District of Maryland

A Maryland gang member pleaded guilty yesterday to his participation in a racketeering enterprise in furtherance of the activities of the gang known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, including his participation in a drug robbery intended to support the gang.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur of the District of Maryland; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI Washington Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott W. Hoernke of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Field Office; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; Chief Douglas Holland of the Hyattsville Police Department; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy made the announcement.

Jeffry Rodriguez aka “Hyper,” 22, a citizen of El Salvador who was residing in Capitol Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Judge Paula Xinis in the District of Maryland to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise.

“The Department of Justice is focused on dismantling transnational criminal organizations like MS-13, which is one of the most dangerous gangs in America,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan.  “I want to thank our dedicated federal prosecutors and federal law enforcement officers with Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, and the FBI, as well as our state and local partners in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County for all of their hard work on this case.  Yesterday’s guilty plea is our next step toward taking the despicable MS-13 off our streets for good.”

“MS-13 is one of the most violent and ruthless gangs on the streets today,” said U.S. Attorney Hur.  “Using the tools of our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, we are determined to dismantle this organization to make our communities in Maryland safer.”

According to the plea agreement, MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador.  Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Maryland.  MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence within the gang and against rival gangs.  One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible.

Pursuant to his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted that from at least August 2016, he was a member and associate of the Sailors clique of MS-13.  Rodriguez admitted that on Aug. 9, 2016, he and other MS-13 members conspired to rob two individuals of a pound of marijuana, the sale of which would be used to benefit the Sailors clique.

Specifically, on Aug. 9, 2016, Rodriguez and an MS-13 co-conspirator entered a vehicle occupied by the two victims under the guise that they were going to purchase a pound of marijuana from the victims. Rodriguez and his co-conspirator were armed with a firearm and a knife. Upon attempting to rob the victims, and displaying the firearm, Rodriguez and his co-conspirator became engaged in a violent struggle with the victims.  During the struggle, the victims sustained serious bodily injuries including gunshot and stab wounds. In addition, both Rodriguez and his co-conspirator sustained gunshot wounds. After being shot, Rodriguez and his co-conspirator ran from the victims’ vehicle, got into another vehicle in which another MS-13 member was waiting and drove to a local hospital, where Rodriguez was admitted for treatment.

Eleven of Rodriguez’s co-defendants remain charged in the sixth superseding indictment with various racketeering violations, drug trafficking conspiracy, and extortion conspiracy.  The trial of the 11 remaining defendants is scheduled to commence on March 12, 2019. 

Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29.

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

HSI Baltimore, FBI Washington Field Office, DEA Washington Field Office, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Hyattsville Police Department and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Catherine K. Dick of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Daniel C. Gardner are prosecuting the case.

June 5, 2018                                                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                         at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland - Jeffry Rodriguez, a/k/a “Hyper,” age 22, of Capitol Heights, Maryland pleaded guilty today to his participation in a racketeering enterprise in furtherance of the activities of the gang known as La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, including his participation in a drug robbery intended to support the gang.

 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland; Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Director in Charge Nancy McNamara of the FBI Washington Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott W. Hoernke of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Washington Field Office; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks; Chief Douglas Holland of the Hyattsville Police Department; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy made the announcement.

Rodriguez pleaded guilty before the Honorable Paula Xinis, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise.  

“The Department of Justice is focused on dismantling transnational criminal organizations like MS-13, which is one of the most dangerous gangs in America,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan.  “I want to thank our dedicated federal prosecutors and federal law enforcement officers with Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, and the FBI, as well as our state and local partners in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County for all of their hard work on this case.  Today’s guilty plea is our next step toward taking the despicable MS-13 off our streets for good.”

United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur noted “MS-13 is one of the most violent and ruthless gangs on the streets today. Using the tools of our Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, we are determined to dismantle this organization to make our communities in Maryland safer.”

According to the plea agreement, MS-13 is a national and international gang composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador.  Branches or “cliques” of MS-13, one of the largest street gangs in the United States, operate throughout Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Maryland.  MS-13 members are required to commit acts of violence within the gang and against rival gangs.  One of the principal rules of MS-13 is that its members must attack and kill rivals, known as “chavalas,” whenever possible.

Pursuant to his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted that from at least August 2016, he was a member and associate of the Sailors clique of MS-13.  Rodriguez admitted that on August 9, 2016, he and other MS-13 members conspired to rob two individuals of a pound of marijuana, the sale of which would be used to benefit the Sailors clique.

Specifically, on Aug. 9, 2016, Rodriguez and an MS-13 co-conspirator entered a vehicle occupied by the two victims under the guise that they were going to purchase a pound of marijuana from the victims.  Rodriguez and his co-conspirator were armed with a firearm and a knife.  Upon attempting to rob the victims and displaying the firearm, Rodriguez and his co-conspirator became engaged in a violent struggle with the victims.  During the struggle, the victims sustained serious bodily injuries, including gunshot and stab wounds. In addition, both Rodriguez and his co-conspirator sustained gunshot wounds. After being shot, Rodriguez and his co-conspirator ran from the victims’ vehicle, entered another vehicle in which another MS-13 member was waiting, and traveled to a local hospital, where Rodriguez was admitted for treatment.

Eleven of Rodriguez’s co-defendants remain charged in the sixth superseding indictment with various racketeering violations, drug trafficking conspiracy, and extortion conspiracy.  The trial of the 11 remaining defendants is scheduled to commence on March 12, 2019. 

Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing on August 29, 2018.

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 Robert K. Hur commended the HSI Baltimore Office; the FBI; the DEA, and the Prince George’s County, the Hyattsville, and the Montgomery County Police Departments for their work in the investigation. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Daniel C. Gardner and Trial Attorney Catherine K. Dick of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Case.

 

June 5, 2018                                                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact Bailey Drumm www.justice.gov/usao/md                                         at (410) 209-4885
 

        Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Richard Dane Small, a/k/a “Maserati,” age 32, of Hagerstown, to 16 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sex trafficking of a minor.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Sheriff Charles A. Jenkins of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office; and J. Charles Smith, III, Frederick County State’s Attorney.

According to his plea agreement, in June 2015, Small transported a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl from Pennsylvania to Maryland with the intent that each minor victim engage in prostitution, and Small recruited each minor for that purpose.  Small caused each minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts at hotels and other locations in Maryland, and received money each minor victim made.  Small was aware or recklessly disregarded the fact that each minor victim had not attained the age of 18 years.

Small directed the 15-year-old victim to use an account registered by Small with a classified ad website to post ads for commercial sex, which included the number to a phone in the girl’s possession.  He also directed the 15-year-old girl to answer calls from sex clients responding to these ads and to schedule appointments with them.  Small also had sex with the 15-year-old victim.

On June 16, 2015,  Maryland State Police (“MSP”) received a call from the 15-year-old victim’s father, who reported that the girl was being held against her will by a pimp at a hotel in Hagerstown. MSP officers responded to the hotel, and one officer approached Small and inquired about the missing girl.  The officer showed Small a photo of the girl, provided her age, and informed Small that she had run away from a group home in Pennsylvania.  After this encounter with MSP, Small continued to direct the girl to engage in prostitution and continued to receive the proceeds.

On June 23, 2015, Small was arrested by members of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office while driving both victims to a hotel in Frederick, Maryland.  While detained at the Frederick County Detention Center, Small had phone conversations with B.S., an adult female prostitute who worked for him.  During these calls, Small instructed B.S. to have all information wiped from his cell phone. Small and B.S. also discussed B.S. traveling to Pennsylvania to pick up the 17-year-old victim and renting a hotel room for the purpose of prostituting the girl in order to raise money for Small’s benefit.  With Small’s agreement, B.S. transported the 17-year-old victim to hotels in Pennsylvania and Maryland and collected proceeds from her commercial sex acts, which she used to rent hotel rooms, purchase heroin, and deposit funds into commissary accounts for Small’s benefit.

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.

Please 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 Robert K. Hur commended the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Frederick, the Maryland State Police, and the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Maddox and Seema Mittal, who prosecuted the case.

June 4, 2018                                                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Eric Nathaniel Sammons, age 25, of Trappe, Maryland today to 35 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Superintendent of the Maryland State Police William M. Pallozzi, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, between 2014 and 2016, Sammons sexually exploited four minors and produced images of the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Additionally, Sammons maintained a collection of child pornography on his digital devices. 

Prior to May 25, 2016, Sammons set up a hidden camera in the bathroom of a twelve-year-old male victim and recorded a series of 47 videos.

On approximately October 6, 2015, Sammons took a series of 32 photographs of Jane Doe 1, including images that depicted the child partially naked and in various poses.

From approximately May 26, 2016 through September 2016, Sammons was living in the detached garage of a residence in Caroline County.  During this time, he sneaked into the bedroom of two female victims, ages 3 and 5, and produced 11 pornographic images of Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 3 engaged in sexually explicit conduct while they slept.

Sammons’ digital devices were forensically examined.  Investigators found images and videos of child pornography on the devices and determined that his mobile phone, the digital camera, and the video camera were used to produce the child pornography.  The devices contained the images of the victims that Sammons had produced and over 3,000 images additional files 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 side of the page.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended Homeland Security Investigations, the Talbot County Narcotics Task Force, the Maryland State Police, and the State’s Attorney’s Offices and Child Protective Services of Caroline and Talbot Counties for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorney Paul Budlow, who is prosecuting the case.

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                       at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – On May 31, 2018, Kenneth M. Smith, age 39, of Randallstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child. 

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Cardell Morant of ICE Homeland Security Investigations; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; and State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger of the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to his plea agreement, on September 8, 2015, an electronic communications service reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”) that one of its users had uploaded an image of known child pornography.  It was determined that an account with the same username as an e-mail account associated with Smith’s accounts was active on an image-sharing website that contains child pornography and erotica.  The IP address used to access the account was assigned to Smith’s mother’s residence in Randallstown, Maryland, where he was living at the time.

On October 12, 2015, the Baltimore County Police Department secured a warrant to search the residence and discovered Smith’s laptop, which was powered on and had an anonymous file-sharing platform open on the screen. The file-sharing program was active and downloading child pornography files when agents made contact with the defendant’s computer.  A downloads folder was also open and contained numerous files of child pornography.

During an interview with investigators, Smith admitted to sexually abusing a seven-year-old boy, and taking pictures of the abuse with his smartphone. Investigators located the photographs of Smith engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the boy. Investigators also recovered thousands of other videos and images of children being sexually abused, including images and videos of the rape of children, including infants and toddlers.  Smith also used his e-mail accounts to send and receive child pornography.

Smith also admitted to the prior abuse of a minor girl in Washington County. He was tried and convicted in Washington County in September 2017 of sex offenses against the minor girl, and in November was sentenced to 16 years in prison on those charges. 

Smith faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell has scheduled sentencing for October 12, 2018.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, HSI, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers and Jeffrey Izant, who are prosecuting the case.

                                                                                    

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885      

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – United States District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Mehlek Dawveed, age 51, of Olney, Maryland to three years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud stemming from the filing of fraudulent tax returns, in which he received one fraudulent refund of more than $970,000.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly ‎R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

According to his plea agreement, in March 2011, Dawveed filed a fraudulent income tax return for 2010 that resulted in him receiving a refund in the amount of $977,558.  For Dawveed to receive the funds, the IRS wired the money from a bank in Kansas City, Missouri to Dawveed’s account in Maryland.

Using part of the fraudulently obtained funds, Dawveed paid the remaining $83,837 balance on the mortgage for his residence in Olney, Maryland and deposited a $250,000 check into a bank account controlled by Dawveed’s wife.  Dawveed wrote several other checks into accounts controlled by him or close associates and wrote checks to various individuals and family members and for his own personal expenses.

Subsequently, on February 18, 2012, Dawveed filed a fraudulent income tax return for 2011 in which he requested a refund in the amount of $1,324,961.  This falsely requested refund was not issued.  On February 27, 2012, Dawveed then filed a 2010 Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, in which he changed his taxable interest income from $1,486,902 to $0 and stated: “we now beckon you to accept our humblest apology for the ‘Unintentional Errors’ made during our 1040 filing for Tax Year 2010 for they were not done with ‘Malicious Intent.’”  The form falsely stated:  “In ‘Good Faith’ we submitted a Payment of $5,000,000 Million Dollars to the IRS on January 31, 2012 in hopes of settling the remaining ‘Debt’ from our 1040 Tax Filing for Year 2010.”  No such $5,000,000 payment was ever made.

Judge Hazel also ordered a forfeiture and restitution order in the amount of $788,991.  Dawveed was also ordered to forfeit his Olney residence, the mortgage for which he paid off with the fraudulent tax refund money.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the IRS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Kelly O. Hayes, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Timothy Allen McNeal, age 31, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 19 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for armed robbery, conspiracy, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  McNeal had been convicted on these charges by a federal jury on February 26, 2018.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Varisco of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Gary L. Gardner of the Howard County Police Department.

