District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Sudbury man was arrested today on child pornography charges.

Tyson Tu, 49, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Tu will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.

According to the charging document, from approximately Feb. 20, 2021 through April 13, 2021, Tu received child pornography. Tu also allegedly possessed child pornography on or about April 13, 2021.

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and 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, 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 on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 

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

BOSTON – A Romanian national was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2021 in federal court in Boston in connection with an ATM skimming scheme operating throughout Massachusetts and other states including Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and South Carolina. 

Nemanja Milosavljevic, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 27 months in prison and one year of supervised release. On March 31, 2021, Milosavljevic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (more commonly known as RICO conspiracy), conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices and aggravated identity theft.

Milosavljevic was a member of the Hornea Crew, led by co-conspirators Constantin Denis Hornea and Ludemis Hornea, and engaged in ATM skimming – obtaining debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting bank customers, creating counterfeit cards and making unauthorized withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts. Over a period of 18 months, the Crew installed skimming devices to steal debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting ATM customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia and other locations within the United States. The stolen information was then used by Milosavljevic and others to clone the victim customers’ debit cards and make unauthorized withdrawals from those victim customers’ bank accounts at ATMs throughout the United States. Members of the Crew transferred money throughout the United States and to Romania and the People’s Republic of China. Some of those transfers were for the purchase of skimming devices and related components from abroad.

In May 2018, Judge Young sentenced Constantin Denis Hornea to 65 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $242,141 in restitution and a money judgment of $54,260. Also in May 2018, Judge Young sentenced Ludemis Hornea to 42 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $57,422 in restitution and a money judgment of $11,124.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was also provided by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Service; Massachusetts Department of Correction; Connecticut State Police; the Amherst, Billerica, Braintree, Boston, Florence (S.C.); Greenwich (Conn.), Houston (Texas) New York City (N.Y.), Quincy, Saluda (S.C.), Southwick, Waltham, Whately, and Westwood Police Departments; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department; and the Solicitor’s Offices of Greenville and Saluda Counties. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran, Chief of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit, prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A former Inca, or leader, of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges.

Juan Liberato, a/k/a “King Prodigy,” 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Jan. 26, 2022.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

Liberato admitted to being the Inca, or leader of the Latin Kings in Massachusetts. In this role, Liberato attended various meetings that were recorded by cooperating witnesses where the business and affairs of the gang were discussed and decisions were made concerning the operations of the gang. In particular, Liberato was recorded in attendance at a series of leadership meetings where crimes being committed by the gang, including drug deals and violence, were discussed.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Liberato is the 53rd defendant to plead guilty in the case.

The RICO conspiracy charge 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 other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Mendell’s Criminal Division 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 remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for false statement and Social Security fraud charges.

Juan Baez, 57, who previously resided in Roslindale, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 14 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Baez was also ordered to pay restitution of $18,997. Baez will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On June 10, 2021, Baez pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number and one count of making a false statement relating to health care matters.

Baez used the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses and identification cards. He also used the identity to apply for and receive MassHealth benefits.  Between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2019, Baez fraudulently received approximately $18,997 in federally funded MassHealth benefits he was not entitled to by using the victim’s identity.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; John Cremonini, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Philip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud his former employer, a Massachusetts-based uniform-supply company, by falsifying invoices.

Keith Smedley, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to three years in prison and one year of supervised release. Smedley was also ordered to pay restitution of $1,548,467 and forfeiture of $500,000. On June 8, 2021, Smedley pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud.

Between approximately 1998 and March 2019, Smedley and others defrauded the uniform-supply company by causing the company to pay fake invoices for products that were not actually delivered, and by diverting other products that they re-sold for their own benefit. In addition, Smedley and his co-conspirators created a fake supply company and caused the uniform-supply company to pay more than $1.5 million in fraudulent invoices for purported products that he knew would never be delivered or used. 

Smedley is the second former employee of the uniform-supply company to be sentenced in connection with the conspiracy. Co-conspirator Richard Ritz was sentenced on Sept. 8, 2021 to 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Co-conspirator Brian Halpern pleaded guilty in August 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Ian Stearns of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Melrose man was sentenced today in connection with his role in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme. 

Alan Neal Scott, 68, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On July 1, 2021, Scott pleaded guilty to four counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft.

Over the course of six years, Scott submitted numerous fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Scott submitted these claims using his own identity as well as the identities of various individuals, including some who were not eligible for unemployment benefits because they were incarcerated at the time and could not have been employed. Moreover, the fraudulent claims all reported prior employment at a non-operational Massachusetts-based business also associated with Scott. As a result of these fraudulent claims, the DUA sent unemployment benefits funds to several addresses connected to Scott and deposited funds into accounts he controlled. Scott also submitted fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance claims in the names of others.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigation; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Jermaine Jack, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Unemployment Assistance, Program Integrity Unit also provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case. 

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Navy relating to glove liners purchased for use on nuclear submarines.

Adrian Urena, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one year of probation. On March 24, 2021, Urena pleaded guilty to one count of possessing false papers to defraud the United States and one count of making false statements.

Urena was an employee of a Lawrence company that contracts with the U.S. Navy through the Defense Contract Management Agency. The contractor entered into a contract to provide the Navy with white glove liners for use on nuclear submarines meeting certain specifications, including that the contractor would test the glove liners for heat sensitivity and obtain an associated certificate of testing. To avoid the testing requirement, Urena manufactured counterfeit certificates of testing and compliance, and presented these counterfeit certificates to a Department of Defense contracting officer. When investigators questioned Urena about the counterfeit certificates, Urena falsely claimed that the certificates were not intended to be genuine.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Michael T. Wiest, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office; and Patrick Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of Mendell’s office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A former New Bedford Police Department (NBPD) officer and NBPD Union Treasurer pleaded guilty today to stealing nearly $50,000 in union funds.

Joshua Fernandes, 41, of New Bedford, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2022. According to the terms of the plea agreement, the government will recommend a sentence of 12-18 months in prison, two years of supervised release, a fine, restitution of $48,630 and forfeiture. Fernandes was charged on July 19, 2021.

Fernandes admitted to abusing his position as Union Treasurer by using nearly $50,000 in union funds to pay for personal expenses including vacations, family outings, and a monthly wireless family phone plan, among other things. Fernandes carried out his scheme by reimbursing his personal credit card accounts with union funds and by using the union’s credit cards to pay directly for non-union expenses.

