District of Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A man was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years and six months in federal prison for his role in a series of violent armored car robberies in Las Vegas and Henderson, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Phillip Shiel, 23, of Los Angeles, Calif., pleaded guilty on April 16 2019, to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In addition to the incarceration, United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Shiel to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution.

According to court documents, Shiel admitted that he and others conspired to conduct a series of armed robberies of armored cars in Las Vegas. Shiel and his co-conspirators robbed three armored car messengers at gunpoint. They told the victims in each robbery to “Drop the bags, drop the bags!” to which the victims complied. The robberies that Shiel pleaded guilty to occurred on July 15, 2017, at the Walmart Grocery on Silverado Ranch, and on August 14, 2017, at the Wells Fargo Bank at North Pecos Road. Each time, the co-conspirators took the money bags and fled in a getaway vehicle. As a result of the conspiracy, the total loss was in excess of $180,000. Shiel and his co-conspirators were taken into custody in a parking lot while they were preparing to commit another armed robbery.

Co-defendants Trayvale Harrison, Randel Burge, Ianthe Rowland, and Shantae Williams await a jury trial scheduled on August 13, 2019. The charges against them are merely allegations and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation leading to the arrests and charges was conducted jointly by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Robbery and Major Violators sections, and the Henderson Police Department. The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force consists of FBI Special Agents and Detectives from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Henderson Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday to 20 months in federal prison for his role in a telemarketing scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 timeshare owners out of approximately $780,000, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Michael Kroger, 60, pleaded guilty on the eve of his jury trial to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey, who noted during the sentencing that Kroger showed no remorse for his crimes’ financial and emotional impact on his victims, ordered Kroger, to pay restitution in the amount of approximately $212,396.

According to court documents, from around 2000 until about March 2010, there was an agreement between two or more persons to carry out a fraudulent timeshare ownership scheme. In about 2004, Kroger joined the conspiracy to fraudulently obtain money from victim timeshare owners. In furtherance of the scheme, Kroger and co-conspirator Michele Paonessa created fictitious companies and false contracts to lure in victims seeking to sell their timeshare ownerships. The fictitious contracts obligated victim timeshare owners to pay a monetary fee to process fictitious documents relating to the sales and to cover the closing costs. In reality, Kroger and Paonessa used the victims’ money for personal benefits and to further the scheme. Before victims would contact law enforcement or the Better Business Bureau, Kroger and Paonessa would abandon that business and create a new business which they continued to use to perpetrate the fraud. In all, approximately 29 fictitious companies were used in the scheme. Not a single timeshare ownership was actually sold during the course of the 10 year scheme. In total, approximately $782,090 was stolen from approximately 1,000 victims residing in Nevada, other states, and outside of the United States in places such as Canada.

Paonessa pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 20, 2019. Paonessa faces the maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. 

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Henderson Police Department, and the Southwestern Identity Theft and Fraud Taskforce (SWIFT). Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Frayn and Jared Grimmer prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A pain management doctor who practiced in Las Vegas was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today to be followed by 3 years of supervised release for unlawfully prescribing addictive opioids Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.

United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

Dr. Steven A. Holper, M.D., 67, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. Dr. Holper pleaded guilty in December 2018, to one count of distribution of a controlled substance.

“Doctors who betray their duty and the public’s trust for their own personal gain will be identified and prosecuted in Nevada,” said United States Attorney Trutanich. “This prosecution is part of our ongoing efforts to protect Nevadans from medical professionals who fuel the opioid epidemic. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners share one goal: to curtail the opioid crisis.”

“A lot lives were impacted by Dr. Holper’s reckless behavior,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Neill. “This case highlights the impact that federal and state and local agencies have combatting the opioid epidemic in Las Vegas.”

“The accessibility of oxycodone, fentanyl and other deadly drugs are a threat to our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Rouse. “Each and every day, the FBI and our partners in Nevada are working hard targeting distributors, who are consciously contributing to the appalling opioid crisis that is inflicting havoc in neighborhoods all over the state of Nevada.”

As part of his guilty plea, Dr. Holper admitted that from July 2015 to March 2016, he unlawfully prescribed Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone to his patients outside the proper standard of care, and without a legitimate medical purpose. At least one patient that Dr. Holper admitted he distributed these drugs to passed away with a toxic level of fentanyl in the patient’s system.

Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone are all classed as Schedule II controlled substances by the DEA, indicating that they have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.

The case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Ahmed and Assistant Chief Kilby MacFadden from the Department of Justice Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids by doctors and pharmacies, call the DEA at 1-877-RX-Abuse (792-2873) or contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov.

The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. In 2017, the Department of Justice funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada announced that Justin and Joshua Fisher, identical twin brothers, pleaded guilty today to Sexually Exploiting Children, Conspiring to Sexually Exploit Children, Coercing and Enticing Minors, and Distributing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography. Justin Fisher pleaded guilty to an additional charge of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Victim.

Justin Fisher, 34, admitted to sexually exploiting two minor victims from 2015 to late 2016. Justin Fisher messaged with a 14-year-old girl, identified in the Indictment as Victim 1, over an application called KIK and sent the underage girl cell phone text messages about sexual topics. Justin Fisher lied to Victim 1 about his age and convinced Victim 1 that they were in a legitimate romantic relationship. Justin Fisher directed Victim 1 to take nude photos of herself to send to him. In August 2016, Justin Fisher traveled to see Victim 1, had sex with her, and produced pornographic images of their sexual encounters. Later, Justin Fisher conspired to tamper with Victim 1, attempting to stop her from cooperating with law enforcement. Justin Fisher also admitted to traveling to see another underage girl, identified in the Indictment as Victim 2. He admitted to having sex with the 15-year-old girl, and producing pornographic bondage photos of her. Justin Fisher shared the sexually explicit images of Victim 1 and 2 with his brother, Joshua Fisher, and others over Skype.

Joshua Fisher, 34, pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl, identified as Victim 3. The abuse began from the time Victim 3 was 11 years old.  Joshua Fisher admitted that he messaged and live chatted with Victim 3 and instructed her to take nude photos of herself to send to him. Additionally, Joshua Fisher instructed Victim 3 on how to pose during the live chats so he could take screenshots of her nude and engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Joshua Fisher shared these images of Victim 3 with his brother, Justin Fisher. When law enforcement arrested Justin Fisher, Joshua Fisher directed Victim 3 to destroy evidence implicating him, and cancelled a trip to visit and have sex with Victim 3.

While Justin and Joshua Fisher were in custody on these charges, they conspired with others to destroy further evidence of their child sexual exploitation crimes.  However, a concerned citizen’s phone call to the FBI allowed law enforcement to recover the evidence before the Fishers were able to destroy it.

United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 16, 2019. The maximum penalty is life in prison. The Fishers have agreed to pay full restitution to the victims of their crimes.

The case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children/Child Exploitation Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton are prosecuting the case.

If you have information regarding Justin or Joshua Fisher, please contact the nearest FBI field office or local law enforcement. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 or visit www.crimestoppersofnv.com, or contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at www.cybertipline.org.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Former Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison for misusing at least $249,900 of campaign donor money on personal expenses including opening a Las Vegas nightclub, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI Las Vegas Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. for the IRS Criminal Investigation.

“In the Silver State, virtually all public officials serve with integrity, honesty, and humility. But when a public servant violates the public’s trust, federal prosecutors in my office stand ready to pursue justice,” said United States Attorney Trutanich. “The defendant admitted using campaign donations to fund a lavish lifestyle, and the Court determined a 27-month term of federal imprisonment was just and appropriate.”

“The FBI is proud to work with our exceptional partners, like IRS Criminal Investigations, in ensuring those in public office do not betray their oaths or their responsibility to the people they serve,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Rouse. “Nevada citizens should be reassured we will continue to persistently investigate elected officials who choose to exploit the public’s trust for their personal gain.”

“Atkinson wrongfully used campaign funds for his own personal gain,” said IRS Acting Special Agent in Charge Nevarez Jr. “Today’s sentence is a clear message to public officials that they will be held accountable if they violate the public’s trust.”

According to court documents, from at least January 2010 to about December 2017, Atkinson, 49, admitted that he devised a scheme to mislead donors contributing to his campaign by falsely representing to them that he would use donations for lawful campaign purposes. In reality, he misused contributions in his campaign account for personal expenses. Atkinson admitted that he used nearly $250,000 from his campaign bank account for personal expenses instead of legitimate campaign purposes. His personal spending of campaign funds included approximately $100,000 in payments to his personal credit cards, $75,000 towards opening and operating a Las Vegas nightclub, and $20,000 on leasing a Jaguar Sports Utility Vehicle, among many other personal expenditures.

The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Schiess prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges, including possession of heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Randall Ervin Venerable, 53, pleaded guilty in April 2019, to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, in March 2018, Venerable met a person four times at a pre-arranged location and sold the person more than one-half pound of methamphetamine, in total. After the fourth drug sale, law enforcement arrested Venerable and seized almost $3,000 in cash. Venerable admitted to detectives that he had recently gotten back into drug trafficking. During the execution of a search warrant at Venerable’s residence, detectives found over one pound of methamphetamine packaged for sale; approximately one-half pound of marijuana; over a quarter-pound of heroin packaged for sale; 89 grams of cocaine; and two digital scales. In addition, detectives found more than $6,000 in cash; an “owe sheet”; and two semi-automatic handguns and ammunition.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Elham Roohani and Peter S. Levitt prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who was serving a term of supervised release when he committed the offense was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Julian Ricardo Chacon, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chacon has prior convictions including robbery, drug charges, identity theft, and felon in possession of a firearm, all in Nevada.