According to evidence presented at trial, on August 4, 2016, McNeal and his brother, Markus Fields, age 28, of Baltimore, robbed the Howard County Education Federal Credit Union (HCEFCU) in Ellicott City, Maryland at gunpoint.  Surveillance video captured the robbery, during which both Fields and McNeal entered the credit union wearing ski masks to cover their faces.  Fields entered first, carrying a black backpack.  McNeal entered after, carrying a rifle-style long gun with a large magazine visible on the top.  McNeal pointed the gun at a bank teller and a customer, forcing the victims to the ground.  Fields opened the teller drawer and began rifling through it.  McNeal pointed the gun toward the supervisor’s office, forcing the employee inside to exit the office and, ultimately, open the credit union’s safe.  After opening the safe, the employee was ordered to the ground, where she remained while McNeal and Fields removed the cash inside.

McNeal and Fields then used zip ties that they had stored in their backpack to tie and restrain the credit union customer and employees.  McNeal and Fields then left the HCEFCU by climbing out of a back window. 

McNeal, Fields, and their mother, an employee of the Howard County School District, were all account holders at the HCEFCU.  On August 4, 2016, a few hours after the robbery, McNeal and Fields went to Wal-Mart and purchased two large televisions.  On August 6, 2016, two days after the robbery, Fields purchased a maroon Lexus with cash.  On August 8, 2016, McNeal posted a photograph of a maroon Lexus with the caption “we working.”  On August 17, 2016, overdue rent was paid on Fields’ and McNeal’s residence. 

During execution of a search warrant, law enforcement recovered black ski masks, clothing matching the clothing worn by McNeal during the bank robbery, banded cash, and cell phones from Fields and McNeal’s residence. 

Co-defendant Fields pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery on February 9, 2018, and on May 8, 2018, was sentenced by Judge Blake to ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the ATF, the Howard County Police Department, and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work on the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Perry and Burden Walker, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                      at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – Jonathan Gonzales, age 50, of Accokeek, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead.  The charges stem from a scheme to sell mislabeled drugs via the Internet.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations – Metro Washington Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, beginning in 2009, Gonzales began selling products marketed as dietary supplements through eBay and his personal website, helptomakelifebetter.com.  Gonzales received these products from sources in China.

In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to investigate Gonzales for multiple products and found that some of the products contained active pharmaceutical ingredients, in particular sibutramine and/or phenolphthalein. Sibutramine is a Schedule IV controlled substance and the active ingredient in Meridia, a prescription drug produced by Abbott and approved by the FDA in 1997 to treat obesity.  Abbott voluntarily stopped marketing Meridia at the request of the FDA after clinical data indicated an increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events, including heart attacks and strokes.  Phenolphthalein was an ingredient in some over-the-counter laxatives until 1999, when the FDA reclassified the drug as not generally recognized as safe and effective.

Upon discovery of the two drugs, the FDA sent Gonzales an e-mail with the results of their analyses of Gonzales’s products and noting that it was Gonzales’s responsibility under federal law to ensure that the products he distributed did not contain any undeclared and potentially harmful ingredients.  The FDA also explained the dangers of the drugs and his responsibilities to follow Federal law.  Gonzales responded to the e-mail, acknowledging that he would remove any products for sale that may be harmful. 

Gonzales told the FDA employee that only a few product listings remained and that he would sell those products and would not replace them.  Gonzales also told the FDA that he had told his distributors in China that he would not be ordering any more products from them.  He asked FDA personnel to contact him if they found any issues with his website. However, Gonzales continued to market and sell the products he had promised not to sell.

Federal law enforcement officers searched Gonzales’s home pursuant to a warrant on January 14, 2016.  A substantial amount of misbranded products were found in the home, seized, and tested.  The misbranded products contained sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), sibutramine and phenolphthalein.

Gonzales faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis has scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2018 at 2:30 p.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FDA for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pelletierri, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – United States District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced former Prince George’s County Liquor Board official David Dae Sok Son, age 41, of Bowie, Maryland, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy, bribery, and obstruction of justice, in a scheme involving alcoholic beverage licenses in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  The defendant also was ordered to forfeit $86,000.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly ‎R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and Chief Henry Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, Son was a Commissioner on the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners (“Liquor Board”) from 2005 through 2014.  During the 2015 Maryland legislative session, Son served as a liaison to the Prince George’s County Senate delegation. He returned to the Liquor Board later in 2015, as its Administrator and then as Chief Liquor Inspector.

As described in the plea agreement and other court documents, Son solicited and facilitated bribes from lobbyists and business owners, including co-conspirators Young Jung Paig and Shin Ja Lee.  The bribe recipients were elected state officials, including then-County Councilman and Delegate William Alberto Campos-Escobar (a/k/a “Will Campos”) and then-Delegate Michael Vaughn.

For example, during a meeting on April 4, 2014, Son informed an FBI Confidential Human Source (“CHS”) that Campos needed $10,000 to pay an expense related to Campos’s campaign for Maryland State Delegate.  Son told the CHS that Son had spoken with Campos about the CHS giving cash to Campos in exchange for Campos arranging for another County grant to be awarded to a non-profit organization selected by the CHS.

On or about April 9, 2014, Son told the CHS that Son had told Campos to “hook [the CHS] up” with the developer of a new business in the County, so that the developer would retain the CHS’s business services.  Son explained to the CHS that the business owed Campos, because Campos obtained a tax benefit for the business.  Son and the CHS then walked to the coffee shop’s parking lot, where the CHS’s vehicle was located.  The CHS then retrieved $3,000 in U.S. currency from the CHS’s vehicle.

The same day, Son gave Campos the $3,000 in U.S. currency that Son had received from the CHS.  And later that day, Campos sent a text message to the CHS that stated, “I owe you big time my man.”

Beginning at least by early 2015, Son solicited and facilitated bribe payments from lobbyists and business owners who were interested in the “Sunday Sales Bill,” which established up to 100 Sunday liquor sales permits in Prince George’s County.  The bribes were intended to influence public officials in the performance of their official duties.  For example, in 2015, Son had asked Campos to assist in passing the Sunday Sales bill by talking to one of his colleagues about the bill; both subsequently voted in favor of the bill.  On April 22, 2015, after the passage of the bill, Son arranged a lunch between Campos, Paig, and Lee.  A lobbyist and attorney, Matthew Gorman, also attended.  During the lunch, Son told Campos to meet Paig in the men’s bathroom, saying that Paig was “going to hook you up.”  In the men’s bathroom, Paig handed Campos an envelope containing a total of $4,000 cash, which constituted a bribe from Son, Paig, Lee, and Gorman.  In addition, on October 19, 2015, Son received a $4,000 bribe payment for his assistance in ensuring that certain businesses received Sunday Sales licenses. 

Lee and Paig subsequently talked to Son about getting beneficial legislation introduced related to the Sunday Sales bill and indicated that they would be willing to pay $50,000 to make that happen.  Son spoke with Delegate Vaughn, who agreed to introduce additional legislation in the 2016 legislative session.  On November 10, 2015, Son arranged for Paig and Lee to meet with Vaughn so they could make a “down payment.”  After the meeting, law enforcement observed Paig and Vaughn get into Vaughn’s car, while Lee and Son waited in the parking lot.  Shortly after Paig got out of the car, Vaughn drove directly to a bank in the same shopping center.  Bank surveillance video shows Vaughn pulling a stack of cash out of his right pocket and handing it to the teller, and then doing the same from his left pocket.  Bank records show that Vaughn deposited a total of $4,000.

On December 17, 2016, after Son had been questioned by the FBI, he hand-wrote a letter to another subject of the FBI’s investigation informing the subject that Son had been “taken” by the “Feds” and was “wired” when he last visited the subject.  In the letter, Son also listed names of individuals who had “flipped,” or cooperated with the FBI.  Son further described devices used by the FBI for body wires and told the subject that the subject should assume meetings with Son were being recorded.  Son also laid out means by which the subject and Son could communicate secretly.

Paig pleaded guilty to bribery and was sentenced earlier this month to 41 months in prison.  Campos pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery and was sentenced earlier this month to 54 months in prison.  Delegate Vaughn was convicted of bribery and conspiracy at a trial that concluded in March 2018, and is pending sentencing.  Lee and Gorman have both pleaded guilty and also are pending sentencing.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the IRS-CI, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Windom, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – On May 22, 2018, a federal grand jury indicted Patricia Mulford, age 66, and Joseph Mulford, age 67, formerly of Berlin, Maryland; and Maria Denise Gangler a/k/a “Aunt Denise,” age 62, of Essex, Maryland, on charges of conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and tax evasion.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly ‎R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

According to the four-count indictment, from July 2011 through November 2017, the Mulfords and Gangler committed bankruptcy fraud by knowingly and fraudulently concealing their assets from their creditors and trustees in bankruptcy proceedings.  The assets concealed by the defendants consisted primarily of proceeds from the sale of approximately $375,000 in foreign real estate, namely their interests in a property at Sueno Escondido Estates in Costa Rica.  The defendants converted proceeds from the real estate sale into cash stored in a safe deposit box and bank accounts held in relatives’ names.   The Mulfords also reinvested proceeds in a second property in Costa Rica and failed to disclose their ownership of that property.  The defendants’ bankruptcy fraud caused their creditors to suffer losses of more than $350,000.

The Mulfords are also alleged to have concealed assets from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) so as to avoid an outstanding tax debt.  According to the indictment, beginning in 2009, the Mulfords willfully attempted to evade paying taxes for the calendar year of 2009, and did so by concealing from the IRS gold and silver coins the Mulfords had purchased after liquidating their IRAs.  The Mulfords also concealed from the IRS the proceeds of the sale of real estate in Costa Rica.  The Mulfords’ bankruptcy fraud allowed them to avoid paying approximately $39,000 then due to the IRS in connection with taxes for 2009.

The Mulfords and Gangler face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy, bankruptcy fraud, and tax evasion offenses.  An initial appearance for the defendants has not been scheduled at this time. 

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 Robert K. Hur commended the IRS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry Gruber and Dana Brusca, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                    at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Orneth Patrick South, age 48, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Ryan Shevin Smith, age 38, of Princess Anne, Maryland; and Michael D. Watts, age 42, of Brooklyn, New York, have been charged federally in connection with the robbery of an armored vehicle in Salisbury, Maryland on January 22, 2018.

The charges were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief of Police for the Salisbury Police Department Barbara Duncan. 

According to the charging documents, on Monday, January 22, 2018, at approximately 7:15 a.m., the Salisbury Police Department responded to the armed robbery of a Loomis Armored vehicle that was parked at a branch of State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) located in Salisbury, Maryland.  The Loomis vehicle driver was servicing an automated teller machine (“ATM”) at the location, when three men approached him and demanded money from the ATM as well as the armored vehicle.  The driver was disarmed of his service handgun and restrained. 

The defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the robbery, and up to life in prison for the firearm charge.

An individual charged by indictment or criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI – Baltimore Field Office, FBI – Charlotte, North Carolina Field Office, FBI – New York Field Office, and the Salisbury Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Cunningham and Paul Riley, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                       at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On May 21, 2018, Aldrin Fon Fomukong, a/k/a “Albanky,” a/k/a “A.L.,” age 24, of Greenbelt, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre Watson of Homeland Security Investigations; and Special Agent in Charge Brian Ebert of the United States Secret Service, Washington Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, between February 2016 and in or about July 2017, Fomukong and his co-conspirators gained access to email accounts associated with the victims and sent false wiring instructions, causing the victims’ financial institutions to wire millions of dollars into drop accounts set up by the defendants.  Drop accounts were bank accounts opened or controlled by Fomukong and his co-conspirators that were used to receive fraudulently obtained money from victims.  Fomukong then disbursed the money received from the victims’ bank accounts into the drop accounts by, among other transactions, using wires to transfer money to other accounts, by initiating account transfers to other accounts at the same bank, by withdrawing sums of money, by obtaining cashier’s checks, and by writing checks to other individuals or entities.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Fomukong and his co-conspirators stole or attempted to steal over $8.7 million from at least 11 victims.  The following co-conspirators have also been charged:

Nkeng Amin, a/k/a “Rapone,” a/k/a “Arnold,” age 30, of Beltsville, Maryland; Carlson Cho, a/k/a “Uncle Tiga2,” age 23, of Braintree, Massachusetts; Izou Ere Digifa, a/k/a “Lzuo Digifa,” a/k/a “Mimi VA,” age 22, of Lynchburg, Virginia; Yanick Eyong, age 26, of Bowie, Maryland; and Ishmail Ganda, a/k/a “Banker TD,” age 31, of College Park, Maryland.

Fomukong, Amin, Cho, Digifa, and Eyong remain detained.  Ganda is released under the supervision of pretrial services.  

