District of Maryland

Greenbelt, Maryland – Larry Clinton Proctor, age 33, of District Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and cocaine, and to illegal possession of a machinegun.  

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to Proctor’s guilty plea, between May 13, 2021 and June 24, 2021, law enforcement arranged four controlled purchases of a total of approximately 194 grams of crack cocaine from Proctor.  On each occasion, Proctor confirmed the amount of the purchase and the meeting time and location.  At the direction of law enforcement, the person conducting the buys would meet with Proctor, obtain the narcotics, pay Proctor, then leave the area.

As detailed in his plea agreement, after the controlled buy on June 24, 2021, law enforcement stopped Proctor’s vehicle and Proctor was arrested.  The serial numbers of the cash recovered from Proctor’s vehicle matched the serial numbers of the pre-recorded funds used by law enforcement in the drug transaction with Proctor. 

A search warrant was also executed at Proctor’s residence on June 24, 2021.  Law enforcement recovered 27 firearms from Proctor’s home, including a .357 caliber machinegun with an obliterated serial number and a 3D printed switch, which made the firearm fully automatic.  The other guns recovered included: two 12-gauge semi-automatic shotguns; a .357 caliber semi-automatic pistol; three .44 caliber revolvers; a 9mm semi-automatic pistol; five .45 caliber semi-automatic pistols—two with obliterated serial numbers; two 7.62x25 caliber semi-automatic pistols; a .45 caliber/.410 gauge caliber revolver; two .500 caliber revolver; three 7.62x39mm caliber semi-automatic pistols—one with an obliterated serial number; a.22LR caliber semi-automatic pistol; two .50 caliber semi-automatic pistols; a .308 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number; and two firearms silencers.  In addition, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,358 rounds of ammunition; multiple high-capacity magazines; a tactical scope; speed loaders; two body armor vests; other firearms parts and accessories; and a digital scale with cocaine residue.

A gold Mercedes sedan was parked in front of Proctor’s home during the search.  A canine unit performed a scan of the Mercedes and provided a positive alert on the vehicle.  Law enforcement subsequently obtained and on June 30, 2021, executed, a search warrant on the Mercedes.  Approximately 351 grams of cocaine and approximately 75 grams of crack cocaine was found in the car.

Proctor admitted that he possessed the crack cocaine and cocaine with intent to distribute it and that he possessed the machinegun and other firearms to facilitate his drug distribution.

Proctor faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of a machinegun.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for September 16, 2022 at 9:30 a.m.

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Engelking, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Peninsula Internal Medicine, L.L.C., a medical practice located in Salisbury, Maryland, and the Estate of Candy Burns have paid the United States $286,631.33 to settle allegations that Peninsula Internal Medicine (“PIM”) and its former owner, Candy Burns, submitted false claims to the United States for medical services that were not provided.   

The settlement agreement was announced today by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Medical providers know that they can only bill for services that are actually provided,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to ferreting out fraud in Medicare and other federal healthcare programs and will hold practices and individuals accountable for their actions.”

On June 25, 2019, Candy Burns was indicted by the United States on one count of health care fraud and nine counts of wire fraud.  The criminal case was captioned United States v. Burns, Criminal Case No. JKB 19-CR-313.  On or about December 5, 2019, Burns suffered a brain aneurysm and persisted in a vegetative state.  The United States dismissed the indictment against Burns in April 2020.  In January 2021, Burns died.

According to the settlement agreement, from January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2016, PIM and Burns billed and were paid for blood draws that were not rendered.  The blood draws were performed by LabCorp while in PIM’s Winterplace Parkway location and LabCorp was paid for these blood draws.  Additionally, PIM and Burns were paid by Medicare for smoking cessation counseling that was not performed.  Finally, the settlement agreement resolves claims that PIM and Burns violated Medicare’s “incident to” rules by billing for services performed by mid-level providers on Fridays when no physician supervised or directed medical services.  Medicare reimburses at a higher rate if the services provided by a mid-level provider is performed “incident to” the direction and supervision of a physician.  The only physician employed at PIM did not work on Fridays.  Notwithstanding that fact, Burns and PIM billed Medicare for services on Fridays as if they were supervised by a physician, thus falsely entitling them to greater reimbursement.  

The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Kimberly Elliott, a former employee of PIM, under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act.  The False Claims Act permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and obtain a portion of the government's recovery.  The civil lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Kimberly Elliott v. Peninsula Internal Medicine, LLC and the Estate of Candy Burns, JKB 15-176 (D. Md).  As part of the settlement, the Ms. Elliott will receive $57,326.26. 

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

U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HHS Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation.  The case was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Corcoran.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/affirmative-civil-enforcement.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Roy Edward Gibbs, age 66, of Frederick, Maryland to 130 months in federal prison, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.  Judge Hollander also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Gibbs must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Frederick County Sheriff Charles A. “Chuck” Jenkins; and Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith.

According to his plea agreement, in July 2006, Gibbs was convicted in Montgomery County Circuit Court on four counts involving the sexual abuse of two prepubescent girls.

After serving his sentence for the sexual abuse convictions, Gibbs began downloading and distributing images and videos of child pornography using a peer-to-peer file-sharing software.   Between August 2019 and November 2019, Gibbs repeatedly distributed child pornography to undercover law enforcement officers over a file-sharing network. 

For example, in August 2019, a detective from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office determined that a device using an IP address associated with Gibbs's residence made 19 different files containing child pornography available for download.  The detective was also able to establish a direct connection to Gibbs's tablet IP address and download seven packages of files containing child pornography, including prepubescent minor girls.  Between November 4 and November 14, 2019, an FBI Special Agent in Dallas also downloaded a number of images depicting child pornography made available by Gibbs on the same file-sharing network.

As detailed in the plea agreement, on November 15, 2019, law enforcement agents executed a series of federal search warrants on Gibbs's residence and vehicles.  Forensic examination of several electronic devices, including Gibbs’s tablet and its 32 MicroSD card, revealed at least 568 images of child pornography.  Additionally, at least 45 images examined during the forensic review were identical to images downloaded by investigators over the file-sharing network after making direct connections to Gibbs's tablet.  The forensic review of Gibbs’s tablet also revealed data shredding/deletion applications used by Gibbs to attempt to hide evidence of his distribution and possession of child pornography.          

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.   For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.           

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI Baltimore, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Riley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce R. King, Chief Counsel of the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office cross-designated to handle this case, who prosecuted the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Lloyd Phillip Simon, age 71, of Baltimore, Maryland to 70 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for two 2019 bank robberies.  Judge Blake also ordered Simon to pay restitution in the amount of $2,034.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, on August 13, 2019, Simon entered a building in  Baltimore, Maryland that had a bank located in the atrium area of the building.  As Simon approached the bank, he reached into a donation bin located in the atrium and took one of the donations placed there—a black backpack.  Simon placed his black jacket and the backpack on a bench outside the bank.  Simon then entered the bank, approached Bank Teller 1, who was in the process of counting money from the bank’s night drop, and demanded money, stating, “Give me that money. I have a gun. No dye packs.”  Fearing for her safety, Bank Teller 1 gave Simon all of the money that she had been counting.  Simon immediately left the bank, grabbing the black jacket and backpack.  As he quickly walked away, Simon put the black jacket on to cover his white shirt.  As Simon exited the facility, he took off his hat and glasses, allowing surveillance cameras to capture his face.  

On August 19, 2019 Simon robbed the same bank.  A video surveillance camera captured Simon entering the facility, wearing large glasses and a baseball cap to partially obscure his face.  Simon went through a back corridor and did not immediately enter the bank.  Instead, Simon sat on a bench outside of the bank and waited until the bank security guard left for a break.  Simon then put on his glasses and entered the bank.  Bank Teller 1 immediately recognized Simon from the previous robbery.  She told Simon to wait in line, and then went to press the panic button.  Simon approached Bank Teller 2, and stated “Give me all of your money, I want the big stuff!”  Fearing for her safety, Bank Teller 2 gave him money, and Simon stated, “Hurry up, I’m not joking!”  Bank Teller 2 then gave Simon more money and slipped a hidden GPS tracking device into a wad of cash.  As Simon left the bank, he can be seen on surveillance video fanning through the money that he took from Bank Teller 2.  Simon found the hidden GPS tracking device, removed it from the wad of cash and dropped the tracker on the floor of the bank as he left.

On August 28, 2019, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant at Simon’s apartment.  Law enforcement recovered clothes that matched the clothing worn by Simon during the robberies, as well as a black backpack similar to the backpack Simon took from the donation bin. In addition, investigators recovered a single round of .357 ammunition in Simon’s kitchen cabinet. 

On January 29, 2013, Simon was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison, after being convicted of bank robbery.                    

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Duey and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – Jeremiah Peter Watson, age 24, of Hanover, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in relation to a violent crime.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith of the U.S. Park Police.

According to his guilty plea, on February 25, 2021, Watson drove to the entrance of a United States Secret Service facility, positioning his vehicle in a manner that blocked the driveway and prevented other drivers from passing through the entrance of the facility.  When a security officer (Victim 1) approached Watson to ask him to move his vehicle, Watson became verbally combative and did not move his vehicle.

A second security officer (Victim 2) approached Watson and asked him to move his vehicle and informed him that if he did not move his vehicle, a United States Secret Service agent would arrest him. Watson continued to be combative towards the security.  During the confrontation, Watson approached Victim 1 aggressively and lunged at Victim 2, putting his face within inches of Victim 2’s face. 

When Watson lunged at Victim 2 and reached into his pocket, Victim 2 was startled and believed that Watson was armed.  In response, Victim 2 began to pull out his firearm and Victim 1 sprayed pepper spray at Watson.  Watson then retreated into his vehicle and drove away.

Before Watson drove away, the victims noted Watson’s distinctive colored cell phone case and license plate number.  As Victim 1, Victim 2, another security guard (Victim 3) and a United States Secret Service agent (Victim 4), began to re-enter the facility building, the victims saw Watson’s vehicle return and saw a flash of a gunshot coming out of the driver-side window towards them.  Watson did another U-turn and fired at least four additional shots before he drove away.  

As stated in his guilty plea, United State Park Police officers responded to the scene where law enforcement recovered three 9mm ammunition shell casings and located a bullet fragment within a wall.  Through the review of information associated with Watson’s license plate registration, law enforcement linked the vehicle to Watson’s Hanover, Maryland address and identified the vehicle at Watson’s residence later that night.

On February 26, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants at Watson’s residence and recovered Watson’s cell phone, 9mm ammunition, two empty 9mm cartridge cases, and a privately made 9mm handgun without a serial number, also known as a “ghost gun”.  Forensic examination concluded that the cartridge cases recovered from Watson’s vehicle had been fired from the recovered ghost gun and that the bullet fragment recovered from the scene was consistent with having been fired from the same ghost gun. 

All four victims were acting in the course of their duties as federal officers or employees when Watson discharged his firearm at them.

Watson and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Watson will be sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for July 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.   

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the U.S. Park Police for their work in the investigation and thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service for their assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visithttps://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Philip Abramowitz, age 50, of Pikesville, Maryland, with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud and Calvin Abramowitz, age 48, of Lakewood, New Jersey, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and for making false statements on a loan application.

The defendants will have initial appearances on March 24, 2022, beginning at 1:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Baltimore before U.S. Magistrate Judge Coulson.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Shawn Rice of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General.

According to the four-count indictment, from May 2016 to April 2017, Philip and Calvin Abramowitz conspired to defraud two financial institutions to obtain money and property under fraudulent pretenses.  Allegedly, Philip, Calvin Abramowitz, as well as others submitted mortgage applications totaling $535,448 to fund the purchase of two Baltimore Properties.  Allegedly, the loan applications contained false information that misrepresented the financing of the purchases and the ownership interests and intentions of the involved parties.

As alleged in the indictment, Philip Abramowitz instructed family members to apply for and receive Federal Housing Administration loans in their names in order to finance the purchase of two of his Baltimore properties.  Further, the indictment alleges that Philip and Calvin Abramowitz concealed Philip Abramowitz’s involvement in the real estate transactions and submitted false bank records and company filings during the loan application process to conceal the buyers’ and sellers’ familial relation.

Further, the indictment alleges that Philip Abramowitz falsified LLC records to create the illusion that his property manager was the sole owner of the selling entity in both property transactions and instructed his property manager to sign all closing documents as the “seller” to finalize the sales and the disbursement of loan proceeds.  In addition, the indictment alleges that Philip Abramowitz provided funds to Calvin Abramowitz to cover Calvin Abramowitz’s and another family members closing costs for both properties.

If convicted, Philip Abramowitz faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud and 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud.  If convicted, Calvin Abramowitz faces a maximum sentence of 30 years for bank fraud, a maximum of 30 years for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and 30 in federal prison for making false statements on a loan application.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HUD-OIG for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Martin Clarke, who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging two defendants in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy operating in the Westminster area of Carroll County, Maryland.  Approximately 300 law enforcement personnel and agents assisted in the arrest of one defendant and the execution of 14 search warrants.  James Samms, age 30, of Westminster, Maryland, was arrested today.  Rodney Gaines, a/k/a “Butta,” “Butter,” and “Butters,” age 33, also of Westminster, remains a fugitive.  Law enforcement is continuing to search for Gaines.  Anyone with information as to Gaines’s whereabouts is asked to call “1-800-CALL-FBI.”

The criminal complaint charges Gaines and Samms for conspiracy and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including crack cocaine and fentanyl.  The criminal complaint was filed on March 21, 2022 and unsealed today upon the arrest of Samms.  Samms is expected to have an initial appearance later today in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson.

This case arose from the investigative efforts of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force, the Maryland State Police, and the Carroll County Drug & Firearms Trafficking Task Force, comprised of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Westminster Police Department, and the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees; Chief Thomas J. Ledwell of the Westminster Police Department; and Carroll County State’s Attorney Allan Culver.

“Keeping our neighborhoods safe from drug trafficking and violence is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron.  “We will continue to work closely with our state and local partners to ensure that criminals who bring drugs and violence to our communities are brought to justice.”

“Our commitment to the reduction of violent crime and fostering safe communities is at the forefront of all we do” said Thomas J. Sobocinski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office.  “Working with our law enforcement partners, those who traffic drugs, carry guns, and perpetuate violence will continue to be held responsible for their criminal acts.”  

“By leveraging the resources between our local, state, and federal partners, the operation conducted today will severely impede the illegal drug trade in Carroll County” said Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees.  “I could not be more pleased with the cumulative effort and partnerships of these law enforcement agencies which resulted in these arrests.”

“We appreciate the results of this cooperative effort by our local Carroll County Drug and Firearms Trafficking Task Force comprised of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and Westminster Police Department as well as the Maryland State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Carroll County State’s Attorney Allan J. Culver.  “I also want to acknowledge the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) which assisted in funding this project and investigation.  GOCPYVS provides grant funding and strategic support to the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network Initiative (MCIN) member sites, like our site in Carroll County, to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through inter-agency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer.  This is a great example of the positive results that MCIN and its partners can help provide.”

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Gaines is believed to be the primary source of supply for crack cocaine in the Carroll County area.  The affidavit alleges that since April 2021, investigators have conducted a number of controlled purchases of crack cocaine and fentanyl from Gaines and members of his drug trafficking organization, including Samms.  During these controlled-buy operations, Gaines has allegedly been seen in the area and is believed to be watching and managing his associates.