The charging statute provides 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 other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Jonathan Russo, District Director of U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia M. Carris, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit, is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Florida man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to deceive banks and credit card companies into processing more than $150 million in credit and debit card payments on behalf of merchants involved in prohibited and high-risk businesses, including online gaming, debt collection, payday lending and online pharmaceuticals among others. 

Thomas Wells, 74, of Martin County, Fla., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 23, 2022. Wells was charged along with three others on Aug. 26, 2021.

Wells was the owner of Priority Payout, an independent sales organization based in Florida, whose clients included merchants engaged in prohibited or high-risk transactions and merchants that had already been terminated from card payment processing networks such as Visa and Mastercard for fraud, chargeback, or other compliance concerns. Wells referred merchant clients of Priority Payout seeking payment processing services to Allied Wallet Inc., a payment processing company that obtained for its clients access to services that enabled them to accept debit and credit card payments over global electronic payment networks run by Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, among others (card brands) and served as an intermediary between its merchant clients and financial institutions that were members of the card brand networks (acquirers).

Wells engaged in a scheme to defraud several acquirers, the card brands and others of money and property by knowingly misrepresenting that his merchant clients were engaged in the sale of low-risk retail goods to obtain debit and credit card payment processing for those clients from banks and credit card companies and fraudulently inducing them to provide payment processing services to these merchant clients. According to the charging documents, Wells and his co-conspirators accomplished this by, among other means, creating shell companies, designing fake websites that purported to sell low-risk retail goods and using industry-standard codes that miscategorized the true nature of the transactions. Through the scheme, Wells admitted that he personally obtained approximately $700,000 in fraudulent payment card processing proceeds. 

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Deputy Chief of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, and Trial Attorney Randall Warden of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for participating in a money laundering conspiracy that laundered or attempted to launder between $150,000 and $250,000 worth of drug sales proceeds and illegally reentering the United States after being deported.   

Rafael Pascal, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to four years in prison. Pascal will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. On July 12, 2019, Pascal pleaded guilty to illegal reentry of a deported alien and money laundering conspiracy.

In January 2002, Pascal was deported to the Dominican Republic. In May 2012, Pascal was located in Palm Beach County, Fla., after illegally reentering the United States. Pascal subsequently pleaded guilty to illegal reentry and was deported in 2013. At some point thereafter, Pascal again illegally reentered the United States prior to being arrested in May 2018 on state drug charges. A fingerprint match at the time of his arrest identified Pascal as a previously deported alien and he was taken into federal custody and charged in this case.

From approximately March 2017 through at least July 2017, Pascal participated in a conspiracy to launder money obtained from the sale of controlled substances. Pascal obtained cash proceeds from drug sales from various individuals and then delivered the money to individuals who were responsible for laundering the money. On one occasion, Pascal picked up and delivered $59,060 to an undercover agent. Pascal also arranged for drug sales proceeds in New York to be picked up and laundered. Pascal was held responsible for the laundering of more than $200,000 in drug proceeds.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The Wakefield, Arlington, Ipswich, Somerville and Boston Police Departments provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James E. Arnold and Philip C. Cheng of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit 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 Dominican national previously residing in Lawrence was sentenced yesterday for fentanyl possession.

Esteban Nivar Araujo, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years in prison and two years of supervised release. Nivar Araujo may be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On May 13, 2021, Nivar Araujo pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

In July 2019, a search of Nivar Araujo’s residence resulted in the seizure of over 50 grams of a substance containing fentanyl and drug distribution paraphernalia. The fentanyl was packaged in multiple bags and stored alongside hundreds of grams of a substance likely used to dilute the fentanyl for resale.

This case is part of a coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley called “Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against approximately 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Weinograd of Mendell’s Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Saugus woman was convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud her elderly uncle of his life’s savings.

Jayne Carbone, 52, was convicted following a 5-day trial of four counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2022. Carbone was indicted in February 2020.

Between approximately January 2017 and September 2018, Carbone stole over $400,000 from her elderly uncle, whose personal finances she managed. She fraudulently withdrew funds from his retirement annuity and transferred funds from his personal checking account to bank accounts held by Carbone. To conceal the scheme, Carbone provided her uncle with falsified statements for his financial accounts reflecting inflated balances.

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and James R. Drabick of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Boston man with ties to the Orchard Park housing development in Roxbury was sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 for drug trafficking and firearm offenses.

Lyndon Scott, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 117 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 20, 2021, Scott pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.  Scott also received an 18-month concurrent sentence for violating his terms of federal supervised release.

In September 2019, investigators conducted a search of Scott’s vehicle and recovered approximately 17 grams of crack cocaine packaged for sale and a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol loaded with 13 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition from a hidden compartment in the center console of his car. Additional cocaine and drug trafficking paraphernalia were recovered from Scott’s apartment.

Scott was previously convicted on two occasions for unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, making this conviction his third firearm-related offense. At the time of his arrest, Scott was on supervised release for a 2017 federal conviction for cocaine distribution near a housing development.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Suffolk County Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – The former Wake Forest University women’s volleyball coach has entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) relating to his involvement in the college admission scheme.

William Ferguson, 51, of Winston-Salem, N.C., has entered into a DPA with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which was accepted by the District Court. If, after a period of two years and payment of a $50,000 fine, Ferguson complies with the DPA, the government will move to dismiss the pending charge.

According to the DPA, Ferguson accepted responsibility for his conduct as outlined in the Statement of Facts filed with the court. According to the Statement of Facts, in or about June 2016, Ferguson was hired to be the head coach of women’s volleyball at Wake Forest. In or about February 2017, Ferguson agreed with William “Rick” Singer to secure admission to Wake Forest for a student by designating the student as a recruit to the women’s volleyball team in exchange for future purported donations that would inure to Ferguson’s personal benefit. The student had previously been placed on the wait list for admission to the university.

On or about March 24, 2017, Ferguson designated the student as a volleyball recruit, but did not disclose to the Wake Forest admissions office that he did so in exchange for future purported donations that would inure to Ferguson’s personal benefit. 

In March 2019, Ferguson was charged and arrested in connection with this case. In September 2020, Ferguson was charged in a second superseding indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud.