Fomukong faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.  U.S. District Judge Paul W. Grimm has scheduled sentencing for October 3, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Secret Service for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O’Connell Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – On May 22, 2018, a federal jury has convicted Dawn Chapelle Cottman, age 45, of Owings Mills, Maryland of fourteen counts of filing false tax returns, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.  Cottman owned a tax preparation business called 40 AM Tax Service, which she operated from her residence in Owings Mills.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly ‎R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

Evidence presented at trial showed that from January 2009 until March 2013, Cottman electronically filed hundreds of tax returns, then had the tax refunds for those returns directly deposited into her bank account instead of having the refunds sent to the taxpayers.  Many of the returns she filed contained materially false information to increase the size of the tax refunds.  The false information included fictitious personal income amounts and dependent information that qualified taxpayers for the Earned Income Tax Credit and American Opportunity Education Credit. 

Cottman also prepared and filed income tax returns using the personal identifiers of other people without their knowledge and consent in order to fraudulently obtain a tax refund to which she was not entitled.  Cottman paid money to various individuals to obtain the identities of other people in whose names she filed the false returns.  Cottman had the resulting tax refunds directly deposited into her bank account. 

Cottman was also convicted of filing a false personal tax return for 2011.  Cottman falsely claimed in her tax return that her tax preparation business had gross receipts of $152,100 when, in fact, more than $1 million of other people’s tax refunds were wired into her bank account.  Cottman also falsely claimed to have earned a net income of approximately $17,000 when, in fact, she spent more than $250,000 that year on personal expenses, including trips to Disneyland, Las Vegas, Busch Gardens and Atlantic City.    

Cottman faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison for wire fraud, five years for filing false claims, three years for filing a false tax return, and a two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft.  U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, has scheduled sentencing for August 10, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. in Baltimore.    

United States Attorney Hur commended the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martin Clarke and Sean Delaney, who prosecuted this case.

 

                                                                                

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury has convicted Harrison Lewis, III, age 54, of Catonsville, Maryland of six counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

The federal jury convicted Lewis of robberies that occurred on December 28, 2016, January 5, 2017, January 6, 2017, January 11, 2017 in Catonsville; a robbery and an attempted robbery that were both committed on January 19, 2017 in Ellicott City; and a robbery that was committed on January 30, 2017 in Phoenix, Maryland.  The jury was unable to reach a verdict on charges relating to robberies that took place on December 31, 2016 in Sykesville and January 10, 2017 in Ellicott City.

According to evidence presented at trial, between December 28, 2016 and January 30, 2017, Lewis entered each bank wearing a hat and sunglasses, approached the teller, passed the teller a note that demanded U.S. currency, and then fled the bank after the teller complied and handed over cash.  The notes referenced an armed partner outside the bank, and instructed the tellers to not use any security measures such as alarms, dye packs, bait money, or tracking devices.  Lewis also demanded the notes back from the tellers.

Moreover, as to the January 19, 2017 attempted robbery, Lewis, entered a bank wearing a disguise, including a hat and sunglasses, passed a note, and then fled the bank after the teller told him that she could not read it.  Minutes later, while wearing the same disguise, Lewis walked less than 100 yards down the street to another bank, again passed a note demanding United States currency, and fled after the teller complied and handed over cash.

In 2002, Lewis was convicted of federal bank robbery, and was sentenced to 150 months in prison on that charge.  As part of his guilty plea in 2002, Lewis admitted to robbing 19 banks over the course of three months in 2001, using a demand note.

Lewis faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison per count.

United States District Judge Marvin J. Garbis has scheduled sentencing for Lewis on August 20, 2018 at 10 a.m.

United States Attorney Hur commended the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Howard County Police Department, and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Budlow and Paul Riley, who prosecuted this case.

 

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Nathaniel Hillard, age 39, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 35 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and discharging a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, which resulted in death.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Baltimore Field Division; and Interim Police Chief Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, Hillard distributed heroin in the Shipley Hill neighborhood of Baltimore.  DEA's interceptions of communications confirmed that Hillard managed the day-to-day business for the organization, and supervised the street-level operation. Specifically, Hillard supervised "hitters," who sold heroin packaged in green-topped vials in the Shipley Park neighborhood.  During the conspiracy, Donya Rigby, who worked for the organization and sometimes acted as a "lookout," was shot and killed by Aaron Daniels, another member of the organization, for failing to warn him that police were in the area, which led to Daniels’s arrest.

After Daniels’s arrest, between March 6, 2017 and March 17, 2017, law enforcement intercepted several calls between Daniels and various individuals, including Hillard, during which Daniels complained about Rigby and accused him of stealing $800 worth of drug proceeds.

On March 17, 2017, investigators intercepted a call between Daniels and Hillard, which captured communications about the murder of Rigby as well as the murder itself.   During the call, Daniels described his location to Hillard. Hillard acted as a lookout for Daniels and provided instruction and logistical support, and encouraged Daniels to murder Rigby.  Over the course of the call, the open line captured the sound of Daniels firing two shots at Rigby and fleeing the location. Rigby, who could be heard screaming in the background of the call, ultimately succumbed to the gunshot wounds.

In light of the murder, DEA agents arrested Hillard and Daniels on state narcotics charges.  On March 20, 2017, investigators obtained search and seizure warrants for various locations associated with Hillard’s and Daniels’s drug trafficking organization, during the execution of which they recovered approximately 100 vials of heroin, over 350 grams of heroin, a digital scale, $10,234 and a firearm with an extended magazine.

Hillard admitted that he conspired with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, and that the distribution of that quantity of heroin was reasonably foreseeable to him during the course of the conspiracy.  Hillard also admitted that he knowingly participated in the murder of Rigby in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy, and that he was fully aware that Rigby was going to be killed.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Wallner and Zachary Stendig, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                                

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On May 14, 2018, United States District Court Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Fredrico Bustos-Andrade, age 40, of Moreno Valley, California to 82 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, in or about November 2016, a confidential source (“CS”) cooperating with law enforcement was contacted by Co-conspirator A, using a Mexican telephone number, about a shipment of methamphetamine and heroin to Maryland.  Co‑conspirator A told the CS that another individual would contact the CS about the shipment of methamphetamine and heroin.  Co-conspirator A subsequently informed the CS that the narcotics transaction would be for methamphetamine only and would not include heroin.

Bustos-Andrade contacted the CS by telephone and stated that he was calling on behalf of Co-conspirator A.  Bustos-Andrade and the CS spoke in Spanish and used coded language to refer to narcotics.  Bustos-Andrade told the CS that another individual (later identified as Jose Alberto Pena, age 23, of Los Angeles, California) was going to fly to Maryland and provide the methamphetamine to the CS in Maryland.

On November 21, 2016, Bustos-Andrade sent the CS an SMS text message that contained Pena’s phone number and first name, “Jose.”  Soon after Bustos-Andrade sent the text message, Bustos-Andrade called the CS and stated that Pena was in the area and would soon be calling the CS on Bustos-Andrade’s behalf.  Bustos-Andrade also stated that the methamphetamine would be arriving in Maryland on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 22, 2016.  The CS then called Pena, and Pena stated that he had just landed and would call the CS back soon.  Later that day, Pena called the CS and confirmed that the methamphetamine would be arriving the next day, November 22, 2016.

On the morning of November 22, 2016, Bustos-Andrade called the CS and said that the methamphetamine had arrived in Maryland.  Pena and the CS then communicated by phone and agreed to meet at a hotel in Largo, Maryland.  Pena and the CS met at a nearby grocery store and then drove together to the hotel.  Pena entered the hotel and then came back outside with a FedEx box.  Pena put the box inside the CS’s vehicle and then entered the vehicle’s passenger side. 

Agents arrested Pena and seized the FedEx box.  Agents found within the FedEx box six bricks of methamphetamine wrapped in clear plastic packaging material.  The six bricks contained 4,810 grams 100% pure d-Methamphetamine hydrochloride.

Shortly after Pena’s arrest, officers in Portland, Oregon conducted a traffic stop of Bustos-Andrade.  Within Bustos-Andrade’s vehicle, officers found the cell phone that Bustos-Andrade had used to communicate with the CS.

Judge Xinis previously sentenced co-conspirator Jose Alberto Pena, age 23, to 70 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release, for the same offense.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles, California, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, the Portland Police Department, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center, for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas A. Mitchell, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Pellettieri, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury has convicted Ternell Lucas, a/k/a “T.L.,” a/k/a “Moon,” age 43, with racketeering at the Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, Maryland.  Lucas was found guilty of bribery conspiracy, bribery of a public employee, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute suboxone and K2, and money laundering.

The conviction was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Secretary Stephen T. Moyer of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

The Eastern Correctional Institution (ECI) is the largest state prison in Maryland, operating since 1987 near Westover, in Somerset County, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.  ECI is a medium-security prison for men built as two identical compounds (East and West) on 620 acres, and housing more than 3,300 inmates.  The East and West Compounds are further divided into Housing Units, 1 through 4 in the West and 5 through 8 in the East.  Lucas was an inmate at ECI’s West Compound during the time of the conspiracy.

According to evidence presented at trial, from 2014 until October 5, 2016, correctional officers (COs) smuggled contraband into ECI, including narcotics, cell phones, pornographic DVDs, and tobacco.  These items were distributed by inmates, and the COs managed the proceeds of the sales.  The “going rate” for a CO to smuggle contraband into ECI was $500 per package, although some COs charged more and others charged less.  According to evidence presented at trial, inmates and facilitators paid COs for smuggled contraband in cash, money orders, and through PayPal.  Inmates were able to use contraband cell phones to pay COs directly using PayPal from within ECI.  Inmates also received payments from other inmates for contraband through PayPal, often with the assistance of facilitators. 

According to evidence presented at trial, Lucas acted as both a wholesaler and retailer of contraband and in the process made profits that far exceeded the profits that could be made by selling similar drugs on the street. 

According to evidence presented at trial, ECI employees were required to pass through security screening at the entrance to ECI, but were able to hide contraband on their persons.  Further, Cos took breaks during their shifts and returned to their cars to retrieve contraband.  Once COs had the smuggled contraband inside the facility, they delivered it to: inmates in their cells; clerks’ offices, which were private offices within each housing unit where an inmate clerk worked; the officers’ dining room, where officers could interact with inmate servers and kitchen workers; and pre-arranged “stash” locations such as staff bathrooms, storage closets, laundry rooms, and other places where contraband could be hidden and then later retrieved by inmates.

Lucas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the racketeering conspiracy, and for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute drugs.

Correctional Officer Rozlyn Bratten, age 32, of Snow Hill, Maryland was acquitted of bribery conspiracy, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute K2.

United States District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for Lucas on August 13, 2018.

As of today’s conviction, 70 of the 80 defendants originally indicted in this case have pled guilty, including 14 of the 18 correctional officers who were charged. 

United States Attorney Hur expressed appreciation to Secretary Moyer, whose staff initiated the ECI investigation and who has made the full resources of the DPSCS available to assist the three-year investigation. 

United States Attorney Hur commended the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise, Robert R. Harding, and Daniel C. Gardner, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

                                                                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                       at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Cory Nicholas Skinner, age 32, of Pikesville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams of more of heroin as well as quantities of cocaine and buprenorphine.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; and Postal Inspector in Charge Robert B. Wemyss of the United States Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division.

According to his plea agreement, while investigating the death of a University of Arkansas police officer, a detective with the Conway (Arkansas) Police Department found an opened Priority Mail package shipped from Baltimore, Maryland, under the decedent’s head (the “Arkansas Package”).

During the United States Postal Inspection Service investigation of the Arkansas Package, Maryland postal inspectors learned about a Priority Mail package destined for a North Carolina address (the “North Carolina Package”) and another headed to an Arizona address (the “Arizona Package”) that they had identified in connection with the Arkansas Package.  The recipient of the North Carolina Package told investigators that he used bitcoin to purchase heroin from DoggFood, an online vendor, on the Dream Market, a site on the dark web.  The North Carolina Package contained approximately 2.8 grams of heroin, and the Arizona Package contained approximately four buprenorphine units.  Fingerprints found on the packages belonged to Skinner.    

During their surveillance of Skinner between September 2017 and January 2018, Maryland postal inspectors intercepted over 20 packages containing controlled substances that Skinner sent through the United States mail.  The approximate aggregate drug weights were 47.5 grams of heroin and 81 buprenorphine units. 

Additionally, Maryland postal inspectors discovered that Skinner did not act alone when distributing controlled substances through the United States mail.  Instead, Skinner, knowing that certain individuals were unusually vulnerable due to a physical or mental condition, involved those individuals in dropping off packages containing heroin and cocaine at Baltimore post offices in July 2017 and August 2017, respectively.

By January 2018, Skinner had sold approximately 290.5 grams of heroin, 97.5 grams of cocaine, and 216 units of buprenorphine as the dark web vendor DoggFood on the Dream Market. 

When officers searched Skinner’s residence, they found the laptop he used to run the dark web vendor DoggFood on the Dream Market, printed labels, approximately $6,600 in cash, plastic baggies, a digital scale, heat and bag sealers, a large amount of Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express shipping supplies, $23.75 in postal stamps, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm firearm, and 12 rounds of Luger 9mm ammunition. 

