District of Nevada

A federal grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada returned an indictment charging three individuals with stealing more than $1 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

The indictment charges Chanh V. Trinh, Cannedy Trinh, and Elizabeth Trinh with conspiring to file fraudulent claims for tax refunds and theft of government funds. Chanh V. Trinh is also charged with filing false claims for tax refunds, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

 

According to the indictment, Chanh V. Trinh, Cannedy Trinh, and Elizabeth Trinh were residents of Las Vegas, who allegedly conspired to file federal corporate and individual income tax returns reporting fake income and income tax withholdings and as a result, obtained more than $1 million in refunds to which they were not entitled. The indictment alleges that the fraudulent returns were filed in the names of the defendants and others, including a long-deceased family member and fictitious businesses. Months after filing a fraudulent return, the defendants would allegedly file a fraudulent amended return requesting an additional refund. The indictment alleges that Chanh V. Trinh prepared and filed the returns, and that all three defendants deposited or cashed the fraudulently obtained refund checks using multiple bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and check-cashing businesses in Las Vegas. The indictment alleges that the defendants frequently concealed the funds by purchasing cashier’s checks to obtain gambling chips at casinos.

 

If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy count and each of the theft of government funds counts. Chanh V. Trinh also faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the mail fraud counts, five years in prison for each of the false claims counts and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for each of the aggravated identity theft counts. The defendants also face a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

 

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

 

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

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas, Nevada returned an indictment on Wednesday charging three individuals with stealing more than $1 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

The indictment charges Chanh V. Trinh, Cannedy Trinh, and Elizabeth Trinh with conspiring to file fraudulent claims for tax refunds and theft of government funds. Chanh V. Trinh is also charged with filing false claims for tax refunds, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Chanh V. Trinh, Cannedy Trinh, and Elizabeth Trinh were residents of Las Vegas, who allegedly conspired to file federal corporate and individual income tax returns reporting fake income and income tax withholdings and as a result, obtained more than $1 million in refunds to which they were not entitled. The indictment alleges that the fraudulent returns were filed in the names of the defendants and others, including a long-deceased family member and fictitious businesses. Months after filing a fraudulent return, the defendants would allegedly file a fraudulent amended return requesting an additional refund. The indictment alleges that Chanh V. Trinh prepared and filed the returns, and that all three defendants deposited or cashed the fraudulently obtained refund checks using multiple bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and check-cashing businesses in Las Vegas. The indictment alleges that the defendants frequently concealed the funds by purchasing cashier’s checks to obtain gambling chips at casinos.

If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy count and each of the theft of government funds counts. Chanh V. Trinh also faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each of the mail fraud counts, five years in prison for each of the false claims counts and a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for each of the aggravated identity theft counts. The defendants also face a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Eric C. Schmale of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

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

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 135 months in prison and five years of supervised release for robbing a coin and jewelry store while pointing a firearm at the elderly store owner and a customer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Noah Patrick Fields, 23, pleaded guilty on May 17, 2017, to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. United States District Judge James C. Mahan presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to the plea agreement, Fields admitted that on Oct. 14, 2016, he and a co-conspirator robbed Fremont Coin Company, a coin and jewelry store at 3375 Glen Avenue in Las Vegas, at gunpoint. Fields admitted that he held the 90-year-old store owner and a customer at gunpoint while his co-conspirator stole $3,500 in cash and approximately $42,424 worth of valuable coins and silver and gold bullion from the front display case.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, as part of the Safe Streets Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden prosecuted the case.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nev., man pleaded guilty today to selling military-issued ammunition, smoke grenades, and other equipment that was stolen from the U.S. Air Force, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Temogen Tran Noguni, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized sale of property of the United States. United States District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 17, 2017. At the time of sentencing, Noguni faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

According to the plea agreement, Noguni met co-defendants Jonathan Joseph Owens and Daniel Schwartz through Vape and Shoot, a group that smoked vapors and shot firearms in the Las Vegas area. Owens, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force, offered to provide Noguni and Schwartz with military ammunition for their use in shooting their personal firearms, which they accepted. Owens had stolen the ammunition from Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Owens then offered to sell Noguni ammunition along with smoke grenades, body armor plate carrier vests, and other stolen military equipment. Noguni and Owens met on 8-10 occasions for delivery of and payment for stolen military smoke grenades; military equipment including a red dot optical rifle scope; a set of night vision binoculars and goggles; military ammunition to include 9mm, 5.56x45mm, and .50 caliber cartridges; and other military equipment. The .50 caliber ammunition, which is not available for sale to the general public, is armor-piercing incendiary ammunition designed to pierce the shell of armored vehicles and explode inside. Many of the containers for the ammunition and grenades were designated with military unit markings from Nellis Air Force Base. Noguni then listed the stolen military ammunition, smoke grenades, and equipment for sale on the Internet and an undercover ATF agent purchased some of the stolen items.

 

Owens, 27, of North Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to theft of property of the United States and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29, 2017. Schwartz, 42, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to retaining stolen property of the United States and was sentenced to three years probation.

 

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared L. Grimmer.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to using a baseball bat to rob over $200,000 from an armored vehicle and for stealing 18 firearms, including a suppressor, from a gun store, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Anthony Jovan Greene, 31, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to one count each of interference with commerce by robbery and theft from a Federal Firearms Licensee. United States District Judge James C. Mahan accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Nov. 16, 2017.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Greene and at least one other co-conspirator were both armed with baseball bats and robbed a Garda Cash Logistics armored truck on Oct. 5, 2012. One of the robbers used a baseball bat to strike the driver causing the driver to drop a bag containing approximately $210,889. Greene and the co-conspirator grabbed the moneybag and fled. Greene further admitted that on Sept. 8, 2016, he robbed the 2nd Amendment Gun shop at 4570 N. Rancho Drive, Suite #4, in Las Vegas. Greene stole a total of 18 handguns, rifles, and a suppressor from the display cases and racks inside of the business.

At the time of sentencing, the interference with commerce by robbery charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and the theft from a Federal Firearms Licensee charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A man who allegedly stole approximately $18,120 from a credit union, then took three people hostage during a carjacking made his initial appearance in federal court today, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

William C. Etheridge, 54, was indicted on Aug. 9, 2017, with one count of bank robbery and one count of carjacking.

According to allegations in the criminal complaint and indictment, on July 25, 2017, Etheridge entered a WestStar Credit Union, located at 110 East Harmon Avenue, in Las Vegas, brandished a semi-automatic pistol, and demanded money from four bank tellers. He then demanded a ride in one of the victim tellers’ personal vehicles to avoid law enforcement apprehension. When none of the tellers volunteered to provide him with a ride, he instructed one of the bank tellers to leave the bank with him. Etheridge stole approximately $18,120. Upon exiting the bank, Etheridge used force and violence to carjack a vehicle with two victims inside. At Etheridge’s request, the victims dropped him off at a Harley Davidson dealership to purchase a getaway vehicle with the stolen money so he could leave the area. Law enforcement arrested Etheridge at the dealership.

If convicted, Etheridge faces the mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the bank robbery charge and 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the carjacking charge.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kilby Macfadden and Nicholas Dickinson.

An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two Californians, a former medical doctor and his business partner, who were indicted on July 5, 2017 for a $7.1 million Medicare health care fraud scheme that occurred at three Las Vegas hospices, made their initial appearances in federal court today, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Camilo Q. Primero, 74, of San Dimas, Calif., and Aurora S. Beltran, 61, of Glendora, Calif., are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; one count of health care fraud; one count of fraudulent concealment involving a federal health care program; three counts of false statements relating to a health benefit program; and thirteen counts of money laundering. The defendants face a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of at least $7,083,130.

 

According to the indictment, from about Jan. 1, 2012 to about July 5, 2017, Primero, a former medical doctor and owner of Angel Eye Hospice, Vision Home Health Care, and Advent Hospice, all in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Beltran, Primero’s business partner, allegedly operated a scheme to fraudulently obtain $7.1 million from the federal Medicare program. They allegedly filed false enrollment documents with Medicare to enable Primero to operate hospice and home care agencies through nominees. Furthermore, they allegedly submitted hospice care claims for people who were not terminally ill and did not require hospice care.

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-OIG, with assistance from IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns.

For prevention tips and information about Medicare fraud, visit www.medicare.gov.

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

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RENO, Nev. – A former felon was indicted today for using a firearm during a carjacking in Sparks, Nev., announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Andrew Brigman, 28, of Layton, Utah, was charged with one count each of carjacking, use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm.

According to allegations in the indictment, on July 6, 2017, Brigman brandished a semiautomatic pistol and used force and violence to steal a 2012 Nissan Altima from a person. He is also charged with illegal possession of the firearm used during the alleged carjacking after a prior felony conviction.

The maximum statutory penalty is 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for carjacking; the maximum statutory penalty is life in prison with a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years that must run consecutive to the carjacking charge and a $250,000 fine for use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for felon in possession of a firearm.

The case is being investigated by the Sparks Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow.

An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two men made their initial appearances today in federal court for bank fraud charges arising from a real estate scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steve W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Dustin M. Lewis, 42, of Henderson, Nev., and Brian Sorensen, 49, of Las Vegas, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud. If convicted, Lewis and Sorenson each face a statutory maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and up to a $1,000,000 fine.

