District of New Hampshire

            Amy J. Vickers, 44, of Bradford, Vermont was arrested today on a complaint charging her with obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announced.

            According to the complaint, on June 17, 2022, Vickers was working as a nurse at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, New Hampshire, when hospital personnel noticed a discrepancy regarding the purported disposal of a dosage of hydromorphone.  When confronted with the discrepancy, Vickers is alleged to have admitted to diverting the substance for her personal use, and having done so repeatedly over the course of a few months.  It is not believed that any patients were affected by Vickers’ diversion of medications. 

            Vickers was arrested on August 8 and had an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge.  She was released pending further proceedings. 

            This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Lebanon Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

            The charges in the complaint are only allegations.  The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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            CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, Maine, was charged via complaint in federal court with interstate stalking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            Chick was arrested without incident on Friday evening in Eliot, Maine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Chick was employed as a school bus driver and was assigned to bus routes servicing the Greenland Central School in Greenland, New Hampshire. Chick is alleged to have threatened a child attending the Greenland Central School and threatening the child’s family, and to have travelled from Maine to New Hampshire to make the threats.

            Chick had an initial appearance hearing in federal district court this afternoon. The Court ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 18, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the Greenland Police Department, the Eliot, Maine Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kasey Weiland.

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

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            CONCORD – Victor Tejada-Gonzalez, 31, of Waterbury, Connecticut was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Tejada-Gonzalez operated as part of drug-distribution conspiracy out of Lawrence, Massachusetts, delivering fentanyl to co-conspirators for further distribution into New Hampshire and other places throughout New England.  Specifically, on October 30, 2020, intercepted calls and surveillance captured Tejada-Gonzalez travelling to Lawrence to deliver a kilogram of fentanyl to a co-conspirator, Manuel Emilio Delacruz-Diaz.  On November 19, 2020, United States Drug Enforcement agents conducted a traffic stop of the defendant in New York and he was found to be in possession of over 400 grams of fentanyl.  Tejada-Gonzalez told agents that he worked with Delacruz-Diaz.

            “Drug traffickers like the defendant who distribute fentanyl into New Hampshire endanger the lives and well-being of our state’s residents,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “This sentence demonstrates that those who conspire to sell fentanyl in the Granite State will face significant incarceration for their unlawful conduct.” 

            The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Massachusetts State Police, the Methuen Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, and the Nashua Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth R. Aframe and John J. Kennedy

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            CONCORD -Robert Corson, 33, formerly of Portsmouth, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of unlawful possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl and 5 grams and more of “ice” methamphetamine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 28, 2021, the FBI arrested Corson on federal drug trafficking charges outside of Corson’s storage unit at a storage facility in Portsmouth. When he was arrested, Corson was wearing a fanny pack around his waist that contained multiple baggies of fentanyl packaged for sale. The FBI subsequently searched Corson’s storage unit and seized approximately 294 grams of “ice” methamphetamine, 231 grams of fentanyl and other items associated with drug trafficking.

            Corson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the FBI NH Major Offender Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.

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

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            CONCORD – Renee Crawford, 35, of Danville pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $66,000 from Saint Anselm College, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Crawford was employed as the Assistant Vice President of Finance for the College.  In her role, Crawford had authority to manage invoice approvals, enter vendor information, and had oversight of the Finance Office’s credit card program.

            Crawford used her access to submit fraudulent invoices for a company that she created, receiving more than $44,000 from the College which she used for personal purchases. In addition, Crawford used two College issued credit cards to make personal purchases, such as family vacations and theme park tickets, totaling nearly $22,000.

            Crawford is currently scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2022.

            The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Goffstown Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy

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            CONCORD - Jeannette Doyon, 49, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Doyon was receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.  Because SSI benefits are tied to household income, Social Security requires that SSI recipients notify the agency of changes to their household.  Doyon married her spouse in April 2014.  Because her spouse’s income now counted towards her household income, Doyon’s monthly benefits were reduced.

            In response, Doyon submitted a false statement to Social Security claiming that her spouse had moved out of her home and was no longer part of her household.  This resulted in her benefits increasing.  Doyon repeated this false statement to Social Security for several years to keep getting more benefits.  Throughout this time, Doyon and her spouse continuously lived together.  Because of her false statement, Doyon received $46,625.60 in SSI benefits she was not entitled to receive.

            Doyon is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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            CONCORD - Robert Willim, 63, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 14, 2020 and September 18, 2020, Willim entered Citizen Bank branches in New Hampshire and other states and presented counterfeit Passport cards belonging to account holders.  Willim then cashed fraudulent checks addressed to the account holders.  The checks usually had the account holders’ real Social Security numbers on them.  In total, Willim fraudulently obtained $27,102.05 and unsuccessfully attempted to cash additional fraudulent checks totaling another $16,784.20.

            Willim is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.

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            Kermit Ceasar, 45, of Manchester, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of cocaine distribution and six counts of crack cocaine distribution, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            The convictions resulted from a series of drug sales that Ceasar made in Manchester to an undercover informant between April and September of 2021.  This case is Ceasar's third federal drug conviction in the District of New Hampshire. 

            "Kermit Ceasar is a recidivist drug dealer who, for his entire adult life when not imprisoned, has been selling crack cocaine in Manchester.  Today's significant sentence will hopefully send the message to those who traffic crack cocaine that my office will take all steps possible to protect the public from recidivist drug dealers," said U.S. Attorney Young.  "Seeking lengthy periods of incarceration for cases like this are a critical facet to keeping our communities safe from career criminals."

            “Kermit Ceasar has trafficked crack cocaine his entire adult life. In fact, the only time he was not dealing crack was when he was behind bars, which, sadly has been for approximately 20 of the last 27 years. Through his own actions, he has repeatedly degraded the community in which he lives and put public safety at risk," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Today’s sentencing should send a strong message to recidivist drug dealers in New Hampshire that they will face significant consequences for their criminal conduct."

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Manchester Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth R. Aframe.

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            CONCORD – Diana Daffin, 69, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to selling unapproved drugs with the intent to defraud or mislead the FDA, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Diana Daffin owned and operated a holistic medicine company called Savvy Holistic Health doing business as Holistic Healthy Pet.  In March 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) learned that Daffin was selling unapproved drugs on her website, with the brand name HAMPL, that Daffin claimed were COVID-19 remedies and treatments.  In April and August of 2020, the FDA sent Daffin warning letters explaining that various products she was selling—including the HAMPL COVID-19 drugs—were adulterated, misbranded, and unapproved drugs and that she should take immediate action to correct the violation.  Daffin responded by telling the FDA that she removed the products from her website and would stop distributing them.

            However, Daffin did not stop selling the products.  Instead, she continued to distribute the unapproved COVID-19 drugs and took steps to defraud and mislead the FDA.  For example, she continued to sell unapproved HAMPL brand drugs by moving them to a password protected website, telling one customer that this was her “way of evading the FDA.” 

            In February 2021, Daffin sold an undercover law enforcement officer a HAMPL product that she advertised as a drug that could cure, mitigate, treat, and prevent COVID-19 in humans. In an email leading up to the sale, Daffin told the undercover officer, “This stuff does work for covid, but fda shut it down.”  Daffin later sold and shipped the undercover agent the unapproved HAMPL-brand COVID-19 drug and other unapproved drugs.

            On March 5, 2021, the undercover agent in New Hampshire received HAMPL drugs sold by Daffin, including the purported COVID-19 remedy.  The label stated that it provided “a stronger immunity against CV” and promised “Immunity for Humans.”

            Daffin is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2022.  

            This matter was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Georgiana L. MacDonald.

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

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

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            CONCORD – Timothy Spaulding, 23, of Manchester, was sentenced today to 42 months in federal prison in connection with his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 6, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a hotel room where Spaulding was staying with his girlfriend.  During the search of the hotel room, law enforcement officers located a black backpack containing documents and receipts in the name of the defendant, a scale and 45.9 grams of cocaine.  A 9mm pistol was also located on a table in the room. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Spaulding’s phone and retrieved messages about drug distribution.

