Western District of New York

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Rayshawn Miller, 40, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and acetyl-fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson, who is handling the case, stated that on July 20, 2021, the DEA executed a search warrant at Miller’s Broadway Street residence and seized 167 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, 21 grams of crack cocaine, 124 grams of cocaine, two pistols, ammunition, $15,380 in cash, and drug packaging materials.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

 Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra.       

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian Johnson, 25, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who handled the case, stated that Johnson submitted multiple fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications on behalf of a company called Million Man LLC (Million Man) to at least three financial institutions. The applications contained numerous false and misleading statements about Million Man’s business and operations, including the number of employees and average monthly payroll. Johnson submitted falsified federal tax documents and payroll records in support of the applications.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA), to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding, and in December 2020, Congress authorized another $284 billion in additional funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.

This case was investigated by the FDIC-OIG, TIGTA-OIG, FBI, and SBA-OIG. Trial Attorneys Matthew Reilly and Jennifer Bilinkas of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of New York are prosecuting the case. 

The Fraud Section leads the Department’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. In the nine months since the PPP began, Fraud Section attorneys have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases. The Fraud Section has also seized more than $60 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at:  https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.

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

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christopher Tindal, 29, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to failure to appear, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that while Tindal was awaiting sentencing on a riot charge, he was released with a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) ankle bracelet and required to comply with other conditions of release, including appearing at all court proceedings as required. On March 28, 2022, without the permission of the Court, Tindal removed his GPS ankle bracelet and failed to appear for sentencing before Judge Siragusa on April 19, 2022.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Almonte Diaz, 30, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on August 2, 2022, Diaz and another individual were transporting approximately 504 grams of cocaine from Rochester, eastbound on Interstate 90. The New York State Police conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in the area of Exit 41 in Seneca County. The cocaine was concealed in a birthday gift-wrapped package. Officers also recovered $18,511 in United States currency.

The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak.         

Sentencing is scheduled for August 8, 2023, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tyree D. Washington, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on November 26, 2022, New York State Police Troopers on patrol in Rochester attempted to stop Washington, who was operating a black BMW, for traffic violations, but Washington refused to stop. A vehicle pursuit ensued over several city streets and ended when Washington failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into the front porch of a residence on South Plymouth Avenue in Rochester. After Washington was taken into custody, officers located two loaded pistols in the vehicle. In October 2009, Washington was convicted of a felony in Monroe County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The plea is the result of an investigation by New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.  

Sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge David G. Larimer.

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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that John Wallace Buchanan, 36, of Fredonia, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution of fentanyl causing death, narcotics conspiracy, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of January 10, 2022, the Ellicott Police Department responded to a residence on Boulevard Avenue in Celoron, NY, for a death investigation. At the scene, law enforcement found an individual, identified as B.G., lying face down on the living room floor with signs of drug use nearby. The cause of death was listed as a potential overdose. A review of the contents of B.G.’s cell phone identified a Facebook Messenger conversation between B.G.’s Facebook account and the account of John Buchanan. Investigators subsequently identified multiple Facebook conversations, with B.G. wanting to purchase narcotic drugs from Buchanan, dating back to November of 2021, including a conversation just prior to B.G.’s death. Investigators also noted that following a review of Buchanan’s Facebook account, some messages between B.G. and Buchanan may have been deleted from Buchanan’s account. At the scene of B.G.’s death, officers recovered, among other things, ammunition and three firearms. Investigators learned that Buchanan was attempting to sell firearms to B.G. in December 2021. Investigators believe that B.G. and Buchanan also discussed firearms transactions in the conversation prior to B.G.'s death.

Buchanan was ordered detained following a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Ohnmeiss Jr.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.       

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Gerald Barclay, 25, of Bath, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on August 22, 2022, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Barclay’s residence in Bath, seizing drug packaging materials, digital scales, and approximately $1,866 in United States currency inside the residence. Outside the residence, near a stack of tires next to the garage, investigators found approximately 195 grams of pure methamphetamine.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 27, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Geraci.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Terrance Michael Ciszek a/k/a DrMonster, 33, and Corey Robert Dodge a/k/a Cakesbaylor, 41, both of Buffalo, NY, were charged in separate complaints with possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the cases, stated that since August 2018, the FBI has been investigating an illicit online marketplace known as Genesis Market, whose operators compile stolen data, such as computer and mobile device identifiers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords, from malware-infected computers around the globe and package it for sale on the market. Purchases made through Genesis Market are conducted using virtual currency, such as bitcoin.

According to the complaint against defendant Ciszek, a Buffalo Police Detective, between March 16 and July 29, 2020, he purchased 11 packages on Genesis Market that included 194 stolen account credentials. Investigators also determined that Ciszek had bitcoin wallet addresses associated with UniCC, a dark web carding website. Carding websites are illicit marketplaces and/or forums used to share stolen credit card data and discuss techniques for obtaining credit card data, validating it, and using it for criminal activity.

According to the complaint against Dodge, between March 26, 2020, and May 30, 2021, he purchased 14 packages on Genesis Market, that included approximately 8,586 stolen account credentials. The stolen credentials included accounts for Paypal, Tracfone, eBay, Amazon, FedEx, Etsy, Walmart, Chase, Venmo, and eTrade.

Ciszek and Dodge made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and were released on conditions. Defendant Ciszek has been suspended with pay by the Buffalo Police Department pending further internal investigation.

The complaints are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Roderick Arrington, a/k/a Ra-Ra, 41, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremiah E. Lenihan and Timothy C. Lynch, who handled  the case, stated that Roderick was a member of the Schuele Boys Gang, which operated in the Schuele Street area of the East Side of Buffalo, was responsible for multiple acts of violence and the distribution of illegal narcotics including cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. The Government states that one of those acts of violence was the murder of Quincy Balance a/k/a Shooter, at the intersection of Northland and Stevens on the East Side of Buffalo on August 30, 2012. The Schuele Boys believed Balance was involved in the shooting murder of one of their associates on nearby Carl Street four days earlier. During his plea, Arrington denied being involved in the murder of Quincy Balance.  