According to allegations made in the indictment, from about August 15, 2011 to about January 17, 2014, Lewis and Sorensen conspired with each other to defraud OneWest Bank. The defendants allegedly devised and executed a scheme to avoid foreclosure so that Lewis could retain ownership of a 5,331 square foot, five-bedroom Henderson, Nev. home. As part of the scheme, Lewis submitted a fraudulent short sale application to the bank, which induced the bank to allow Lewis to sell the property to Sorensen’s family member for much less than Lewis owed under the existing mortgage loan. It is further alleged that Lewis did not disclose that he and Sorensen agreed that Lewis would continue to reside at the property and Sorensen would later cause the property to be sold back to Lewis free of the bank’s mortgage loan. It is further alleged that on or about July 21, 2017, Lewis then listed the property for sale at a price of $1,195,000.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Interior-Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns.

An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilty. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 11, 2017, following a two-year long investigation, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Marcus Hutchins, also known as “Malwaretech,” for his role in creating and distributing the Kronos banking Trojan. Hutchins, a citizen and resident of the United Kingdom, was arrested in the United States on August 2, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In the indictment, Hutchins was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, three counts of distributing and advertising an electronic communication interception device, one count of endeavoring to intercept electronic communications, and one count of attempting to access a computer without authorization. The alleged conduct for which Hutchins was arrested occurred between in or around July 2014 and July 2015.

Publically available information for the Kronos banking Trojan indicates that it was first made available through certain internet forums in early 2014, and marketed and distributed through AlphaBay, a hidden service on the Tor network. On July 20, 2017, the Department of Justice announced that the Alphabay marketplace was shuttered through an international law enforcement effort led by the United States. See www.justice.gov/opa/pr/alphabay-largest-online-dark-market-shut-down

According to the indictment, the Kronos banking Trojan was designed to harvest and transfer the username and password associated with banking websites as they are entered on an infected computer to a control panel hosted on another computer inaccessible to the victim. According to publically available information, since it was created, Kronos has been configured to exfiltrate user credentials associated with banking systems located in Canada, Germany, Poland, France, and the United Kingdom, among others countries.

Kronos presents an ongoing threat to privacy and security, as the Kelihos botnet was observed loading Kronos on computers through email phishing campaign in late 2016. On April 10, 2017, the Department of Justice announced its efforts to dismantle the Kelihos botnet.

See www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-indicted-multiple-offenses-connection-kelihos-botnet and www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/956506/download

“Cybercrime remains a top priority for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Justin Tolomeo. “Cybercriminals cost our economy billions in loses each year. The FBI will continue to work with our partners, both domestic and international, to bring offenders to justice.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crime Task in Milwaukee. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Chmelar and Benjamin W. Proctor.

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 guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

RENO, Nev. – A man was sentenced on Tuesday to 102 months in prison for armed robbery of a jewelry store located in the Summit Sierra mall, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Al Christopher Braxton Allen, 35, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty on May 1, 2017, to one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, on Sept. 14, 2016, Braxton entered the DeVons Jewelry store in the Summit Sierra mall, brandished a Llama .357 caliber revolver, and demanded “All the Rolexes and Diamonds” several times to an employee. Allen stole a total of approximately 106 watches and jewelry with a value of $449,600. One of the stolen watches was equipped with a 3SI tracking device. After a review of the store’s surveillance video, law enforcement detained Allen, who matched the robbery suspect’s description, near the mall.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Reno Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Henderson, Nev. man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison followed by lifetime supervised release for receipt of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

After a three-day jury trial, on April 27, 2017, a jury found Andrew John Gibson, 28, guilty of one count of receipt of child pornography. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the jury trial and sentencing hearing.

According to the indictment and other court documents, from about June 19, 2013 to about Nov. 21, 2013, Gibson used the Ares P2P network to access and download child pornography. During an interview with law enforcement, Gibson admitted to downloading child pornography. After forensic examinations of Gibson’s computers, law enforcement deemed 307 images and 201 videos were child pornography.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Burton, Patrick Burns, and Lisa Cartier-Giroux.

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.

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RENO, Nev. – A career criminal was sentenced on Tuesday to 188 months in prison for robbing a bank with a knife, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Tommy Ray McAdoo, 77, of Reno, pleaded guilty on April 17, 2017, to one count of bank robbery with the use of a dangerous weapon. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones presided over the sentencing hearing.

According to the indictment and court related documents, on Nov. 9, 2016, McAdoo entered a Nevada State Bank and showed a bank teller a demand note for money while holding a steak knife in his hand. The bank teller gave McAdoo four “bait bills” and an electronic tracker. He stole approximately $2,731. During a neighborhood canvas immediately following the robbery, law enforcement found discarded clothing and items that matched the video surveillance taken during the robbery. One of the items found was the demand note that was written on a casino sports betting sheet. Law enforcement identified McAdoo as a suspect and found him at a nearby casino. During an interview with law enforcement, McAdoo admitted to robbing the bank.

McAdoo has previously been convicted of multiple bank robberies. In 1981, he was convicted of two counts of armed bank robbery in Bakersfield, Calif., and an additional two counts of bank robbery in Las Vegas. He was then convicted of bank robbery again in 1990 in Seattle.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Reno Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Rachow.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Nevada physician practicing as a specialist in pain management was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of large quantities of highly addictive prescription opioids, including oxycodone, and other controlled substances without a medical purpose, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson ordered a fine in the amount of $2.5 million.

Following a 10-week jury trial, on March 23, 2017, Dr. Henri Wetselaar, 93, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances (oxycodone); distribution of controlled substances; money laundering; and structuring of money transactions. Co-defendant, David A. Litwin, 58, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 5, 2017.

According to the indictment, Wetselaar performed house calls and maintained a medical practice on the east side of Las Vegas. He prescribed large amounts of prescription drugs, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, Xanax and Soma, to persons for no legitimate medical purpose. Wetselaar and Litwin conspired with each other and local drug dealers to distribute the prescription drugs prescribed by Wetselaar in and around Las Vegas. Additionally, Wetselaar wired $105,000 for the purchase of a house using money obtained from the drug distribution activities. He also attempted to evade the bank reporting requirements by making dozens of cash deposits less than $10,000 in a 12-month period to three different banks.

The case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Nevada Department of Public Safety, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor-OIG, and the U.S. Human and Health Services-OIG. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cristina Silva and Andrew Duncan.

The Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to combat the prescription opioid epidemic and continues to charge local physicians who illegally sell or distribute prescription opioids for a non-medical purpose. Wetselaar is the fifth doctor sentenced for illegal distribution of drugs in recent years. Other cases include:

• In April 2016, Dr. Robert Rand and eight others were charged with conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription drugs. Rand is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23, 2017.

• In December 2015, Dr. Sebastian Paulin Jr. was sentenced to 24 months in prison for selling prescription pain medications and Dr. Mahesh Kuthuru was sentenced to 28 months in prison for the unlawfully distributing prescription painkillers.

• In October 2014, Dr. Victor Bruce was sentenced to 46 months for unlawfully writing oxycodone prescriptions for persons with no medical need for it.

• In September 2014, Dr. Vinay Bararia was sentenced to 44 months in prison for unlawfully selling hydrocodone and oxycodone, both prescription opioids.

 

The overdose rates for synthetic opioids and pain relievers have continued to rise over the past several years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 144 drug overdose deaths every day and 63% of those deaths are pharmaceutical opioids or heroin related. Approximately 75% of new heroin users report having abused prescription opioids before using heroin. Heroin-related overdose deaths have more than quadrupled since 2010. For information on opioid overdose and how you can manage pain without prescription drugs, go to http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html. If you have a tip or information about illegal sales or distribution of prescription opioids, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc., by doctors and pharmacies call the DEA at 1-877-RX-Abuse (1-877-792-2873).

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman who worked as a laboratory technician at a local pediatric medical practice was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for unlawfully obtaining the personal identifying information of a patient’s parent and using it to apply for personal credit cards, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey also sentenced her to one year of supervised release.

 

Sherice Joan Williams, 42, pleaded guilty on Feb. 21, 2017, to aggravated identity theft. During the time the crime occurred, she was employed as a laboratory technician at Children’s Heart Center, a large pediatric cardiology practice in Las Vegas.

 

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, between about Dec. 1, 2014 and Jan. 27, 2015, Williams accessed the personal identifying information of a patient’s parent, then using this information, she applied for personal credit cards without authorization. She submitted a credit card application online from an IP address registered to her employer.

 

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

 

If you are a victim of identity theft, visit www.IdentityTheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338 to report and recover from identity theft.

 

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RENO, Nev. – A Reno woman, who was sentenced for bank embezzlement and tax evasion, was indicted today for failure to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons to serve her prison term, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

According to the indictment, Jennifer Ree Campbell, 51, is charged with one count of failure to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons, FCI Dublin, in Dublin, Calif., as directed by the court after her felony convictions. She was found guilty on Feb. 6, 2017, of theft, embezzlement, and misapplication by a bank employee and attempt to evade income tax. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones sentenced Campbell to 30 months in prison and ordered her to self-surrender by May 8, 2017, to the designated federal correctional institution to serve her sentence. However, Campbell failed to report as ordered.