Skinner faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison with a statutory mandatory minimum 5-year term of imprisonment.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for August 13, 2018 at 11:30 a.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the United States Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division, which led the investigation, and the Postal Inspectors in other field divisions that provided assistance—including the Charlotte, San Francisco, Seattle, and Phoenix Divisions, as well as the Fort Worth Division - Little Rock Domicile, and the National Headquarters Cyber Crimes Unit—for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur recognized the Conway (Arkansas) Police Department; the Brunswick County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office; the Baltimore County Police Department; the Maryland State Police; and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Baltimore and Raleigh Field Offices for their contributions in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Samika N. Boyd, who is prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – United States District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced William Alberto Campos-Escobar (a/k/a “Will Campos”), age 43, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 54 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy and bribery in relation to a scheme to use County funds to obtain bribe payments.  In addition, Judge Xinis ordered Campos to pay $340,000 in restitution.

In a related matter, Judge Xinis sentenced Young Jung Paig, age 63, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  Judge Xinis also ordered Paig to forfeit $265,000.

The sentences were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Thomas Jankowski of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Chief Henry Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

Campos held the elected position of Prince George’s County Councilman, representing District 2, from November 2004 through approximately November 2014.  As an elected County Councilman, Campos was authorized to act on behalf of, and serve as the representative to, the County government.  In November 2014, Campos was elected as a  Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly, representing District 47B.

Paig was the resident agent of Weeping Willow, Inc. and the owner of Central Avenue Restaurant & Liquor Store, located in Seat Pleasant, Maryland.

As described in his plea agreement and other court records, then-County Councilman Campos accepted bribes from business owners and others, often but not always facilitated by David Dae Sok Son, a Commissioner on the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners.

For example, during a meeting on April 4, 2014, Son informed an FBI Confidential Human Source (“CHS”) that Campos needed $10,000 to pay an expense related to Campos’s campaign for Maryland State Delegate.  Son told the CHS that Son had spoken with Campos about the CHS giving cash to Campos in exchange for Campos arranging for another County grant to be awarded to a non-profit organization selected by the CHS.

On or about April 9, 2014, Son told the CHS that Son had told Campos to “hook [the CHS] up” with the developer of a new business in the County, so that the developer would retain the CHS’s business services.  Son explained to the CHS that the business owed Campos, because Campos had obtained a tax benefit for the business.  Son and the CHS then walked to the coffee shop’s parking lot, where the CHS’s vehicle was located.  The CHS then retrieved $3,000 in U.S. currency from the CHS’s vehicle.  The same day, Son gave Campos the $3,000 in U.S. currency that Son had received from the CHS.  And later that day, Campos sent a text message to the CHS that stated, “I owe you big time my man.”

In a related matter, Paig made repeated bribe payments to Campos and Maryland State Delegate Michael Vaughn, in relation to a successful attempt to pass legislation permitting certain liquor stores in Prince George’s County to sell alcohol on Sundays.  These bribe payments from Paig also were facilitated by Son.  Other convicted individuals in this related matter include Shin Ja Lee, a liquor store owner, and Matthew Gorman, an attorney and lobbyist. 

Delegate Vaughn was convicted of bribery and conspiracy at a trial that concluded in March 2018, and is pending sentencing.  Son, Lee, and Gorman have all pleaded guilty and also are pending sentencing.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, IRS-CI, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas P. Windom and James A. Crowell IV, who prosecuted Campos and Paig.

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Kenneth Faison, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland today to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for racketeering conspiracy.  The Court found at sentencing that a total prison term of 20 years was appropriate, but it adjusted the sentence downward to account for the fact that Faison served five years in prison in connection with two related state cases. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Varisco of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department; Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to his plea agreement, Faison was a member of an organization known today as the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) Greenmount Regime, a violent set, or “bubble,” of BGF.  During the early years in which it operated, the gang called itself the Young Guerilla Family, or YGF, and consisted mostly of younger people who lived in the 2200, 2300, and 2400 blocks of Barclay Street and Guilford Avenue. YGF members sold drugs throughout the Greenmount Avenue corridor and committed murders, shootings, and armed robberies.

According to the plea agreement, Faison admitted that on January 7, 2010, in the 2100 block of Barclay Street, he conducted three separate robberies of three victims. Faison brandished a firearm during all three robberies.

In addition, the Court found at sentencing that in the fall of 2012, Faison and other BGF members participated in an unsuccessful plot to murder a neighborhood drug dealer who had been distributing cocaine and other narcotics inside the gang’s territory. 

Faison also admitted in his plea agreement that between 2007 and 2012, Faison conspired with members of the BGF Greenmount Regime to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana in furtherance  of  the  gang,  and  that  it  was  reasonably  foreseeable   to  him that between 280 and 840 grams of cocaine base would be trafficked by members of the gang.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the FBI, the Baltimore City Police Department, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Christina Hoffman, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Today a federal grand jury has indicted Rody L. Bowden, age 39, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, on charges of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and Transportation of Child Pornography.  Bowden was also charged with committing these offenses as a registered sex offender.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Tim Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

According to the four-count indictment, in December 2016, Bowden engaged in commercial sex acts with a 14-year-old ninth-grade student, including in Anne Arundel County motel rooms.  On January 4, 2017, he recorded a video of the victim engaged in oral sex with him.  On September 4, 2017, Bowden e-mailed a copy of the video to another account that he controlled.

Bowden was previously required to register as a sex offender, stemming from two convictions for third-degree sex offenses in Prince George’s County and Charles County.  Bowden was previously arrested on a criminal complaint, and has been ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending trial.

Bowden faces a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, for Sex Trafficking of a Minor; a mandatory 35 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor; and a mandatory 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, for Transportation of Child Pornography.  He faces an additional 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for allegedly committing these offenses as a registered sex offender.  An initial appearance has been scheduled for 11:00 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Baltimore on May 25, 2018. 

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 Robert K. Hur commended HSI and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Ray D. McKenzie, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced defendant “John Doe,” whose true identity remains unknown, to 42 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for charges of passport fraud, social security fraud, aggravated identity theft, and two counts of voter fraud.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Richard J. Ingram for the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.

According to evidence presented at the five-day trial, beginning at an unknown time, the defendant has lived under the assumed identity of a United States Citizen born in the United States Virgin Islands.

Beginning no later than the summer of 1997, the defendant used the victim’s personally identifiable information to obtain a series of driver’s licenses and identification cards, including a Maryland state identification card and multiple Maryland driver’s licenses.  Building upon these documents, the defendant also obtained a United States passport and a Social Security card, and registered to vote.

On June 21, 2015, the defendant was interviewed by Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigators about his passport applications and claims to be Cheyenne Moody Davis.  The defendant falsely claimed to have served as a Military Police officer in the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade from 2005 through 2008, and told agents that he completed his military police training at Fort Knox and Fort Hood.  He was unable to produce a military identification card and stated that he lost it, but during the interview showed State Department investigators military-standard dog tags bearing the name “Cheyenne M Davis,” and the real Davis’ Social Security number.

The government later learned that John Doe purchased these dog tags online, along with a number of other military-related items, including patches for the 200th Military Police Command, military police, and uniform patches bearing the name “Davis.”

A review of the contents of the defendant’s social media accounts showed that he made statements to multiple other users that he was in the U.S. Army or Army Reserve, and worked at the Fort Meade military base in Maryland.  The U.S. Army 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade confirmed that no one ever served in the U.S. Army under the name or PII of Cheyenne Moody Davis.  The U.S. Army also confirmed that military police are not trained at Fort Knox or Fort Hood.

Finally, defendant John Doe voted in the 2016 Presidential Election using the stolen identity.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur acknowledged the assistance of the Acting United States Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett in the District of the Virgin Islands and the Howard County Police Department, and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Phil Selden, who prosecuted this case.

If anyone has any information on the identity of “John Doe,” who has used the name Cheyenne Moody Davis, they are asked to e-mail the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) at DS_WFO_TIPS@state.gov.

According to DSS, John Doe is approximately 41-44 years old, 5’8”, with light brown eyes and has previously gone by the pseudonyms “Chris” or “Richie.”  John Doe may be from Antigua, Barbuda, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, or Jamaica.  According to evidence introduced at trial, he has a Jamaican accent.  According to DSS, John Doe would have been between 20 to 25 years old when he left disappeared from his community around June of 1997.  More information can be found at https://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/274463.htm.

 

                                                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                         at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – Jayron Khalil Foster, age 21, of Riverdale, Maryland, has pled guilty to production of child pornography.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks.

According to his plea agreement, between at least August 2016 through January 2017, Foster allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a 7-year-old female, in order to produce visual depictions documenting the abuse.  In April 2017, Maryland State Police (MSP) began investigating ten tips that were sent to the MSP Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in reference to possible child pornography.  On April 25, 2017, investigators executed a search warrant at Foster’s residence and seized a hard drive, which contained numerous images and videos depicting Foster engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the minor victim.

Foster faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison for the one count of production of child pornography.  Foster is currently detained in Prince George’s County on related state charges.

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 Robert K. Hur commended HSI, Maryland State Police, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O’Connell Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                            

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Michael Lee King, age 31, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, on the charge of Distribution of a Controlled Substance with Death Resulting.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Assistant Special Agent Don A. Hibbert of the Drug Enforcement Administration – Baltimore; Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Edward G. Hargis of the Frederick County Police Department; and Sheriff James T. DeWees of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the indictment, on November 5, 2017, King distributed controlled substances containing heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine to an individual, which resulted in an overdose death in Frederick County, Maryland.

King faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.  King had his initial appearance in front of United States Magistrate Judge Thomas M. DiGirolamo in District Court in Greenbelt on May 14, 2018.

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 Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the DEA, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Frederick County Police Department, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, who is prosecuting the case.

                                                                

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  CONTACT ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                             (410) 209-4885

                                                                       

Baltimore, Maryland – Sureshkumar Muttath, M.D., an internist in Riverdale, Maryland, has agreed to pay the United States $1,526,038 to settle allegations that he submitted false claims to the United States for medically unnecessary autonomic nervous function tests and neurobehavioral status exams. 

The settlement agreement was announced today by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, Maureen Dixon, and Maryland Attorney General, Brian Frosh.

In his practice, Dr. Muttath administered central autonomic nervous function tests and mini-mental exams.  Autonomic nervous function disorders are relatively uncommon disorders and tests conducted to determine such disorders should be done only after a clinician suspects such a disorder.  Furthermore, according to Local Coverage Determinations (“LCDs”) from Novitas, the Medicare administrative contractor for Maryland, such tests should be conducted only one time per beneficiary, with the necessary equipment and by clinicians with specialized training to administer and interpret these tests.  The CPT codes that Dr. Muttath used for central autonomic nervous function tests were 95921, 95922, and 95924.  Additionally, Dr. Muttath assessed patients using mini-mental status exams that he billed as a neurobehavioral status exams using CPT code 96116.   

According to the settlement agreement, from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2017, Dr. Muttath submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary autonomic nervous function tests (CPT codes 95921-95924).  The United States contends that these tests were not medically necessary and otherwise were excluded from coverage under both programs because Dr. Muttath did not have the necessary equipment to perform these tests; the patients who underwent the testing had not been diagnosed clinically with an autonomic function disorder before Dr. Muttath conducted the tests; Dr. Muttath did not have the specific training required to conduct autonomic function tests or interpret the results thereof; Dr. Muttath failed to follow Novitas’s Local Coverage Determinations (L34788 and L35395) regarding coverage indications, limitations, and medical necessity for autonomic function testing; and Dr. Muttath performed autonomic function tests merely to monitor patient symptoms or conduct patient screenings without signs or symptoms of autonomic dysfunction and not to make any clinical decisions or manage patient care.

With regard to the neurobehavioral status exam claims billed by Dr. Muttath using CPT code 96116, the United States alleges that Dr. Muttath misrepresented the services he actually performed (mini-mental status exams) as neurobehavioral status exams because he failed to spend the required amount of time either face-to-face with the patient or interpreting the tests and preparing the reports and because he did not conduct the required assessments of the patients’ thinking, reasoning, and judgment to submit claims under CPT code 96116.  

Dr. Muttath denied the United States’ allegations. 

Also as part of the settlement, Sureshkumar Muttath, M.D. has agreed to enter into an expansive, three-year Integrity Agreement that provides for procedures and reviews to be put in place to avoid and promptly detect conduct similar to that which gave rise to the settlement. 

The civil settlement was reached by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.  The Integrity Agreement was negotiated by the Office of the Counsel to the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services.      

This case arose from a recent initiative inside the United States Attorney’s Office.  The United States Attorney’s Office has dedicated resources to enable it to review Medicare billing data.  The review of that data has enabled the United States Attorney’s Office to identify areas of concern where it appears that billing irregularities may have taken place.  Partnering with the affected agencies, the United States Attorney’s Office has developed the ability to investigate these billing irregularities to determine whether the matter should be pursued under the False Claims Act. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the HHS Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Corcoran and Neil White who handled the case.