            Spaulding previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine on February 9, 2022. 

            “Drug dealers who have access to guns threaten the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “This federal sentence reflects the dangerous combination that drugs and guns pose to the community.  We are working closely with the Manchester Police Department to prosecute drug dealers who have access to guns and destroy communities with their drugs.”

            “This case is a prime example of the focused policing efforts the Manchester Police Department and our partners are undertaking as part of our CompStat360 Gun Violence Reduction Strategy,” said Manchester Chief of Police Allen Aldenberg.  “Timothy Spaulding represents the dangerous offenders we are targeting in Manchester.  Drug sales and associated gun violence are a top priority and coordinated efforts with our federal partners at the FBI and US Attorney’s Office significantly impact community safety in Manchester.”

             This matter was investigated by Manchester Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Debra M. Walsh.

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             CONCORD - Ryan Cortina, 34, of Somersworth, was sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for possession of an unregistered NFA firearm, an improvised explosive bomb, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 23, 2019, the Somersworth Police Department received information from a confidential informant (CI) that Cortina possessed destructive devices at his Somersworth residence.  The CI claimed Cortina showed him a “grenade” he had built.  Officers applied for a search warrant for Cortina’s residence. While executing the warrant on September 27, 2019, officers located five suspected destructive devices in a duffle bag.  Further analysis showed that one of the devices was an improvised explosive bomb which therefore should have been registered in accordance with Federal Firearms Registration.

            “The improvised explosive bomb seized from the defendant’s home placed his neighbors and the community in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Thanks to good police work, law enforcement officers were able to secure the potentially-deadly device and prevent individuals from being harmed.”

             “This investigation is an example of the hard work of ATF special agents and the excellent cooperation we have with our law enforcement partners,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Boston Field Division. “Because of this cooperation, we were able to seize these dangerous destructive devices and ensured they never found their way into our communities.”

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Somersworth Police Department with the assistance of New Hampshire State Police and FBI.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.

            The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.                           

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            CONCORD - Dawson Boston, 23, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2019, the FBI learned that Boston was selling fentanyl in the Rochester area.  Between April 9, 2019 and July 29, 2019, the FBI used informants to make six controlled purchases from Boston, resulting in the purchase of a total of approximately 489 grams of fentanyl.           

            Boston is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dover Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.

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            CONCORD – Jaythean Diaz, 19, of Lawrence and Gary Ortiz, 18, of Haverhill, were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 11, 2022, and charged with one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a New Hampshire Federal Firearm Licensee, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            Diaz and Ortiz were arrested in Lawrence today and released on electronic monitoring and a 8:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew.

            The indictment filed in court alleges that between on or about December 6, 2021, and on or about December 8, 2021, in the District of New Hampshire and elsewhere, the two men conspired with each other and with other persons to steal firearms from Second Amendment Arms, a Derry, New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensee.  During the course of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges that the men stole 12 firearms.

            The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Andover Police Department, the Atkinson Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Derry Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Methuen Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department.

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             CONCORD – Intertech Trading Corporation, an Atkinson, New Hampshire-based laboratory equipment distributor, pleaded guilty in federal court to 14 felony counts of failure to file export information on shipments to Russia and Ukraine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2015 and 2019, Intertech exported laboratory equipment to Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere, falsely describing the nature and value of the exported items on the commercial invoices and shipping forms. In its plea agreement, Intertech admitted that it used false, innocuous descriptions such as “lamp for aquarium” or “spares for welding system,” rather than accurately identifying the sophisticated scientific equipment actually contained in the shipments. Intertech admitted that it drastically undervalued the shipments, thereby evading the requirement to file Electronic Export Information, which would have been reported to the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security.

            Intertech is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2022. If the court accepts the terms of the binding plea agreement, Intertech will pay the maximum allowable fine of $10,000 per count and be subject to a two-year term of corporate probation and monitoring.

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes and Trial Attorney David Lim of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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            CONCORD - Wilgfrido Valnodis Arias-Mejia, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic most recently residing in Manchester, was sentenced today to 91 months in federal prison for conspiring to sell fentanyl and other substances around the Manchester area, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.  

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Arias-Mejia, also known as “Chino,” was a prolific drug distributor who sold fentanyl and crack cocaine from at least 2018 to November 27, 2019, in the Manchester area.  He ran a drug ring during that time period, selling large quantities of fentanyl and other controlled substances, and employing various co-conspirators to sell drugs on his behalf.  The defendant provided his employees with pre-packaged bags containing multiple “fingers” (10-gram packages) of fentanyl and smaller baggies containing fentanyl, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine, and he would re-supply his co-conspirators as soon as each package was sold.   

            Arias-Mejia previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including more than 40 grams of fentanyl, on March 3, 2021.  He is the last of five defendants in the conspiracy to be sentenced.

            “This defendant was a major drug trafficker in the Manchester area who endangered the community by selling drugs directly to New Hampshire residents, and through others he recruited to do his bidding for him,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “He is the last in this conspiracy to be sentenced, and he is the most culpable.  We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to keep drugs off the streets of our communities and hold drug traffickers like Arias-Mejia accountable for their crimes.”

            “Wilgfrido Valnodis Arias-Mejia led a major drug trafficking organization, selling deadly narcotics to a region hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for setting up multiple drug distribution houses in Manchester that profited from endangering the safety of our communities,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to crack down on illegal drug trafficking by investigating the criminal organizations behind it.” 

            “DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals like Mr. Arias-Mejia who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers who distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives.  DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs.”

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Manchester Police Department and Nashua Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana MacDonald and Aaron Gingrande.

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

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            CONCORD - Jessica Pechtel, 35, now of Andover, Massachusetts and formerly of Springvale, Maine, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today for embezzling over a half million dollars, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, Pechtel was the office manager for a company in Somersworth, New Hampshire.  In that role, she had full access to the company’s finances, including its accounting records, bank accounts, and company credit card. 

            Pechtel used her access to the company’s finances to make unauthorized purchases and transfers of funds to accounts that she controlled.  Pechtel engaged in a multifaceted scheme for at least a year and a half to steal the funds.  First, she transferred funds from the company’s bank accounts to her own accounts.  Additionally, she used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized purchases from retailers such as Amazon or make payments via the online payment transfer system Venmo.  Pechtel also drafted 17 unauthorized checks payable to herself that were drawn on the company’s bank account.  And lastly, she stole almost $44,000 in COVID-19 relief funds that were intended for the company. 

            Pechtel also took steps to conceal her embezzlement.  For example, she created and controlled a PayPal account in the name of one of her coworkers to transfer funds.  Additionally, she manipulated the company’s accounting records to make her fraudulent transfers appear like payments to legitimate vendors.

            Overall, Pechtel fraudulently obtained at least $587,219 from her employer.  Those funds were used for various personal expenses such as Amazon purchases and the purchase of a boat.

            Pechtel previously pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343, on March 23, 2022.

            “The defendant brazenly stole from her trusted employer’s funds, including COVID-19 relief funds the company received to help it through the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “In a sophisticated effort to cover her crimes, she manipulated the company’s record keeping.  The repeated cunning that the defendant employed allowed her to steal more than a half-million dollars.  Those convicted of violating the trust of others for personal profit will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

            “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating complex fraud schemes that significantly damage the financial stability of small business owners in New Hampshire,” stated Timothy Benitez, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service.  “The outcome is a direct result of the coordination between local law enforcement participating on the Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force.”

            This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Somersworth Police Department and the Nashua Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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

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

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            CONCORD – Pierre Rogers, 43, of Irvine, California, and Joshua Leavitt, 40, of Northwood, New Hampshire were indicted by a federal grand jury on Monday and charged with multiple counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and attempted wire fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young and William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division announced today.  Rogers was also charged with money laundering.

            Leavitt was arrested this morning and was released on conditions pending trial.  Rogers’s appearance is being secured.