 

If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for failure to surrender is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any term of imprisonment imposed for failure to surrender must be served consecutively to the sentence for the underlying conviction.

 

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla B. Higginbotham.

 

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

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Phoenix, Ariz. man was sentenced today to 819 months in prison in connection with the armed assault against federal law enforcement officers that occurred in the Bunkerville, Nev. area in April 2014, over rancher Cliven Bundy’s trespassing cattle from public lands. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced Burleson to three years of supervised release.

 

Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, and Acting Director Michael D. Nedd of the Bureau of Land Management made the announcement.

 

Following a 32-day jury trial, Gregory P. Burleson, 53, was convicted on April 24, 2017, of assault on a federal officer; threatening a federal law enforcement officer; obstruction of the due administration of justice; interference with interstate commerce by extortion; interstate travel in aid of extortion; and three counts of use and carry of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

 

According to the superseding indictment, Burleson traveled to Nevada with the intent to commit a crime of violence to extort federal law enforcement officers while they were executing a federal court order to remove and impound Cliven Bundy’s cattle that were trespassing on federal public lands in and around Bunkerville. On or about April 12, 2014, Burleson used and brandished a firearm to impede, intimidate, and to threaten to assault federal law enforcement officers involved in the federal impoundment operations. He also threatened and used force and violence to obstruct interstate commerce by extortion in that he obtained and attempted to obtain approximately 400 cattle that were in the possession of federal law enforcement officers.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI and BLM. The case was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas D. Dickinson and Nadia J. Ahmed, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Creegan.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas woman pleaded guilty today to stealing more than $725,000 from two different employers, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Nicole Marie Graziano, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, two counts of filing a false tax return, and one count of attempt to evade or defeat tax. She was charged by a criminal information on June 13, 2017. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson scheduled sentencing for Nov. 21, 2017.

 

According to the plea agreement, between May 2009 through November 2015, Graziano worked as an Accounting Manager and Controller for two companies in Clark County. She 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. Graziano used the money she stole to pay for luxury items for herself and family members, including cars and real estate.

 

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 maximum statutory penalty is three years in prison and a $100,000 fine for filing a false tax return; the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempt to evade or defeat income tax; and the maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud.

 

The case is being investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervision for possession of over 7,915 images and videos of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

James Karman Ryan, 49, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2017, to one count of possession of child pornography.

 

According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 14, 2014, during the execution of a search warrant by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Ryan barricaded himself in his room and began to delete files on his computer. He eventually surrendered and admitted that he was attempting to delete child pornography from his computer as the SWAT team was making entry into his house. After a forensic examination of his computer, hard drives, and other storage devices, over 7,915 images and videos were found to contain child pornography. Of the 7,915 images and videos, approximately 4,687 images and videos were deemed to be child sexual abuse.

 

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

 

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.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Two men and one woman were indicted today in connection to five cell phone store armed robberies in the Las Vegas area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Rushard Burton, 23, Kejon Ward, 23, and Erica Caldwell, 22, all of Las Vegas, were each charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. In addition, Burton was charged with five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and five counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Ward was also charged with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery; two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Caldwell was also charged with one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

 

According to the indictment, from March 18, 2017 to June 5, 2017, Burton, Ward, and Caldwell conspired together to commit robbery by means of threatened force, physical violence, and fear of injury. Burton is charged with robbing a Sprint store in North Las Vegas on March 18, an AT&T store on May 1, and a Verizon Wireless store in Henderson on May 26, all while brandishing a firearm. Burton and Ward are charged with robbing a Sprint store in Henderson on April 28. Burton, Ward, and Caldwell are charged with brandishing a firearm and robbing a Sprint store on June 5.

 

The case is a joint investigation by the FBI, North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and Henderson Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden.

 

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

 

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RENO, Nev. – Local physician Dr. Robert Rand pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter of a patient and unlawful distribution of oxycodone to another patient, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Miranda Du. At the time of sentencing, Rand faces a maximum of eight years in prison on the manslaughter count and a maximum of 20 years in prison on the drug count.

 

Robert Gene Rand, 54, a Nevada-licensed physician who operated Rand Family Care in Reno, and eight others, including Richard Winston West II, the former manager of the Jones-West Ford dealership, were indicted on May 11, 2016, with federal prescription drug distribution charges. A superseding indictment was returned against Rand, the last remaining defendant, on June 21, 2017.

 

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Rand prescribed an excessive amount of oxycodone to a patient without a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of professional practice that resulted in the patient’s death from oxycodone intoxication. From the start of treatment, in June 2014, Rand prescribed the patient oxycodone. In September 2014, a doctor spoke with Rand about the patient receiving 180 oxycodone pills per month from Rand and the patient’s history. The patient was hospitalized twice. Despite phone calls, records, and encounters, Rand continued to prescribe oxycodone to the patient. In September 2015, Rand prescribed 45 dosages of oxycodone in 30 mg amounts, as well as Xanax, to the patient. One week later, Rand prescribed an additional 180 dosages of oxycodone in 30 mg amounts to the patient. Rand acted with gross negligence in prescribing this oxycodone and did so in reckless regard for the patient’s life.

 

Furthermore, from March 2011 to April 2016, Rand prescribed another patient a total of 23,645 oxycodone 30 mg pills without a legitimate medical purpose. He prescribed a number of opioids to this patient at the same time, including oxycodone in 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg dosages, Percocet, hydrocodone, fentanyl, as well as other substances, such as carisoprodol and alprazolam. The patient did not undergo any toxicology tests and Rand allowed another person to pick-up the oxycodone prescriptions for the patient. Rand also warned the patient at one time that his prescriptions would no longer be filled by the pharmacies.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids in 2014. Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription opioids and heroin, have nearly quadrupled since 1999. Overdoses involving opioids killed more than 28,000 people in 2014, more than any year on record, and over one-half of those deaths were from prescription opioids. For information on opioid overdose and how you can manage pain without prescription drugs, go to http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html.

 

This case is being investigated by the DEA, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Enforcement, Reno Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Carson City Sheriff’s Office, Susanville, California Police Department, Nevada Department of Corrections, Nevada Gaming Control, Nevada Department of Public Safety, Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, and the State of Nevada Division of Welfare, Office of Investigations and Recovery.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James E. Keller and Shannon M. Bryant.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to robbing a bank with a homemade simulated explosive device with wires and blinking lights worn under his clothes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Vincent Earl Hagey, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of attempted armed bank robbery. United States District Judge Jennifer Dorsey accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 16, 2017. At the time of sentencing, Hagey faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

According to admissions in the plea agreement, on Feb. 17, 2017, Hagey, wearing a white hat, black suitcoat and a blue tie, entered a Bank of America and presented a bank robbery note to a teller stating that he had a bomb. Hagey then pressed a button in his clothing and a blinking blue light lit on his chest. The teller gave Hagey $1,131, and he left the bank.

 

On March 13, 2017, Hagey was arrested while leaving a Wells Fargo Bank wearing the same clothes and homemade device from the February bank robbery. The homemade contraption was made of batteries, wire, and a lighted circuit board, with a wire running up his sleeve to a push-button near his cuff. Hagey could activate the button on his cuff to make the blue light on the circuit board blink on and off. During an interview with law enforcement, Hagey confessed to robbing the Bank of America and attempting to rob the Wells Fargo Bank, both with the use of the simulated explosive device under his clothing.

 

The case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Jaroch.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A California man was convicted by a jury on Wednesday of conspiring with others to burn down a Henderson popcorn business and threatening to injure the business owners, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Following a three-day jury trial, Joel Kenneth Ausbie, 53, of Fontana, Calif., was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit arson and one count of committing extortion by force or threat of injury. United States District Judge James C. Mahan presided over the trial and scheduled sentencing for Oct. 18, 2017. Ausbie faces the maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

 

According to the indictment and court related documents, Ausbie and co-defendant Calvin Robinson paid co-defendant Joseph A. Strickland to set fire to Las Vegas Kettle Corn & Special Events, LLC, in Henderson. Robinson met Strickland in Victorville, Calif., and provided Strickland with directions as well as a note for Strickland to tape to the front window of the business. The note read: “I still don’t have my money. This is the last warning! Next time someone is going to be dead.” On Oct. 30, 2015, Strickland set fire to the business and as a result the business was closed. After the building fire, Robinson met Strickland and paid him for the act. Strickland also admitted to shooting at a private residence during the relevant conspiracy.

 

Robinson, 41, of Pomona, Calif., pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10, 2017, and Strickland, 35, pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 28, 2017.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Cartier-Giroux and Cristina D. Silva.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 144 months in prison in connection to a man’s death during a drug deal at a North Las Vegas apartment in November 2013, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

John Thomas, 25, pleaded guilty on March 1, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime resulting in death. United States District Judge James C. Mahan also sentenced him to five years of supervised release.