 

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On May 11, 2018, United States District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Percy Raymond Jones, age 27, of Temple Hills, Maryland today to nine and a half years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for Interference with Interstate Commerce by Robbery and Using, Carrying, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on December 6, 2016, Jones and his co-conspirator, Javonte Jaquan Moore, age 23, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland robbed a business in District Heights, Maryland.

During the course of the robbery, Moore grabbed Victim 1, placed a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun to her head and back, and demanded that she open the cash register.  Meanwhile, Jones took Victim 2 to the rear of the store where Victim 3, another employee, was stocking merchandise.  Both Victim 2 and Victim 3 were forced to lie on the ground while Jones began filling duffel bags with video games.  Moore then entered the rear of the store and began assisting Jones.  Both Moore and Jones then fled out of the front door of the store with approximately four Sony PlayStation 4 gaming systems, approximately 46 assorted video games, and cash.

Shastri Gill, age 24, of Washington D.C. drove the getaway car, after previously entering the business and informing Jones of who was present.

During the robbery, Jones and Moore unwittingly took two GPS tracking devices.  The GPS tracking devices led officers to an apartment building located on Alpine Street in District Heights, Maryland, where they were arrested.

Moore previously was sentenced to 114 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  Gill was sentenced to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI Cross Border Task Force and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray D. McKenzie, who prosecuted the case.

 

                         

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4855

 

Baltimore, Maryland –  United States District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced John Kays, age 44, of Pinehurst, North Carolina (formerly of Bel Air, Maryland) to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for accepting bribes of $800,000 from 2009 to 2012 related to contracting at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), in Harford County, Maryland. Judge Blake also ordered forfeiture in the amount of $631,705, as well as restitution of at least $886,519.52. 

Kays' wife Danielle Kays, age 43 and Matthew Barrow, age 44, of Toledo, Ohio were also charged in the scheme and have pled guilty.  Danielle Kays is presently serving an 18-month sentence with the Bureau of Prisons.  Barrow is awaiting sentence.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Craig, Jr. of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service - Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Special Agent in Charge L. Scott Moreland, Mid-Atlantic Fraud Field Office, Major Procurement Fraud Unit, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command; and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

In March 2006, the U.S. Army Contracting Command at APG awarded a 10-year, $19.2 billion contract to seven prime contractors to provide technology services to support the integrated engineering, business operations, and logistics needs for the Army. John and Danielle Kays each had leadership positions as civilians at APG related to this contract.

According to court documents, John Kays, Danielle Kays, and Barrow all graduated from West Point together.  In 2008, John Kays and Danielle Kays had leadership positions within CECOM as civilian employees of the Army.  Barrow worked for a glass manufacturer in Toledo, OH.  Barrow formed a company called MJ-6, to which John Kays admitted that he steered CECOM subcontracts in exchange for money. 

According to the plea agreements, from August 2008 to June 2014, John Kays agreed to take official actions favorable to Barrow and MJ-6 in return for Barrow paying them a total of approximately $800,000.  Mrs. Kays has admitted using her official position to benefit Barrow and MJ-6 during the period from 2011to 2014.  Specifically, the Kays used their official positions to add MJ–6 as a subcontractor acceptable to the Army, steer potential employees for government contractors to work for MJ-6,  approve MJ-6 employees to work on various Task Orders, and approve the pay rates, status reports, and travel reimbursements for MJ-6 employees.  Total contracts steered to MJ-6 by the Kays exceeded $21 million.

In order to conceal his corrupt relationship with the Kays, Barrow caused the glass company he worked for to enter into contracts and make payments to Transportation Logistics Services, LLC, a company incorporated by John Kays, until the glass company fired Barrow.  Barrow then made payments to the Kays in cash, which Barrow withdrew from his personal accounts and from MJ-6 accounts.  To conceal the scheme, John and Danielle Kays made false statements on the government ethics forms that they were required to file by failing to disclose the cash payments received from Barrow.  The Kays used the cash for their personal benefit, including payments for home renovations, two new vehicles, a powerboat, jewelry, a pool party at their country club, and credit card bills.

Barrow later agreed to pay the Kays the proceeds of the scheme from MJ-6 disguised as employment salary. 

The National Procurement Fraud Task Force was formed in October 2006 to promote the early detection, identification, prevention, and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs.  The Procurement Fraud Task Force includes the United States Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Inspectors General community and a number of other federal law enforcement agencies.  This case, as well as other cases brought by members of the Task Force, demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to helping ensure the integrity of the government procurement process.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur thanked the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur praised Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joyce K. McDonald and Harry M. Gruber, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – On March 9, 2018, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Susan Anderson, age 57, of Elkton, Maryland to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on charges related to a murder-for-hire.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to the plea agreement, in late April 2017, Anderson approached “SF” a frequent customer of the store (“SF”) where she worked.   She then solicited SF, who she had befriended at the store, to murder the ex-boyfriend of her niece.  SF spoke with Anderson on more than one occasion to confirm that she indeed wanted SF to commit the murder.  SF then informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the Defendant’s solicitation of the murder.  Over the next two weeks, SF agreed to record conversations with the Defendant inside the store.  Law enforcement also procured the surveillance video from the store showing the conversations.

In these conversations, SF confirmed with Anderson: “Are you sure you want me to go along with committing this murder?” Anderson replied: “Yep.”  Elsewhere in the conversations, SF and Anderson discussed the terms of the contact, the timing and locations of the murder, as well as what Anderson wanted done with the body upon completion of the killing.  When SF did not accomplish the murder as promptly as Anderson wished, she stated: “I want it done.  Just get it done now.  Just get it done.  I want it done now.”  After further delay, Anderson stated she could “blow him away myself.”

After this conversation, the FBI terminated the investigation and sought an arrest warrant for Anderson.  On May 11, 2017, SF had a final recorded conversation with Anderson.  He stated that the murder had been accomplished.  SF asked if Anderson was happy, and she replied: “Yes.”  Shortly thereafter, law enforcement arrested Anderson.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney David Metcalf, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Sergeant Thomas Allers, age 49, of Linthicum Heights, Maryland today to fifteen years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for racketeering conspiracy and racketeering offenses, including nine robberies. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, Allers stole money from victims, swore out false affidavits, and submitted false official incident reports.  Sergeant Allers joined the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) on July 22, 1996.  He became the officer-in-charge of the Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF), a specialized unit created to investigate firearms crimes, on or about July 25, 2013.

Allers admits that he participated in nine robberies and was armed with his BPD service firearm during the commission of the robberies.  In some cases, there was no evidence of criminal conduct by the victims; Allers stole money that had been earned lawfully.  The amounts stolen ranged from $700 to $66,000.  

For example, on or about April 3, 2015, Allers and co-conspirators executed a search warrant at a residence in Baltimore City and discovered approximately $6,000 in the home.  This money was a combination of money that the homeowners had made buying and selling used cars and a tax refund the wife had received.  Allers and his coconspirators took approximately $5,700 of the $6,000, then filed a false incident report stating that only $233 had been seized.

In another incident, on or about March 2, 2016, Allers and his co-conspirators executed a search warrant at a residence in Baltimore City.  The resident of the home had $200 in her purse, which her daughter had received the previous day during her birthday party; $900 to pay her rent for that month; $300 to pay down the amount of money she owed Baltimore Gas & Electric for utilities; and $8,000 in proceeds of drug sales.  Allers approved the false report that stated that only $1,624 had been seized from home, when in fact, he had stolen more than $7,000.

In another incident, on or about April 28, 2016, Allers and co-conspirators arrested an individual who resided at a residence, then robbed the occupants of the residence of over $10,000.  Allers approved a false incident report that failed to report that any money had been taken from the residence, when in fact he and his co-conspirators stole more than $10,000.  Following this robbery, one of the residents was shot and killed because he could not repay a drug-related debt. 

According to the plea agreement, Allers prepared and submitted false official incident and arrest reports, reports of property seized from arrestees, and charging documents.  The false reports concealed the fact that the officers had stolen money from individuals. 

In total, Allers admitted to stealing over $117,000.00.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo J. Wise and Derek E. Hines, who are prosecuting this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                              at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – On May 10, 2018, United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Kenneth Jones, a/k/a “K-Slay”, and “Slay,” age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland to life in prison for conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang’s Greenmount Avenue Regime.  Jones was responsible for three separate murders and at least one attempted murder as the primary enforcer for the gang.  In January, Jones was convicted by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy, as well as conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to the evidence presented at the two-month trial, Jones was a member of an organization known today as the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime, a violent set, or “bubble,” of BGF.  During the early years in which it operated, the gang called itself the Young Guerilla Family, or YGF, and consisted mostly of younger people who lived in the 2200, 2300, and 2400 blocks of Barclay Street and Guilford Avenue.  YGF members sold drugs throughout the Greenmount Avenue corridor and committed murders, shootings, and armed robberies.

In about mid-2007, YGF members took the BGF oath and became the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime.  According to evidence presented at trial, the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime continued to sell drugs and commit violent acts, including murders, shootings, and robberies, and by mid-2013 controlled the roughly rectangular area bordered by Greenmount Avenue to the east; Guilford Avenue to the west; 25th Street to the north; and Federal Street to the south, as well as certain offshoots east of Greenmount Avenue, including Mund Park and Cokesbury Avenue.

Between 2005 and 2017, the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime and its members were responsible for seven murders; three non-fatal shootings; more than 10 armed robberies; and over 12 years of street-level drug dealing.  The government proved at trial that Jones was responsible for three of these murders and a fourth attempted murder.

In January 2007, co-conspirator Gerald Johnson, a/k/a “Geezy,” authorized the murder of YGF associate Gregory Rochester, a/k/a “Craig Mack,” both because Rochester was rumored to be cooperating with the law enforcement and because Johnson believed that Rochester had stolen drugs from him.  Pursuant to Johnson’s order, Jones and two other YGF members shot and killed Rochester inside a residence that was used by YGF to package and store narcotics.

The Court also found at sentencing that Jones was responsible for the May 7, 2013 murder of Trevon White, a/k/a “Country.”  Like Jones, White was a member of the BGF Greenmount Regime.  The government proved at trial that Jones shot White to death, in the presence of two other BGF members, with a 9mm handgun in the 300 block of E. 22nd Street in Batimore.

Jones was also responsible for the murder of Thabiti Wheeler, an unauthorized taxi or “hack” driver, in March of 2013.  The government proved at trial that Jones shot Wheeler 18 times, with the same gun he used to kill Trevon White, while the two men were in Wheeler’s car.

Lastly, Jones was responsible for the October 5, 2013 non-fatal shooting of Lamontae Smith.  Smith testified at trial that Jones shot him in the arm in the 300 block of E. 24th St. Smith explained that prior to the shooting, three of his fellow BGF members, including Shawn Gregg, Tavon Thompson, a/k/a “Man Man,” and Nate Brown, had attempted to shoot Jones as retaliation for Jones’ murder of Trevon White.  Following that attempted shooting, Smith learned from a co-conspirator that Jones believed—incorrectly, as it turned out—that Smith had been involved in the attempt on his life.

The following eight co-defendants, also members of the BGF gang, have all previously pleaded guilty or were found to be guilty of conspiring to violate federal racketeering and drug trafficking laws;

Joseph Laurence Bonds, a/k/a/ Joe, a/k/a Yo Gotti, age 36; 

Wesley Jamal Brown, a/k/a Shike White, a/k/a Wes, age 25;

Kenneth Lee Faison, a/k/a Roscoe, age 28;

Norman Tyrone Handy, a/k/a Lil Norm, a/k/a Norm, age 23;

Montel Harvey, a/k/a Telly, a/k/a Telephone, a/k/a Big Head, age 26;

David Albert Hunter, a/k/a Lil Dave, a/k/a Dave, age 31;

Gerald Thomas Johnson, a/k/a “Geezy,” age 35; and

Marquise McCants, a/k/a Digga, age 25.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Christina Hoffman, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                            

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Darryl De Sousa, age 53, of Baltimore, Maryland was charged by federal criminal information today with three misdemeanor counts of failure to file a U.S. Individual Tax Return.

The information was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to the information, De Sousa willfully failed to file a federal return for tax years 2013, 2014, and 2015, despite having been a salaried employee of the Baltimore Police Department in each of those years.  

De Sousa faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $25,000 fine for each of the three counts.

De Sousa currently serves as the Police Commissioner for the Baltimore City Police Department.

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

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the IRS and the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leo Wise, Derek Hines, and Sean Delaney, who are prosecuting the case.

 

May 9, 2018                                                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                    at (410) 209-4885

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted twelve Baltimore men on charges related to a drug trafficking operation in East Baltimore.  The indictment unsealed today charges the defendants with distribution of heroin and crack cocaine.  Two defendants are charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking; one of those defendants is also charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Another defendant is also charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.

According to the thirteen-count indictment, in November of 2017, the ATF initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization.  The organization was allegedly responsible for distributing large quantities of heroin and cocaine in the 2100 block of Aiken Street in Baltimore, Maryland.

The following defendants are charged in the indictment unsealed today;

Devin O’Cain, a/k/a Dev, a/k/a Dex, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland;

Charles Alston, a/k/a Nub, age 28, of Baltimore, Maryland;

James Boykin, a/k/a Mal, age 32, of Baltimore, Maryland;

Antonio Santiful, a/k/a Tony, age 29, of Essex, Maryland;

Michael Brown, a/k/a Dirt, age 38, of Baltimore, Maryland;

Brian Cunningham, a/k/a Shug, age 44, of Middle River, Maryland;

Allen Griffin, a/k/a Max, a/k/a Mean, age 30, of Baltimore, Maryland;

Wayne Chambers, a/k/a Chedder, age 21, of Baltimore, Maryland;

Lamont Ferguson, a/k/a Lonnie, a/k/a Lil Yougin, age 26, of Baltimore, Maryland;

Markytis Brown, a/k/a Money, age 32, of Baltimore, Maryland;

John Williams, a/k/a Little, and 34, of Baltimore, Maryland; and

Sheldon Hill, age 64, of Baltimore, Maryland.

All of the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment for the drug conspiracy charge. Chambers and Alston face a minimum of 5 years in prison to run consecutive with a maximum sentence of life for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  O’Cain and Alston also face an additional maximum of 20 years in prison for the charged Conspiracy to Possess a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. 

Nine defendants are currently detained.  The whereabouts of Sheldon Hill and Allen Griffin are unknown.

Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Hill or Griffin is asked to contact the ATF-Baltimore Field Division at 1-888-ATF-TIPS, ATFtips@atf.gov, or text ATFBAL to 63975.

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 Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia McLane and Brandon Moore who are prosecuting the case.

 

May 9, 2018                                                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Eric Epstein, age 57, of Pompano Beach, Florida (previously of Owings Mills, Maryland) pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service. Epstein was indicted on August 24, 2017 and charged with committing mail fraud to obtain more than $50 million in money and property from various businesses through the fraudulent sale of light bulbs and cleaning supplies.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Kelly R. Jackson of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Division; and Inspector in Charge Robert B. Wemyss of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division.

According to the plea agreement, in or about 2003, Epstein co-founded a telemarketing business, Midway Industries, based in Maryland, that sold lightbulbs and cleaning supplies to businesses, schools, churches, non-profit organizations, and government offices. Epstein obtained money from thousands of victim businesses by convincing them to pay for light bulbs and cleaning supplies that they never ordered, and deceived the businesses about the amounts Midway would bill for products.

Epstein sold a majority financial interest in Midway in 2012 for $15 million, but he retained an ownership stake, received a regular paycheck, and continued to advise and supervise Midway employees. From 2003 through 2014, Midway employees would cold-call businesses stating that the business had an existing business relationship with Midway, make false representations, send unwanted orders, and inflate the price of products. The inflated prices were regularly 900% greater than the prices Midway paid for the supplies. At times, invoices were more than 8,000% higher than the true amount due.

Employees at Midway worked on commission, the amount of which was often determined by Epstein.

According to the plea agreement, Epstein caused victims’ checks payable to Midway corporate entities to be cashed at money remitters, while Epstein personally kept and used the money. Epstein and others at Midway used Midway credit cards for lavish personal expenditures, such as luxury furniture and vehicles.

Epstein faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for mail fraud conspiracy and 5 years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.    

A sentencing date has been set for September 5, 2018, in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, Maryland.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur thanked the FBI, the IRS, and the USPS for their work on the investigation. Mr. Hur commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Harry M. Gruber, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                          

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                        at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – Michael Awosika, age 39, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to carjacking.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; and Commissioner Darryl De Sousa of the Baltimore Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on April 8, 2017, Awosika carjacked the owner of a 2009 Chrysler Sebring on the 1900 block of West Lafayette Street in Baltimore.  The carjacking victim was taking her five-month-old grandson out of the vehicle when Awosika got into the front passenger seat of the vehicle.  Awosika slid over to the driver’s seat of the vehicle and pointed a revolver at the victim and her grandson.  Awosika then fled with the victim’s vehicle.

As the victim reported the carjacking to the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), a BPD officer saw the stolen vehicle driving through a red light at a high rate of speed.  The BPD officer began following vehicle to initiate a traffic stop but was unable to keep up with Awosika.

A Baltimore City Fire Department captain then observed Awosika driving down the road in a dangerous manner.  The captain, thinking that the driver of the vehicle was in distress, turned on his vehicle’s lights and sirens and began following the stolen vehicle. The vehicle continued to weave through traffic until it crashed into several vehicles at another intersection.

As the fire captain approached the stolen vehicle, Awosika got out of the vehicle and fired two shots at the captain’s vehicle.  Awosika then ran and threw the handgun onto the street.  Another BPD officer on patrol heard the gunshots and responded to the area to assist.  Upon arrival, the officer found the revolver that Awosika abandoned.  The revolver contained three spent cartridges in the revolver’s cylinder. Awosika was apprehended a short distance away and identified on the scene.

Awosika faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander has scheduled sentencing for July 3, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew DellaBetta and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Perkins, who are prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On May 3, 2018, United States District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Jose Juarez-Diaz, age 32, of Clarksburg, Maryland to 21 months in prison for being an unlawfully present alien, after three illegal entries and two prior deportations.   

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to the plea agreement, officers of the United States Border Patrol initially encountered Juarez on February 6, 2003, after they stopped him attempting to illegally enter the country near Oceanside, California.  Immigration authorities voluntarily returned Juarez to Mexico a few days later.  Juarez then reentered the United States at an unknown time and location.  In July 2003, Juarez was arrested for kidnapping during a carjacking in San Diego, California.  Juarez pled guilty to vehicle theft, a misdemeanor in California, and was sentenced to a term of probation.  An Immigration Judge ordered Juarez removed on November 6, 2003, and he was removed that same day to Mexico.

Subsequently, Juarez again illegally reentered the United States at an unknown time and location.  Juarez claims to not remember the date of his return and stated during a post-arrest statement that he walked across the border.

On March 12, 2015, Juarez was arrested in Montgomery County, Maryland after he sexually assaulted a 14-year old girl.  Juarez was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in that jurisdiction.  On September 11, 2015, a Montgomery County judge sentenced Juarez to a term of imprisonment of twenty-five years but suspended all but five years, followed by five years of probation.  On October 12, 2017, the Maryland Division of Corrections paroled Juarez after he served less than three years in prison.  Immigration authorities took Juarez into custody and he was prosecuted federally on immigration charges.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised ICE and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Fish, who prosecuted the case.

 

Nisar Ahmed Chaudhry, 71, of Columbia, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to failure to file a foreign agent registration statement.

The guilty plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, Chaudhry, a national of Pakistan and lawful permanent resident of the United States, represented himself to be the President of the Pakistan American League, an unincorporated entity he created and associated with his residential address in Maryland.

Chaudhry failed to file a registration statement with the Attorney General, as required by law, providing notification of his activities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, and falsely represented that his activities in relation to Pakistan were solely educational in nature and executed for the benign purpose of encouraging better relations between the United States and Pakistan.

According to his plea agreement, from 2012 through 2018, Chaudhry acted as an agent of the Government of Pakistan in order to engage in political activities for, and in the interests of, the Government of Pakistan.  These activities were designed by Chaudhry to obtain and manage information on the status of the U.S. Government's policies regarding Pakistan, and to influence U.S. government officials and U.S. foreign policy towards Pakistan.

Chaudhry interacted on a routine basis with representatives of the Government of Pakistan, at their Embassy in Washington, D.C. and consular office in New York City.  Chaudhry also interacted with numerous institutes, foundations and organizations operating in and around Washington, D.C., commonly referred to as "think tanks," that played a role in shaping and influencing U.S. foreign policy.  Chaudhry organized roundtable discussions in Washington, D.C. and Maryland metropolitan areas between his American government and think tank contacts and visiting Pakistan government officials to influence United States foreign policy in a direction favorable to Pakistan’s interests.   Chaudhry cultivated contacts within these entities and the U.S. government in order to obtain in-depth information regarding the U.S. government's policies towards Pakistan.  Chaudhry then sought to neutralize unfavorable views of Pakistan held by current and former U.S. government officials by employing certain methods of discussion with these individuals during personal interactions with them and/or by controlling and manipulating discussion at the roundtable events he organized or attended.

In order to be more effective in obtaining information of interest to Pakistan, and to gain a strategic advantage in acquiring information that might not otherwise be divulged to official representatives of the Government of Pakistan, Chaudhry falsely represented that his activities were solely educational in nature and not affiliated with the Pakistan government.  These representations were made not only to American think tank scholars, but also to current and former U.S. government officials, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents who interviewed Chaudhry upon entry into the United States from his travels to Pakistan.

According to his plea agreement, Chaudhry regularly traveled to Pakistan to brief high-level Pakistan government officials on information obtained from his American government and think tank contacts.  He also met with Pakistan government officials in the United States to report on the details of his meetings in Pakistan with high-level Pakistan government officials, and obtain information regarding matters of interest to Pakistan relevant to his activities in the United States on behalf of the Pakistan government.

In consideration for his activities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, Chaudhry was granted invitations to events at the Pakistan Embassy; introductions to, and meetings with, high-level Pakistan government officials; assistance with procuring civilian, military, or government -related jobs and preferential postings for relatives and associates in Pakistan; assistance with securing Pakistani visas on an expedited basis for friends, relatives, or associates; reimbursement for certain travel expenses; and the use of diplomatic channels to ship personal items to and from Pakistan, among other things.

Chaudhry organized press briefings in the Washington, D.C., and Maryland for visiting Pakistan government dignitaries and arranged for various scholars and/or former U.S. officials to attend conferences in Pakistan. 

Chaudhry faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for July 30, at 2 p.m. in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for their work in the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Manuelian of the District of Maryland, and Senior Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting this case.

                                                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE www.justice.gov/usao/md                                       at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – Nisar Ahmed Chaudhry, age 71, of Columbia, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to failure to file a foreign agent registration statement.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers; and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, Chaudhry, a national of Pakistan and lawful permanent resident of the United States, represented himself to be the President of the Pakistan American League, an unincorporated entity he created and associated with his residential address in Maryland.

Chaudhry failed to file a registration statement with the Attorney General, as required by law, providing notification of his activities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, and falsely represented that his activities in relation to Pakistan were solely educational in nature and executed for the benign purpose of encouraging better relations between the United States and Pakistan.

According to his plea agreement, from 2012 through 2018, Chaudhry acted as an agent of the Government of Pakistan in order to engage in political activities for, and in the interests of, the Government of Pakistan.  These activities were designed by Chaudhry to obtain and manage information on the status of the United States Government's policies regarding Pakistan, and to influence U.S. government officials and U.S. foreign policy towards Pakistan.

Chaudhry interacted on a routine basis with representatives of the Government of Pakistan, at their Embassy in Washington, D.C. and consular office in New York City.  Chaudhry also interacted with numerous institutes, foundations, and organizations operating in and around Washington, D.C., commonly referred to as "think tanks," that played a role in shaping and influencing U.S. foreign policy.  Chaudhry organized roundtable discussions in the Washington D.C., and Maryland metropolitan areas between his American government and think tank contacts and visiting Pakistan government officials to influence United States foreign policy in a direction favorable to Pakistan’s interests.  Chaudhry cultivated contacts within these entities and the United States government in order to obtain in-depth information regarding the United States government's policies towards Pakistan.  Chaudhry then sought to neutralize unfavorable views of Pakistan held by current and former U.S. government officials by employing certain methods of discussion with these individuals during personal interactions with them and/or by controlling and manipulating discussion at the roundtable events he organized or attended.

In order to be more effective in obtaining information of interest to Pakistan, and to gain a strategic advantage in acquiring information that might not otherwise be divulged to official representatives of the Government of Pakistan, Chaudhry falsely represented that his activities were solely educational in nature and not affiliated with the Pakistan government.  These representations were made not only to American think tank scholars, but also to current and former United States government officials, including U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents who interviewed Chaudhry upon entry into the United States from his travels to Pakistan.

According to his plea agreement, Chaudhry regularly traveled to Pakistan to brief high-level Pakistan government officials on information obtained from his American government and think tank contacts.  He also met with Pakistan government officials in the United States to report on the details of his meetings in Pakistan with high-level Pakistan government officials, and obtain information regarding matters of interest to Pakistan relevant to his activities in the United States on behalf of the Pakistan government.

In consideration for his activities on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, Chaudhry was granted invitations to events at the Pakistan Embassy; introductions to, and meetings with, high-level Pakistan government officials; assistance with procuring civilian, military, or government -related jobs and preferential postings for relatives and associates in Pakistan; assistance with securing Pakistani visas on an expedited basis for friends, relatives, or associates; reimbursement for certain travel expenses; and the use of diplomatic channels to ship personal items to and from Pakistan, among other things.

Chaudhry organized press briefings in Washington, D.C. and Maryland for visiting Pakistan government dignitaries and arranged for various scholars and/or former United States government officials to attend conferences in Pakistan.  

Chaudhry faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow has scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2018 at 2 p.m. in Greenbelt, Maryland.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for their work in the investigation and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for their assistance.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Manuelian, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                      

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  CONTACT ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                             (410) 209-4885

                                                                         

Baltimore, Maryland – Columbia-based MassTech, Inc., its former Chief Executive Officer, Arnold Lee, and its former Chief Financial Officer, Richard Lee, have agreed to pay the United States $1.9 million to resolve allegations that MassTech falsely certified it was a small business concern in order to obtain Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) awards.

The settlement agreement was announced today by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Inspector General for the National Science Foundation, Allison Lerner; Special Agent in Charge for NASA Office of Inspector General, Michael Sonntag; and Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, Maureen Dixon.  

“Entities that participate in government-funded research grants must truthfully report their eligibility to participate in these programs, including the SBIR program.  Companies and individuals that misrepresent their eligibility in order to obtain government funding undermine the integrity of the government grant process,” said Robert K. Hur, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland.

“The SBIR program is a valuable tool in advancing NSF’s mission to promote the progress of science by increasing opportunities for small businesses to undertake cutting-edge scientific research, and it is essential to protect the integrity of this program,” commented Allison Lerner, the Inspector General for NSF.  “The NSF Office of Inspector General is committed to vigorously pursuing oversight of these taxpayer funds and I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our investigative partners for their strong support in this effort.”

“Individuals who fraudulently obtain federal research funds earmarked for small businesses deprive others of an opportunity to pursue meaningful technological discoveries,” said NASA OIG Special Agent in Charge, Michael Sonntag. “I commend the outstanding efforts of our agents and other law enforcement partners who are committed to ensuring the integrity of this program.”

 “HHS-OIG expects all companies and individuals who accept HHS research funds to be truthful on their applications,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of HHS grant funds.” The SBIR program is a set-aside program for small businesses.  The purpose of the SBIR program is to strengthen the role of small business concerns (“SBC”) in federally funded research and development and to increase private sector commercialization.  To receive SBIR funds, each awardee of an SBIR Phase I or II award must qualify as an SBC at the time of the award as well as throughout the duration of the award.  To be eligible, an SBC and its affiliates collectively must have fewer than 500 employees.  According to the settlement agreement, the United States alleged that MassTech, Arnold Lee, and Richard Lee falsely represented to NSF, NASA, and HHS that MassTech was an eligible small business concern at the time of the SBIR application as well as throughout the lifecycle of the award.  As a result, NSF, NASA, and HHS approved and funded SBIR awards to MassTech that MassTech otherwise would not have received.  MassTech, Arnold Lee, and Richard Lee denied the United States’ allegations.       

U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the NSF Office of Inspector General, the NASA Office of Inspector General, and the HHS Office of Inspector General for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas Corcoran and Rebecca Koch who handled the case. 

                                                                              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Marvin J. Garbis sentenced Piere Ceradoy, age 37, of Crofton, Maryland, to 25 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; and Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to his plea agreement, between February 2016 and April 2017, Ceradoy repeatedly enticed a minor female to take photographs and stream live videos of herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct and send those images and videos to Ceradoy using a mobile phone and the Internet.  During the course of the exploitation of the victim, Ceradoy frequently threatened to expose the victim by disseminating the explicit files, and regularly threatened to kill the victim and her family.  Ceradoy also sent images and videos of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the victim.  The victim was 13 years old.

Ceradoy engaged in this conduct after two convictions in 2014 relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor.  During this time, he was on parole for a sex offense conviction in the state of Washington, and was registered as a sex offender. 

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 Robert K. Hur praised HSI Baltimore, the Maryland State Police and the Franklinton, North Carolina Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Budlow, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                                 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – On May 2, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Kenneth Brian Fischer, age 40, of Westminster, Maryland for production of child pornography, attempted production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and using a facility of interstate commerce to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Colonel William M. Pallozzi, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Sheriff James T. DeWees of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; Colonel Edwin C. Roessler Jr. of the Fairfax County, Virginia Police; the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney’s Office.

According to the eight-count indictment, Fischer was a resident of Carroll County, Maryland and was employed as a teacher by the Carroll County School System.  Fischer used social media applications, including Kik and Grindr, to meet and communicate with underage minor males for the purpose of enticing and directing the minors to produce depictions of sexually explicit conduct and send them to Fischer. 

In or about August 2017, law enforcement identified Fischer after he communicated with an undercover agent posing as a minor male on Grindr.  Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant at Fischer’s home in Westminster, Maryland and seized various electronic devices.  A search on a cell phone revealed that Fischer had been communicating with five real minors beginning in November 2014 and continuing through his arrest in September 2017.

According to the indictment, Fischer enticed three minor males to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.  Fischer also attempted to entice two minor males to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.  Fischer also sent e-mail messages containing videos and still images of one of the minor males engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Fischer received an image of another one of the minor males engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Fischer was previously arrested in Westminster, Maryland on related charges and has been in custody since September 13, 2017.

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. 

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 Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the Maryland State Police, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Fairfax County Police, and the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ayn B. Ducao, who is prosecuting the case.

 

                                                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Dr. Warren Gregory Belcher, age 60, of Salisbury, Maryland today to 15 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for filing fraudulent income tax returns and attempting to obstruct the internal revenue laws.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

According to the evidence presented in court, Dr. Warren Gregory Belcher, 60, operated a chiropractic business for nearly 20 years.  During that time, he received income for chiropractic services from insurance companies, patients and other third parties, including another chiropractor in Baltimore.  From 2009 through 2015, Belcher filed individual income tax returns that fraudulently claimed that he had earned no business income, when, in fact, the evidence at trial established that he received payments totaling more than $350,000 during that time period.  Belcher filed his false 2015 tax return after being notified that he was the target of a federal grand jury investigation.  He filed an additional false tax return for 2016 while under indictment and awaiting trial.

The evidence introduced at trial included dozens of letters that Belcher sent to insurance companies and other third parties in which he threatened that the companies could be subject to civil and criminal penalties for reporting to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) payments they made to him for his services.  Belcher also made threatening statements to an accountant to prevent the accountant from reporting his income to the government.  Belcher himself also submitted fraudulent forms to the IRS in an effort to falsely represent that companies that had reported his income to the IRS had not actually paid him that income. 

For the years 2009 and 2011, the IRS mailed Belcher notices informing him that his returns underreported his income.  The IRS also assessed additional taxes and penalties against Belcher for his fraudulent returns, including a $5,000 penalty for filing a frivolous tax return.   Belcher responded to these IRS notices by sending letters to the IRS asserting that the IRS was violating the law by assessing and collecting his taxes. 

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett ordered Belcher to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $63,763.58.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney and Tax Division Trial Attorney Melissa S. Siskind, who prosecuted the case. 

 

                                                                             

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On April 30, 2018, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Tony Alexander McCright, age 44, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland today to thirty months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Judge Chasanow also ordered McCright to forfeit $44,671 and pay a $10,000 fine.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; and Chief Henry P. Stawinski III of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on August 17, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at McCright’s residence in Upper Marlboro.  During the course of the search, law enforcement located 19 buckets, one storage bin, and one black duffel bag containing approximately 138.4 pounds or 62,777 grams of marijuana; one loaded .22-caliber handgun and 10 rounds of .22 short-caliber Super X ammunition; two digital scales; one heat sealer and heat sealer bags; a money counter; two cell phones; and $12,721 in U.S. currency.

On September 21, 2017, law enforcement executed a federal arrest warrant at McCright’s residence. Law enforcement observed a strong odor of marijuana in the garage and located approximately 1,816 grams of marijuana, one heat-sealed bag containing two vials of liquid THC, and $31,950 in U.S. currency.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the DEA and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray D. McKenzie, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                                   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On April 30, 2018, United States District Judge Roger W. Titus sentenced Kevin Miller, age 59, of Rockville, Maryland today to ten years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for distribution of child pornography.  Judge Titus ordered that, upon his release from prison, Miller must 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 Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Sheriff Reggie Mason of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Department.

According to his plea agreement, on December 2, 2016, Individual A was arrested in Washington state and charged with child pornography offenses.  During a preliminary forensic examination of Individual A’s electronic devices and media, law enforcement agents discovered three images on a USB drive that geo-located to Maryland.  Two of the images geo-located to the residence of Miller in Rockville, Maryland.

One of the images depicted Victim 1 nude with her genital area exposed.  Victim 1 had just turned ten years old when the picture was taken on April 9, 2016 .

On December 22, 2016, Victim 1 was interviewed by a trained child forensic interviewer.  During the interview, Victim l disclosed that the two nude images of her described above were taken in the basement of Miller’s residence.

On the evening of December 22, 2016, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence and seized electronic devices, including a laptop.  A forensic analysis revealed approximately 36 images of child pornography and child erotica that were still viewable.  The forensic examiner also found remnants of additional files with names indicative of child pornography on both laptops, as well as remnants of a bit torrent peer-to-peer file sharing program on the laptop.

On February 24, 2017, Individual A was interviewed by law enforcement. During that interview, Individual A disclosed that Individual A and Miller met online.  Individual A stated that Miller sent the two nude images of Victim 1 described above, as well as a third image of Victim 1 and Victim 2 clothed, to Individual A.

As part of a separate investigation, a Worcester County sheriff’s deputy downloaded multiple images and videos of child pornography that Miller made available for sharing through a bit torrent peer-to-peer file sharing program on at least seventeen separate occasions between October and December 2016.  Overall, the Worcester County sheriff’s department downloaded at least 67 videos and 31 images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that Miller made available for sharing through a bit torrent peer-to-peer file sharing program.

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 Attorneys’ 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 Robert K. Hur praised HSI Baltimore, HSI Blaine, Washington, and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristi O’Malley and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Edwards, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                     at (410) 209-4885      

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – United States District Judge Paul W. Grimm sentenced Keisha Findley, age 42, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.  Judge Grimm also ordered restitution be paid in the amount of $333,779.53.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to her plea agreement, Findley performed accounting and customer service functions for her employer, Company A.  Among her job responsibilities, Findley received checks from customers and entered receipt of checks into an accounting database.  Findley kept track of accounts receivable and had access to the accounts receivable database. 

In May 2014, without authorization, Findley opened a bank account online in the name of Company A, describing the company as a sole proprietorship owned by the company’s chief executive officer, Victim B.  A signature card was submitted to the bank with a purported signature by Victim B and the last four digits of Victim B’s social security number.  An automated teller machine check card was issued by the bank with the names of Company A and Victim B on its face.

Beginning in May 2014 and continuing through December 2015, Findley intercepted checks sent by Company A’s customers.  She then removed the customer checks from Company A’s offices and deposited them into the bank account she had opened.  Findley used the check card both to make deposits into the account and to make withdrawals.  In total, Findley deposited checks stolen from Company A totaling $333,779.53.  Findley used money from the fraudulent bank account for her own purposes, including personal car and rent payments.  In addition, Findley made cash withdrawals of over $170,000 from the account.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin, who prosecuted the case.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                             at (410) 209-4855

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Dontae Small, age 44 of Baltimore, Maryland, to 27 years in prison for conspiracy, carjacking, and destruction of government property, after he rammed a stolen car into a security gate at the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland.  The Court also imposed a consecutive 2-year sentence for aggravated identity theft committed by the defendant while he was in jail pending trial.   Judge Bredar also ordered restitution to the victims, including over $15,000 to the United States Government for the damage caused by the defendant’s conduct.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Darryl DeSousa of the Baltimore Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare, the National Security Agency Police, and the Fort George G. Meade Police Services Division.

Judge Bredar imposed the sentencing after finding that Small’s criminal history was extensive and citing the public safety as the “paramount” concern of the Court.   

According to evidence presented at trial, on October 4, 2015, Small and his co-conspirators were riding in a white minivan in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore, looking for victims to rob.  At approximately 10:09 p.m. Small texted a male co-conspirator the following message: “Get the dude cpming down da st.I parked on smoking a pipe” [sic].

Three masked co-conspirators assaulted Victim 1 on Grindall Street in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Baltimore.   The carjackers pointed a silver handgun at the victim and robbed him of the keys to his car, a 2008 Acura TSX.  The conspirators then stole the car.  On that same night, two of the conspirators approached Victims 2 and 3 a block away on Riverside Avenue and brandished a silver handgun.  The robbers obtained a phone that had fallen from Victim 3’s pocket before fleeing.

On October 7, 2015, Small drove the stolen Acura to Arundel Mills Mall in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  The Anne Arundel Police identified the car as stolen and set up surveillance.  When Small returned to the vehicle and unlocked it using Victim 1’s keys, the police attempted to arrest him.  Instead, Small took off over a curb in the parking lot, narrowly missing pedestrians and drove out of the Mall at a high rate of speed.   The police followed and Small engaged him in a high-speed pursuit, eventually turning into Fort Meade and then crashing the car into a security gate protecting the National Security Agency.  Small then fled and hid in a nearby sewer for approximately 12 hours as security personnel and police attempted to find him.  The NSA was closed to non-essential personnel for a day while the search continued.  When Small emerged from the sewer the next morning, the police were able to arrest him after a brief foot chase and struggle.

After the trial, Small pled guilty to pending charges for bank fraud and identity theft, stemming from his unauthorized use of a correctional officer’s credit card.  The credit card was stolen from the officer after a cell search at the Baltimore City Detention Center where Small was being held pending trial.  Small and his co-defendant, wife Kimberly Duckfield, used the credit card to purchase items for Small in jail and for his wife’s cell phone.  Duckfield previously pled guilty to aggravated identity theft and was recently released after serving a two-year federal sentence for the crime.

At the sentencing today, Judge Bredar found that Ronald Hall (a/k/a “Binky”) and a juvenile committed the carjacking and robbery with Small. Hall is currently pending charges in Baltimore City Circuit Court and his trial is scheduled for May 16, 2018.   Judge Bredar also found that the high-speed chase in a carjacked car was reckless and indifferent to the safety of others, that his co-conspirators used a dangerous weapon in committing the carjacking and robbery, and that Small had attempted to obstruct justice during the investigation of the crimes.  Judge Bredar noted the longstanding impact of crimes of violence on individual victims terrorized by street violence such as in this case.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the National Security Agency Associate Directorate for Security and Counterintelligence (Office of General Counsel), and the Fort George G. Meade Police Services Division for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Paul Riley, who prosecuted the case, and NSA attorney Hillary Hellmann for her assistance in the prosecution.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                             at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Gerald Thomas Johnson, a/k/a “Geezy,” age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, to life in prison for conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as the Black Guerilla Family (BGF) gang’s Greenmount Avenue Regime.  Johnson was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to violate federal racketeering and drug trafficking laws, as well as conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, possession of ammunition by a felon, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. 

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Daniel L. Board, Jr. of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Darryl DeSousa of the Baltimore Police Department; Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby.

According to the evidence presented at the two-month trial, Johnson was the leader of an organization known today as the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime, a violent set, or “bubble,” of BGF.  During the early years in which it operated, the gang called itself the Young Guerilla Family, or YGF, and consisted mostly of younger people who lived in the 2200, 2300, and 2400 blocks of Barclay Street and Guilford Avenue. YGF members sold drugs throughout the Greenmount Avenue corridor and committed murders, shootings, and armed robberies.

In about mid-2007, YGF members took the BGF oath and became the BGF Greenmount Regime.  According to evidence presented at trial, the BGF Greenmount Regime continued to sell drugs and commit violent acts, including murders, shootings and robberies, and by mid-2013 controlled the roughly rectangular area bordered by Greenmount Avenue to the east; Guilford Avenue to the west; 25th Street to the north; and Federal Street to the south, as well as certain offshoots east of Greenmount Avenue, including Mund Park and Cokesbury Avenue.

Between 2005 and 2017, the BGF Greenmount Avenue Regime and its members were responsible for seven murders; three non-fatal shootings; more than 10 armed robberies; and over 12 years of street-level drug dealing. 

In his capacity as a leader of BGF, Johnson supplied his fellow gang members with powder and crack cocaine, as well as heroin, ecstasy, marijuana and oxycodone, for further distribution on the street.  He also distributed narcotics himself. 

Johnson also ordered the commission of multiple acts of violence, including two murders.  First, in January 2007, he ordered the murder of Gregory Rochester, a/k/a “Craig Mack,” because Rochester was rumored to be cooperating with law enforcement and because Johnson suspected that Rochester had stolen drugs from the gang.  On January 9, 2007, YGF members Kenneth Jones, a/k/a “Slay,” and Charles Pace, a/k/a “Foo,” carried out Johnson’s directive and murdered Rochester inside an apartment building in the 200 block of East 25th Street.  

Second, in April 2013, Johnson ordered the murder of Moses Malone.  Johnson authorized the murder after learning that Malone had provided information to Baltimore City Police detectives regarding a robbery and shooting committed by BGF member Norman Handy.  Malone was the victim of that shooting.  During his interview with police detectives, Malone had picked Handy out of a photo array as the person who shot him.  On May 2, 2013, BGF member Wesley Brown carried out Johnson’s directive and murdered Malone in the 600 block of Cokesbury Avenue. 

Prior to his conviction in this case, Johnson was acquitted of gang-related offenses following a jury trial in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.             

The following eight co-defendants, also members of the BGF gang, have all previously pleaded guilty or were found to be guilty of conspiring to violate federal racketeering and drug trafficking laws;

Joseph Laurence Bonds, a/k/a/ Joe, a/k/a Yo Gotti, age 36;  Wesley Jamal Brown, a/k/a Shike White a/k/a Wes, age 25; Kenneth Lee Faison, a/k/a Roscoe, age 28; Norman Tyrone Handy, a/k/a Lil Norm, a/k/a Norm, age 23; Montel Harvey, a/k/a Telly, a/k/a Telephone, a/k/a Big Head, age 26; David Albert Hunter, a/k/a Lil Dave, a/k/a Dave, age 31; Kenneth Jones, a/k/a, K-Slay, a/k/a Slay, age 30; and Marquise McCants, a/k/a Digga, age 25.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, and the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez and Christina Hoffman, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                        

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                         at (410) 209-4855

 

Baltimore, Maryland – United States District Judge Marvin J. Garbis sentenced Stanislav “Steven” Yelizarov, age 28, of Pikesville, Maryland, to twenty years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for one count of Use, Carry and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence Causing the Death of Another.

The sentence was imposed to run consecutive to the 30-year sentence that Yelizarov is serving for the conspiracy, kidnapping, and brandishing a firearm in connection with his role as the leader of a robbery of a jewelry store, carjacking, kidnapping, and an armed home invasion in 2012 through 2013.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Darryl De Sousa of the Baltimore City Police Department; and Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police.

According to the evidence at the sentencing hearing, Yelizarov was a serial burglar of homes in Baltimore County.  The victim, Wayne Ruder, owned a jewelry store on Reisterstown Road in Baltimore City. Ruder’s business bought and sold precious metals and stones, and engaged in business throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and Pennsylvania.  In March 2009, Yelizarov burglarized the home of an acquaintance and during the course of that burglary, stole a large diamond engagement ring.  Yelizarov sold the diamond to Ruder and later came to believe that the diamond was worth significantly more than Ruder had paid him.

In April 2009, Yelizarov burglarized the home of another acquaintance, and stole a number of firearms and accessories, including a Llama handgun that was equipped with a suppressor and had been converted to fire .22-caliber ammunition. Prior to the murder, Yelizarov searched for and purchased .22 subsonic ammunition.

In early December 2009, Yelizarov told Ruder that he had people from New York who were looking to sell a large amount of gold. Yelizarov and Ruder communicated frequently over the next weeks regarding the transaction, which Ruder reported was going to involve over $30,000 worth of gold.  On December 25, 2009, Ruder agreed to meet Yelizarov at his store the following day.  On December 26, 2009, after a number of phone calls between Yelizarov and Ruder, Yelizarov drove to the store and entered the front door.  Using the stolen Llama handgun equipped with a suppressor and loaded with .22-caliber subsonic ammunition, Yelizarov shot Ruder at the store entrance, and then continued to shoot him as he fled to the back of the store.  In total, Yelizarov shot Ruder 15 times, including three shots to his back and 10 shots to his head. After killing Ruder, Yelizarov took Ruder’s bank bag, which typically contained between $15,000 and $30,000 of cash. 

Subsequent to the robbery and murder, Yelizarov dismantled and disposed of the Llama handgun in a quarry near Yelizarov’s residence.

Also introduced as evidence at trial, while in the Maryland Department of Corrections in 2015, Yelizarov plotted the murder of numerous witnesses in the federal cases against him.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky, who assisted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Budlow and Daniel C. Gardner, who prosecuted the case.

 

                                                                               

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Greenbelt, Maryland – On April 25, 2018, Roy David Evans, Jr., age 33, of Essex, Maryland, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography.

The plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre R. Watson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.

According to the plea agreement, Evans posted advertisements on Craigslist for young girls to contact him via email or via Kik, a messaging application where users can text, livecam, and send digital images and videos to one another.  Evans enticed and coerced the 14 year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce images of that conduct.  Evans then received videos of the victim engaged in sexually explicitly conduct via the Internet.

Evans faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison for production of child pornography; a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison for receipt of child pornography; and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography.  For each count, Evans faces up to lifetime supervised release following his imprisonment.

A sentencing hearing has been set for October 1, 2018 at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.

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 Attorneys' 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 Robert K. Hur commended HSI Baltimore, and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly O'Connell Hayes and Timothy Hagan, who are prosecuting the federal case.

                                                                           

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                   at (410) 209-4885

 

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Leon R. Harrison, age 56, of Washington D.C., on charges of sex trafficking of a minor, for his role as a commercial sex customer. The indictment was returned on April 25, 2018, and unsealed today.  Harrison has been charged with sex trafficking of a minor, enticement of minor to engage in prostitution, and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Andre Watson of ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Tim Altomare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; and State’s Attorney Wes Adams of the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office.

According to the three-count indictment, between August 9, 2016 and February 7, 2018, Harrison used his Facebook account to send messages to hundreds of other Facebook users, offering them money in exchange for sending him sexually explicit pictures, watching him masturbate, or meeting with him in person to engage in commercial sex. Several Facebook users told Harrison that they were under 18 years old, and as young as 12 years old. Harrison continued to make the requests even after they stated that they were minors.

Between October 9, 2017, and February 7, 2018, Harrison and Girl 1 allegedly exchanged hundreds of messages over Facebook.  Girl 1 was a 15-year-old Maryland tenth-grade student.  In the messages, Harrison repeatedly offered to pay Girl 1 in exchange for having sex with him.  In twelve instances, Harrison offered her between $40 and $60 for sex.

On February 6, 2018, Girl 1’s mother discovered the Facebook messages and contacted the police.  That day, an undercover police detective began operating Girl 1’s Facebook account.

On February 7, 2018, Harrison continued communicating with Girl 1’s Facebook account.  Harrison stated that he would meet with Girl 1 that evening, and that he would bring money and condoms.  Harrison stated he would pay Girl 1 $50 to have sex with him and made arrangements to meet with Girl 1 at a restaurant in Odenton, Maryland.  Harrison agreed that he would get Girl 1 home before 1:00 a.m. because it was a “school night.”

When he arrived at the restaurant, Harrison had condoms, $50 in cash, and two 50ml bottles of flavored vodka in his pants pockets.

Harrison faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and for enticement of a minor to engage in prostitution.  He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.  An initial appearance has not yet been scheduled.

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 Robert K. Hur commended HSI, the Anne Arundel County Police and the Anne Arundel State’s Attorney’s Office. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary A. Myers and Ray D. McKenzie, who are prosecuting the case.

 

An indictment was unsealed Tuesday charging two alleged MS-13 members residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion.  Both defendants remain in custody following one of their detention hearings earlier today.

 

The indictment was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan, U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur for the District of Maryland, Assistant Director in Charge Andrew W. Vale of the FBI Washington Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Ivan Arvelo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore Field Office, Chief Mark A. Magaw of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks, Chief Douglas Holland of the Hyattsville Police Department, Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department, and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.

 

Jairo Arnaldo Jacome, aka “Abuelo,” 36, and Gerdandino Delgado-Escobar, aka “Pumba,” 23, are charged in the one-count indictment that alleges a conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion beginning at least in or around March 2013 and continuing through April 2018.  According to the indictment, Jacome and Delgado-Escobar are alleged to be members and associates of the Langley Park Salvatruchas (LPS) clique of MS-13. Both defendants are in custody.  Jacome was ordered detained pending trial following a detention hearing today.  

 

The indictment alleges that MS-13 is an international criminal enterprise that is active throughout the United States. In the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including in Prince George’s County, Maryland, MS-13 generates income from various sources, including the extortion of sums of money from persons who engage in business activities such as controlled substances sales, illegal brothels, and unlicensed “stores” where items such as food, alcoholic beverages, and cigarettes are sold, as well as legitimate businesses including food and beverage sales or distributors. The indictment further alleges that members of the gang often refer to these extortion payments as “rent.”

 

Jacome is alleged to have threatened business owners from whom he demanded “rent” payments. According to the indictment, in or around 2015, Jacome allegedly threatened one extortion victim with a gun, grabbed the victim by the neck and hit the victim, telling the victim that Jacome was a member of the “Mara” and that the victim was required to pay “rent” to Jacome for his business or else Jacome would send people to kill the victim’s family. The indictment further alleges that Delgado-Escobar allegedly took extortion payments on behalf of Jacome and the LPS clique.

 

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

 

Trial Attorney Catherine K. Dick of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William D. Moomau and Daniel C. Gardner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland are prosecuting this case.