Northern District of Ohio

TOLEDO – A federal jury today convicted Antuan Wynn, 47, of Toledo, Ohio, Marquise Figures, 37, of Wayne, Ohio, and Christopher Simpson, 31, of Toledo, Ohio, of participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed large quantities of cocaine, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl throughout the Toledo area.

Wynn, Figures and Simpson were convicted of participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances and use of a cell phone to facilitate a drug trafficking felony following a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary in Toledo.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from December 2019 to November 2021, Wynn, Figures and Simpson were part of a larger drug trafficking organization that possessed and distributed quantities of at least 5 kilograms of cocaine, at least 400 grams of fentanyl and quantities of crack cocaine throughout the Toledo area.

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Defendant Wynn supplied co-conspirator Anthony Duff with substantial quantities of cocaine, which Duff then redistributed to other conspiracy members, including Defendant Figures.

In addition, prosecutors presented evidence that Defendant Simpson supplied other members of the conspiracy with quantities of fentanyl intended to be redistributed.

According to court documents, the three defendants used cell phones to communicate and facilitate their drug trafficking activity.  In order to conceal their identity from law enforcement, court documents state that the defendants and other co-conspirators obtained cell phones using fictitious names, the names of others or no names at all.

Court documents also showed that the conspirators used various locations around the Toledo area to distribute, store, break down and package narcotics and the proceeds generated from the sale of narcotics.

Wynn, Figures, and Simpson were charged along with 19 other co-conspirators, the rest of whom pleaded guilty to their involvement.

Wynn, Figures, and Simpson will be sentenced at a later date.

This case was investigated by the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Toledo Metro Drug Task Force and the Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force.

The FBI Safe Streets is comprised of the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI, Toledo Police Department, Sylvania Township Police Department and the Oregon Police Department.  

The Toledo Metro Drug Task Force is comprised of the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI, Toledo Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Lucas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 

The Northwest Ohio Interdiction Task Force is comprised of the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI, Toledo Police Department and the Lucas and Wood County Sheriff’s Offices.

This effort was 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alissa M. Sterling, Robert N. Melching and Henry F. DeBaggis.

AKRON – Larrie Ladell Campbell, 35, of Cleveland, was sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022, to more than 12 years – or 151 months – in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after he pleaded guilty to mailing over 2 kilograms of fentanyl pills from Phoenix to Cleveland.  

According to court documents, on May 10, 2022, a Postal Inspector with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) identified a suspicious package shipped from Phoenix to an address in Cleveland.  Authorities executed a search warrant for the package and found it to contain approximately 2.2 kilograms of pressed fentanyl pills.  

Authorities then began an investigation into the origins of the package and identified Campbell as the owner.  During the investigation, authorities learned that Campbell had mailed the package from a post office in Phoenix and then traveled to Cleveland to retrieve it.

Campbell pleaded guilty to interstate travel in aid of racketeering and attempted possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in July 2022.

This case was investigated by the USPIS with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James P. Lewis.

CLEVELAND – A Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC) correctional officer was charged on Nov. 14, 2022, in a four-count Information for his role in a scheme to smuggle contraband into the NEOCC in return for bribery payments.

Terry Terrigno, 30, of Canfield, Ohio, was charged with one count each of providing narcotics, marijuana and tobacco to inmates and one count of accepting bribes.

According to court documents, from February 2017 to July 2019, Terrigno allegedly smuggled suboxone, marijuana and tobacco to NEOCC prison inmates in return for electronic bribery payments made through a mobile phone application.

An Information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG).  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.

CLEVELAND – Lisa Crusan, 41, of Warren, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to selling approximately four ounces of cocaine in transactions conducted by law enforcement authorities.

Crusan, a former employee of the Trumbull County Clerk of Courts, pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of cocaine before U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker in Cleveland.  Crusan is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2023.

According to court documents, on three separate occasions in June and July 2022, Crusan sold a total of approximately four ounces of cocaine in controlled purchases conducted by the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force (MVLETF).  Crusan was arrested in September 2022.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the MVLETF.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly.

AKRON – A federal jury on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, convicted James Dailey, 34, of Cleveland, Ohio, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as possession of other controlled substances.  Dailey was convicted following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge John R. Adams in Akron.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 4, 2021, officers with the Cleveland Division of Police, Gang Impact Unit observed three individuals, one later identified as Dailey, exit a house suspected of being a drug premise.  Authorities witnessed Dailey enter a vehicle and later attempted to perform a traffic stop; however, the vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed.

The next day, Feb. 5, 2021, authorities found the same vehicle from the day before parked at a gas station.  Authorities then observed Dailey enter the driver’s seat of vehicle.  Officers approached the vehicle, saw narcotics in view and placed Dailey under arrest.  In a subsequent search of Dailey and the vehicle, authorities found Dailey to be in possession of quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and cocaine. 

Dailey is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 22, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the Cleveland Division of Police.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick P. Burke and Segev Phillips.

CLEVELAND  –  A federal jury on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, convicted Dion Baker, 27, of Cleveland, Ohio, of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition following a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker in Cleveland.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 17, 2021, law enforcement authorities with the Ohio Investigative Unit were conducting an arrest of an unrelated individual for weapons violations at a convenience store in Cleveland.  During the arrest, authorities observed two individuals, one later identified as Baker, parked in a vehicle and drinking liquor.

Authorities approached the vehicle and noted open cups of liquor and marijuana inside.  Baker and the other individual were then detained, and the vehicle was searched.  During the search, authorities located a loaded firearm under the passenger seat where Baker was seated.  An investigation into the incident later confirmed that Baker was the owner of the firearm.

Baker is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction of attempted felonious assault in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Baker is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the FBI and the Ohio Investigative Unit of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man was sentenced today to 41 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. after he pleaded guilty to maliciously setting fire to a Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works van on May 30, 2020, during demonstrations and civil unrest in downtown Cleveland. 

According to court documents, on May 30, 2020, Martino Jamel Andrews, 24, and others sought to vandalize and set fire to a van owned by the Cuyahoga County Division of Public Works near the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland following a demonstration to protest the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Court documents state that Andrews and others first vandalized the van by striking it with a baseball bat before using a rag to start a fire inside the van.  Evidence in the record showed Andrews taking the burning rag, stuffing it into the vehicle’s fuel tank, watching the van erupt into flames, and posing for pictures near the burning wreckage.  Court documents state that the vehicle ended up completely engulfed in flames, destroyed, and unsalvageable.

Investigators later identified Andrews thanks, in part, to tips received from the public after images and video were released to the media.

As part of the sentencing, Judge Oliver ordered Andrews to pay $3,721.88 in restitution to the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Cleveland Division of Police.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam J. Joines. 

CLEVELAND – Demetrius Moore, 42, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, to three and a half years in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker and was ordered to pay $183,215.47 in restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA).  Judge Barker pronounced the sentence after Moore pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to defraud the (SBA) by unlawfully acquiring Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan funding.

Moore previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds,  two counts of wire fraud and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, between July 2020 and March 2021, Moore devised and participated in a scheme to defraud the SBA by obtaining PPP and EIDL loans through false and fraudulent pretenses and spent loan funding on personal expenses, such as a Rolex watch, a Volvo Sleeper Truck Tractor and retail purchases at Best Buy and Louis Vuitton.

As part of the scheme, in July 2020, Moore opened a business bank account in the name of a purported investment company with no legitimate business operations and no employees.  Moore and an unnamed coconspirator then used that bank account to apply for and receive PPP and EIDL loans.  

Court documents state that Moore provided false and fictitious information on his PPP and EIDL loan applications, including declaring that his company had 10 employees and substantial annual revenues when, in fact, it had neither.  As a result of these fraudulent loan applications, Moore received $183,215.47 in funding from both the PPP and EIDL.  After the funds were deposited into his bank account, Moore then used the funds to make personal purchases.  

On Nov. 19, 2020, during the execution of a search warrant, authorities found Moore to be in possession of a firearm.  Moore is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous drug trafficking and firearms offense convictions in the United States District Court and the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas.