According to admissions in his plea agreement, on Nov. 30, 2013, Thomas and co-defendant Louis Matthews arrived at a North Las Vegas apartment to purchase 20 pounds of marijuana from the victim, Luciano Madrigal-Herrera. Also present at the apartment were Julio Nunez and Angel Juarez. Madrigal-Herrera showed some of the marijuana to Matthews for inspection, and then went back outside to retrieve the rest. Matthews also left the apartment, stating he was going to get his friend, Thomas, as well as money to purchase the marijuana. The three men returned to the apartment, and then Thomas and Matthews each produced handguns in an attempt to rob Madrigal-Herrera of the marijuana. They repeatedly shot him causing his death. Thomas and Matthews took the marijuana and attempted to flee with it.

Three co-defendants were also charged in the scheme. Louis Matthews, 35, was sentenced on March 20, 2017, to life in prison for drug and firearm crimes that resulted in the death. Julio Nunez, 28, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 42 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Angel Juarez, 29, of North Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and was sentenced to time served with one year of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip N. Smith Jr. and Alexandra M. Michael.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to commit a nearly $5.3 million advance fee fraud scheme targeting small business owners seeking grant funding, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Gregory Villegas, 37, pleaded guilty on March 17, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition to the term of prison, U.S. District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro ordered him to pay restitution in the amount of $5,908,726.38, and sentenced him to three years of supervised release.

 

According to his plea agreement, from March 1, 2008 to about May 2, 2012, Villegas and his co-conspirators Christine Gagnon, Mickey Gines, and others, defrauded at least 390 small business owners for an approximate total loss of $5,261,218. Villegas and his conspirators pretended to operate companies that would obtain grants for the small business owners from public and private sources. In truth, Villegas and his conspirators never intended to pursue any grant funding for the victims. The sole purpose of the scam was to enrich Villegas and conspirators. He and his conspirators made numerous false statements, including false promises of grant funding and false claims that grants had been obtained, but that the victims needed to pay additional fees for the grant agencies to release the funds. Villegas operated the scheme under multiple business names to avoid detection by consumer protection agencies and apprehension by law enforcement.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Sixteen members and associates of the Yung Money/Yung Gunz Bloods street gang have been indicted with conspiracy to commit transportation of stolen vehicles and wire fraud, transportation of stolen vehicles, sale or receipt of stolen vehicles, and wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

The 13-count indictment was returned by a grand jury in Las Vegas on June 14, 2017, and unsealed today. State and Federal law enforcement officials arrested individuals in Houston and Atlanta. The 16 defendants charged in the indictment are Channing Williams, a/k/a “Bhano,” 27, of Missouri City, Texas; Everly James, 27, of Houston, Texas; Korregan Washington, 28, of Houston, Texas; Keenan St. Hillaire, 26, of Missouri City, Texas; Maurice Lewis, a/k/a “Lew,” 22, of Missouri City, Texas; Kaleb Louis, a/k/a “Kay Lou,” 23, of Missouri City, Texas; Cody Williams-Jackson, a/k/a “Codeen,” 18, of Missouri, Texas; Torren James, a/k/a “Tee James,” 25, of Houston, Texas; Dominique Washington, a/k/a “D. Wash,” 24, of Missouri City, Texas; Demani Dancy, 21, of Houston, Texas; Trevionne Williams, 21, of Houston, Texas; Casey Walters Jr., 25, of Houston, Texas; Keith Bell, a/k/a “Daze,” 24, of Missouri City, Texas; Denzel Campbell, 26, of Houston, Texas; Trevaughn James, a/k/a “Lil Tre,” 21, of Missouri City, Texas; and Daniel Wilson, 24, of Missouri City, Texas.

 

The indictment alleges that, from July 2015 to about April 2017, the defendants conspired to fraudulently rent vehicles, then steal, transport, and sell the vehicles for profit, often at well-below the actual value of the vehicle. As alleged, they created and used fraudulent personal identification documents to open bank accounts and debit cards which they used to rent vehicles from car rental companies. The defendants are alleged to have stolen vehicles in Nevada, California, Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, and Florida, and transported some of the vehicles across state lines to sell them to unsuspecting victims. As alleged in the indictment, to further the scheme, the defendants produced fraudulent car titles and other documents to deceive buyers who were required to pay cash for the vehicle; the defendants placed advertisements to sell the stolen vehicles on websites such as Craigslist and OfferUp; and they used social media to communicate with each other and to brag about their criminal activities. The total approximate value of the stolen vehicles was $1,046,179.

 

The indictment also alleges that, on Nov. 15, 2016, Channing Williams and Lewis, transported a stolen Ford F-150 from California to Nevada, then sold the vehicle in Nevada and that, on Nov. 21, 2016, Channing Williams, Lewis, and Torren James transported a stolen Ford Expedition from California to Nevada then sold the vehicle in Nevada. The indictment further alleges that Channing Williams, Lewis, Williams-Jackson, Torren James, Washington, Dancy, Trevionne Williams, Walters, Bell, and Trevaughn James used fraudulent identifications to open bank accounts, to obtain debit cards, to rent vehicles, and to sell the stolen vehicles.

 

The defendants face a statutory maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to commit transportation of stolen vehicles and wire fraud; a maximum penalty of 10 years each for transportation of stolen vehicles and sale or receipt of stolen vehicles; and a maximum penalty of 20 years for wire fraud. The defendants also face a period of supervised release, forfeiture, and monetary penalties.

 

The case is being investigated by the FBI Las Vegas Division, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the Houston Police Department with assistance from the FBI’s Houston and Atlanta Divisions. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kilby Macfadden and Cristina D. Silva.

 

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 

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A federal indictment was unsealed today charging 23 alleged members and associates of the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG), including some of its most senior leaders, in a conspiracy involving racketeering, murder, robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault, among other charges.

While the indictment was returned by a grand jury in Las Vegas, earlier today, federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested individuals in Hawaii and across Southern California and Nevada, including in the Las Vegas metro area and in Reno.

Acting Assistant Attorney Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre of the District of Nevada; Acting Executive Associate Director Derek N. Benner for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI); Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) San Francisco Field Division; Sheriff Joseph Lombardo for Clark County, Nevada; and District Attorney Christopher Hicks for Washoe County, Nevada, made the announcement.

“Today, the rule of law dealt a serious blow to the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, a so-called ‘brotherhood’ responsible for drug addiction, death and mayhem in multiple locations, including California, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon and Nevada,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. “Today’s coordinated takedown of this biker organization’s leadership is a victory for all of us who respect and love our country, and a testament to the bravery and dedication of federal, state and local law enforcement men and women who to keep our communities safe.”

“Today’s indictment charges members and associates of a violent outlaw motorcycle gang with committing racketeering, murder, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and other violent crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre. “These charges are the result of the outstanding work of multiple state, local and federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in our joint effort to combat crime and to address the dangerous threats facing our communities today.”

“These arrests and indictments are the culmination of a far-reaching, meticulous, long-term probe involving HSI and multiple other law enforcement agencies aimed at dealing a crippling blow to one of this country’s most ruthless and violent criminal gangs,” said Acting Executive Associate Director Benner. “Members of this organization wrongly believed themselves to be above the law and immune from justice, but as today’s enforcement actions make abundantly clear, they should not have underestimated our collective resolve.”

“The Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang is a criminal organization which engages in acts of violence. Those acts, which included kidnapping and murder, threaten the safety of the communities in which the Vagos operate,” said Special Agent in Charge Snyder. “At ATF, our mission is to reduce violent crime within our communities and as a result of today’s arrests our neighborhoods are a safer place.”

“My department remains steadfast in its commitment to work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle violent crime and gang activities in Clark County, Nevada,” said Sheriff Lombardo. “This RICO indictment represents a critical step toward dismantling this violent organization and clearly signals that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and our law enforcement partners have an unwavering commitment to hold those individuals accountable who insist on creating an atmosphere of violence and fear in our communities.”

The 12-count superseding indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to participate in the affairs of the Vagos OMG, a transnational gang with approximately 87 or more chapters in at least seven countries, on four continents, and approximately 75 chapters in the U.S., including approximately 54 chapters in Nevada and California. The indictment alleges that the Vagos OMG is a highly organized criminal organization which adheres to a hierarchical chain of command, and whose members conspired to enrich the gang; to preserve, protect and enhance the power of the gang; and to keep victims in fear of the gang through acts and threats of violence. Among other crimes, the indictment charges eight Vagos OMG leaders and members, including Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, aka “Romeo,” for the September 23, 2011 murder of a member of the rival Hells Angels gang at the Nugget Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada.

“The murder committed by Ernesto Gonzalez in the Nugget Casino was always a part of a larger criminal conspiracy, which has been made even more clear today,” said District Attorney Hicks. “Prosecuting Gonzalez for his actions has been a priority for my office. As such, we welcomed the opportunity to work closely with federal authorities in this RICO investigation that not only seeks to hold Gonzales accountable but the entire involved Vagos criminal enterprise.”

The superseding indictment also alleges that the Vagos OMG is a closed society whose members value allegiance to the gang and its fellow members above all else, do not fear authority, and exhibit a complete disdain for the rules of society. According to the allegations in the indictment, witnesses to the gang’s criminal acts are typically victims of acts of obstruction, intimidation and harassment who are too afraid to approach law enforcement or testify in court proceedings.   