The plea is the result of an investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 29, 2023, before Judge Wolford.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Mohammad Fares, 28, formerly of Buffalo, now of Florida, who was convicted of theft of government property, was sentenced to serve to three years supervised release, perform 200 hours of community service, and pay restitution of approximately $43,000 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that on May 18, 2020, Fares submitted an online application to the New York State Department of Labor for unemployment insurance benefits, stating that he did not work any day during the week of May 18, 2020; that he did not have gross earnings over $504; that his last day of work was March 21, 2020; and that his workplace had closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, Fares co-owned a trucking company in Buffalo, for which he managed truck drivers and coordinated shipments. On June 11, 2020, Fares received $3,600 in Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefits. Every week through May 2, 2021, Fares certified to that he did not work during the prior week and had not returned to work. In doing so, Fares certified his continued eligibility for Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and NYS Department of Labor unemployment benefits. During this time period, Fares continued to manage the trucking company. Fares received, in total, approximately $43,320 in unemployment benefits and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for benefits. The CARES Act provided for three new UI programs: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA); Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC); and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).

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

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Labor Racketeering and Fraud, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan Mellone and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury.

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U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Maurice Chatman, 42, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen to being a  felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 or both.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that on August 3, 2022, Rochester Police Officers responded to Post Avenue and Aberdeen Street after receiving a report of a male standing at the corner holding a gun.  Officers also learned that the male was seen walking down Aberdeen Street carrying the gun. Subsequently, Chatman was observed standing in front of 91 Aberdeen Street holding a rifle.  Officers went to 91 Aberdeen Street and confronted Chatman in the driveway. They observed the rifle nearby on top of a folding table.  Officers arrested Chatman and seized the rifle. Chatman was previously convicted of felonies in 1997, 2004, 2011, and 2015, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

The matter was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office as part of its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 26, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge David G. Larimer.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Corey Beasley, 37, of West Seneca, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, receipt, and possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in January 2023, a West Seneca police officer received a report that sexually explicit images were found on a tablet belonging to Beasley. Subsequently, a search warrant was executed at Beasley’s residence, during which 16 electronic devices were seized. A forensic examination of the devices recovered several naked and sexually explicit images of a minor victim. In addition, other images of suspected child pornography were found on Beasley’s devices.

Beasley made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was held pending a detention hearing on May 2, 2023.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of Chief Edward Baker and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Guodeng Chen, Didi Huang, Fangfang Yan, all of Pittsford, NY, Ruimao Yang, Yan Han, and Wen Xiao Zhang, all of New York, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy and the transportation and sale of stolen goods in interstate commerce. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendants conspired to commit a series of thefts of used cooking oil, which can be refined into biodiesel fuel and re-sold for $4.00 to $5.00 per gallon, from numerous restaurants within and around Monroe County. In April 2022, Monroe Country Sheriffs’ Deputies encountered several of the defendants, in the middle of the night, pumping used cooking oil out of privately-owned holding tanks and into box trucks that contained a large storage tank.  Deputies followed the box trucks to warehouses located at 300 and 350 Commerce Drive in Rochester, where they observed the defendants pumping the oil out of the trucks and into the warehouse. During the execution of search warrants at 300 and 350 Commerce Drive, deputies discovered 12,461 gallons of unrefined oil, worth over $73,000. A review of documents and records found during the search warrants revealed that the defendants sold and shipped the stolen oil to a refinery located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Investigators traced two specific shipments totaling of 95,320 gallons of oil from the defendants’ warehouse in Rochester to the refinery in Erie, PA.   The defendants were paid $60,051 for these two shipments.   

The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and were released on conditions. 

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.       

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Christian G. Cruz, 25, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that on August 2, 2022, in the area of 1248 N. Clinton Avenue in Rochester, police officers observed Cruz showing a firearm to another male. When officers approached Cruz, they observed the outline of a firearm in his pocket and asked for identification. Cruz reached towards his pocket where the gun was, so the officers grabbed his arms, eventually taking him into custody after a brief struggle. Officers found the loaded handgun in the pocket of Cruz’s shorts. They also found 61 small plastic vials of cocaine, four wax paper envelopes containing fentanyl, and a knotted sandwich bag containing cocaine, in another pocket.

The matter was brought by the United States Attorney’s Office as part of its Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.  PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2023, at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jonathan Bersani, 31, of Niagara Falls, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the Niagara County Drug Task Force (NCDTF) alerted the Homeland Security Investigations BEST Team of suspected drug activity being conducted by Bersani. The task force then conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine from Bersani. On April 14, 2023, as investigators were surveilling Bersani on Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, he struck two vehicles, including a law enforcement vehicle, before fleeing the area. Bersani’s tire eventually burst on Buffalo Avenue, at which time he fled on foot before being taken into custody. Approximately 200 yards away, law enforcement discovered a black bag that approximately 192 grams of suspected cocaine. An electronic scale was also found in the area. Investigators also seized a satchel bag that Bersani was wearing, which contained bulk US currency. That same day, a search warrant was executed at Bersani’s Linwood Avenue residence, during which investigators seized approximately 14 grams of suspected crack cocaine, approximately four grams of suspected cocaine, three glass dishes, a fork, plate, and knife, all with white residue, and metal knuckles.

Bersani was ordered released on conditions following a detention hearing this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti and Homeland Security Investigations BEST Team, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging James D. Sutton, 37, of Depew, NY, with distribution and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, and a maximum of 20 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment, in October 2021, Sutton, a former Wyoming County Corrections Officer, distributed child pornography. In addition, on February 7, 2023, Sutton possessed images of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor on three different cellular telephones.

