburg man has been sentenced in federal court in Worcester for his role in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, crack and cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

Pedro Villot-Santiago, 33, was sentenced on Oct. 30, 2023 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 112 months in prison and four years of supervised release. In March 2023, Villot-Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 280 grams or more of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine) and 500 grams or more of cocaine. 

Following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in the Fitchburg area. Beginning in July 2019, court authorized interceptions of wire and electronic communications between members of the DTO and its suppliers revealed Villot-Santiago as a large-scale cocaine supplier. 

Over the course of the investigation, over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture and over 50 grams of crack cocaine were seized, as well as a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000. Villot-Santiago was responsible for over 10 kilograms of cocaine. On the day of his arrest in July 2023, Villot-Santiago was found in possession of a stolen, loaded handgun, as well as over $252,000 in cash.   

Villot-Santiago is the 15th defendant to be sentenced in this case. All 18 defendants have been convicted – either by guilty plea or jury conviction following trial. The remaining convicted defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in November 2023.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments and U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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 – Two Nigerian men were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for their roles in an expansive money laundering and bank fraud scheme that resulted in millions in losses from pandemic fraud, romance scams and other online scams. 

Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi, 37, and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi, 36, both previously of Canton, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 78 months and 72 months, respectively. In June 2023, the defendants were each convicted following an eight-day jury trial of one count of bank fraud, one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. 

“This case demonstrates that if you prey on the elderly and the vulnerable through on-line scams, you can rest assured that federal law enforcement will invest the resources to track you down and hold you accountable. These types of romance fraud schemes cause both huge financial and emotional harm,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“What these men did is disgraceful. They cashed in on a public health crisis, stole millions from hard-working Americans who were looking for love online, struggling to feed their families, and keep their businesses afloat, and sent that money to their friends overseas,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “It is critical that every dollar spent in pandemic relief goes to those who need it, not to greedy con artists trying to cheat the system. Anyone who tries to follow in their footsteps will soon find themselves in federal court to answer for their crimes.”

“Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi conspired with others to launder the proceeds of multiple illegal schemes, including the defrauding of multiple state workforce agencies by obtaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance unemployment benefits using stolen identities. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard Department of Labor programs designed to help those that struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.

“These scammers strategically targeted and swindled unsuspecting victims,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, HSI is dedicated to putting a stop to these criminal acts, which inflict financial ruin on so many. Romance scams are a pervasive threat, and with our partners, HSI special agents will ensure that the transnational criminal organizations responsible for such harm are prosecuted.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message: the Diplomatic Security Service is committed to making sure that those who commit fraud schemes, and use false documents to deceive and defraud their victims, face consequences for their criminal actions,” said Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Boston Field Office. “Our  strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies around the world continues to be essential in the pursuit of justice.”

The defendants opened multiple bank accounts in the names of a fake company and fake people using falsified foreign passports. The defendants then used those accounts to receive the proceeds from various frauds perpetrated by their co-conspirators, including pandemic unemployment assistance fraud, romance scams and other online scams. 

The majority of the fraud proceeds came from romance scams, which occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust. The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and steal from the victim. In total, between 2019 and 2021, the bank accounts involved in the scheme received more than $2 million in fraud proceeds, most of which was transferred to overseas bank accounts controlled by the defendants and their co-conspirators.  

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, DOL-OIG SAC Mellone, HSI SAC Krol, and DSS SAC O’Brien made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Benjamin A. Saltzman 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 Quincy man was arrested yesterday in connection with his alleged involvement in filing false tax returns on behalf of his company that hid over $10 million in corporate income.

Su Nguyen, 60, was charged with aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns. Nguyen was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley.

According to the charging documents, between 2016 and 2020, Nguyen was the owner and operator of General Employment Services (GES), a temporary employment agency operating in Massachusetts. Clients paid GES by check for the work performed by GES employees. Nguyen deposited a small number of client checks in a bank account that Nguyen used for GES business and reported that income to the IRS. However, Nguyen allegedly cashed the majority of client checks at a check casher located in Worcester and used that cash on himself and to pay some employees’ wages. It is alleged that in total, Nguyen cashed over $10 million in client checks and did not report that income or the wages paid in cash to the IRS. By doing so, Nguyen and GES failed to pay over $2 million in taxes.  

Each count of aiding and assisting the filing of false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – An Oregon woman, formerly of Middleborough, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to embezzling nearly $40,000 from a labor union.

Andrea Anderson, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union. U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris scheduled sentencing for Feb. 27, 2024. Anderson was charged on Sept. 6, 2023. 

From approximately 2013 through July 2022, Anderson worked as a part-time administrative employee of the Brotherhood of Shoe and Allied Craftsman (BSAC), whose union office was located inside the garage of Anderson’s father’s residence in Lakeville. Anderson’s duties included signing checks, secretarial work and paying bills. Additionally, Anderson was a signatory on the union bank account, signed and prepared checks and had a union debit card. During her tenure working for BSAC, Anderson embezzled a total of $39,169 from the union. She repaid BSAC some $8,000 leaving a loss to BSAC of $30,316.

The charge of labor embezzlement provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison,  up to two years 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 Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. 

BOSTON – A California man has been sentenced for making threatening communications to the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) in May 2021.

Sammy Sultan, 50, of Hayward, Calif., was sentenced on Oct. 26, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In November 2022, Sultan pleaded guilty to one count of making threats in interstate commerce.

On or about May 28, 2021, Sultan made eight phone calls to TUPD, six of which included specific threats. During the calls, which collectively lasted about an hour, Sultan claimed to be hiding beneath a bed in a dorm room with a taser and pistol somewhere on campus. Sultan stated that he intended to use the taser if a woman returned to the dorm room and discovered him hiding. During the calls, Sultan played the sounds of a taser activating and a pistol racking – a pistol’s chamber being emptied and reloaded. 