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney and Kriss Basil of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A former member of the Connecticut Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges.

Esther Ortiz, a/k/a “Queen India,” 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2022.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

Ortiz admitted to her membership in the Latin Kings and the Latin Kings’ Regional Crown Council. As Regional Crown Council member, Ortiz advised leadership, heard evidence concerning violations of the manifesto and determined punishment for members who violated the rules of the Latin Kings. One such trial, which took place in March 2019, was captured on video. This trial involved complaints against Angel Roldan, a/k/a “King Big A,” the former second-in-command, or Cacique, of the Latin Kings in Massachusetts, who had reportedly robbed fellow gang members of drugs and failed to repay drug debts owed to the leader of the New Bedford Chapter.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Ortiz is the 52nd defendant to plead guilty in the case. Roldan pleaded guilty and was sentenced in July 2021 to seven years in prison.

The RICO conspiracy charge 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 other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Mendell’s Criminal Division 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 remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – Two former executives were convicted today by a federal jury in Boston in connection with conspiring to bribe athletic officials to facilitate their children’s admission to the University of Southern California (USC) as purported athletic recruits.

John Wilson, 62, of Lynnfield, Mass., and Gamal Abdelaziz, 64, of Las Vegas, Nev., were convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. Wilson was also convicted of three counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, two counts of federal programs bribery, and one count of filing a false tax return. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 16, 2022 for Abdelaziz and Feb. 17, 2022 for Wilson.

In 2013, Wilson agreed to pay William “Rick” Singer $220,000 to facilitate his son’s admission to USC as a purported water polo player. More specifically, in October 2013, Singer sent Wilson a water polo profile for Wilson’s son that included fabricated awards and swim times. After Wilson’s son was accepted to USC, Wilson wired $100,000 to Singer’s sham charity, the Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), $100,000 to Singer’s company, The Key, and $20,000 directly to Singer. Wilson paid the bribe from a corporate account and deducted it as a business expense. In 2018, Wilson agreed to pay Singer $1.5 million to have his twin daughters admitted to Harvard University and Stanford University as purported sailing recruits.

In 2017, Abdelaziz agreed to pay Singer $300,000 to facilitate the admission of his daughter to USC as a purported basketball recruit, despite the fact that she did not make her high school’s varsity team and did not play basketball at all during her junior and senior years in high school. In a July 2017 email, Singer asked Abdelaziz for an action shot of his daughter playing basketball to be used in an athletic profile for USC. A co-conspirator, Laura Janke, created a phony athletic profile for Abdelaziz’s daughter which included falsified awards and athletic honors. In October 2017, Abdelaziz’s daughter was admitted to USC as a basketball recruit and in March 2018, she was formally accepted and Abdelaziz wired $300,000 to KWF.

Singer and Janke previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

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

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud provides for a maximum sentence of 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 charge of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of federal programs bribery provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Mark Deckett, Resident Agent in Charge of the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Frank, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney and Ian Stearns of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

UPDATE: In May 2023, The First Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the jury conviction of defendant Gamal Abdelaziz and all but one conviction of defendant John Wilson. In June 2023, the government moved to dismiss all criminal charges against defendant Gamal Abdelaziz and four of the five criminal charges against defendant John Wilson.

BOSTON – A former Nantucket Bank employee pleaded guilty today to her role in two fraud conspiracies.

Rushell Harris, 32, of Nantucket, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2022. Harris was charged on Sept. 16, 2021.

Between approximately June 2014 and November 2018, Harris engaged in two separate wire fraud conspiracies. In the first conspiracy, Harris exploited her position at Nantucket Bank by obtaining personally identifiable information of a customer and surreptitiously taking photographs of the victim’s account information. Harris then shared that information with co-conspirators who attempted to transfer funds out of the customer’s bank account without authorization.

In the second conspiracy, Harris helped perpetuate a fraudulent lottery scheme targeting at least 13 victims. According to the charging documents, victims were contacted by co-conspirators via phone and informed that they won large prizes, and that in order to receive the funds they needed to pre-pay taxes on their winnings. In reality, no such prizes existed. After victims made an initial payment, they were advised that additional advance payments were required for expenses such as insurance, transportation or other international customs’ fees. Harris and her co-conspirators transferred proceeds of the scheme to associates in Jamaica and in the United States.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nantucket Police Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Worcester man was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

Terrence Kenol, 24, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Sept. 3, 2021, Kenol was arrested and is currently in state custody. He will make an appearance in federal court in Worcester at a later date.

According to the charging documents, on Sept. 3, 2021, Kenol was found in possession of a firearm and a loaded magazine in his vehicle. At the time of the offense, Kenol was on probation for a prior state conviction for kidnapping and assault and battery. 

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

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

BOSTON – A Rhode Island man was sentenced yesterday for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

Daniel Barbosa, 26, of Pawtucket, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 12, 2021, Barbosa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine.

The charge arises from Barbosa’s delivery of a substance containing fentanyl in October 2017. Barbosa was charged as part of an investigation into a drug trafficking organization distributing large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and other controlled substances in the greater Boston area.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corey Steinberg and John Mulcahy of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

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

BOSTON – A New York man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for heroin and fentanyl possession and distribution charges.

James De La Cruz, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to nine years in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 7, 2021, De La Cruz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

In September and October 2019, De La Cruz spoke with a cooperating witness several times and met with the cooperating witness to arrange a large drug shipment from New York to the Boston area. On Oct. 21, 2019, De La Cruz and his co-defendant Juan Santos Roque drove from New York to Peabody, Mass. with approximately 10 kilograms of fentanyl and six kilograms of heroin in a hidden compartment in Santos Roque’s vehicle. After meeting with the cooperating witness, law enforcement agents arrested both men.

Santos Roque pleaded guilty in October 2020 and was sentenced on May 12, 2021 to 63 months in prison and two years of supervised release.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Peabody Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Dracut man was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with the armed robbery of three convenience stores in Lowell and Tewksbury on Dec. 24, 2020.

Michael Vangpa, 32, was indicted on three counts of interfering with commerce by robbery and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Vangpa was previously charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 12, 2021 and has remained in federal custody since.