According to court documents, Chacon was serving a term of supervised release related to a 2008 federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. He served the seven year prison term and then began his three years of supervision in 2016. In January 2018, the U.S. Probation Office filed a petition alleging Chacon had violated conditions of his supervised release.

Later, in July 2018, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department learned that Chacon was selling methamphetamine in Las Vegas. He sold approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine to an individual and had an estimated quarter-pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle. During the investigation, officers learned Chacon was on federal supervised release.

On July 9, 2018, law enforcement conducted a search of Chacon’s residence where they found more than 314 grams of methamphetamine, over 26 grams of marijuana, more than $920 in cash, a digital scale, a supply of small baggies, as well as a 9mm semiautomatic pistol loaded with hollow-point ammunition, a loaded magazine, and ammunition. Officers later learned that the 9mm pistol was stolen, and Chacon also illegally purchased a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol.

The case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who admitted to threatening to “blow up the house” was sentenced today 57 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a 12-inch pipe bomb, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada.

Christopher Michael Robinson, 47, of North Las Vegas, was sentenced by United States District Judge Larry Hicks. Robinson pleaded guilty in November 2018, to unlawful possession of a destructive device. He has multiple prior felony convictions in Nevada and Hawaii, including a prior conviction for possessing a pipe bomb.

According to court documents, on January 11, 2018, the North Las Vegas Police Department requested assistance from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the FBI. When bomb technicians arrived at the North Las Vegas house, they located and removed a 12-inch pipe bomb in the house. The pipe bomb had a fuse and contained BBs, match heads, and pyrotechnic powder. After the pipe bomb was rendered safe, law enforcement conducted an interview with the resident who stated that he had evicted Robinson for not paying rent. Robinson then threatened to “blow up the house” and placed the pipe bomb in the house and left. Law enforcement found Robinson hiding in a shed at a nearby house. During an interview with law enforcement, Robinson admitted he constructed the pipe bomb and stated that he was currently on parole in Hawaii for previously manufacturing a pipe bomb.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the North Las Vegas Police Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue Bomb Squad. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Mott prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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RENO, Nev. – A federal jury found a felon guilty of stealing a car at gunpoint, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

After a four-day trial, a jury found Eric Romero-Lobato, 39, guilty of one count of carjacking, one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Romero-Lobato has prior convictions for unlawful reentry by a deported person and for eluding a police officer.

United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks presided over the trial and scheduled a sentencing hearing on November 19, 2019. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Romero-Lobato, armed with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, stole a car from an individual at gunpoint. Reno Police Department officers located the stolen vehicle within hours of the carjacking. Romero-Lobato lead the police on a high speed chase before wrecking the stolen car. He was then apprehended. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Reno Police Department.

Romero-Lobato is in custody and is awaiting a jury trial for the remaining counts in the indictment. The charges are related to the attempted robbery of a bar and grill in Sparks. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sparks Police Department. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Rachow and Steven Myhre are prosecuting both cases.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nevada, resident who admitted to selling Fentanyl resulting in the overdose death of a person in 2017, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Tianna Christina Cordova, 35, pleaded guilty in November 2018, to one count of distribution of a Fentanyl. She was charged in a superseding indictment in August 2018. In addition to the prison incarceration, United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II, sentenced Cordova to 15 years of supervised release.

“This case serves as a deadly reminder of the dangers of Fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “In our continued effort to combat the opioid crisis in Nevada, the U.S. Attorney’s Office remains fully committed to the investigation and prosecution of fentanyl distributors.”

“This case highlights the community effort of the Clark County Coroner’s Office, Las Vegas Metro Police Department, and the US Attorney’s Office to bring justice to those who sell deadly poison to our community,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Neill.

According to court documents, Cordova used coded language in online advertisements to sell narcotics. She admitted that, on March 14, 2017, she sold an individual a controlled substance in the form of prescription pills that contained Fentanyl. After the person ingested the pills, the person died from multiple drug intoxication, namely from an overdose of Fentanyl, Acetyl Fentanyl, and Citalopram. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. On June 21, 2018, during the execution of a search warrant at Cordova and co-defendant Robert James Thornburg’s residence, law enforcement found Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Alprazolam, four firearms, and cash. 

Co-defendant Thornburg is scheduled for a jury trial on August 26, 2019. He is charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and Amphetamine (Adderall), distribution of Oxycodone and Amphetamine (Adderall), distribution of Oxycodone, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Clark County Coroner’s Office and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Duncan prosecuted the case.

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RENO, Nev. – The northern Nevada Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) received the 2018 Multi-Agency Exploitation of Opioid Strategic Initiatives national award at a presentation held today by the Department of Justice’s OCDETF Regional Board at the United States District Court in Reno.

The Department of Justice’s prestigious national award recognized more than 50 agents, officers, investigators, and prosecutors from local, state, and federal agencies involved in the investigation of a prescription drug ring. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Raging Bully,” resulted in the indictment of Dr. Robert Gene Rand, a Nevada-licensed physician, and eight others involved in a conspiracy to possess and distribute controlled substances, including oxycodone. Dr. Rand was sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally prescribing oxycodone. Rand’s illegal prescriptions resulted in the death of at least one patient.

“Today’s ceremony is bittersweet. We celebrate law enforcement’s incredible investigative work to stem the tide of northern Nevada’s opioid crisis, but we also honor our friends, family, and neighbors who have fallen victim to addiction created by the epidemic,” said United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich. “I congratulate task force members for their dedication to ridding our streets of dangerous and addictive prescription opioids, and to the community for its prevention efforts.”

“The success achieved on the Rand case is due in large part to the collaboration between DEA and our law enforcement partners,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel Neill. “This alliance, coupled with a resolve to do everything we can to attack the opioid epidemic, resulted in a significant impact on the illicit prescription drug supply in the Reno area.”

“We are honored and appreciative of this award recognizing the dedicated effort of federal, state and local law agencies in their campaign against opioid abuse. Our work does not end here, it merely continues until all neighborhoods across Nevada are safe.” said Aaron C. Rouse, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Las Vegas Division.

The investigation was led by the DEA and FBI with significant assistance by the IRS-Criminal Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Enforcement; Reno Police Department; Washoe County Sheriff’s Office; Carson City Sheriff’s Office; Nevada Department of Corrections; Nevada Gaming Control; Nevada Department of Public Safety; Lyon County Sheriff’s Office; the State of Nevada Division of Welfare, Office of Investigations and Recovery; and the Susanville, California Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Keller prosecuted the case with assistance by Branch Chief Sue Fahami, Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez, and former Assistant United States Attorneys Carla Baldwin Carry and Shannon Bryant.

The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the U.S. Attorney General’s national drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. There are nine OCDETF Regions throughout the nation.

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RENO, Nev. – A felon who was found guilty for his involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Reno and Sparks area was sentenced today to 19 years and six months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Edward Smith, aka “Smitty,” 51, was convicted by a jury in November 2018, of conspiracy to possess and distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, illegal use of a communication facility, money laundering, distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, and distribution of at least five grams of methamphetamine. Smith has 12 prior convictions. United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben presided over the jury trial and sentencing hearing.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the three-day trial, Smith, an inmate at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, arranged for his niece's ex-boyfriend, whom he referred to as his “nephew,” to sell methamphetamine to another inmate’s associate in the Reno community. Smith told his “nephew” how much to sell the methamphetamine for, how to sell the drugs, and to smuggle an ounce or two of methamphetamine to him each time the “nephew” sold it. His “nephew” sold methamphetamine to the associate in Sparks, Nevada, with the last sale involving a pound of methamphetamine for $7,000.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Nevada Department of Corrections, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Keller prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two individuals were convicted of 24 counts related to the manufacture of synthetic cannabinoids (commonly referred to as “spice”) today by a federal jury including operating a continuing criminal enterprise, manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and controlled substance analogues, money laundering, mail and wire fraud, and related charges. 

The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ismael J. Nevarez Jr. of the Las Vegas Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

According to the evidence presented during the ten-day trial, the defendants, Charles Burton Ritchie, 48, of Park City, Utah, and Benjamin Galecki, 44, of Pensacola, Florida, committed these crimes in the District of Nevada, from March 21 to July 25, 2012. Specifically, the evidence showed that Ritchie and Galecki were the owners and managers of Zencense Incenseworks, a company that manufactured smokable synthethic spice and marketed their products as “potpourri,” “incense,” and “aromatherapy.”

The evidence showed that Ritchie and Galcki rented a warehouse in Las Vegas for the sole purpose of manufacturing spice products which contained the dangerous chemical XLR-11, which the jury found to be a controlled substance analogue. Ritchie and Galecki ordered XLR-11 from chemical suppliers in China and Hong Kong. At the Las Vegas warehouse, a Zencense employee mixed the XLR-11 with acetone, liquid flavoring and applied the chemical mixture to dried plant material. The warehouse employee mailed the compounded spice in draw string garbage bags to Ritchie and Galecki in Pensacola, Florida, where other workers placed the spice into small retail bags. The defendants sold their products with suggestive brand names including, “Bizarro,” “Orgazmo,” “Headhunter,” and “Defcon 5 Total Annihilation,” to smoke shops across the United States. From June 1 to July 25, 2012, Ritchie and Galecki were responsible for manufacturing and distributing approximately 4,000 pounds of spice and grossed more than $1.6 million dollars in sales.