TUPD and local police carried out a room-by-room search of numerous buildings on Tufts University’s Medford campus but failed to locate the caller. A subsequent investigation of electronic evidence determined that Sultan had made the calls from California. A law enforcement officer familiar with Sultan’s voice from a prior investigation recognized Sultan’s voice on the TUPD call recordings.

Sultan previously pleaded guilty in December 2017 in the Northern District of California to making hundreds of obscene and harassing phone calls to law enforcement agencies and was sentenced to two years in prison.

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. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Tufts University Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Illinois State Police; and the Medford, Somerville, North Andover, Malden and Peabody Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner of the National Security Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy has announced the recipients of the 2023 Law Enforcement Awards. Over 100 federal, state and local law enforcement personnel and community leaders who have contributed to the success of federal cases during the 2022 calendar year are being recognized for their commitment to pursuing justice and public safety. Each year the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts holds a formal ceremony to honor award recipients, which took place earlier today.

These awards recognize federal agents, state police, local police, investigators, analysts and community leaders for their leadership, collaboration, investigative achievement and excellence, victim assistance and distinction in community engagement. Honorees were nominated by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the cases.

“Every successful investigation and prosecution in this office is a direct result of the outstanding work of these law enforcement professionals. Great police work rarely makes for flashy headlines, but my colleagues and I see the commitment and compassion of federal, state and local law enforcement officers every day. Their sole mission is to keep our communities safe, even when it means putting their own lives at risk. Today, we take this moment to thank them, and their families, for their sacrifices and commitment to public service,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Levy. “These awards reflect and honor only a small portion of the countless law enforcement professionals across the Commonwealth who serve and protect us every day.”

The category of Excellence in Community Outreach & Prevention recognizes individuals, or a team of individuals, who have shown outstanding commitment and/or innovation in the area of law enforcement and community outreach to include training, relationship building, prevention programs and other similar activities. The following programs and agencies were honored today:

Project Safe Neighborhoods “You Can Be Anything You Want to Be” Speaker Series
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Hampden County District Attorney’s Office; Holyoke Medical Center; Holyoke Police Department; University of Massachusetts Department of Communication Disorders

Project Safe Childhood Training: Keeping Kids Safe and Secure Online
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Homeland Security Investigations

The category of Investigative Achievement is reserved for those who substantially contributed to the mission of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice. The following cases and agencies will be honored:

U.S. v. Seth Bourget
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General

U.S. v. Junior Melendez, et. al 
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Worcester Police Department

U.S. v. Dana Pullman, et. al
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations

U.S. v. Binh Thanh Le, et. al
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Massachusetts State Police

The category of Investigative Excellence recognizes an individual whose actions led directly to the arrest of a dangerous subject or to the exposure of a significant criminal conspiracy. The following case and agency will be honored:

U.S. v. Michael Cecchetelli, et. al
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation

U.S. v. Ronald Hall
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Homeland Security Investigations; Massachusetts State Police; Cranston (R.I.) Police Department

The category of Outstanding Collaborative Investigation recognizes investigators from a multi-agency collaboration whose exceptional efforts to overcome significant challenges led to a successful conclusion. The following cases and agencies will be honored:

U.S. v. Jammy Alphonse
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Boston Police Department; Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General; Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Secret Service

U.S. v. Baystate Health
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Civil Rights

U.S. v. Louis Coleman III
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Boston Police Department; Delaware State Police; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Wilmington (Del.) Police Department 
                        
U.S. v. Cristina Lopez, et. al
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts, Financial Analyst; U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

U.S. v. Brian Orlandella
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Homeland Security Investigations; Port Neches (Texas) Police Department

The category of Exceptional Contribution to a Federal Investigation/Prosecution will honor the following agencies:

Braintree Police K-9 Lucky
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Braintree Police Working Dog Foundation

U.S. v. Cedric Cromwell, et. al
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations

U.S. v. John Michael Rathbun
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): East Longmeadow Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Longmeadow Fire Department; Longmeadow Police Department; Massachusetts State Police

U.S. v. Antonio Santonastaso
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Department of Transportation, Office of the Inspector General

The category of Victim Service will honor the following agencies:

U.S. v. Hassan Abbas
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Federal Bureau of Investigation

U.S. v. Bernadito Carvajal
Agency/Organization of Recipient(s): Andover Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A mentor for the Shrewsbury High School Robotics Team was arrested today for allegedly possessing and transporting child pornography. 
    
Brian Lingard, 60, of Shrewsbury was charged with transportation of and possession of child pornography. He was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Worcester at 3:45 p.m. today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.
    
According to the complaint affidavit, on Oct. 19, 2023, Lingard flew from Paris to Boston. During a customs screening, it is alleged that Lingard was found to possess images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone. A subsequent search of devices stored at Lingard’s residence revealed an additional collection of alleged CSAM. 

Data extracted from the SD card of Lingard’s phone allegedly revealed approximately 23 images of CSAM depicting minors who appear to be under 10 years old. At least two of the images depict minors who have previously been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as child sexual abuse victims. 

It is further alleged that the SD card also contained multiple images of fully clothed minor females who appear to be in a school setting. The images appear to have been taken surreptitiously and are focused on the buttocks of the minor females. A review of the metadata associated with these photos allegedly revealed that some were taken at Shrewsbury High School.

The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Michael McCarthy, Acting Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

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

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

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

BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2023 to his role in a trafficking fentanyl conspiracy.

Francis Manuel Santos Arias, 24, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2024.

Arias was indicted by a federal grand jury along with Eddy Reyes Tejada in December 2022.  

In January 2022, law enforcement received information that Arias and Tejada were looking for customers to whom they could distribute cocaine and fentanyl in the greater Boston and Lawrence areas. Over the course of the investigation, Arias sold fentanyl to cooperating witnesses on three separate occasions: 55 grams of fentanyl on Jan. 28, 2022; nearly 100 grams of fentanyl on March 7, 2022; and 460 grams of fentanyl on March 28, 2022. 