According to the charging documents, on Dec. 24, 2020, Vangpa robbed three nearby convenience stores—two in Lowell and one in Tewksbury—within an hour. In each of the robberies, Vangpa allegedly brandished a firearm and demanded money from the store clerks. It is also alleged that Vangpa discharged the firearm during one of the robberies.

The charge of interference with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence provides for a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed and up to life in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. The Lowell, Tewksbury, Dracut and Nashua (N.H.) Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for false representation of a Social Security number and theft of government money. 

Ramon Hiciano, 64, a Dominican national previously residing in Roxbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Hiciano was also ordered to pay restitution of $84,610 and will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.

Hiciano used the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen to apply for and receive federally funded MassHealth benefits, Section 8 housing assistance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Between January 2016 and August 2020, Hiciano used the victim’s identity to fraudulently receive approximately $58,093 in MassHealth benefits, $20,780 in Section 8 housing assistance benefits and $5,736 in PUA benefits. 

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 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The theft of government money charges provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Jermaine Jack, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Philip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations; Nikitas Splagounias, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, New York Field Office; and Suzanne M. Bump, State Auditor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Mendell’s Major Crimes 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 Brockton man pleaded guilty today to his role in a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Lawrence to Cape Cod.

Djuna Goncalves, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana; two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Under the terms of the plea agreement the government will recommend a sentence of 308 months in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 9, 2022.

According to court documents, in the fall of 2018, federal and state law enforcement agents began investigating a violent Brockton drug crew headed by Djuna Goncalves. The investigation revealed that Djuna Goncalves worked with others, including his brothers Cody and Anthony Goncalves, to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations in Brockton. The neighborhood surrounding the crew’s Brockton base has been the scene of numerous murders, shootings and other crimes of violence for several years.

During the investigation, large quantities of heroin and fentanyl were seized from Djuna Goncalves, who had previously been convicted of state drug distribution charges and who distributed fentanyl while on pre-trial release for state drug charges. A search of the Brockton base resulted in the seizure of a Glock .45 caliber pistol, a large number of ammunition clips to various types of firearms, accompanying ammunition, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, suboxone strips, a hydraulic press, packaging materials, digital scales, approximately $12,000 in cash and an AK-47 assault rifle:

In all, 17 defendants, including Djuna, Cody and Anthony Goncalves, were indicted as part of a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Lawrence to Cape Cod. Of the 17 defendants named in the indictment, nine have been sentenced. Djuna Goncalves is the 15th defendant to plead guilty in the case. On Sept. 12, 2021, Cody Goncalves pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 2, 2022. The remaining defendants are scheduled to plead guilty. Anthony Goncalves is scheduled to plead guilty on Oct. 12, 2021.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and 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 100 grams or more of heroin and 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 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 charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, from and after the sentence imposed on the applicable drug trafficking counts, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz; and Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea E. Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

The detailed 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 North Andover woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for performing illegal silicone injections in exchange for money. 

Gladys Araceli Ceron, 73, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to two years in prison and two years of supervised release. The judge reserved judgment on restitution for a later date. On April 2, 2021, Ceron pleaded guilty to five counts of delivery for pay of an adulterated or misbranded medical device received in interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead.

“For 15 years, Ms. Ceron chose to make money by injecting her cosmetics customers with toxic silicone – all the while knowing that by doing so she was exposing them to serious harm, disfiguration and potentially death,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “We are committed to protecting the health and safety of the public, and the sentence imposed by the court shows that people who callously put people at great risk of harm will be punished.”

“Injecting silicone oil not approved for human use can result in serious bodily injury or death,” said Jeffrey J. Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who offer this dangerous product to the public.”

From approximately 2004 to 2019, Ceron, who operated her business in Lawrence, performed illegal bodily injections using “gluteal material” that she obtained from a source in Florida. Lab tests of the material subsequently confirmed that it contained silicone oil – a substance that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns can travel through blood vessels and cause a stroke, death or permanent disfigurement.

In 2018, Ceron agreed to perform buttock enhancing and facial injections for an individual. During a recorded meeting on May 24, 2018, Ceron told the individual that she charged $500 for buttock injections and $60 for each wrinkle-filling injection. A search of Ceron’s business in Lawrence the following month resulted in the seizure of several bottles and syringes of a substance that tests revealed to be silicone oil. Numerous uncapped, used syringes were also recovered from the business.

Ceron admitted to performing illegal injections to augment the buttock or fill wrinkles of five victims in exchange for money and misled her victims about her qualifications and the identity and safety of the material she was injecting. According to court documents, the government estimates that hundreds or thousands of individuals may be victims of the illegal injections she performed.

Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell, FDA OCI SAC Ebersole and Justin C. Fielder, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Y. Hemani of Mendell’s Health Care Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Romanian national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy charges relating to an ATM skimming operation that stretched throughout Massachusetts and other states including Connecticut, New York and South Carolina. 

Dragos Nelu Hornea, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (more commonly known as RICO conspiracy) and one count of conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 3, 2022. Dragos Hornea was extradited from Germany to the District of Massachusetts in April 2021 after being indicted in May 2017.

Dragos Hornea was a member of the Hornea Crew, led by co-conspirators Constantin Denis Hornea and Ludemis Hornea. Over a period of 18 months, the Crew engaged in an ATM skimming scheme to steal debit card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting bank customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, South Carolina, Georgia and other locations within the United States. Members of the Crew installed skimming devices in the following locations: Amherst, Bellingham, Billerica, Braintree, Chicopee, Quincy, Southwick, Waltham, Weymouth and Whately, Mass.; Enfield, Conn.; Columbia, Greenville, Greenwood, Mauldin, and Saluda, S.C.; Savannah, Ga.; and Yadkinville, N.C. The stolen information was then used by Hornea and other co-conspirators to clone the victim customers’ debit cards and make unauthorized withdrawals from victim bank accounts at ATMs throughout the United States. In total, the skimming activities resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.

Dragos Hornea was indicted with 13 co-defendants in May 2017, along with another co-defendant charged in a superseding indictment. All 15 defendants have pleaded guilty and those sentenced have received sentences ranging from one year and one day to 65 months in prison.