As detailed in the affidavit, law enforcement intercepted communications between Gaines and his associates allegedly related to drug trafficking and violence.  Law enforcement also observed alleged drug transactions at locations in Westminster associated with Gaines and Samms, including at residences and stash houses.  On several occasions in 2021, law enforcement overheard calls from customers allegedly arranging to purchase drugs from Gaines, who then directed the customer to an address in Westminster, where the affidavit alleges that Samms completed the transaction.  As detailed in the affidavit, on January 9, 2022, after intercepting a call from a drug customer to Gaines requesting to purchase a large quantity of narcotics, investigators observed the drug customer arrive at an alleged stash house location.  The drug customer entered the location and quickly left.  The drug customer was subsequently stopped for a traffic violation by a Carroll County Sheriff’s Office Deputy.  Based on the customer’s constant movement in the vehicle and nervous behavior, the customer was asked to exit the vehicle and a K-9 was called to perform a scan of the vehicle.  According to the affidavit, the K-9 alerted for the presence of narcotics in the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 76.6 grams of suspected cocaine and $756 in cash, which was found in the center console of the vehicle.

As alleged in the affidavit, in January 2022, investigators also intercepted communications between Gaines and another individual, later identified as Raekwon Dorsey, discussing the purchase of firearms.  Dorsey allegedly agreed to sell Gaines a .9mm handgun and an MP 40 handgun with a laser.  On January 31, 2022, after Dorsey sent Gaines a text message that he was on his way to Westminster to meet Gaines, investigators saw Dorsey leave his home in Pennsylvania in a red pick-up truck.  As detailed in the affidavit, a traffic stop was conducted, and the truck was searched, resulting in the recovery of one black Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun and two magazines with five rounds of ammunition, and one black and silver Smith and Wesson SD handgun, and one magazine loaded with fourteen rounds of ammunition.  The handguns were found in the bed of the truck.  Investigators learned that the black semi-automatic handgun had been reported stolen.  As a result of previous felony convictions, Dorsey and Gaines are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.  Dorsey was arrested.

The investigation is continuing.

If convicted, Gaines and Samms each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

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.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.  This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks.  These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime.  The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Maryland State Police, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Westminster Police Department, and the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Brandon Moore, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Albert Shields, age 52, of Baltimore, Maryland pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, in relation to the Master P drug trafficking organization operating around Pennsylvania and North Avenues in West Baltimore.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Secretary Robert Green of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

According to his guilty plea, in November 2019, Shields participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and heroin as a member of the Master P drug trafficking organization (DTO). 

As a result of a 2019 OCDETF Strike Force investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Shields was identified as associates of the Master P DTO.   Between October 2019 and April 2020, investigators intercepted DTO communications and observed Shields and other conspirators conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions.  The observations and calls, including conversations conducted on Shields’ cell phone, established that the DTO sold narcotics on a daily basis.

As stated in his plea agreement, investigators made several controlled narcotics purchases from conspirators, including Shields, who either advertised that their narcotics were from the Master P DTO or were intercepted discussing drug trafficking.  For example, in December 2019, Shields sold 20 gel capsules of fentanyl to an undercover police officer.

In several instances throughout the conspiracy, Shields called co-conspirators to obtain narcotics for transactions and often met his co-conspirators at or near two homes in the 2400 block of Francis Street in Baltimore associated with other DTO members, where Shields would retrieve items.  In April 2020, investigators executed search warrants on those two Francis Street residences and recovered hundreds of gel capsules containing approximately 200 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, cutting agents, and drug packaging materials.

Shields faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.   U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for June 14, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

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.   Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.  This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks.  These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime.  The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended DEA, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work in the investigation and thanked the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for its assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles D. Austin, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/priorities

and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Jacob Mathias Rubinstein, age 42, of Elkton, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to distribution of child pornography.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to his guilty plea, on September 4, 2020, the Maryland State Police received a Cybertip report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a referral from a social media platform.  The report involved an account user who was suspected to have possessed and distributed child pornography on the social media platform.  The account user associated with the explicit images was linked to the email address “jaker1301@protonmail.com” and an IP address located at Rubinstein’s Elkton, Maryland residence.

On February 4, 2021, the NCMEC received a second tip from an instant messaging application regarding an account user registered under the email “jaker1301@protonmail.com” and an IP address linked to Rubinstein’s residence.

As a result of executed search warrants on Rubinstein’s various online accounts, investigators discovered that Rubinstein, at times, posed as a minor during his online communications with minors and distributed child pornography to other internet users.

For example, on September 20, 2020, Rubinstein used a social media account to communicate with a 10-year-old victim (Minor Victim 1).  During communication with Minor Victim 1, Rubinstein posed as a minor himself and convinced Minor Victim 1 that he went to her local school.  Rubinstein sent two sexually explicit videos to Minor Victim 1 that depicted two minor females engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Minor Victim 1 then recorded videos of herself in a nude state and sent the video to Rubinstein.

On January 12, 2021, Rubinstein used the same email address to distribute a video to a user on an instant messenger application that depicted a lewd display of a prepubescent female’s naked genitals.

As stated in his plea agreement, on February 16, 2021, MSP and HSI executed a search warrant at Rubinstein’s residence where one cell phone, a 64 GB SD card, and two laptops were seized.  A forensic review of these devices revealed that Rubinstein possessed over 1,160 pictures and 970 videos of child pornography, including a two-hour video compilation depicting the sexual abuse of minor victims ranging from prepubescent toddlers to teenagers.

Rubinstein faces a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years in prison, followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release, for distribution of child pornography.   U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for June 21, 2022 at 2:30 p.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI and MSP for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine L. Duey and Zachary B. Stendig, who are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander today sentenced Feliciano de Jesus Diaz-Martinez, a/k/a Alex, age 43, of Owings Mills, Maryland, to 27 years in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sex trafficking of a child, enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and distribution of controlled substances.  Diaz-Martinez, who has been in custody since his indictment on July 25, 2019, was convicted of those charges by a federal jury on November 18, 2021.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to the evidence presented at his nine-day trial, from at least 2016 through May  2019, Diaz-Martinez, a Guatemalan national in the United States illegally, caused at least eight individuals, including a minor, to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit by means of force, fraud, and coercion.  Trial testimony confirmed that Diaz-Martinez knew that Victim 1 was 16 years old when he first caused her to engage in commercial sex acts.  Victim 1 continued to work for Diaz-Martinez until she was approximately 18 years old.  The evidence proved that nearly all of the victims that Diaz-Martinez caused to engage in commercial sex acts suffered from serious substance abuse disorders, including addictions to heroin, crack cocaine, and Xanax.  Diaz-Martinez took half or all of the money earned by the victims working for him, and sold some of the victims narcotics, often at prices significantly higher than he paid to purchase the drugs.

As detailed in trial testimony, Diaz-Martinez maintained a network of friends and associates who paid to engage in commercial sex acts with the victims Diaz-Martinez advertised and made available to them.  Diaz-Martinez sent his customers pictures of the victims available for commercial sex and set the prices that customers would pay to engage in sex acts with the victims he controlled.  Diaz-Martinez then transported, or caused to be transported, victims to his customers’ homes, or to hotel rooms he rented, to engage in commercial sex acts.  The evidence showed that Diaz-Martinez also invited customers to engage in commercial sex acts with victims in his apartment and in a storage unit that he rented.

Witnesses testified that Diaz-Martinez maintained several different accounts in alias names on a social media platform, which he used to recruit and communicate with the victims in order to entice them to work for him and engage in commercial sex acts, including many users he had never met.  The jury found that Diaz-Martinez sometimes offered the users he communicated with heroin and crack cocaine, referred to as “boy” and “girl,” in exchange for engaging in commercial sex with his customers.  Diaz-Martinez also directed the victims working for him to recruit their friends, many of whom were also addicted to narcotics, to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit.

Several victims testified that Diaz-Martinez frequently demanded that they engage in sex acts with him, free of charge, and that he retaliated against the victims if he was not personally satisfied with the sexual encounter.  Diaz-Martinez also retaliated against victims who violated his rules, failed to earn sufficient money from commercial sex, or otherwise displeased him in a number of ways, including, abandoning them at customers’ homes and on roadsides without their belongings or transportation and withholding drugs from the victims whom he knew to be addicted.

This case was investigated by the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, formed in 2007 to discover and rescue victims of human trafficking while identifying and prosecuting offenders.  Members include federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as victim service providers and local community members.  For more information about the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, please visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/md/priorities_human.html.

Report suspected instances of human trafficking to HSI's tip line at 866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form.  Both are staffed around the clock by investigators.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI Baltimore, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland –Adebowale Ojo, age 38, of Damascus, Maryland, pleaded guilty late yesterday to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and to distribution of controlled substances, after eight days of trial.  Ojo admitted that he distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, in Maryland and West Virginia.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, during the course of the conspiracy from about May 2016 through July 2018, Ojo distributed controlled substances, including crack cocaine, cocaine, and heroin, to both users and street level dealers in Maryland, including Montgomery and Frederick Counties, as well as in West Virginia.  At times, Ojo used other individuals to turn over the drugs to his customers after Ojo arranged the sale of the substances and to drive him to conduct sales and to meet his sources of supply. 

As detailed in the plea agreement, between January and March 2018, an individual purchased drugs from Ojo on four separate occasions, at the direction of law enforcement.  Ojo met the individual at a restaurant in Gaithersburg to conduct the transactions.  Ojo admitted that he sold the individual a total of 25.66 grams of crack cocaine, 5.82 grams of cocaine, 2.16 grams of heroin, and four grams of heroin/fentanyl mixtures.  Another individual purchased crack cocaine and heroin from Ojo in July 2018, at the direction of law enforcement.  That individual went to Ojo’s apartment in Martinsburg, West Virginia, where Ojo cooked the crack cocaine, then sold 2.88 grams of crack cocaine to that individual, as well as 1.64 grams of heroin.

On November 28, 2018, Ojo was a back seat passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by a Maryland State Trooper near Frederick, Maryland.  Ojo did not provide the Trooper with any identification, but did give his name.  A query of the name revealed an outstanding warrant for his arrest.  The Trooper also requested a drug detecting K-9 to scan the vehicle.  The K-9 scan was positive.  A subsequent search of Ojo’s person resulted in the discovery of a bag containing 13.82 grams of MDMA, also known as Molly and Ecstasy.  Ojo admitted that he intended to distribute the MDMA.

Ojo and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Ojo will be sentenced to between 11 and 20 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for Ojo on August 4, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the Maryland State Police for its assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica C. Collins and Kelly O. Hayes, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Steven Martin Bickling, age 48, of Baltimore Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to coercion and enticement of a minor.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, in 2018 Bickling visited a website that offered live chat rooms with Asian women.  After hearing children in the background of chat rooms, Bickling asked a female performer to show her daughter nude for $50.  After agreeing to Bickling’s request, the female performer posed her prepubescent daughter on video chat as Bickling masturbated.  Bickling estimated that this conduct occurred 12 to 15 times within a two-year period.  In at least one instance, Bickling masturbated during a video live chat involving a child that was approximately eight or nine years old.  Bickling claimed that this occurred while he was drinking excessively.

As stated in his plea agreement, on August 19, 2020, Baltimore City detectives and members of the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search and seizure warrant at Bickling’s residence.  Bickling was present at the time.  During an interview with law enforcement, Bickling admitted that he possessed pornographic videos of children between five and twelve years of age saved on his laptop.  Bickling also informed law enforcement that he paid for access to a restricted child pornography website.

A subsequent review of Bickling’s email account revealed numerous conversations in which Bickling solicited sexual images or videos of female children.  For example, in an email communication on May 7, 2019, Bickling wrote “I like to rape young girls. Is that ok with you?”.  On the same day, Bickling stated “I watch a lot of child prn . . . I like when they cry.”  Additionally, in other chats dating as far back as 2018, Bickling solicited live video sessions of adult male relatives having sexual relations with their younger sisters or nieces.  

As detailed in his plea agreement, a forensic analysis of the items seized from Bickling’s residence revealed a total of 21 images and 50 videos that depicted minors in sexually explicit conduct.  The materials included depictions of prepubescent minors.

Bickling faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release, for coercion and enticement of a minor.  U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman has scheduled sentencing for August 10, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Khalil Shaheed, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 106 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a felon. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; and Carroll County Sheriff James DeWees.

According to his guilty plea, after the investigation of a fatal overdose victim in Harford County, Maryland, investigators examined the victim’s cell phone activity and noted that the victim purchased heroin from a contact labeled “T” on at least seven occasions.  The last date the victim purchased heroin from “T” was on October 14, 2017, three days before the victim’s death.  In the last conversation, “T” directed the victim to meet them in a Baltimore, Maryland grocery store bathroom.

As result of an investigation into an overdose, investigators began to conduct physical surveillance on Shaheed.  On November 9, 2017, investigators watched Shaheed depart from his Baltimore, Maryland residence and travel to a gas station.  Before parking the vehicle, Shaheed circled the parking lot, stopped at a gas pump, and then parked directly in front of the gas station store.  Upon parking, Shaheed stood outside his vehicle, stood next to his car while appearing to look for someone.  Minutes later, Shaheed entered the gas station and went directly to the bathroom while a detective followed him.  As the detective entered the bathroom, Shaheed quickly exited the bathroom with another male subject.  Shaheed proceeded to exit the store without making any purchases.

Believing that a drug deal had just occurred, law enforcement obtained a court order to install a GPS device on Shaheed’s vehicle.

As stated in his plea agreement, on November 16, 2017, investigators executed a search warrant on Shaheed’s residence and vehicle.  As a result of the search warrants, officers discovered a 9mm handgun, cocaine, and heroin packaged for distribution in his vehicle.  In his residence, officers found a .25 caliber handgun, $12,452.36 in cash, ammunition, and additional drugs.  In total, law enforcement seized approximately 82 grams of cocaine, 55 grams of heroin and 7 grams of fentanyl.  Additionally, officers seized a cellphone from Shaheed’s residence that was previously associated with the same number as the contact saved as “T” in the victim’s cell phone. 

On November 6, 2019, a federal grand jury indited Shaheed on charges related to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in November 2017, and possession of the firearms.  An arrest warrant was issued based on these charges.

On November 20, 2019, federal investigators located Shaheed at his last residence and observed activity indicative of drug trafficking activity in plain view.  Shaheed was arrested while officers executed a search warrant that resulted in the discovery of six bags of cocaine and a .25 caliber handgun.

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.  Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Mr. Barron commended the DEA, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.   Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Oldham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Hann, a cross-designated Baltimore City Assistant State’s Attorney, who are prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Tarance Damon Cousar, age 44, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to the federal charge of illegal possession of a stolen firearm.  Cousar was a previously convicted felon and knew that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.  Cousar admitted that he knew, or had reason to know, that the gun was stolen.   

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, in 2021, law enforcement began investigating drug trafficking and firearms-related incidents in the area of the 1200 block of West Baltimore Street in Baltimore.  Investigators used CCTV to monitor members of a suspected drug trafficking organization (“DTO”) who conducted hand-to-hand transactions of suspected controlled dangerous substances (“CDS”).  Individuals, including Tarance Cousar, were seen on CCTV exchanging cash for vials containing suspected CDS, frequently out in the open. 

In April 2021, investigators purchased a total of 11 vials of suspected MDMA, also known as Ecstasy.  Lab analysis of the drugs determined that it was Eutylone, a controlled substance that is a substitute of MDMA.  On June 17, 2021, investigators watching the CCTV feed again observed Cousar conduct a hand-to-hand drug transaction.