On July 20, 2023, Tejada pleaded guilty to his role in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21, 2023.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and of distribution of fentanyl each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon 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; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn, Jr. Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Massachusetts State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division is 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.

Nostrum Laboratories Inc. (Nostrum), located in Missouri and New Jersey, and its founder and CEO, Nirmal Mulye, Ph.D. (Mulye), have agreed to pay a minimum of $3,825,000, and up to $50 million if certain financial contingencies are met, to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying Medicaid rebates due for Nostrum’s drug Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension (Nitro OS). The settlement is based on Nostrum’s and Mulye’s financial condition.

Pursuant to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers are required to pay quarterly rebates to state Medicaid programs in exchange for Medicaid’s coverage of the manufacturers’ drugs. The statute requires manufacturers to pay inflation-based rebates for drugs, which are designed to insulate the Medicaid program from drug price increases that outpace inflation. These rebates are calculated by comparing the drug’s current price to the drug’s price on the date that the “dosage form and strength” of the drug was first marketed or 1990, whichever is later.

As part of the settlement, Nostrum and Mulye admitted that:

• Nostrum acquired Nitro OS from another manufacturer in December 2015 and continued to market the product pursuant to its preexisting FDA approval.

• In January 2018, Nostrum temporarily ceased manufacturing Nitro OS because the amount of lead in the product did not comply with updated 2018 FDA guidance. After modifying quantities of two inactive ingredients to reduce overall lead levels, Nostrum resumed manufacturing and marketing Nitro OS in August 2018. Nostrum characterized the relaunched version of Nitro OS as a “reformulation,” but Nostrum did not add or subtract any ingredients and the active ingredients remain unchanged. Nitro OS also remained in the same dosage form and strength as it did prior to 2018. Nostrum continues to market this version of Nitro OS under the same FDA Approval as the pre-2018 version and maintains that it is legal to do so because no major changes have been made to the drug.

• After relaunching Nitro OS in August 2018, Nostrum increased its price from $474.75 to $2,392.32 per bottle, which triggered significantly higher Medicaid Drug Rebate invoices from State Medicaid programs on account of the inflation-based rebate.

• Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2018 through the first quarter of 2020 (when Nostrum withdrew from the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program), Nostrum and Mulye did not pay these entire invoiced amounts, despite learning that the larger rebate invoices were tied to the price increase and inflation based rebate and being notified by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)  that it should pay the higher calculated amounts. Instead, and despite prior communications to FDA that no “major changes” had been made to Nitro OS, Nostrum wrote CMS arguing that, because this version of Nitro OS is actually a “new” drug, Nostrum should not have to pay rebates based upon the prior version’s applicable price.

The United States contends that, as a result of these actions, it has certain civil claims against Nostrum and Mulye from Oct. 1, 2018, through March 31, 2020, for knowingly failing to pay the required rebate amounts owed for Nitro OS as required by the Rebate Statute and Rebate Agreement and as invoiced by State Medicaid programs.  

“The department is committed to ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers meet their obligations to taxpayer funded health care programs, which support elderly and vulnerable populations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As this settlement demonstrates, the department will hold accountable those who knowingly fail to satisfy these obligations.” 

“The Medicaid program is a valuable safety net, providing health care to some of the most vulnerable Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “By deliberately failing to pay appropriate rebates to Medicaid, Nostrum used that program to divert resources from those Americans in the hopes of generating profits. This office will not turn a blind eye to such flagrant abuse.”

“The Medicaid program provides medical treatment for some of our most vulnerable citizens, and when a drug company improperly circumvents rules designed to protect the Medicaid program from overpaying for prescription drugs, the American taxpayer pays the price,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As illustrated by this settlement, pharmaceutical companies that disregard their obligation to play by the rules for financial gain will be held accountable for those actions.”

“Nostrum Laboratories reduced the amount that it paid to the Medicaid program by improperly calculating the rebates it owed, even after hiking the cost of one of their drugs by over 400%,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Field Office. “Today’s settlement is a win for taxpayers by ensuring that this pharmaceutical company cannot boost its bottom line at the expense of the Medicaid program and the vulnerable population it serves.” 

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from HHS-OIG and the FBI.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was investigated by Fraud Section Attorneys Augie Ripa and Michael Hoffman, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich for the District of Massachusetts.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Settlement

BOSTON – Nostrum Laboratories, Inc. (Nostrum), located in Missouri and New Jersey, and its founder and CEO Nirmal Mulye, Ph.D. (Mulye), have agreed to pay a minimum of $3,825,000 and up to $50 million if certain financial contingencies are met, to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly underpaying Medicaid rebates due for Nostrum’s drug Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension (Nitro OS). The variable amount of the settlement is based on Nostrum’s and Mulye’s financial condition.

Pursuant to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, drug manufacturers are required to pay quarterly rebates to state Medicaid programs in exchange for Medicaid’s coverage of the manufacturers’ drugs. The statute requires manufacturers to pay inflation-based rebates for drugs, which are designed to insulate the Medicaid program from drug price increases that outpace inflation. These rebates are calculated by comparing the drug’s current price to the drug’s price on the date that the “dosage form and strength” of the drug was first marketed or 1990, whichever is later.