The minimum penalty for a continuing criminal enterprise is 20 years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The penalties for the controlled substance analogue, wire fraud, mail fraud, and six money laundering counts each carry a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney James Keller of the District of Nevada and Trial Attorneys Cole Radovich and Jason Ruiz of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who brokered the sales of methamphetamine was sentenced today to eight years and one month in federal prison to be followed by four years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

John William Prince, 51, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. Prince pleaded guilty in January 2019, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, beginning in October 2015, Prince conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in Las Vegas. Customers would pay Prince, who handed the money to distributors, who then gave Prince the methamphetamine for the customers. At four different times, Prince sold a half-pound of methamphetamine for $500. In total, he sold two pounds of methamphetamine for $2,000. On July 13, 2016, law enforcement arrested Prince during a drug transaction in which he was planning to sell two pounds of methamphetamine. Over the course of the investigation, Prince sold over 6 pounds of methamphetamine.

Co-conspirators Julian Garcia Palomera was sentenced to 70 months in prison; Ivan Estrada was sentenced to 37 months in prison; and Leonardo Chavez Morales was sentenced to 46 months in prison for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich announced today that Raytheon Company, a supplier of equipment to various Government agencies, has agreed to pay $1.075 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by inducing the County of Los Angeles, California, to enter into a contract funded by a federal grant, based on misrepresentations regarding Raytheon’s capability to provide the products involved. Raytheon was contracted to provide interoperable dispatch consoles to the County of Los Angeles for its sheriff and fire departments.

The False Claims Act is the United States’ primary civil remedy to redress false claims for government funds and property under government programs and contracts relating to such varied areas as health care, defense and national security, food safety and inspection, federally insured loans and mortgages, highway funds, small business contracts, agricultural subsidies, and disaster assistance.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Wenthe from the District of Nevada litigated the case.

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

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who used an elderly person’s identity to steal nearly $30,000, was sentenced yesterday to three years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Dennis William Moncrief, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan to three years and one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Judge Mahan also ordered Moncrief to pay restitution in the amount of $28,034.83.

In August 2017, Moncrief was serving a term of supervised release imposed after his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Based on Moncrief’s admission that he violated the terms of his release, U.S. District Court Judge Andre P. Gordon revoked Moncrief’s release, imposed a 13-month sentence, and ordered Moncrief to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons at a later date to serve that sentence.

According to his plea agreement in this case, prior to his self-surrender date, in October 2017, Moncrief stole the identity of a 79-year old victim to fraudulently obtain credit cards in her name and used those cards to cause more than $28,000 in loss. When it came time for Moncrief to serve his revocation sentence as ordered by Judge Gordon, he intentionally failed to surrender to federal authorities.

In February 2019, Moncrief pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of failure to surrender for service of sentence.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas tax return preparer who falsified his own tax returns as well as those of his clients was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Acting IRS Special Agent in Charge (Criminal Investigation) Ismael J. Nevarez Jr.

According to documents and information provided to the court, for tax years 2013 through 2016, Rosalio Amezcua Alcantar, 67, willfully underreported his taxable income while operating his tax return preparation business, Direct Services Group, in Las Vegas, Nevada. By falsely reporting less revenue than he earned and by claiming business expenses that were either fictitious or impermissible, Alcantar underreported his taxable income by more than $140,000 over the course of four years.

As part of the plea agreement, Alcantar also admitted that, in his capacity as a tax preparer, he purposely and fraudulently claimed charitable contribution and business expense deductions to which his clients were not entitled. As a result of false returns he filed on behalf of his clients, Alcantar caused more than $200,000 in tax loss. Alcantar further admitted that he also misrepresented his income to the Social Security Administration to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits for himself and his daughter.

At the time Alcantar committed these acts, he was serving a three-year term of supervised release imposed after his federal conviction for Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan ordered Alcantar to serve one year of supervised release and to pay restitution of $62,597.40 to the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An indictment by a federal grand jury was unsealed today charging an unlicensed advance nurse practitioner (APRN), two doctors, and two others for conspiring to distribute buprenorphine, a Schedule III Controlled Substance, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

Michael Halprin, 68, an unlicensed APRN in Las Vegas, Nevada; Chad Hall, D.O., 39, of Las Vegas; Ronald Smith, M.D., 50, of Las Vegas; Janell Olson, 49, of Las Vegas; and Eghomware Igbinovia, a/k/a Jerry Igbinovia, 44, of Las Vegas, are all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and with distributing buprenorphine, an opioid classified as a Schedule III controlled substance. Halprin, Hall and Olson are also all charged with distribution of Valium, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Halprin, Hall, Smith and Olson are also charged with obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation and Halprin and Hall are charged additionally with maintaining a drug-involved premises.

“The U.S. Attorney's Office will target and prosecute doctors who illegally dispenses addictive opioids, thus placing personal greed above the health and safety of his or her patients,” said US Attorney Trutanich. “Working in lockstep with our law enforcement partners, we will work diligently to reduce, and then stamp out, the opioid crisis.”

Halprin and Olson were arrested and will make their initial appearance in federal court in Melbourne, Florida today. Smith and Igbinovia were arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada and are scheduled to make their initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe today. Hall is expected to make his initial appearance in Reno, Nevada on June 21, 2019.

The maximum penalty for maintaining a drug-involved premises is 20 years in custody and a fine of $500,000. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute and distributing buprenorphine is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $500,000. The maximum penalty for distributing Valium is five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation is four years and a fine of $250,000.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while increased therapeutic use of buprenorphine may help reduce prescription opioid abuse and misuse, nontherapeutic or inappropriate use of buprenorphine can cause serious and potentially life-threatening effects among children and adults.

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

The joint investigation was conducted by the FBI; DEA; and Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. In 2017, the Department of Justice funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Ahmed.

Four individuals were charged with engaging in a massive fraud scheme in which their company processed payments from victims of numerous international mass-mail fraud campaigns, the Department of Justice announced.

Rosanne Day, 51; Robert Paul Davis, 63; Genevieve Renee Frappier, 49; and Miles Kelly, 55; each were charged in the District of Nevada with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. Day and Davis were part-owners and the top managers of PacNet Services Ltd. (PacNet), a payment processing company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Frappier was in charge of PacNet’s Marketing and Client Services departments, and Kelly oversaw PacNet’s Compliance Department.

The indictment alleges that PacNet, under the defendants’ direction, was the payment processor of choice for companies that mailed large volumes of fraudulent notifications designed to mislead victims into falsely believing they would receive a large amount of money, a valuable prize, or specialized psychic services upon payment of a fee. Many alleged victims were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. PacNet served as the middleman between banks and the fraudulent mailers – aggregating the checks, cash, and credit card payments collected by its clients, depositing the payments into PacNet-controlled bank accounts, and then distributing the funds as directed by the clients, according to the indictment.

“The defendants are charged with enriching themselves by helping fraudsters who took money from elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. “The United States Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly advance elder fraud schemes – including individuals outside our borders who enable fraudsters to move their ill-gotten gains into the banking system and benefit from their crimes.” 

“As alleged in the indictment, numerous victims in Nevada were defrauded of money in connection with the defendants’ scheme, and at least one of PacNet’s fraudulent mass mail clients was located in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Working with our Postal Inspectors and other law enforcement partners, we will identify, investigate, and prosecute criminals – both foreign and domestic – who prey on our seniors and other vulnerable Nevada residents. These fraud schemes can happen to anyone. If you’re a victim, I urge you to immediately file a complaint with the FTC at 877-FTC-HELP.”

 “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been at the forefront of protecting consumers from fraud schemes for many years,” said Inspector in Charge Delany DeLeon-Colon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “We do this through traditional investigative methods to identify and stop the scammers, and consumer education, which is the best defense against criminals looking for easy money. Investigations like this one let the American public – especially our vulnerable population – know that Postal Inspectors are working hard to protect them and ensure their confidence in the U.S. Mail.”

From 1994 until Sept. 22, 2016, PacNet processed payments for a variety of clients, including mass-mail clients who sent fraudulent notifications to consumers in the United States and around the world, according to the indictment. Several individuals involved in operating mass-mail companies that processed payments through PacNet have been convicted of federal fraud charges during the last two years.

The indictment alleges that the defendants knew that multiple PacNet mass-mail clients obtained payments from victims through fraudulent notifications and nonetheless approved depositing those payments into U.S. bank accounts, allowing the clients to benefit from the fraud. Day, who was in charge of PacNet’s Vancouver headquarters, and Davis, who oversaw PacNet’s office in Shannon, Ireland, each earned approximately $15 million in Canadian dollars from 2013 through 2015, the last three full years that PacNet was in operation, according to the indictment.

PacNet’s policies required mass-mail clients to submit sample notifications to PacNet for review. The indictment alleges that the defendants approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had been submitted, in some situations approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had not been submitted, and at other times condoned the continued processing for mass-mail clients who were sending different, even more fraudulent notifications than what PacNet had approved.

Davis, who identified himself as PacNet’s general counsel, opened post office boxes in the United Kingdom to which certain PacNet mass-mail clients directed victim payments be sent, according to the indictment. The indictment alleges that Davis, who was a pilot, at times flew to the United Kingdom to pick up the mail and transport it to Ireland, where the mail was opened and the checks, cash, and other payments were processed. The indictment further alleges that on several occasions Davis flew to the Netherlands to pick up cash from facilities that were receiving mail for certain PacNet mass-mail clients. Davis then flew the cash to Ireland, according to the indictment.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment contains only accusations against the defendants and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The criminal charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, which through official requests received assistance from the Vancouver Police Department, Canada’s Competition Bureau, Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands’ Fiscal Information and Investigation Service.

Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Jasperse of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs has provided critical support.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Four individuals were charged with engaging in a massive fraud scheme in which their company processed payments from victims of numerous international mass-mail fraud campaigns, the Department of Justice announced.