The 23 defendants charged for their alleged roles in the federal racketeering conspiracy and violent crimes in aid of racketeering offenses are Pastor Fausto Palafox, a/k/a “Ta Ta,” 53, of Beaumont, Calif.; Albert Lopez, a/k/a “Al,” 39, of Canyon Country, Calif.; Albert Benjamin Perez, a/k/a “Dragon Man,” 57, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; James Patrick Gillespie, a/k/a “Jimbo,” 68, of Granada Hills, Calif.; Andrew Eloy Lozano, a/k/a “Hulk,” 42, of Fontana, Calif.; Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, a/k/a “Romeo,” of San Francisco; Victor Adam Ramirez, a/k/a “Slick,” 35, of Las Vegas; James Walter Henderson, a/k/a “CJ,” 64, of Henderson, Nev.; Steven Earl Carr, a/k/a “Big Steve,” 43, of Las Vegas; Robert Allen Coleman, a/k/a “Mayhem,” 59, of Las Vegas; Jeremy John Halgat, a/k/a “Maniak,” 39, of North Las Vegas, Nev.; Paul Jeffrey Voll, a/k/a “Shyster,” 52, of Pasadena, Calif.; John Joseph Siemer, a/k/a “Rocky,” 60, of Baldwin Park, Calif.; Bradley Michael Campos, a/k/a “Candy Man,” 50, of Alhambra, Calif.; Cesar Vaquera Morales, a/k/a “C,” 49, of San Jose, Calif.; Diego Chavez Garcia, a/k/a “Boo,” 34, of San Jose, Calif.; Edward Claridan Chelby, a/k/a “Recon,” 57, of Kailua, Hawaii; Johnny Russell Neddenriep, a/k/a “Johnny Bolts,” 51, of Reno, Nev.; Darin Kieth Grieder, a/k/a “Midget,” 48, of Sparks, Nev.; Bert Wayne Davisson, a/k/a “Flash,” 45, of Sparks, Nev.; Mathew Keith Dunlap, a/k/a “Big Mat,” 46, of Sparks, Nev., and John Chrispin Juarez, a/k/a “Quicky,” 69, of Moreno Valley, Calif.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of ICE-HSI; ATF; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department; Washoe County District Attorney’s Office; San Bernardino Police Department; San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; Riverside County Sheriff’s Office; California Department of Justice; San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; Sparks Police Department; Washoe County Sheriff’s Department; Carson City Sheriff’s Department; Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; Reno Police Department; North Las Vegas Police Department; Long Beach Police Department; Montebello Police Department; Henderson Police Department; San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office; Orange County, California District Attorney’s Office; Carson City District Attorney’s Office; and Clark County District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Cristina D. Silva of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging 23 alleged members and associates of the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG), including some of its most senior leaders, in a conspiracy involving racketeering, murder, robbery, kidnapping and aggravated assault, among other charges.

While the indictment was returned by a grand jury in Las Vegas, earlier today, federal, state and local law enforcement officials arrested individuals in Hawaii and across Southern California and Nevada, including in the Las Vegas metro area and in Reno.

Acting Assistant Attorney Kenneth A. Blanco of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre of the District of Nevada; Acting Executive Associate Director Derek N. Benner for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI); Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) San Francisco Field Division; Sheriff Joseph Lombardo for Clark County, Nevada; and District Attorney Christopher Hicks for Washoe County, Nevada, made the announcement.

“Today, the rule of law dealt a serious blow to the Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, a so-called ‘brotherhood’ responsible for drug addiction, death and mayhem in multiple locations, including California, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon and Nevada,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Blanco. “Today’s coordinated takedown of this biker organization’s leadership is a victory for all of us who respect and love our country, and a testament to the bravery and dedication of federal, state and local law enforcement men and women who to keep our communities safe.”

“Today’s indictment charges members and associates of a violent outlaw motorcycle gang with committing racketeering, murder, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated assault and other violent crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre. “These charges are the result of the outstanding work of multiple state, local and federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in our joint effort to combat crime and to address the dangerous threats facing our communities today.”

“These arrests and indictments are the culmination of a far-reaching, meticulous, long-term probe involving HSI and multiple other law enforcement agencies aimed at dealing a crippling blow to one of this country’s most ruthless and violent criminal gangs,” said Acting Executive Associate Director Benner. “Members of this organization wrongly believed themselves to be above the law and immune from justice, but as today’s enforcement actions make abundantly clear, they should not have underestimated our collective resolve.”

“The Vagos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang is a criminal organization which engages in acts of violence. Those acts, which included kidnapping and murder, threaten the safety of the communities in which the Vagos operate,” said Special Agent in Charge Snyder. “At ATF, our mission is to reduce violent crime within our communities and as a result of today’s arrests our neighborhoods are a safer place.”

“My department remains steadfast in its commitment to work in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle violent crime and gang activities in Clark County, Nevada,” said Sheriff Lombardo. “This RICO indictment represents a critical step toward dismantling this violent organization and clearly signals that the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and our law enforcement partners have an unwavering commitment to hold those individuals accountable who insist on creating an atmosphere of violence and fear in our communities.”

The 12-count superseding indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to participate in the affairs of the Vagos OMG, a transnational gang with approximately 87 or more chapters in at least seven countries, on four continents, and approximately 75 chapters in the U.S., including approximately 54 chapters in Nevada and California. The indictment alleges that the Vagos OMG is a highly organized criminal organization which adheres to a hierarchical chain of command, and whose members conspired to enrich the gang; to preserve, protect and enhance the power of the gang; and to keep victims in fear of the gang through acts and threats of violence. Among other crimes, the indictment charges eight Vagos OMG leaders and members, including Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, aka “Romeo,” for the September 23, 2011 murder of a member of the rival Hells Angels gang at the Nugget Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada.

“The murder committed by Ernesto Gonzalez in the Nugget Casino was always a part of a larger criminal conspiracy, which has been made even more clear today,” said District Attorney Hicks. “Prosecuting Gonzalez for his actions has been a priority for my office. As such, we welcomed the opportunity to work closely with federal authorities in this RICO investigation that not only seeks to hold Gonzales accountable but the entire involved Vagos criminal enterprise.”

The superseding indictment also alleges that the Vagos OMG is a closed society whose members value allegiance to the gang and its fellow members above all else, do not fear authority, and exhibit a complete disdain for the rules of society. According to the allegations in the indictment, witnesses to the gang’s criminal acts are typically victims of acts of obstruction, intimidation and harassment who are too afraid to approach law enforcement or testify in court proceedings.

The 23 defendants charged for their alleged roles in the federal racketeering conspiracy and violent crimes in aid of racketeering offenses are Pastor Fausto Palafox, a/k/a “Ta Ta,” 53, of Beaumont, Calif.; Albert Lopez, a/k/a “Al,” 39, of Canyon Country, Calif.; Albert Benjamin Perez, a/k/a “Dragon Man,” 57, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; James Patrick Gillespie, a/k/a “Jimbo,” 68, of Granada Hills, Calif.; Andrew Eloy Lozano, a/k/a “Hulk,” 42, of Fontana, Calif.; Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, a/k/a “Romeo,” of San Francisco; Victor Adam Ramirez, a/k/a “Slick,” 35, of Las Vegas; James Walter Henderson, a/k/a “CJ,” 64, of Henderson, Nev.; Steven Earl Carr, a/k/a “Big Steve,” 43, of Las Vegas; Robert Allen Coleman, a/k/a “Mayhem,” 59, of Las Vegas; Jeremy John Halgat, a/k/a “Maniak,” 39, of North Las Vegas, Nev.; Paul Jeffrey Voll, a/k/a “Shyster,” 52, of Pasadena, Calif.; John Joseph Siemer, a/k/a “Rocky,” 60, of Baldwin Park, Calif.; Bradley Michael Campos, a/k/a “Candy Man,” 50, of Alhambra, Calif.; Cesar Vaquera Morales, a/k/a “C,” 49, of San Jose, Calif.; Diego Chavez Garcia, a/k/a “Boo,” 34, of San Jose, Calif.; Edward Claridan Chelby, a/k/a “Recon,” 57, of Kailua, Hawaii; Johnny Russell Neddenriep, a/k/a “Johnny Bolts,” 51, of Reno, Nev.; Darin Kieth Grieder, a/k/a “Midget,” 48, of Sparks, Nev.; Bert Wayne Davisson, a/k/a “Flash,” 45, of Sparks, Nev.; Mathew Keith Dunlap, a/k/a “Big Mat,” 46, of Sparks, Nev., and John Chrispin Juarez, a/k/a “Quicky,” 69, of Moreno Valley, Calif.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by a multi-agency task force consisting of ICE-HSI; ATF; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department; Washoe County District Attorney’s Office; San Bernardino Police Department; San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department; Riverside County Sheriff’s Office; California Department of Justice; San Diego County Sheriff’s Department; Sparks Police Department; Washoe County Sheriff’s Department; Carson City Sheriff’s Department; Douglas County Sheriff’s Office; Reno Police Department; North Las Vegas Police Department; Long Beach Police Department; Montebello Police Department; Henderson Police Department; San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office; Orange County, California District Attorney’s Office; Carson City District Attorney’s Office; and Clark County District Attorney’s Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney David Karpel of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Cristina D. Silva of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Justice Department announced today that Genesis Healthcare Inc. (Genesis) will pay the federal government $53,639,288.04, including interest, to settle six federal lawsuits and investigations alleging that companies and facilities acquired by Genesis violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false claims to government health care programs for medically unnecessary therapy and hospice services, and grossly substandard nursing care. Genesis, headquartered in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, owns and operates through its subsidiaries skilled nursing facilities, assisted/senior living facilities, and a rehabilitation therapy business.