The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistance with the investigation was also provided by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Service; Massachusetts Department of Correction; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Amherst, Billerica, Braintree, Boston, Quincy, Southwick, Waltham, Whately, and Westwood Police Departments in Massachusetts; Greenwich (Conn.), New York City, Houston, Florence and Saluda (S.C.) Police Departments; Connecticut State Police; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Department; and the Solicitor’s Offices of Greenville and Saluda Counties. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided invaluable assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Dragos Hornea to the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy E. Moran, Chief of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit, is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a November 2020 bank robbery.

Angel Robles, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Jan. 27, 2022. Robles was indicted on Jan. 14, 2021.

On Nov. 9, 2020, Robles entered a Citizen’s Bank in Concord, gave the teller a note that read, “ROBBERY, ONLY READY TO DIE ON A DEATH WISH,” stole approximately $358 and fled the bank. Robles also admitted to committing three additional robberies. On Aug. 3, 2020, Robles robbed a Metro PCS in Lynn, holding a gun against the clerk’s back before stealing $4,000 from a safe and fleeing the store. On Oct. 17, 2020, Robles robbed a clothing store in the Northgate Shopping Plaza in Revere with another individual, stealing five North Face jackets valued at $1,500. When a clerk attempted to stop Robles he said, “If anyone comes at me I’m going to shoot s*** up.” When the clerk made an additional attempt to stop Robles, he told the clerk “Back up before I stab you.” On Oct. 28, 2020, Robles robbed a Citizen’s Bank inside a Stop & Shop in Lynn, stealing $5,000. Surveillance video from the robbery showed that Robles brandished what appeared to be a handgun.

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Lynn Chief of Police Christopher P. Reddy; Concord Police Chief Joseph F. O’Connor; and Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan Gotlob and Kenneth G. Shine of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A former Boston Police officer has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty in connection with an ongoing investigation of overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) evidence warehouse. 

Thomas Nee, 64, of Quincy, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.

According to charging documents, from at least January 2015 through February 2019, Nee submitted false and fraudulent overtime slips for overtime hours that he did not work at the evidence warehouse. The “purge” overtime, was a 4 – 8 p.m. weekday shift intended to dispose of old, unneeded evidence. “Kiosk” overtime involved driving to each police district in Boston one Saturday a month to collect old prescription drugs to be burned.

For the “purge” shift, Nee claimed to have worked from 4 – 8 p.m., but he and, allegedly, other members of the unit, routinely left at 6 p.m., or earlier. For the “kiosk” shift, Nee submitted overtime slips claiming to have worked eight-and-one-half hours, when in fact he and, allegedly, other members of the unit, only worked three-to-four hours of those shifts. As a result, between January 2015 and August 2017, Nee personally collected approximately $16,642 for overtime hours he did not work.

Nee is the 15th Boston Police officer to have been charged in connection with committing overtime fraud at the Boston Police Department’s evidence warehouse. Nine of the charged officers have pleaded guilty.

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

The charge of embezzlement from an agency receiving federal funds 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. The charge of conspiracy 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 other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Russell W. Cunningham, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Washington Field Office; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Mendell’s Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Saugus woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to her role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that manufactured and distributed hundreds of thousands of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl.

Nicole Benton, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Jan. 20, 2022. Benton was charged on June 30, 2021 along with co-conspirators Vincent Caruso, Laurie Caruso and Ernest Johnson, who have pleaded not guilty.

According to the charging documents, Benton was a member of a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) operated by Vincent Caruso, a self-admitted Crip gang member, that included Johnson and Vincent Caruso’s mother, Laurie Caruso, among others. The DTO allegedly sold counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl – produced using multiple large pill presses capable of generating thousands of pills per hour – to street gangs for further distribution on the North Shore of Massachusetts. A single counterfeit fentanyl pill allegedly retails between $10-$20, thereby generating millions of dollars in retails sales.

Benton admitted to distributing more than 100,000 pressed fentanyl pills on behalf of the organization. Based upon pills seized during the investigation, 100,000 pills would equate to more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl. During a search of Benton’s residence on June 30, 2021, approximately 40 grams of fentanyl pills and a firearm were seized.

The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to life 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 conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of 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 possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense provides for a mandatory consecutive sentence of five years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell: Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts States Police made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorneys’ Offices; Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk County Sheriffs’ Departments; Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Danvers, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Salem, Saugus, Somerville and Revere Police Departments; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Bolton (ME), Bangor (ME), Portland (ME) and Westbrook (ME) Police Departments; and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Sarah Hoefle of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester on identity fraud charges and illegal reentry after deportation.

Pedro Wilson Hernandez-Castillo, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to seven years in prison. Hernandez-Castillo will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. On June 9, 2021, Hernandez-Castillo pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and unlawful reentry of a deported alien.

On June 15, 2020, Hernandez-Castillo was stopped by a state trooper while driving and asked to provide his identification. The defendant provided the driver’s license and Social Security card of another individual. After determining that the defendant provided false information, the trooper arrested Hernandez-Castillo.

Hernandez-Castillo illegally re-entered the United States after being deported in August 2018 following a conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin. Hernandez-Castillo was removed from the United States on four previous occasions: December 1998, June 2000, August 2011 and August 2018. Hernandez-Castillo was previously convicted of unlawful reentry of a deported alien in 2013.  

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Todd Lyons, Field Office Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston; and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for fraudulently using another person’s Social Security number.

Manuel Maria German Familia, 30, who previously resided in Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 14 months in prison. German Familia will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. On June 24, 2021, German Familia pleaded guilty to one count of false representation of a Social Security number.

In 2016, German Familia fraudulently used a Social Security number that was assigned to someone else in an application at the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; Billerica Police Department and Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III of Mendell’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Bianca Blanchard, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya Zobel scheduled sentencing for Jan. 6, 2022. Blanchard was charged in August 2019.

Blanchard was arrested in May 2019 after law enforcement determined that she had fired a bullet in the direction of a moving vehicle on a residential street in Dorchester, which led to a retaliatory shooting. A search of Blanchard’s residence resulted in the recovery of a Ruger .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol and an extended magazine containing 12 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. Due to a prior conviction, Blanchard is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. U.S. Attorney Elianna Nuzum of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Sandisfield man was indicted today on multiple counts of child sexual exploitation offenses.

Brian Hohman, 57, was charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of commission of a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. Hohman is currently being held in Connecticut on unrelated state charges and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield at a later date.

According to the indictment, on various dates between October 2018 and July 2020, Hohman employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed and coerced minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. The indictment further alleges that during this time period, Hohman committed a felony offense involving a minor while he was a registered sex offender. 