Rosanne Day, 51; Robert Paul Davis, 63; Genevieve Renee Frappier, 49; and Miles Kelly, 55; each were charged in the District of Nevada with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. Day and Davis were part-owners and the top managers of PacNet Services Ltd. (PacNet), a payment processing company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Frappier was in charge of PacNet’s Marketing and Client Services departments, and Kelly oversaw PacNet’s Compliance Department.

The indictment alleges that PacNet, under the defendants’ direction, was the payment processor of choice for companies that mailed large volumes of fraudulent notifications designed to mislead victims into falsely believing they would receive a large amount of money, a valuable prize, or specialized psychic services upon payment of a fee. Many alleged victims were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. PacNet served as the middleman between banks and the fraudulent mailers – aggregating the checks, cash, and credit card payments collected by its clients, depositing the payments into PacNet-controlled bank accounts, and then distributing the funds as directed by the clients, according to the indictment.

“The defendants are charged with enriching themselves by helping fraudsters who took money from elderly and otherwise vulnerable victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. “The United States Department of Justice will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly advance elder fraud schemes – including individuals outside our borders who enable fraudsters to move their ill-gotten gains into the banking system and benefit from their crimes.” 

“As alleged in the indictment, numerous victims in Nevada were defrauded of money in connection with the defendants’ scheme, and at least one of PacNet’s fraudulent mass mail clients was located in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada. “Working with our Postal Inspectors and other law enforcement partners, we will identify, investigate, and prosecute criminals – both foreign and domestic – who prey on our seniors and other vulnerable Nevada residents. These fraud schemes can happen to anyone. If you’re a victim, I urge you to immediately file a complaint with the FTC at 877-FTC-HELP.”

 “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has been at the forefront of protecting consumers from fraud schemes for many years,” said Inspector in Charge Delany DeLeon-Colon of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “We do this through traditional investigative methods to identify and stop the scammers, and consumer education, which is the best defense against criminals looking for easy money. Investigations like this one let the American public – especially our vulnerable population – know that Postal Inspectors are working hard to protect them and ensure their confidence in the U.S. Mail.”

From 1994 until Sept. 22, 2016, PacNet processed payments for a variety of clients, including mass-mail clients who sent fraudulent notifications to consumers in the United States and around the world, according to the indictment. Several individuals involved in operating mass-mail companies that processed payments through PacNet have been convicted of federal fraud charges during the last two years.

The indictment alleges that the defendants knew that multiple PacNet mass-mail clients obtained payments from victims through fraudulent notifications and nonetheless approved depositing those payments into U.S. bank accounts, allowing the clients to benefit from the fraud. Day, who was in charge of PacNet’s Vancouver headquarters, and Davis, who oversaw PacNet’s office in Shannon, Ireland, each earned approximately $15 million in Canadian dollars from 2013 through 2015, the last three full years that PacNet was in operation, according to the indictment.

PacNet’s policies required mass-mail clients to submit sample notifications to PacNet for review. The indictment alleges that the defendants approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had been submitted, in some situations approved processing for fraudulent notifications that had not been submitted, and at other times condoned the continued processing for mass-mail clients who were sending different, even more fraudulent notifications than what PacNet had approved.

Davis, who identified himself as PacNet’s general counsel, opened post office boxes in the United Kingdom to which certain PacNet mass-mail clients directed victim payments be sent, according to the indictment. The indictment alleges that Davis, who was a pilot, at times flew to the United Kingdom to pick up the mail and transport it to Ireland, where the mail was opened and the checks, cash, and other payments were processed. The indictment further alleges that on several occasions Davis flew to the Netherlands to pick up cash from facilities that were receiving mail for certain PacNet mass-mail clients. Davis then flew the cash to Ireland, according to the indictment.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment contains only accusations against the defendants and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The criminal charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, which through official requests received assistance from the Vancouver Police Department, Canada’s Competition Bureau, Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands’ Fiscal Information and Investigation Service.

Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Jasperse of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs has provided critical support.

Las Vegas, NV – Luis Ortiz-Menjivar, a 67 year-old El Salvadorian citizen living in Las Vegas, was sentenced today to six years’ incarceration upon his conviction for a felony charge of Deported Alien Found in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

According to court documents, Ortiz had a lengthy criminal history that placed him in the highest possible federal criminal history category for purposes of sentencing. In February 2017, Ortiz was found in Nevada without any valid immigration documents allowing him to be lawfully present in the United States after he had been deported and removed in April 2014 following his conviction for Aggravated Sexual Battery (a felony) in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Frayn prosecuted the case.

Las Vegas, NV – A Las Vegas cardiology practice has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle claims alleging that it referred patients for genetic testing in exchange for kickbacks paid by the testing companies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold accountable fraudulent medical companies that seek to line their pockets by undermining the integrity of health care programs,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “We work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop illicit activity and I encourage individuals with information of fraud to make a report to authorities.”

From September 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013, Nevada Heart & Vascular Center (Resh), LLP (NHVC) was alleged to have referred Medicare patients to genetic testing companies Natural Molecular Testing Corp. and Iverson Genetic Diagnostics, Inc., in exchange for payments to the practice made by the testing companies. The scheme was alleged to be in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the civil False Claims Act.

NHVC has agreed to pay the United States $2.5 million to settle its potential liability in this matter.

The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Wenthe prosecuted the case.

This Settlement Agreement is neither an admission of liability by NHVC nor a concession by the United States that its claims are not well founded.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Mexican national who illegally crossed the border to enter the United States was charged with possession with intent to distribute nearly 10 pounds of heroin after a traffic stop along US-93, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Mario Alberto Bojorquez-Manrique, 27, was charged in a criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

As alleged, on June 10, 2019, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper observed a northbound car driving in an unsafe manner on US-93. During a traffic stop, Bojorquez-Manrique was identified as the driver and gave consent to search the vehicle. A narcotics K9 alerted the trooper to the dash area of the car. During a hand search of the car, a socket driver with a socket were found on the passenger side floorboard. The trooper noticed some finger prints and tooling marks on the bolts securing the wiper cover to the car. Six foil wrapped packages of heroin weighing approximately 9.6 pounds were recovered from the vehicle. Law enforcement located Bojorquez-Manrique’s notebook in the car containing entries for over a dozen narcotic runs he has made, as well as the recorded dollar amounts of the transactions.

The maximum penalty is life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years.

The case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the North Las Vegas Police Department.

 A criminal complaint merely contains an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Miriam Elizabeth Suarez-Contreras, the lead defendant in a 30 count indictment in connection to a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy, was arraigned yesterday in federal court, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Suarez-Contreras, aka “Ella” and “Liz,” 38, a Mexican national; Ramiro Ramirez-Barajas, aka “Sergio,” 30, a Mexican national; Roberto Blancas-Mata, aka “Carlos Delgado,” 66, of Las Vegas; Rahdsma Henderson, aka “Weezy,” 41, of Las Vegas; Stephen Lloyd, 38, of Las Vegas; Charles Parr, aka “Charles Magnuson,” 60, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Doug Stumpf, 55, of Henderson; Brian Scarborough, 43, of Henderson; Renea Barnes, aka “Renea Valdez,” 50, of Las Vegas; Quentin Armstrong, 41, of Sandy Valley, Nevada; Cipriano Pineda-Acedo, 49, of Las Vegas; Jose Guillermo Tello-Albarran, 32, of Las Vegas; and Martha Pedraza-Zamora, 40, of Las Vegas, were all charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

In addition, Suarez-Contreras was charged with 16 counts; Ramirez-Barajas was charged with eight counts; Blancas-Mata was charged with six counts; Tello-Albarran was charged with two counts; and Henderson was charged with one count, all for distribution of methamphetamine. Tello-Albarran, Scarborough, Parr, Lloyd, Stumpf, Barnes, Armstrong, Pedraza-Zamora, and Pineda-Acedo were each charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Scarborough was also charged with felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment charging 13 defendants for their involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine throughout Nevada. As alleged, from a date unknown to April 17, 2019, the defendants conspired with each other to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Suarez-Contreras and Ramirez-Barajas have been previously removed from the United States for unlawful entry.

A jury trial was scheduled for July 29, 2019. If convicted, the maximum penalty is life imprisonment.

The public is reminded an indictment contains merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by the Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Schiff is prosecuting this case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and the FBI Las Vegas Division are promoting the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Elder Justice Initiative with an interactive telephone town hall on June 10, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI Las Vegas Division.

One of the best ways to protect yourself or a loved one from financial fraud is to remain informed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and AARP Nevada have partnered to raise awareness and educate Nevada’s seniors about the latest financial scams. The free telephone town hall will be live on Monday, June 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. PDT.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was established to provide the public with a reliable and convenient reporting mechanism to submit information to the FBI. The IC3 aggregates and forwards suspected criminal internet activity to the appropriate local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies for possible investigation. In 2018, the IC3 received a total of 351,936 complaints with losses in excess of $2.7 billion.

To join the free telephone town hall, register at https://vekeo.com/event/aarpnevada-45728/.

The DOJ Elder Justice Initiative aims to combat elder financial exploitation by expanding efforts to investigate and prosecute financial scams that target seniors; educating older adults on how to identify scams and avoid getting ripped off by scammers; and promoting greater coordination with law enforcement partners.

Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or online at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or the IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

The DOJ provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov. Additional elder justice resources, training, and outreach materials can be found at the Elder Justice Website at www.elderjustice.gov.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman was arrested and arraigned Wednesday in federal court in connection to a 13-count indictment for using more than 40 stolen identities to collect $170,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Danielle Lacharis Buck, aka “Danielle Lacharis Lakey,” 42, was charged with three counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of using an unauthorized access device, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. United States Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman scheduled a trial date for August 12, 2019.