 

“We will continue to hold health care providers accountable if they bill for unnecessary or substandard services or treatment,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protect federal health care programs against unscrupulous providers.”

 

This settlement resolves four sets of allegations. First, the settlement resolves allegations that from April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2013, Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. (SKG) and its subsidiaries, Skilled Healthcare LLC (Skilled LLC) and Creekside Hospice II LLC, knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to Medicare for services performed at the Creekside Hospice facility in Las Vegas, Nevada by: (1) billing for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill and so were not eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit and (2) billing inappropriately for certain physician evaluation management services.

 

Second, this settlement resolves allegations that from Jan. 1, 2005 through Dec. 31, 2013, SKG and its subsidiaries, Skilled LLC and Hallmark Rehabilitation GP LLC, knowingly submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to Medicare, TRICARE, and Medicaid at certain facilities by providing therapy to certain patients longer than medically necessary, and/or billing for more therapy minutes than the patients actually received. The settlement also resolves allegations that those companies fraudulently assigned patients a higher Resource Utilization Group (RUG) level than necessary. Medicare reimburses skilled nursing facilities based on a patient’s RUG level, which is supposed to be determined by the amount of skilled therapy required by the patient.

 

Third, this settlement resolves allegations that from Jan. 1, 2008, through Sept. 27, 2013, Sun Healthcare Group Inc., SunDance Rehabilitation Agency Inc., and SunDance Rehabilitation Corp. knowingly submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare Part B by billing for outpatient therapy services provided in the State of Georgia that were (1) not medically necessary or (2) unskilled in nature.

 

Finally, this settlement resolves allegations that between Sept. 1, 2003 and Jan. 3, 2010, Skilled LLC submitted false claims to the Medicare and Medi-Cal programs at certain of its nursing homes for services that were grossly substandard and/or worthless and therefore ineligible for payment. More specifically, the settlement resolves allegations that Skilled LLC violated certain essential requirements that nursing homes are required to meet to participate in and receive reimbursements from government healthcare programs and failed to provide sufficient nurse staffing to meet residents’ needs.

 

SKG and its subsidiaries were acquired by Genesis after the conduct at issue in this settlement. Sun Healthcare Group Inc., SunDance Rehabilitation Agency Inc. and SunDance Rehabilitation Corp. were acquired by Genesis in December 2012.

 

“Safeguarding federal health care programs and patients is a priority,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. “Today’s settlement is an example of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to holding medical providers accountable for fraudulent billing of medically unnecessary treatments and services. We are committed to protecting federal health care programs, including Medicare, TRICARE, and Medicaid, which are funded by taxpayer dollars.”

 

“We are committed to protecting the federal health care programs and the patients who are enrolled in them,” said U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch for the Northern District of California. “We will continue to vigorously pursue companies and individuals who provide care that is grossly deficient or unnecessary.”

 

“Health care providers that falsify claims for unauthorized or unnecessary services steal precious taxpayer dollars, and we will aggressively seek to recover those funds for the program that needs them,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn for the Northern District of Georgia.

 

“It’s disturbing when health care companies bill Medicare and Medicaid to care for vulnerable patients, but provide grossly substandard care and medically unnecessary services just to boost company profits,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to crack down on medical providers who betray the public’s trust and the needs of vulnerable patients through fraudulent billing and irresponsible practices.”

 

“At a time when the cost of healthcare weighs heavy on many taxpayers, it is imperative that people who illegally bill our healthcare system are held accountable and forced to pay restitution,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge David J. LeValley. “This case is an example of how committed the FBI and its partners are to keeping healthcare providers from abusing the system.”

 

The settlement, which was based on the company’s ability to pay, resolves allegations originally brought in lawsuits filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act by Joanne Cretney-Tsosie, Jennifer Deaton, Kimberley Green, Camaren Hampton, Teresa McAree, Terri West, and Brian Wilson, former employees of companies acquired by Genesis. The act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. The government may intervene and file its own complaint in such a lawsuit. The whistleblowers will receive a combined $9.67 million as their share of the recovery in this case.

 

This matter was handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch; the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern District of California, the Northern District of Georgia, the Western District of Missouri, and the District of Nevada and HHS-OIG.

 

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.

 

The cases are docketed as United States, ex rel. Cretney-Tsosie v. Creekside Hospice II, LLC, Case No. 2:13-cv-167-HDM (D. Nev.); United States ex rel. McAree v. SunDance Rehabilitation Corp., Case No. 1:12-CV-4244 (N.D. Ga.); United States, ex rel. West v. Skilled Healthcare Group Inc., et. al., Case No. 11-02658-ED (N.D. Cal.); United States ex rel. Deaton v. Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc. et al., Case No. 4:14-cv-00219 (W.D. Mo.); and United States ex rel. Wilson v. Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc. et al., Case No. 14-cv-860 (W.D. Mo.).

 

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A Las Vegas, Nevada business owner was convicted yesterday by a federal jury of tax evasion, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

According to the evidence presented at trial, Maria Larkin, 55, owned and operated Five Star Home Health Care Inc. (Five Star). Larkin was responsible for collecting, accounting for, and paying over income, social security, and Medicare tax withheld from her employees’ wages. From 2004 through 2009, Larkin did not pay over the employment taxes she withheld. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assessed trust fund recovery penalties (TFRPs) against Larkin for these years, which made her personally liable for the unpaid employment taxes.

 

Larkin concealed her assets and income to evade paying the TFRPs and to obstruct the IRS’s efforts to collect the outstanding taxes. She lied to the IRS regarding her ability to pay, changed the name of her business, placed her business in the name of a nominee, had her employees cash checks for her and bought a home in the name of a nominee. In total, Larkin evaded more than $1.6 million in taxes.

 

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13, 2017. Larkin faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

 

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney John Mulcahy of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Michael, who prosecuted the case.

 

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

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas, Nevada business owner was convicted on Tuesday by a federal jury of tax evasion, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

According to the evidence presented at trial, Maria Larkin, 55, owned and operated Five Star Home Health Care Inc. (Five Star). Larkin was responsible for collecting, accounting for, and paying over income, social security, and Medicare tax withheld from her employees’ wages. From 2004 through 2009, Larkin did not pay over the employment taxes she withheld. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assessed trust fund recovery penalties (TFRPs) against Larkin for these years, which made her personally liable for the unpaid employment taxes.

 

Larkin concealed her assets and income to evade paying the TFRPs and to obstruct the IRS’s efforts to collect the outstanding taxes. She lied to the IRS regarding her ability to pay, changed the name of her business, placed her business in the name of a nominee, had her employees cash checks for her and bought a home in the name of a nominee. In total, Larkin evaded more than $1.6 million in taxes.

 

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 13, 2017. Larkin faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison, a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.

 

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney John Mulcahy of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Michael, who prosecuted the case.

 

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

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Three men from Las Vegas were sentenced on Tuesday to federal prison for their roles in a string of armed robberies of cell phone stores, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Fred Oaxaca, 20; Martin Garcia, 20; and Luis Cuevas, 22, were sentenced to 120 months, 120 months, and 85 months, respectively, by U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. Another defendant, Marcus Hammon, 22, was sentenced to 105 months by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson on March 28, 2017.

 

On Dec. 13, 2016, Hammon pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On Dec. 15, 2016, Oaxaca pleaded guilty to three counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; Garcia pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and Cuevas pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

 

According to their individual plea agreements, on Feb. 16 and 25, 2016, Oaxaca, Garcia, and Cuevas committed a robbery of an AT&T store and a Verizon Wireless store. Hammon also participated in the Feb. 25, 2016 Verizon Wireless store robbery. During the course of the robberies, Oaxaca, Garcia, and Hammon brandished firearms and at gunpoint ordered the employees and customers to go to the rear of the store and to lay face down on the ground. They stole cell phones, electronics, and cash from the store and fled the scene in a vehicle being driven by Cuevas, who had remained outside.

 

In addition, Oaxaca admitted that, on Feb. 12 and 18, 2016, he and other co-conspirators committed robberies of two T-Mobile stores. During the course of the robberies, Oaxaca brandished a firearm and at gunpoint ordered the employees to go to the rear of the store and to lay face down on the ground. A co-conspirator then used a zip-tie to secure the employees’ hands behind their back. They stole cell phones, electronics, and cash from the store. In addition, the defendants admitted that the total loss attributed to all of the store robberies was in excess of $95,000, but less than $500,000.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr.