As part of the settlement, Nostrum and Mulye admitted that:

• Nostrum acquired Nitro OS from another manufacturer in December 2015 and continued to market the product pursuant its preexisting FDA approval;
• In January 2018, Nostrum temporarily ceased manufacturing Nitro OS because the amount of lead in the product did not comply with updated 2018 FDA guidance. After modifying quantities of two inactive ingredients to reduce overall lead levels, Nostrum resumed manufacturing and marketing Nitro OS in August 2018. Nostrum characterized the relaunched version of Nitro OS as a “reformulation” but Nostrum did not add or subtract any ingredients and the active ingredients remain unchanged. Nitro OS also remained in the same dosage form and strength as it did prior to 2018.  Nostrum continues to market this version of Nitro OS under the same FDA Approval as the pre-2018 version and maintains that it is legal to do so because no major changes have been made to the drug;  
• After relaunching Nitro OS in August 2018, Nostrum increased its price from $474.75 to $2,392.32 per bottle, which triggered significantly higher Medicaid Drug Rebate invoices from the States on account of the inflation-based rebate and;    
• Beginning with the fourth quarter of 2018 through the first quarter of 2020 (when Nostrum withdrew from the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program), Nostrum and Mulye did not pay these entire invoiced amounts, despite learning that the larger rebate invoices were tied to the price increase and inflation-based rebate and being notified by CMS that it should pay the higher calculated amounts. Instead, and despite prior communications to FDA that no “major changes” had been made to the drug, Nostrum wrote CMS arguing that it should not have to pay the inflation-based rebate because this version of Nitro OS is actually a “new” drug and therefore Nostrum should not have to pay rebates based upon the prior version’s applicable price.  

The United States contends that, as a result of these actions, it has certain civil claims against Nostrum and Mulye from Oct. 1, 2018 through March 31, 2020 for failing to pay the required rebate amounts owed for Nitro OS as required by the Rebate Statute and Rebate Agreement and as invoiced by state Medicaid programs.      

“The Medicaid program is a critical safety net, providing health care to some of the most vulnerable Americans. By deliberately failing to pay required rebates to Medicaid, Nostrum diverted resources from needy patients to generate more profits. This office will not turn a blind eye to such flagrant abuse and greed, especially when it involves patients and taxpayers,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

“The department is committed to ensuring that pharmaceutical manufacturers meet their obligations to taxpayer funded health care programs, which support elderly and vulnerable populations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “As this settlement demonstrates, the department will hold accountable those who knowingly fail to satisfy these obligations.” 

“The Medicaid program provides medical treatment for some of our most vulnerable citizens, and when a drug company improperly circumvents rules designed to protect the Medicaid program from overpaying for prescription drugs, the American taxpayer pays the price,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “As illustrated by this settlement, pharmaceutical companies that disregard their obligation to play by the rules for financial gain will be held accountable for those actions.”

“Nostrum Laboratories reduced the amount it paid to the Medicaid program by improperly calculating the rebates it owed, even after hiking the cost of one of their drugs by over 400%,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s settlement is a win for taxpayers by ensuring that that this pharmaceutical company cannot boost its bottom line at the expense of the Medicaid program and the vulnerable population it serves.”

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts with assistance from HHS OIG and the FBI.

Tips and complaints about potential fraud, waste, abuse and  mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Principal Deputy AAG Boynton; HHS-OIG SAC Coviello; and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit and Trial Attorneys Augustine Ripa and Michael Hoffman of the Justice Department’s Civil Division handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

BOSTON – A man whose true identity is unknown and who has been residing in Dorchester has been indicted for mail fraud, false statement in a passport application, misuse of a social security number and aggravated identity theft.  

According to the charging documents, the defendant – referred to as John Doe – submitted an application for a passport using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a victim. The passport was issued to John Doe. John Doe also used the victim’s name, date of birth and Social Security number to successfully apply for a Massachusetts driver’s license.  

John Doe then allegedly used the victim’s identity to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and received over $6,000 in PUA funds.  

According to court documents, the victim has suffered garnishment of his wages for child support costs that John Doe has failed to pay.  

The charge of misuse of a social security number provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false statement in a passport application 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 charges of mail fraud and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison to be added to the felony committed while using the means of identification of another without lawful authority. 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 in New England made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, a specialized investigative group comprising personnel from various state, local and federal agencies with expertise in detecting, deterring and disrupting organizations and individuals involved in various types of document, identity and benefit fraud schemes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.  

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

A federal jury convicted a former attorney today of engaging in a scheme to bribe the chief of police of Medford, Massachusetts, to obtain approval for a client to sell recreational marijuana.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sean O’Donovan, 56, of Somerville, Massachusetts, paid a bribe to influence the Medford police chief in connection with O’Donovan’s client’s recreational marijuana business. In February 2021, O’Donovan approached Individual 1, a close relative of the chief, and offered to pay Individual 1 $25,000 to speak with the chief about his client’s anticipated application to sell recreational marijuana in Medford. At the time, the chief had recently been appointed to serve on a committee to rank such applications on behalf of Medford’s mayor, who would ultimately select three applicants to open retail marijuana stores in Medford. After Individual 1 informed the chief of O’Donovan’s corrupt offer, the chief immediately alerted federal authorities.

Over the course of the investigation, O’Donovan, believing he had an agreement with Individual 1 and the chief, offered to pay Individual 1 approximately $25,000 in exchange for the chief’s favorable action on his client’s application. Specifically, O’Donovan sought to have the chief favorably rank his client’s application and, separately, advised and pressured the mayor to select the client to open a retail marijuana store in Medford. O’Donovan was slated to receive a stream of income of at least $100,000 annually from his client’s marijuana business if its Medford application were successful. O’Donovan never informed his client of the bribery scheme with Individual 1.

The jury convicted O’Donovan of two counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each honest services wire fraud count and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the federal funds bribery count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts, and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Criminal Divion’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A federal jury in Boston has convicted a former attorney today of engaging in a scheme to bribe the Chief of Police in Medford, Mass. to obtain approval for a client to sell recreational marijuana. 
The jury convicted Sean O’Donovan, 56, of Somerville, Mass., of two counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7, 2024.

“Sean O’Donovan’s greed led him to engage in this old school bribery scheme to line his own pocket,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “His plot failed because of the unquestioned integrity of  Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley and his brother. Upholding the rule of law and holding lawyers who break the law accountable is an essential priority of this office.”