According to allegations in the indictment, which was unsealed yesterday, from about September 2010 to April 2019, Buck participated in a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) into paying her more than $170,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. As part of the scheme, Buck fraudulently obtained personal identifying information, such as names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of unsuspecting individuals, and then electronically filed false unemployment claims using the stolen names and information. She filed more than 50 false unemployment insurance claims using more than 40 different identities. When EDD approved one of Buck’s false claims, Bank of America mailed her an electronic benefits payment debit card loaded with unemployment insurance benefits. Buck then used the debit card to withdraw the benefits in the form of cash from ATMs in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles metropolitan areas.

The EDD is the administrator of the federally funded unemployment insurance benefit program for residents of the State of California.

If convicted, the maximum penalty is 160 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General and the California Employment Development Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tony Lopez is prosecuting the case.

Charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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RENO, Nev. – A Reno man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing thousands of child pornography images and hundreds of videos, including prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct and sadistic and masochistic conduct, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Daren W. Phillips, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography before United States District Judge Miranda Du. A sentencing hearing has been set for September 9, 2019.

Phillips admitted that, from 2016 to April 2018, he possessed 4,753 images and 538 videos of child pornography on his laptop computer. Some of the sexually explicit images and videos depicted sadistic and masochistic conduct. Other images and videos depicted prepubescent minors involved in sexually explicit conduct. Phillips admitted he possessed some of the child pornography on his laptop prior to his move from the Savannah, Georgia area to the Reno, Nevada area, and that he had accessed child pornography in Nevada as recently as April 9, 2018.

If the Court accepts the plea agreement, Phillips faces 63 months’ imprisonment and not less than 20 years and up to lifetime supervised release. In addition, under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA), Phillips will be required to register as a sex offender.

The case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James Keller is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who pleaded guilty to randomly selecting his victim and stabbing the victim multiple times outside of a smoke shop was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

“Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to combatting violent crime throughout Nevada, including when violent crime occurs on tribal lands,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “This case and today’s sentence send a message that we will pursue justice for victims of violent crime – wherever it occurs.”

Justin Hayward, 36, pleaded guilty, without the benefit of a plea agreement, to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, on February 18, 2018, the victim purchased lunch at a smoke shop and convenience store belonging to the Las Vegas Colony and Reservation for the Paiute Tribe located in downtown Las Vegas. Shortly after returning to the car, the victim heard a noise and saw Hayward puncture the car’s front tire. Hayward then opened the driver’s side door and began stabbing the victim with a knife in the abdomen. The victim was hospitalized with serious injuries.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Duncan prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An indictment by a federal grand jury was unsealed today charging a doctor and seven others for conspiring to distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

Myron Motley, 55, of Richmond, California; Eric Math, M.D., 50, of Reno; Michael Kwoka, 56, of Fair Oaks, California; Michael Slater, 42, of Reno; Joseph Jeannette, 51, of Reno; Ivy Elliott, 35, of  Reno; and Alesia Sampson, 56, of Grass Valley, California, are all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute Oxycodone. Motley and Elliott are also charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. Motley is also charged with four counts of distribution of Oxycodone and one count of distribution of Hydrocodone, Math and Slater are also each charged with one count of distribution of Oxycodone and one count of distribution of Hydrocodone, and Kwoka and Elliot are also charged with one count of distribution of Oxycodone. In a separate indictment, Motley and Randy Raihall, 58, of Reno, are each charged with one count of distribution of Oxycodone.

Motley was arrested in Richmond, California this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned today before United State Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore in Oakland, California. Kowka and Sampson were arrested in Fair Oaks and Grass Valley this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney in Sacramento, California. Math, Jeannette, Slater, Elliott, and Raihall are scheduled to be arraigned today at 3:00 pm before United States Magistrate Judge Carla Baldwin Carry in Reno.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from January 2018 to May 2019, the defendants conspired to possess and distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, each a schedule II controlled substance, with Dr. Math issuing prescriptions for the same without a medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice.

The mandatory minimum is 10 years in prison and the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone are among the most common drugs involved in prescription opioid overdose deaths. Oxycodone and other Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse that can lead to addiction, overdose, and sometimes death.

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

The joint investigation was conducted by the FBI; the Reno Police Department; Nevada Highway Patrol; the Department of Welfare and Social Services Nevada; the Office of the Attorney General; the Carson City Sheriff’s Office; the Nevada Department of Corrections; the Nevada Gaming Control Board; the Sparks Police Department; the University of Nevada-Reno Police Department; and the IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James E. Keller.

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The former president and CEO of MRI International Inc. (MRI), a purported investment company and medical collections business located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tokyo, Japan, was sentenced to 50 years in prison today for his role in a $1.5 billion Ponzi scheme.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

Edwin Fujinaga, 72, of Las Vegas, was sentenced by Chief Judge Gloria Navarro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, who also sentenced Fujinaga to three years of supervised release, ordered restitution in the amount of $1,129,409,449 and forfeiture in the amount of $813,297,912.65.  In November 2018, after a five-week trial, Fujinaga, was found guilty of eight counts of mail fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering in connection with his Ponzi scheme.

According to evidence presented during trial, from 2000 until approximately 2013, Fujinaga fraudulently solicited over $1 billion in investments in MRI from over 10,000 Japanese victims who resided in Japan. The victims would wire their funds from Japan to bank accounts in Las Vegas under Fujinaga’s control.  Fujinaga approved and disseminated marketing materials that promised investors that their funds would only be used for purchasing medical claims and that an escrow agent would ensure that MRI used investor funds for only that purpose.  In truth, Fujinaga spent less than two percent of investor funds to purchase medical claims.  Instead, Fujinaga used the vast majority of new investors’ funds to pay off old investors.  He used the balance of investors’ funds for impermissible business and lavish personal expenses, such as a private jet; a mansion on a Las Vegas golf course; real estate in Beverly Hills, California wine country and Hawaii; and Bentley, McLaren and Bugatti luxury cars.  When the Japanese government revoked MRI’s license to market securities in April 2013, MRI owed its investors more than $1.5 billion.  Victims traveled from Japan and other locations to testify about the funds they gave to Fujinaga. Some victims lost their life savings to the scheme.

Co-defendants Junzo Suzuki, 70, and Paul Suzuki, 40, were extradited from Japan in April 2019, and are currently awaiting trial.

The case was investigated by the FBI.  The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Services Agency of Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided assistance in this matter.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Johnston and Danny Nguyen of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez of the District of Nevada.  Forfeiture is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Hollingsworth of the District of Nevada.

 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The former president and CEO of MRI International Inc. (MRI), a purported investment company and medical collections business located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tokyo, Japan, was sentenced to 50 years in prison today for his role in a $1.5 billion Ponzi scheme.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

Edwin Fujinaga, 72, of Las Vegas, was sentenced by Chief Judge Gloria Navarro of the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, who also sentenced Fujinaga to three years of supervised release, ordered restitution in the amount of $1,129,409,449 and forfeiture in the amount of $813,297,912.65. In November 2018, after a five-week trial, Fujinaga, was found guilty of eight counts of mail fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering in connection with his Ponzi scheme.

According to evidence presented during trial, from 2000 until approximately 2013, Fujinaga fraudulently solicited over $1 billion in investments in MRI from over 10,000 Japanese victims who resided in Japan. The victims would wire their funds from Japan to bank accounts in Las Vegas under Fujinaga’s control. Fujinaga approved and disseminated marketing materials that promised investors that their funds would only be used for purchasing medical claims and that an escrow agent would ensure that MRI used investor funds for only that purpose. In truth, Fujinaga spent less than two percent of investor funds to purchase medical claims. Instead, Fujinaga used the vast majority of new investors’ funds to pay off old investors. He used the balance of investors’ funds for impermissible business and lavish personal expenses, such as a private jet; a mansion on a Las Vegas golf course; real estate in Beverly Hills, California wine country and Hawaii; and Bentley, McLaren and Bugatti luxury cars. When the Japanese government revoked MRI’s license to market securities in April 2013, MRI owed its investors more than $1.5 billion. Victims traveled from Japan and other locations to testify about the funds they gave to Fujinaga. Some victims lost their life savings to the scheme.

Co-defendants Junzo Suzuki, 70, and Paul Suzuki, 40, were extradited from Japan in April 2019, and are currently awaiting trial.

The case was investigated by the FBI. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Services Agency of Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Johnston and Danny Nguyen of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez of the District of Nevada. Forfeiture is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Hollingsworth of the District of Nevada.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A nurse practitioner was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,749,121.29 for unlawfully dispensing prescription opioids and Medicare and Medicaid fraud, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, and Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Los Angeles Region.

Alejandro “Alex” Incera, aka Alexander Jiminez-Incera, an Advance Practice Registered Nurse, 48, of Las Vegas, previously pleaded guilty to eight counts of distribution of controlled substance and eight counts of health care fraud. United States District Judge James Mahan presided over the sentencing hearing.

From January 2018 to about May 2018, Incera had an agreement with co-defendants Robert D. Harvey, a surgical technician, and Dr. Horace P. Guerra to distribute Hydrocodone and Oxycodone to patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash payments. Incera wrote illegal opioid prescriptions on prescriptions with his name and DEA number for patients without a medical purpose.

Furthermore, between July 2016 to about December 2017, Incera defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by writing Lidocaine, Modafinil, and Diclofenac Sodium prescriptions to patients without a legitimate medical purpose and at times without having examined the patient at all. These prescriptions were filled and processed by Atlas Pharmacy who paid Incera approximately $30,000 in exchange for patient referrals. The Medicare and Medicaid programs were defrauded out of approximately $3.7 million.