As detailed in the plea agreement, on June 24, 2021, law enforcement executed court-authorized search warrants at Cousar’s residence, on his vehicle, and on his person.  When law enforcement arrived at Cousar’s residence, Cousar was found in the living room.  Investigators recovered:  a 9mm pistol and 13 rounds of 9mm ammunition located in the pistol’s magazine; one black plastic bag containing 62 grams of Eutylone, along with empty packaging material; a digital scale with a white powdery residue; a black plastic bag containing drug packaging material; and a cell phone.  Law enforcement checked the serial number on the firearm and learned that it had been stolen from North Carolina. 

Cousar admitted that everything found in the house belonged to him.  Further, Cousar knew that as a result of previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute CDS, voluntary manslaughter, and use of a handgun in a crime of violence, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Cousar and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Cousar will be sentenced to between 102 and 120 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman has scheduled sentencing for June 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. 

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Jason Evans, age 47, formerly of Anne Arundel County, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of bank fraud, in connection with two separate fraud schemes, to aggravated identity theft, and to violating his supervised release on a previous federal bank fraud conviction.    

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Bo Keane of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Russell E. Hamill III of the Laurel Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, in 2015, Evans was sentenced to four years in federal prison, and began five years of supervised release on January 17, 2018.  Evans admitted that from June 29, 2019 through August 30, 2019, he fraudulently obtained and used a credit card in the name and identity of “JM” using JM’s name, date of birth and social security number.  The bank approving the credit card application also opened a business account connected to that credit card.  Evans then obtained a counterfeit Pennsylvania driver’s license bearing the name of JM and a photograph of Evans, with the date of birth altered to be consistent with Evans’ age. 

On July 30, 2019, Evans presented the credit card and the counterfeit driver’s license at a bank in the 7900 block of Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and requested a cash advance of $14,400, which the bank approved.  The next day, Evan used the credit card and counterfeit Pennsylvania driver’s license at a store in Annapolis, Maryland, to purchase Apple merchandise totaling $12,114.74, including nine iPhone XS Max cell phones.  On August 6, 2019, Evans presented the credit card and counterfeit Pennsylvania driver’s license in JM’s name at a bank in the 1000 block of Washington Boulevard in Laurel, Maryland, and requested a cash advance of $14,400.  The cash advance was not immediately approved due to a problem with the bank’s computer system, but before the system could be rebooted and the transaction identified as fraudulent, Evans left the bank, leaving the fraudulently obtained credit card and counterfeit license in JM’s name behind.

Evans obtained or attempted to obtain at least $65,000 using accounts opened in the identities of JM and other victims.

On December 11, 2019, Evans was charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court in Maryland, as well as with violating his supervised release.  Evans was placed on 24/7 home detention with electronic monitoring.  On October 19, 2020, Evans was allowed out on a curfew, but still had electronic monitoring.  On April 21, 2021, Evans was released from electronic monitoring.

After he was taken off 24/7 lockdown, Evans resumed his criminal conduct with an entirely new fraud scheme.  From on or about January 12, 2021, through on or about August 2, 2021, Evans used counterfeit credit cards bearing real numbers of accounts from two separate, federally insured, banks to purchase gift cards and other items from food stores in Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland, ultimately obtaining at least $59,837.79 in gift cards.  The counterfeit credit cards were embossed with the number to be used, but were not properly encoded, so that they did not “swipe” and had to be hand entered by the clerks. 

Evans used two separate counterfeit credit cards to purchase a $450 Visa gift card, plus a $5.59 fee, at a food store in Lusby, Maryland on June 21, 2021, and to purchase a $480 Visa gift card, plus a $5.59 fee and a $1.00 donation to charity, at a food store located at Bel Air, Maryland on July 9, 2021.

On July 25, 2021, Evans was arrested in Delaware as a result of attempting a fraudulent transaction and was found to have counterfeit credit cards and identifications, an embosser, and drugs in his possession.                                                

As part of his plea agreement, Evan will be required to forfeit and pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $124,837.79.          

Evans and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Evans will be sentenced to between 57 and 66 months in federal prison, not including the anticipated penalty of between eight and 14 months in prison for the violation of supervised release, which U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett advised Evans he would impose consecutively to the sentence for the new fraud offenses.  Judge Bennett has scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2022, at 11 a.m. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Secret Service and the Laurel Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Probation Office and the Delaware Department of Justice for their assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamera L. Fine and Paul A. Riley, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Deriyan Woodson, age 27, of Orlando, Florida yesterday to 16 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for interstate domestic violence. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Gregory J. Der of the Howard County Police Department.

According to her plea agreement, in May 2017, Woodson met a 17-year-old female (Victim 1) on a social media platform and began communicating with Victim 1 via facetime, messaging applications, and other social media platforms.  Victim 1 resided in Florida with her father at the time.  Eventually, Victim 1 met Woodson in person and left her Florida home to be with and date Woodson as a romantic partner.

According to police reports, Victim 1’s parents reported Victim 1 as a missing child in July 2017.  From July 15, 2017, to July 21, 2017, Victim 1 stayed with Woodson in a Florida hotel.  Woodson knew she was on probation for assault stemming from a prior romantic relationship.  Woodson also was aware that Victim 1 was 17 years old at the time.

On July 21, 2017, Victim 1 left Florida and traveled unaccompanied to her mother’s Halethorpe, Maryland home on a greyhound bus.  Initially, Victim 1 planned to finish high school in Maryland then return to Florida to reside with Woodson.  While traveling to Victim 1’s mother’s house, Victim 1 remained in communication with Woodson on social media and other free texting applications.

Once Victim 1 arrived in Maryland, Woodson became controlling of Victim 1 and demanded that Victim 1 remain at home and not interact with any of Victim 1’s friends.  As a result, Victim 1 stopped communicating with Woodson.  In response, Woodson demanded that Victim 1 return to Florida and excessively called Victim 1’s mother’s Halethorpe, Maryland residence where Victim 1, Victim 1’s mother, and grandmother resided.  Victim 1’s mother instructed Woodson to cease communication.

As stated in her plea agreement, Victim 1’s mother reported Woodson’s excessive communications to Florida police.  As a result, an officer with the Kissimmee Police Department Unit wrote Woodson a letter demanding that Woodson cease all communication attempts with Victim 1 and warned Woodson that felony charges may follow suit based on Woodson’s “history”.  In response, Woodson posted a redacted version of the letter on one of her social media accounts with a caption that included the phrase “How are you trying to put me in jail when my probation is 3 days away”.

On July 30, 2017, Woodson traveled from Orlando, Florida to Maryland where Woodson entered Victim 1’s residence and duct taped Victim 1’s grandmother’s hands together.  When Woodson heard Victim 1 and a friend (Victim 2) enter the residence, Woodson confronted Victim 1 and Victim 2 with a handgun and kitchen knife.

Woodson pointed the handgun at Victim 2 and ordered Victim 2 to go down to the basement.  Woodson then held the gun at Victim 1’s head and ordered Victim 1 into Woodson’s car.  Woodson then stabbed Victim 1 and assaulted Victim 1 with the gun.  At some point during the night, Woodson forced Victim 1 out of her car at a residential area in Howard County where they ran on foot until they located a hotel in Elkridge, Maryland.  Police later recovered Woodson’s gun and shoes in the area.

As detailed in her plea agreement, after a hotel clerk observed Victim 1’s wounds, the clerk contacted the police.  Howard County Police Department officers (HCPD) arrived at the hotel and identified Victim 1 as a minor that had been recently reported as missing.  HCPD officers then arrested Woodson and transported Victim 1 to a hospital where she was treated for an orbital fracture and multiple stab wounds to the head, hands, and one eyelid.

After Baltimore County Police Department officers read Woodson her Miranda rights, Woodson informed officers that she drove from Orlando, Florida to Maryland to take Victim 1 back to Florida.  Woodson also claimed that Victim 1 willingly left the Halethorpe residence, and that Victim 1 wanted to return to Florida.  Woodson also informed BCPD officers that she duct taped Victim 1’s grandmother’s hands together, had a gun and knife and that the weapons were already located at Victim 1’s residence.

Victim 1 later informed investigators that Woodson had at least two cell phones that she would contact her on.  Investigators subsequently executed a search warrant on one of Woodson’s cell phones and discovered a series of text messages between Woodson and Victim 1.  The text messages directly contradicted Woodson’s claim that Victim 1 asked Woodson to pick her up in Maryland and that Victim 1 wished to return to Florida with Woodson. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the BCPD, HCPD, and the Kissimmee Police Department (Florida) for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and LaRai N. Everett, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and domestic violence resources, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/victim-witness-assistance.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Tervell Ham, age 46, of Washington, D.C., to 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the deaths of two passengers in his vehicle from a crash when Ham was driving under the influence of PCP. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the U.S. Park Police.

According to Ham’s plea agreement, on December 29, 2019, Ham was driving on the Suitland Parkway in Maryland, accompanied by two female passengers (Victim A and Victim B), who were sisters.  Witnesses saw Ham driving recklessly and erratically.  One witness saw Ham driving on and off the grassy median.  Another witness saw Ham drive his car off the roadway, hit a tree, and roll over.  Victim B, who was the rear-seat passenger was ejected from the vehicle in the crash.  She was transported to the hospital where she died.  Victim A was pronounced dead at the scene.  An autopsy of both victims concluded that they died of multiple injuries sustained during the crash.

Ham was transported to a hospital where he provided written consent to have blood drawn for testing to determine the presence of any alcohol or drugs.  The sample was positive for the presence of marijuana and PCP.  An analysis showed that Ham had 0.03 milligrams of PCP per liter in his body at the time of the crash and was under the influence of PCP.  It was unsafe for Ham to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of PCP.                    

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the U.S. Park Police for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hollis R. Weisman and Rajeev R. Raghavan, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury convicted Che Jaron Durbin, age 43, of Aberdeen, Maryland and Terrell Darnell Walton, age 36, of Delaware, yesterday on federal charges related to their participation in a drug trafficking organization distributing cocaine and crack cocaine in Harford County, Maryland.  Specifically, the jury convicted Durbin and Walton for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.  The jury also found Durbin guilty of two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

The guilty verdict was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Harford County State’s Attorney Albert J. Peisinger, Jr.; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office; and the Harford County Drug Task Force, a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, comprised of members of the Harford County Sheriff's Office, the Aberdeen Police Department, the Bel Air Police Department, and the Havre de Grace Police Department.

According to evidence presented at the eight-day trial, in May 2019, members of the Harford County Drug Task Force were investigating Durbin, who was suspected of drug trafficking in the Harford County area.  Durbin testified at trial that he had a previous federal drug trafficking conviction in Maryland, as well as a previous conviction in Harford County Circuit Court for drug trafficking.

Witnesses testified that on May 17, 2019, a U.S. Postal Inspector notified detectives that a suspicious package was en route to Durbin’s mother’s apartment in Aberdeen, Maryland.  Detectives watched as a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier delivered the parcel to Durbin, who took it into the apartment.  A short time later, a woman, later identified as co-defendant Jameka Cara Thompson, left the apartment with the parcel and drove to her home.  Law enforcement detained Thompson and obtained a search warrant for her vehicle.  The parcel was found to contain one kilogram of compressed cocaine.   Further investigation revealed that co-defendant Jack Anderson from Tucson, Arizona was the sender of the package. 

On January 22, 2020, law enforcement learned from U.S. Postal Inspectors that Durbin sent a parcel from Havre de Grace, Maryland, addressed to Anderson in Tucson, Arizona.  A search warrant was obtained for the parcel after a K9 gave a positive alert.  The parcel contained $82,300 in cash inside a wireless headphones box.

In February 2020, as part of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted Durbin’s communications, as well as those of Anderson, Walton, and other co-defendants to whom Durbin supplied cocaine and crack.   The evidence at trial also showed that Walton obtained cocaine from Durbin, which Walton then sold to a network of individuals in Harford County.  Intercepted communications between Durbin and Walton included discussions regarding the amounts of drugs and the price, often using coded language.

According to trial testimony, in May 2020, law enforcement surveilled Durbin meeting with Anderson at a Tucson, Arizona hotel. Soon after the meeting, Durbin picked Thompson up at the Tucson Airport and drove her back to his hotel room.  Durbin flew back to Maryland the next day and Thompson ultimately obtained a bulk supply of cocaine from Anderson on Durbin’s behalf.  Thompson drove cross-country from Arizona to Harford County, where she was arrested on May 12, 2020. Law enforcement searched her vehicle, seizing an additional 1.4 kilograms of cocaine.  Durbin was also arrested.  According to trial testimony, over the course of the conspiracy Thompson made at least eight similar trips on Durbin’s behalf, transporting almost 40 kilograms of cocaine to Maryland for Durbin to distribute.

Durbin and Walton each face a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.  Durbin also faces a maximum of 40 years in federal prison for each of two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has not scheduled sentencing dates for Durbin or Walton.

Co-defendant Jack Anderson IV, age 45, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced to 126 months in federal prison in December 2021, after Anderson entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.  Co-defendants Jameka Cara Thompson, age 41, of Abingdon, Maryland; Garrick Devlon Jackson, age 39, of Havre de Grace, Maryland; and Michael Ronnell Wells, age 37, of Forest Hill, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to their participation in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office, the DEA, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harford County Drug Task Force for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano and Jason X. Hamilton, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – Angela Marie Farr, age 36, of Leonardtown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit theft of government property and two counts of theft of government property in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA).  The total loss to the United States as a result of the fraud scheme is at least $1,010,702.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Kim R. Lampkins, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Philadelphia Field Division.

“Angela Farr took advantage of a program whose goal was to help others, but did the exact opposite in her efforts to fraudulently obtain VA disability benefits,” said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.  “We remain committed to the prosecution of those, like Farr, who steal benefits intended to assist military veterans whose service to our country honorably has left them with a disability.” 

“The VA Office of Inspector General works diligently to identify those who would steal benefits intended for qualified veterans,” said VA OIG Special Agent in Charge Kim Lampkins.  “The VA OIG thanks its law enforcement partners for their commitment in helping hold these defendants accountable.”

According to her guilty plea, Farr organized a conspiracy in which she submitted false and fraudulent documents to the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) in support of her claims for disability compensation, as well as for the disability claims for her then-husband, and for her father.  The fraudulent documents stated that Farr, her husband, and her father were homebound and required full-time assistance for basic tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing.  In fact, all three individuals lived ordinary, active lives.

As detailed in her plea agreement, Farr served in the U.S. Navy from August 2, 2005 until April 19, 2007, when she was administratively discharged.  In 2009, Farr filed a claim for Disability Compensation stating that she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after being sexually assaulted while on duty three years earlier.  At the same time, Farr also falsely claimed to VA that she was seriously injured in a traffic accident when she was struck by a drunk driver while driving on duty in 2006.  Farr claimed that she suffered from chronic neck and back pain as a result of the accident.

In support of these claims, Farr filed an entirely fabricated medical record purportedly from the Navy consisting of over 70 pages of documents supposedly authored by criminal investigators, psychologists, and physical therapists.  Based on the injuries claimed and the forged supporting medical documentation, the VA rated Farr 70 percent disabled as of October 6, 2007.

In 2015, Farr sought additional compensation claiming that she suffered a traumatic brain injury and other grave health consequences as a result of the 2007 vehicle accident.  Farr again submitted dozens of forged fraudulent medical documents in support of her claim, using the names of both real and fictitious physicians.  The documents claimed that Farr was paralyzed from the waist down, suffered multiple seizures daily, required round-the-clock care for basic functions such as toileting and showering, and claimed that she also suffered from an aneurysm, heart attack, and leukemia.  Based on the fraudulent documentation, VA increased Farr’s disability rating to 100 percent, and awarded Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for her in-home nursing care requirements.