At the time of the offense conduct, Moore was on federal supervised release for some of these violations.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations (CI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) .  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Elliot D. Morrison and Alejandro A. Abreu.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security ("CARES") Act was a federal law enacted in or around March 2020 and was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Under the CARES Act, the SBA provided financial assistance, in part, via the EIDL and PPP program to businesses negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AKRON - Deepak Raheja, 66, of Hudson, Ohio, and Frank Mazzucco, 44, of Dublin, Ohio, pleaded guilty on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, to their roles in a pharmaceutical kickback conspiracy in which Raheja, a licensed Ohio physician, wrote prescriptions for a drug to patients that did not have the condition in exchange for money and other items of value.

Raheja and Mazzucco both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit, receive, offer and pay health care kickbacks before U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi.

According to court documents, Raheja was a physician who specialized in psychiatry and neurology, practicing in Cleveland, Ohio.  Mazzucco was employed by Avanir Pharmaceuticals as a regional business manager tasked with supervising pharmaceutical sales representatives in the region where Raheja practiced.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals manufactured Nuedexta, a drug approved by the FDA solely to treat pseudobulbar (PBA).  PBA is a condition characterized by involuntary, sudden and frequent episodes of uncontrollable laughing and crying.

Court documents state that between February 2011 and July 2016, Raheja, Mazzucco and other codefendants conspired together to increase the number of prescriptions Raheja and other coconspirators wrote for Nuedexta in exchange for the payment of monetary kickbacks and other items of value.

According to court documents, Avanir promoted Nuedexta through a speaker’s bureau, in which Avanir representatives engaged doctors to speak about and promote Nuedexta to other medical professionals.  Typical speaking engagements involved dinner at a high-end restaurant in which the doctor made a presentation with a slide deck provided by Avanir.  An Avanir sales representative was responsible for inviting attendees and attending the presentation.

Court documents state that Raheja joined Avanir’s speaker’s bureau in February 2011 and gave approximately 211 speaking presentations at various restaurants and doctor’s offices between October 2011 and April 2016.  Raheja received approximately $1,500 each for these purported presentations.

In total, court documents state that Raheja received approximately $331,550 in payments from Avanir between October 2011 and April 2016.  During this time, Raheja wrote approximately 10,088 Nuedexta prescriptions – the highest in the country.

As part of the conspiracy, Mazzucco and other codefendants incentivized physicians, including Raheja, to write Nuedexta prescriptions through various means, such as arranging speaker’s bureau programs, which were mostly social events; honoraria payments; the falsification of sign-in sheets from speaking engagements to maximize payments and providing food and beverages to doctors and their office staff. 

Court documents show that Raheja and the other codefendants took steps in return for these things of value, including writing more Nuedexta prescriptions; causing the submission of billings to Medicare and Medicaid for Nuedexta prescriptions for patients that did not have PBA; falsely diagnosing patients with PBA and recording fictitious symptoms in patient records to support a diagnosis of PBA.

As part of the terms of the plea agreement, defendant Raheja has agreed to a sentence of 30 months in prison, surrendering his medical license, at least $1,178,460.40 million in restitution and a fine to be determined. 

Raheja is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2023, and Mazzucco is set to be sentenced on Feb. 15, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI, Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) and the Ohio Attorney General’s Healthcare Fraud Section.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael L. Collyer and Megan R. Miller.

CLEVELAND – A Cleveland man was charged today in a 14-count indictment with the armed robbery or attempted armed robbery of 10 retail stores in Cleveland and Shaker Heights over the course of three weeks.

Lawrence Sturdivant, 32, was charged with 10 counts of interference with commerce by robbery; three counts of using, carrying or brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to court documents, from Dec. 5 to Dec. 26, 2021, the defendant is accused of robbing or attempting to rob nine Walgreens, Family Dollar and CVS stores in Cleveland and a Walgreens in Shaker Heights.  In each instance, it is alleged that the defendant would enter the store and use a firearm to threaten, intimidate and coerce the cashiers into giving him money from the register drawers.

During the robberies, the defendant was on parole for an aggravated robbery conviction from 2014.  As a felon, the defendant is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Cleveland Division of Police and the Shaker Heights Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam J. Joines.

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TOLEDO - Lucas Russell Vanwoert, 25, of Celina, Ohio, was charged today in a four-count indictment with possession and transportation of child pornography, transportation of obscene materials and creating an animal crush video.

According to court documents, on August 28, 2022, Vanwoert allegedly created and intended to distribute an animal crush video.  An animal crush video is defined as any photograph, motion picture, film, video or digital recording, or electronic image that depicts actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury, or bestiality and is obscene.

On September 26, 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at Vanwoert’s residence in Celina and seized several electronic devices that were later found to contain videos of child pornography, which involved prepubescent children, as well as animal crush videos.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara Al-Sorghali and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.

CLEVELAND – Kindell Smith, 32, of Cleveland, was sentenced today to more than 12 years – or 146 months –  in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker.  Judge Barker pronounced the sentence after Smith, a member of the “8Ave” street gang known to operate in the city of Cleveland’s 5th District, was convicted of participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, crack cocaine and illegal possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 14, 2020, law enforcement officers with the Southeast Area Law Enforcement (SEALE) began an investigation into the suspected drug trafficking activities of Smith.  As part of the investigation, authorities encountered Smith distributing fentanyl and cocaine near the 3200 block of Central Avenue in Cleveland.

On May 19, 2020, authorities again encountered Smith, this time with codefendants Darrell Douglas and Dreshawn Maddox, who each have been convicted and sentenced on a prior date, distributing fentanyl from a vehicle.  During this encounter, authorities approached the vehicle and ordered the occupants to show their hands.  The vehicle then sped away from the scene and struck the driver’s side of a law enforcement vehicle.

Officers removed the occupants from the vehicle and observed Smith attempting to hide a firearm under the driver’s seat.  The firearm belonging to Smith was later recovered along with various amounts of fentanyl and crack cocaine.

Smith is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of drug trafficking and felonious assault in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Cleveland Division of Police and the Southeast Area Law Enforcement.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Robert F. Corts.

YOUNGSTOWN – Raphael Ortiz, 40, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, to more than 13 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson after Ortiz pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, in January 2021, law enforcement officers with the FBI, Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force (MVVCTF) and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force (MVLETF) executed a search warrant at the Ortiz’s Youngstown-area residence.  During the execution of the warrant, investigators obtained a semi-automatic pistol and approximately $26,000 in cash.

That same day, authorities executed a second and third search warrant at two additional residences known to be used for the distribution and storage of narcotics by Ortiz.  During the execution of these search warrants, authorities discovered approximately 2.8 kilograms of fentanyl, two semi-automatic pistols, a shotgun and two semi-automatic rifles.

Ortiz is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2008 conviction for drug trafficking and 2004 convictions for possession of heroin and assault on a peace officer.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine Makridis.

TOLEDO - A federal jury on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022, convicted the founder and owner of Blue Line Express Taxi & Medical Transport, a Toledo-area ambulette transportation business, of three counts of healthcare fraud following a three-day trial before Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick in Toledo.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Abdul Haji Faqi, 46, of Toledo, was found guilty of participating in a scheme that knowingly submitted and received reimbursement payments from Medicaid for ineligible claims.  Faqi’s co-defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced earlier this year for their part in the scheme.

Between 2009 and 2016, Faqi schemed with his co-defendants to transport and bill Medicaid for ambulette transportation services of Medicaid beneficiaries who did not require or use a wheelchair.  Faqi and his co-defendants knew that Medicaid only provided ambulette reimbursement for recipients who did require the use of a wheelchair and were actually transported in a wheelchair.

In addition, as part of the scheme to defraud, evidence presented during the trial showed that Faqi and his co-defendants billed Medicaid for wheelchair attendants without actually providing any attendants.  Furthermore, evidence showed that Faqi and his co-defendants billed Medicaid for trips with multiple riders as separate individual trips, thereby inflating their Medicaid billing.

Faqi and his co-defendants also failed to obtain, and falsified, ambulette Certification of Medical Necessity (CMN) documents from Medicaid recipients that they transported.  Faqi and the others knew and understood that Medicaid required a CMN for each recipient transported.

In total, court documents state that Faqi and his co-defendants received over $800,000 in reimbursements from Medicaid to which they were not entitled.

Faqi is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG), the Ohio Attorney General’s Healthcare Fraud Section and the Toledo Resident Agency of the Cleveland FBI.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jody L. King and Michael J. Freeman.