Dr. Guerra was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, Harvey was sentenced to six months in federal prison, and both face three years of supervised release following incarceration. Co-defendant Leslie Kalyn, aka Leslie Feth, a Doctor of Nursing, was also charged for her alleged role in the opioid distribution conspiracy. A jury trial is scheduled on September 23, 2019.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Ahmed and Assistant Chief Kilby MacFadden from the Department of Justice Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada has assigned prosecutors that focus on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud related to medical professionals who prescribe opioids, that unlawfully divert of dispense prescription opioids for illegitimate purposes.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas photographer who posed as a professional modeling photographer and sports sponsor was sentenced Monday to 29 1/2 years in federal prison for child sexual exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

William Clyde Thompson, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. Thompson pleaded guilty in February 2019, to child exploitation enterprise, sexual exploitation of a child, conspiracy to produce child pornography, distribution of child pornography, conspiracy to distribute child pornography, and possession of child pornography. He was indicted in September 2013 in Nevada and in 2015 in Arizona. In addition to the term of imprisonment, he will be placed on a lifetime term of supervised release, he agreed to pay full restitution to his victims, and he will be required under the Sexual Offender Registration Notification Act to register as a sex offender.

According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, in November 2011, Thompson took sexually explicit photos and videos of a 10-year-old boy under the ruse that Thompson was a professional photographer and wanted to assist the boy in getting sponsored as a professional skateboarder. In November 2012, the victim’s mother made a report to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after a potential sponsor informed her that he believed her son was being sexually exploited by Thompson. Later that month, during the execution of search warrants at Thompson’s residence and studio, law enforcement seized multiple digital devices belonging to Thompson. A forensic examination of the devices revealed over 10,000 files of child sexual exploitation photos and videos.

In January 2013, Thompson was arrested in Nevada on child pornography charges and the state court ordered him released on house arrest. However, Thompson cut off his ankle bracelet and fled the Las Vegas area. He was later indicted on federal charges in September 2013.

While on the run from law enforcement, in the spring and summer of 2014, Thompson contacted at least six boys at the Needles California Skate Park. He identified himself as “Tony Bailor” and “Jason Brock” and told the boys he was a “scooter sponsor.” He and others provided the boys with gifts to induce their compliance and to recruit other minors to be part of the “team” that he claimed he wanted to sponsor. In reality, Thompson and others recruited the “team” with the intention to produce child pornography and to sexually abuse the boys. Over a six-month period, Thompson produced over 20,000 images and videos depicting sexually explicit content of the children.

Thompson and a co-conspirator created multiple websites to distribute the child pornography he created. Thompson would post sample child pornography photos on one of the websites and when someone purchased the photos based on the sample, he would send the purchaser a hyperlink to the child pornography files on a cloud-based service.

Thompson was arrested during a traffic stop in Mohave Valley, Arizona, in January 2015. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement found over one million images ranging from child erotica to child pornography of several victims contained on digital devices belonging to him.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton and Elham Roohani prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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A third participant in a Las Vegas, Nevada, conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent tax refunds was sentenced to prison today, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Elizabeth Trinh to 18 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to defraud the government.

According to documents filed with the court, Chanh V. Trinh, Cannedy Trinh, and Elizabeth Trinh, conspired to file corporate and individual tax returns reporting false income tax withholdings and payments, in order to cause the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to issue fraudulent income tax refunds. The Trinhs filed the returns in the names of fictitious business entities, their own names, and the names of other individuals, including a long-deceased family member. Chanh V. Trinh prepared and filed the returns. All three defendants deposited or cashed the fraudulently obtained refund checks using bank accounts and check-cashing businesses in Las Vegas. To conceal the funds, the defendants regularly purchased cashier’s checks, which they used to obtain gambling chips at local casinos. The conspiracy resulted in false claims of more than $6 million, and more than $2 million in fraudulent refunds paid out by the IRS.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Mahan ordered Elizabeth Trinh to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $362,328 to the IRS.

On April 10, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mahan sentenced Chanh V. Trinh to 102 months in prison and Cannedy Trinh to 24 months in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A third participant in a Las Vegas, Nevada, conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars in fraudulent tax refunds was sentenced to prison today, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. of the IRS-Criminal Investigation. 

U.S. District Court Judge James C. Mahan sentenced Elizabeth Trinh to 18 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to defraud the government.

According to documents filed with the court, Chanh V. Trinh, Cannedy Trinh, and Elizabeth Trinh, conspired to file corporate and individual tax returns reporting false income tax withholdings and payments, in order to cause the IRS to issue fraudulent income tax refunds. The Trinhs filed the returns in the names of fictitious business entities, their own names, and the names of other individuals, including a long-deceased family member. Chanh V. Trinh prepared and filed the returns. All three defendants deposited or cashed the fraudulently obtained refund checks using bank accounts and check-cashing businesses in Las Vegas. To conceal the funds, the defendants regularly purchased cashier’s checks, which they used to obtain gambling chips at local casinos. The conspiracy resulted in false claims of more than $6 million, and more than $2 million in fraudulent refunds paid out by the IRS.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Mahan ordered Elizabeth Trinh to serve three years of supervised release and to pay restitution of $362,328 to the IRS.

On April 10, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mahan sentenced Chanh V. Trinh to 102 months in prison and Cannedy Trinh to 24 months in prison.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman, U.S. Attorney Trutanich, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nevarez commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 24 years in prison for robbing a bank at gunpoint and for two jewelry store armed robberies while he was on supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Deandre Nakita Brown, 36, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of bank robbery. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced him to 3 years of supervised release.

According to admissions made in his plea agreement, on August 1, 2016, Brown, armed with a firearm, ran directly to and jumped over the cashier counter at a bank located at West Craig Rd. He yelled, “Everyone hit the floor!” He pointed his handgun at three employees demanding money. He stole a total of $17,862 from the bank. Brown was completing his sentence at the Residential Re-entry Center on his 2009 federal conviction for Brandishing a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence when he committed this offense.

On January 3, 2017, Brown and co-conspirators Aquail Harris and Brian Wright robbed a jewelry store located at N. Rainbow Blvd in northwest Las Vegas. Brown and Harris entered the store pointing their firearms at employees and customers, including two young children, and forcing them to their knees. Harris physically removed the security guard’s firearm and the robbers took the firearm along with the stolen jewelry. The two gunmen delivered the stolen jewelry and watches valued at over $850,000 to the getaway vehicle driven by two additional co-conspirators, Kendareen Hudson and Safiyyah Christopher.

Ten days later, on January 13, Brown, Wright and co-defendants Carl Whitley and Randy Jerousek robbed a jewelry store located at W. Charleston Blvd in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas. Brown entered the store pointing a gun at employees and directing them to fill garbage bags with jewelry and watches. Approximately $765,000 worth of jewelry was stolen. Brown fled in a getaway vehicle driven by co-conspirator Randy Jerousek. Brown was on federal supervision relating to his 2009 conviction at the time that he committed the two jewelry store robberies.

Harris and Wright were also on federal supervised release at the time that they planned and committed the jewelry store robberies with Brown.

Co-defendants Christopher, Hudson, Jerousek, and Whitley, all pleaded guilty for their involvement in the armed robberies. Wright was convicted by a jury and sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in the jewelry store robberies.

Brown’s 2009 conviction arose from his armed robbery of an Albertsons grocery store. Brown was previously convicted in 2005 for robbing a series of five banks around Las Vegas.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Michael, Nadia Ahmed, and Lisa Cartier-Giroux prosecuted the case.

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A federal jury in Las Vegas, Nevada, yesterday convicted Craig P. Orrock, a former attorney and former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee, of tax evasion and obstructing the internal revenue laws, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of IRS-Criminal Investigation.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, starting in the early 1990s, Orrock, currently of Sandy, Utah, evaded the payment of his federal income taxes and obstructed IRS efforts to collect those taxes. Orrock filed federal individual income tax returns for the years 1993 through 2015, but failed to pay the income taxes reported as due. He attempted to prevent the IRS from collecting the reported income taxes through the use of nominee entities, bank accounts and trusts to hide his income and assets from IRS collection officers. Orrock attempted to evade the assessment of a large part of the income tax he owed for 2007, by concealing from the IRS both the ownership of real estate he held through a nominee known as Arville Properties LLC as well as the proceeds from the sale of the property. 

From 1993 through 2015, Orrock evaded the payment of over $500,000 in federal income taxes.

Orrock faces up to five years in prison on each of the first two counts and up to three years in prison on the third count, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns and Tax Division Trial Attorney Erin S. Mellen, who are prosecuting the case.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury in Las Vegas, Nevada, yesterday convicted Craig P. Orrock, a former attorney and former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee, of tax evasion and obstructing the internal revenue laws, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of IRS-Criminal Investigation.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, starting in the early 1990s, Orrock, currently of Sandy, Utah, evaded the payment of his federal income taxes and obstructed IRS efforts to collect those taxes. Orrock filed federal individual income tax returns for the years 1993 through 2015, but failed to pay the income taxes reported as due. He attempted to prevent the IRS from collecting the reported income taxes through the use of nominee entities, bank accounts and trusts to hide his income and assets from IRS collection officers. Orrock attempted to evade the assessment of a large part of the income tax he owed for 2007, by concealing from the IRS both the ownership of real estate he held through a nominee known as Arville Properties LLC as well as the proceeds from the sale of the property. 

From 1993 through 2015, Orrock evaded the payment of over $500,000 in federal income taxes.