Sutton was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was held pending a detention hearing on April 24. 2023.        

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.   

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Robert Forbes, Jr. a/k/a Ra Ra a/k/a Henny, 37, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and two counts of Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Marangola and Cassie M. Kocher, who are handling the case, stated that between February 18, and March 26, 2020, Forbes participated, with others, in four separate home invasions in Rochester and Greece, NY. Forbes took part in planning, recruiting participants, obtaining, and providing information about the suspected presence of controlled substances and/or money derived from the sale of controlled substances in the residences, driving individuals to and from the residences, and providing a firearm to use. During some of the home invasions, individuals were restrained, pistol-whipped, and/or suffered injuries.  Forbes was arrested April 1, 2020, on W. Ridge Road after a 13-minute car chase in the City of Rochester.   

The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Matthew Richardson a/k/a Skylar “Sky” Ravenwood, 35, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and distribution of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of  30 years, and a 250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in November 2022, the Greece Police Department received a report that a 16-year-old minor (minor victim) was missing, and that the minor victim had been seeing a person named “Sky.” Greece Police contacted “Sky” by telephone, who confirmed that he was with the minor victim. Greece Police also spoke with the minor victim who would not provide their location and stated that they did not want to return home. As a result, the minor victim was registered as a missing person in a law enforcement database. In early December 2022, Greece Police learned that Richardson and the minor victim were in an OnlyFans video and reached out to the FBI, which located the sexually explicit video. On December 9, 2022, Richardson and the minor victim were located by Ohio State Troopers in a vehicle Richardson had stolen in New York State. Richardson was arrested at that time.

Richardson made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing on April 18, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian J. Ratajczak, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.          

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Shalika Williams, 30, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to officer or employee of the United States converting property of another, less than $1000, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, and a $100,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that between September and November 4, 2022, Williams was employed by the United States Postal Service as a sales, service, and distribution associate at the Buffalo Processing and Distribution Center. During this time, Williams riffled through and opened sealed pieces of mail and stole approximately 10 to 15 gift cards valued at $360 and $300 in cash.   

The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 21, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Pedersen.   

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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nathan Follett, 36, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that between February 2016, and December 16, 2021, Follett used Instagram, Kik, and Snapchat to engage in sexually explicit communications with 11 minor victims, knowing each victim was under the age of 18. During these conversations, Follett coerced the minor victims to produce images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct and send those images and videos to him via Instagram, Kik, and Snapchat.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 23, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.  

# # # #

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jason Lane, 28, of Greece, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography, before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that in July and August 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received tips from Yahoo that a user uploaded approximately 260 files of possible child pornography to a Yahoo email account. NCMEC forwarded the information to the New York State Police and a subsequent investigation traced the files to an IP address belonging to Lane, a former Town of Greece police recruit, who was terminated following a probationary period. The files include an image of a partially nude preschool-aged child, which appears to have been taken at a childcare facility in the Rochester, NY, area. The files also include sexually explicit images of two minor victims (Victim 1 and Victim 2), that appear to have been taken by Lane. 

On August 9, 2022, the NYSP executed a search warrant at a residence in Brighton, NY, and seized a cellular phone belonging to Lane. A second search warrant was executed at a residence in Greece, NY. A forensic analysis of the phone recovered child pornography. A search warrant was also executed on Lane’s Yahoo account. That search recovered additional images of child pornography that were produced by Lane, in images that Lane obtained via the internet, and images of students at Spencerport High School that appear to have been take surreptitiously by Lane when he worked as a security guard at the school.   

The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian J. Ratajczak, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. before Judge Geraci.   

# # # #

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eugene R. Criss, Jr., 55, of Elmira, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 23, 2023, Criss shared suspected child pornography on a peer to peer sharing network with an undercover law enforcement employee. On April 5, 2023, a search warrant was executed at Criss’ residence, during which investigators seized multiple electronic devices to include a cellular telephone, laptop computer, USB thumb drive and a tablet. A review of the thumb drive recovered more than 1,000 files in more than 700 folders of suspected child pornography.

Criss made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pederson and was held pending a detention hearing on April 14, 2023.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Adrian Goudelock a/k/a AD, a/k/a Ace, a/k/a Ace Boogs, 40, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, five kilograms or more of cocaine, attempted possession and possession of five kilograms or more of cocaine, and money laundering conspiracy, was sentenced to serve 324 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Co-defendant Shamar Davis, who was also convicted at trial, was previously sentenced to serve 150 months in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler, Jeremiah E. Lenihan, and Seth T. Molisani, who prosecuted the case, stated that Goudelock was a leader in a major narcotic trafficking operation that stretched from Mexico to Buffalo. An investigation began in October 2017 following the seizure of approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine and $259,960 in cash that was being shipped from El Paso, Texas to Buffalo. Bulk shipments of cocaine were delivered to Goudelock in the Buffalo area. A total of 77 kilograms of cocaine were delivered to Buffalo during the conspiracy and nearly $1,000,000 in bulk U.S. currency was seized during the investigation. A total of 12 defendants were identified, charged, and convicted in the case. In addition, 21 defendants were charged in the Eastern District of Kentucky and the Northern District of Ohio, resulting in the seizure of an additional $2,000,000 and approximately 41 kilograms of cocaine.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; and Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Unit, under the direction of Brian Manaher, Director, Marine Operations. Additional assistance was provided by the New York National Guard and Homeland Security Investigations, El Paso, Texas.

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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tremaine Jacobs a/k/a Teeter a/k/a T, 49, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to attempt to possess, with intent to distribute, cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that on May 16, 2020, law enforcement learned that a package containing $7,000 worth of cocaine had been sent to Jacobs. That same day, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized a package addressed to 542 Goodyear Avenue, a residence associated with Jacobs. The package contained 248 grams of cocaine. On May 30, 2020, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Buffalo Police Department Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at 533 Goodyear Avenue, where investigators recovered approximately 16 ounces of suspected marijuana, approximately $10,507 in US currency, and jewelry.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 9, 2023 before Judge Vilardo.