In April 2016, Farr applied online for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits on the basis of the same disabilities she cited in her VA claims.  In that application, Farr claimed that she was unable to work and was forced to medically retire, despite the fact that she was working for the Department of Defense at the time she applied.  The Social Security Administration awarded SSDI benefits to Farr on September 17, 2016.

Farr received approximately $440,085 in VA benefits to which she was not entitled, and approximately $35,666 in Social Security benefit payments to which she was not entitled, resulting in a loss to the United States of $475,751 just on Farr’s claims alone.  As outlined in her plea agreement, Farr will be required to forfeit an amount equal to the proceeds obtained as a result of the fraud by paying a money judgment of $475,751, and will be ordered to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $1,010,702.

Farr also admitted that she conspired with and assisted her then-husband and her father, both of whom are former members of the U.S. Military, to obtain additional disability benefits by exaggerating their existing claims and documenting those exaggerated claims with forged and fraudulent documentation.  As a result, Farr’s father was found to be 100 percent disabled and was awarded SMC.  Farr’s then-husband received the highest amount of disability compensation and SMC paid by VA, in addition to a Caregiver Assistance stipend of more than $2,500 per month, that he received for purportedly servicing as Farr’s caregiver, despite claiming to be completely disabled himself and unable to use his arms and legs.  At the time, Farr’s husband regularly attended a local CrossFit gym.  In total, Farr’s then-husband received $370,912 in VA benefits to which he was not entitled.  Farr’s father received $168,074 in VA benefits to which he was not entitled, from which the VA has recovered approximately $4,035.  At the time of the claims, Farr’s father was a civilian employee of the Navy, supervising a logistics unit of 25 people.

Farr faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the conspiracy and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for each of the two counts of theft of government property.  U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for August 4, 2022.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the VA OIG and SSA OIG for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.  

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Oyekanmi Oworu, age 35, of Hyattsville, Maryland to three years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

According to his guilty plea, between February 2017 and July 2020, Oworu conspired with co-defendant Babtunde Ajibawo, age 55, of Essex, United Kingdom and others to fraudulently obtain checks made out to legitimate businesses, then fraudulently register shell companies to obtain state business certificates in the identical or similar name of the legitimate businesses to which the checks were made payable.  The conspiracy also used the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Modernized Internet Employer Identification Number (EIN) online portal and the fraudulently obtained social security numbers of real individuals to obtain an EINs for the fraudulent business.

Specifically, on February 7, 2017, Oworu opened a bank account at a victim financial institution in the name of a real individual and deposited a stolen check made payable to a legitimate business for $265,168.20.  Oworu subsequently withdrew the proceeds.

Additionally, on November 20, 2018, Oworu opened a bank account at a victim financial institution in a similar name of a legitimate business using the means and identification of A.S., a real individual.   After opening the account, Oworu deposited a stolen check made payable to the legitimate business for $58,713.50. 

Further, as detailed in the Superseding Indictment, Oworu and his co-conspirators attempted to conceal their criminal actions and evade law enforcement by relocating the fraud scheme to other jurisdictions.  A substantial part of a fraudulent scheme was committed from outside the United States, specifically Nigeria.

In total, Oworu and his co-conspirators intended to cause a loss of at least $4.1 million to victim businesses, caused an actual loss of at least $756,175.30, and compromised the identifying information of more than 50 individual victims.

Co-defendant Ajibawo pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced to four years of federal prison on December 8, 2021.                   

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary W. Setzer and Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on fraud and how to report instances of fraud, including identity theft,  please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud. 

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Co-defendants Marquis Moore, age 35, and Milek Rankin, age 29, both of Baltimore, each pleaded guilty to committing a series of armed commercial robberies and to brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Moore entered his guilty plea on March 7, 2022 and Rankin pleaded guilty today.

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

According to the statements of fact filed as part of Moore’s and Rankin’s guilty pleas, from at least November 2018 through March 1, 2019, Moore and Rankin, along with co-defendant Dontrell Glover, conspired to commit robberies of commercial businesses, including fast-food restaurants, video game stores, cell phone stores, and discount stores in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County.  During each robbery, Moore brandished a firearm, to use fear to obtain money and/or other items from the businesses.

For example, on January 4, 2019, Moore and Rankin robbed a cell phone store in Essex, Maryland.  Moore carried a loaded handgun.  When the store employee resisted giving the robbers money from the business, Moore took the magazine out of the handgun, showed it to the employee, and said, “You can see it’s loaded.  We’re not playing games.  Give us the d**n money.”  The handgun was loaded with hollow point bullets.  During the robbery, Moore struck the employee with the handgun.  Moore and Rankin fled using a get-away vehicle driven by Glover.  The robbers stole $739 from the store.

Moore and Rankin admitted that they committed at least eight additional robberies, with Moore brandishing a gun during each robbery, often pointing the gun at employees.  Moore and Rankin fled each robbery using the same get-away vehicle driven by Glover.  The conspirators stole a total of at least $15,500 in cash, as well as merchandise, including game systems and food.

Moore, Rankin, and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreements, Moore and Rankin will each be sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled Moore’s sentencing for June 7, 2022 and Rankin’s sentencing for June 23, 2022, each at 11:00 a.m.  Dontrell Glover, age 30, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2022.

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey N. McCulley and John W. Sippel, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Idowu Raji, age 40, of Baltimore County, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft in relation to multiple financial schemes.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Lewis of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), Washington Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General; and, Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

“Raji participated in the theft of American personal identifying information from more than 50 unsuspecting Americans and caused at least one million dollars in COVID-19 fraud for his financial benefit” said U.S. Attorney Barron.  “Our Office remains dedicated to bringing justice to anyone who fraudulently obtains disaster relief funds to line their pockets and deprive American citizens in a time of need.”

“The Diplomatic Security Service is pleased with this guilty plea. These hard-fought convictions send a clear message that criminals who commit passport and visa fraud for illegal profit will be punished,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Lewis of the DSS Washington Field Office. “DSS, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other federal partners, is committed to rooting-out and prosecuting criminal enterprises involving U.S. travel documents.”

“Idowu Raji and co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program by submitting fraudulent claims using the personal identifying information of identity theft victims to obtain over $900,000 in unemployment insurance and other COVID-19 related benefit payments,” said Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General. “ Today’s conviction demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our other law enforcement partners to safeguard unemployment benefits from those who seek to exploit the program to unjustly enrich themselves.”

According to his guilty plea, in 2020, Raji conspired with other individuals to defraud, use, and traffic in unauthorized access devices and obtain more than $900,000 in unemployment insurance and other COVID-19 related benefits.  Moreover, from October 2018 to November 2020, Raji conspired with multiple individuals charged in the District of Maryland to defraud multiple businesses, individuals, and financial institutions to illegally obtain more than $750,000. 

In furtherance of the access device conspiracy, Raji admitted arranging for the delivery of fraudulent unemployment insurance cards to his co-conspirators, providing instructions on the use of the cards, and obtaining a portion of the fraudulently obtained proceeds.  In total, Raji admitted that he was involved in fraudulent unemployment claims that used the identities of more than 50 real people and caused more than $900,000 in losses to state and the federal governments. 

Raji admitted using an encrypted text messaging application to carry out his crimes, including to coordinate the use of unemployment insurance and COVID-19 related benefits, obtain and transfer the personal identifying information of real individuals, and receive unemployment debit cards that were mailed to addresses in Maryland and loaded with fraudulently obtained benefits.  Raji also directed the use of the fraudulently obtained debit cards to engage in point of sale and ATM transactions.  He also used the state and federal government funds intended for disaster relief for his own benefit.

As part of his wire fraud conspiracy, Raji’s co-conspirators used fake identification documents to open bank accounts, which Raji then coordinated the use of the accounts to receive fraud proceeds.  For example, in November 2019, a co-conspirator opened a bank account at a financial institution using a fake passport with the alias “Chris Hobert.”  In December 2019, the email account of a supervisor at a victim business was hacked, and an email was sent to the victim business that fraudulently claimed that another business had changed its payment instructions.  As a result, the victim business sent a $33,200 wire to a fraudulent account opened by one of Raji’s co-conspirators.  Raji worked with his co-conspirators to move the funds to another account registered under the alias “Michael Stone,” and to eventually gain access to the fraud proceeds.

Further, in July 2020, Raji fraudulently applied for a $31,200 Paycheck Protection Program loan on behalf of a business, Yours Truly LLC.  Raji claimed that his business had more than $132,000 of gross revenue in the prior year when, in fact, it did not.  Moreover, Raji did not spend the proceeds of the loan on employee salaries and other appropriate expenses required by the PPP loan.

As stated in his plea agreement, when Raji was arrested by federal agents in November 2020, he made multiple false statements to agents, including that he had never been involved in business email compromise schemes, wire fraud, or unemployment insurance fraud.  Raji also falsely claimed that he never used Yours Truly LLC when he had received federal loans through the entity less than six months before the interview.

As part of his plea agreement, Raji will be ordered to pay at least $1.5 million in restitution.

Raji faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud, a maximum of ten years in prison for access device fraud, and a mandatory minimum of two years consecutive to any other sentence imposed for the aggravated identity theft conviction.  U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for May 20, 2022 at 10 a.m.

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 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: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response.  The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from its 22 member Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program.  Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI, DSS, the U.S. Department of Labor-OIG, and the U.S. Postal Service for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Willie Lamont Hicks, age 50, of Rockville, Maryland, and Mary Ann Mendoza, age 49, of Kensington, Maryland, on federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire and wire fraud.  The indictment was returned on December 22, 2021 and unsealed upon the defendants’ arrests.

Hicks is scheduled to have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt today at 12:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day.  Mendoza was arrested in Rockville, Maryland and had her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Maryland on January 12, 2022.  U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Sullivan ordered that Mendoza be released under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services pending trial.  Law enforcement arrested Hicks on January 14, 2022, in Plano, Texas.  He was subsequently transported to Maryland for today’s initial appearance.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Mark Higgins of the Mid-Atlantic Region- Federal Housing Finance Agency- Office of Inspector General; Sally Luttrell, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General; Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to the four-count indictment, from October 2010 to September 2018, Hicks and Mendoza, who claimed to be husband and wife, held in-person trainings purporting to educate victim-debtors on how to discharge consumer debt, including mortgage debt, credit card debt, and automobile financing debt.  In connection with the debt elimination classes, Hicks allegedly stated that he was a lawyer and received education and training that he had not received.

During the debt elimination classes, Hicks and Mendoza allegedly told victims that on the back of their social security cards and birth certificates, there was a special bank account number with funds owed to the victims by the U.S. government.  The defendants also allegedly informed the victim-debtors that they could create “trusts” into which they could transfer their assets without transferring any attendant consumer debt.

Specifically, the indictment alleges that through several interstate wire transfers in 2018, Mendoza and Hicks caused one victim to transfer more than $100,000 from the victim’s bank account to a fraudulent corporate entity controlled by the defendants.

As stated in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators offered to effectuate the discharge of the debt held by the victims for a fee equal to a percentage of the victim-debtors’ outstanding debt or asset purchase price through fraudulent corporate entities.  Allegedly, the defendants accepted payment in the form of cash, wire transfers, personal and cashier’s checks, and the use of the victim-debtors’ credit. 

The indictment further alleges that Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators used the victims’ personal identifying information without the knowledge or permission of the victims and provided participating victims with paperwork including trust documents, non-disclosure agreements, Internal Revenue Service form documents, and other materials that the defendants claimed were necessary for discharging debt. 

The indictment continues to allege that Hicks, Mendoza, and their co-conspirators mailed paperwork to the victim-debtors’ creditors, lenders, and the Internal Revenue Service paperwork purporting to effectuate the discharge of the victim’s debts. 

The defendants face a sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Mid-Atlantic and Central Regions of the Federal Housing Finance Agency- Office of Inspector General; U.S. Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General; the United States Marshal Service of Texas, the Hinesville Police Department of Hinesville, Georgia, Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff- Centreville, Maryland, and the United States Attorney’s Offices of Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Georgia, Eastern District of Texas, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana J. Brusca, who is prosecuting the case.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Panagoltis Skordalos, age 43, of Baltimore, Maryland to four years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after Skordalos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

The guilty plea and sentence were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office.

According to his guilty plea, from September 2020 to November 2020, Skordalos participated in a Baltimore, Maryland drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large quantities of controlled substances, including heroin.  Skordalos joined the DTO less than three weeks after his release from state prison.

In September 2020, federal agents assigned to the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force began intercepting electronic and wire communications between Skordalos and the DTO’s leader.  The intercepted communications revealed that Skordalos was a mid-level heroin distributor and that the DTO leader was Skordalos’s heroin supplier.

For example, on October 16, 2020, investigators intercepted a series of communications between Skordalos and the DTO leader in which Skordalos arranged to purchase 20 grams of heroin for $1,400.  On the same day, agents observed Skordalos conduct a heroin transaction with the DTO leader at a Baltimore transitional home where Skordalos was living after his release from incarceration. 

As stated in Skordalos’s plea agreement, on November 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the DTO leader’s Baltimore, Maryland stash apartment.  As a result of the executed search warrant, law enforcement recovered, among other things, digital scales, blenders, hydraulic presses, packaging materials, and approximately 218 grams of a mixture containing multiple controlled substances, including heroin.

This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.  This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks.  These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime.  The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, DEA, and the USPIS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Marotta, age 26, of Sewell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today to making threatening interstate communications.  Marotta admitted that he used an anonymizing text message service to threaten physical harm to a Black woman and her family in Maryland. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kristen M. Clarke of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

“We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office take seriously our obligation to protect the civil rights of all individuals,” said United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron.  “We will not tolerate racially based threats and will prosecute such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

“The vile threats issued by this defendant have no place in civilized society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department, and specifically the Civil Rights Division, will use all tools at our disposal to ensure that people who interfere with the rights of others will be brought to justice.”

“The FBI takes threats of violence seriously,” said Thomas J. Sobocinksi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “We encourage anyone who believes their civil rights were violated to report it to their local police department or FBI field office.”

According to Marotta’s plea agreement, on April 14, 2020, Marotta used an anonymizing mobile phone application, to send a threatening message to a Black Maryland woman.  In the message, Marotta used racial epithets to describe the Maryland woman and her family, and he threatened to come to their home and do physical harm.  As detailed in the plea agreement, Marotta wrote, among other things, that “I know where you live now, I’m coming to rape your family” and “eat my bullets.”  As detailed in his plea agreement, Marotta claims he does not know the recipient-victim of the message, nor does the recipient-victim know Marotta.

Marotta faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for Marotta on May 26, 2022.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen M. Clarke commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Cunningham and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and its Civil Rights Unit, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/civil-rights.  

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal criminal complaint has been filed charging Dwight Luis Clarke, age 31, of Germantown, Maryland, for federal charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, distribution of controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  According to the criminal complaint affidavit, Clarke sold crack cocaine and a heroin/fentanyl mixture, as well as seven firearms, including five privately manufactured firearms, known as “ghost guns.”  The criminal complaint was filed on March 4, 2022, and Clarke was arrested on March 7, 2022.  Upon his arrest, law enforcement seized another apparent semi-automatic privately made firearm from Clarke’s person.  Clarke had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt yesterday and U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Day ordered that Clarke be detained pending trial.