 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment by the Department of Justice to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The former owner of a Las Vegas, Nevada strip club pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in the District of Nevada to evading employment taxes, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

According to documents filed with the court, Frederick John Rizzolo, 58, of Las Vegas, the former owner of The Crazy Horse Too, evaded paying more than $1.7 million in employment taxes that he owed for 2000 through 2002. Rizzolo paid The Crazy Horse Too’s floormen, bouncers, bartenders and shift managers in cash, but failed to provide accurate records of these payments to the Club’s bookkeepers. As a result, Rizzolo caused false employment tax returns to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which underreported wages paid and thus the taxes due. In 2006, Rizzolo admitted this conduct and pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States. Following his plea, however, Rizzolo took affirmative steps to conceal his assets and income to thwart the IRS from collecting the delinquent taxes that he owed. For example, Rizzolo directed $900,000 that he received from the sale of the Crazy Horse Too to an offshore bank account in the Cook Islands. He also withdrew $50,000 from a bank account, writing a check to a third party, who in turn provided the money back to Rizzolo, thereby avoiding an IRS levy and seizure of the funds. Additionally, Rizzolo lied to an IRS collections attorney, falsely stating that he had no income or assets and no ability to pay the taxes owed.

 

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2017. If the court accepts the parties’ agreement, Rizzolo will be sentenced to a period of 24 months in prison and will be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,637,290 to the IRS.

 

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and Acting U.S. Attorney Myhre thanked special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. and Trial Attorney Rebecca J. Sable of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

 

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

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Jones to 18 months in prison for breaking and entering into a U.S. Postal Service vehicle and stealing mail from the vehicle, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Javier Encinas, 30, pleaded guilty on March 1, 2017, to one count of breaking or entering carrier facilities and one count of theft or receipt of stolen mail.

 

According to the plea agreement, on April 19, 2016, Encinas used a crow bar to break and enter into a locked U.S. Postal Service vehicle and steal trays of mail and 23 parcels. On April 20, 2016, Encinas was stopped by law enforcement in a stolen car. Inside that car law enforcement officers found approximately 471 items of stolen mail. During an interview with law enforcement, Encinas admitted to breaking into the back of the postal vehicle using a crow bar and stealing the mail.

 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Michael.

 

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RENO, Nev. – A California woman was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Miranda M. Du to 15 months in prison for making counterfeit $100 bills, then spending the counterfeit money at businesses in Northern Nevada, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Yvonne Geneal Flores, 38, of Sacramento, Calif., pleaded guilty on Feb. 15, 2017, to one count of making counterfeit currency. Co-defendant Thomas Michael Morla, 42, pleaded guilty to making counterfeit currency and was sentenced on Oct. 31, 2016, to serve 18 months in prison.

According to the plea agreement, from Oct. 7, 2015 to May 5, 2016, Flores and Morla manufactured counterfeit $100 bills and spent the counterfeit money at various businesses in Reno, Sparks, and Carson City. In May 2016, law enforcement arrested Flores and Morla for possession of an embezzled rental car in Carson City. At the time of Morla’s arrest, he was in possession of counterfeit money. During the execution of a search warrant of Morla and Flores’ hotel room, law enforcement found equipment and supplies used to manufacture the counterfeit currency. Law enforcement collected approximately $50,000 in counterfeit $100 bills from businesses that can be attributed to Flores and Morla based on the similarities of the fraudulent notes.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian L. Sullivan.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for coercing and enticing two girls to travel from Oregon to Nevada to work as prostitutes, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Anthony Antonio Lewis, 20, pleaded guilty on March 7, 2017, to one count of coercion and enticement. Co-defendant Johnny Le Andrew Hudson, 19, pleaded guilty on Feb. 2, 2017, to coercion and enticement, and he was sentenced on May 2, 2017, to 87 months in prison. United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon presided over both of the sentencing hearings.

 

According to the plea agreement, Lewis admitted that, from Jan. 22 to 27, 2016, he coerced and enticed two minor girls to travel from Oregon to California and to Nevada to engage in prostitution. Lewis told one of the girls that by working as a prostitute she would be able to buy her own car, and that when she returned to Oregon, she would be able to get her own place to live. He advertised the girl through backpage.com, a website known for prostitution advertisements. The girl would give the money obtained through prostitution committed in California and Nevada to Hudson and Lewis.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elham Roohani and Christopher Burton.

 

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.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A New Hampshire man who conspired with Cliven Bundy and others during an April 2014 armed standoff over Bundy’s trespassing cattle on public lands was sentenced today to 87 months in prison.

 

Acting United States Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI Las Vegas Division, and Acting Director Michael D. Nedd of the Bureau of Land Management made the announcement.

 

Gerald A. DeLemus, 62, of Rochester, N.H., pleaded guilty on Aug. 25, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and one count of interstate travel in aid of extortion. In addition to the prison term, United States District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro sentenced DeLemus to three years of supervised release.

 

According to the plea agreement, on or about April 8, 2014, during a telephone conversation with co-defendant Cliven Bundy, DeLemus agreed to assist Bundy by bringing firearms and other gunmen from New Hampshire to Nevada to support Bundy. DeLemus admitted that when he travelled to Nevada, he joined in a conspiracy with Bundy and others to display force and aggression in order to influence federal law enforcement, thereby impeding or interfering with law enforcement’s official duties. On April 12, 2014, in furtherance of the conspiracy, at least one member of the conspiracy assaulted federal law enforcement officers by brandishing a firearm while the officers were performing impoundment operations in order to intimidate the officers and to instill in them fear and apprehension of immediate bodily injury or death. The armed assault forced the federal law enforcement officers to relinquish their custody of the impounded cattle to Bundy and members of the conspiracy.

 

DeLemus further admitted that, from April 13, 2014, and for weeks thereafter, in furtherance of the conspiracy, he provided personal security to Bundy and other conspirators, organized and led other gunmen in conducting patrols and manning security checkpoints, called for others to travel to Bunkerville, as a show of force in support of Bundy, and displayed firearms and made public statements to show and threaten force in order to influence a public officer.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI and BLM. The case was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas D. Dickinson and Nadia J. Ahmed, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Creegan.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today for stealing more than $85,000 in public housing benefits over a six-year period and for providing false statements to a government agency, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Abdallah D. Hamey, 57, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro to one count of theft of government property and five counts of false statement to a government agency.

 

According to the plea agreement, from August 2009 to April 2015, Hamey stole more than $85,000 in Section 8 public housing benefits. On at least seven applications for public housing assistance, Hamey falsely claimed that he held no bank accounts and possessed minimal assets. In fact, he owned and operated several businesses registered in his children’s names and controlled several business and personal bank accounts that together received approximately $1.7 million in deposits during the time he applied for public housing assistance. Based on the fraudulent applications, Hamey received Section 8 housing assistance to rent a house. During the same time he received housing assistance benefits, Hamey paid rent on four other houses in the Las Vegas area. In addition, he admitted to making five false statements to HUD officials.

 

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2017. Hamey faces the statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the theft of government property charge and the statutory maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the false statement to a government agency charge.

 

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Office of the Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig.

 

To report suspected fraud in a HUD program, call the HUD-OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 (Toll-Free) or e-mail HOTLINE@hudoig.gov.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to robbing a coin and jewelry store while pointing a gun at the elderly store owner and a customer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Noah Patrick Fields, 22, pleaded guilty to one count each of interference with commerce by robbery and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. United States District Judge James C. Mahan accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Aug. 24, 2017.

 

According to admissions made in connection with his plea agreement, on Oct. 14, 2016, Fields and a co-conspirator robbed a coin and jewelry store at gunpoint. Fields admitted that he held a customer and the 90-year-old store owner at gunpoint while his co-conspirator stole $3,500 in cash and approximately $42,424 worth of valuable coins and silver and gold bullion from the front display case.

 

At the time of sentencing, Fields faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for interference with commerce by robbery and a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine for use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

 

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A North Las Vegas man was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday for a federal firearms violation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Tajh Dion Weatherspoon, 27, was found guilty of one count of felon in possession of a firearm and shortly thereafter pleaded guilty to a second count of felon in possession of a firearm. Weatherspoon had two prior felony convictions, including attempted burglary and felon in possession of a firearm.

 

According to the superseding indictment, Weatherspoon was in possession of a Glock 19 handgun on June 15, 2016, and a Glock 21 handgun on Dec. 22, 2016. The Court severed the two counts and ordered that the trials proceed one after the other, beginning May 15, 2017. After the jury convicted Weatherspoon of possessing the Glock 19 handgun, he declined to proceed to trial on the count charging possession of the Glock 21 handgun and instead pleaded guilty without the benefit of a plea agreement.

 

United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben presided over the jury trial and scheduled sentencing for Sept. 19, 2017. At the time of sentencing, Weatherspoon faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the North Las Vegas Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Lopez and Patrick Burns.

 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment by the Department of Justice to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

 

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RENO, Nev. – A member of the Fort McDermitt Paiute-Shoshone Tribe of Nevada and Oregon was sentenced on Monday to 120 months in prison for his conviction for voluntary manslaughter in his wife’s death at their home on the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada. His wife was a member of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone.

 

Following a six-day jury trial, Nelson Ray McKee, 45, was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter. According to the indictment, on Dec. 31, 2014, McKee stabbed his wife in the chest which resulted in her death. United States District Judge Robert C. Jones presided over the jury trial and sentencing hearing.