Orrock faces up to five years in prison on each of the first two counts and up to three years in prison on the third count, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Trutanich commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns and Tax Division Trial Attorney Erin S. Mellen, who are prosecuting the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to two years and nine months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

William Edward Jones, 37, previously pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to admissions made in Jones’ plea agreement, on July 7, 2018, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a fatal car accident. Following the accident, Jones underwent a medical check. When he stood up, a semi-automatic handgun fell from his waist area. Jones was a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Allison Reese prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Nevada United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers on the occasion of National Police Week, which is being observed from Sunday, May 12 to Saturday, May 18, 2019.

In October 1962, Congress enacted a joint resolution, which the President signed, declaring May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day to honor law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. The resolution also created National Police Week as an annual tribute to law enforcement service and sacrifice. 

“During Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country. We thank the brave men and women who often face uncertain and dangerous situations without question and without expectation of thanks,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “As the chief federal law enforcement officer in Nevada, I recognize and acknowledge their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment in keeping our communities safe. They have our unwavering support and appreciation.”

According to statistics reported to the FBI, 106 law enforcement officers were killed in the line-of-duty in 2018. In Nevada, Department of Public Safety Corrections Officer Kyle L. Eng died in the line of duty on July 19, 2018.

Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 released this week by the FBI.

The names of all 106 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 31st Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2019. No tickets are required and everyone is welcome. For additional information please call 202-737-3400.

The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2019.

For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In Nevada, 6,323 pounds, or three tons, of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription medications were turned-in at the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day held in April, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill for the DEA.

“These results are heartening. Nevadans recognize that combating the opioid epidemic starts with prevention,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continue working in communities to turn the tide on this public health and safety crisis.”

Nationwide, the total weight collected was 937,443 pounds, or 468 tons, of prescription medications. There were 4,969 participating law enforcement agencies and 6,258 collection sites throughout the country.

Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70,237 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2017. Take Back Day is part of a nationwide effort sponsored by the DEA and it is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs.

Complete results for DEA’s spring Take Back Day are available at www.DEATakeBack.com.

The next Take Back Day is October 26, 2019.

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RENO, Nev. – Dr. Devendra I. Patel, aka Devendrakumar I. Patel, a northern Nevada cardiologist was sentenced Tuesday to three years and one month in federal prison for prescribing highly addictive pain pills Oxycodone and Hydrocodone at a high rate to his patients without a medical purpose.

United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, Resident Agent in Charge Marc C. Kuzmicki of the DEA’s Reno Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christian J. Schrank of the Office of Inspector General, for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office Los Angeles Region made the announcement.

“Medical professionals who violate their oath and the law by prescribing addictive opioids without a legitimate medical purpose will be investigated, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is fully committed to the investigation and prosecution of medical professionals who abuse their position of trust and by a stroke of the pen directly contribute to the opioid crisis.”

“Let those who would betray their oath to do no harm take notice of the penalty for such callous mistreatment of their patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Rouse. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in a unified effort to battle the opioid crisis in the state of Nevada.”

“This case is a direct result of the hard work of the investigators and prosecutors from the DOJ and their partners in Reno, Nevada,” said Resident Agent in Charge Kuzmicki. “This should serve as a warning to practitioners in Northern Nevada who are helping fuel the opioid epidemic. While the vast majority of medical professionals are following the appropriate guidelines and prescribing well within the law, we will find those who are harming members of our community and bring them to justice.”

“It is difficult to believe that a physician, sworn to do no harm by his Hippocratic oath, would needlessly prescribe these highly addictive opioid medications,” said Special Agent in Charge Schrank. “Yet our investigation revealed that Dr. Patel did exactly that. Physicians using prescribing privileges to fatten their profits rather than easing the pain of patients should expect aggressive investigation and prosecution.”

Patel, 60, of Elko, pleaded guilty in November 2018, to distribution of controlled substances, and was indicted by a grand jury in December 2017. His DEA license was suspended upon his arrest in December 2017. He owned and operated Northeastern Nevada Cardiology. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks sentenced Patel to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $500,000 fine. Patel was ordered to self-surrender to begin serving his sentence on August 6, 2019.

Between September 2015 and February 2016, he prescribed Oxycodone and Hydrocodone to patients without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice. His prescribing practices allowed him to see a high volume of patients and easily prescribe opioids, while not addressing any legitimate medical concerns of his patients.

The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Secret Service, the Elko Combined Narcotics Unit, Elko Police Department, Elko County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami prosecuted the case.

More than 42,000 people died from a prescription opioid overdose in 2016, and over 1,000 people are treated in the emergency room daily for improper use of prescription opioids, according to the Center for Disease Control. In 2016, there were 408 opioid-related deaths in Nevada, according to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.

The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. In 2017, the District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the program. The District of Nevada has assigned an experienced prosecutor that focuses solely on investigating and prosecuting health care fraud related to medical professionals who prescribe opioids, that unlawfully divert of dispense prescription opioids for illegitimate purposes.

For information about the harmful effects of illicit drug use, visit www.JustThinkTwice.com for teens and www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com for parents, educators, and caregivers. To report suspected opioid-related crimes, the public is encouraged to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or the DEA at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/tips_online.htm.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and three years of supervised release in connection with multiple armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Bailey Aaron Hall, 23, pleaded guilty to three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey presided over today’s sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, on August 13, 2016, Hall entered a restaurant at North Decatur Blvd. pointing a .45 caliber firearm at an employee and a customer. He demanded money from the register and the employee complied. Hall received approximately $114 of the business cash and fled in a stolen vehicle. A few days later on August 17, Hall entered another restaurant at North Decatur Blvd. pointing a .45 caliber firearm at an employee. He demanded the employee put money from the register into his backpack. The employee explained that the register was locked. Hall then struck the employee in the head with his gun and gave the employee to the count of three to open the register or he would shoot the employee. The employee opened another register and Hall fled with approximately $150 of the business cash in a stolen vehicle. The third armed robbery occurred on August 21 at a grocery store on North Decatur Blvd. Hall entered the grocery store again pointing a .45 caliber firearm at an employee. He told the employee to empty the register and place the money into his backpack. He also demanded cartons of cigarettes. Before exiting the store, Hall dropped the cigarettes and discharged his firearm. He collected the cartons and fled the store with approximately $950 of the business cash and the cartons of cigarettes. Hall again fled in a stolen vehicle.

At the time of the offenses, Hall had absconded from state parole. 

The case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Michael prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury convicted a Las Vegas man Tuesday of drug and firearm crimes that resulted in the death of a man during a drug deal in November 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

After a seven-day trial, Louis Matthews, 37, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and using a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime resulting in death. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the trial and set a sentencing date for August 1, 2019.

The evidence at trial showed that Matthews and his co-defendant John Thomas, met in a North Las Vegas apartment in November 2013, to buy 20 pounds of marijuana from three suppliers: Angel Juarez, Julio Nunez, and Luciano Madrigal-Herrera. During the deal, Matthews and Thomas drew handguns and shot Madrigal-Herrera seven times in the chest, killing him, and robbing him of the marijuana. As Matthews and Thomas made their getaways, Nunez chased after them with a shotgun, shooting Thomas in the back shoulder, wounding him, and causing the two to drop the marijuana they stole. All four men fled the scene with no arrests.

The ensuing police investigation, however, led to their arrests and federal charges. Thomas, Nunez, and Juarez have all been sentenced to prison on charges related to the homicide. Matthews was the last of the four to be convicted.

Matthews has prior felony convictions for Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2001, Bribing or Intimidating Witness to Influence Testimony in 2004, Possession of a Controlled Substance in 2005, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base in 2005 and Battery with Substantial Bodily Harm in 2015. Matthews had been released from federal custody less than a month prior to committing the murder on November 30, 2013. Matthews also had three prior arrests for murder and attempted murder with a deadly weapon along with an additional arrest for discharging a weapon.

Matthews faces a maximum term of life imprisonment.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and North Las Vegas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexandra Michael and Steven Myhre.

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A federal grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada, returned a three-count indictment today against three alleged gang members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) for their involvement in connection with a kidnapping and murder.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Macias of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles made the announcement.

Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, aka Molesto, 25, Miguel Torres-Escobar, aka Chamilo, 21, and David Arturo Perez-Manchame, aka Walter Melendez and Herbi, 20, are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm.  Reyes-Castillo and Torres-Escobar are citizens of El Salvador and Perez-Manchame is a citizen of Honduras.  All of the defendants are illegally in the United States.

According to the indictment, MS-13 is a violent, transnational criminal organization that operates throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas, Nevada.  MS-13 is a street gang composed primarily of persons from Central America, including El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.  The Parkview clique of MS-13 operated in the Las Vegas, Nevada sector.  MS-13 members are required to commit crimes, including acts of violence, to maintain membership and discipline within the group. 

The indictment alleges that, on Jan. 21, 2018, Reyes-Castillo, Torres-Escobar and Perez-Manchame, kidnapped and murdered Arquimidez Sandoval-Martinez.  As alleged, the defendants intentionally participated in the act of violence that resulted in the death of Sandoval-Martinez. 

Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame and Torres-Escobar remain in federal custody.  Reyes-Castillo is pending federal charges in the Eastern District of California.  All three defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on May 21, 2019, before Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, HSI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the DEA.  Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime & Gang Section is prosecuting the case.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada returned a three-count indictment today against three alleged gang members of La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) for their involvement in connection with a kidnapping and murder.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Macias of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles made the announcement.

Jose Luis Reynaldo Reyes-Castillo, aka Molesto, 25, Miguel Torres-Escobar, aka Chamilo, 21, and David Arturo Perez-Manchame, aka Walter Melendez and Herbi, 20, are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm. Reyes-Castillo and Torres-Escobar are citizens of El Salvador and Perez-Manchame is a citizen of Honduras. All of the defendants are illegally in the United States.