The criminal complaint was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Victor Brito of the Rockville City Police Department.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, early in 2022, Clarke was identified as an individual involved in the distribution of narcotics and firearms.  Clarke allegedly sold narcotics and firearms to an undercover law enforcement officer (the UC) in Montgomery County, Maryland on three occasions in February.  During those three meetings, Clarke allegedly sold the UC approximately 46.87 grams of crack cocaine; several gel caps of a suspected heroin/fentanyl mixture; two semi-automatic privately made firearms (ghost guns); one Smith & Wesson .22 caliber semi-automatic AR style pistol; one Walther .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol; one 33 round extended magazine loaded with one 9mm caliber cartridge; one AR style extended magazine loaded with three .22 caliber cartridges; and one ammunition box, containing 95 .22LR caliber cartridges.

As detailed in the affidavit, in a fourth meeting at the end of February, Clarke and the UC allegedly communicated via phone calls and text messages and Clarke agreed to sell three fully assembled Glock-type ghost guns for a total of $3,000.  Law enforcement observed Clarke get out of his car at the meeting location carrying a white bag that appeared to contain a heavy object that allegedly resembled a firearm.  The affidavit alleges that Clarke entered the front passenger seat of the UC’s vehicle and after a short conversation, exited the vehicle without the bag.  A short time later, law enforcement recovered three plastic shopping bags from the vehicle, each containing a clear gallon-sized Ziploc bag.  Each Ziploc bag contained a privately manufactured 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol bearing no serial number.

The affidavit alleges that during the investigation, Clarke and the UC had a conversation, during which the UC told Clarke that he was unable to purchase a gun at a gun store due to a prior felony conviction.  Clarke allegedly told the UC that he could not go into a gun store for the same reason.

If convicted, Clarke faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition; a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for distribution of controlled substances; and a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of life in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Montgomery County Police Department, and the Rockville City Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Kibbe, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Malik Evans, age 25, of Baltimore City, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity.   

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, from April 2019 to August 2019, Evans and co-defendant Karon Foster age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland were members of an enterprise that engaged in a pattern of deadly racketeering activity, including a series of armed carjackings, armed robberies, attempted armed robberies, and the pawning of stolen goods.

Specifically, between April 19, 2019, and August 8, 2019, Evans participated in four of thirteen carjackings committed by the enterprise.  In all four of the carjackings in which Evans participated, members of the enterprise brandished firearms.  Other co-conspirators, not including Evans, participated in an armed carjackings in which one victim was shot and killed.  Two other victims were killed during street robberies; another victim was paralyzed as a result of an armed street robbery.

Members of the conspiracy not only promoted their activities on social media, but they also shared the proceeds of their exploits.  Members also concealed enterprise activities by hiding, destroying, or disposing of evidence.

On December 20, 2021, co-defendant Karon Foster was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, a carjacking conspiracy, and for aiding and abetting a carjacking resulting in death.

Evans and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Evan will be sentenced to 17 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher has scheduled sentencing for May 31, 2022 at 10 a.m.  

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia C. McLane and Brandon Moore who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced inmate Jerrard Bazemore, a/k/a Tic, age 36, to 51 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy charge related to his participation in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup (MCIJ), including heroin, fentanyl, Suboxone, and K2 (a synthethic cannabinoid) in exchange for bribe payments.  The sentence was imposed on March 4, 2022.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert L. Green, of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

According to court documents, MCIJ was a medium-security prison in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, that housed approximately 1,100 male inmates, with 262 custody staff or Correctional Officers (COs) and 52 non-custody staff, including case management, medical, and administrative staff.

As detailed in his plea agreement, Bazemore conspired with other inmates, individuals outside the facility who obtained and packaged contraband, and with Correctional Dietary Office (CDO) Patricia McDaniel, to smuggle narcotics and other contraband into MCIJ in exchange for bribe payments. 

In recorded phone calls over a contraband cell phone, Bazemore was heard discussing with outside facilitators receiving payments and obtaining drugs to be provided to CDO McDaniel.  On August 30, 2017, after phone calls with outside facilitators to obtain contraband and arrange to get it to McDaniel, Bazemore sent a message to McDaniel stating, “I love you.  Don’t forget it.” Bazemore told McDaniel to put the contraband in her shoes.  The following day, Bazemore confirmed to his outside facilitator that the contraband had successfully entered MCIJ.

On September 4, 2017, McDaniel informed Bazemore that another correctional officer had discovered their relationship and discussed how to make sure that Bazemore would keep his prison job in the kitchen, where McDaniel worked.  On September 16, 2017, in a recorded phone call over a contraband cell phone, Bazemore informed McDaniel that he had a $300 bribe payment for her.  McDaniel told Bazemore that she met with one of Bazemore’s facilitators the night before to obtain contraband.

On September 17, 2017, McDaniel was stopped in the MCIJ park lot in possession of a purple balloon containing heroin, fentanyl, Suboxone, and K2, that she intended to smuggle into MCIJ for Bazemore.

Patricia McDaniel, Correctional Dietary Officer, age 29, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and is awaiting sentencing. 

This case arose from the efforts of the Maryland Prison Task Force, coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and comprised of local, state, and federal stakeholders that meet regularly to share information and generate recommendations to reform prison procedures and attack the gang problem that has plagued Maryland in recent years.  The work of the Task Force previously resulted in the federal convictions of more than 78 defendants, including 16 correctional officers, at the Eastern Correctional Institution, and 40 defendants, including 24 correctional officers, at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the MCIJ investigation and have been full partners in this investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney, who is prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Devin Cunningham, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.   

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.          

According to his guilty plea, Cunningham engaged in a years’ long conspiracy to sell and distribute narcotics including fentanyl, heroin, and other controlled substances in Baltimore, Maryland.  During the existence of the conspiracy, which spanned from January 2017 to December 2020, scores of customers from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia traveled to the Forest Park area of Baltimore, where they would purchase between a half of a gram and several grams of fentanyl or heroin and other controlled substances from Cunningham and his associates.

From June 2018 to October 2018, law enforcement conducted numerous controlled narcotics purchases from Cunningham and his co-conspirators.  In four of the controlled purchases, Cunningham either distributed or participated in the distribution of narcotics, including fentanyl, to a confidential informant.  For example, on July 24, 2018, Cunningham and an accomplice sold less than two grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin to a confidential informant for $200.

As stated in his plea agreement, Cunningham continued to sell heroin and fentanyl until his arrest on December 10, 2020.  During his arrest, agents seized a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, four cell phones, and approximately several thousand dollars cash.  Law enforcement also executed a search warrant on the vehicle that Cunningham operated.  As a result of the executed search warrant, law enforcement recovered drug packaging and labeling materials, digital scales, approximately 68 grams of fentanyl, approximately 41 grams of a heroin/tramadol mixture, and approximately 383 grams of marijuana. 

Cunningham and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Cunningham will be sentenced to between six and ten years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for June 22, 2022, at 11 a.m. 

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, DEA, and FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Rigali, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Linda Pylant, age 58, of Grasonville, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud, social security fraud, tax evasion, and aggravated identity theft in connection with schemes to defraud her employer, fraudulently obtain disability insurance payments, and evade more than $225,000 in taxes, including by concealing income in connection with a bankruptcy petition.  As a result of these crimes, Pylant admits that she illegally obtained more than $1.1 million.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.

Wire Fraud Scheme

According to her guilty plea, from 2012 to about July 2020, Pylant worked for a Washington, D.C. trade association as an office administrator.  Her responsibilities included bookkeeping and other accounting duties, making check deposits, handling accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other administrative duties.   

As detailed in her plea agreement, in October 2017, Pylant opened a bank account, purportedly for the trade association, for which she was the sole signatory and caused the bank statements to be mailed to her home.  From October 2017 until July 2020, Pylant deposited more than $700,000 in checks, primarily from the trade association’s members and from insurance companies, which were intended for the benefit of the trade association.  Pylant also transferred more than $70,000 of the trade association’s funds from a PayPal account to the account she opened in the name of the trade association.  In addition, Pylant admitted that she issued trade association checks made payable to herself and a contractor for the trade association, which she signed, forging the names of two trade association executives.  Pylant then deposited the forged checks into other accounts she controlled.

Pylant spent more than $175,000 of the stolen funds at a local bingo hall, used more than $100,000 for retail, restaurant, and grocery expenditures and withdrew more than $200,000 in cash.  As a result of the fraud scheme, Pylant obtained more than $900,000.

Social Security and Disability Fraud

On August 18, 2015, Pylant applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments, failing to disclose that she was working and earning income from the trade association.  SSDI payments are only made as long as the beneficiaries are unable to work and/or their income is under a certain amount.  From 2018 to July 2020, Pylant illegally received and spent more than $75,000 in SSDI payments to which she was not entitled.

In addition, from 2014 to about 2017, Pylant provided false information to a private insurance company in order to fraudulently collect disability insurance payments.  Pylant consistently failed to disclose her income from the trade association, as well as her SSDI payments.  As a result, Pylant fraudulently received more than $140,000 in disability insurance payments from the private insurance company.

Tax Evasion and Bankruptcy Fraud

From 2014 until July 2020, Pylant caused her salary payments from the trade association to be paid through a non-existent entity, LPSR, Inc., which Pylant created but did not register with the State of Maryland nor the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Pylant also established LPSR as a vendor in the trade association’s computer system, with no federal tax identification number and no 1099 reporting status.  During the six years of the tax evasion scheme Pylant caused the trade association to pay LPSR more than $100,000.  During that time, Pylant also caused the trade association to not issue a 1099 IRS reporting form for LPSR.  Because Pylant also made false statements to the Social Security Administration, including failing to disclose that she was employed by the trade association, she avoided paying taxes that would have been due on her SSDI payments.

As detailed in her plea agreement, Pylant submitted false information in the course of three Maryland bankruptcy proceedings filed on February 3, 2016, in December 2020, and in January 2021.  Specifically, Pylant’s petitions failed to list her taxable income from the trade association that was paid through LPSR, falsely claimed that she had zero earned income and was not required to file any tax returns, failed to list any business names that she had used, including LPSR, and falsely stated that her employment status had not changed since February 2016.

Pylant admitted that her tax evasion offenses caused a tax loss to the United States of at least $233,547 and she will be required to pay restitution to the government in that amount.

As detailed in her plea agreement, Pylant will also be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the actual losses caused by her fraud schemes, which is at least $1.1 million.  Pylant will also forfeit assets directly traceable to the fraud offenses, substitute assets, and/or a money judgement equal to the value of the property derived from the offense, which is at least $950,000.

Pylant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud; a maximum of five years in prison for social security fraud and for tax evasion; and a mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft.   U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for September 8, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, IRS-CI and SSA OIG for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Gruber and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud. 

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – On February 10, 2022, U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Amir Stanley Turner, age 20, of Edgewood, Maryland, to 222 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for carjacking resulting in death, in connection with the fatal attempted carjacking of a delivery driver in Harford County, Maryland on February 10, 2019.   There is no parole in the federal system.

 

Two alleged co-conspirators have been arrested on related State charges.

 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler; and Harford County State’s Attorney Albert Peisinger.

 

According to Turner’s guilty plea, on February 10, 2019, Turner and at least two co-conspirators attempted to carjack T.Y, who was working as a delivery driver for a local restaurant.  As T.Y. was delivering food to a residence in Edgewood, Maryland, he saw an individual enter his vehicle, a 2000 Honda Accord and ran to prevent the perpetrators from taking the vehicle.

 

As detailed in the plea agreement, as Turner and his associates tried to take the vehicle, T.Y. fought back, hitting Turner’s associates  with an expandable baton.  When T.Y. refused to retreat and stop the confrontation, Turner shot T.Y. multiple times and Turner and his associates fled the scene.  Harford County Sheriff’s Office deputies arriving at the scene found T.Y. lying on the ground next to the Honda, suffering from gunshot wounds to his hand, back, and chest.  Deputies noted that the driver’s side front door was open and that an expandable baton was adjacent to T.Y. in a fully extended position.  T.Y. was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital.

 

Turner, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, waived his juvenile status and consented to be prosecuted as an adult for this offense.

 

This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

 

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Maryland State Police, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Austin, who prosecuted the case.

 

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

 

# # #

 

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dinorah De Denis, age 72, of Frederick, Maryland, for the federal charges of theft of government property and social security fraud.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division; and Lead Investigator Pam Shank of the Office of Inspector General, Maryland Department of Human Services.

According to the two-count indictment, De Denis allegedly obtained two social security numbers and did not report to the Social Security Administration or the State of Maryland that she was receiving widows insurance benefits (WIB) payments under another social security number.  Allegedly, she received supplemental security income (SSI) Medicaid and Food Supplement benefits through the State of Maryland under her first social security number when she applied for and was awarded SSA WIB under the other social security number.  As a result, De Denis received $89,085 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

As alleged in the indictment, De Denis applied for her first social security number in 1973 under her birth name, Dinorah Cepeda Ulloa, on May 7, 1973.  After De Denis married her husband later that year, De Denis obtained a second social security number under her married surname “De Denis”.  The indictment alleges that De Denis applied for SSI in 2005 and was awarded SSI in 2006 under her first social security number and then applied for WIB after her husband died in 2012 under her second social security number and was awarded monthly payments thereafter. According to the indictment, De Denis did not disclose to the Social Security Administration that she was receiving WIB under another social security number, which would have disqualified her from receiving SSI.

Further, the indictment alleges that on September 28, 2017, during an interview with Social Security Administration representatives regarding her continued eligibility for supplemental security income under her first social security number, De Denis allegedly falsely stated that she was currently married to her husband and that they had been separated since 1984.  Allegedly, De Denis also stated that her husband lived in Puerto Rico and that she was not aware of his whereabouts, despite the fact that she had applied for widows insurance benefits upon his death in 2012.

If convicted, De Denis faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for theft of government property and 5 years in federal prison for social security fraud.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the SSA-OIG and the Maryland Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Davio, who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced former Contract Nurse Joseph Nwancha, age 41, of Baltimore, yesterday to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy charge related to his participation in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the Maryland Correctional Institution Jessup (MCIJ), including narcotics, tobacco, and cell phones.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert L. Green, of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

According to court documents, MCIJ was a medium-security prison in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, that housed approximately 1,100 male inmates, with 262 custody staff or Correctional Officers (COs) and 52 non-custody staff, including case management, medical, and administrative staff.

As detailed in his plea agreement, Nwancha conspired with inmates and individuals outside the facility who obtained and packaged contraband, including, suboxone strips, K2, tobacco, pills and cell phones, to smuggle into MCIJ in exchange for bribe payments.  Nwancha was regularly the on-duty nurse during the evening and overnight shifts at MCIJ.  Because of the nature of his employment, Nwancha had the opportunity to have contact with inmates in private without other prison employees or inmates observing the interactions.

Beginning in September 2017, inmate Corey Alston began bribing Nwancha to bring contraband into MCIJ.  On September 19 and September 20, 2017, via text message, Alston’s sister, Ashley Alston, and Nwancha discussed bribe payments.  Ashley Alston told Nwancha that she had the “$200 he owe” and Nwancha responded that he was expecting $1,000 in addition to the $200 and wanted it deposited in his bank account.  On September 22, 2017, Ashley Alston met with Nwancha to give him money.  According to his plea agreement, over the course of his association with Alston, Nwancha agreed to smuggle contraband cell phones, a pocket knife, tobacco, K2 (a synthetic cannabinoid), and other contraband into MCIJ in exchange for bribe payments.  Nwancha admitted that he also conspired with other inmates, including Irving Hernandez, to smuggle contraband, including K2, narcotics, tobacco, and cell phones into the facility in exchange for bribe payments. 