 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shannon M. Bryant and Carla B. Higginbotham.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced to 156 months in prison for robbing three businesses and for brandishing a firearm during the robberies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Oscar Hernandez-Lopez, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and three counts of interfering with commerce by robbery. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey sentenced Hernandez-Lopez to five years of supervised release and to pay a criminal money judgment in the amount of $1,500.

 

According to the plea agreement, from Dec. 19, 2014 to about Jan. 7, 2015, Hernandez-Lopez conspired with others to rob various stores in Las Vegas. On Dec. 21, 2014, he entered a Speedee mart, produced a firearm and demanded money from an employee and a customer. On Jan. 5, 2015, he entered a Boost Mobile Store, produced a firearm and demanded money. On Jan. 7, 2015, Hernandez-Lopez, dressed in a black hoodie, a black ski mask, and gloves, ran inside a Metro PCS store, jumped over the counter, pointed a handgun at an employee and said, “give me all the money.” Shortly after the Metro PCS robbery, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers stopped the vehicle Hernandez was driving and observed in plain view clothing that was consistent with those worn during the robberies. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle. During that time, Hernandez-Lopez admitted to participating in various robberies of local stores.

 

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

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who committed two armed robberies in the Las Vegas Valley in the same week pleaded guilty today, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Walid H. Abdulla, 65, pleaded guilty to one count each of bank robbery and interference with commerce by robbery. United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Sept. 19, 2017.

 

According to admissions made in his plea agreement, on Jan. 30, 2017, Abdulla approached a clerk at a CVS Pharmacy with his gaming ticket from the pharmacy’s slot machine area and demanded the money from the cash register. He showed the clerk what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun in his waistband and told the clerk to put the money inside a bag, stating, “you won’t get hurt if you just hurry.” Abdulla fled with $1,210 in cash. Then, on February 6, Abdulla entered a Nevada State Bank and presented a robbery note demanding money from the vault. He showed the bank teller what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun and fled with $5,000 in cash. Abdulla was identified as the robber by the victims of his crimes, he was observed by video surveillance at each robbery, and a forensic examination identified his fingerprint on the slot machine he used at the CVS.

 

The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man, who conspired to travel to Michigan for sex with two minors and who was in possession of approximately 6,000 images of child pornography and approximately 300 videos of child pornography, was sentenced today to 160 months in prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Bryon Quackenbush, 43, pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual contact and possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson presided over the sentencing hearing.

 

According to admissions made in the plea agreement, Quackenbush chatted extensively over the internet with co-defendant Robert Norwood-Charlier, who was under investigation for production, distribution, and possession of child pornography, and co-defendant Ryan Lively about pedophilia and their membership in “Guardians,” a fantasy-universe group that discusses “mind control’ over others. They also shared sexually explicit images and videos of children with each other. During an interview with law enforcement, Quackenbush admitted that he traveled to Kalamazoo, Mich., knowing Norwood-Charlier both produce child pornography and perform sexual acts on children. Furthermore, Quackenbush admitted that he received copies of videos from Norwood-Charlier of children being sexually exploited. During a search warrant of Quackenbush’s residence, law enforcement seized computers and numerous electronic devices. A forensic evaluation found approximately 6,000 images and approximately 300 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

 

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina D. Silva.

 

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

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man who falsely represented himself to be a successful securities trader and investor pleaded guilty today to stealing monies as part of an investment fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Sean Christopher Sladek, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey scheduled sentencing for Aug. 14, 2017. At the time of sentencing, Sladek faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

 

According to the plea agreement, Sladek admitted that he falsely and with intent to defraud represented himself as a successful securities trader and investor. In fact, he was not a successful securities trader or investor. On or about May 9, 2013, he caused and intended to cause a victim in California to transfer $100,000 to him. He told the victim that the monies would generate positive returns through trading, securities transactions, and/or investment in securities. Sladek did not generate positive returns and had no intent to do so.

 

Furthermore, Sladek agreed to make restitution in the amount of $1,427,923, for losses caused by his criminal investment fraud scheme, and he agreed to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $2,638,143.

 

The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Grimmer.

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RENO, Nev. – A Reno man was indicted on Wednesday for the sexual exploitation of an infant and distribution of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Derrick Joseph Rady, 35, was charged with one count each of sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography. If convicted, the mandatory minimum sentence for sexual exploitation of a minor is 15 years and a maximum of 30 years, and the mandatory minimum sentence for distribution of child pornography is five years and a maximum of 20 years.

 

As alleged in the indictment, on or about Jan. 27, 2017, Rady used an approximately one-year-old infant to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing and distributing child pornography. According to the complaint, Facebook and Google both reported possible child pornography on their sites to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the execution of a search warrant at Rady’s residence, the Northern Nevada Child Exploitation Task Force seized multiple electronic devices containing child pornography and a mobile phone that was later identified as the device used to create the child pornography.

 

“It is a high priority of the FBI to protect the most vulnerable in our society: our children,” said Aaron C. Rouse, FBI Las Vegas Special Agent in Charge. “Every time child pornography is viewed on the internet it re-victimizes a child.”

 

The case is being investigated by the Northern Nevada 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon M. Bryant.

 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

 

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

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A five-time felon was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson to 235 months in prison for possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

Following a jury trial in October 2016, Mario Jacob Sapp, 40, of Las Vegas, was found guilty of one count each of felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition. At the time of trial, Sapp had five prior felony convictions, including two prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a conviction for battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, and a conviction for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip N. Smith, Jr. and Patrick Burns.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment by the Department of Justice to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 88 months in prison for targeting the elderly as part of a telemarking scam that resulted in the loss of nearly $1.2 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Willie James Montgomery, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire or mail fraud before U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan on Oct. 25, 2016.

 

According to the plea agreement, from Nov. 24, 2008 to Sept. 5, 2013, Montgomery admitted that he conspired with others to obtain “lead sheets.” A lead sheet identifies persons who had previously entered sweepstakes, lotteries, or other prize-drawing contests, and thus were susceptible to misrepresentations regarding potentially winning a prize, sweepstakes, or lottery. Montgomery and others falsely portrayed themselves as being an official of a lottery or sweepstakes committee or an official of the IRS and told the victims that they had won a prize or lottery, and, in order to receive the prize, they must first send payments in the form of checks, money orders, wire transfers, or cash. Montgomery knew that the victims had not won a prize or lottery and instead kept these advance payments for his own purposes. In order to conceal the scheme, Montgomery and others would direct the victims to send the money to individuals referred to as “runners,” i.e., people who would receive the money wires, cash, checks or money orders and then provide the criminal proceeds to Montgomery and his other co-conspirators. Montgomery further admitted that he and his co-conspirators made calls to at least 66 victims in at least 22 states. Through this scheme, he and his co-conspirators were able to obtain at least 56 MoneyGram wire transfers, totaling approximately $96,983, and 181 Western Union money wires, totaling at least $366,238. In total, the scheme caused losses to victims in the amount of approximately $1.2 million.

 

The case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Burns.

 

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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – David Nakama Oancea, aka “Vegas Dave,” 40, of Las Vegas, a Las Vegas sports betting personality, was indicted on Wednesday by a federal grand jury, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

 

The indictment charges Oancea with nine counts of misuse of Social Security Numbers and 10 counts of causing false currency transaction reports to be filed based on the false Social Security Numbers.

 

 

As alleged in the indictment, Oancea placed sports bets for himself and others at casinos and sports books. He opened player accounts by providing the casinos and sports books with social security numbers assigned to others or to no one, but represented to the casinos that the social security numbers were his. When Oancea placed bets or collected winnings of more than $10,000, he caused the casinos and sports books to prepare and submit false Currency Transaction Reports containing false and fraudulent social security numbers. It is further alleged that Oancea caused casinos and sports books to prepare and file at least 137 false Currency Transaction Reports. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $551,318.20 from Oancea.

 

The case is being investigated by the Las Vegas Financial Crimes Task Force consisting of members of the IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, the Henderson Police Department, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kilby Macfadden.

 

RENO, Nev. – Two tax return preparers were charged on Wednesday with conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing false federal income tax returns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

 

Thomas Michael Bidegary, 66, and Ginger A. Bidegary, 56, both of Winnemucca, Nev., are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In addition, Thomas is charged with seven counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false federal income tax returns, and Ginger is charged with three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false federal income tax returns.

 

According to the indictment, Thomas Bidegary is a former IRS employee who operated Winnemucca Tax and Bookkeeping Service, a tax preparation business, located in Winnemucca, Nevada. He and his wife, Ginger, were involved in the preparation of federal income tax returns. As alleged, the Bidegary’s conspired with each other to prepare and file false and fraudulent individual income tax returns. Beginning in at least 2009 and continuing through 2014, the Bidegary’s advised clients that by making small monetary “investments” into various businesses the Bidegary’s owned, the clients could decrease their annual taxable income and increase their tax refunds. As part of the scheme, in instances when clients provided “investment” funds, the Bidegary’s 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.

 

If convicted, the Bidegary’s face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for conspiracy and three years for each count of preparing false tax returns. They also face a term of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

 

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

 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

 

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