            The indictment filed in court alleges that the defendants owned and operated at least seven companies, including Dark Matter Associates, Puro Trader (d/b/a Yayhn), Puro Group, and Puro Lounge.  During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Private lenders could participate in the PPP program.  The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government.  If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness.  The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.  As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.

            In 2020 and 2021, Rogers and Leavitt applied for over two dozen PPP and EIDL loans for their companies.  They submitted false documents, including fabricated tax documents, which inflated their size and payroll.  Because PPP and EIDL loan size was tied to payroll and the number of employees a company had, the defendants were able to apply for and obtain larger loans.  In total, the defendants applied for approximately $2 million in PPP loans and $3 million in EIDL funds. 

            The defendants also misused at least some of the loan proceeds.  For example, Rogers and Leavitt obtained a $175,000 PPP loan for Puro Group using fraudulent documents.  As charged in the indictment, Rogers used $107,780 of those funds to purchase a luxury vehicle, a Rolls Royce Ghost. 

            The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Secret Service, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force to Combat Unlawful Prescribing Amidst Continuing Opioid Epidemic

CONCORD, N.H. – Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division today announced the formation of the New England Prescription Opioid (NEPO) Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for three federal districts, as well as law enforcement partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI. The mission of the NEPO Strike Force is to identify and investigate health care fraud schemes in the New England region, and to effectively and efficiently prosecute individuals involved in the illegal distribution of prescription opioids and other prescribed controlled substances. The NEPO Strike Force will primarily target criminal conduct by physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals, focusing upon both health care fraud and drug diversion offenses, as relevant based upon the facts of the particular case.

“This NEPO Strike Force expands and sharpens the Justice Department’s response to the nation’s opioid epidemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In the last year, more than 75,000 people in the United States lost their lives due to overdose. Since 2018, some of the greatest spikes in the drug overdose death rate have occurred in New England. The NEPO Strike Force will help to address one of the root causes of the epidemic: unlawful prescription and diversion of opioids. Together with our partners, we will fulfill the department’s solemn promise to deploy critical resources to address the opioid crisis.”

Assistant Attorney General Polite was joined in the announcement in Concord, New Hampshire, by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young for the District of New Hampshire; U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine; U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of HHS-OIG; Assistant Administrator Kristi N. O’Malley of the DEA Diversion Control Division; and Acting Deputy Assistant Director Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.

“The formation of NEPO presents a tremendous opportunity for our three Northern New England states to disrupt the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young for the District of New Hampshire. “As a state, we are grateful to the Department of Justice to be part of this initiative and excited that it will be based here in New Hampshire.”

“Maine’s opioid overdose death rate has skyrocketed, and law enforcement has identified the opioid epidemic as the number one issue officers face,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. “While the trafficking of illegal drugs, in particular fentanyl, is well publicized, 23% of overdose deaths in Maine are the result of pharmaceutical opioids, and many of those who died from illicit substances very likely first tried pharmaceuticals, either their own or those of a friend or family member. This Strike Force will provide vital resources to help fight a growing epidemic, and along with our partners, we will pursue any medical personnel who misuse their position to endanger lives through the overprescribing of opioids for their own financial gain.”

“The announcement of the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners in Vermont and elsewhere to hold accountable health care providers who exploit the opioid epidemic for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont. “Health care providers who issue illegal opioid prescriptions undermine important efforts to address the epidemic while putting patients at risk of overdose and physical harm.”

“HHS-OIG is unwavering in our commitment to hold accountable providers who illegally prescribe opioids for personal profit while neglecting the safety and wellbeing of their patients,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Along with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG is proud to support the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force in a collaborative effort to assist communities plagued by the opioid epidemic.”

“At a time when the United States is losing tens of thousands of Americans to opioid overdoses every year, it has never been more critical to ensure doctors and healthcare practitioners are prioritizing the safety and health of their patients,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The creation of the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force further strengthens our important cooperation with partners in the region to hold accountable any practitioner who recklessly distributes opioid medications.”

“The formation of the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force provides the FBI and our law enforcement partners with important collective resources to combat health care fraud and drug diversion schemes within the region,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will not tolerate those medical professionals willing to sacrifice patients’ health for their personal profit and will work tirelessly to root out and bring to justice those individuals who illegally distribute prescription opioids and other controlled substances.” 

The NEPO Strike Force will operate as a partnership between prosecutors and data analysts with the Fraud Section’s Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, and special agents with HHS-OIG, DEA, and the FBI. It will operate out of the Concord, New Hampshire, area, supporting the three districts that make up the NEPO Strike Force region. In addition, the NEPO Strike Force will work closely with other federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the State Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

Today’s NEPO Strike Force announcement builds on the demonstrated success of the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past three years, ARPO has charged 111 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115,000,000 controlled substance pills. To date, more than 60 ARPO defendants have been convicted.

 

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For anyone needing information about available treatment programs, it is available as follows:

New Hampshire: For a referral to addiction treatment services, please call 211. If you or a loved one is in a substance use crisis please call/text the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point at 1-833-710-6477. New Hampshire residents can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Maine: The Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS) initiative is a coordinated effort of the Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and other state agencies to improve the health of Mainers using substances through harm reduction strategies, helping them on the road to recovery, and dramatically reducing the number of fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses. Go to https://knowyouroptions.me. If you or a loved one are struggling with opiate addiction, please contact 211, where Maine residents can receive help and find information about local treatment programs.

 Vermont: No matter where in Vermont you are, there are resources to help. Vermont 2-1-1(https://vermont211.org/) is available. To speak to someone about substance use resources including treatment options, call VT Helplink 802-565-LINK (toll free at 833-565-LINK) or visit online at VTHelplink.org, and Vermont Alcohol and Abuse Programs (802-651-1550). All information and referral services are free and confidential.

For individuals seeking help in other states, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.

  

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            CONCORD - William Hill, 26, of Colebrook, New Hampshire pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2018 and October 2021, Hill’s co-defendant Katie Ricker was employed in various positions by a company in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire.  In or about October 2021, Ricker stole blank checks belonging to the company. She wrote fraudulent checks addressed to herself, Hill and others to transfer funds from the company’s account to her joint bank account with Hill.  Ricker forged the signature of the employee authorized to sign on the company’s account.   The defendants were caught on camera cashing some of the fraudulent checks.  In total, the defendants stole more than $51,000 from the company.

            Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2022.

            Ricker has pleaded not guilty.  The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  She is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Sugar Hill Police Department and Lisbon Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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             CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young has announced that Jay McCormack has been appointed to serve the District of New Hampshire as the First Assistant United States Attorney, the office’s second-ranking position.  As the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, McCormack will supervise the Criminal and Civil Divisions, and the overall operations of the office.

            “Mr. McCormack is a seasoned and dedicated prosecutor, who has demonstrated great leadership throughout his career in public service,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “His vast array of experiences and national contacts will be a tremendous asset to the people of New Hampshire.  I am confident that he will continue to lead by example.”

            Mr. McCormack is a career prosecutor with over a dozen years of state and federal prosecutorial experience, and most recently prior to his appointment was a Trial Attorney in the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.  In that position, Mr. McCormack specialized in white-collar and complex investigations involving health care fraud, opioid diversion, securities fraud, COVID-19 and Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud.

            Previously, Mr. McCormack was an Assistant Attorney General in the Medicaid Fraud Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where he specialized in criminal and civil health care fraud investigations.  Prior to that, Mr. McCormack served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Bureau of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office where he investigated and prosecuted homicide and public integrity matters statewide. 

            Mr. McCormack graduated from Suffolk University Law School in 2009.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with Concentrations in Finance and Economics from the University of Richmond in 2004.       

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           CONCORD – Ethan Ayala, 20, of Methuen, William Mejia, 19, of Lawrence and Johariel Quezada, 18, of Methuen, were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 13, 2022, and charged with one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from New Hampshire Federal Firearm Licensees, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            Ayala was arrested in Methuen on June 16, 2022, and today was released to a third-party custodian on conditions of electronic monitoring and a 6:00pm to 8:00am curfew. 

           Mejia was arrested in Lawrence today and released on conditions of home detention with electronic monitoring.

           Quezada has not yet been arrested but is currently in custody in the Essex County House of Corrections on Massachusetts charges.

           The indictment filed in court alleges that between on or about August 29, 2021 and on or about October 4, 2021, in the District of New Hampshire and elsewhere, the three men conspired to steal firearms from three New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensees, those being: Milford Firearms, Second Amendment Arms and MacPherson Firearms.  During the course of the conspiracy, the group stole over 40 firearms.  Some of the stolen firearms have been recovered in Massachusetts.

          The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

          The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Methuen Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department.

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            CONCORD –Kyle Morris, 22, of Salem was indicted by a federal grand jury on Monday and charged with one count of possession of a machinegun, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            Morris was arrested in Salem on Thursday, June 16, 2022 and will have his initial court appearance at 3:45 pm today. 

            The indictment alleges that on February 16, 2022, Morris possessed two machineguns in violation of federal law.

            The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Hampshire State Police and the Salem Police Department.   

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            CONCORD –Leith Sukkar, 22, of Merrimack was indicted by a federal grand jury on Monday and charged with one count of making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            Sukkar was arrested in Manchester on Thursday, June 16, 2022 and will have his initial court appearance at 3:30 pm today.

            The indictment filed in court alleges that on May 3, 2022, Sukkar made a false statement during the purchase of a Glock model 29, 10mm pistol and a Glock model 43, 9mm pistol from Shooter’s Outpost, a federally licensed firearms dealer, located in Hooksett, New Hampshire.  Sukkar falsely represented that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms, when, in fact, he was purchasing the firearms for another person.

            The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Manchester Police Department Special Investigations Unit and the New Hampshire State Police.

 

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            CONCORD - Sean Crockett, 40, of Lebanon, Maine, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Crockett used other people’s identities to open merchant accounts and used those accounts to process fraudulent credit card payments.  Merchant accounts are bank accounts for businesses that allow them to accept payments by debit or credit card. 

            In 2015, Crockett used altered bank and incorporation records, false tax documents, and other persons’ identities to apply for and open merchant bank accounts for companies Crockett controlled.  Crockett paid some of these persons to use their identities to open these accounts.  Others did not know Crockett and never gave permission to him to open the merchant accounts.

            Crockett then used stolen credit card information to process fraudulent transactions.  Crockett withdrew the funds soon after they were deposited. Later the credit card holders disputed the transactions, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of “chargebacks” to those merchant accounts.  Normally, when chargebacks occur the funds are withdrawn from the merchant account.  In this case, however, because Crockett had already withdrawn the funds, the bank was forced to pay the chargebacks.  Because of this, the bank routinely closed Crockett’s merchant accounts.  To continue the scheme, Crockett opened new merchant accounts using other peoples’ identities. 

            Crockett is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2022.  

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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            CONCORD - Jason Ellis, 45, of Derry, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in October 2020, an online covert employee (OCE) working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began corresponding with Ellis through a social media platform known for sharing child sexual abuse material. From approximately October 5, 2020 to September 8, 2021, Ellis engaged in graphic, sexually-oriented conversations pertaining to minors with the OCE and the OCE’s fictitious 13-year-old daughter (OCE2).  Eventually, Ellis began engaging in sexually explicit chats directly with OCE2.  Ellis described specific sexual acts he wanted OCE2 to engage in and sent images of his erect penis to OCE2. 

            In January 2022, the same OCE was operating a different online undercover persona when he received a message from a user in Rockingham County.  After some communication, the OCE realized that these communications also appeared to be from Ellis.  During this communication, Ellis sent the OCE an image of child sexual abuse material.  Ellis’ cell phone was later seized during the execution of a search warrant at his residence.  The contents of Ellis’ cell phone confirmed he was the user of the online accounts that the OCE had previously communicated with.  Portions of the OCE chats were located on Ellis’ phone, as were several images that were sent by Ellis to the OCE during the chat conversations.  Ellis also appeared to be corresponding through social media platforms with other users purporting to be as young as 14 years old.  These chats were frequently sexual in nature and sometimes including Ellis soliciting and sharing nude images. 

            Ellis is scheduled to be sentenced on September 26, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Derry Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.

            In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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            CONCORD - Justin Stilson, 38, of Manchester, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 25, 2019, Hooksett police officers were at a local motel to arrest a woman. Stilson was located in the bathroom of the motel room.  Based on evidence obtained during the incident, officers applied for a search warrant for the motel room.  During the execution of the warrant, a backpack belonging to Stilson was located.  The backpack contained 122 grams of fentanyl and 102 grams of methamphetamine, as well as other evidence of drug distribution.

            “Fentanyl and methamphetamine are drugs that have decimated thousands of lives in communities across our state,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “To protect our communities, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug traffickers who flood our state with these deadly substances.  This federal prison sentence not only holds Mr. Stilson accountable for his conduct but also sends a message that there are substantial penalties for drug dealing in the Granite State.”

             This matter was investigated by the Hooksett Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

             This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua. 

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            CONCORD – Heather Dubeau, 38, of Enfield, Andrew Hutchins, 43, Lebanon, Eli Margolis, 40, of Grantham, and Gary Sewell, 40, of Enfield have pleaded guilty this month in federal court to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to ship methamphetamine from Arizona to New Hampshire.  In May of 2019, Drug Enforcement Administration agents were alerted to suspicious parcels sent from Sewell and Dubeau in Arizona to two different addresses in New Hampshire.  Investigators obtained a warrant to open the packages and found that one contained over 336 grams of methamphetamine and the other contained over 665 grams of methamphetamine. 

            After obtaining an anticipatory search warrant for the New Hampshire addresses, investigators conducted controlled deliveries of each package with the drugs removed from the package.  Investigators observed Margolis collect one package after it was delivered.  Investigators learned that Hutchins provided co-defendants Sewell and Dubeau with an address to ship the methamphetamine.  The methamphetamine was intended for further distribution. 

            Dubeau pleaded guilty on May 4, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 20, 2022.  Hutchins pleaded guilty on May 5, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2022.  Margolis pleaded guilty on May 27, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2022.  Sewell pleaded guilty on May 6, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 24, 2022. 

            Two other co-defendants previously pleaded guilty.  Dylan Miles pleaded guilty on February 15, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3, 2022.  Chad Rombow pleaded guilty on January 26, 2022, and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 25, 2022. 

            This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.

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            CONCORD –Sunna Sepetu, 35, of Nashua, Nafis Quaye, 45, most recently of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Stella Osabutey, 36, of Worcester, Massachusetts and Samuel Ansah, 31, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, were indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with participating in a conspiracy to commit money laundering, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.  Ansah was also charged with five counts of wire fraud in the indictment.

            Quaye and Sepetu were arraigned on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, and were released on personal recognizance.  Osabutey waived arraignment and Ansah remains at large.  Anyone with information about Ansah’s whereabouts is asked to contact their nearest Homeland Security Investigations field office or U.S. Embassy or consulate.

            The indictment, which was unsealed on May 25, 2002, alleges that Ansah, and other unknown individuals, assumed false identities which were then used to establish relationships online with two victims.  Through deceptive and false pretenses over many years, Ansah directed the victims to transfer large sums of United States currency to companies controlled by the other defendants who then conducted additional financial transactions designed to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds.  According to statements made in court, the victims in this case were victims of elder fraud.

            The charges in the indictment are only allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.  The case is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which supports and coordinates the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

            If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).  This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps.  Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis.  Reporting is the first step.  Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses.  The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time.  English, Spanish and other languages are available.

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            CONCORD - Jaimour Anderson, 36, formerly of Vermont, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted escape from custody, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Anderson was sentenced to 139 months on drug charges in November 2012 in the District of Vermont.  On or about November 16, 2021, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) transferred Anderson from a correctional facility in Louisiana to a half-way house located in Manchester, New Hampshire to start his pre-release programming in advance of his then-projected release date of May 9, 2022. 

            Following some infractions at the half-way house, the BOP decided to bring Anderson back into custody.  On December 31, 2021, a deputy U.S. Marshal and two sheriffs arrived at the half-way house to take custody of Anderson.  As Anderson came into the front desk area on the first floor, he proceeded to move quickly past the deputy marshal and out the front door.  Anderson made it onto the street where he was then restrained by the deputy marshal and taken into custody. 

            Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18, 2022.

            This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau.

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CONCORD - Raheem Tyler, 23, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, on three separate occasions in July, 2021, Tyler posted selfie-style videos of himself on his Snapchat account in which he lifted his shirt to reveal a pistol in his waistband.  One video depicted Tyler lying on a bed in what appeared to be a room that belonged to a female based upon the décor.  Investigators identified a residence associated with Tyler’s girlfriend and approached the residence to determine if Tyler was present.  Tyler was at the apartment and wearing the same clothing observed in the video posted earlier in the day.   Tyler acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his previous felony convictions and directed officer to the location of the firearm.  Officers then located and seized the gun along with 15 rounds of ammunition.

            Tyler is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2022.

            “To protect our community from violent crime, it is vital that we keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Young. We will continue to work in partnership with our law enforcement colleagues to keep enhance public safety in the Granite State.”

            “As the Chief of Police, I have made it a priority for the Manchester Police Department that we will aggressively investigate and appropriately charge individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms,” said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg.

            This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

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CONCORD - Jerry S. Roberts, Jr., 37, of Concord, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 15, 2019, the Concord Police arrested Roberts, a convicted sex offender, following his assault of another individual.  The victim of the assault, advised that Roberts and a minor (Child Victim A) had left their personal property in the victim’s apartment. Pursuant to a search warrant, detectives searched the bags and recovered assorted electronic media, including a digital camera. Detectives obtained additional search warrants for the electronic media. From the digital camera, detectives identified two videos that Roberts filmed depicting Child Victim A engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

           Roberts is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2022.  

           “It is a paramount obligation of law enforcement to protect children from sexual exploitation crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “Thus, my office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the criminals who prey on young children.”

           This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le.

           In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood  marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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            CONCORD - George Adyns, 51, of Sandown, pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Adyns executed two schemes to defraud government programs that were intended to provide economic assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

            New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES) administers the unemployment insurance program in New Hampshire.  In March 2020, Congress passed legislation providing additional unemployment benefits to individuals who lost their jobs because of the economic upheaval caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  At this time, Adyns was the Chief Financial Officer of several companies located in Plaistow, including Enviromart and KSC Industrial, that were controlled by his co-defendant.  In late-March 2020, Adyns and his co-defendant directed company employees to file for unemployment benefits with NHES while continuing to work.  This caused the unemployment system to effectively pay the employees’ salaries.  As a result, NHES paid more than $49,000 in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits.

            In response to the pandemic, Congress also passed other economic measures designed to help small businesses, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Under that program, businesses could obtain low-interest loans to meet payroll during the first few months of the pandemic.  The SBA also opened up its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to businesses.  Under the program, businesses could obtain loans for working capital and normal operating expenses.  Adyns made false representations to lenders to fraudulently obtain a PPP and EIDL loan for KSC Industrial.  For example, he certified that KSC Industrial was not engaged in illegal activity.  However, when making that certification, he knew that he and his co-defendant were fraudulently using the unemployment benefits system to pay their employees’ salaries.  Through this scheme, Adyns fraudulently obtained loans totaling more than $135,000.     

            Adyns is scheduled to be sentenced on August 31, 2022.

            Adyns’s co-defendant has pleaded not guilty.  Charges in an indictment are only allegations.  All defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

            The case was investigated by the U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Labor Department’s Office of the Inspector General, New Hampshire Employment Security and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office with assistance from the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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

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

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            CONCORD - Zachary McInerney-Jones, 26, of Manchester, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to drug trafficking and firearm charges, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2021, police investigating a potential shooting in Manchester were requested to stop a vehicle associated with McInerney-Jones.  After locating and stopping the vehicle the next morning, the vehicle was towed to the Manchester police station to be searched pursuant to a warrant.  During the search, officers located a pay stub and other documents associated with McInerney-Jones, as well as two handguns and ammunition.  Officers also found evidence of drug trafficking, including fentanyl, marijuana, and $1,494.66 in cash. 

            McInerney-Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on August 29, 2022.

            “Armed drug dealers present a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “As part of our effort to protect the community from violent crime, we are working closely with the Manchester Police Department to identify and prosecute drug dealers who possess guns in the Queen City.”

            “Guns and illegal drugs are a bad combination that has often led to violence in our city,” said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “I am grateful for the diligent investigation that was completed by the Manchester Police Detectives which culminated in the arrest of the defendant.”

            This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

            This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua. 

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            CONCORD – Christopher Yule, 30, of Manchester, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today. 

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2020, Manchester police detectives received information that a female would be traveling from Manchester to Lawrence, Massachusetts to obtain a significant amount of drugs for redistribution in New Hampshire.  Surveillance officers observed her drive to Lawrence and park in an area known as a distribution “hot spot.”  A vehicle registered to Yule parked close by and turned off its lights.  Within a minute, the cars departed.  Surveillance units followed both vehicles.

            When Yule’s vehicle returned to Manchester, it was stopped by the police for a traffic violation and suspicion of drug activity.  Jacob Brady was the driver of the vehicle and Yule was a passenger. Yule and Brady both engaged in furtive movements within the vehicle as officers approached.  Both individuals were instructed to step out of the vehicle.  Brady explained that he and Yule traveled to Lawrence so Yule could meet with his drug source and purchase drugs.  He further disclosed the drugs were in the glove compartment. 

            During the encounter, an officer observed through the window a tied-off glassine baggie of suspected fentanyl protruding from a side compartment area.  Yule consented to a search of the vehicle and officers located over 78 grams of fentanyl and over six grams of cocaine base (crack).       

            On March 27, 2021, Hooksett police officers responded to a call reporting a male “passed out” in a rental van in a hotel parking lot known as a “hot spot” for drug activity in Hooksett.  The caller stated a needle and firearm were visible in the vehicle.  Officers found Yule slumped over in the driver’s seat with a needle and tourniquet visible next to him.  Officers also saw a firearm in the open driver’s door compartment.  After securing the firearm, they awakened Yule.

            Officers learned that Yule was a convicted felon and he was placed under arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  During a search incident to arrest, officers located syringes in Yule’s pockets, $3,170 in his wallet and two small bags of suspected drugs, which Yule identified as “crack.” 

            On March 30, 2021, pursuant to a search warrant, officers searched the van and found over 58 grams of methamphetamine and over five grams of fentanyl.  They also located holsters, loaded 9mm magazines, and other firearm accessories.  

            Yule previously pleaded guilty on January 7, 2022.  Brady previously pleaded guilty on January 7, 2022, and was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison on April 15, 2022.

            “By trafficking in methamphetamine and fentanyl, this defendant was endangering the community,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “The dangerous nature of his drug trafficking was enhanced not only by his possession of a gun, but by possessing a gun after having been convicted of a felony.  As this sentence demonstrates, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect public safety and hold armed drug traffickers accountable for their illegal conduct.”

            This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Hooksett Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

            This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua. 

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            CONCORD - Kyle Amaral, 29, of Center Ossipee, was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in February of 2021, through an online undercover operation, federal investigators identified Amaral as an active trader of child exploitation images and a member of an online community devoted to the sexual exploitation of children. Investigators obtained search warrants for his residence and a social media company, which confirmed that Amaral sexually abused a child entrusted to his care and produced videos and images of that abuse, which he actively traded with other individuals over the internet.

            Amaral previously pleaded guilty on February 15, 2022.  After serving his sentence, he will be on supervised release for ten years.

            “Protecting children from harm is a paramount obligation of the law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “As this case demonstrates, we will aggressively investigate and prosecute child exploitation crimes. When a child predator is convicted, my office will seek substantial prison sentences as children are among the most vulnerable members of our communities.  I am grateful for the hard work of our law enforcement partners who assisted us in holding this defendant accountable for his utterly reprehensible criminal conduct.”

           “Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes Amaral committed. The abuse and exploitation of children leaves deep scars on the victims and on our community and with this sentence, we remove one more perpetrator from the streets,” said Matthew Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations’ New England Field Office. “HSI is proud to work with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task to detect crimes against children and hold the perpetrators to account.”

            “The New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is happy with the outcome of this investigation,” said Lieutenant Eric Kinsman, Commander of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  “We are proud to work with our local and Federal law enforcement partners and will continue to aggressively investigate these crimes and protect the children of New Hampshire."

            This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the North Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le.

             In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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           CONCORD –Joseph A. Foistner, 68, of Mont Vernon, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for his involvement in a fraud and money laundering scheme, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today. 

            Following a two-week trial in December of 2021, U.S. District Judge Paul Barbadoro found Foistner guilty of four counts of bank fraud, as well as charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making misrepresentations during bankruptcy proceedings.

            According to exhibits and witness testimony during the trial, Foistner used fraudulent means to apply for over $8 million in loans from five different financial institutions, laundered money, and made material misrepresentations during bankruptcy proceedings between 2015 and 2018.  Foistner, at the time of the scheme, was a licensed attorney in Massachusetts who did not have any paying clients and earned no income through his law firm.  In order to obtain millions of dollars in loans from multiple financial institutions, Foistner provided banks with misleading documents that suggested that he was operating a lucrative law firm.  For example, he claimed that he was a “seasoned attorney” with international clients and that his firm earned over a million dollars in annual income.  In fact, all the firm’s purported income was based upon bogus, unpaid invoices the firm submitted to entities that the defendant controlled, including bankrupt entities. 

            The defendant also made other false statements to obtain bank loans, including lying about whether he was involved as a party in any lawsuits and denying that he had an interest in other companies.  He also falsely represented that he had a salary by mischaracterizing loan proceeds as a salary.  In one of the bank fraud schemes, the defendant submitted false information to obtain a loan by claiming that his wife was earning over $200,000 per year as a paralegal.  The loans made to Foistner were backed by either the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Small Business Administration.

            The evidence further showed that Foistner committed several crimes during Chapter 7 bankruptcy court proceedings in 2017 and 2018.  He made false representations by denying that he held or controlled property owned by others when he actually controlled funds that were held in the name of a business.  He also made false statements under oath by lying about what happened to the proceeds of one of the fraudulent loans and lying about not knowing the location of a piece of real estate that had been purchased in part with funds he borrowed and had subsequently funneled into bank accounts not in his name.

            After his conviction, Foistner was disbarred by order of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in January 2022.

            The financial institutions affected by Foistner’s scheme were Merrimack Valley Credit Union, North American Savings Bank, Celtic Bank, Newtek, and St. Mary’s Bank.  A further hearing will be held to determine the restitution amounts owed by Foistner.

            In addition to his prison sentence, Foistner was ordered to forfeit his interest in a residential property in Mont Vernon that was purchased with proceeds from his fraud scheme.

            “As the evidence at trial established, Foistner used brazen fraud schemes to obtain millions of dollars and undermined the integrity of bankruptcy proceedings by making repeated misrepresentations,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “His illegal conduct was even more disturbing because he was a licensed attorney – an officer of the court.  This substantial prison sentence finally holds Foistner accountable for his serious crimes and sends a deterrent message to potential white-collar criminals that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and, upon conviction, will face serious prison sentences for their crimes.  I am grateful for the dedicated efforts of our law enforcement partners who worked so hard to ensure that justice was done in this case.”

            “Joseph Foistner stole millions of dollars from entities he thought would never notice. In doing so, he took advantage of programs that were designed to help veterans and small businesses, and today, he was held accountable for his disgraceful conduct,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners in unraveling fraudulent schemes like this one to ensure those behind them are brought to justice.”

            “OIG is committed to bring fraudsters to justice who seek to use falsified information to exploit vital economic programs,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite. “OIG continues to root out fraud and protect the integrity of SBA’s programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”

             “The defendant fraudulently exploited VA’s loan guaranty program meant to help service members, veterans, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “The sentence today reflects the VA OIG’s commitment to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who defraud VA programs.”

             This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Office of Inspector General of the Small Business Administration.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and Seth R. Aframe and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.  Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kinsella, Assistant U.S. Attorneys John S. Davis and Kasey Weiland previously worked on this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck is assisting with the forfeiture aspects of this case.

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            CONCORD - Michael Cicciu, 42, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 31, 2020, Manchester police detectives obtained a state search warrant for Cicciu’s residence based on surveillance and post-arrest statements from both buyers and suppliers of drugs. After executing the warrant, officers located a baggie of fentanyl and an apparent drug ledger.

            In 2018, Cicciu purchased a residential building in Manchester.  The premises were managed and controlled by Cicciu and made available for others to unlawfully store, distribute, and use controlled substances.   Specifically, on eight separate occasions between October 22, 2019 and November 20, 2020, Manchester police detectives executed search warrants at the residence that resulted in the arrests of people renting rooms from Cicciu who were distributing and using heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine.  On one of these occasions, officers also located several assault-style weapons, a handgun, and brass knuckles.

            Cicciu is scheduled to be sentenced on August 25, 2022.  As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to forfeit his interest in the property, which is located on East High Street in Manchester.

            “Drug trafficking endangers our community in many different ways,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “Not only do drug traffickers sell deadly substances, but their unlawful activities damage the peace and security of our neighborhoods.  By allowing dangerous drug dealers to do business inside his building, this defendant jeopardized public safety and broke the law.  Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, he has now been held responsible for his crimes.”

            This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck assisted with the forfeiture portion of the case.

            This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua. 

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            CONCORD - Jonathan McKnight, 39, of Manchester, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for interference with commerce by threats and violence by committing five robberies, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 25, 2020, McKnight robbed a convenience store in Manchester by passing a note to the clerk indicating he had a gun and wanted money.  On March 28, 2020, McKnight robbed another convenience store in Manchester by again passing a note to the clerk ordering the clerk to give him the money.  On this occasion, he  gestured toward his back waistband while lifting up his sweatshirt.  An officer who reviewed the store video footage recognized McKnight as the person in the video.  On March 30, 2020, Manchester police officers conducted a post-arrest interview with McKnight.  He admitted to committing both robberies and passing the same note at each robbery.  While acknowledging he had claimed to have a gun during the robberies, he stated he did not possess a gun during the robberies. 

            On July 7, 2020, Manchester police officers responded to another robbery.  The cashier gave the officers a description of the robber and told them that the robber had placed a note on the counter.  The cashier gave the robber approximately $100-$150 from the drawer, mostly $1.00 bills.  After reviewing the store video footage, officers located McKnight wearing the same clothing worn by the robber.  He had approximately $60, including approximately 25 $1.00 bills. 

            On March 7, 2021, and March 10, 2021, McKnight committed additional robberies at two separate locations in Goffstown.  Investigators received a tip that McKnight committed both robberies and McKnight later admitted that he committed both robberies. 

            McKnight previously pleaded guilty on November 29, 2021.

            “Robberies and other violent crimes not only endanger lives but also spread fear throughout the community,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “Thanks to excellent police work in this case, Mr. McKnight has been held responsible for his criminal conduct.  This successful prosecution is an example of how local and federal law enforcement partners work collaboratively and diligently to protect public safety and keep our citizens safe from violent crime.” 

            “Jonathan McKnight has repeatedly demonstrated why he is a serious threat to the community, confessing to a string of robberies during which he threatened to use a firearm,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should be a reminder to everyone of the serious consequences that come with putting people in danger. New Hampshire is much safer with him behind bars.”

            These matters were investigated by the Manchester Police Department and Goffstown Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Walsh.

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            CONCORD - In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Jane E. Young  recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local law enforcement. This year, the week is observed Wednesday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

            “This week, we gather to pay tribute to the law enforcement officers who sacrificed their lives in service to our country,” said Attorney General Garland. “We remember the courage with which they worked and lived. And we recommit ourselves to the mission to which they dedicated their lives. On behalf of a grateful Justice Department and a grateful nation, I extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to the entire law enforcement community.”

            “During National Police Week, we all must reflect, with gratitude, on those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.  We also must remember the families and loved ones left behind,” said United States Attorney Young.  “Each day the dedicated men and women who protect our communities encounter significant risks, yet they bravely face those risks to fearlessly protect our communities, state and nation.  And for that, we extend our heartfelt thanks.”

             In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices.  Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Based on data submitted to and analyzed by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 472 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2021.  Of that number, 319 succumbed to COVID-19.  

             On October 28, 2021, New Hampshire State Police Staff Sgt. Jesse E. Sherrill died in the line of duty in the District of New Hampshire.

             Additionally, according to 2021 statistics reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 73 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2021 were killed as a result of felonious acts, whereas 56 died in accidents.  Deaths resulting from felonious acts increased in 2021, rising more than 58 percent from the previous year.  In 2021, unprovoked attacks[1] were the cause of 24 deaths significantly outpacing all other line of duty deaths resulting from felony acts and reaching the highest annual total in over 30 years of reporting.  Additional LEOKA statistics can be found on FBI’s Crime Data Explorer website for the LEOKA program. 

           The names of the 619 fallen officers added this year to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial will be read on Friday, May 13, 2022, during a Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., starting at 8:00 PM EDT. Those who wish to view the vigil live online, can watch on the NLEOMF YouTube channel found at https://www.youtube.com/TheNLEOMF. The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.

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            Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.

[1] An unprovoked attack is defined as an attack on an officer not prompted by official contact at the time of the incident between the officer and the offender.  Source:  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through the Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program.

            CONCORD - Zachary Poisson, 27, of Rochester, was sentenced on Friday to 72 months in federal prison for drug and firearm charges, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 27, 2020, Somersworth police officers were dispatched to a local store for a report of an attempted theft.  One of the suspects, Poisson, who was on probation at the time, was placed under arrest.  A satchel strapped across his body was searched incident to arrest and revealed $4,304 and a bag containing over 67 grams of fentanyl. 

            Officers later searched Poisson’s vehicle, where they found a 9mm handgun and a quantity of crack cocaine.  As a convicted felon, Poisson was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

            “Armed drug traffickers present a significant threat to public safety in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “By dealing fentanyl, this defendant was profiting from the sale of a deadly substance.  This danger was further enhanced by his unlawful possession of a firearm.  As this case demonstrates, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to hold armed drug dealers accountable for their unlawful conduct.”

            “Removing armed drug dealers from our streets has an immediate impact on the safety of our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF is absolutely committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who bring dangerous drugs and firearms into our neighborhoods are held accountable for their actions.”

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Somersworth Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.

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            CONCORD - Donna Silva, 44, of Lowell, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in February of 2019, Silva was involved in a scheme to defraud several financial institutions.  The defendants in the scheme applied for and obtained multiple loans to purchase cars purportedly sold by Allied Imports, a Manchester car wholesaler, and Cap’s Auto Sales, a Manchester car retailer.  The sales were fraudulent because the defendants never owned or greatly inflated the value of the cars.  In total, the defendants defrauded the financial institutions of several hundred thousand dollars. 

            Silva signed a fraudulent purchase contract and Assignment of Title with Cap’s Auto Sales purporting to state that she would buy a car sold by the company.  She then used the documents to apply for and obtain a car loan secured by the vehicle, which Cap’s Auto Sales did not own or have the title to.

            Silva is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2022.

            “By submitting false documents to obtain fraudulent loans, the defendant participated in a substantial criminal scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “As this case demonstrates, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit fraud.  By working together, we strive to hold these criminals accountable for their unlawful conduct and seek justice for victims.”

             This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.

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            CONCORD - Ariel Toribio, 22, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the making of a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on five separate occasions in November and December 2019, Toribio’s co-defendant, Samantha Sicard, purchased 11 firearms for Toribio and others.  Toribio solicited Sicard to buy the firearms, instructed her about which firearms to purchase and paid for the firearms.  Toribio traveled with Sicard to a federally licensed firearms dealer where she would fill out the necessary paperwork and falsely state she was the actual purchaser of the firearms when she was in fact purchasing them for Toribio and others.       

            Toribio previously pleaded guilty on November 8, 2021.   Sicard pleaded guilty on November 9, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2022.

            “Criminals who use lies and deception to obtain guns are often planning to use those firearms to commit crimes of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “In order to protect the public from violent crime, we work closely with the ATF to identify and prosecute those who are involved in the straw purchases of firearms.  As this sentence demonstrates, those who commit federal gun crimes will be held accountable for their unlawful conduct.”

            “Firearms trafficking continues to be a top priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol Firearms and Explosives Boston Field Division.  “ATF is committed to identifying and disrupting the sources of illegal firearms which jeopardize the safety of our communities.” 

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Walsh.

            The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes. 

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            CONCORD - Sean Chaput, 34, of Bangor, Maine, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 27, 2020, a New Hampshire state police trooper stopped Chaput’s car for a traffic violation.  Over the course of the encounter, the trooper developed suspicions that the car contained evidence of drug trafficking.  The trooper obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, and subsequently located cylinders of pressed powder hidden in the car that contained 762 grams of fentanyl.  The defendant later admitted to driving to Massachusetts to purchase the fentanyl found in the vehicle so he could bring it to Maine to be sold.        

            Chaput is scheduled to be sentenced on August 11, 2022.

            “The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are distributing fentanyl and other deadly drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “I am grateful to the New Hampshire State Police for stopping the distribution of this very substantial amount of fentanyl that could have endangered many lives.”

            This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.

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            CONCORD – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire announced that the Honorable Jane E. Young was sworn in on Monday as the United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire.  Chief U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty administered the oath of office at the federal courthouse in Concord.

            U.S. Attorney Young is the 58th U.S. Attorney for the District.  She was nominated by the President on January 26, 2022 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 27, 2022.  As the U.S. Attorney, Ms. Young is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Hampshire.

            Jane E. Young served as the Deputy Attorney General for the New Hampshire Department of Justice from 2018 to 2022. She has held various leadership positions in the office since she joined in 1992, including Director of the Division of Public Protection from 2017 to 2018, Chief of the Criminal Justice Bureau from 2007 to 2017, and Chief of the Drug Unit from 2006 to 2007. From 1990 to 1992, Ms. Young served as an Assistant County Attorney in the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office.

            Ms. Young received her J.D. from the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law in 1989 and her B.A. from Saint Anselm College in 1986.

            “I thank President Biden and the Senate for the privilege to serve the State of New Hampshire as the United States Attorney,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “I also thank Senator Shaheen and Senator Hassan for recommending me to the President.  I look forward to serving the people of New Hampshire in my new role and will work tirelessly to ensure that the federal laws are enforced and that those who violate those laws are held accountable.”

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            CONCORD – A federal grand jury returned a 33-count superseding indictment on Monday charging Ian Freeman, 41, and Aria DiMezzo, 35, both of Keene, with a variety of financial and fraud crimes, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to the superseding indictment, Freeman, DiMezzo, and others operated a business that enabled customers to exchange fiat currency for virtual currency.  The superseding indictment alleges that the unlicensed business violated federal anti-money laundering laws and regulations.  Among other things, the superseding indictment alleges that the defendants opened bank accounts at financial institutions while deceiving financial institutions about the nature of the business being transacted through the accounts.  The superseding indictment alleges that some of the transactions conducted by Freeman facilitated the transfer of the proceeds of scams, such as “romance scams.”

           Freeman and DiMezzo are charged with participating in a conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.

           Freeman also is charged with: (1) operating an unlicensed money transmitting business; (2) conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud; (3) twelve counts of wire fraud; (4) four counts of money laundering; (5) conspiracy to commit money laundering: (6) four counts of attempting to evade taxes; and (7) operating a financial crimes enterprise.

           DiMezzo also is charged with (1) operating an unlicensed money transmitting business; (2) four counts of wire fraud; and (3) three counts of money laundering.

           Freeman and DiMezzo, along with four others, were previously arrested on March 16, 2021. 

           Three co-defendants, Nobody F/K/A Richard Paul, of Keene, and Andrew and Renee Spinella of Derry, have pleaded guilty.  The government has moved to dismiss the charges against the fourth co-defendant without prejudice.

           The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in coordination with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, Seth R. Aframe, and John Kennedy.

           The charges in the superseding indictment are only allegations.  The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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            CONCORD - Kermit Ceasar, 45, of Manchester, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to six counts of distribution of cocaine, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in mid-April 2021, Ceasar’s  cocaine base dealing was brought to the attention of the Manchester Police Department. Working with law enforcement officers, a cooperating individual (CI) arranged for controlled purchases from Ceasar between April 22, 2021, and August 13, 2021.  During a total of six hand-to-hand drug transactions, Ceasar sold over 86 grams of cocaine base and over 341 grams of cocaine. 

           Ceasar is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2022.

           “Drug traffickers in New Hampshire are seeking to profit from the sale of dangerous substances in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “As part of our ongoing effort to improve public safety, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are damaging our communities.  By working together, we are holding drug dealers like Kermit Ceasar accountable for their dangerous and unlawful conduct.”

           “On at least six occasions, we caught Kermit Ceasar dealing cocaine or crack cocaine out of his vehicle in the city of Manchester, in exchange for thousands of dollars in cash, and today, he finally admitted to committing these crimes,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Targeting illegal drug traffickers like him who degrade the quality of life in our communities and bring with them unacceptable levels of violence will continue to be a collective focus of the FBI and our law enforcement partners because no one should have to live in fear of this activity in their neighborhoods.”

            “Individuals like this defendant are a danger to society. I am grateful for the detectives who dedicated a great deal of time and effort to this lengthy investigation,” says Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “This case is an excellent example of the partnership that we have with the FBI. We will continue to collaborate with them as we target the drug trade within Manchester and also work to reduce the associated violence.”

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Manchester Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Aframe and Jennifer Cole Davis.

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            CONCORD - Niurka Lebron, 45, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud on Wednesday, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2019, the defendant was involved in a scheme to defraud several financial institutions.  The defendants in the scheme applied for and obtained multiple loans to purchase cars purportedly sold by Allied Imports, a Manchester car wholesaler, and Cap’s Auto Sales, a Manchester car retailer.  The sales were fraudulent because the defendants never owned or greatly inflated the value of the cars.  In total, the defendants defrauded the financial institutions of several hundred thousand dollars.

            Lebron participated in the scheme by signing a fraudulent car purchase contract from Allied Imports. She then used the contract to apply for a car loan secured by the vehicle, which Allied Imports did not own or have the title to.

            Lebron is scheduled to be sentenced on August 22, 2022.

            “Criminals use a wide variety of schemes to commit financial crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to uncover fraud schemes in the Granite State and to hold wrongdoers accountable for their unlawful activities.”

            This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

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            CONCORD – Andrew Spinella, 36, of Derry, Renee Spinella, 24, of Derry, and Nobody, a/k/a Richard Paul, 53, of Keene, pleaded guilty last week in federal court to wire fraud, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately 2016 and 2021, the defendants opened and operated accounts at financial institutions as personal accounts in their names or as business accounts in the names of churches in order to allow their co-defendant, Ian Freeman, to use them to sell virtual currency.

            Andrew Spinella pleaded guilty on April 12, 2022.  He admitted to opening personal accounts in his name for Freeman to use to sell virtual currency. He signed blank checks and gave Freeman the login information for those accounts.

            Renee Spinella pleaded guilty on April 14, 2022.  She admitted that she opened a business account in the name of Crypto Church of NH, which she told the bank was an international ministry. She opened the account in person at a bank branch in New Hampshire where she was accompanied by Freeman.  Although the account was purported to be for the receipt of church donations, the account was used almost exclusively to support Freeman’s virtual currency exchange business.

            Nobody pleaded guilty on April 15, 2002.  He admitted that he opened accounts in his name and in the name of the Church of the Invisible Hand. At the time he opened the accounts or provided Freeman with access to the accounts, he knew they would not be used as personal accounts or for a church, but instead would be used by Freeman to trade virtual currency.

            Each of the defendants was aware that banks would close these accounts if the banks knew the accounts were used to operate an unlicensed virtual currency business.   

            Andrew and Renee Spinella are scheduled to be sentenced on July 26, 2022.  Nobody is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2022.   

            A total of six individuals have been charged in this case.  Freeman and two other co-defendants are scheduled to go to trial on November 1, 2022.

            “By using fraudulent means to mislead banks about the true purpose of these bank accounts, the defendants assisted in the operation of an unlawful virtual currency business,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “To protect the integrity of our financial system, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who participate in fraud schemes involving virtual currency.”

            “Andrew and Renee Spinella, along with Nobody, confessed to opening and operating bank accounts, using their names or the names of religious organizations, to help their co-defendant run his virtual currency business. They knew it was wrong and they continued their conduct anyway," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Last week’s court proceedings show such criminal actions have serious consequences. The FBI is uniquely situated to investigate and dismantle these elaborate schemes, and we urge folks, whether investing in cash or virtual currency, to exercise due diligence and report suspicious activity to us.”

            “This investigation and the subsequent admissions by the defendants are a clear reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to following the money trail and will not be deterred by sophisticated financial transactions,” said Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “These federal felony convictions have effectively shut down this scheme and should serve as a stark warning to those engaged in similar criminal activities.” 

             This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, John Kennedy, and Seth R. Aframe.

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            CONCORD - Jacob Brady, 30, of Manchester, was sentenced on Friday to 84 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2020, Manchester police detectives received information that a female would be traveling from Manchester to Lawrence, Massachusetts to obtain a significant amount of drugs for redistribution in New Hampshire.  Surveillance observed her drive to Lawrence and park her car in a lot known as a distribution “hot spot.”  A vehicle registered to Brady’s co-conspirator, Christopher Yule, parked close by and extinguished its lights.  Within a minute, the cars departed.  Surveillance units followed both vehicles.

            When Yule’s vehicle entered Manchester, it was stopped by police for a traffic violation and suspicion of drug activity.  Brady, the driver of the vehicle, and Yule both engaged in furtive movements within the vehicle as officers approached.  Both individuals were instructed to step out of the vehicle.  Brady explained that he and Yule traveled to Lawrence so Yule could meet with his source and purchase illegal drugs.

            During the stop, an officer observed a tied-off glassine baggie of suspected drugs inside the vehicle. Yule consented to a search of the vehicle and officers found over 78 grams of fentanyl and over six grams of cocaine base (crack).

            Brady previously pleaded guilty on January 7, 2022.   Yule also has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

            “Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs continue to cause serious damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We are working closely with the Manchester Police Department to identify the drug traffickers who are bringing fentanyl into Manchester and endangering the lives of the city’s citizens.  As this case demonstrates, fentanyl dealers in the Granite State will be held accountable for their dangerous and unlawful conduct.”      

            This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

            This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua. 

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            CONCORD - Anthony Rimas, 48, of Newton, was sentenced on Monday to 108 months in federal prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2020, law enforcement officers with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (NHICAC) were conducting online investigations into individuals using digital applications that share images of child sexual abuse material.  During the investigation, investigators uncovered evidence that Rimas received and possessed images and video files of child sexual abuse materials.        

           “Those who obtain and view child sexual abuse material are further victimizing the innocent children whose abuse is depicted in these images,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “To protect young people from exploitation, we will continue to seek substantial penalties for those who commit crimes related to child sexual abuse material.  Along with the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and our other law enforcement partners we are working tirelessly to hold these criminals accountable for their unlawful actions.”

            Rimas previously pleaded guilty on September 2, 2021.  After completion of his prison sentence, Rimas will be under 8 years of supervised release.

            This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Nashua Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.

            In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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