On November 28, 2017, Nwancha was stopped at MCIJ in possession of approximately 230 grams of K2 intended for MCIJ inmates, including Alston.  A cell phone recovered from Nwancha was subsequently searched and revealed numerous text message conversations between Alston, Hernandez and Nwancha discussing bribe payments and smuggling contraband into MCIJ.  The next day, Nwancha booked a flight and left the country to travel to Dublin, Ireland.  He remained out of the country until his arrest and extradition.

Inmate Corey Alston, a/k/a “C,” age 29, pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and was sentenced to six years in federal prison.  Inmate Irving Hernandez, age 27, also pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

This case arose from the efforts of the Maryland Prison Task Force, coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and comprised of local, state, and federal stakeholders that meet regularly to share information and generate recommendations to reform prison procedures and attack the gang problem that has plagued Maryland in recent years.  The work of the Task Force previously resulted in the federal convictions of more than 78 defendants, including 16 correctional officers, at the Eastern Correctional Institution, and 40 defendants, including 24 correctional officers, at the Baltimore City Detention Center.

“Contraband is dangerous to our employees and the incarcerated population, endangering the safety and security of our correctional facilities," said DPSCS Secretary Robert Green. "Our detectives worked with federal agents to track this individual down overseas to make certain that he faced the consequences for his actions, and we will continue to pursue accountability for those engaged in criminal activity within our correctional system.”

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the MCIJ investigation and have been full partners in this investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney, who is prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar today sentenced Lawrence A. Marvitz, age 44, of Hagerstown, Maryland, to 69 months in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for failing to register as a sex offender and for violating his supervised release for a previous federal conviction.  Judge Bredar also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Marvitz must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to his guilty plea, on July 13, 2012, Chief Judge Bredar sentenced Marvitz to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.  As a condition of his supervised release, Marvitz was prohibited from possessing or using any computer, except with the permission of his probation officer, or in connection with authorized employment.  Marvitz was also required to cooperate with U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office monitoring of compliance with this condition, including participating in a computer and internet monitoring program, identifying computer systems and internet-capable devices to which Marvitz had access, and permitting random, unannounced examinations of electronic devices under his control.

As detailed in his plea agreement, Marvitz was released from custody in May 2013.  In January 2017 Marvitz’s case was transferred to the U.S. Probation Office for the Northern District of West Virginia for supervision.  On September 19, 2019, Marvitz moved to an apartment in Hagerstown, Maryland.  Marvitz did not obtain permission from his U.S. Probation Officer prior to changing his residence, nor did he update his sex offender registration by registering his new address in West Virginia or by registering as a sex offender in Maryland.

On October 9, 2019, a U.S. Probation Officer (USPO) conducted an unannounced home visit to Marvitz’s new address and observed what appeared to be an empty computer box.  Marvitz advised the USPO that he had just purchased the new computer and that he was planning to remove his old laptop.  Marvitz had not obtained the permission of the USPO prior to purchasing the new computer.  The USPO instructed Marvitz to contact the monitoring company immediately so the monitoring software could be installed on the new computer.  After the visit by the USPO, Marvitz did update the West Virginia and Maryland sex offender registries with his address.

On November 20, 2019, the USPO returned to Marvitz’s residence.  Marvitz advised the USPO that he had wiped his old laptop and sold it to a local pawn shop.  The USPO observed an internet cable that disappeared behind a computer desk.  Upon further inspection, the USPO located Marvitz’s old laptop and an external hard drive hidden behind the computer desk.  Search warrants were subsequently obtained for Marvitz’s apartment and for a total of 20 electronic devices that were ultimately seized.  A forensic examination of the old laptop and external hard drive found by the USPO revealed seven videos and five images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The files had been downloaded from the internet between January 12, 2018 and September 30, 2019.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.       

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for its assistance in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Judson T. Mihok, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Samson A. Oguntuyi, age 29, of Atlanta, Georgia, yesterday to 54 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Imari R. Niles of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; Postal Inspector in Charge Greg Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; and Special Agent in Charge J. Russell George of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

According to his plea agreement, between July 25, 2016, and February 5, 2019, Oguntuyi conspired with Johnson B. Ogunlana, age 25, of Middle River, Maryland and others to steal bank checks and credit and debit cards from the mail, open fraudulent business banking accounts using the names of victim businesses and the stolen identities of victim postal customers to negotiate the stolen checks by depositing them into the fraudulent bank accounts, and then conduct transactions with stolen payment cards and with money derived from the stolen checks.  Ogunlana was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in Brooklyn, Maryland. 

As part of the scheme to defraud, Ogunlana intercepted and stole mail pieces containing credit cards addressed to individual victims and sent photos of the stolen mail pieces and credit cards through a messaging application to Oguntuyi and other conspirators.  Oguntuyi then used the victims’ personal identifying information (“PII”) to activate the stolen credit cards and to obtain new credit cards the victims never requested or applied for.  Once the stolen credit cards were activated, members of the conspiracy used the credit cards to make retail purchases. 

As detailed in his plea agreement, members of the conspiracy registered fraudulent businesses with state government agencies using the names of victim businesses and the names and identifying information of postal customer identity theft victims as the agents and/or incorporators of the businesses.  Ogunlana and others used stolen payment cards issued to identity theft victims to pay fees to register some of the fraudulent businesses.  Ogunlana also stole banks checks payable to victim businesses, whose mail was serviced out of the USPS facility where Ogunlana worked, by intercepting their mail.  Oguntuyi and Ogunlana then endorsed some of the checks by forging the signatures of identity theft victims and deposited the checks into the fraudulent business bank accounts the conspirators opened in the names of the victim businesses.  The conspirators then withdrew the money from the accounts through cash withdrawals, debit card purchases and cash back transactions at retail merchants, wire transfers, and by writing checks drawn on the accounts.

As stated in his plea agreement, at least $565,000 was stolen from two victim businesses and at least eight postal customers were victims of identity theft.

Ogunlana was sentenced to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of mail by a postal employee on February 18, 2022.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and TIGTA for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Davio, who prosecuted the case.

# # #

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – A former Correctional Officer, two inmates, and an outside “facilitator” have pleaded guilty to a federal racketeering conspiracy at the Jessup Correctional Institution (JCI), involving inmates and outside facilitators paying bribes to correctional officers to smuggle contraband, including narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, and cell phones into the prison.  As a result of the guilty pleas entered yesterday and today, all 15 defendants charged in this case have now pleaded guilty.  The following individuals entered their guilty pleas this week:

Former Correctional Officer Dominique Booker, age 45, of Baltimore; Inmates William Cox, a/k/a Dollar, age 45 and Vernard Majette a/k/a Nard, age 40; and
Facilitator Vonda Bolden, age 57, of Baltimore.

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Robert Green, of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

JCI is a maximum-security prison located in Jessup, Maryland.

According to the defendants’ plea agreements, Booker, Cox, Majette, and Bolden conspired with other COs, inmates, and outside facilitators to smuggle contraband into JCI, including narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, and cell phones.  According to their plea agreements and other court documents, COs accepted or agreed to accept payments from facilitators and/or inmates as consideration for smuggling contraband into JCI.  Inmates acted as both wholesalers and retailers of contraband, often obtaining profits that far exceeded the profits that could be made by selling similar drugs on the street.  

During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted phone calls and text messages in which the defendants discussed contraband to be smuggled into JCI, as well as the payment of bribes.  Several of the inmate defendants, including Cox and Majette, had contraband cell phones, which they used to facilitate their smuggling activities.  As detailed in her plea agreement, CO Booker conspired with inmate Cox, with whom she had a romantic relationship, and others, to smuggle contraband, including controlled dangerous substances, such as Suboxone, into JCI and then distribute the contraband to inmates.  In January 2019, a search of Booker and her vehicle as she entered JCI revealed contraband, including plastic baggies containing the synthetic cannabinoid K-2, which she intended to smuggle into the prison.  

As detailed in Bolden’s plea agreement, she was the facilitator for her son and co-defendant, inmate Marshall Hill, a/k/a “Boosie.”  Bolden admitted that at Hill’s direction she made bribe payments, obtained contraband, met with co-conspirators to deliver contraband, and communicated with other JCI inmates to facilitate the movement of contraband within JCI.

The defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the racketeering conspiracy.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for Booker and Cox on June 7, 2022; for Bolden on July 29, 2022; and for Majette on August 1, 2022.

The other 11 defendants previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy.  Nine of those defendants have been sentenced, including Marshall Hill, a/k/a “Boosie,” age 30, who pleaded guilty to the racketeering conspiracy and was sentenced to four years in federal prison.

The U.S. Attorney expressed appreciation to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, whose staff initiated the JCI investigation and have been full partners in this investigation. 

This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.    

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Rigali, who is prosecuting this case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Dwight Antonio Pitts, age 47, of Hanover, Maryland, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his participation in a drug distribution conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, shipped through the U.S. Mail from California to Maryland.  Pitts admitted that during his participation in the conspiracy, it was foreseeable that he and the other conspirators distributed approximately 8.5 kilograms of fentanyl; approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine; and approximately 50 kilograms of marijuana.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Superintendent Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III of the Maryland State Police (MSP); Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) - Washington Division; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Baltimore District Office.

According to his guilty plea, since November 2019, the MSP, the DEA, and the USPIS were investigating a drug trafficking conspiracy involving Pitts, Michael Fisher (a.k.a. Mark Wilson), and others, that was distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan areas.  Investigators used court-authorized wiretaps to intercept calls and other communications between Pitts, Fisher, and other conspirators in which they discussed drug distribution with each other and with other individuals.  Investigators also conducted surveillance of drug transactions conducted by both Pitts and Fisher.

During the conspiracy, Pitts and Fisher traveled to California multiple times to obtain kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl.  Once in possession of the narcotics, Pitts or Fisher used the U.S. Mail to ship the narcotics back to Maryland for distribution.  

Between May and August 2020, U.S. postal inspectors interdicted several parcels from the mail, including two parcels bound for an address in Hyattsville, Maryland that was leased by Pitts.  On August 13, 2020, a search warrant was authorized for the two parcels.  Law enforcement recovered more than two kilograms of cocaine from one parcel and more than two kilograms of fentanyl from the other parcel. Investigators obtained video surveillance from the El Segundo Branch Post Office, from which the parcels had been mailed.  The video showed Pitts at the post office at the time the parcels were mailed. 

On August 13, 2020, investigators obtained consent to search Co-Conspirator 2’s residence in Los Angeles after watching Fisher transfer a box containing approximately $190,020 in cash to Co-Conspirator 2’s car.  Law enforcement recovered from the residence two duffle bags containing approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, along with two additional duffle bags that contained more than $193,980 in narcotics proceeds, not including the approximately $190,020 Fisher provided to Co-Conspirator 2 earlier that day.

On August 17, 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants at the six locations in Maryland associated with Pitts and Fisher and at a residence in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Investigators seized 15 firearms—6 firearms from locations associated with Pitts and 9 firearms from locations associated with Fisher—along with kilogram quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana.  In total, during the investigation law enforcement seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 6.5 kilograms of fentanyl, and approximately 50 kilograms of marijuana.  In addition, investigators seized approximately $1,501,308, which Pitts admitted was proceeds from the sale of narcotics.

As detailed in the plea agreement, additional evidence, including evidence seized from searches on cellular phones of conspirators and CCTV footage, showed that between July 2019 and August 2020, the conspiracy was responsible for mailing approximately 121 parcels from Los Angeles area Post Offices to locations in Maryland. 

Co-defendant Michael Fisher, age 47, of Laurel, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the same charges and is awaiting sentencing.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.    

The overdose crisis continues to devastate our state and local communities. If you believe you may need substance use disorder treatment or recovery services, please call 1800-662-HELP (4357). You may also visit the website for United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland for further information and resources on opioid awareness here.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the MSP, USPIS, and DEA for their work in the investigation and recognized the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles and Las Vegas DEA, and the USPIS Phoenix Division-Las Vegas, Nevada for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Anatoly Smolkin, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Romano, who prosecuted the case.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – Patrick Lawrence Wood, age 35, of Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to produce child pornography.  Wood admitted that he paid co-conspirators in the Philippines to procure images and videos of children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct requested by Wood.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, Wood used a social media platform to solicit the production of child pornography and used various digital money transfer services to send payment to co-conspirators in exchange for images and videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, as requested by Wood.

As detailed in Wood’s plea agreement, the social media platform sent a Cybertipline Report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, about a user who had requested, and subsequently paid, another user to create sexually explicit images of a prepubescent male and female and send them via the platform’s private message function.  Law enforcement identified Patrick Wood as the user and executed a search warrant at Wood’s residence, seizing a laptop computer, desktop computer, two cellular phones and two tablets.

A search of Wood’s social media accounts and the seized electronic devices revealed that Wood communicated with three co-conspirators in the Philippines to procure images and videos of minors engaged in sexual conduct.  Those communications occurred over various digital platforms.  Wood routinely paid a co-conspirator for access to videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including via live feeds involving a child engaged in the specific sexual conduct requested by and paid for by Wood.  Images and videos of at least five minor male and female victims, all under the age of 12, engaging in sexual conduct were electronically sent during online chat sessions from co-conspirators in the Philippines to Wood, at Wood’s request, and in exchange for payment by Wood.  During the four years prior to Wood’s arrest, he paid more than $40,000 to co-conspirators in the Philippines in exchange for the production of child pornography.

In addition, the investigation revealed that sexually explicit images and videos of at least eight minor male victims 14 to 17 years old were electronically sent to Wood at his request from locations in the United States during online chat sessions.  At least one of those minor victims was also paid by Wood, in the form of gift cards and new clothes, for producing sexually explicit images requested by Wood.

In addition to the images and videos of child pornography identified on Wood’s social media and cloud-based storage accounts, the forensic examination of the devices seized from Wood’s home revealed over 150 images and five videos of child pornography.  The forensic analysis also showed screenshots of a ticket confirmation for Wood to travel to Manila, Philippines for two weeks, but investigators confirmed that Wood did not ultimately travel there and cancelled the ticket.

As stated in his plea agreement, upon his release from prison, Wood will be required to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

Wood and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Wood will be sentenced to between 17 years and 23 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for May 23, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.         

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan, who is prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Warren Tillery, age 46, of Atlanta, Georgia and previously of Baltimore to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud.  Judge Gallagher also ordered Tillery to pay $166,860 in restitution to victim financial institutions.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

According to his plea agreement, from 2015 to February 2018, Tillery led a conspiracy to engage in a mail and bank fraud scheme designed to steal money from federally insured financial institutions in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, and elsewhere.

Tillery led and organized a conspiracy that initially focused on stealing checks written by victim businesses and individuals from United States Postal Service mail receptacles.  As part of the scheme to defraud, Tillery obtained a stolen U.S. Postal Service key that opened mail receptacles in the Baltimore area.  He then provided this key to co-conspirators who were recruited to steal mail and provide stolen checks to Tillery.  Tillery altered the stolen checks or created fraudulent checks that displayed the victim’s account information and instruct co-conspirators to cash the fraudulently obtained checks made out to them in exchange for a portion of the proceeds.  In addition to his check theft conspiracy, Tillery made counterfeit money orders and credit cards to use as secondary identification for check cashing and to make purchases.

As stated in his plea agreement, on February 2, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Tillery’s Atlanta-area home.  As a result of the executed search warrant, investigators recovered card manufacturing equipment, $4,000 in cash, and hundreds of credit cards in his and others’ names encoded with stolen credit card information.  Agents also recovered stolen credit card information, recently stolen U.S. Postal Service mail tubs, social security cards and driver’s licenses that belonged to other people, and hundreds of blank money orders and stolen checks.