The charges of sexual exploitation of children and attempted sexual exploitation of a child provide for a sentence of at least 25 years and up to 50 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of commission of a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender provides for a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison in addition to any sentence imposed for the charges of sexual exploitation of children. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the State of Connecticut, Litchfield Judicial District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. 

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

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

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

BOSTON – A Nigerian national was indicted today in federal court in Boston in connection with allegedly operating an unlicensed money transmitting business to launder the proceeds of online investment fraud schemes.

Tochukwu Abel Edeh, 31, a Nigerian national previously residing in Jacksonville, Fla., was indicted on one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business. Edeh was previously charged by criminal complaint and has been in custody since his arrest on Sept. 2, 2021.

According to the indictment, Edeh managed used car dealerships and currency transfer services in Texas, Florida and Nigeria. This included a trading company as well as a cryptocurrency and e-commerce firm, both of which were based in Nigeria, through which Edeh exchanged Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for profit.

The indictment alleges that in or around 2015, Edeh conspired with others to launder and transmit proceeds of Ponzi-style investment fraud schemes based in Nigeria. Specifically, the schemes purported to offer trading and Bitcoin investing services when, in fact, investor funds were allegedly stolen and later victims’ investments were used to pay purported returns to earlier investors. Edeh allegedly laundered the fraud proceeds using a network of co-conspirators in the United States and using his personal and business accounts in the United States and Nigeria. Edeh, along with his alleged co-conspirators, did not hold money transmitting licenses in their respective states of residents, nor were they registered as money transmitters as required by federal law.

The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. 

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

BOSTON – A Maine woman was arrested today in connection with stealing federal housing benefits from 2004 to 2020.

Rebecca Amelia Cranford, 62, was charged with one count of theft of government funds. Cranford made her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Maine this afternoon and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the indictment, from December 2004 until February 2020, Cranford allegedly stole approximately $113,067 in federal housing assistance benefits.

The charge of theft of government funds 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 from the offense, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Regional Field Office, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Maine State Police and Cumberland County (Maine) Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Dominican national previously deported pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Jose Perez Felix, a/k/a “Eugenio Piedraita-Rivera,” “Roberto Patricio Ramirez,” “Grande,” 43, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone and marijuana and one count of distribution of heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 8, 2022. Perez Felix was charged in May 2019.

In 2018, federal and state law enforcement agents began investigating a violent Brockton drug crew headed by Djuna Goncalves. The investigation revealed that Goncalves and others distributed large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana throughout Southeastern Massachusetts from a base of operations in Brockton. The investigation also identified Perez Felix, a previously deported Dominican national, as a drug supplier to Goncalves and others. Intercepted communications from Perez Felix’s cellphone determined that he distributed large quantities of heroin, fentanyl and cocaine from a base of operations in Boston. On April 9, 2019, agents observed Perez Felix deliver heroin to a customer in Dorchester and subsequently seized 60 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture from the buyer. A search of Perez Felix’s residence in May 2019 resulted in the seizure of cell phones, materials commonly used to package drugs for street level sale, digital scales and a bag containing over 60 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture.

In all, 17 defendants, including Perez Felix, were indicted as part of a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy reaching from Boston to Brockton to Cape Cod. Of the 17 defendants named in the indictment, nine have been sentenced. Perez Felix is the 14th defendant to plead guilty in the case.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone, and marijuana provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of heroin provides 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 court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

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

BOSTON – An individual previously residing in Lawrence who has been living under a false identity was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on charges arising from his use of the name and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen.

An individual referred to as “John Doe” was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 40 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 4, 2021, Doe pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, making a false statement concerning a health care benefit program and aggravated identity theft.

Beginning in approximately 2014, Doe used the identity of a U.S. citizen to apply for MassHealth benefits and Massachusetts identification documents, among other things. Between approximately 2014 and 2018, Doe received approximately $25,081 in MassHealth benefits, to which he was not entitled. Doe’s identity remains unknown.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Duane and Benjamin A. Saltzman of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man was arrested today and charged with threatening an interracial couple via Facebook Messenger on Jan. 6, 2021, and with attempting to prevent the couple from reporting these threats and harassment to law enforcement.

Stephen M. DeBerardinis, 45, of Boston and Dedham, was charged with one count of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person; one count of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion; and one count of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment. DeBerardinis was arrested today and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today.

“My office aggressively prosecutes people who threaten racially-motivated violence because such threats are illegal, despicable and an affront to American values,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “We take a hard line on threats and intimidation, and these charges make clear that such conduct will be prosecuted federally.”

“Today’s arrest cannot mitigate the fear that Stephen DeBerardinis caused, and the sense of security this couple lost, but it does bring him to justice for allegedly sending a series of rage-filled messages threatening horrific acts of violence,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Acts of intimidation and threats of violence perpetrated against people because of their race, ethnicity, color, or creed are reprehensible. While we all have the right to believe whatever we want, when those views threaten or lead to violence, that’s a different story. We encourage anyone who has been the victim of, or witness to, such crimes to report it to the FBI.”

According to the indictment, in late December 2020, the victims, a white woman and a Black man, announced their engagement on Facebook which included photographs of the couple. DeBerardinis, who did not know the couple personally, could view the photographs. On or about Jan. 6, 2021, DeBerardinis allegedly used Facebook Messenger to send the couple a series of threatening and harassing messages concerning the couple’s interracial relationship. According to the indictment, DeBerardinis said, “EWWWWWWWW YOUR A N***** F***** F****** DIRTY A** WHITE TRASH,” and continued with similar messages. When the couple messaged DeBerardinis that they were reporting him to law enforcement, he allegedly sent them a message that said, “SNITCHES GET STITCHES” with a picture of brass knuckles. It is further alleged that DeBerardinis threatened, “Read up more on me lol… you will see how me and my crew burn n*****s alive,” and “And white whores like you well…. get rape and killed THAN we cut off body parts and mail them to your family lol.”  The victims reported the incident to local police, who contacted federal law enforcement.

The charge of transmitting in interstate commerce threats to injure a person provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. The charge of tampering with a witness and victim by intimidation, threats, and corrupt persuasion provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of tampering with a witness and victim by harassment provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell, FBI SAC Bonavolonta and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott L. Garland and Torey B. Cummings, of Mendell’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team, are prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Holbrook man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

Andre Echevarria, 41, of Holbrook, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 1, 2022.