“Today’s verdict proves that Sean O’Donovan went from practicing law to breaking it by engaging in a pay-to-play scheme in which he tried to capitalize on his insider access, in attempting to bribe the Medford Police Chief for his own financial gain. His actions were not only an affront to all the hard-working businesses that play by the rules, but a betrayal of his client’s and the community’s trust,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Rooting out public corruption is a top priority for the FBI, and we are extremely grateful to the Medford Police Chief and his relative who did not hesitate to do what was right by working with us to thwart this nefarious scheme.” 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, O’Donovan paid a bribe to influence the Medford Police Chief in connection with O’Donovan’s client’s recreational marijuana business. In February 2021, O’Donovan approached Individual 1, a relative of the Chief, and offered to pay Individual 1 $25,000 to speak with the Chief about his client’s anticipated application to sell recreational marijuana in Medford. At the time, the Chief had recently been appointed to serve on a committee to rank such applications on behalf of Medford’s mayor, who would ultimately select three applicants to open retail marijuana stores in Medford. After Individual 1 informed the Chief of O’Donovan’s corrupt offer, the Chief immediately alerted federal authorities. 

Over the course of the investigation, O’Donovan, believing he had an agreement with Individual 1 and the Chief, offered to pay Individual 1 approximately $25,000 in exchange for the Chief’s favorable action on his client’s application. Specifically, O’Donovan sought to have the Chief favorably rank his client’s application and, separately, advised and pressured the mayor to select the client to open a retail marijuana store in Medford. O’Donovan was slated to receive a stream of income of at least $100,000 annually from his client’s marijuana business if its Medford application were successful. O’Donovan never informed his client of the bribery scheme with Individual 1.

O’Donovan faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each honest services wire fraud count and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the federal funds bribery count. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; SAC Cohen; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay with the Public Corruption Unit for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorney Jonathan E. Jacobson of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Natick psychiatrist was convicted by a federal jury yesterday of billing Medicare and private insurance companies for over $11 million in treatments he did not provide and obstructing justice in an attempt to conceal his crimes. 

Gustavo Kinrys, 52, of Wellesley, was convicted of seven counts of wire fraud, six counts of false statements relating to health care matters and one count of obstructing a criminal health care investigation. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2023.  Kinrys was arrested and charged in December 2020. 

“Dr. Kinrys shamelessly billed for over $11 million in treatment from Medicare and private insurers – treatments he never provided. He exploited our healthcare system and showed callous disregard for patient well-being,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This conviction should send a stern message: healthcare fraud will not go unpunished, and those who exploit our vital healthcare system for personal gain will face the full extent of the law.”

“Through his scheme to defraud the Medicare program, the defendant stole taxpayer funds and violated the public’s trust in his position as a physician,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “This conviction sends a clear message that we will hold accountable those who exploit our federal health care system for personal gain, and we will not tolerate attempts to obstruct our pursuit of justice.”

“This conviction is a big win for taxpayers who were cheated when Dr. Kinrys fraudulently billed Medicare and private insurance companies for more than $11 million for medical treatments he never provided and then obstructed our investigation in an attempt to conceal his crimes,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. It can raise health insurance premiums, expose patients to unnecessary medical procedures, and increase taxes. Anyone involved in, or entertaining similar activity, should know the FBI and our partners will not hesitate to pursue those trying to steal from our country’s vital health care system.”

“This matter illustrates the commitment of all agencies to combat medical billing fraud which affects all citizens.  The Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts places a high priority on fighting this type of insurance fraud.  Our continuing collaboration with our partners is critical to successfully fight insurance fraud,” said Anthony M. DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau.

Kinrys was a licensed psychiatrist who owned and operated Advanced TMS Associates, located in Natick, Mass. Among other services, Kinrys offered transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy and psychotherapy to patients suffering from depression. TMS therapy is a noninvasive method of brain stimulation that uses rapidly alternating or pulsed magnetic fields to induce electrical currents directed at a patient’s cerebral cortex. 

Between January 2015 and December 2018, Kinrys engaged in a variety of fraudulent billing schemes in which he sought and received reimbursement for services he did not render. For example, Kinrys billed Medicare and private insurers $10.6 million for thousands of TMS sessions he never provided, including over 8,000 sessions he claimed were provided to 74 patients who, in fact, never received a single session of the therapy. Kinrys billed Medicare and private insurers for hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of psychotherapy sessions he never provided, including over  900 face-to-face sessions he falsely claimed he provided while he was on vacation in locations like the Bahamas, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and the Czech Republic. On 382 occasions, Kinrys billed Medicare and private insurers for having provided more than 24 hours’ worth of psychotherapy services in a single day, including one day in July 2017 when he claimed he had provided hour-long psychotherapy sessions to 70 different patients – all while outside the United States on vacation. 

To further his fraudulent billing scheme, Kinrys made numerous false statements to his patients, the billing company with which he worked and the insurers to whom he submitted claims seeking reimbursement. When Medicare, private insurers and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sought records from Kinrys pertaining to certain of his claims, he took steps to conceal his fraudulent conduct by making false representations and creating false documentation purporting to show that he had provided thousands of treatments he had billed for, but never rendered. For example, in response to a July 2018 subpoena from the HHS’s Office of Inspector General seeking medical records for 10 of his patients, Kinrys created documents – and ordered his office workers to create documents – falsely stating that those patients had received dozens of treatments they had never been provided and falsely representing that the condition of those patients was improving.
 
The wire fraud charges 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, whichever is greater. The charges of false statements relating to health care matters and obstruction of a criminal investigation of a health care offense each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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, HHS-OIG SAC Coviello, FBI Boston SAC Cohen and MA IFB Director DiPaolo made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Callahan and Christopher R. Looney of the Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – Joseph A. Padilla, of Carlsbad, Calif. and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston in August 2023 to his involvement as the principal stock trader in a sophisticated securities fraud scheme involving stock in the companies Oncology Pharma, Inc. (ticker symbol ONPH) and Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc. (ticker symbol FPWM). Individuals who believe they may be potential victims of the scheme are encouraged to reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Massachusetts.

Between in or about January and July 2021, Oncology Pharma, Inc. was a thinly traded company that traded on the over-the-counter securities market.  In January 2021, Padilla engaged in manipulative trading in ONPH designed, at least in part, to artificially drive up the company’s stock price. Thereafter, Padilla facilitated the sale of approximately three million ONPH shares – which were under undisclosed common control – to investors during a promotional campaign.
    
Between January 2020 and April 2021, Padilla participated in a similar scheme involving the shares of Charlestowne Premium Beverages Inc., a thinly traded company that traded on the over-the-counter market. Padilla similarly orchestrated an effort designed, at least in part, to artificially increase Charlestowne’s stock price and then facilitated the sale of millions of Charlestowne’s shares during a promotional campaign.

Individuals who traded in ONPH and/or FPWM during the time periods indicated above, and who believe that they may be potential victims of this fraud, should contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov. In the email, please indicate the security traded and the transaction details for the trade(s): date(s), number of shares, price, whether it was bought or sold and an assessment of gains or losses. Please indicate whether there is supporting documentation and a representative from the government will assist you in transferring it in a secure manner, as well as contact you with additional verification questions.

Email submissions are due by Dec. 1, 2023. For more information, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-padilla-et-al 

Padilla is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 1, 2023, at 3:00 pm in U.S. District Court in Boston, Courtroom 21, One Courthouse Way, Boston, Mass.  

Padilla’s co-defendant, Kevin C. Dills, has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on Feb. 12, 2024, in in U.S. District Court in Boston, One Courthouse Way, Boston, Mass. Dills is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A recidivist sex offender was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for failing to register as a sex offender when he moved from Haverhill, Mass. to Fryeburg, Maine.

Frank Boyd, 54, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison and five years of supervised release. On March 27, 2023, Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender, in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Boyd was charged by complaint in August 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022. He has remained in state custody on unrelated charges since his arrest in July 2022. 

Boyd was a Level 3 Sex Offender who had been convicted of sex offenses against children in 2001 and 2009 and was required to register as a sex offender and update his registration any time he moved or changed employment.  
 
In 2020, Boyd registered and listed a Haverhill, Mass. address as his residence. On or around March 23, 2021, it was determined that Boyd was no longer living at the Haverhill residence he had listed on his registration form and was found to have moved to Fryeburg, Maine. He did not register as a sex offender in Maine nor update his sex offender registration in Massachusetts at any point prior to his arrest on state charges on July 27, 2022. Boyd has three prior state court convictions in 2006, 2008 and 2015 for failure to register as a sex offender.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Kevin Neal, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Maine made the announcement today. The Haverhill and Fryeburg (Maine) Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

Melvin Antonio Perez Medina, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue; two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Jan. 18, 2024.

Perez Medina was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022 along with alleged co-conspirators Fraily Rodriguez Morillo and Manuel Fredis Guerrero Guzman. 

According to court documents, between March 2022 and August 2022 Perez Medina, and allegedly, Morillo and Guzman conspired to distribute fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue in and around the Lawrence, Woburn, Wilmington and Andover areas. As part of the conspiracy, Perez Medina distributed fentanyl on three separate occasions during the summer of 2022. At the time of Perez Medina’s arrest in August 2022, he was found in possession of nearly two kilograms of a mixture containing fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue concealed inside of a cereal box.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, and of possession with intent to distribute and/or distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and no greater than life, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charge of distribution and/or possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years in prison and no greater than 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Waltham and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division is 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 charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – Four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine in and around the Quincy and Weymouth areas. 

The following individuals were charged in a nine-count second superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl and fentanyl analogue: Aderito Patrick Amado, 33, of Brockton; Erica Vieira, 26, of Brockton; Neylton Fontes, 35, of New Bedford; and Chaasad Cyprien, 23, of Oxford.

The defendants were initially indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022 and subsequently charged in a first superseding indictment in December 2022. 

According to the charging documents, Amado, Vieira, Fontes and Cyprien participated in a conspiracy to distribute certain quantities of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine in and around Quincy and Weymouth until at least January 2021. All face charges of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine, or fentanyl analogue. Amado is also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug crime. Due to a previous felony conviction, Amado is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, or 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 40 grams or more of fentanyl or 500 grams or more of cocaine, or conspiracy to do the same, provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine or fentanyl, or conspiracy to do the same, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of possessing a firearm and ammunition 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. Each 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 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 in the investigation was provided by the Weymouth and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is 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.

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 Tewksbury man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for the September 2020 robbery of a Santander Bank branch in Tewksbury.

Nicholas O’Neil, 40, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In February 2023, O’Neil pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery.

Just before 10 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2020, an individual – later identified as O’Neil – entered a Santander Bank branch in Tewksbury, handed the teller a demand note and a red cloth bag. After obtaining cash from the teller, O’Neill exited the bank and sped away in a white pickup truck which was reported to police by a banking customer who had observed the robbery and followed the vehicle. The pickup truck was located a short time later and O’Neil was arrested without incident. The red cloth bag containing the stolen cash and demand note was found inside the vehicle.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan M. Columbus made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Tolkoff and John J. Reynolds III of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced on Oct. 20, 2023 for attempting to distribute fentanyl while already on pretrial release for a separate fentanyl offense.

Anyelo Aybar-Franco, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to time served (three years in prison) and three years of supervised release. On July 21, 2023, Aybar-Franco pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. 

Aybar-Franco was arrested in Lawrence in October 2020 after he was observed attempting to conduct a hand-to-hand drug deal. During the arrest, over 65 grams of fentanyl was seized from Aybar-Franco’s person.  

At the time of the conduct, Aybar-Franco was on state pretrial release for a separate fentanyl distribution offense he was charged with just two months prior. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations in Boston and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a regional organized theft crew that stole catalytic converters from over 490 vehicles. It is alleged that the crew stole from ATMs and jewelry stores.

Santo Feliberty, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property; conspiracy to commit bank theft; bank theft; and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The firearm charge arises from a pistol and ammunition found during the search of Feliberty’s residence as part of the catalytic converter theft investigation. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 31, 2024 

Feliberty and six other men were arrested on April 12, 2023, and charged with offenses related to the theft, transportation and sale of stolen catalytic converters taken from over 490 vehicles during 2022 and 2023.

Catalytic converter theft has become a nationwide problem across a multitude of state, local, and federal jurisdictions due to the high-valued precious metals they contain – some of which are more valuable than gold, with black-market prices being more than $1,000 each in recent years. The theft of a vehicle’s catalytic converter results in damage that renders the vehicle inoperable – both mechanically and legally under EPA regulations – until properly replaced. 

Feliberty was a member of an organized crew that stole catalytic converters from at least 492 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2022 and 2023 alone. It is believed that a significant number of additional thefts have not been identified or were not ever reported to law enforcement, however. According to court documents, the crew was skilled and able to locate and cut away the catalytic converter from a vehicle within a minute in most instances – often utilizing battery operated power-tools, car jacks. It is alleged that, on numerous occasions, the defendants targeted more than 10 vehicles in a single night, with one night reporting thefts from 26 vehicles.  

 It is alleged that the crew was led by Rafael Davila, who engaged in catalytic converter thefts and burglaries on a full-time basis – committing thefts multiple nights per week for upwards of eight hours a night. Rafael Davila was allegedly responsible for the planning of and transportation to each targeted theft – using his vehicle, determining price values for stolen converters and purchasing needed materials. It is further alleged that he maintained meticulous notes accounting for the locations that he and his co-conspirators had targeted and the number of catalytic converters that had been stolen, including the makes and models and when they were dropped off.

During the plea hearing, Feliberty admitted to participating in thefts of catalytic converters from 52 vehicles across eight cities and towns in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Once in possession of the stolen catalytic converters, the crew would then sell them to Jose Torres, who would accumulate stolen catalytic converters from multiple theft crews and then in turn sell them to scrap dealers in the Northeast – transacting approximately $30,000 to $80,000 in stolen catalytic converters per week. Torres then sold stolen catalytic converters to scrap dealers who have since been charged federally for interstate transportation of stolen property and money laundering in the District of Connecticut, the Eastern District of California and Northern District of Oklahoma.

In addition to the catalytic converter thefts, Feliberty pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal from ATMs of federally insured banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022. It is alleged that this conspiracy involved the use of stolen trucks to rip the ATMs from the ground and gain access to the vault. 

Feliberty also admitted to committing burglaries of two New Hampshire jewelry stores on Jan. 12, 2023, and the theft of a trailer on Dec. 14, 2022. The combined total value of the jewelry stolen during the burglaries was determined to be over $137,000, with each store facing approximately $10,000 in costs to repair the resulting damage.

Additionally, a firearm and ammunition were found at Feliberty’s residence. Feliberty is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.

On May 17, 2023, Torres pleaded guilty to his role in the catalytic converter theft conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14, 2023. On May 24, 2023, Oyola pleaded guilty to the ATM and jewelry store burglaries and will be sentenced at a later date. On March 13, 2023, Nicolas Davila pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on January 9, 2024. Charges against Rafael Davila, Carlos Fonseca and Zachary Marshall are pending and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The charge of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce provides 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. The charges of interstate transportation of stolen property each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit bank theft provides 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. The charges of bank theft provides for a sentence of up to 10 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for up to 10 years, 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; 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; and Kevin Gallagher, Director of Operations for the National Insurance Crime Bureau, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Connecticut, the Northern District of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of California; Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN). Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

Over 70 local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut contributed to this investigation through the submission of their investigations of catalytic converter thefts in their jurisdiction. The Massachusetts police departments contributing to the investigation were Abington, Acton, Andover, Auburn, Bedford, Bellingham, Beverly, Billerica, Burlington, Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Chelmsford, Concord, Cranston, East Hampton, Easton, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Hampton, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Holliston, Holyoke, Hudson, Ipswich, Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, Malden, Mansfield, Medford, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Needham, Newton, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Pembroke, Plymouth, Randolph, Rockland, Sharon, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Tyngsborough, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, Wilmington, Woburn and Worcester. The Bow, Concord, Derry, Hooksett, Hudson, Londonderry, Manchester, Salem and Windham New Hampshire police departments also contributed. The South Windsor and Windsor Connecticut Police Departments also contributed to the investigation.

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

BOSTON – A Malden man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine disguised as Adderall, Xanax or oxycodone in and around the Malden area. 

Matthew Ramos, 26, pleaded guilty on Oct. 17, 2023 to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and other controlled substances. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Jan. 18, 2024. Under the terms of Ramos’ plea agreement, he faces a sentence of 90 months in prison.

Ramos was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2021 along with co-defendant Igor Desouza. A search of the defendants’ residence on May 25, 2021 resulted in the recovery of a firearm, over 200 rounds of ammunition, black tar heroin, MDMA crystals, cocaine, doses of LSD and nearly 10,000 pills that include thousands of methamphetamine pills pressed to resemble Adderall or Xanax; thousands of fentanyl pills (some mixed with xylazine) pressed to resemble oxycodone; thousands of MDMA tablets; amphetamines; and oxycodone. 

Desouza pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 1, 2023.  

The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and other controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; the Malden Police Department; and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – Two operators of a loan brokerage business and a loan officer at a Massachusetts-based bank were sentenced today for conspiring to defraud a bank and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Ted Capodilupo, 58, of South Easton; Joseph Masci, 72, of Boston; and Brian Ferris, 45, of Braintree, were each sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to one year and one day in prison and two years of supervised release. Additionally, Capodilupo and Masci were each ordered to pay restitution of $1,424,087 and Ferris was ordered to pay restitution of $1,236,251. The defendants previously pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. 

Between 2015 and 2018, Capodilupo, Masci and Ferris agreed to defraud a bank and the SBA by submitting fraudulent loan applications to the bank, which administered the SBA’s small business express loan program, to secure bank loans guaranteed by the SBA. Specifically, Capodilupo and Masci submitted dozens of fraudulent loan applications on behalf of borrowers who were ineligible for traditional business loans. These loan applications misrepresented, among other things, the identity of the real loan recipients and the businesses for which the loans were sought. 

Capodilupo and Masci also falsified applicant signatures and falsely indicated that no broker had assisted in preparing or referring the loan applications, when they in fact charged borrowers excessive fees for obtaining these fraudulent loans. Ferris, who worked as a loan officer at the bank, processed the fraudulent loan applications and in some cases fabricated federal tax forms in support of the applications. Ferris caused the bank to issue loans for which Capodilupo and Masci submitted applications and received a kickback from Capodilupo and Masci of approximately $500 per loan. The scheme generated approximately $270,000 in fees for Capodilupo and Masci. Many of the loans that the bank issued as a result of the fraudulent applications ultimately defaulted, resulting in substantial losses to the bank.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), New York Region; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Brian Tucker, Special Agent-in-Charge, Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Special Agent in Charge of SBA OIG’s Eastern Region made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Florida man was convicted yesterday by a federal jury in Boston for stealing tuition and deposits from families in Boston, and across the country, who planned to send children to sports camps in the Boston area in July and August 2019. 

Mehdi Belhassan, 53, of Tampa, Fla., was convicted following a six-day jury trial of two counts of wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2024. Belhassan was arrested and charged in March 2021.

Beginning in the fall of 2018, Belhassan falsely claimed that he would operate his annual MB Sports Camps at a Boston-area college. Later, Belhassan announced that the camps would occur at a Boston-area university. Based on these representations, Belhassan collected tuition and deposit payments totaling over $380,000 from at least 303 families in Massachusetts and across the United States, as well as advance payments of $191,000 from an online payment company and a commercial finance company. As part of his scheme, Belhassan provided the lender with a fraudulent contract with the college that contained the forged signature of a college administrator.

“Mr. Belhassan preyed upon the trust of families, promising summer fun while plotting his own indulgence. He lured in, deceived and betrayed over 300 families – diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars not to the promised camps, but to personal pursuits like plastic surgery and extravagant vacations at Las Vegas casinos,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today's verdict is a testament to our office’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who exploit trust for personal gain are held accountable.”

“Mehdi Belhassan stole tens of thousands of dollars from hundreds of hard-working families across the country without a second thought, and with today’s conviction, he has been held accountable for lining his own pockets at their expense,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “During these challenging times, financial fraudsters are doing everything they can to cheat people out of their hard-earned money, while the FBI is doing everything we can to make sure they don’t succeed.”

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. 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. Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil and Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Bronx, N.Y. man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, as well as traveling with the intent to engage in illicit conduct with the minor victim.

Markell Greene, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit conduct. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Feb. 15, 2024. Greene was initially arrested on state warrants in February 2022 and indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022. He has remained in custody since. 

Greene persuaded, enticed and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Additionally, on or about Feb. 14, 2022, Greene traveled in interstate commerce with a motivating purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the minor victim. 

In late 2021, Greene sent an unsolicited Snapchat message to the then-12-year-old minor victim, who believed Greene to be approximately 16 years old. Over the course of several months, Greene manipulated the minor victim into sending sexually explicit photos and videos of herself at his request. Greene also directed the minor victim to brag about her age during the sexually explicit videos.  

In February 2022, Greene persuaded the minor victim to meet him in-person at a parking lot in Arlington. On Feb. 14, 2022, Greene arrived to the agreed upon meet up in an SUV, picked up the minor victim and parked the car in an adjacent parking lot. There, Greene raped the minor victim and forced her to engage in oral sex, which he recorded on Snapchat. 

“Mr. Greene is a serious danger to our communities. Under the cloak of social media anonymity, he targeted, exploited and violated the innocence of a vulnerable child. His conduct was beyond despicable and I commend the incredible bravery of the victim for coming forward. Today, this predator now stands as a convicted felon who now faces more than a decade in federal prison for his reprehensible conduct,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “There is no higher priority for this Office and our law enforcement partners than protecting children. This case is a stark reminder of the evil that exists in our society. Make no mistake about it, if you prey on children in this District we will spare no resource to ensure our children are safe from harm and hold dangerous offenders accountable.”

“What Markell Greene admitted to doing today to this 12-year-old child was heinous, and his actions will have untold ramifications on this brave victim’s life for years to come,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Every day, FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force is working hard to protect our most vulnerable by identifying and apprehending predators like Greene who take advantage of their innocence to commit atrocious acts.”

The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of travel with intent to engage in illicit conduct provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Arlington, Mass. and New York City Police Departments; the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm 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.

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

Pedro Romo-Gonzalez, 42, pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns, who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 19, 2023. Romo-Gonzalez was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023.

On at least eight separate occasions between April 1998 and July 2010, Romo-Gonzalez was removed from the United States or voluntarily returned to Mexico. After each removal, he illegally re-entered the United States without obtaining the appropriate permission to reenter. He was first encountered by federal authorities in April 1998 after he entered the United States via California without being admitted by an immigration officer. In December 2009, Romo-Gonzalez was convicted in Arizona state court of solicitation to commit smuggling. Most recently, on June 13, 2023, federal immigration authorities were notified of Romo-Gonzalez presence in Massachusetts after he was arrested on unrelated state charges. 

The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides 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; Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Westford Police Chief Mark Chambers made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.