Tillery’s fraud conspiracy caused at least $180,269 in losses to more than 30 victim businesses and 15 federally insured financial institutions.  In total, Tillery personally obtained at least $30,000 from the conspiracy.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the USPIS and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam K. Ake and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hamilton, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud .

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – John R. Conigliaro, age 60, of Kingsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to bribe a public official.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Moreland of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Conigliaro is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of EISCO, Inc. EISCO provides general construction services, including fixed and portable biochemical laboratories.

According to his guilty plea, from 2012 to 2019, Conigliaro bribed an Army Research Biologist (Public Official 1), who worked at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Chemical Biological Center (CB Center), located on Aberdeen Proving Ground, in Maryland.  The CCDC CB Center is the nation’s principal research and development center for non-medical chemical and biological weapons defense.  The CB Center develops technology in the areas of detection, protection, and decontamination.  Conigliaro bribed Public Official 1 with a stream of benefits including cash loans, payments for renovations to rental properties owned by public official 1, payments for renovations to Public Official 1’s personal residence, and other things of value in exchange for influencing CB Center projects to EISCO.

For example, in October 2013, after EISCO received its first payment of $150,000 for a government project, Conigliaro gave cash and a $40,000 zero-interest loan to Public Official 1 to finance the purchase of two rental properties.  Once Public Official 1 purchased the rental properties, Conigliaro paid for thousands of dollars of renovations to the rental properties.  Further Public Official 1 executed a “Promissory Note,” in which Public Official 1 wrote that he repaid Conigliaro a portion of the funds that Conigliaro had given him with CB Center projects.

Additionally, from 2016 to 2018, Public Official 1 directed three CB Center projects to EISCO.  During the performance of one of those projects, Conigliaro spent approximately half of the time not performing work but being “on call.”  Over that same time period, Conigliaro paid for more than $30,000 in renovations to Public Official 1’s personal residence, including more than more than $20,000 to renovate Public Official 1’s kitchen, and more than $16,000 to replace the siding on Public Official 1’s personal residence. 

According to the guilty plea, from July 2012 to 2019, Conigliaro paid more than $95,000 in bribes to Public Official 1, and over that same time period, Public Official 1 directed more than $1 million of contract awards to EISCO.

Conigliaro faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison followed by up to three of supervised release for conspiracy to bribe a public official.  U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman has scheduled sentencing for May 10, 2022, at 10 a.m.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and the Army Criminal Investigation Division for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Harry Gruber, who are prosecuting the federal case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Jason Lawrence Green, age 40, of Salisbury, Maryland, today to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute heroin, which he sold on the dark web, which is part of the internet that is only accessible by using specific software that disguises the true location and identity of computers using the software to communicate.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Colonel Adrian Baker, Superintendent Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips, Jr.

According to Green’s guilty plea, from at least 2018 through October 2019, Green used an apartment and a storage unit in Salisbury, Maryland to sell and distribute heroin on the dark web and using encrypted email services.

As detailed in the plea agreement, Green initially operated as “CaliClaire” on the Dream Market, a dark web marketplace for controlled substances and other illegal goods.  After Dream Market closed in April 2019, Green sold heroin through encrypted email services under the usernames “CaliClaire” and “clairebear2.”  Green sent the heroin to buyers throughout the country using the U.S. mail (USPS).

For example, on June 20 and August 28, 2018, an undercover investigator purchased one gram of heroin from CaliClaire’s vendor site on Dream Market for approximately $200 in bitcoin, a cryptocurrency.  The next day, law enforcement surveilled Green as he drove a white BMW from his home to the post offices in Ocean City, Maryland and Salisbury, respectively, and deposited parcels in a mailbox.  After the BMW drove away, investigators searched the mailbox and recovered the parcel addressed to the address provided to CaliClaire by the undercover investigator.  Each parcel contained one gram of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin.  Investigators also recovered two additional parcels that Green had placed in the mailbox in Salisbury.  After obtaining search warrants, investigators found that the parcels contained 3.5 and 4.5 grams, respectively, of a tan powdery substance that appeared to be heroin.

CaliClaire was inactive on Dream Market from September 7, 2018 until December 4, 2018—the same time that Green was in custody after being arrested by Ocean City police on unrelated state charges.  Green was released on electronic monitoring on December 4, 2018.  Six days later, CaliClaire posted an update on Dream Market claiming that the vendor had taken a “break” due to the loss in value of bitcoin, followed by another update on December 21, 2018 stating that heroin would be available for purchase again starting on December 25, 2018. Dream Market was shut down sometime between January and April 2019. 

In June and September 2019, law enforcement seized two USPS parcels (later found to contain heroin) being shipped to addresses in Fairfax County, Virginia and Washington County, Oregon. Investigators contacted the intended recipients and learned that they were former CaliClaire customers on Dream Market. The Virginia recipient told investigators that CaliClaire had resumed selling heroin directly to customers under the CaliClaire username on Encrypted Email Service A. Investigators learned from the Oregon customer that CaliClaire was also selling heroin directly to customers under the username “clairebear2” on Encrypted Email Service B.

As detailed in the plea agreement, in September and October 2019, investigators conducted two undercover purchases from clairebear2 on Encrypted Mail Service B, each time obtaining 2 grams of heroin for $300 in bitcoin.  Investigators surveilled Green following each undercover purchase.  After the first purchase, investigators observed Green delivering parcels to a drive-up mailbox in Delaware.  The mailbox where Green deposited the parcel was searched and the parcel addressed to the undercover officer was found.  It contained three grams of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin.  After the second purchase, Green was seen accessing a storage unit he was renting and later that day depositing multiple parcels in a mailbox in Berlin, Maryland.  The parcel addressed to the undercover officer was delivered to investigators a few days later and contained a clear zip-top bag holding approximately 2.5 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for heroin.

Search warrants were executed at Green’s residence and storage unit on October 16, 2019.  Law enforcement recovered a total of 77 grams of heroin; approximately 41 grams of cocaine; approximately five grams of MDA, a controlled substance often sold as “ecstasy”; approximately 33 grams of amphetamine; more than 1.4 kilograms of marijuana, with all but 48 grams packaged in heat sealed bags; 334 grams of cutting agent; and drug paraphernalia, including numerous digital scales, a money counter, and packaging materials.  In addition, investigators seized six firearms, including a .40 caliber pistol which had been reported stolen from an officer with the Federal Air Marshal Service; a Level 3A body armor vest; ammunition; $13,796 in cash; mailing materials; a laptop computer and several cellular phones, including an iPhone. 

A subsequent forensic analysis of Green’s iPhone found data of Green’s use of Encrypted Mail Service B and a mobile cryptocurrency storage application which showed that before the phone was seized, the wallet held approximately 15.97 bitcoin, which at that time was worth approximately $130,000.  A forensic analysis of the laptop revealed, among other things, internet searches related to the addresses of customers; the names and addresses of approximately 56 individuals who appeared in either return or recipient addresses on parcels seized during the investigation and found to contain heroin, including undercover purchases; email addresses for Encrypted Email Services A and B; a password to Encrypted Email Service B; USPS tracking numbers, including for the undercover parcels; and approximately 44 PDF files containing USPS shipping labels from nearly every heroin parcel seized during the investigation.

This case was prosecuted utilizing resources from the Dark Market and Digital Currency Crimes (DMDCC) Task Force. The DMDCC Task Force is a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI – Baltimore, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Food and Drug Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department, targeting the use of dark net marketplaces and digital currencies to facilitate criminal activities. The past several years have witnessed a significant increase in the use of the internet (both the clear net and dark net) and digital currencies to facilitate, for example, the illegal sale and distribution of narcotics and firearms, computer technologies (including hacking tools), and Personal Identifiable Information (PII). In response to this rising threat, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI, and their partners formed the DMDCC Task Force to facilitate stronger collaboration among law enforcement partners combatting these crimes.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and Christopher M. Rigali, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Romanian national Mateus Vaduva, age 29, of Baltimore, Maryland, and Florida yesterday to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to steal donation checks intended for religious institutions from the mail.  Judge Chuang also ordered Mateus Vaduva to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is $1,320,885.84 and entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $79,551.07, equal to the proceeds Vaduva obtained as a result of the conspiracy.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Special Agent in Charge Quenton Sallows, of the Mid-Atlantic Region, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.

According to his guilty plea, beginning in June 2018 to January 2021, Vaduva and his co-conspirators conspired to steal checks from the U.S. mail intended for religious institutions and deposit the illegally obtained funds into multiple fraudulent bank accounts at various victim financial institutions. Conspirators, including Vaduva, conducted the thefts by driving to roadside mailboxes of churches and other religious institutions and removing the mail, specifically targeting donation checks.

As part of the scheme to defraud, Vaduva and other co-conspirators fraudulently opened bank accounts at victim financial institutions under false identities. Conspiracy members often opened fictitious bank accounts with the aid of a conspiracy member that was an employee at one of the victim financial institutions. In addition, Vaduva and his co-conspirators used at least two extended family members who were minors to assist in the account openings.

Vaduva and co-conspirators then withdrew cash from the fraudulent bank accounts through ATMs and spent the illegally obtained proceeds using debit cards associated with the bank accounts.

Throughout the scheme to defraud, Vaduva personally deposited at least approximately 126 stolen checks totaling at least approximately $79,551.07. In total, co-conspirators deposited at least 3,067 stolen checks from Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and elsewhere, totaling at least approximately $1,307,484.23.  Vaduva admitted that based on the length, scope, and type of involvement in the scheme and his relationship with other conspirators, more than $550,000, but less than $1.5 million in actual and intended loss was foreseeable to Vaduva.

Co-conspirators Daniel Velcu, age 44; Marian Unguru, age 37; Marius Vaduva, age 27; and Vali Unguru, age 19, all of Baltimore, Maryland, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and are awaiting sentencing.  Nicolae Gindac, age 53, of Dania Beach, Florida pled guilty to the same charge and was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison. 

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HSI, the FDIC Office of Inspector General, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Cary (North Carolina) Police Department, and the Williamson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Wright, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced William Tyler Beck, age 30, of Centreville, Maryland to 16 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for coercion and enticement of a minor.  Judge Gallagher also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Beck must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James R. Mancuso of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police.

According to his guilty plea, between 2014 and August 2018, Beck used internet-based communication services to coerce at least six minor females into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.  As part of his scheme to exploit the minors, Beck created fictitious accounts and represented himself as a 16-year old minor.

Specifically, on March 5, 2017, Beck used a cell phone and video streaming application to communicate with Jane Doe, a 9-year-old victim.  Beck instructed the victim to perform sexual acts on a live stream video and threatened to call the police if she did not cooperate with his demands.  As a result of Beck’s threats, Jane Doe exposed her breast, genitalia, and performed other sexual acts on an open live stream video.  The live stream video was viewed by over 100 users, and some users immediately reported the conduct to law enforcement.  After Jane Doe was banned from the live stream site, Beck instructed Jane Doe to change her username to “Lil Sexy Chica” to stream another video where she performed additional sexual acts.  Beck also live streamed a video of himself masturbating during his communication with Jane Doe.

According to Beck’s plea agreement, from approximately 2014 to August 2017, Beck used two social media applications to communicate with minor females who identified themselves as ages 9 to 16 years of age.  Beck communicated with more than 24 self-identifying minors during that time.  All communications related to sex or requests for photos.  During most of the conversations, Beck falsely posed as a 16-year-old or 13-year-old minor.

In at least three instances, Beck threatened to expose the victims by posting pictures, stating that he already posted pictures, or threatening to tell the victims’ parents that they were using the applications.

Beck admits that he caused or attempted to cause at least five minor females between the ages of 13 and 16 years of age to produce images, videos, or live stream videos of their exposed genitalia.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the HSI, the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, the Madisonville Police Department of Kentucky, and the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Larry Gardner, a/k/a “Little Larry,” age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to five years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for his participation in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and other drugs in the Baltimore area.  

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; and Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division.

According to his guilty plea, between November 2019 and December 2020, Gardner participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed large quantities of controlled dangerous substances, including heroin, in the Baltimore area.

As detailed in the plea agreement, between June and November 2020, federal agents assigned to the Baltimore Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force intercepted hundreds of electronic and wire communications between Gardner and the leader of the DTO which revealed that Gardner was a mid-level distributor of heroin and that the DTO leader was his source of supply.

Gardner exchanged coded text messages with the DTO’s leader negotiating the price and amount of heroin.  After one such exchange on November 4, 2020, a covert camera captured the DTO leader entering an apartment in downtown Baltimore used as a stash house, then leave eight minutes later.  A few minutes later, agents conducting surveillance outside Gardner’s residence saw the DTO leader arrive and intercepted a message from the DTO leader to Gardner stating, “Here cuz”.  The DTO leader rang the bell at Gardner’s residence and Gardner answered the door and accompanied the DTO leader to his car, where they conducted the heroin transaction.

On December 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search at Gardner’s residence, which was occupied at that time by Gardner, his wife, and three minor children.  Law enforcement recovered a ballistic vest, a kilogram press and more than 1,000 empty gel capsules in the basement.  In the bathroom, officers found white residue around a toilet and on the floor next to the toilet; plastic bags containing a white powder substance; and at least one plastic bag with a crystalline white rock-like substance that was subsequently analyzed and identified as approximately 19 grams of cocaine.

Gardner admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to him that the conspiracy involved the distribution of between 100 and 400 grams of heroin.                                             

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.  Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location.  This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks.  These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime.  The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the DEA, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore Police Department for its assistance.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Nathaniel Donnell Carter, age 37, of Baltimore, Maryland, yesterday to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.   Judge Russell sentenced Carter’s wife, Raymia Sophia Carroll, also age 37, of Baltimore, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the crack cocaine distribution conspiracy.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

According to their guilty pleas, on November 12, 2019, the DEA and the Baltimore County Police Department conducted surveillance on Carter’s and Carroll’s family home in connection with an investigation into their drug trafficking activities.  Law enforcement saw Carter leave the house with a bulge in the front pocket of his hooded jacket and drive away.  Carter was seen fidgeting in the car and continued to reach behind and under the front passenger seat.  Baltimore County Police conducted a traffic stop.  After being read his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged, Carter gave consent for officers to search his vehicle, telling them “it would be under the seat.”  Law enforcement recovered a .45-caliber handgun from the center console of the vehicle and a large black bag containing 1,012.3 grams of crack cocaine from under the front passenger seat.

Law enforcement traveled to a Baltimore County elementary school to conduct surveillance on Carroll and saw her car.  A K9 scan of the vehicle alerted positive for drugs.  Law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered approximately 385.242 grams of crack cocaine and packaging materials.

A subsequent search of the family home recovered 72.9 grams of crack cocaine, packaging materials, and 22.5 grams of suspected marijuana.

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joan C. Mathias and Christopher M. Rigali, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Howard Hoffberg, M.D., age 65, of Reisterstown, Maryland, today, to eight months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statutes, in connection with a scheme to accept payments from a pharmaceutical company in exchange for prescribing a fentanyl-based drug.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, Office of Investigations, Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services; and Chief Melissa R. Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, Howard Hoffberg, is a doctor and was licensed to practice medicine in the State of Maryland.  He served as the Associate Medical Director and part-owner of Rosen-Hoffberg Rehabilitation and Pain Management (the “Practice”).  The Practice’s Medical Director was Norman Rosen, who worked primarily at the Practice’s Towson, Maryland locations.  Hoffberg principally worked at the Practice’s location in Owings Mills, Maryland, but at times also was at the Practice’s locations in Towson, Maryland. 