Echevarria was charged along with 24 others as part of Operation Snowfall. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities by Boston-based street gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.

The investigation also targeted large-scale drug suppliers and their associates. It is alleged that the targets continued to distribute cocaine and cocaine base throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown.

Echevarria was identified as a customer for co-defendants and wholesale drug suppliers Winston McGhee and, allegedly, Derek Hart. Over the course of the investigation, McGhee and, allegedly, Hart provided quantities of cocaine to Echevarria for purposes of drug trafficking. In June 2021, McGhee was sentenced by Judge Stearns to 115 months in prison. Hart has not yet been apprehended and remains a fugitive.

Echevarria is the eighth defendant to plead guilty in the case. The 17 remaining defendants are pending trial.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine 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. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistance with the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran of Mendell’s Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.

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

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

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his involvement with a drug trafficking organization based in Lawrence.

Leisy Baez-Zapata, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately 26 months in prison). Baez-Zapata will be subject to deportation proceedings. On April 21, 2021, Baez-Zapata pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents, in October 2018, federal agents began investigating a Lawrence-based drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl in the Lawrence area of Massachusetts. Between October 2018 and July 2019, agents used a cooperating witness to make controlled purchases of fentanyl from the drug trafficking organization. On July 25, 2019, Baez-Zapata delivered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl as part of one of those controlled purchases. 

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with conspiring to manufacture and distribute controlled substances.

Binh Thanh Le, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly known as ecstasy, Ketamine and Alprazolam (Xanax). U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Jan. 19, 2022.

Le was indicted in June 2019 along with co-conspirators Steven McCall and Allante Pires.

According to court records, Le received wholesale quantities of controlled substances in the mail. Le and, allegedly, his co-conspirators then processed and manufactured those controlled substances at an office space Le rented in Stoughton. To distribute the drugs, Le created and operated a vendor site called “EastSideHigh” on Dark Net Market websites, where various drugs for sale, including cocaine, MDMA, Ketamine and Xanax, were advertised.

During the investigation, an undercover agent ordered MDMA from one of the “EastSideHigh” vendor sites on a Dark Net Marketplace, and later observed Le deposit the envelope containing the order into a U.S. Postal Service collection box in Stoughton. Numerous other envelopes containing MDMA and Ketamine, which are connected to this drug distribution scheme, were intercepted. 

On March 27, 2019, Le met with undercover law enforcement officers at a hotel in Norwood to exchange $200,000 worth of Bitcoin for cash. Le was arrested after he transferred the bitcoin to the agents.  

More than 18 kilograms of MDMA, almost seven kilograms of Ketamine, more than $200,000 worth of Bitcoin and more than $100,000 in cash were seized by authorities. Investigators also recovered from the office space in Stoughton a computer with the “EastSideHigh” vendor page open, numerous packages containing MDMA and Ketamine, various shipping and packaging materials and a pill press. 

McCall and Pires have pleaded not guilty and are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey made the announcement. Special assistance with the investigation was provided by the Homeland Security Investigations in Colorado; Postal Inspectors from around the country; and the Stoughton, Norwood, and Brockton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – An Acton man was convicted by a federal jury yesterday in connection with his role in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Treasury Department of more than $50 million in tax-free energy grants as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Christopher N. Condron, 49, was convicted following a 13-day jury trial of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to claims and three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Feb. 4, 2022.

In August 2017, Condron was indicted along with his partner, Jessica Metivier, for conspiring to submit fraudulent applications to the Treasury Department for energy grants available as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Recovery Act provided tax-free grants to individuals and businesses who put certain “specified energy property”—such as wind farms and gasification systems that convert trash into electricity—into service in a trade or business.

From May 2009 to June 2013, Condron and Metivier submitted fraudulent grant applications to the Treasury Department on behalf of four different Massachusetts companies, Acton Bio Energy, Concord Nurseries, Kansas Green Energy and Ocean Wave Energy. For each of the applications, Condron and Metivier falsely claimed that Metivier and her entities had acquired, placed into service, or started construction of energy property, which included three different bio-fuel gasification systems, purportedly built at a cost of approximately $88 million, and an $84 million wind farm project. Condron and Metivier sought to be reimbursed for more than $50 million based on those costs—which they never actually incurred. To support their applications, Condron and Metivier submitted fraudulent documentation to a Massachusetts-based attorney who, in turn, submitted the applications to the Treasury Department on their behalf. Evidence at trial demonstrated that Condron vastly overstated property costs in the grant applications and as a result, defrauded the government out of more than $8.7 million. Additionally, further evidence showed that Condron attempted to obtain another $17 million in energy grants.

On Feb. 26, 2021, Metivier was sentenced by Judge Talwani to one year of probation.

The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to claims provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. and Elysa Q. Wan of Mendell’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Wenham man was arrested today in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program funds made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act by submitting false applications.

James Joseph Cohen, 58, was charged with one count of bank fraud. Cohen was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

According to the charging documents, between April 2020 and September 2021, Cohen submitted six false applications to financial institutions and to the Small Business Administration to obtain pandemic-related relief funds on behalf of companies that he controlled. It is alleged that in the applications, Cohen falsely misstated the revenues of the companies, the persons employed, or amounts paid to those employees in the 12-month period preceding the application. In total, Cohen is alleged to have fraudulently obtained more than $1.2 million in pandemic relief funds based upon these false submissions. 

The charge of bank fraud provides a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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

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

BOSTON – A Lynn man has been indicted in connection with illegally possessing and selling firearms.

Jufrandy Montano, 32, was indicted on one count of dealing in firearms without a license, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. Following an initial appearance today before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein, Montano was returned to the State of Maine where he is currently serving a sentence on unrelated state charges.

According to the indictment, Montano sold three firearms between March 4 and March 19, 2020. Additionally, on March 4, 2020, it is alleged that Montano was in possession of a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Records. Montano does not possess a license to import, manufacture, or deal firearms and is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction.

The charge of dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of an unregistered firearm provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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

BOSTON – A Lowell man was arrested today in connection with a scheme to allegedly defraud his clients out of their life savings.