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tristan Pearson, 26, Erie, PA, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan P. Cantil and Raymond J. Fadel, who are handling the case, stated that between January and May 2018, Pearson knowingly engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old female (Victim) in the Western District of New York. On two separate occasions, Pearson filmed himself having sexual relations with the Victim using his cellular telephone. Pearson then distributed those videos to others via text message.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

# # # #

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joshua Wormley, 38, of Bath, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2017, Wormley was convicted of attempted possession of a sexual performance of a child. In February 2021, Wormley possessed a cell phone containing approximately 800 images and two videos of child pornography. Some of the images and videos depicted prepubescent minors.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Yates County Sheriff's Office, under the direction of Sheriff Ronald Spike.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 16, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Wolford.

# # # #

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James Miller, 63, of Corning, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that in May 2021, the New York State Police received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Miller’s email account uploaded suspected images of child pornography. On May 26, 2021, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Miller’s Fox Ridge Road residence, and seized several digital devices. A forensic review of a seized cell phone recovered 84 images of child pornography. Another review of a computer that was seized recovered 22 images of child pornography.

Miller made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was released on conditions.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak. Additional assistance was provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

# # # #

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Steven Glover, 39, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of five grams or more of methamphetamine. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 40 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case stated that according to the complaint, on the morning of December 14, 2022, a Jamestown Police officer observed Glover in a vehicle. The officer knew that Glover was suspended from driving. The officer stopped the vehicle and made contact with Glover, who immediately advised that he had a pipe on his person. Glover then handed over a glass pipe that contained what appeared to be methamphetamine residue inside. Glover was detained and a search of the vehicle recovered a digital scale with white crystal residue and a pistol. Glover was charged in New York State Court and released on bail. On February 22, 2023, a Jamestown Police officer observed Glover in the passenger seat of another vehicle and was aware of his outstanding charges. The officer stopped the vehicle and observed drug paraphernalia a plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine. Glover was again taken into custody. In 2019, Glover was convicted of a felony in Chautauqua County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

# # # #

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Maurice Sheftall, 24, of Brooklyn, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to fraud and related activity in connection with computers. Judge Siragusa then sentenced Sheftall to serve three years’ probation and pay restitution totaling $41,441.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that in January 2021, Sheftall obtained the customer credentials, including logins and passwords, of more than 50 individuals who had accounts on www.wegmans.com. He then logged into the accounts and changed passwords and e-mail contact information, locking each customer out of his or her account. Sheftall than used the customers saved credit card information, without their knowledge, to order groceries and have those groceries delivered to himself and his associates. Between January 22, 2021, and July 25, 2021, Sheftall intentionally defrauded Wegmans and approximately 50 customers by placing approximately 25 fraudulent orders, totaling approximately $9,297.05. Actual losses totaled $41,441, to include reimbursement to customers, the purchase of credit monitoring for affected customers, and the purchase of dark web monitoring to determine where and how Sheftall obtained the customer account information he used to access the accounts.

The plea and sentencing are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. 

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Anthony Neubauer, 36, of Falconer, NY, kidnapping resulting in death. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case stated that according to the complaint, on May 27, 2014, Neubauer kidnapped an individual identified as J.A. Neubauer then transported J.A. from New York to Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of J.A.

Neubauer was arraigned this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on March 28, 2023.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

# # # #

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Peter Hingston, 63, of Amherst, NY, who was convicted of two counts of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison and 15 years supervised release by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who handled the case, stated that on June 17, 2019, Buffalo Police Officers were called to City Honors School, where Hingston worked as a middle school technology teacher, based on allegations that Hingston was taking inappropriate photographs of female students with a GoPro camera. Officers secured the GoPro digital camera from Hingston. A subsequent search of the camera resulted in the recovery of child pornography videos produced by Hingston, involving minor victims who were under his custody, care, and supervisory control when the sexually explicit images were produced. Investigators also searched an external hard drive possessed by Hingston, which contained additional videos of child pornography produced by Hingston, involving different minor victims, who were also was under his custody, care, and supervisory control.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo Office, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Deandre Wilson, 51, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted by a federal jury of multiple charges for his role in a narcotics conspiracy which resulted in a triple homicide, was sentenced to serve three consecutive life sentences plus 30 years by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Following the six-week jury trial, Wilson was convicted of:

• narcotics conspiracy
• Hobbs Act robbery
• murder while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy
• discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking crimes
• two counts of discharge of a firearm causing death in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking crimes
• conspiracy to obstruct justice
• two counts of obstruction of justice
• conspiracy to use fire to commit a felony
• two counts of use of fire to commit a felony
• conspiracy to damage and destroy a vehicle used in interstate commerce by fire
• damaging and destroying a vehicle used in interstate commerce by fire
• possession with intent to distribute marijuana 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Adler, Maeve E. Huggins, and Joseph M. Tripi, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that in 2019, Deandre Wilson joined a longstanding narcotics conspiracy with co-defendants Jariel Cobb, James Reed, and others. Wilson, who had only recently been released to New York State parole after serving a lengthy prison term for Murder in the 2nd Degree, entered the conspiracy to obtain kilograms of cocaine and other controlled substances for distribution. In furtherance of the narcotics conspiracy, on September 15, 2019, Cobb arranged a purchase of a kilogram of cocaine from Miguel Anthony Valentin-Colon and Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred, who served as Cobb’s sources of supply. Valentin-Colon, along with his wife. Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud, their minor son, and Roman-Audiffred, arrived in their vehicle, a white minivan, at a residence on Roebling Avenue, as directed by Cobb. Roman-Audiffred exited the van and entered the residence’s kitchen, at which time Wilson hit her in the head with a blunt object and she fell to the floor. Wilson then went outside and shot and killed both Valentin-Colon and Merced Plaud, in the presence of their minor son, who was seated in a child’s car seat. Wilson then drove the minivan and hid it behind a building on Scajaquada Street near Kilhoffer Street in Buffalo.