According to the indictment, MS-13 is a violent, transnational criminal organization that operates throughout the United States, including in Las Vegas, Nevada. MS-13 is a street gang composed primarily of persons from Central America, including El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. The Parkview clique of MS-13 operated in the Las Vegas, Nevada sector. MS-13 members are required to commit crimes, including acts of violence, to maintain membership and discipline within the group. 

The indictment alleges that, on Jan. 21, 2018, Reyes-Castillo, Torres-Escobar, and Perez-Manchame kidnapped and murdered Arquimidez Sandoval-Martinez. As alleged, the defendants intentionally participated in the act of violence that resulted in the death of Sandoval-Martinez. 

Reyes-Castillo, Perez-Manchame, and Torres-Escobar remain in federal custody. Reyes-Castillo is pending federal charges in the Eastern District of California. All three defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on May 21, 2019, before Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The charges are the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, HSI, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the DEA. Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime & Gang Section is prosecuting the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man convicted of sexually exploiting children by producing child pornography and possessing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography, was sentenced today to 140 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

“Today’s sentence sends a strong message that we will hold child sexual predators accountable and bring them to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “Through our Project Safe Childhood initiative, in collaboration with local and federal partners, we will prosecute individuals who prey on our children and commit heinous and violent acts against them.”

A jury convicted Lonny Joseph DiTirro, 37, of four counts of sexual exploitation of children by producing child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the jury trial and sentencing hearing. After being released from custody, under the Sexual Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA), DiTirro will be required to register as a sex offender.

According to court documents and evidence presented during the three-day jury trial, on September 10, 2015, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a concerned citizen’s report of possible child pornography found on a SD card belonging to DiTirro. Law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for the SD card. A forensic examination of the SD card found 254 images and 42 videos of child pornography, depictions that included infants and toddlers being sadistically and violently sexually assaulted.

Additionally, DiTirro had organized and catalogued dozens of folders titled with the name and age of nearly 50 girls from multiple states. The folders contained nude photos and videos of the girls, including videos of DiTirro raping several girls. Law enforcement identified several victims who all testified that they met DiTirro on a social media dating application when they were under the age of 16. The victims further testified that DiTirro lied about his age, claiming he was a teenager or in his early 20s, and went as far as falsifying his birth certificate in an effort to coerce, entice, and induce the victims into various sexual activities. DiTirro recorded sex acts with the minor victims, and he also created screenshots of sexually explicit video chats of the victims.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be held on Saturday, April 27, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill for the DEA Las Vegas office.

“Prevention starts at home. Cleaning out the family medicine cabinet could save a life,” said U.S. Attorney Trutanich. “I encourage Nevadans to be responsible citizens and safely dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications at a collection site on Take Back Day before the pills end up lost, stolen or misused.”

“This is an excellent opportunity for all Nevadans to empty out their medicine cabinets to prevent misuse,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Neill.

On April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., partner law enforcement agencies will collect prescription medications at more than 30 collection sites throughout Nevada. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 1-800-882-9539. DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 457 tons (914,236 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,800 of its local and tribal law enforcement partners. Overall, the DEA and its partners have taken in almost 11 million pounds (nearly 5,500 tons) of pills at past Take Back Days.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. For more information about the safe disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.

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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Collection Sites

Saturday, April 27, 2019, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Collection Site

Address

City

Lander County Sheriff Department

#2 State Route 305

Battle Mountain

Food Maxx Parking Lot

3325 Hwy 50 East

Carson City

Smith’s Food & Drug Front of Store

599 E. Williams St.

Carson City

Save Mart Front of Store

3620 North Carson St.

Carson City

Save Mart Front of Store

4348 South Carson St.

Carson City

Walmart Parking Lot

3770 Hwy 395

Carson City

Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Dayton Substation

801 Overland Loop

Dayton

Fallon Tribal Health Clinic Parking Lot

1001 Rio Vista Dr.

Fallon

CVS Pharmacy Parking Lot

461 W. Williams Ave.

Fallon

Walgreens Pharmacy Parking Lot

2020 Reno Hwy.

Fallon

Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Fernley Substation

555 E. Main St.

Fernley

Walgreens Parking Lot

1342 U.S. Hwy 395

Gardnerville

Tillman Substation Parking Lot

1281 Kimmerling Rd.

Gardnerville

Henderson Police Department,

West Police Station

300 S. Greenvalley Pkwy.

Henderson

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, South East Area Command

3675 E. Harmon Ave.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Downtown Area Command

621 N. 9th St.

Las Vegas

Smith’s Pharmacy Parking Lot

8555 W. Sahara Ave.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Enterprise Area Command Parking Lot

6975 W. Windmill

Las Vegas

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Northwest Area Command

9850 W. Cheyenne

Las Vegas

Summerlin’s Farmer’s Market

1980 Festival Plaza

Las Vegas

Pershing County Sheriff’s Office

395 9th St.

Lovelock

Walmart Parking Lot

1807 W. Craig Rd.

North Las Vegas

North Las Vegas Police Department, Northwest Area Command Station

3755 W. Washburn Rd.

North Las Vegas

CVS

3360 S. McCarran Blvd.

Reno

Smith’s Food and Drug

750 S. Meadows Pkwy.

Reno

Smith’s Food and Drug Center Front Entrance

175 Lemmon Dr.

Reno

Save Mart

4995 Kietzke Lane

Reno

Raley’s Market & Pharmacy Inside Entrance

18144 Wedge Pkwy.

Reno

Walmart Front Entrance

5260 W. 7th St.

Reno

Smith’s Food and Drug Front Entrance

1255 Baring Blvd.

Sparks

East Fire Station #4 Inside Station

1476 Albite Rd.

Wellington

Ridley’s Market Parking Lot

1125 W. Winnemucca Blvd.

Winnemucca

Lyon County Sheriff’s Office

911 Harvey

Yerington

Yerington Police Department Parking Lot

30 Nevin Way

Yerington

Safeway Store Parking Lot

212 Elks Point Rd.

Zephyr Cove

 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A repeat child sex offender who used a social media site to solicit sexually explicit images from a boy was sentenced Monday to 14 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich for the District of Nevada.

Christopher Phernambucq, aka “Christopher Phernambuco,” 37, of California, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. In addition to the incarceration, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced him to a lifetime of supervised release. Under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act, he will be required to register as a sex offender.

According to admissions in Phernambucq’s guilty plea, from July 2016 to December 2016, he posed as a successful businessman on a social media site under the false name “Alex Carrasco.” Phernambucq offered to pay children for services related to modeling or music and solicited photos, offered to buy electronics, and discussed his desire to engage in sexual activities with the children. Between August 2016 and December 2016, he exchanged messages and sexually explicit images with a 16-year-old boy through the social media site. The criminal conduct occurred shortly after he was released from California state custody.

Phernambucq has prior California convictions for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, or the production, possession, receipt, mailing, sale, distribution, shipment, or transportation of child pornography. His prior convictions qualified him for additional criminal penalties.

The case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Elham Roohani prosecuted the case.

To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt, or production of child pornography, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children by phone at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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Japanese authorities have extradited to the United States two former executives of a Las Vegas, Nevada, investment company in connection with their alleged roles in a $1.5 billion Ponzi scheme.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division made the announcement.

Junzo Suzuki, 70, and Paul Suzuki, 40, who are father and son and are both Japanese nationals, were each charged in a July 2015 indictment filed in the District of Nevada with eight counts of mail fraud and nine counts of wire fraud.  Japanese authorities arrested the Suzukis in January 2019 at the request of the United States, and extradited them to the United States on April 17.  The Suzukis will make their initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach of the District of Nevada.

According to the indictment, Junzo Suzuki previously was executive vice president for Asia Pacific of MRI International (MRI), an investment company which was headquartered in Las Vegas and had an office in Japan.  Paul Suzuki previously was the company’s general manager for Japan operations, based in Tokyo.  MRI purportedly specialized in “factoring,” whereby the company purchased accounts receivable from medical providers at a discount, and then attempted to recover the entire amount, or at least more than the discounted amount, from the debtor.

According to allegations in the indictment, from at least 2009 to 2013, the Suzukis and their co-defendant Edwin Fujinaga, 72, of Las Vegas, fraudulently solicited investments from thousands of Japanese residents.  When MRI collapsed, it allegedly owed investors over $1.5 billion.  Specifically, the indictment alleges that Fujinaga and the Suzukis promised investors a series of interest payments that would accrue over the life of the investment and that would be paid out along with the face value of the investment at the conclusion of the investments’ duration.  The defendants allegedly solicited investments by, among other things, promising investors that their investments would be used only for the purchase of medical accounts receivable (MARS) and by representing that investors funds would be managed and safeguarded by an independent third-party escrow company.

The indictment further alleges that MRI operated as a Ponzi scheme, in which the defendants used new investors’ money to pay prior investors’ maturing investments.  According to the indictment, the defendants also allegedly used investors’ funds for purposes other than the purchase of MARS, including paying themselves sales commissions, subsidizing gambling habits, funding personal travel by private jet and other personal expenses.

In November 2018, after a five-week trial, Fujinaga was found guilty of eight counts of mail fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering in connection with this Ponzi scheme.  His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 23, 2019. 

The case was investigated by the FBI.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys William Johnston and Danny Nguyen of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez of the District of Nevada.  The case was investigated by Assistant Chief Albert Stieglitz of the Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre of the District of Nevada. 

The indictment contains allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent if and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with the defendants’ extradition.  The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Services Agency of Japan and the Japanese Ministry of Justice also provided assistance.