Steven Xigoros, 54, was indicted on one count of investment adviser fraud, four counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of unlawful monetary transactions and one count of filing false tax returns. Xigoros will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.

The indictment alleges that between 2013 and 2020, Xigoros advised his clients to entrust their money to him to make various investments and to purchase securities. Xigoros then used those funds himself, including to make payments against his gambling debts. In order to deceive his clients about the fact that he had stolen their money, it is alleged that Xigoros made a series of false statements to his clients about where their money was invested and when he would repay it. He also allegedly used one client’s name and Social Security number to open a bank account and wrote a check on that account to another client, knowing the check would bounce. According to the indictment, in total, Xigoros defrauded his clients of approximately $2.1 million. 

The charge of investment adviser fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed for wire fraud, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. 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 up to $250,000 or twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the financial transaction. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

BOSTON – A Lancaster man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for committing three bank robberies. 

Matthew Alden, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman to 136 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution of $14,914. Due to prior convictions, including a 2018 robbery conviction, Alden was sentenced as a career offender. In December 2020, Alden pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery. 

On Dec. 12, 2019, Alden robbed the Cornerstone Bank on South Main Street in Leicester, stealing $9,906 and fleeing the scene. On Dec. 27, 2019, Alden robbed the Avidia Savings Bank on Maple Street in Marlborough, stealing $3,980 before fleeing the scene. Alden later robbed the Avidia Bank on Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury on Feb. 21, 2020, stealing $1,028. A few hours later, a gas station surveillance camera caught Alden purchasing items inside of the gas station. In addition, video surveillance from a nearby location depicted Alden near the vicinity of the bank the day before, looking at video cameras.   

Alden was arrested on Feb. 26, 2020. A search of Alden’s phone revealed photos of Alden wearing clothing that was worn during the robberies as well as multiple photos of quantities of cash. For example, on Dec. 12, 2020, the same day as the Leicester bank robbery, Alden took a photo inside of his vehicle holding a large sum of cash. Metadata showed that the photo was taken approximately 14 minutes after the robbery occurred. In addition, the defendant wrote himself notes on his phone, including the address of the Shrewsbury bank and reminders to throw away clothing at the Salvation Army. Evidence confirmed that Alden went to the Salvation Army in January 2020 and a consignment store after the Shrewsbury robbery. At the time of his arrest, Alden was holding a notepad, with a list of 12 banks in Massachusetts and New Hampshire that he had not yet robbed, along with notes such as, “TD open until 7 on Friday check to see rear.” A search of Alden’s house recovered, among other items, several articles of clothing identical to those worn during the robberies.   

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Westford, Athol, Lunenberg, Leicester, Marlborough, Framingham, Foxborough, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Lancaster and Nashua (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in connection with brandishing a loaded sawed-off shotgun in an apartment while arguing with teenaged residents in December 2019.

Steven Dillon, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2022. Dillon was indicted in June 2020.

On Dec. 25, 2019, Dillon brandished a loaded sawed-off shotgun in an apartment while arguing with teenaged residents. Police found the shotgun and ammunition in a bedroom used by Dillon, who was previously convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.

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

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – Four health care entities that operate and manage skilled nursing facilities have agreed to resolve allegations that their Massachusetts-based skilled nursing facilities denied admission to prospective residents because they were prescribed an FDA-approved medication for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD).

“Compliance with the ADA is mandatory, and the ADA protects people with recognized disabilities, such as Opioid Use Disorder,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “Vindicating the right to treatment afforded by the ADA is important to my office – it is an effective way to prevent discrimination against disabled people and ensure fair access to treatment for those in recovery.” 

The United States allege that CareOne Realty, LLC; Hebrew Senior Life, Inc.; Sheehan Health Group, LLC (which manages Laurel Ridge and Presentation Rehabilitation Centers); and Wingate Healthcare violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by denying admission to individuals because they were being treated with buprenorphine or methadone, medications used to treat OUD. Individuals receiving medication to treat OUD are generally considered disabled under federal civil rights laws. The individuals who were the subject of the complaints in these cases were seeking admission for health issues unrelated to their dependency, but also needed treatment for OUD. 

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, these entities will, among other things, adopt a non-discrimination policy and provide training on the ADA and OUD to admissions personnel. The entities will also pay civil penalties totaling $55,000, of which $35,000 will be suspended and forgiven if the facilities comply with the terms of the agreement.

Since May 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has settled with eight healthcare providers to resolve ADA violations arising from OUD treatment.   

Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell of the District of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom handled the matters.

BOSTON – A Taunton man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly possessing hundreds of images depicting child pornography.

Rudy Frabizio, 59, was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled by the court. Frabizio was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in May 2021 and has been in custody since.

According to the charging documents, during a search of Frabizio’s residence on May 19, 2021, agents found at least 465 images and videos depicting child pornography. It is also alleged that Frabizio uploaded images depicting child pornography via his Google account. Frabizio is a registered Level 2 sex offender due to an April 2009 conviction for possession of child pornography.

The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Due to his prior conviction, Frabizio faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement. The Taunton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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

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

BOSTON – A Mexican national pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with selling two kilograms of cocaine.

Ana Guadalupe Acosta Grajeda, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Jan. 14, 2022. Grajeda and her son, Carlos Acosta Estrella were indicted in October 2019.

According to court documents, Grajeda and Estrella were arrested after they were videotaped selling two kilograms of cocaine to a cooperating witness in East Boston. A search of Estrella and Grajeda’s apartment allegedly resulted in the seizure of one kilogram of heroin, numerous cellphones, a high-powered tactical shotgun with a laser sight and a box of ammunition for the shotgun.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years 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 Nathaniel R. Mendell; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BOSTON – A teacher at Foxborough High School was indicted by a federal grand jury yesterday in connection with possession of child pornography and receiving child pornography over the internet.

Thomas Davis, 41, of Mansfield, was indicted on one count of possession and receipt of child pornography. Davis was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 26, 2021 and has remained in custody since that time. 

According to the charging documents, on Aug. 26, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Davis’ residence and seized a laptop belonging to Davis. An on-site examination revealed approximately 40 images of child pornography on the laptop, including images involving prepubescent minors under the age of 12-years-old. A forensic analysis of Davis’ laptop revealed additional amounts of child pornography.

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

The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Mansfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case

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

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