Hoffberg was a Medicare provider and submitted claims to Medicare, which is federal healthcare program.  In September 2011, Hoffberg certified to Medicare that he would comply with Medicare rules and regulations, including that he would refrain from violating the federal anti-kickback statute.  Further, in August 2013, Hoffberg certified to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), as part of his ability to prescribe drugs known as Transmucosal Immediate Release Fentanyl (“TIRF”) drugs, that: (a) he understood TIRF drugs are indicated only for the management of breakthrough pain in cancer patients; (b) he understood that TIRF drugs can be abused by patients; and (c) he understood that one TIRF drug is not interchangeable with another TIRF drug.   

As detailed in his plea agreement, starting in June 2012, Hoffberg solicited and received kickbacks and bribes for himself in the form of payments from Insys Therapeutics, Inc. (“Insys”) (a pharmaceutical company) and related entities.  In January 2012, the FDA approved Insys’s application to sell and market a TIRF drug named Subsys to treat cancer patients experiencing break-through pain, which is a sudden onset of pain in cancer patients that cannot be controlled with their usual treatment regimen.  Subsys is a potent opioid designed to rapidly enter a patient’s bloodstream upon being sprayed under the tongue.  Subsys contains fentanyl, which is a synthetic opioid pain reliever that has a high potential for abuse and addiction. 

According to the plea agreement, because of the limited number of cancer patients experiencing breakthrough pain who fit the FDA-approved criteria, Insys devised an illegal kickback and bribery scheme to induce Hoffberg and others to prescribe Subsys off-label for conditions other than breakthrough pain in cancer patients.  In order to conceal and disguise that kickbacks and bribes were being paid to Hoffberg to prescribe Subsys, Insys falsely designated the payments to Hoffberg as “honoraria” for purportedly providing educational programs about Subsys (the “Speakers Bureau Program”).  Hoffberg admitted that his participation in the Speakers Bureau Program was a sham.  Hoffberg often made these presentations at high-end restaurants, and to staff at the Practice and/or to persons who could not even prescribe controlled substances.  Hoffberg knew that these presentations were not designed to promote any bona fide educational initiative about Subsys but rather were required to receive the honoraria. 

Hoffberg was paid $66,600 by Insys and knew that these payments were kickbacks and bribes that were paid, at least in part, to induce Hoffberg to prescribe, or in exchange for Hoffberg prescribing, Subsys.  As part of the scheme, through January 2018 Hoffberg prescribed Subsys to patients of the Practice who were not suffering from cancer, some of whose insurance coverage was paid for, in whole or in part, by a federal healthcare program.  Further, Hoffberg admitted that he switched several other patients to Subsys from another fentanyl-based drug because of the kickbacks he received from Insys, even though he previously certified that TIRF drugs were not interchangeable.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the DEA, HHS-OIG, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation.   Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason D. Medinger, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Greenbelt, Maryland – Kweisi Akeem Gray, age 27, of Lanham, Maryland, pleaded guilty yesterday to the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his guilty plea, on April 9, 2021, a Prince George’s County Police officer saw a car backed into a parking space with its engine running in the Riverdale Road area in New Carrollton, Maryland.  The vehicle had no front tag and the rear temporary tag had expired in September 2020.  Several men appeared to be smoking inside and outside the vehicle. 

The officer activated his lights and pulled his cruiser directly in front of the car.  The driver, later identified as Gray, stepped out of the vehicle, looked in the direction of the officer’s cruiser, and put his right arm under the driver’s seat before shutting the door and walking away.  The officer stopped Gray in an empty parking space and a second officer arriving on the scene handcuffed Gray for a brief time.  The officers smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.  A subsequent search recovered a .40 caliber pistol sticking out from under the driver’s seat.  The pistol was loaded with one 9mm round of ammunition in the chamber and 12 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition in the magazine. Officers also recovered a black plastic bag containing eight grams of marijuana on the front passenger seat.  The keys to the car were found in Gray’s pants pocket.  Gray was arrested.

Gray knew that as a result of a previous felony conviction, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Gray faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.   U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for May 31, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy F. Hagan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Kibbe, who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – Anthony P. Urcioli, Sr., age 78, of Park Ridge, New Jersey, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and filing a false tax return.    

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.

According to his guilty plea, Urcioli is the owner and president of Tunnel, Barrel & Drum Co, Inc. (TBD), a wholesale commercial drum container seller.

As stated in his plea agreement, in 2012, Urcioli approached two employees (Employees 1 and 2) of a New York company that formulates and produces oils and extracts used in the food industry (Company 1) to purchase TBD’s drums for manufacturing in Harford County, Maryland.  One of the employee’s responsibilities (Employee 1) was to review drum invoices and authorize payments to drum suppliers.

After TBD became a drum supplier to Company 1, Employee 1 proposed to Urcioli to continue selling drums to Company 1 if Urcioli agreed to fraudulently invoice Company 1 for more drums than TBD actually sold and delivered to the company.  Urcioli and Employee 1 agreed to falsify invoices and split the extra funds paid to TBD from Company 1 for fabricated deliveries.  Employee 1 told Urcioli he would split his portion of the funds by fifty percent with Urcioli and share twenty-five percent of the remaining funds with Employee 2.  As a result of this conversation, Urcioli accepted Employee 1’s offer to pocket the extra funds or “kickbacks”.

From approximately January 2012 to January 31, 2020, Employee 1 contacted Urcioli at least once a week to discuss the number and type of drums that Employee 1 actually wanted delivered to Company 1’s Maryland facilities.  During the same conversation, Employee 1 told Urcioli how many additional drums to charge Company 1 but not deliver to Company 1.  After Urcioli created bogus invoices that fraudulently billed Company 1 for both delivered and undelivered drums, Employee 1 approved the invoices and sent them to Company 1’s headquarters to be paid.

Urcioli, Employee 1, and Employee 2 agreed to write the kickback checks in the names of two fraudulent companies to create the appearance of authentic wholesale drum invoices and serve as a deductible as a cost of goods on TBD’s tax returns.  Additionally, in December 2013, Urcioli told Employee 1 about Hartford Fibre Drum, Inc., the other drum supply company Urcioli owned.  After receiving records that proved that Hartford was a legitimate company, Employee 1 and Urcioli agreed to expand the kickback scheme to include Hartford.  

Between January 2012 and January 31, 2020, Urcioli falsely invoiced Company 1 a total of $20,300,757.  TBD and Hartford kept half that amount while the remaining funds were sent to Employee 1 and Employee 2.  Urcioli also used his companies and their bank accounts to conceal the scheme and launder the proceeds.  As a result of the scheme to defraud, Urcioli obtained approximately $10,150,378 from checks made out to TBD and Hartford.

Further, over the course of the eight-year scheme to defraud Company 1, Urcioli filed yearly corporate tax returns for TBD and Hartford that falsely stated the cost of goods sold each year.  In total, from 2014 to 2020, TBD and Hartford underreported the companies’ incomes by approximately $9.05 million, resulting in a tax loss to the federal government of $2,539,633.

Urcioli faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a maximum of three years in prison followed by one year of supervised release for filing a false tax return.  U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby has not yet scheduled sentencing.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marty Clarke and Harry M. Gruber. who are prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced Jorge Orencel, age 65, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to six months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for federal charges of attempting to smuggle goods out of the United States without the required export license.  Judge Russell also ordered Orencel, who owned and operated Sumtech, an export business located in Fulton, Maryland, to pay a $5,000 fine. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agents in Charge Jonathan Carson and Nasir Khan of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, New York and Washington Field Offices, respectively.

According to his guilty plea, Orencel owned and operated Sumtech, which advertised itself on the Internet as specializing in the distribution of American merchandise, including “high technology laboratory devices,” to South America, Asia, and the Middle East.

As detailed in the plea agreement, in October 2016, Orencel began communicating with Co-conspirator 1, an individual representing herself as an employee of a company in Hong Kong, regarding Co-conspirator 1’s desire to purchase five ionization chambers and one fission chamber from Company A, which manufactured gas-filled nuclear radiation detectors. Co-conspirator 1 advised that Company A, located in New York, required an end user statement and export license if they knew the goods were to be shipped to other countries, and suggested to Orencel that he not mention that the goods would be shipped to Hong Kong.  Orencel agreed and got a quote from Company A for prices on the items requested by Co-conspirator 1, falsely telling officials from Company A that the request was from a customer in Argentina, South America.

After communicating with Co-conspirator 1, on October 26, 2016, Orencel sent a Sumtech purchase order to Company A for the ionization chambers and the fission chamber, along with an End User Statement on Sumtech letterhead and a Statement by Ultimate Consignee and Purchaser, which falsely indicated that the end user and ultimate destination was a company in Argentina.  On February 7, 2017, Orencel emailed Co-conspirator 1 that he had received the ionization chambers but not the fission chamber.  Orencel stated that although Company A had indicated that the fission chamber was regulated because it contained nuclear material, Orencel had obtained a ruling from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that the item was not barred from export due to the small amount of nuclear material contained within the chamber.  The following day, Orencel sent an email to Co-conspirator 1 advising that Company A had not built the fission chamber and would not do so until Orencel agreed that the fission chamber would be transported via UPS SCS, a shipping service provided by the United Parcel Service (UPS) which would pick an item up directly from the seller, such as Company A, and ship it directly to the user. Orencel stated to Co-conspirator 1, “This is a very difficult vendor…seems like they are a little suspicious and of course we have not said that the unit is for Hong Kong.”

As detailed in the plea agreement, on February 24, 2017, law enforcement agents from the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry Security, Office of Export Enforcement visited Orencel at Sumtech.  The agents provided Orencel copies of reference materials regarding export rules and regulations and reviewed the materials with Orencel.  Orencel told the agents that he was very familiar with U.S. export laws and his company always obtained export licenses when required.

Shortly after that visit, on March 3, 2017, Orencel shipped the ionization chambers to an address in Hong Kong, despite his statements to Company A that the items were destined for Argentina and would not be re-exported. 

On August 22, 2017, shortly after Company A advised Orencel that the fission chamber was completed and ready for pickup by UPS for shipment to the end user, Orencel executed a Shipper’s Letter of Instruction falsely certifying that the fission chamber was detection equipment with a value of $930 and the ultimate consignee and destination was in Argentina.  In fact, Orencel knew that the fission chamber was valued at $9,300 and that he planned to export the item to Hong Kong.  If Orencel had correctly stated the value of the item, which was more than $2,500, he would have been required to file a Shipper’s Export Declaration, which, in turn, would have alerted the Department of Commerce and other authorities to the existence of the shipment and allowed them to track the export and confirm compliance with licensing and other export requirements.

On August 25, 2017, Orencel emailed Co-conspirator 1 that UPS had picked up the fission chamber from Company A and discussed how to get the item shipped to Hong Kong, since the paperwork was issued with the name of a fake end-user.  Co-conspirator 1 suggested contacting a freight forwarder in California, that had previously assisted in a similar situation.  Orencel advised that he was trying to convince the shipper in New York to move the package to Maryland so he could pick it up and export it to Co-conspirator 1.  Law enforcement authorities detained the package at the UPS facility in New York before it could be shipped any further.

Orencel admitted to law enforcement in a voluntary interview on October 30, 2017, that he never intended to ship the fission chamber to Argentina and had only listed Argentina as the final destination to convince Company A to release the fission chamber for shipment.  Further, Orencel stated that he planned to contact UPS after it had picked up the fission chamber from Company A and direct UPS to change the shipping address to Hong Kong.  Orencel admitted that he also knew he was required to file a Shipper’s Export Declaration and export information in the Automated Export System, since the value of the fission chamber was more than $2,500.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen O. Gavin and Abigail Ticse, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – Christopher Allen Young, a/k/a “40,” age 26, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, in connection with the kidnapping of a victim from a Maryland hotel and casino. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to Young’s guilty plea, on February 3, 2021, co-conspirators 1 and 2 met Victim A at a Maryland casino and hotel, and falsely promised Victim A that they would get women for Victim A if Victim A accompanied them to Southeast Washington, D.C.  At approximately 7:30 a.m., Victim A agreed to get into co-conspirator 1’s vehicle with co-conspirators 1 and 2 and they drove from the casino and hotel to Washington, D.C.

As detailed in the plea agreement, at 8:12 a.m., Young received a call from co-conspirator 2.  A minute later, Young called co-conspirator 3 to report that co-conspirators 1 and 2 had “snatched” Victim A and all Young and co-conspirator 3 had to do was sit in the car with Victim A while co-conspirators 1 and 2 robbed Victim A.  Young advised co-conspirator 3 that he was going to split the proceeds of the robbery with co-conspirators 1 and 2, and would pay co-conspirator 3 from his share.  Young added that, if Victim A “gets feisty, I don’t want to have to crush him.”

A short time later, co-conspirators 1 and 2 arrived in Southeast D.C. with Victim A, and Young and co-conspirator 3 got in the car.  Co-conspirator 2 pointed a gun at Victim A, and Young and the co-conspirators took Victim A’s personal items, including Victim A’s wallet, cellphone, and watch (which had been purchased for approximately $500), and the key to Victim A’s hotel room.  Young and the co-conspirators then demanded the code to the safe in Victim A’s hotel room.  After Victim A refused to provide the code to the safe, co-conspirator 2 struck Victim A in the forehead with the gun, and Victim A gave up the code to his safe.  Co-conspirator 2 then forced Victim A out of the vehicle. 

Young and co-conspirator 3 then exited the vehicle with Victim A, while co-conspirators 1 and 2 drove back to the casino and hotel.  Young and co-conspirator 3 then led Victim A, at gunpoint, to a boiler room inside an apartment building in Southeast D.C., and co-conspirator 3 called co-conspirator 4 to ask him to look out for police or anyone else who might be near enough to hear or see Young and co-conspirator 3 with Victim A.  

Inside the boiler room, Young and co-conspirator 3 physically assaulted Victim A and threatened his life.  Young and co-conspirator 3 also demanded that Victim A disclose the PIN number for his ATM card, which was in Victim A’s wallet that they had taken, and to provide details about Victim A’s hotel room, including what was in the safe.

According to the plea agreement, co-conspirators 1 and 2 were seen on surveillance footage leaving Victim A’s hotel room with a backpack and roller suitcase, which contained items they had stolen from the room, including an Xbox, at least $1,500 in MGM Casino chips, and approximately $6,000 in cash.  The total value of the property stolen from Victim A during the kidnapping was at least $8,000.

When Young and co-conspirator 3 learned that co-conspirators 1 and 2 had finished stealing property from Victim A’s hotel room, they left the boiler room, leaving Victim A.  They were seen by law enforcement at approximately 10:57 a.m. walking away from the area of the boiler room, getting into Young’s vehicle, and driving away.  Just a few moments later, law enforcement located Victim A near the apartment building, with blood running down his face and a wound on his forehead.  Victim A also appeared to have suffered cuts on his mouth and eye, and a broken nose.  At about that same time, Young and his co-conspirators discussed the kidnapping and robbery during a phone call.  Young told the co-conspirators that he was not worried about Victim A talking to law enforcement because Victim A was too afraid after Young and co-conspirator 3 had threatened him.  Young said he told Victim A, “If the police come, or anything come, I got your address.  Mom…your little brother, all them is gone!”

Young and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Young will be sentenced to 126 months in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2022 at 2 p.m. 

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, an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime, is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI Washington and Baltimore Field Offices for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey J. Izant, who is prosecuting the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #