District of Nevada

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two individuals had their initial court appearances today on charges related to the theft of more than 300 firearms inside a trailer belonging to a Federal Firearms Licensee, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Samual Lane Donesing, 28, and Jaemillah Eagans, 26, both of Las Vegas, were indicted with one count of possession of stolen firearms. Donesing is also charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Koppe and pleaded not guilty to the charges. A jury trial is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II on October 15, 2018.

According to allegations in the complaint and indictment, on July 31, 2018, Donesing and Eagans, stole a truck and trailer containing more than 300 firearms along with ammunition and firearms accessories such as holsters and magazines. The truck and trailer were parked at the Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino and belonged to a Federal Firearms Licensee from Arizona. Law enforcement identified the defendants as suspects after hotel surveillance footage showed them driving away with the stolen truck and trailer. During an interview with law enforcement, Donesing and Eagans admitted to stealing the truck and trailer containing the firearms.

Donesing, a felon, is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm. He has four prior felony convictions in Clark County including forgery, possession of a stolen vehicle, grand larceny, and burglary.

If convicted, the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Henderson Police Department and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Mott is prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury indicted a North Las Vegas man today for illegally purchasing and reselling firearms over a two-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Charles Martin Ellis, 64, an unlicensed dealer in firearms, was charged with one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of the transfer or sale of a firearm to a non-resident.

The charges stem from an ATF investigation conducted after a convicted felon shot and killed a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Deputy and shot and wounded two California Highway Patrol Investigators. The shooter used a Zastava 7.62mm caliber pistol sold by Ellis to another individual. The investigation also revealed guns sold by Ellis were used in other crimes in Nevada and California.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from January 1, 2016, to February 1, 2018, Ellis bought and quickly resold over 250 firearms, such as AR-15 and AK-47 style assault pistols, without a Federal Firearms License (FFL). He is alleged to have sold firearms to Nevada residents and to individuals he knew or had reasonable cause to know were residents of other states.

The maximum statutory penalty is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the ATF’s Sacramento field office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who robbed a bank in the Southern Highlands area after escaping from a Bureau of Prisons facility in Arizona was sentenced today to 125 months in prison and three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Richard Lee Canterbury, 68, was convicted by a jury in February of one count of bank robbery. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the two-day trial and sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, on March 16, 2016, Canterbury entered a Nevada State Bank on Southern Highlands Parkway in Las Vegas wearing a gray “fisherman” style hat, dark glasses, and a blue and white striped long sleeve shirt under a gray zip up vest, carrying a blue zip top bank bag. He approached a teller and showed a handwritten note which stated: “This Is A Robbery No Tricks Loose Bills Only Cooperate No One Gets Hurt Otherwise Everyone Dies.” The teller placed approximately $1,901 and a GPS tracking device into the bag. Canterbury left the bank with the bag containing the bank money and the tracking device.

Shortly after the robbery, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers, using information from the GPS tracker and the suspect’s description provided by the bank teller, located and stopped Canterbury’s vehicle. Officers found the stolen bank cash, the bank bag, the note, and the GPS tracking device inside his vehicle. He was still wearing the clothes that he wore during the robbery. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Canterbury was serving a 46 month federal sentence for Felon in Possession of Firearms when he escaped from a Bureau of Prisons facility in Florence, Arizona, on January 27, 2016.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Cartier-Giroux and Jared L. Grimmer prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions 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, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who admitted to using file sharing applications to receive more than 600 images of toddlers and children engaged in sexually explicit conduct was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Ricky Damian Johnston, 59, previously pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon sentenced him to a lifetime term of supervised release following his incarceration and he will be required to register as a sex offender.

According to information in the plea agreement, Johnston admitted that, from January 1, 2005 to October 29, 2014, he used multiple peer-to-peer file sharing software applications to search for and download images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Forensic examination of his electronic devices revealed that he downloaded more than 600 images and videos, including some of toddlers engaged in a sexually explicit conduct with adults. Computer forensics also showed that Johnston received live-streamed videos of children from southeast Asia engaged in a sexually explicit conduct. Furthermore, he shared and distributed child pornography by actively managing his “shared” folders on the various software applications.

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

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.

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

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal jury in Las Vegas, Nevada convicted a Las Vegas man of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Terry Williamson conspired with others to file false and fraudulent tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service using the names and social security numbers of deceased taxpayers. To further the scheme, Williamson opened and managed a bank account to receive the fraudulent tax refunds.  In total, more than 480 fraudulent tax refund checks totaling more than $2 million were deposited into Williamson’s account.  Williamson withdrew substantial amounts of money from that bank account and also transferred large portions of the proceeds to his personal account and to the accounts of co-conspirators.  Williamson spent his cut of the money on personal expenses including over $60,000 on a fully-loaded pick-up truck.

Sentencing is scheduled for a later date. Williamson faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Elieson commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys John Mulcahy and Sarah Kiewlicz of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/tax.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury sitting in Las Vegas indicted Arizona resident Douglas Haig today with one count of engaging in the business of manufacturing ammunition without a license, announced United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

The investigation of Haig, 55, of Mesa, Arizona, arose out of the investigation of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. Haig is scheduled for an initial court appearance on the Indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge George Foley Jr. on September 5, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was previously charged in a criminal complaint.

According to allegations in the indictment, from July 2016 to October 19, 2017, Haig, who did not have a federal firearms license to manufacture ammunition, was illegally conducting business as a manufacturer of various ammunition types. Haig previously operated “Specialized Military Ammunition,” an Internet business selling high explosive armor piercing incendiary ammunition, armor piercing incendiary ammunition, and armor piercing ammunition. Business records reveal that Haig sold armor piercing ammunition throughout the United States, including Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming, and South Carolina. 

During an interview with investigators, Haig told investigators that he reloads ammunition, but does not offer reloaded cartridges for sale to his customers and none of the ammunition recovered in Las Vegas crime scenes would have tool marks on them consistent with his reloading equipment. Reloaded ammunition refers to ammunition that is manufactured from component parts, including previously fired cartridge cases. Based on a forensic examination of rounds recovered inside the suspect’s rooms at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino following the mass shooting, Haig’s fingerprints were found on reloaded, unfired .308 caliber cartridges. Forensic examination also revealed that armor piercing ammunition recovered inside of the shooter’s rooms had tool marks consistent with Haig’s reloading equipment.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Burns, Nicholas D. Dickinson, and Cristina D. Silva.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury returned a 10-count superseding indictment today on charges related to opioid drug trafficking, including the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the 2017 death of a person, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Daniel W. Neill for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The superseding indictment charges Tianna Christina Cordova, 34, of Henderson, with one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of illegal use of a communication facility.  The superseding indictment charges co-defendant Robert James Thornburg, 36, of Henderson, with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  Cordova and Thornburg were previously charged by a seven-count indictment in July 2018.  The superseding indictment also includes the prior charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance – oxycodone and amphetamine, five counts of distribution of a controlled substance – oxycodone, amphetamine, and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to information contained in the complaint and superseding indictment, on June 21, 2018, a search warrant was executed at Cordova and Thornburg’s residence in Henderson. Law enforcement found varied amounts of oxycodone, hydrocodone, alprazolam, four firearms, and cash. As alleged, they conspired with each other to distribute oxycodone and amphetamine (Adderall). On March 14, 2017, it is alleged that Cordova distributed a controlled substance containing fentanyl that led to the overdose death of an individual. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.

If convicted, the maximum penalty is 20 years and a $1,000,000 fine for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance, the mandatory minimum penalty is 20 years up to life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine for distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, the mandatory minimum penalty is five years up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and the maximum penalty is four years in prison and a $250,000 fine for illegal use of a communication facility.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the Clark County Coroner’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Jaroch is prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who obtained passports from citizens of foreign countries then filed false tax returns using their identities was sentenced to 366 days in prison and three years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan of the IRS-Criminal Investigation.

Edwin Israel Bravo-Donis, 32, previously pleaded guilty to one count of submitting a false, fictitious, and fraudulent claim to the Government. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II presided over yesterday’s sentencing hearing.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, between January 1, 2015, and October 24, 2017, Bravo-Donis obtained passports from citizens of foreign countries, such as Guatemala and El Salvador. Even though these foreign citizens did not live or work in the United States, Bravo-Donis used their identities to file fabricated tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service that falsely claimed they were each entitled to thousands of dollars in tax refunds. As part of the scheme, Bravo-Donis assisted in or participated in the filing of at least 228 false tax returns in the names of 67 foreign citizens that received more than $500,000 in refunds from the IRS.

The case was investigated by the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day jury trial, a Las Vegas man was found guilty of using a filing sharing network and the internet to receive and distribute sexually explicit images and videos of children, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

Bret Alan Humphries, 60, was convicted of one count of receipt and/or distribution of child pornography. The jury trial was before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon who scheduled a sentencing hearing on November 15, 2018. Humphries faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between October 4, 2011, and August 30, 2012, Humphries used Shareaza, a peer-to-peer file sharing program, to receive and distribute child pornography. Federal task force agents executed a search warrant at his residence and seized 3 devices containing child pornography. After a forensic examination of the devices, law enforcement discovered 71 images and 120 video files depicting pre-pubescent children and toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct and being subjected to sado-masochistic sexual abuse. Computer forensics showed that Humphries had been using various file sharing networks to receive and view child pornography since at least 2006.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton and Elham Roohani are prosecuting the case.

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

###

TUCSON, Ariz. – A former DEA Supervisory Special Agent who was assigned to the Nogales Office as part of the DEA Tucson District Office pleaded guilty today in federal court in Tucson, Arizona, to illegally selling firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL). The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada because the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is recused from the case.

Joseph Michael Gill, 42, of Tucson, pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a licensee. He resigned from his position with the DEA on June 30, 2018. United States Magistrate Judge Lynnette C. Kimmins accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for November 26, 2018. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the affidavit for a search warrant for Gill’s residence obtained in connection with the investigation, in December 2012, Gill applied for a Federal Firearms License with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), but he subsequently withdrew the application. Subsequent to withdrawing that application, Gill purchased multiple firearms from licensed firearms dealers and sold them on the internet utilizing the website Gunbroker.com.  Upon further investigation into Gill’s use of Gunbroker.com, ATF learned that Gill had engaged in approximately 645 transactions.

According to the plea agreement, on June 12, 2016, Gill purchased three Colt .223/5.56 caliber rifles from an online FFL located in Lexington, Kentucky. He paid a total of $1,896. The rifles were shipped to a FFL in Sahuarita, Arizona, and Gill picked up the rifles on June 18. Then, on July 27 and 28, 2016, Gill sold two of the rifles to two different individuals who he had reason to believe intended to use or dispose of the firearms unlawfully.

The case is being investigated by the ATF and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. of the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former Henderson resident who distributed sexually explicit photos of children via a Twitter account was sentenced today to 135 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

Mark Alan Stoneking, 40, previously of Henderson, Nevada, now a resident of Elyria, Ohio, pleaded guilty on March 1, 2018, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware II sentenced him to lifetime supervised release and he will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

In his plea agreement, Stoneking admitted that, on December 20, 2014, and January 6, 2015, he distributed sexually explicit photos of children via a Twitter account. Those images were accessible to the account’s “followers.” On January 12, 2016, members of the Henderson Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force executed a search warrant at Stoneking’s residence in Henderson. They seized four electronic devices containing more than 600 videos and more than 200,000 images of child pornography.

A FBI task force arrested Stoneking on these charges in April 2017. Before the officers entered his residence, Stoneking unsuccessfully tried to hide his cell phone in the attic. A forensic examination showed that Stoneking stored sexually explicit photos of children on that phone as well.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez prosecuted the case.

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or by making a CyberTipline report 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 and for information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day jury trial, a Las Vegas felon was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm that was discovered during a traffic stop, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Omar Qazi, 30, was convicted of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over the jury trial and scheduled sentencing for November 15, 2018. Qazi faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to court documents, Qazi was stopped by a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer for a traffic violation near East Harmon Avenue and Koval Lane. During the search of his vehicle, the officer found a loaded Smith & Wesson .22 caliber revolver in the front center console. Methamphetamine and marijuana were also recovered inside the vehicle.  Evidence introduced at trial also included an audio recorded interview of Qazi where he admitted the firearm was his; and also two jail calls where he admitted to two different individuals that he knew he was a felon and should not have been driving around with a gun. Qazi’s DNA was also recovered from the firearm. Qazi has a prior felony conviction in Nevada for battery with substantial bodily harm and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Michael and Patrick Burns prosecuted the case.

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

###

RENO, Nev. – A Reno man who admitted to using stolen identities to create more than 8,000 fraudulent online accounts to commit a $3.5 million fraud scheme was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison, three years supervised release, and 100 hours of community service, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Kenneth Gilbert Gibson, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Miranda Du. He previously pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, filing a false tax return, and aggravated identity theft. In addition to the prison term, he agreed to pay approximately $1 million in restitution and a $3.5 million forfeiture judgment.

Between 2012 and 2017, Gibson created a sophisticated scheme to steal the identities of multiple victims from a database in Reno. He used the stolen identities to create approximately 8,000 unauthorized and fraudulent online accounts, credit accounts, bank accounts, and prepaid cards. He would use those fraudulent accounts to transfer, deposit, and send approximately $3.5 million to himself via hard copy checks and through electronic transactions to approximately 500 bank accounts and pre-paid debit cards owned and under his control.

In addition, he admitted to filing a false federal income tax return for the 2013 tax year. He did not include approximately $1,049,070 of taxable income he received from the fraud scheme.

The case was a joint investigation by a Task Force with members from the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, IRS, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Reno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Baldwin Carry prosecuted the case.

If your personal information is stolen, make a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.identitytheft.gov or by phone at 1-877-438-4338. For identity theft prevention tips and free resources visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas doctor pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute prescription medications, specifically Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, by allowing his co-conspirators to write illegal opioid prescriptions using his prescription pad.

United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Office, 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 made the announcement.

Dr. Horace Paul Guerra IV, a former managing partner of Incera LLC, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances before U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan who scheduled a sentencing hearing for October 25, 2018. He was charged in a criminal information on June 25, 2018.

According to admissions made in his plea agreement, from January 1, 2018 to about May 3, 2018, Guerra conspired with his Incera LLC partners, Robert D. Harvey and Alejandro Incera. As part of the conspiracy, he allowed them to use Incera LLC prescription pads to write illegal opioid prescriptions, specifically for Hydrocodone and Oxycodone, for patients he did not see and without a legitimate medical purpose. The pre-signed prescription pads included Guerra’s name, signature, and DEA number.

At time of sentencing, Guerra will face the statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. As part of the plea agreement, Guerra agreed to surrender his Nevada medical license by the time of sentencing.

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 U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden is prosecuting the case.

The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the pilot 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.

###

RENO, Nev. – A Lovelock Paiute Tribe member who admitted to assaulting a man with a broken glass lamp was sentenced today to nine years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Rafael Alfonso Medina Jr., 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks. He pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to admissions made in his plea agreement, on January 1, 2016, in Lovelock, Nevada, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Lovelock Indian Reservation, Medina repeatedly assaulted a man on his head, arms, and body with a broken glass table lamp. The victim was airlifted to a hospital in Reno for treatment. The victim suffered severe blood loss, requiring a blood transfusion, as well as amputation of a finger and staples and sutures for his injuries.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nevada man who pleaded guilty on April 17, 2018 to receipt of approximately 8,700 photos and videos of child pornography was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 264 months in prison and lifetime supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Craig Richard Pozesky, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. According to the plea agreement, Pozesky uploaded images of child pornography to his “Gmail” email account intending to send the images to another individual. Law enforcement officers obtained and executed a search warrant for Pozesky’s residence. Pozesky admitted that he viewed, downloaded, and possessed hundreds of images and videos of children as young as one-year-old being sexually assaulted by adults. Pozesky also admitted to trading child pornography with other individuals, to include receiving an USB drive containing child pornography from another person, as well as engaging in online sexually explicit conversations with an underage child. Pozesky was in the process of coordinating a meeting with the minor when he was arrested.

At the time Pozesky was arrested for this offense, he was already a convicted felon and registered sex offender. His sex offender status was based on prior convictions in Nevada and Florida for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor offenses.

This case was investigated by the Henderson Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

###

WASHINGTON – A former Las Vegas City Councilman was sentenced today to 1 month in prison, 3 months in a halfway house, and 8 months of home confinement for orchestrating a scheme to steal tens of thousands of dollars from his reelection campaign in 2015, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

Ricki Y. Barlow, 46, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon of the District of Nevada following Barlow’s guilty plea to one count of wire fraud earlier this year.  In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Gordon imposed a fine of $66,125 and ordered Barlow to serve 3 years of supervised release. 

According to admissions made in connection with Barlow’s plea, Barlow stole approximately $49,125 from his reelection campaign in 2015 through a series of kickbacks from campaign vendors.  Barlow admitted to directing the campaign vendors to submit inflated invoices to his campaign treasurer and then kick back a substantial percentage of their paychecks to Barlow, typically in the form of cash.  Barlow also admitted to accepting an additional $17,000 in cash campaign contributions that he never reported to his campaign treasurer or transmitted to the campaign.  Instead, as he did with the campaign kickbacks, Barlow admitted to diverting the $17,000 in campaign contributions for his own personal use.   

To conceal the scheme to steal campaign funds, Barlow admitted to causing his campaign to submit false campaign finance reports to the Nevada Secretary of State.    

This case was investigated by the FBI.  Trial Attorney Ryan J. Ellersick of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess of the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.   

# # #

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Following a three-day jury trial, a Las Vegas felon was convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Jacqueline Moore, 38, was found guilty of one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of felon in possession of ammunition. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the hearing. Sentencing is scheduled for October 17, 2018. At the time of sentencing, Moore faces the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, during a barbeque on the afternoon of October 27, 2017, Moore got into an altercation with a woman who became a victim of violence at the hands of Moore. The altercation happened at a residence near “B” Street and Monroe Street in Las Vegas.  The victim left the barbecue and went to the Elk’s Lodge located at 600 West Owens Avenue.  Almost immediately thereafter, Moore drove to the Elk’s Lodge and confronted the victim in the parking lot. During the altercation, Moore broke the victim’s car window and a tail light. Moore also threatened to shoot her with a .25 caliber pistol.  After Moore fled the scene, an eyewitness called the police.  Responding police officers located Moore a short time later and took her into custody near the residence at “B” and Monroe.  A search of Moore’s vehicle revealed a .25 caliber pistol and a search of the purse Moore was carrying when she was apprehended yielded a single round of .25 caliber ammunition.  Moore is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to her prior felony convictions in Clark County for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted battery with substantial bodily harm.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Allison Reese and Phillip N. Smith, Jr. are prosecuting the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Idaho man was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for his involvement in the armed assault against federal law enforcement officers that occurred in April 2014, in the Bunkerville, Nevada, area, during the removal and impoundment of Cliven Bundy’s cattle that were trespassing on federal public lands, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada

Todd C. Engel, 51, was found guilty by a jury in April 2017, of obstruction of justice and interstate travel in aid of extortion. He was indicted by a grand jury in March 2016. United States District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro presided over the trial and sentencing hearing.

During a 32-day jury trial, evidence showed, that in April 2014, Engel traveled to Bunkerville with the intent to commit a crime of violence against federal law enforcement officers who were executing a federal court order. Engel, brandishing a loaded AR-15 assault rifle with extra ammunition in his tactical vest, hid behind concrete barriers on the I-15 overpass. He brandished his firearm at law enforcement to impede, intimidate, and to threaten to assault federal law enforcement officers involved in the impoundment operations.          

The case was investigated by the FBI and BLM. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven W. Myhre, Daniel R. Schiess, and Nadia J. Ahmed prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An Indian Springs, Nevada, man who rammed his ATV into a gate securing the Devils Hole area, destroyed a surveillance camera and equipment, then harmed pupfish, an endangered species, pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Superintendent Mike Reynolds for Death Valley National Park.

Trenton Sargent, 28, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to one count of violation of the Endangered Species Act, one count of destruction of United States property, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for October 25, 2018. The maximum penalty for Endangered Species Act, a criminal misdemeanor, is up to one year in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. The maximum penalty for destroying United States property and being a felon in possession of a firearm, both felonies, is up to ten years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine per count.

Devils Hole, a detached unit of Death Valley National Park, is located in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, within a 40-acre parcel of National Park Service land surrounded by the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Devils Hole is the only location in the world where Devils Hole pupfish exist in the wild. They are the descendants of fish that inhabit an ancient lake that once covered Death Valley. The pupfish is a Nevada state and federally listed endangered species. The Endangered Species Act was enacted to provide a program for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. In the spring of 2016, Devils Hole contained just 115 observable pupfish.

According to court documents, Sargent admitted, that on April 30, 2016, he and two co-defendants rammed the fence surrounding Devils Hole with their ATV, severely damaging the gate. Then, Sargent, a felon prohibited from possessing firearms, fired a Mossbert 500 shotgun at the padlock on the gate, attempting to gain access. After their attempts were unsuccessful, the men scaled the fence. Once in the enclosed area, they destroyed a sensor center for cameras and equipment for the area, and destroyed a video surveillance camera belonging to the National Park Service.

Then, Sargent went into the water. By stepping onto the Devils Hole shallow shelf, he smashed pupfish eggs and larvae pupfish during the peak spawning season for pupfish, who lay their eggs on the shallow shelf.

Two other men, Edgar Reyes, 37, of North Las Vegas, and Steven Schwinkendorf, 31, of Pahrump, who were with Sargent at Devils Hole during the time of the crimes, previously pleaded guilty to destruction of government property and violation of the Endangered Species Act. They were each sentenced to one year probation.

The investigation was conducted by the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Nye County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez.

To report a suspicious or criminal activity in a national park site, call the National Park Service tip line at 1-888-653-0009 or visit https://www.nps.gov. For more information on the Department of Justice’s wildlife protection efforts, visit   https://www.justice.gov/enrd.

###

RENO Nev. – A man unlawfully in the United States who used another man’s personal identifying information on his U.S. passport application was sentenced to two years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Perlman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) San Francisco Field Office. 

Alberto Jacinto-Rios, aka Manuel Lorenzo Diaz, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben. Following his prison sentence, Jacinto-Rios will be deported from the United States. He pleaded guilty in April 2018 to one count of aggravated identity theft.

On March 6, 2017, Jacinto-Rios applied for a U.S. passport at the University of Nevada, Reno using the name, date of birth, Social Security number, and birth certificate of a U.S. citizen. He provided the passport acceptance agent with a California birth certificate and a Nevada Identification Card, both in the name of the other. The passport application was referred to DSS because a passport and passport card had been previously issued. Jacinto-Rios was positively identified as the fraudulent passport applicant through photographs. He was arrested on the same day he was indicted in December of 2017.

The case was investigated by DSS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian L. Sullivan prosecuted the case.

If you are aware of, or have been a victim of, fraud or fraudulently issued U.S. passports, contact PassportVisaFraud@state.gov.

###

RENO, Nev. — A felon pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of an explosive device at his residence in Winnemucca, Nevada, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

Terry J. Hanson Jr., 36, pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of an explosive. He was arrested and indicted in May of this year. United States Judge Larry R. Hicks accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for October 9, 2018. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to information contained in the plea agreement, on April 18, 2018, Hanson, a convicted felon, and a cooperating witness, who was wearing a recording device, met with an undercover employee to sell a roll of Thermalite Ignitor cord, an explosive material under federal law, and Thermalite connectors. Hanson received $3,000 in cash for the sale to the undercover. He has a prior felony conviction in Humboldt County for possession of a controlled substance.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Nevada Department of Public Safety - NDI, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Winnemucca Police Department, Elko Police Department, Elko Sheriff's Office, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Reno Police Department, and the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow is prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The owner and operator of numerous beauty product websites pleaded guilty today to selling $2.3 million in non-FDA approved and misbranded drugs and medical devices, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge William P. Conway of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations’ Chicago Field Office.

Kelly Luanne Schaible, aka Kelly Reed and Heather Lane, 56, previously of Henderson, Nevada, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to one count of wire fraud and one count of introduction of misbranded medical devices in interstate commerce.

According to court documents, from 2009 to at least 2014, Schaible owned and operated AAE d/b/a Basics, Inc.; Basics, Inc.; and Basics Inc., Ltd. The companies’ websites sold various beauty products related to weight loss, hair loss, skin care, eyelashes, and wrinkle reduction. She operated the websites from Illinois, then from various homes she occupied in Henderson.

In admissions made in her plea agreement, Schaible knowingly marketed, sold, and distributed non-FDA approved prescription drugs containing Botulinum Toxin Type A, also known as Botox, and non-FDA approved prescription devices containing hyaluronic acid, also known as Juvederm related products. She obtained these products from distributors in China.

She further admitted that she made various misrepresentations on the websites that lead customers to believe the fake Botox and Juvederm products offered for sale were safe and could be administered without a prescription. She did not require customers to provide a valid prescription prior to purchase and the products were not properly labeled as required by federal law. Schaible sold approximately 9,500 units of misbranded prescription drugs containing Botulinum and received approximately $1.7 million in sales revenue. She also sold approximately 4,000 units of misbranded Juvederm products and received approximately $630,000 in sales revenue.

Furthermore, on July 1, 2012, Schaible made an online sale of misbranded products to a customer in Pennsylvania. The products did not have proper labeling providing adequate directions for use as required by federal law. She mailed the products from Henderson to Dresher, Pennsylvania using the U.S. Postal Service.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 25, 2018. The maximum statutory penalty for wire fraud is up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the maximum statutory penalty for introducing misbranded devices into interstate commerce is three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the FDA-Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Baldwin Carry is prosecuting the case.

If you find a website that may be illegally selling medical products and devices, dietary supplements or cosmetics over the internet, make a report to the FDA by calling 1-866-300-4374 or at https://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ucm059315.htm.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who possessed more than 15,500 photos and videos of child pornography, including the sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, was sentenced today to 68 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Ryan Austin Rother, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. He previously pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, on October 13, 2016, Rother’s wife contacted the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to report child pornography she found on her husband’s computer. An officer visited the residence and spoke with Rother’s wife. She showed the officer an image on her husband’s computer of a minor girl being sexually assaulted by a man. During the execution of a search warrant, a total of 39 devices belonging to Rother were seized from the residence. A forensic evaluation revealed 15,676 images and 40 videos of child pornography on four different devices. Of these child pornography files, more than 300 images depicted bondage and violence and more than 3,000 images depicted infants and toddlers.

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

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) by calling the 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or by making a CyberTipline report at www.cybertipline.com.

The 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.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Department of Justice includes four Nevada residents who were charged with conspiracy to distribute prescription opioids and health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex M. Azar III, announced today the national health care fraud takedown involved 601 charged defendants across 58 federal districts, including 165 doctors, nurses, and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $2 billion in false billings. Of those charged, 162 defendants, including 76 doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS announced today that from July 2017 to the present, it has excluded 2,700 individuals from participation in Medicare, Medicaid, and all other Federal health care programs, which includes 587 providers excluded for conduct related to opioid diversion and abuse.

“Health care fraud is a betrayal of vulnerable patients, and often it is theft from the taxpayer,” said Attorney General Sessions. “In many cases, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists take advantage of people suffering from drug addiction in order to line their pockets. These are despicable crimes. That’s why this Department of Justice has taken historic new steps to go after fraudsters, including hiring more prosecutors and leveraging the power of data analytics. Today the Department of Justice is announcing the largest health care fraud enforcement action in American history. This is the most fraud, the most defendants, and the most doctors ever charged in a single operation—and we have evidence that our ongoing work has stopped or prevented billions of dollars’ worth of fraud. I want to thank our fabulous partners with the FBI, DEA, our Health Care Fraud task forces, HHS, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Medicare, and especially the more than 1,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers from across America who made this possible. By every measure we are more effective at finding and prosecuting medical fraud than ever.”

“Prescription opioid-related health care fraud is a serious problem,” said U.S. Attorney Elieson. “Medical professionals hold a special place of trust in our society as healers, caregivers, and lifesavers. Doctors who violate their oath to ‘do no harm’ by illegally prescribing opioids for no medical necessity or file fraudulent health care bills will be held accountable.”

As part of the announcement, the District of Nevada filed charges against four individuals, including one doctor, with prescription opioid-related offenses. The cases have a combined loss of approximately $3.7 million.

• Robert D. Harvey, a surgical technician, Alejandro Incera and Leslie Kalyn, both nurse practitioners, were charged in a 29-count indictment. As alleged, Harvey and Incera conspired to use Dr. Horace Guerra’s pre-signed prescription pad to distribute Hydrocodone and Oxycodone to patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash kickbacks. Incera and Kalyn allegedly prescribed Lidocaine, Modafinil, and Diclofenac Sodium to patients without a legitimate medical purpose, many of which were billed to Medicare/Medicaid by a pharmacy that filled the prescriptions. Harvey, Incera, and Kalyn were paid cash kickbacks for their patient referrals to the pharmacy. A jury trial is set for July 30, 2018.
• Dr. Horace P. Guerra was charged with conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone and Hydrocodone. As alleged, he provided pre-signed prescription pads to Robert Harvey and Alejandro Incera who wrote opioid prescriptions for patients without a legitimate medical purpose. His initial court appearance and plea hearing is set for July 25, 2018.

These charges are the result of joint investigations 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 U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden is prosecuting these cases.

The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit is a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the pilot 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.

A criminal information or indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Additional documents related to the national announcement are available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/documents-and-resources-june-28-2018.

###

RENO, Nev. – A federal grand jury returned four-related indictments today charging 20 alleged members of a Reno drug trafficking and firearms organization for their roles in a large-scale drug distribution ring that operated in the Reno area. Seventeen defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, and three defendants are charged with firearms-related offenses.

United States Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas office made the announcement.

The 17 defendants charged for their alleged roles in the drug conspiracy are Jose Valentin Mora, aka Cholo and Magic, 36; Sandy Diaz Tavares, 33; Jose Vega, aka Panda, 33; Angel Diaz, 21; Javier Chavez, 58; Shawn Curl, 35; Marcos Hernandez, aka Bigotes, 58; Roberto Mora-Mora, 52; Juana Baca, aka Sneaky, 44; Elizabeth Reyes-Delacerda, aka Chavela, 26; Richard Rossall, aka Monopoly, 52; Ciara Hernandez, 18; Marco Antonio Ramirez, aka Anthony, 35; Kelsea Barbara Riley, 26; Leon DeJesus Munera, 27; and Jorge Ayala-Chavez, 43, all of Reno, Nevada; and Francisco Meza Recio, 31, of Simi Valley, California. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of $10,000,000.

According to allegations contained in the 14-count drug conspiracy indictment and criminal complaint, from January 25, 2018 to June 14, 2018, the defendants conspired with each other to possess and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Reno and elsewhere. On several occasions, Jose Valentin Mora, the alleged leader, sold the drugs to his co-conspirators who would then resell the drugs in Reno. To date, more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine has been seized from this drug conspiracy. This amount has an approximate street value of over $300,000.

The three-related indictments charge Jose Valentin Mora, Jose Vega, Jose Mora-Silva, Dagoberto Mora-Silva, and Alberto Acosta-Macias with firearms offenses. Felons Jose Mora and Jose Vega are charged with unlawful possession of a firearm after having a prior felony conviction in Nevada. Jose Mora-Silva is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm while being an alien unlawfully in the United States. Dagoberto Mora-Silva is charged with aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by prohibited persons Jose Mora and Jose Mora-Silva. Jose Mora and Acosta-Macias are charged with possession of a stolen .22 caliber Marlin rifle. Each defendant faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

“As alleged, these defendants trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin in Reno,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson. “Today’s indictments are the latest example of our steadfast commitment to fighting drug trafficking and reducing violent crime in Nevada’s communities. Together with our law enforcement partners we are committed to protecting Nevadans and making our communities safe.”

“Law enforcement partnerships made this operation a success,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse. “Drug trafficking organizations bring gun violence to our neighborhoods and take advantage of the addiction problem our community and our nation faces. Working together with our partners enabled us to identify key elements of the organization and effectively shut it down. I am very proud of the hard work of the Northern Nevada Safe Street’s Task Force. As a result of this large scale operation, a well-organized drug trafficking operation has effectively been dismantled, and the community of Reno is safer.”

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

These charges stem from an investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force with significant assistance by federal, state, and local law enforcement partners including the Reno Police Department, Sparks Police Department, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

###

An individual who managed a multimillion dollar fraudulent telemarketing scam was sentenced on June 25, 2018, to serve 63 months in prison by a federal judge in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Department of Justice announced.

Michael Rossi, 52, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey also ordered Rossi to pay $2,785,508.36 in restitution, reflecting the victim losses from the scheme.  

Rossi pleaded guilty in December 2017 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud based on his role in managing a telemarketing operation that defrauded thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly, out of millions of dollars.  Co-defendant, Glen Burke, 58, of Las Vegas, was sentenced on March 12 to 87 months in prison.  

“This case demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting scammers who defraud elderly Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take every step possible to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud scams and deliver justice for victims.”

“Seniors and caregivers should be alert to and mindful of these types of scams. Criminals who prey on and steal from seniors will face prosecution and be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “If someone believes they or someone they know is a victim of elder fraud, they should report it to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.”

According to documents filed in court, Rossi managed the fraudulent telemarketing operation for Burke, who controlled the operation.  Telemarketers working for Burke and Rossi falsely told victims that they had won one of five valuable prizes: a Chevy Camaro; a Boston Whaler boat; a diamond-and-sapphire bracelet; $3,000 cash; or a cruise that could be exchanged for $2,300. To claim the prize, consumers were told to pay hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of dollars. Once they paid, victims received a nearly worthless piece of costume jewelry or nothing at all. 

Individuals who made an initial payment were sometimes called again, and misled into believing they had won an even better prize, in a process called “loading” or “reloading,” which could be repeated multiple times. This caused victims to lose thousands of dollars.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Readler commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He also thanked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for bringing a civil enforcement action that resulted in the shutdown of the defendants’ telemarketing operation and for the FTC’s assistance during the criminal investigation and prosecution.  The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada.  

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – An individual who managed a multimillion dollar fraudulent telemarketing scam was sentenced today to serve 63 months in prison by a federal judge in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Department of Justice announced.

Michael Rossi, 52, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey also ordered Rossi to pay $2,785,508.36 in restitution, reflecting the victim losses from the scheme.  

Rossi pleaded guilty in December 2017 to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud based on his role in managing a telemarketing operation that defrauded thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly, out of millions of dollars. Co-defendant, Glen Burke, 58, of Las Vegas, was sentenced on March 12, 2018, to 87 months in prison.  

“This case demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting scammers who defraud elderly Americans,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to take every step possible to prosecute perpetrators of elder fraud scams and deliver justice for victims.”

“Seniors and caregivers should be alert to and mindful of these types of scams. Criminals who prey on and steal from seniors will face prosecution and be brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “If someone believes they or someone they know is a victim of elder fraud, they should report it to the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.”

According to documents filed in court, Rossi managed the fraudulent telemarketing operation for Burke, who controlled the operation. Telemarketers working for Burke and Rossi falsely told victims that they had won one of five valuable prizes: a Chevy Camaro; a Boston Whaler boat; a diamond-and-sapphire bracelet; $3,000 cash; or a cruise that could be exchanged for $2,300. To claim the prize, consumers were told to pay hundreds, or in some cases thousands, of dollars. Once they paid, victims received a nearly worthless piece of costume jewelry or nothing at all. 

Individuals who made an initial payment were sometimes called again, and misled into believing they had won an even better prize, in a process called “loading” or “reloading,” which could be repeated multiple times. This caused victims to lose thousands of dollars.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Readler commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He also thanked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for bringing a civil enforcement action that resulted in the shutdown of the defendants’ telemarketing operation and for the FTC’s assistance during the criminal investigation and prosecution. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Timothy Finley and Daniel Zytnick of the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Dickinson of the District of Nevada.  

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at http://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

# # #

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A felon who robbed two Las Vegas banks at gunpoint on the same day and stole a total of approximately $22,000 made his initial appearance in federal court today, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Robert Carl Litheredge, 58, of Las Vegas, is charged in a criminal complaint with two counts of armed bank robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Carl W. Hoffman who scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 5, 2018.

According to allegations contained in the complaint, on April 17, 2018, Litheredge, who was wearing a dark colored ski mask and carrying a handgun, entered the Bank of America at 2638 Horizon Ridge Parkway in Henderson. He told the customers and employees to get down on the floor as he waved the handgun in the air. He told a teller that he wanted $100,000 while pointing the handgun at the teller who was overcome with fear. The Branch Manager stepped in and provided Litheredge with cash from the teller’s drawer. He fled the bank with $1,999.

It is further alleged that several hours later, Litheredge entered the Bank of America at 4080 Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas. He wore a black ski mask and carried a handgun. He demanded $50,000 from a teller, then walked the teller to the back of the bank. The teller went through a door behind the teller stations and closed himself off from Litheredge who was left in the bank’s lobby. Litheredge then fired one round from his handgun into the ceiling. The teller pushed two wrapped stacks of cash totaling $20,000 through the teller window trays. Litheredge then fired another round into the ceiling before fleeing the bank.

Later that day, the Henderson Police Department released the bank robbery suspect’s photo to the media. On April 18, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received an anonymous tip identifying Litheredge as the perpetrator. The police located Litheredge on April 19, 2018, and arrested him. Litheredge had a .45 caliber handgun on his person when he was taken into custody. Later on April 19, during an interview with detectives from the Henderson Police Department and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Litheredge admitted to robbing both banks on April 17.

Litheredge is also charged with felon in possession of a firearm. He has eight prior felony convictions including two bank robbery convictions from 2001 and 2007.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Henderson Police Department, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. is prosecuting the case.

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

# # #

RENO, Nev. – A Reno resident who used KIK Messenger to view more than 2,000 images and videos of child pornography was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Ian Michael Ramsey, 21, previously pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, he will be required under the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act (SORNA) to register as a sex offender. United States District Judge Miranda Du presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, Ramsey admitted that he chatted online with others who looked at child pornography on the KIK Messenger application. During chat sessions, he would often suggest engaging in child trafficking and discussed meeting up in Las Vegas to potentially abuse children. During the execution of a search warrant at his residence, law enforcement discovered 500 videos and 1,500 images on his computer. An additional 300 videos had been deleted from his computer, but law enforcement was able to recover them during the investigation.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami prosecuted the case.

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com.

The 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.

###

RENO, Nev. – Two Sonoma County residents were each sentenced today to 154 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for robbing a Reno convenience store at gunpoint on Black Friday in 2016, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

In March, a jury found Connor Timothy Woods, 28, and Michael Miller, 31, both of Santa Rosa, California, guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of interference with commerce by robbery, and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben presided over the jury trial and sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, on November 25, 2016, Woods entered a 7-11 located at 6150 South McCarran Boulevard, pointed a semi-automatic handgun at a store clerk, and demanded money from the cash register and the slots register drawers. When the clerk went to grab the slots register drawer, he saw Woods had put the gun down on the counter. The clerk attempted to grab the gun and they began to struggle. The gun fell to the floor and the clerk threw the cash drawer at Woods. Woods left the store and fled the scene in a mini-van driven by Miller. They stole approximately $100.

A few days later, a Reno Police Department detective found the get-away vehicle parked on the side of I-80 and the vehicle was towed to the police station. Law enforcement was able to identify Woods as a robbery suspect based on evidence discovered in the mini-van and from the surveillance videos. In an interview with the detective, Woods stated, “I admit to the 7-11 robbery. I admit to it, there that’s all you need.”

The investigation was conducted by the Reno Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Rachow and James E. Keller.

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

###

RENO, Nev. – Thomas Michael Bidegary, 67, a tax return preparer who co-owned Winnemucca Tax and Bookkeeping Service, a tax preparation and bookkeeping services business, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit tax fraud and theft of government money, related to two separate criminal indictments, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones received his guilty pleas and scheduled a sentencing hearing on January 29, 2019.

According to court documents, Bidegary conspired with a co-defendant to prepare and file fraudulent individual income tax returns on behalf of clients. Beginning in at least 2009 and continuing through December 2014, he advised clients that by making small “investments” into various businesses he owned, the clients could decrease their annual taxable income and increase their tax refunds. As part of the scheme, after receiving checks from clients, Thomas would prepare false tax forms for the corresponding tax year that included large fictitious business losses in order to reduce the client’s taxable income and obtain a larger refund than what the client was entitled to receive. As a result of the false tax returns, he caused a tax loss of approximately $259,880.

The statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

In relation to a separate criminal case filed against Bidegary, he also admitted to preparing and filing an unauthorized tax return on behalf of an elderly woman in Battle Mountain, Nevada. After receiving the $12,500 tax refund, he deposited the check into a bank account which was then converted for his own personal use. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison for theft of government property. He also faces a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Higginbotham. 

###

RENO, Nev. – A Winnemucca tax return preparer pleaded guilty today for her role in a tax fraud conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation.

Ginger Bidegary, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones received her guilty plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing on September 17, 2018.

According to court documents, Bidegary was a co-owner of Winnemucca Tax and Bookkeeping Service, a tax preparation and bookkeeping services business. She admitted that, from at least 2011 through at least December 2013, she conspired with her co-defendant to prepare and file fraudulent individual income tax returns on behalf of a client who is identified in court paperwork by initials only. She admitted she advised the client that by making small “investments” into various businesses she owned, the client could decrease her annual taxable income and increase her tax refunds. As part of the scheme, Bidegary would prepare false tax forms for the corresponding tax year that included large fictitious business losses in order to reduce the client’s taxable income and obtain a larger refund than what the client was entitled to receive. As a result of the false tax return she participated in drafting and filing on behalf of the client, Bidegary caused a tax loss of approximately $39,588, for tax years 2011 and 2012.

The statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. Bidegary also faces a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla Higginbotham. 

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Nevada’s seniors are some of the most respected and cherished members of our communities, but also some of the most vulnerable members. Today on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirms its commitment to raising awareness and combatting elder abuse and exploitation.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office has a shared commitment with our partners to protect Nevada’s seniors from abuse, neglect, fraud, and exploitation,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “We are dedicated to prosecuting and preventing crimes targeting the elderly, educating seniors and their loved ones, and raising awareness of elder abuse and exploitation.”

Criminals prey on seniors through scams or threats to steal their savings. It is widely estimated that one in ten seniors in the United States is abused, but often that abuse takes the form of financial exploitation or fraud. Each year, an estimated $3 billion is stolen or defrauded from millions of American seniors. Through “grandparent scams,” fake prizes, romance scams, fraudulent IRS refunds, and even outright extortion, criminals try to exploit some of the most vulnerable Americans and steal their life’s savings.

The mission of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative is to strengthen awareness about elder abuse and financial exploitation through education, build law enforcement capacity to respond to elder justice issues, and facilitate prosecution efforts to make our community safer for all. In January, AG Sessions ordered all 94 U.S. Attorney’s offices to each designate an elder justice coordinator, who will customize a strategy to protect seniors in their district. This ensures a greater cooperation between the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners. In 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted elder crimes to include:

• Daniel Martin Boyar, of Orlando, Florida, pleaded guilty to committing a $3.3 million telemarketing scam to defraud more than 1,000 victims, many of them elderly. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, 2018.
• Angela Fischer, a former Business Manager for a Reno retirement center in Fernley, Nevada, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for stealing more than $190,000 from an elderly resident’s bank account.
• Willie James Montgomery, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 88 months’ imprisonment for targeting the elderly as part of a $1.2 million telemarketing scam.
• Noah Patrick Fields, of Las Vegas, was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for pointing a firearm at an elderly owner of a coin and jewelry store during a robbery.

In addition to the prosecution of criminals, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its partners participate in public forums educating senior community members and concerned citizens about elder financial fraud. In 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department conducted four public forums. The forums are intended to raise awareness to the various types of fraud schemes targeting seniors and offers prevention tips on how to protect themselves.

Today, the Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture announced the forming of a working group to focus on ways to empower and to support rural and tribal communities to combat elder abuse and financial exploitation.

For more information about the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative, visit www.elderjustice.gov to learn more about the ways you can assist in preventing fraud, neglect, and abuse of elders. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov. 

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former felon who sold cocaine and possessed six firearms was sentenced today to 105 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Oren Snowden, 29, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty on March 12, to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. He has a prior federal felony conviction in Nevada for felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to court documents, on June 21, 2017, Snowden sold cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer for $280, at a gas station in Las Vegas. During the execution of a search warrant of his residence, law enforcement recovered six firearms including a Jimenez JA .380 semi-automatic handgun; a Smith and Wesson 10-7 .38 special revolver; a Ruger P345 .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun; a Ruger p950C 9mm semi-automatic handgun; a Bryco T380 .380 caliber; and a Ruger mini 307 .62 caliber semi-automatic rifle with scope. He voluntarily admitted to a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detective that he knew what he was doing “on the side” was bad.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation (ICE-HSI) and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Michael and Nadia Ahmed prosecuted the case.

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

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Levitt of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada was recognized by Department of Justice Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director James Crowell IV at the 34th Director’s Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. today.

The District of Nevada was one of 35 districts represented at the ceremony held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. This annual ceremony recognizes individuals for their outstanding service and dedication to carrying out the mission of the Department of Justice.

In addressing the award recipients and guests, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said, “Today’s honorees earned the esteem of their colleagues. But most importantly, they earned the gratitude of our fellow citizens — the people whose communities you made safer, whose lives you improved, and whose trust you rewarded. Today, we pause to honor and recognize a small portion of your work.”

“Peter is recognized for his exceptional work as an appellate advocate in tackling some of the most difficult cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in particular for preserving convictions and sentencings imposed on defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson. “He has dedicated his expertise, energy, and service to the pursuit of justice and his commitment to excellence.”

Mr. Levitt has handled complicated cases with a tireless commitment to justice. For example, he handled United States v. Grimm and Mazzarella, where the defendants received sentences of 25 years and 14 years, respectively, and were ordered to pay more than $2.275 million in restitution for losses resulting from the massive mortgage fraud scheme; and United States v. Lindsey, where the Ninth Circuit affirmed the conviction imposed on a loan officer who secured more than $3 million in mortgage loans using straw buyers and false and fraudulent loan applications. Mr. Levitt’s exceptional work in these and other important criminal appeals has helped to shape Ninth Circuit law, and promotes the mission of the United States Attorney’s Office in Nevada.

EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit www.justice.gov/usao. For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas resident who used gas pump skimming devices to steal customers’ personal credit and debit card information was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

Virab Torosyan, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to pay $41,475.22 in restitution. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, Torosyan possessed 1,673 stolen credit and debit card account numbers. He admitted that, from February 2014 to July 2014, he and his co-conspirators placed card skimming devices at gas pumps in order to steal victims’ personal credit and debit card data. Torosyan would re-encode the stolen credit and debit card information to any plastic card with a magnetic strip. Then, he used the counterfeit cards to purchase fuel in North Las Vegas and elsewhere for pick-up trucks that had custom-made 400 gallon fuel tanks hidden under the truck’s hardtop bed cover. Torosyan would resell the fuel at a discounted price to gas stations and other drivers.

The case was investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Dickinson, Kilby Macfadden, and Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.

If you are a victim of identity theft, you may make a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 1-877-438-4338 or online at www.identitytheft.gov. For identity theft prevention tips and free resources visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft.

###

RENO, Nev. – An Owyhee, Nevada, man was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for second-degree murder of a person on Duck Valley Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Borden Bitt, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks. Bitt pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder within Indian Country. He is a member of the Shoshone Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation. Owyhee is located within the exterior boundaries of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and is designated as Indian Country.

According to court documents, on July 23, 2017, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) received an emergency phone call about a fight at a house on Atkins Road in Owyhee. A BIA officer arrived on scene and found the victim face down in a pool of blood on the floor. Emergency medical services arrived and determined that the victim was deceased. Bitt admitted that he approached the victim from behind with a large single-blade hunting knife and slit the victim’s throat.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On the 500th day of the Trump Administration, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada announced that the Department of Justice is taking a dramatic step to increase resources to combat violent crime, enforce our immigration laws, and help roll back the devastating opioid crisis.

In the largest increase in decades, the Department of Justice is allocating 311 new Assistant United States Attorneys to assist in priority areas. Those allocations are as follows: 190 violent crime prosecutors, 86 civil enforcement prosecutors, and 35 additional immigration prosecutors. Many of the civil enforcement Assistant U.S. Attorneys will support the newly created Prescription Interdiction & Litigation Task Force that targets the opioid crisis at every level of the distribution system.

“Under President Trump's strong leadership, the Department of Justice is going on offense against violent crime, illegal immigration, and the opioid crisis—and today we are sending in reinforcements,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We have a saying in my office that a new federal prosecutor is 'the coin of the realm.' When we can eliminate wasteful spending, one of my first questions to my staff is if we can deploy more prosecutors to where they are needed. I have personally worked to re-purpose existing funds to support this critical mission, and as a former federal prosecutor myself, my expectations could not be higher. These exceptional and talented prosecutors are key leaders in our crime fighting partnership. This addition of new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions represents the largest increase in decades.”

“The District of Nevada is grateful for the addition of three new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions,” said U.S. Attorney Elieson. “One will focus on violent crime prosecutions, one on affirmative civil enforcement, including civil opioid enforcement, and one on prosecuting criminal and civil immigration enforcement work. We look forward to hiring talented, experienced, and service-minded individuals who are committed to making Nevada a safer state.”

To see more information on the locations of the 311 Assistant United States Attorney positions click here. 

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Three Southern Nevada residents, including two nurse practitioners, have been arrested and charged in a 29-count indictment for unlawful distribution of prescription opioids and Medicare/Medicaid fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

The defendants were arrested this morning and had their initial court appearance before U.S. District Magistrate Judge George Foley Jr. A jury trial has been set for July 30, 2018. The defendants and their criminal charges in the indictment are:

• Robert D. Harvey, a surgical technician, 45, of Henderson, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, three counts of distribution of controlled substance, and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud;

• Alejandro “Alex” Incera, aka Alexander Jiminez-Incera, an Advance Practice Registered Nurse, 48, of Las Vegas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, three counts of distribution of controlled substances, eight counts of distribution of controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, eight counts of health care fraud, one count of fraudulent concealment involving a federal health care program, and one count of false statements relating to a health benefit program; and

• Leslie Kalyn, aka Leslie Feth, an Advance Practice Registered Nurse, 35, of Las Vegas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of health care fraud.

According to the allegations contained in the indictment, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to distribute prescription opioids and to commit health care fraud. Incera and Harvey, using a prescription pad belonging to an unnamed physician, distributed Hydrocodone and Oxycodone to patients without a legitimate medical purpose in exchange for cash. Incera and Kalyn further prescribed Lidocaine, Modafinil, and Diclofenac Sodium to patients without a legitimate medical purpose, many of which were billed to Medicare/Medicaid by a pharmacy that filled the prescriptions. Harvey, Incera, and Kalyn were all paid cash kickbacks for their patient referrals to the unnamed pharmacy.

The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, and false statements relating to a health benefit program charges, and the maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of health care fraud and fraudulent concealment involving a federal health care program.

An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case is being 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 U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden is prosecuting the case.

This is the third indictment in Nevada since Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the formation of the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, a program that utilizes data to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The District of Nevada was selected as one of 12 districts nationally to participate in the pilot program. The District of Nevada has assigned a 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.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two Las Vegas residents pleaded guilty in federal court to assisting others to enter into a sham marriage for the purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Harris for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Las Vegas.

Jennifer Hamoy, 58, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, and co-defendant Antonio Ybanez, 76, pleaded guilty on May 8, to the same criminal charge. United States District Judge James C. Mahan accepted their individual guilty pleas. A sentencing hearing for Hamoy and Ybanez are scheduled on August 30, and August 8, 2018, respectively. The maximum statutory penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the indictment and individual plea agreements, from December 10, 2013 to July 10, 2015, Hamoy and Ybanez conspired to assist others to enter into marriage for the purpose of evading U.S. immigration laws without intending to establish a life together as husband and wife. They arranged a sham marriage so that the non-citizen immigrant could obtain permanent resident status. The defendants instructed couples on how to make the marriage appear genuine by opening joint bank accounts, filing joint tax returns, obtaining driver’s licenses with the same address, and taking photos together.

In addition, Ybanez, who is not an attorney, introduced Hamoy as his paralegal who assisted him in filing fraudulent immigration paperwork with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), which she did for a fee. They filed a visa petition and application that contained false and misleading statements to the USCIS for adjustment of citizenship status.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Jaroch is prosecuting the case.

If you suspect someone is committing marriage fraud, contact the HSI Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 or at www.ice.gov/tips. For more information on marriage fraud, visit https://www.ice.gov/identity-benefit-fraud.

###

RENO, Nev. — A former felon who was arrested Tuesday in Winnemucca for possession of an explosive device had his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Reno, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division.

The indictment, returned last week and unsealed today, charges Terry J. Hanson Jr., 36, of Winnemucca, with one count of felon in possession of an explosive. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb. A jury trial is set for July 17, 2018.

According to the indictment, Hanson unlawfully possessed Thermalite Igniter Cord, an explosive material under federal law. He has a prior felony conviction in Humboldt County for possession of a controlled substance.

The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The arrest and charge are the result of an investigation by the FBI with assistance by the Nevada Department of Public Safety - NDI, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Winnemucca Police Department, Elko Police Department, Elko Sheriff's Office, Washoe County Sheriff's Office, Reno Police Department, and the Nevada Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow is prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely alleges that a crime has been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

###

RENO, Nev. – A Dayton, Nevada, man was sentenced today to 78 months in federal prison for receiving approximately 850 photos and videos of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Monte Chaix, 48, pleaded guilty on February 20, to one count of receipt of child pornography. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben sentenced him to lifetime supervised release. Chaix is also required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).

According to information contained in the plea agreement and other court documents, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip from Twitter about a user posting possible child pornography. Task Force Officers from the Northern Nevada Online Child Exploitation Task Force identified the user as Chaix and executed a search warrant at his residence. A forensic examination of the seized electronic devices revealed approximately 700 images and 150 videos of children being sexually abused by adults and engaged in explicit sexual conduct. During a consensual interview, Chaix admitted to searching for and downloading child pornography from the internet.

The case was investigated by the Northern Nevada Online Child Exploitation Task Force which is comprised of members of the FBI, the Reno Police Department, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami prosecuted the case.

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, make a report to NCMEC’s CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.org.

The 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.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office recognized the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal police officers during National Police Week. During Police Week, which is observed from May 13 to 19, our nation celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty, and commitment in keeping our communities safe.

“One officer death is too many,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “While we are inexpressibly grateful to have had a decrease in the number of officers killed in the line-of-duty last year, the number is still far too high. At the Department of Justice, we honor the memories of the fallen and we pray for their families. We are also following President Trump's Executive Orders to back the women and men in blue, to enhance law enforcement safety, and to reduce violent crime in America. Those priorities will help keep every American safe, including those who risk their lives for us. As always, we have their backs and they have our thanks.”

“National Police Week is a time to recognize, honor, and thank the noble and brave men and women in blue who serve in Nevada’s law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada. “We honor and remember officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members and friends they left behind. I want to thank every law enforcement officer for their service and sacrifice.”

According to statistics collected by the FBI, 93 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents in 2017 – a 21 percent decrease from 2016 when 118 law enforcement officers were killed in line-of-duty incidents. Additionally, in 2017 there were 46 law enforcement officers killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts – this is a 30 percent decrease from 2016, when 66 law enforcement officer were killed in line-of-duty incidents as a result of felonious acts.

The names of all 93 fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 30th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2018.

Among those to be added this year from Nevada will be:

• Charleston Vernon Hartfield, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, was shot and killed while rescuing concert attendees during a mass shooting in Las Vegas. He was killed on October 1, 2017.
• Chad William Parque, of the North Las Vegas Police Department, was injured in a traffic accident while exiting the North Las Vegas Justice Court’s parking lot. He died of his injuries on January 7, 2017.

So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be livestreamed beginning at 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 13th. To register for this free online event, visit www.LawMemorial.org/webcast.

The Candlelight Vigil is one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2018. For more information about other National Police Week events, please visit www.policeweek.org.

In October 1962, Congress passed and President Kennedy signed a joint resolution 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.

# # #

RENO, Nev. – A Reno man was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute U-47700, a dangerous synthetic opioid with street names “China white” and “pinky” that is more potent than morphine, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Dan Neill for the DEA’s Las Vegas office.

Randy Ray Paulsen, aka “Frank,” 41, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du. He previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute U-4700, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Paulsen and a co-conspirator agreed to sell one pound of U-47700, a Schedule 1 substance under the Controlled Substance Act, for $8,000. He arranged the sale with the buyer and his co-defendant via text messaging. On February 10, 2017, the co-conspirator left the one pound of U-47700 in a plastic bag in one of the washing machines at a laundromat on 5th Street, in Reno, which is near the Gold Dust West casino. Paulsen watched the events from a nearby location. As law enforcement approached, he texted his co-defendant, “Leave, setup, all bad,” and “911 leave.” Law enforcement found 445.2 grams of U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl, in the plastic bag left in the washing machine.

During the execution of a search warrant at Paulsen’s residence, in a safe concealed in the ceiling of his bedroom, law enforcement discovered: 121.65 grams of U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl; 51.6 grams of methamphetamine; 7.82 grams of heroin; 206.9 grams of dimethyl sulfone (which can be used as a cutting agent for drugs); baggies; cash; and a .40 caliber pistol.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Keller prosecuted the case.

Controlled substance analogues are designer drugs that have chemical structures and hallucinogenic effects similar to Schedule I controlled substances. U-47700 is a synthetic opioid that is 7-8 times more potent than morphine. The illegal drug looks like a white or light pink powder and poses the same risks as heroin and prescription opioids.

###

RENO, Nev. – A Reno man was sentenced Monday to 222 months in federal prison for selling methamphetamine in a motel parking lot and possession of a semiautomatic handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Ronald Robinson, 49, was sentenced by United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks to 162 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and 60 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He pleaded guilty to the criminal charges in September 2017.

According to information in the plea agreement, on September 19, 2017, detectives with the Street Enforcement Team were conducting surveillance at the Reno Royal Motel due to numerous complaints of drug activity. Detectives observed Robinson carrying a fanny pack-type bag and meeting several people in the motel parking lot. Detectives observed Robinson drive away and he was subsequently stopped after committing a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, Robinson reached for a .40 caliber pistol that was holstered on his right hip

A K9 police dog alerted detectives to drugs in the car. Inside the fanny pack, detectives found a plastic bag with approximately 91 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, used drug-packing baggies, and a ledger. During an interview with law enforcement, Robinson admitted to purchasing the firearm two hours before the traffic stop. He also admitted that he had three to four ounces of methamphetamine in the car and that he typically payed $275 per ounce for the methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Street Enforcement Team consisting of the Reno Police Department, the Sparks Police Department, and the University of Nevada; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Americans nationwide did their part to drop off a record number of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications during the DEA’s 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Together with a record-setting number of local, state, and federal partners, DEA collected and destroyed close to one million pounds—nearly 475 tons—of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, making it the most successful event in DEA history. This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected nationwide by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 9,964,714 pounds, or 4,982 tons.

The Silver State collected a total of 8,012 pounds of prescription pills at 21 sites across the state, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dan Neill for the DEA Las Vegas office.

“Turning in unused and expired prescription drugs at a Take Back Day collection site may have prevented someone from becoming an addict or helped save a life in Nevada,” said U.S. Attorney Elieson. “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events continue to safely remove dangerous drugs from homes, where they could be stolen and abused by family members, including children and teens. I am grateful to every Nevadan and law enforcement agency who participated in the DEA Take Back Day.”

“National Prescription Drug Take Back is an opportunity for the community to come together and rid their medicine cabinets of unwanted prescription drugs,” said ASAC Neill. “The growing opioid epidemic must be confronted at every level - in our communities, across the State, and across our Nation - and Take Back events afford us a unique opportunity to collaborate at each level.”

DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—posed potential safety and health hazards.

Complete results for DEA’s 15th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day are available at www.deatakeback.com. The next Take Back Day is October 27, 2018.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A former Accounting Manager and Controller was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for committing $193,000 in tax evasion and stealing more than $725,000 from two different employers, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Tara Sullivan for the IRS Criminal Investigation.

Nicole Marie Graziano, 42, of Las Vegas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson. She pleaded guilty on July 26, 2017, to three counts of wire fraud, two counts of filing a false tax return, and one count of attempt to evade or defeat tax.

“Nicole Graziano lived a lavish lifestyle at the expense of her employers and the American people,” said SAC Sullivan. “Today, justice was served and Ms. Graziano is being held accountable for her actions.”

According to information in the plea agreement, between May 2009 through November 2015, Graziano used several schemes, including manipulation of her employers’ payroll tax records, to conceal the thefts. She would transfer the stolen funds by wire to her own personal bank accounts. She used the stolen money to pay for luxury items for herself and family members, including cars, jewelry, and to pay her rent. Furthermore, Graziano admitted to filing false individual Federal income tax returns for tax years 2013 and 2014, and grossly underreporting her income and tax liability. She also failed to file an individual Federal income tax return for tax year 2015.

The case was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man charged by a federal criminal complaint for starting a fire causing approximately $10 million in damage to The Drew Las Vegas, made his initial court appearance today, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson for the District of Nevada.

Andrew Joseph Sanders, 26, was charged with one count of arson. He made his initial court appearance before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach. A preliminary hearing is set for May 16, 2018.

According to allegations contained in the complaint, Sanders was observed on video surveillance trespassing at The Drew Las Vegas property, formerly the Fontainebleau Hotel and Casino, on March 1, 2018. The surveillance depicted Sanders at the approximate time and near the location where man-made (incendiary) fires were set in the structure. When leaving the structure, Sanders engaged in a physical altercation with a responding firefighter, which delayed the firefighters’ efforts to get water to the fire. Sanders fled the scene and was later arrested by officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The majority of the fire damage occurred within 3,000 square feet of unfinished ballroom space on the 11th floor of a tower structure. A second fire was set in another ballroom space.

Fire investigators determined that both fires were incendiary and not the result of an accidental cause, such as an electrical or appliance malfunction. Based on a preliminary estimate, approximately $10 million in damage was caused by the fire.

It is further alleged that during an interview with Fire Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clark County Fire Department, Sanders admitted to trespassing at The Drew Las Vegas property and being on the 11th floor of the parking tower where the fire was started.

The maximum statutory penalty for arson is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clark County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns is prosecuting the case.

###

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson man who wore a “Jason”-style hockey mask during the robbery of a Las Vegas pawn shop and stole nearly $125,000 worth of jewelry was sentenced today to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson.

After a four-day jury trial in September 2017, Jessie Mendoza, 38, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of interference with commerce by robbery. United States District Judge Larry R. Hicks presided over the trial and sentencing hearing.

According to court documents and trial evidence, Mendoza helped coordinate the robbery of EZ Pawn located at 3010 South Valley View Blvd. in Las Vegas. On September 12, 2016, Mendoza entered the pawn store and smashed the jewelry case with a sledgehammer. Mendoza stood guard at the front door wearing a “Jason”-style hockey mask and threatened the victims by swearing and waiving a firearm. He and his co-conspirators stole $122,936.50 worth of high value rings, jewelry, watches, gems, and other property from display cases. Mendoza was later identified when his DNA was located on the hockey mask and other items of clothing he discarded after the robbery. Law enforcement recovered video surveillance of Mendoza dumping his disguise, and then fleeing with his co-defendants in a switch car.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina D. Silva and Kilby Macfadden prosecuted the case.

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

###