A short time later, Cobb and Reed moved the body of Dhamyl Roman-Audiffred from the kitchen into the residence’s basement, where Cobb dismembered her body. Cobb placed the body parts into multiple trash bags and placed them into the trunk of his vehicle, and then drove to a residence on Box Avenue, removed the trash bags, and placed them into a burning fire in a fire pit area in the backyard.  Wilson later joined his co-conspirators on Box to assist in the destruction of evidence.

During the early morning hours of September 16, 2019, Wilson and Cobb retrieved the minivan from Scajaquada Street, with the bodies of Miguel Valentin-Colon and Nicole Marie Merced-Plaud still inside, as well as their minor son. Wilson and Cobb drove the minivan to a non-residential area on Tonawanda Street and doused the vehicle and the bodies with gasoline, lighting the vehicle and bodies on fire. They took the minor child and left him on a stranger’s porch on Potomac Avenue in Buffalo.

Jariel Cobb and James Reed were previously convicted and also face a maximum of life when sentenced.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Erie County Central Police Services Forensic Laboratory, under the direction of Commissioner James Jancewicz.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Devin Tribunella, 39, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of transportation of stolen goods in interstate commerce, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. Tribunella was also ordered to forfeit a 2008 Lamborghini, a 2014 Mercedes Benz, a 2014 Rolls Royce, a 2015 Porsche, the contents of three bank accounts totaling $155,182.87, and a $1,600,000 money judgment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that Tribunella owned and operated Royal Crown Pawn & Jewelry on Dewey Avenue in Rochester. Tribunella and an employee purchased stolen goods and merchandise from individuals, commonly referred to as “boosters,” who shoplifted the goods and merchandise from Rochester area retail stores. Tribunella routinely advised the boosters what type of merchandise to steal from the retail stores, such as Lowes, Home Depot, Target, and Walmart, and then paid the boosters a fraction of the true retail value for the goods. Tribunella listed the stolen goods for sale on eBay, advertising the goods as “New” or “New-In-Box” and priced below retail value. Between January 2017, and November 2019, Tribunella sold and shipped (or caused to be shipped) approximately $3,248,426 worth of those stolen goods to buyers located outside of New York State.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office; the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith; the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter; and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood. Additional assistance was provided by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. 

# # # #

BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Matthew Bald, 42, of Lockport, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor by a person having a prior conviction for sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse, or abusive sexual contact involving a minor or ward, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who handled the case, stated that in November 2011, Bald was convicted in Niagara County Court of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to serve six months in prison and 10 years’ probation. On December 15, 2020, while still on probation, Bald possessed more than 600 images of child pornography on a laptop computer. Some of the images of child pornography depicted prepubescent minors.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski, the Niagara County Probation Department, under the direction of Director John Cicchetti, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

# # # #

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eric M. Butson, 36, and Catalina Hernandez, 41, both of Buffalo, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit United States currency. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno, who is handling the case, stated that between December 2022, and March 2023, Butson and Hernandez are accused of conspiring to manufacture and pass counterfeit money in stores, restaurants, and shops. According to the complaint, on January 10, 2023, Butson and Hernandez used a counterfeit $100 bill to make a purchase at Watson's Chocolates on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo. Watson's Chocolates reported this incident and provided surveillance video to the United States Secret Service. Subsequent investigation determined that Butson and Hernandez, wearing Covid masks, successfully passed or attempted to pass counterfeit $100 bills, bearing the same serial number of the bill used at Watson’s Chocolates, at multiple businesses including:

• Salsaritas
• Sunshine and Bluebirds
• Elmwood Pet Supplies
• Walgreens Drug Store
• Hydraulic Hearth
• Left Bank Restaurant
• Jim’s Steakout
• Cheesy Chick Café
• Humbert House Restaurant 

On February 6, 2023, investigators pulled the trash from the defendants Orlando Street residence, recovering an ink cartridge, a partial counterfeit bill, printer paper with the outlines of bills used to align printing of counterfeit bills, receipts, and bags from businesses on Elmwood Avenue where counterfeit bills were passed, and handwritten addresses of businesses where counterfeit bills were passed. To date, Butson and Hernandez have attempted to pass counterfeit bills at more than 50 businesses in the greater Buffalo area. They are also currently charged in the Towns of Amherst and West Seneca with passing counterfeit bills.

The defendants made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and are being held pending a detention hearing on March, 24, 2023.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Jeffrey Burr, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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BUFFALO, NY - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that the Western District of New York collected $36,265,598.00 in criminal, civil and forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2022. Of this amount, $7,484,121.00 was collected in criminal actions and $28,781,477.00 was collected in civil actions. As a result, over $7,000,000 was given to victims of crime in the past year, while $964,621.00 was provided as aid to state and local law enforcement agency partners who worked hand in hand with the office on criminal cases.

Additionally, the Western District of New York worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $10,527,064.89 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.

I making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ross specifically credited the work done by the Asset Recovery Division, under the leadership of Chief Kevin D. Robinson and Deputy Chief Grace Carducci. “This Office is focused on combating all crime, in particular those crimes involving violence, racism and bigotry, use of firearms, exploitation of women and children, and fraud,” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “At the same time, we are focused on making sure that justice is fair and even handed. Everyone deserves to live and work in an environment that is safe, and your rights guaranteed under the law are afforded to you. In addition to combating crime, we seek to deprive criminals of those proceeds generated through their illegal activity, and to collect on behave of the victims of crime.  Our goal is to make all victims of crime whole.” 

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

In addition to recovering funds, more than 50 dangerous firearms and 1,800 rounds of ammunition were forfeited in FY 2021 as instrumentalities of criminal conduct in drug and violent gang cases. Forty Computers and electronic media devices—most related to child exploitation cases—were also forfeited.

The following cases are examples of successful forfeiture and affirmative civil enforcement cases concluded this past year in the Western District of New York:

• In April 2022, the district recovered $ $16.27 million as part of a civil forfeiture settlement in the United States v. 7405 Morgan Road, et al. case.
• In March 2022, the district recovered approximately $3.3 million as part of a criminal forfeiture settlement and $102,952.77 in court ordered restitution in the United States v. Christopher Parris case.  Christopher Parris solicited and caused others to solicit various medical supply companies and governmental entities for orders of scarce PPE. Parris knowingly misrepresented his access to, and ability to obtain and deliver on time, vast quantities PPE. 
• In December 2022, the district recovered approximately $277,500 in criminal forfeiture as a result of a jury trial in the United States v. Michael Rech case. Michael Rech submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application and received funds that he was not otherwise entitled to receive.
• In June 2022, the district recovered $600,000 from James A. Sakr, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat doctor based in Dansville, NY, to resolve allegations that Dr. Sakr fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for procedures that were not medically necessary or that he did not perform.
• In August 2022, the district entered into a settlement for $950,000 with Elderwood, a Buffalo-based senior care company, to resolve allegations that Elderwood submitted false claims for payment from Medicare and Medicaid. Between August 1, 2013, and December 31, 2018, Elderwood submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims for payment to Medicare for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services that it knew were medically unnecessary. The submission of these medically unnecessary claims also resulted in Elderwood receiving artificially inflated payments from Medicaid.
• In February 2022, the district recovered $970,000 from Nightingale Corporation to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act. Nightingale is a manufacturer of office seating and furniture, which sells its products to various federal government agencies. In December 2019, Nightingale was awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) contract to supply office chairs to various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. The contract required that Nightingale produce the chairs in the United States. The Government alleged that during the bidding process, Nightingale falsely represented to the GSA that it would produce the chairs at its Tonawanda, NY, location. Based on that representation, Nightingale was awarded the contract. However, between February 2020 and April 2021, Nightingale did not produce the chairs in Tonawanda or elsewhere in the United States, but rather the chairs were produced in Canada.

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Mohammed Uddin, 34, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty to attempted receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years prison, a maximum of 20 years, a lifetime term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that Uddin engaged in sexually explicit online and text communications with an undercover law enforcement officer, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Over a period of approximately three weeks, Uddin discussed engaging in sexual relations with the child, sent pornography to the child, talked about taking the child’s virginity, attempted to induce the child to produce and send him sexually explicit photos and videos, and formed a plan to meet the child at her Rochester home for sex. On August 18, 2022, Uddin traveled from Cheektowaga to an address in Rochester that he believed was the child’s residence and was immediately taken into custody, at which time investigators located Uddin’s cell phone and candy that he purchased as a gift for the child. 

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.       

Sentencing is scheduled for June 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Gabygayl Cruz, 21, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce and possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Moynihan, who is handling the case, stated that on the evening of June 7, 2021, on Facebook Live, Cruz threatened to shoot a man, stating at the end of the video, “Tune-in in five minutes.” Later that night, Cruz and another person went to an area of Rochester where Cruz knew the person she threatened spent time. In a second Facebook Live video, a black screen appeared but 11 gunshots could be heard followed by the sounds of Cruz running and giggling. In a third video, Cruz recounted the earlier shooting, imitated shooting a gun and continued to issue threats to others. 

On July 1, 2021, Cruz again used Facebook Live to threaten to shoot a woman, displaying a .45 caliber firearm, while issuing the threat. Cruz then went to a Columbia Avenue address in Rochester to confront the woman, but she was not there. While leaving the area, Cruz struck a parked car and fired a shot in the air. Cruz was arrested the next day when she was stopped driving a car in which officers found a loaded .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol, which was the same firearm she displayed in one of the videos.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Siragusa.

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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Ryan A. Bloom, 37, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that Bloom bought and sold heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine for profit and his own use, utilizing Facebook to conduct his drug trafficking activities. Bloom and co-conspirator, Rachelle Allison, also utilized a Fairview Avenue residence in Jamestown to conduct their drug trafficking activities, selling drugs and running a needle exchange out of the residence. These activities resulted in numerous overdoses occurred at that location.  

On April 5, 2020, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a Hoag Road residence in Ashville, NY, for a possible overdose death. Upon arrival, an individual identified as D.R., was found deceased. A search of D.R.’s cellular telephone revealed Facebook messages between D.R. and Bloom the previous day that were drug related. Bloom admits that he and Allison distributed heroin and fentanyl to D.R. the day before D.R.’s death. On July 19, 2020, Bloom sold heroin and fentanyl to an individual identified as A.R. at the Fairview Avenue residence, resulting in A.R. overdosing. After receiving two doses of Narcan, A.R. and was revived and regained consciousness. On February 12, 2021, investigators conducted an undercover purchase of heroin and fentanyl from Bloom.

Rachelle Allison was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 14, 2023, before Judge Sinatra.  

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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Lay Wah, 23, a Burmese citizen living in Buffalo, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan E. Leydecker, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on March 13, 2023, the ATF and Buffalo Police executed a search warrant at Wah’s Newfield Street residence. Upon entering the residence, law enforcement observed Way move quickly from a computer room to a bedroom, where he was spotted reaching in a piece of furniture before pushing the door closed. Moments later, a law enforcement officer outside the residence observed an object, which turned out to be a loaded 9mm handgun, thrown from the same bedroom window. The handgun was equipped with a device which converts semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic machineguns. Inside the residence, law enforcement also recovered a quantity of cash, 9mm ammunition, various packaging materials, and a plastic bag containing numerous suspected counterfeit Percocet pills. In December 2020, Wah was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Wah made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission Joseph Gramaglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.      

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BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Pedro Melendez, 28, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of attempted receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that in July 2021, Melendez engaged in sexually explicit communications with an 11-year-old minor victim residing in Connecticut, via several email and PlayStation accounts and applications. Melendez specifically asked the minor victim if she was 11 years old, which she confirmed, and he continued to engage in sexually explicit conversations. During these conversations, Melendez repeatedly asked the minor victim to send him sexually explicit images of herself, while sending the minor victim naked images of himself. Melendez also said that he wished he lived near the minor victim so that he could be her “teacher” and her “training partner.” In addition, Melendez told the minor victim to delete her messages saying “[t]hen ya might show people then I'm a pedophile,” and “[o]nly because your [sic] young enough to be my kid.”

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Leonard Ortiz, Jr., 20, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with receipt, distribution, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the New York State Police executed a search warrant at Ortiz’s residence after receiving a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Ortiz traded child pornography on a social media application with other users. Multiple digital devices were seized and turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for forensic analysis. The review uncovered at least 625 images and 117 videos of child pornography on Ortiz’s cell phone, some of which depicted the rape of prepubescent children. Investigators also executed search warrants on Ortiz’s social media accounts and  discovered additional child pornography that he distributed to and received from others. In addition, investigators found multiple message threads during which Ortiz and other users openly discussed child pornography and the sexual abuse of children.    

Ortiz made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was released on conditions, including no contact with minors, unsupervised use of computers and GPS location monitoring.

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of major Brian Ratajczak and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joseph Bella, 50, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a drug user in possession of a firearm, and wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Rudroff and Nicholas T. Cooper, who handled the case, stated that on April 23, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Bella’s residence and recovered drug paraphernalia and quantities of cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana. Investigators also recovered a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition. At that time, Bella was an unlawful user of controlled substances, including marijuana and cocaine.

In addition, Bella defrauded a Salt Lake City, Utah, corporation (Victim) that developed and manufactured COVID-19 test kits, by falsely representing that his company, Medcor Staffing, Inc., was laboratory certified to perform high-complexity molecular testing, that Medcor Staffing was an “end-user” of the tests, and that Medcor Staffing would not attempt to resell them. As a result, the Victim sold Bella 5,000 COVID-19 tests that he could not safely and accurately process, could not provide end-user support for, and, in fact, intended to re-sell at a substantial mark-up.

In March 2020, Bella advertised on his personal Facebook account that he was selling “FDA approved COVID-19 Test Kits.” In April 2020, Bella communicated with an undercover federal agent by telephone, text message, and email, falsely telling the agent that he had 50,000 COVID-19 tests for sale; that the COVID-19 tests were being stored in a warehouse in San Diego, California at -20 degrees Celsius; that Medcor Staffing was an “exclusive licensed reseller” of the tests; and that Medcor Staffing employed doctors and scientists to answer customers' questions. Bella attempted to sell the tests to the agent for $30 per test, or more, after fraudulently obtaining the tests for only $8 apiece.

Bella also fraudulently obtained a loan from the Small Business Association under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, which is designed to provide low-interest loans to qualifying small businesses to help them meet financial obligations and operating expenses in the event of a disaster. At Bella’s direction, a subordinate submitted a falsified application for a loan under the EIDL Program for another business Bella owns called BuyMyCard, a purchaser and re-seller of gift cards. The application grossly inflated BuyMyCard’s annual revenue, grossly underreported BuyMyCard’s annual expenses, and falsely stated that Bella was not subject to formal criminal charges at the time of the application. As a result of the falsified application, the SBA approved and funded a $149,900 loan to BuyMyCard under the EIDL Program.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, under the direction of Brian Manaher; U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent in Charge Jeffrey T. Wilson; the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division; and Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Andrew Lynch a/k/a Gregory O’Neil, 33, of Crystal River, Florida, who was convicted of production of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 29 years in prison and 20 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Caitlin M. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that between April and May, 2018, Lynch a resident of the State of Florida, communicated with minor females located in the Western District of New York with the intent to have the victims produce child pornography for him. Specifically, Lynch communicated with five victims, ranging in age from 13 to 17 years old, via Facebook Messenger. As a result of Lynch’s threats and coercion, the victims sent Lynch numerous images and videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and also engaged in video chats with Lynch during which they engaged in sexually explicit conduct. During some of the communications, Lynch posted child pornographic images of the victims to Facebook in an effort to coerce them into sending more sexually explicit images and videos.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia and the Citrus County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Mike Prendergast.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Janard D. Warnick, 30, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated Warnick  sold cocaine for profit and maintained a Clifford Avenue residence in Rochester to store, process, and sell controlled substances. On February 23, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at the Clifford Avenue residence, seizing approximately 61 grams of cocaine, a quantity of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, approximately two grams of crack cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Investigators also recovered three firearms and a variety of ammunition.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 9, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.  

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ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jerry Wesson, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on September 23, 2022, Wesson was wanted by the Rochester Police Department for an assault that had allegedly occurred on July 25, 2022. At approximately 12:30 p.m., officers saw Wesson in a van on Champlain Street and took him into custody. At that time, Wesson possessed a loaded .45 caliber pistol and ammunition. In In October 2012, and July 2018, Wesson was convicted of felonies in Monroe County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

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CONTACT:    Barbara Burns
PHONE:    (716) 843-5817
FAX #:    (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Shawn Johnson, 35, of West Seneca, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who handled the case, stated that in September 2019, investigators discovered an IP address, traced to Johnson, attempting to download suspected child pornography using the internet. On December 2, 2019, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Johnson’s Angle Road residence. As investigators executed the search, they encountered Johnson standing in his bedroom smashing a laptop computer against the wall and trying to damage it. The laptop, which sustained serious damage, was sent to the FBI's Digital Forensics Analysis Unit Laboratory where much of the data was recovered. The hard drive was found to contain numerous images and videos of child pornography.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gould.

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CONTACT:    Barbara Burns
PHONE:    (716) 843-5817
FAX #:    (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Dennis Daniels, 73, of Romulus, NY, who was convicted of mail fraud and willful failure to file an income tax return, was sentenced to serve two years’ probation, and pay restitution, including $22,440 to the U.S. Coast Guard and students, and $115,757 to the Internal Revenue Service, by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and David J. Rudroff, who handled the case, stated that Daniels owned and operated Sea Tech Marine Training, which offered U.S. Coast Guard approved training courses to include operator uninspected passenger vessel (OUPV), one-hundred-ton masters license (Masters), assistance towing endorsement and auxiliary sail endorsement. Daniels also owned and operated Sea Test, a business that offered drug testing programs for United States Coast Guard license holders. Between 2014 and 2017, Daniels received gross income totaling approximately $665,327 but failed to file income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service for those years. The tax owed on the unreported income was approximately $115,757.

In addition, in January and February 2019, Daniels taught 23 students the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved OUPV course with a Masters upgrade. The course should have included 80 hours of classroom instruction time, however, Daniels only provided 51 hours of classroom instruction. In addition, Daniels provided the students with the answers to certain examination questions and instructed students to provide false information regarding prior sea service. 

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, under the direction of Neal Marzloff, Special Agent-in-Charge, Central Region; the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector-in-Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office.    

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CONTACT: Barbara Burns            
PHONE:       (716) 843-5817    
FAX #:          (716) 551-3051        

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jennifer Campbell, 48, of Niagara Falls, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 36 months in prison and pay restitution totaling $371,332.11 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that Campbell was employed as the Office Manager and Chief Compliance Officer at an investment advisory firm based in Buffalo, with access to client accounts. Between November 2018, and May 2021, Campbell used this access to steal over $500,000 from several clients and from the firm itself, primarily by writing checks from client accounts, forging the signatures of either the client or a principal at the firm, and then depositing the checks into her own personal account. 

Campbell took various steps to conceal her theft. In one instance, she sent a victim a falsified account statement that purported to show an account balance of approximately $148,000, when in fact the account at the time had a balance of only $93. In another instance, Campbell took funds from a client and transferred them to the bank account of one of her earlier victims. Finally, Campbell gained access to the email accounts of the firm’s principals and diverted emails that they received from anti-money laundering and financial crimes personnel at the firm’s broker-dealer, who had begun to raise questions about some of the transactions that Campbell had engaged in. In an effort to put off these inquiries, Campbell sent several emails using the email account of a firm principal. In these emails, Campbell made various false statements and submitted fake documentation in an effort to make the transactions appear legitimate. 

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

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CONTACT:    Barbara Burns
PHONE:    (716) 843-5817
FAX #:    (716) 551-3051

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that seven individuals were charged by criminal complaint for their roles in an illegal gambling business headquartered in Rochester, NY. Named in the complaint are:

•    Louis P. Ferrari II is charged with conspiracy, transmission of wagering information, operation of an illegal gambling business, and money laundering.
•    Dominic Sprague is charged with conspiracy, transmission of wagering information, and operation of an illegal gambling business.
•    Anthony Amato, Joseph Lombardo, Jeffrey Boscarino, and James Civiletti are charged with transmission of wagering information and conspiracy. 
•    Tomasso Sessa is charged with operation of an illegal gambling business and conspiracy.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, the defendants conspired to operate illegal poker games at 565 Blossom Road and an illegal sports betting operation through the website sport700.com. Defendants Ferrari and Sprague co-owned and operated the illegal poker games at 565 Blossom Road, and Ferrari operated the illegal sports betting book through sport700.com, managing individual bettors and overseeing sub-agents, including Sprague, who had their own books of individual bettors. In addition, Ferrari owns and operates Ferrari Excavating on Steel Street in Rochester, where he collected cash payment of gambling losses from players and then laundered the illegal proceeds through the Ferrari Excavating business. Sprague also owned and operated a pawn shop on Stone Road in Greece, NY, where he collected cash payments of gambling losses from bettors and paid gambling winnings to bettors.

Defendant Amato administrated sport700.com and assisted Ferrari and others in creating accounts, usernames, and passwords, and managing individual bettors and overseeing sub-agents who had their own books of individual bettors on sport700.com. Defendant Sessa managed the day-to-day operations of the illegal gambling operation at 565 Blossom Road. Defendants Lombardo and Boscarino were sub-agents under Ferrari through sport700.com. Defendant Civiletti was an employee of Sprague’s pawn shop, collecting payments of gambling losses from people on behalf of Ferrari and Sprague.

During the course of the investigation, investigators intercepted a series of calls and text messages between targets of the investigation, sub-agents and individual bettors discussing the placement of bets, collection of winnings, and payment of losses. The investigation revealed that Ferrari generated $1,241,172 in winnings, while Amato generated winnings totaling $8,945,629.

On April 17, 2021, as investigators arrived to execute a search warrant at 565 Blossom Road, they interrupted an ongoing illegal card game, which sent individuals fleeing. An unknown number of individuals successfully fled, eight were temporarily detained. Investigators seized multiple items such documents, which included gambling ledgers and timestamped website printouts of online gambling player account activities. That same day, they also seized the cell phones of Ferrari and Sprague, which both contained evidence of sports bookmaking. 

Also previously charged in a separate complaint in connection with this case is former New York State Trooper Thomas Loewke. 

The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Brian Ratajczak, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, and Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith. Additional assistance was provided by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.       

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