TOLEDO – John Charles Coy, 72, of Van Wert County, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, October 20, 2022, to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp II after Coy pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, in November 2020, local, state and federal law enforcement authorities began an investigation into Coy after receiving information that Coy, a long-time softball coach of minors in Marion County, may have been involved in sexual conduct involving several minors. 

As a result of the investigation, authorities discovered that Coy possessed child pornography.  On July 26, 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Coy’s residence in Van Wert County.  During the search, authorities seized a cell phone belonging to Coy.  Further investigation revealed that Coy had saved images of child pornography to his cloud account for his cell phone, including of a minor under the age of twelve.

This case was investigated by the Toledo Division of the FBI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and Marion Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey B. Tangeman.

YOUNGSTOWN –A Dover, Ohio, man was sentenced today by U.S. Magistrate Judge Carmen E. Henderson to one year of probation and was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and $1,500 in restitution to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service after he pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a bald eagle.

“The prosecution of crimes committed against our district’s wildlife and natural resources, including the national bird of the United States, are important duties of the U. S. Attorney’s Office,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Individuals who senselessly kill bald eagles and other federally protected migratory birds can expect to be punished similarly.”

“There is no excuse for knowingly shooting and killing a bald eagle,” said Special Agent in Charge John Brooks of the Office of Law Enforcement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Working with our state partners in Ohio, our agents investigated this senseless killing.  Thanks to their work, the defendant has lost his hunting rights and will now pay substantial fines.”

According to court documents, David B. Huff, 79, routinely conducted inspections of farmland and several fields that he owned in Tuscarawas County for the presence of pests and rodents.  On October 7, 2021, during one of these inspections, Huff shot and killed a bald eagle with a scoped rifle at a distance of approximately 100 feet. 

After shooting the eagle, Huff picked up the animal and discarded it in the tree line of a bordering field. 

On June 21, 2022, Huff pleaded guilty to a violation of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.  The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940 prohibits anyone, without a permit, from, among other actions, shooting bald or golden eagles.  

As part of his sentence, Huff is banned from hunting for a five-year period and the rifle and ammunition seized during the investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will be destroyed. 

This case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance provided by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson.

AKRON – Scott Allen Renninger, 53, of Uniontown, Ohio, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams to six years in prison and was ordered to pay $17,520 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange a murder-for-hire plot.

“Engaging in a plot to kill or harm another is a threat to our way-of-life,” said  First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “This defendant went to great lengths in an attempt to facilitate the murder of an innocent person and now he will face the consequences of his actions.”

"Thwarting carefully crafted plots to carry out violent crimes are a priority of the FBI," said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. "The cold and callous nature of a scheming individual is a threat to not only the victim of the action, but also the community.  The FBI will continue to work tirelessly to find and investigate criminals or their network intent on causing harm to others."

According to court documents, from October to November 2020, Renninger met with an individual and discussed offering the individual money in exchange for the murder of a victim. 

Court documents state that Renninger and the individual had frequent contact and that Renninger provided the individual with a photograph of the victim, license plate information and other materials that disclosed the victim’s residence.  On one occasion, Renninger stated to the individual that they needed to figure out a way to communicate, possibly using disposable phones and confirmed his desire to make the victim “disappear.”

During subsequent meetings, Renninger and the individual again discussed the plot and agreed upon a price of $20,000 in exchange for the murder.

Renninger was arrested at his residence, without incident, on Nov. 17, 2020.  The victim was unharmed.

Renninger pleaded guilty on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, to one count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Brad J. Beeson.

CLEVELAND – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSA) Ava R. Dustin and Megan R. Miller have been appointed as District Election Officers (DEO) to lead the Northern District of Ohio efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election.

AUSA Ava R. Dustin will serve as the DEO for the Western Division of the Northern District of Ohio, and AUSA Megan R. Miller will serve as the District Election Officer for the Eastern Division.  AUSAs Dustin and Miller are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence.  The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur.  The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).  

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” said Baeppler.  “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the right to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Dustin and Miller will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  They can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers:”

AUSA Ava R. Dustin (Western Division): (419) 259-6376

AUSA Megan R. Miller (Eastern Division): (216) 622-3600

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at:  (216) 522-1400

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

CLEVELAND - A federal jury today convicted Douglas Smith, 68, of Strongsville, Ohio, of four counts of attempting to evade payment of income taxes for the tax years 2004 to 2012 and 2014 to 2017 after a three-day trial before Judge Dan Aaron Polster in Cleveland.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from March 2006 to July 2016, Smith, a licensed dentist in the State of Ohio, attempted to evade paying income taxes for the tax years 2004 to 2012.  As part of his efforts, Smith placed his assets, including a home in Columbia Station, into a trust, purchased gold bars and coins and filed for bankruptcy.  Additionally, from 2014 to 2017, Smith again attempted to evade paying income taxes by depositing his paychecks in the bank account of a second holding trust.

During the trial, evidence was presented that showed Smith had failed to file an income tax return since 1992 and owed more than $490,000 in back taxes and penalties to the IRS. 

Court records state that in April 2008 and March 2009, the IRS notified Smith of its intent to collect taxes owed that Smith had failed to pay.  Around 2006, evidence presented in court showed that Smith began to transfer his assets into a trust that he controlled to evade the collection of taxes and payment of his mortgage. 

In October of 2010, court records state that the IRS filed with the Lorain County Recorder’s Office a tax lien against Smith, his trust and its trustee.  In August of 2011, the IRS again sent Smith a letter notifying him that their next action was to recommend administrative seizure and sale of any of his assets to satisfy the federal tax liens.

In January 2012, federal authorities seized approximately $250,000 in cash, gold bars and gold and silver coins from Smith’s Columbia Station home for non-payment of income taxes to satisfy federal tax liens.  After the seizure, Smith purported to transfer all his assets, including his Columbia Station home, to a second trust to defeat collection efforts and avoid foreclosure of his home.  

Court documents state that the IRS continued to attempt to collect unpaid income tax from Smith and, around December 2015, served a levy on Smith’s employer.  Smith then filed for bankruptcy and made false statements about his assets to shield them from IRS collection actions.

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2023.  

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations (CI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton.

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CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded more than $20 million in grant funding in Fiscal Year 2022 to various entities, organizations and programs in the Northern District of Ohio to support law enforcement and public safety initiatives, assist victims of crime, provide training and technical assistance, conduct research and to implement programs that improve the criminal, civil and juvenile justice systems.

“We are grateful for the Department’s continued support of law enforcement initiatives and public safety organizations in this district,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “These investments will continue to fund and support the work our office, our partners and community members do to address the most pressing issues facing our communities.”

Significant grant funding awards announced include:

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO), Cuyahoga County Sexual Assault Kit Taskforce. $2,500,000.00.

Cleveland, Ohio.

The CCPO was awarded grant funding to continue work on the county’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Taskforce.  Funding will be directed towards utilizing advanced DNA methodologies to identify and prosecute sexual offenders, investigate and prosecute leads and leverage experiences to inform practices locally and nationally.

City of Cleveland. $1,994,908.00

Cleveland, Ohio.

The City of Cleveland was awarded grant funding to support city-led, collaborative community violence intervention (CVI) planning and strategies administered through the mayor’s Office of Prevention, Intervention, and Opportunity in partnership with non-profits and community-based organizations in Cleveland.

Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS). $1,000,000.

Findlay, Ohio.

The Hancock County ADAMHS Board was awarded grant funding to support a collaborative approach to address and prevent the illicit use of opioids, stimulants, and other substances within a predominantly rural county.

Summit County Court of Common Pleas, SCORR Program. $792,701.

Akron, Ohio.

The Summit County Court of Common Pleas was awarded grant funding to support the development, implementation and evaluation of an expansion to the Summit County Offender Recidivism Reduction (SCORR) program.  This program provides an increased level of accountability and structure to promote long-term offender behavior change and to improve offender outcomes for an overall reduction in substance abuse, recidivism and incarceration.

Mahoning County Common Pleas Honor Court (MCCPHC). $750,000.

Youngstown, Ohio.

The MCCPHC was awarded grant funding to serve Veterans charged with non-violent, low-level felony offenses in an effort to divert them from the traditional criminal justice system by providing the tools needed to lead a productive and law-abiding lifestyle while holding them accountable.

To view a full list of grant awards for this fiscal year, visit Justice.gov/grants

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Department of Justice Grant Agencies includes the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). 

These agencies support law-enforcement initiatives and programs such as advancing the practice of community policing, disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge and best practices, administering grants for the implementation of crime-fighting strategies and providing federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and strengthening services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.

CLEVELAND - Jamika Raymond, 38, of Slidell, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today to one count of making and subscribing a false tax return.

According to court documents, Raymond was a tax preparer and operated a tax preparation business where she prepared tax returns on behalf of others.  Court documents state that in February 2016, Raymond knowingly underreported business income earned for the calendar year 2015 on her tax return.  Court documents also state that Raymond’s actual income was substantially more than what was reported on her individual tax return.

Raymond is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2023 and faces a maximum possible sentence of three years in prison. 

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigations (CI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Robert J. Patton.

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CLEVELAND  –  A federal jury today convicted Blessing Adeleke, 31, of Nigeria, of one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and 16 counts of bank fraud for his role in a conspiracy to obtain stolen financial information, make fraudulent and unauthorized purchases of retail goods and gift cards and steal funds from victim bank accounts in Northern Ohio and elsewhere.

Between January 2014 through October 2016, Adeleke served as an administrator for an online marketplace, Shad0w.info, where compromised data, such as credit numbers and personally identifiable information (PII), were sold.

As part of the conspiracy, Adeleke and others obtained stolen credit card information and purchased items, such as retail goods and gift cards for themselves.  Adeleke shared this stolen credit card information with others, including co-defendant Kylie Ann Harlow.

Court documents state that Adeleke and Harlow shipped retail goods purchased with the stolen financial information to Harlow and others and, in some instances, returned the goods and gift cards to retail stores to obtain cash.  Adeleke and Harlow eventually forwarded the fraudulently obtained goods, gift cards and cash to other members of the conspiracy for their personal enrichment.

Adeleke gained access to at least one bank account belonging to a victim in Pepper Pike, Ohio, from which he sent 16 fraudulent checks. 

Kylie Ann Harlow previously pleaded guilty to her role in the scheme and was sentenced in June 2021.

Adeleke is scheduled to be sentenced on January 18, 2023.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian S. Deckert and Daniel J. Riedl .

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support and assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Ghana. The U.S. Department of Justice thanks its Ghanian partners, specifically the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, for supporting this extradition.  The FBI Legal Attaché in Accra and the U.S. Marshals Service also provided significant support and assistance to Adeleke’s extradition.

CLEVELAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Division today announced the results of an enforcement operation that resulted in significant fentanyl seizures across Ohio.

As part of the nationwide “One Pill Can Kill” initiative in Ohio, the DEA and its law enforcement partners seized more than 65 kilograms of fentanyl powder and 87,000 fentanyl-laced pills during the period of May 23, 2022, through Sept. 8, 2022 – enough to provide 4,766,788 deadly dosages.

Nationwide, more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder were seized during the same period.  The amount of fentanyl taken off the streets during this surge is equivalent to more than 36 million lethal doses.  Additionally, 338 weapons were seized, including rifles, shotguns, pistols, and hand grenades.

“Across the country and particularly here, in Northern Ohio, we have witnessed, firsthand, the proliferation of fentanyl and the devastating effects it has had on our neighbors and loved ones,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Fighting back against drug traffickers who flood our streets with this deadly narcotic – particularly in pill form – is an enduring and relentless battle, but we must continue to fight.”

“Fentanyl in pill form is a deliberate attempt by drug cartels to make illicit drug use more appealing to Americans,” said DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene.  “Fake pills are especially concerning because of the appeal they can have to an unsuspecting person. One may believe they are taking a legitimate pharmacy-grade pill but far too often, that isn’t the case.  Fake prescription pills bought on the street are made in clandestine labs, primarily in Mexico, from chemicals sourced from China, and contain a lethal dose of fentanyl.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the DEA and other law enforcement partners have led investigations and prosecutions of numerous individuals charged with or convicted of fentanyl trafficking recently, including:

United States v. Zamora et al (3:22-cr-00224-JGC)

In August 2021, authorities in Summit County received information that an ATV in Copley, Ohio, was scheduled to be transported out of state and was fitted to conceal 2.2 kilograms of pressed fentanyl pills meant to look like oxycodone originating from a cartel in Mexico.  Authorities later arrested and charged Omar Zamora and Nathaniel Dabney in connection with the incident.  Zamora and Dabney both pleaded guilty to their roles in the incident and were sentenced to prison.  

United States v. Wall et al (1:22-cr-00280-SL)

In January 2022, postal inspectors in Arizona seized a package that was found to contain approximately 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl pills.  After an investigation into the origins of the package, authorities identified Dayareon Crofton, Floyd Head and Cortez West as participants in an alleged drug trafficking conspiracy that shipped and couriered large quantities of fentanyl pills to Derrean Wall in Cleveland.  Over the course of the next three months, Crofton, Head, and West were arrested, each carrying approximately 2 kilograms of fentanyl pills.  All three were arrested while en route to Cleveland, Ohio.  This case remains ongoing.

United States v. Brown et al (3:22-cr-00224-JGC)

In March 2022, federal authorities seized a parcel in the mail that was later found to contain approximately 7,833 fentanyl pills disguised to look like oxycodone.  An investigation identified Cody Brown, Jennifer Murphy, and Damion Yoshimoto in Tiffin, Ohio, as part of a conspiracy that allegedly shipped fentanyl pills from out of state to Tiffin.  Brown, Murphy and Yoshimoto were later arrested and charged in an indictment. This case remains ongoing.

United States v. Larrie Ladell Campbell (1:22-CR-268-JRA)

In May 2022, law enforcement obtained a parcel shipped in the U.S. mail from Arizona to Cleveland that was found to contain over 2 kilograms of fentanyl pills.  An investigation determined that Larrie Ladell Campbell had mailed the parcel from Arizona and then traveled to Cleveland to try and retrieve it.  Campbell pleaded guilty to federal charges in July 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.

United States of America v. Watkins (3:22-cr-00349-JGC)

In November 2020, Martez Watkins fled to Indiana after local drug trafficking charges were filed in Toledo, Ohio.  While there, it is alleged that Watkins continued to send fentanyl pills to the Northern District of Ohio through his drug trafficking operation.  Authorities later tracked Watkins down, and he was arrested in May 2022 on federal drug trafficking charges.  During the Watkin’s residence, it is alleged that authorities found 5,362 pills, which were later determined to contain a combination of acetaminophen and fentanyl and meta-fluoro 4-ANPP and para-fluorofentanyl, more than $12,000 cash, a firearm, and drug packaging materials.  This case remains ongoing.

In 2021, a record number of Americans – 107,622 – died from drug poisoning or overdose.  Sixty-six percent of those deaths can be attributed to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.  

Drug traffickers have expanded their inventory to sell fentanyl in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes.  Rainbow fentanyl was first reported to DEA in February 2022, and it has now been seized in 21 states.  

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, or the amount that could fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.

As part of the DEA’s ongoing efforts to educate the public and encourage parents and caregivers to talk to teens and young adults about the dangers of fake pills and illicit drugs, DEA has also created a new resource, “What Every Parent and Caregiver Needs to Know About Fake Pills.”

In September 2021, DEA launched the One Pill Can Kill enforcement effort and public awareness campaign to combat the fake pill threat and educate the public about the dangers of fentanyl pills being disguised and sold as prescription medications, despite these pills not containing any of the actual medications advertised. The only safe medications are ones prescribed by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. All other pills are unsafe and potentially deadly. 

Additional resources for parents and the community can be found on DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page.

CLEVELAND  – Daniel Joseph Kitlak, 37, of Canton, Ohio, was sentenced on Friday, Oct. 10, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, in October 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Kitlak’s Canton-area residence after receiving information that Kitlak had distributed approximately 252 images and videos of child pornography online.  During the search, authorities obtained multiple electronic devices later found to contain hundreds of files of child pornography, including at least one image involving a minor under the age of 12.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Kane.

A federal jury convicted a Liberty Center, Ohio man on Oct. 6 of tax evasion after he used a sham trust to help conceal three years of income he earned from his business.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Everson owned an electrical engineering business. From approximately 2012 through 2015, Everson earned more than $1.3 million in income from the business. He attempted to conceal much of this income and evade personal income taxes he owed to the IRS by instructing his clients to pay a trust that he controlled. Everson used the money in the trust to pay personal expenses and make large cash withdrawals. He also funneled some of the trust funds to other bank accounts held in the names of non-profit organizations that he and several family members controlled. To further conceal his income and assets from the IRS, Everson put his home and personal airplane in the name of the non-profit organization. In total, Everson’s conduct caused a loss to the U.S. Treasury of more than $500,000.

Everson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the three counts of his conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and tother statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Sarah Ranney of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody King of the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.

TOLEDO – A federal jury convicted a Liberty Center, Ohio man on Oct. 6 of tax evasion after he used a sham trust to help conceal three years of income he earned from his business.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Everson owned an electrical engineering business. From approximately 2012 through 2015, Everson earned more than $1.3 million in income from the business. He attempted to conceal much of this income and evade personal income taxes he owed to the IRS by instructing his clients to pay a trust that he controlled. Everson used the money in the trust to pay personal expenses and make large cash withdrawals. He also funneled some of the trust funds to other bank accounts held in the names of non-profit organizations that he and several family members controlled.

To further conceal his income and assets from the IRS, Everson put his home and personal airplane in the name of the non-profit organization. In total, Everson’s conduct caused a loss to the U.S. Treasury of more than $500,000.

Everson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 16, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the three counts of his conviction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and tother statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody King of the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Sarah Ranney of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

AKRON, Ohio  – Bruce C. Murdock, Jr., 54, of Massillon, Ohio, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams to six months in prison and was ordered to pay $8,346.96 in restitution and a $20,000 fine after Murdock pleaded guilty to delay or destruction of mail and theft of mail by a postal service employee.

According to court documents, from February 2021 to April 2022, Murdock was employed in the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a West Area Post Office Operation Manager (POOM), which is a high-level position that manages multiple Post Office locations.  As a POOM, court records state that Murdock was able to remove parcels of mail from the mail stream prior to a scanning process that marked the mail as delivered to the Massillon Post Office.  This avoided the parcels from being labeled as “lost” at the Massillon Post Office. 

Court documents go on to state that during this period, federal authorities with the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) observed Murdock remove parcels from the mail stream every day that he was in the office.  After removing a parcel from the mail stream, Murdock was observed taking the parcel(s) back to his office, where he kept materials for repackaging.  In some instances, Murdock would return the parcel to the mail stream.  On other occasions, he would not.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Adams said of Murdock that his “actions cast aspersions on all the good, hardworking thousands and thousands of postal employees around the country who try to do the right thing.”

Court records state that due to Murdock’s position as POOM, and access to the mail before it was scanned, authorities were unable to determine a total loss amount, nor a total number of victims impacted during their investigation. 

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the USPS OIG and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Egan.

CLEVELAND – Jason S. Huffman, 50, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, to more than 27 years in prison, or 328 months, and was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko.  The sentence was pronounced after Huffman pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment in April 2022, charging him with transportation of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexual conduct, possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children.

According to court documents and courtroom proceedings, from April 2015 to December 2020, Huffman uploaded images of child pornography to a cloud storage account, prompting numerous cyber-tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

According to court records, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at Huffman’s residence in February 2021 and, during the search, found images of child pornography on multiple cellphones belonging to Huffman, including images Huffman had created of a minor victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Authorities were later able to determine that Huffman had created the explicit photos of the victim over the course of a two-year period.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.

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CLEVELAND - Thomas G. O’Lear, 58, of North Canton, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, September 29, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster to 15 years in prison and was ordered to pay $1,989,490 in restitution to Medicare, Medicaid and two Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs).  Polster pronounced the sentence after O’Lear was convicted at trial of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of approximately $2 million by billing for x-ray-related services that his company did not provide, engaging in a cover-up scheme to conceal the fraud and committing aggravated identity theft.

“This defendant wrongfully believed that he could cheat taxpayers by targeting nursing facilities and using the stolen identifies of vulnerable or deceased individuals to cover up his tracks,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Protecting taxpayers and government healthcare programs from fraud is an important priority for the Department of Justice and law enforcement.”

“Medicare and Medicaid providers who submit fraudulent claims for reimbursement and engage in identity theft undermine the trust placed in them by the beneficiaries that utilize their services,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to ensure that individuals who commit fraud against federal health care programs are held accountable.”

“Criminal misconduct within the healthcare system is not only deceitful but also destructive,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen.  “Mr. O’Lear’s schemes are appalling. Those who abuse their position of trust for financial greed will not be tolerated.  The FBI and our partners will continue to work collaboratively to identify and investigate those committing fraud with the intention of bilking government programs.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, O’Lear was President of Portable Radiology Services (PRS), a company that provided portable x-ray-related services to individuals residing in nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and long-term care facilities.

From 2013 through 2017, O’Lear submitted false claims for reimbursement to Medicare, Medicaid and MCOs for thousands of x-rays and related services that he and his business did not provide, including approximately 151 x-ray services purportedly provided to patients on dates after the patients had died.

Evidence also proved that O’Lear billed Medicare and Medicaid for purportedly having provided x-ray-related services to beneficiaries at nursing facilities on dates when the beneficiaries were hospitalized and not at the facilities.  In another aspect of the fraud, O’Lear took multiple x-rays that had all been performed in one visit and falsely claimed that each one had been done on a different day, requiring separate reimbursement for transporting the portable x-ray equipment on each date.  Similarly, O’Lear falsely billed for taking multiple images or views of patients when only one view had been done, thereby requiring a greater reimbursement. 

During an audit by a Medicaid MCO, O’Lear covered up the scheme and committed aggravated identity theft by creating false medical records, including forms for ordering x-rays and radiology reading reports.  He even falsified x-ray images, but was found to have re-used the same image repeatedly as different images of the same patient and even as images of different patients.  In creating the falsified order forms, he forged the signatures of his employees and the physician he said had ordered the x-rays.

As a result of the scheme, court documents state that O’Lear submitted fraudulent bills to Medicare, Medicaid and Medicaid MCOs for approximately $3.7 million and received approximately $2 million in payments as a result of fraudulent bills.

“Nobody needs X-rays after they’re dead, and the taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for them,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.  “This crook made victims of everybody who pays taxes, and he deserves every day of his sentence.”

This case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Cleveland FBI and the Ohio Attorney General’s Healthcare Fraud Section .  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Brendan O’Shea.

CLEVELAND - Yaser Najjar, age 60, of Westlake, Ohio, was sentenced on Tuesday, September 7, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to two years in prison and was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine and at least $503,398 in restitution to the IRS after he pleaded guilty to four counts of attempt to evade and defeat income tax.

According to court documents, from 2009 to 2017, Najjar failed to report the total amount of income earned from his ownership and the operations of a gas station on East 152nd Street in Cleveland.  In addition, court records state that, as part of the scheme to evade income tax, Najjar used cash from the business to make personal purchases and maintained a second, secret  handwritten ledger documenting the gas station’s daily gross receipts, gasoline and convenience store sales. 

Court records show that Najjar used an accountant to prepare his taxes for the calendar years 2009 through 2016 and deliberately concealed and misrepresented a substantial portion of the gas station’s gross receipts from the accountant.  Najjar provided the accountant with the markup (profit) per gallon of gasoline and convenience store sales, which figures substantially underreported actual gross receipts as reflected in the handwritten ledger.  Additionally, Najjar failed to provide the accountant with certain information related to actual gasoline and convenience store sales and concealed other sources of income, including ATM fees, vacuum machine receipts and air machine receipts.

In total, Najjar defrauded the IRS of more than $1.5 million in income taxes owed as a result of concealed or underreported income earned from the gas station operations.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the IRS - Criminal Investigations (CI).  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Megan Miller.

CLEVELAND - Twin brothers from Miami, Florida, who participated in a nationwide scheme in which they fraudulently gained access to approximately 2,366 AT&T mobile accounts, were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker to 52 months in prison and ordered to pay $360,937 in restitution after they both pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme.

According to court documents, from March 2019 to January 2020, Luis Hernandez Socarras and Jorge Hernandez Socarras, both age 27, were part of a nationwide scheme in which they fraudulently gained access to approximately 2,366 AT&T mobile accounts and proceeded to charge millions of dollars' worth of electronic devices through the victim’s accounts for products such as iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches.

After gaining access to victim accounts, court documents state that the brothers later re-sold the electronic devices in their hometown of Miami, Florida.  As part of the scheme and in an effort to evade police detection, court records show that the brothers rented trucks and made trips across the country, stopping at various electronics retailers in 26 states to pick up the devices they fraudulently ordered.

Court documents state that in January 2020, law enforcement authorities identified the two brothers as they were making fraudulent purchases of iPhones and iPads charged to numerous AT&T accounts at various electronics retailers in the Northern District of Ohio.  Authorities later obtained a warrant and searched a vehicle belonging to Luis Socarras that was left behind in the parking lot of a retailer.  Inside the vehicle, authorities located 29 Apple iPhones, 11 Pro Max cell phones, six Apple iPad Pro tablets, three Apple Watches, a firearm, other electronic devices and a passport. 

The brothers were subsequently arrested in March 2021.

In total, court records show that the overall scheme caused a total loss of  $2,155,483.78 to all victims.

Louis and Jorge Socarras both pleaded guilty to two counts of access device fraud, interstate transfer of stolen property and aggravated identity theft in April 2022.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian.

CLEVELAND – A Nigerian national residing in Cleveland was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to two and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $438,604.89 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to her role as a “money mule” for various financial fraud schemes that targeted individuals in the United States and elsewhere.

According to court documents, from June 2018 to August 2020, Deborah Anderson, 30, of Nigeria, was part of a financial fraud conspiracy that obtained money from victims through fraudulent investment opportunities, romance scams, fraudulent sales or rentals and other types of schemes.

Court documents show that Anderson served as a “money mule” or someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else.  As part of the conspiracy, victims transferred money to accounts controlled by Anderson, who, in turn, transferred the funds to various unknown individuals in Nigeria.

Additionally, court documents state that Anderson used victim funds to purchase personal items and later exported those items to Nigeria.

In total, victims suffered a combined loss of $438,604.89 as a result of the various scams.

Anderson pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in June 2022.  As part of the sentencing, Anderson was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, at the conclusion of her sentence.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Kathryn Gaughan Andrachik.

AKRON – First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that eight individuals were charged today in an 18-count superseding indictment with operating a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed methamphetamine throughout the city of Akron, Portage County and Trumbull County areas.

Named in the superseding indictment are Dolan Mitchell Ady, 50, of Kinsman, Ohio; Christen Tate Oakman, 27, of Akron, Ohio; Shaquille Michael Haskell, 31, of Akron, Ohio; Markus Eugene Shaw, 37, of Warren, Ohio; Jennifer Derosa, 34, of Warren, Ohio; Robert Russell Boring, 32, of Akron, Ohio; Joshua M. White, 35, of Warren, Ohio and Travis Spithaler, 35, of Warren, Ohio.

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  In addition, the indictment charges various members of the drug trafficking organization with distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and possession of a firearm by a person with a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that from October 2021 to April 2022, the named members of the drug trafficking organization conspired together to purchase methamphetamine and redistribute it throughout the city of Akron, Portage County and Trumbull County areas.  The indictment alleges that members of the organization maintained residences in the city of Akron to store and sell methamphetamine and conducted counter-surveillance while engaging in drug trafficking activity in order to identify the potential presence of law enforcement.  Additionally, the indictment alleges members of the organization utilized motels and a residence within Trumbull County to store and sell methamphetamine.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Portage County Sheriff’s Office Drug and Violent Crime Unit (PCSODVCU), Portage County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Akron Police Department Gun Violence Reduction Tactical Unit (APD GVRTU), Akron Police Department (APD), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP), Niles Police Department (NPD) and Warren Police Department (WPD). 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.

TOLEDO – Teresia M. Jones, 34, of Holland, Ohio, was arraigned today in front of Magistrate Judge Darrell A. Clay in Toledo, Ohio, after she was charged in a 17-count indictment with one count of wire fraud, one count of theft of government funds, two counts of aggravated identity theft and twelve counts of money laundering.

According to the indictment, beginning in January 2020, Jones is accused of defrauding the IRS through a wide-ranging tax refund scheme by submitting false and fraudulent tax filings using stolen identities and claiming millions of dollars in improper tax refunds.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Jones laundered the stolen tax funds by purchasing a 2022 Cadillac Escalade for over $150,000, real property for over $850,000 and wedding planning services for $65,000, among other transactions.  The indictment also identifies for forfeiture the Cadillac Escalade, a 2022 Dodge Ram truck, two parcels of real property and approximately $320,000 seized from bank accounts.   

Jones pleaded not guilty to all counts during the arraignment and was released on bond.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigations (CI) and the United States Secret Service (USSS).  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and Robert Patton.

CLEVELAND - A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging Brandon Monteal Williams, 32, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, with theft of mail by a postal employee and misappropriation of postal funds.

According to the indictment, from January to March 2022, Williams, a former mail processing clerk with the United States Postal Service and assigned to the Brooklyn, Ohio, branch,  allegedly stole numerous parcels from the U.S. mail, including 10 cell phones and five pairs of high-valued sneakers totaling over $8,700. 

Additionally, the indictment alleges that Williams stole not more than $1,000 in money and property from the Postal Service while employed with the agency.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Isabella.

CLEVELAND – Diante S. Colthirst, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison, with 60 months to be served consecutively with a  state sentence, by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko after he pleaded guilty in May 2022 to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on March 2, 2020, law enforcement authorities attempted to arrest Colthirst in Orange, Ohio, due to an outstanding warrant for failure to appear for sentencing in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.  Colthirst fled from authorities in a vehicle as they attempted to arrest him and eventually abandoned his vehicle and ran from the scene on foot.  Authorities searched the vehicle and located a firearm inside under the passenger seat.

Colthirst is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to previous convictions of attempted felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon and having weapons while under disability and felonious assault and aggravated robbery in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

Colthirst was later arrested by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive United States Marshal Task Force on March 11, 2020.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service (USMS) and the Orange Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.

CLEVELAND – Vincent Richardson Jr., 30, of Warren, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, to more than 24 years in prison and ordered to pay a $4,000 special assessment by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko after he pleaded guilty in May 2022 to 40 counts of charges related to his role in leading a drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents, from March 2019 to February 2020, Richardson operated a drug trafficking organization in the Youngstown-Warren areas and supplied drugs, including cocaine, cocaine base (crack), heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, to other members of the organization to be further distributed throughout the region.

As part of an investigation into Richardson and the drug trafficking organization, authorities conducted multiple controlled purchases of narcotics from members of the organization, including Richardson.  In some instances, Richardson would direct another individual to deliver drugs to the buyer.   

Investigators later executed multiple search warrants related to the investigation, including three that focused on Richardson’s residence.  During the execution of these warrants, investigators obtained drug trafficking paraphernalia, a firearm, over $4,000 cash, a drug press and multiple quantities of drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base (crack) and fentanyl analogues.

The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI, Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, Trumbull Action Group, Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office and the Warren Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Toepfer and Damoun Delaviz. 

CLEVELAND - Today, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment charging Donteze Congress, age 18, and Thomas J.D. Williams, age 18, both of Maple Heights, Ohio, with using a firearm to steal vehicles during separate incidents on August 9, 2022. 

Congress and Williams are both charged with carjacking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Williams is also charged with attempted carjacking and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents, it is alleged that on three separate occasions on August 9, 2022, police officers in Cuyahoga Falls, Solon and Streetsboro were called to respond to an armed carjacking incident.  In both Cuyahoga Falls and Streetsboro, the perpetrators were alleged to have struck the victim’s vehicle from the rear, brandished firearms and confronted the victims after the victims exited the vehicle to assess the damage. 

In the Streetsboro incident, it is alleged that the perpetrators approached the victim as the victim exited their vehicle, brandished a firearm and demanded the vehicle keys.  However, court documents state that the perpetrators were unable to get away with the vehicle.  

Defendants Congress and Williams were later identified and arrested following an investigation into the carjacking incidents.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Cleveland FBI, Solon Police Department, Cuyahoga Falls Police Department, Streetsboro Police Department and Garfield Heights Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter E. Daly and Christopher J. Joyce.

CLEVELAND - Carlos Dashawn Brown, 28, of Bowling Green and Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, to 38 months in prison and ordered to pay $177,716.07 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. after Brown pleaded guilty to the unauthorized use of an access device, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

“This defendant preyed upon disadvantaged individuals and depleted the savings of an elderly victim, all in an effort to make a quick buck for himself,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Law enforcement in this region will not stand for the targeting of vulnerable populations in our community.”

“Committing credit card fraud, bank fraud and identity theft against vulnerable populations is nothing short of a heartless crime,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen.  “Mr. Brown’s actions are appalling. This sentence underscores the commitment of the FBI to find and investigate predatory behavior by nefarious individuals.  The FBI is committed to protecting every American from fraudsters, whether one person or a network of criminals, through our work with federal, state and local partners.“

“This case is an example of the well-coordinated efforts of law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect vulnerable and older Americans from financial exploitation,” said Inspector In Charge Lesley Allison for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.   “The Inspection Service appreciates the steadfast dedication from our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing those who perpetrate these scams to justice.”

“This sentence demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable those who intentionally misuse the Social Security numbers of others for their own personal gain,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration.  “Mr. Brown’s criminal actions brought financial harm upon vulnerable individuals.  I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their investigative efforts and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.” 

According to court documents, from April 2014 to January 2019, Brown perpetrated a credit card fraud scheme using the personal identifying information of multiple victims.  These victims were vulnerable due to their age and/or mental condition. 

As part of his scheme, Brown, without authorization, used the personal identifying information of these victims to open credit card accounts and make purchases, including travel, expensive goods and a vehicle.  Brown also stole more than $60,000 from one elder victim’s pension account and fraudulently caused multiple banks and creditors to issue Brown over $117,000 in refund checks to which he was not entitled.

In total, Brown caused an approximate loss of  $177,716.07 to all victims in the scheme.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI, United States Postal Service Inspection Service (USPIS), Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) and the Cleveland Heights Police Department.   This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.

AKRON - Costel Alecu, 38, of Bucharest, Romania, was sentenced to more than five and a half years in prison on September 7, 2022, by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams for his role in an international criminal network engaged in a wide-ranging online auction fraud scheme that targeted victims in the Northern District of Ohio and elsewhere in the United States.

In addition to the prison sentence, Alecu was ordered to pay a special assessment of $12,000 with restitution to be determined at a later date.

According to court documents, from July 2008 through August 2020, Alecu and codefendant Madalin Ghinea, 35, of Alexandria, Romania, were part of a conspiracy that devised a scheme to entice victims in the United States and elsewhere to purchase items online, including vehicles and other high-value items, that did not exist and to obtain the personal identifying information of their victims. 

As a result, victims suffered a combined loss of approximately $3 million USD. 

As part of the scheme, Alecu and other conspiracy members created accounts on various auction websites to post advertisements for goods that did not exist.  In certain cases, Alecu and others created and used fictitious websites, email addresses and other forms of communication that contained counterfeit trademark information designed to convince their victims that the advertisements were genuine. 

In addition, court documents state that the conspirators used a number of fraudulent online communication templates and email addresses to deceive victims into believing that they were communicating with legitimate business representatives when, in fact, they were speaking with a member of the conspiracy.

Court documents state that Alecu and others in the conspiracy then used a network of money launderers and money mules to obtain payment from their victims and transfer the funds overseas.  Alecu and the conspirators then used the stolen personal identifying information of their victims, credit cards and bank accounts to launder money overseas and fund the operation of their network by purchasing items such as virtual private networks and domain names.

Romanian authorities arrested Alecu and Ghinea in March 2021.

Madalin Ghinea was sentenced on June 1, 2022,  to more than four years in prison and ordered to pay $450,000.00 in restitution for his role in the scheme.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) with help from authorities in Romania.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan T. Brown and Brian S. Deckert of the Northern District of Ohio with assistance provided by the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. 

CLEVELAND - David L. Holdcraft, 28, of Bucyrus, Ohio, was sentenced on September 8, 2022, to 24 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., after Holdcraft pleaded guilty to receipt and distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children in May 2022.

In addition, to the prison sentence, Holdcraft was ordered to serve ten years of supervised release, pay $28,000 in restitution and $15,000 in special and Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) assessments.

“The cruelty and depravity of this defendant’s actions are unimaginable and individuals such as this defendant are why the Justice Department and all of law enforcement remain dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable among us by prosecuting dangerous predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “We are grateful to the authorities in this case for their hard work in identifying and apprehending this individual.”

“Finding and investigating child predators is one of the FBI’s highest priorities,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “Holdcraft’s conduct is appalling and heinous.  This sentence ensures that he will be held accountable for his horrendous actions.  We are proud of the work our agents conducted and will remain relentless in our pursuit to ensure children are protected through the FBI’s partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement, providing resources to victims and their families and continuing education and outreach into our communities.”

According to court documents, on February 25, 2022, Mansfield FBI agents executed a search warrant at Holdcraft’s Bucyrus residence after receiving information that Holdcraft was involved in the distribution of child pornography on Wickr and Kik Messenger.

During the execution of the warrant, authorities obtained several electronic devices that were later found to contain hundreds of images and videos that depicted children as young as toddlers engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Investigators also seized a child-sized rubber torso from Holdcraft’s bedroom.

Investigators further determined that Holdcraft was engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a five-year-old victim and videotaped himself performing sexual acts on the victim.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mansfield Resident Agency and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.

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TOLEDO - Mohamed Ismial, 32, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced on August 26, 2022, to more than eight years in prison by U.S. District Judge James G. Carr after Ismail pleaded guilty to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents, from March 2019 to September 2019, Ismial was involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed various quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine in the Toledo area. 

On March 5, 2020, state law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and obtained quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine and four firearms.

Ismial pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base on November 18, 2021.

This case was investigated by the Toledo Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert N. Melching.

CLEVELAND - Terry L. Jackson Sr., 50, of Elyria, Ohio, was sentenced on Thursday, September 8, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent to more than 21.5 years in prison after Jackson was convicted in a trial by jury of distributing cocaine base (crack) and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base (crack) and methamphetamine. 

“This sentence is another example of the successful cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement authorities in combating the scourge of opioids in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler.  “Repeat drug traffickers earn their way to federal court to answer for the poisoning of our communities.”

“Drug trafficking cases remain one of the highest priorities of the FBI,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen.  “This sentence underscores an unwavering commitment to combatting drug trafficking.  The FBI, together with our federal, state, and local partners, remain steadfast in disrupting the flow of deadly drugs that pose the greatest threat to the well-being of every person in the United States.”

"The Elyria Police Department would like to thank our federal partners, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office, for collaborating with us on the investigation of Terry L. Jackson," said City of Elyria Chief of Police William Pelko.  "Mr. Jackson is a career criminal who we have dealt with many times throughout the years for numerous violent criminal and drug activity.  The citizens of Elyria will no longer have to tolerate Jackson's criminal behavior.  The Elyria Police Department will continue to work with our federal partners to investigate and prosecute these violent offenders."

According to court documents, in February of 2019, law enforcement officers with the Elyria Police Department began an investigation into Jackson, after receiving information that Jackson was distributing drugs out of an Elyria-area motel room.  As a result, investigators conducted a controlled buy from Jackson and purchased a quantity of cocaine base (crack) from him.  Shortly after, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for the hotel room where Jackson was staying.

During the execution of the warrant, investigators encountered Jackson alone in the room and seized quantities of fentanyl, cocaine base (crack) and methamphetamine from him.  Jackson was arrested at that time.

Jackson was classified as a career offender during the sentencing hearing due to multiple prior felony convictions, including drug trafficking and felonious assault.  A career offender is an individual that commits either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense after two prior felony convictions for either a crime of violence or a controlled substance offense.

This investigation was conducted by the Elyria Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Payum Doroodian and Robert J. Kolansky.

This case was investigated as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.)., a joint law enforcement initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

TOLEDO - Nichole Zieroff, 32, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced on August 26, 2022, to fourteen months in prison by U.S. District Judge James G. Carr after Zieroff pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and eight counts of use of a communications facility to facilitate a drug felony.

According to court documents, from November 2019 to January 2020, Zieroff was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy in which she received packages through the mail containing fentanyl on behalf of her co-conspirators.  In addition, court documents state that Zieroff used a cell phone on eight separate occasions to facilitate the conspiracy.

Zieroff pleaded guilty to the 10-count indictment on February 14, 2022.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert N. Melching and Deyana F. Unis.

CLEVELAND - Dylan T. Flanigan, 49, of Lorain, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, to more than 14 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after he previously pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, in February 2019, law enforcement investigators executed a search warrant at Flanigan’s Lorain residence after receiving information that he was in possession of child pornography. 

During the search, investigators found multiple electronic devices that, upon examination, contained hundreds of images and more than 70 videos of child pornography. 

This case was investigated by the Brunswick Police Department and the Cleveland FBI.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Sullivan, Kathryn Gaughan Andrachik and Margaret A. Kane

YOUNGSTOWN – First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that fourteen individuals were charged today in a forty-six-count indictment with operating a drug trafficking organization that allegedly distributed crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues throughout the Youngstown area.  

Eleven of the fourteen individuals named in the indictment were arrested today by federal, state and local law enforcement authorities.

Named in the indictment are Terrence Chauncy May, 46, of Youngstown, Ohio; Thomas May Jr, 42, of Youngstown, Ohio; Terri Chauncy May, 22, of Youngstown, Ohio; Terris Chailyn May, 20, of Youngstown, Ohio; Key-Shaun Davis, 21, of Youngstown, Ohio; Hope Butler, 22, of Youngstown, Ohio; Wesley Allen Pierce May, 23, of Youngstown, Ohio; Christina May, 38, of Youngstown, Ohio; Ronald Falkowski, 51, of Berlin Center, Ohio; Carlo Demain, 28, of Struthers Ohio; Jason Stiner, 38, of Canfield, Ohio; Nyasia Iris Lopez, 27, of Struthers, Ohio; Shanika Simmons, 38, Youngstown, Ohio and Allison Grossen, 35, Youngstown, Ohio.

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues.  In addition, the indictment charges various members of the drug trafficking organization with using a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, distribution of cocaine base (crack), distribution of fentanyl analogue and fentanyl, distribution of heroin and fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl and distribution of tramadol and fentanyl.  Defendant Thomas May, Jr is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to the indictment, from February 2020 to January 2022, it is alleged that Defendant Terrence Chauncy May obtained large quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine and narcotics, which he then supplied to other members of the drug trafficking organization to be further distributed in the Youngstown area.

In addition, the indictment alleges that Defendants Terrence Chauncy May, Hope Butler, Terris Chailyn May and Key-Shaun Davis maintained multiple premises in Youngstown for the purposes of distributing and storing drugs.

The conspirators are also accused of using cell phones and coded language to obscure and disguise their drug trafficking activity.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force in a joint investigation with Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, Youngstown Police Department, Boardman Police Department, Campbell Police Department, Austintown Police Department and the Mahoning County Juvenile Court.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz.

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CLEVELAND - First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that eight men in the Canton area were charged in a three-count indictment with operating a drug trafficking organization that distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine throughout Wayne, Stark and Tuscarawas Counties and elsewhere in the Northern District of Ohio. 

Named in the indictment are Arnulfo Gomez-Araiza, 40, of Orrville, Ohio; Alejandro Jesus Quezada, 33, of Louisville, Ohio; Adrian Nava Marquez, 32, of Canton. Ohio; Luis Soto-Perez, 27, of Massillon, Ohio; Isidro Gutierrez-Meraz, 32, of Orrville, Ohio; Isidro Gutierrez-Cuevas, 56, of Orrville, Ohio; Vicente Guzman-Bernal, 37, of Dover, Ohio and Joshua Nagle, 40, of Canton, Ohio.  

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.  Defendant Vicente Guzman-Bernal is charged with an additional count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and defendant Alejandro Jesus Quezada is charged with an additional count of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, it is alleged that in March 2020, federal, state and local law enforcement authorities began an investigation into a suspected drug trafficking organization led by defendant Arnuflo Gomez-Araiza based in the Wayne and Stark County area. 

According to the indictment, the members of the Gomez-Araiza drug trafficking organization are alleged to have distributed, sold and transported kilogram quantities of cocaine in the Northern District of Oho and elsewhere in the state of Ohio.  It is alleged that members of the drug trafficking organization received shipments of cocaine, facilitated numerous drug transactions and shipped the drug trafficking proceeds to others throughout the state of Ohio via couriers.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the FBI Canton, Wayne County MEDWAY Drug Task Force, Canton Police Department, Jackson Township Police Department, Massillon Police Department, Stark County Sheriff’s Office, Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, Dover Police Department and the  FBI TOC-W Task Force.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel.

CLEVELAND - First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler announced that the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of CDG Acquisition, LLC (CDG), a company registered in the State of Ohio, which owned “The Claddagh Irish Pubs” chain of restaurants, was charged with defrauding multiple states of sales tax revenue where the restaurant chain operated. 

Ciaran Dillon, 56, of Solon, Ohio, was named in the indictment and officially charged with two counts of wire fraud.

According to the indictment, from January 2010 through May 2018, the defendant, acting in his official capacity as CFO of CDG, directed a company accountant to pay certain states less sales tax than the true amount owed.  The indictment states that based on the defendant’s instruction, the accountant would edit the company's sales and sales tax figures, file false tax returns and pay states the amount instructed by the defendant.

It is alleged that one common way to underpay sales tax was for the company to report and pay sales tax for four weeks during a five-week period, leading CDG to collect a week’s worth of sales taxes that were omitted from state sales tax filings.

In total, it is alleged that during this time, the defendant defrauded the States of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin out of more than $1 million in sales tax revenue collected from CDG customers across fifteen restaurants.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, a sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro A. Abreu.  

AKRON - Andre Badley, 49, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams to nearly 20 years in prison after he was convicted at trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin. 

Badley was sentenced to the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for a period of 188 months as to Counts 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the indictment and 120 months as to Count 4, both to be served concurrently.  In addition, Badley was also sentenced to  51 months in prison for violating his federal supervised release. In total, Badley will serve nearly 20 years in prison.

Badley was previously convicted in 1997 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio and sentenced to life in prison for distribution of crack cocaine and cocaine.  Badley served more than 23 years of that sentence and was released in 2019 under the First Step Act.

According to court documents, on March 5, 2021, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at a residence known to be occupied by Badley after receiving information regarding suspected drug trafficking activity.  During the search, a K-9 unit alerted authorities to the presence of controlled substances, and investigators found large quantities of crack cocaine, cocaine, fentanyl and two firearms in the residence.  Then, on March 25, 2021, Badley was found to be in possession of another large quantity of crack cocaine in his vehicle.

Badley is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous conviction of drug trafficking in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

This case was investigated by the Shaker Heights Police Department, with assistance from the DEA and ATF.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Kolansky and Vanessa V. Healy.

CLEVELAND - Fourteen members of a drug trafficking organization operating in Northeast Ohio were charged today after a grand jury returned a 38-count indictment, alleging that the defendants participated in a conspiracy that distributed over 5 kilograms of cocaine, over 280 grams of crack cocaine base and fentanyl throughout the area.

Named in the indictment are Montez Miller, 34, of Elyria, Ohio; Mario Hoyle, 32, of Elyria, Ohio; Marlon Hoyle, 30, of Elyria, Ohio; Marque Miller, 28, of Cleveland, Ohio; Theodore Nickoloff, 48, of Elyria, Ohio; Adrian Smith, 32, of Elyria, Ohio; Anthony Lee Smith, 33, of Elyria, Ohio; Mario McCray, 41, of Elyria, Ohio; Madonna Sanchez, 36, of Elyria, Ohio; Alex Perez, 25, of Sheffield Lake, Ohio; Bernard Green, 62, of Elyria, Ohio; Brandon Keith, 32, of Elyria, Ohio; Toquato Knowles, 42, of Elyria, Ohio and Darius Glass, 32, of Elyria, Ohio.

Each defendant is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of controlled substances.

According to the indictment, from February 2019 to August 2022, it is alleged that members of the drug trafficking organization obtained large quantities of cocaine from an unknown supplier, which they then redistributed to the named defendants to be further distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. 

The conspirators are also accused of using cell phones and coded language to obscure and disguise their drug trafficking activity.

If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including prior criminal records, if any, role in the offenses, and the characteristics of the violations.

In all cases, sentences will not exceed the statutory maximums, and in most cases, will be less than the maximums.

The investigation was conducted by the Elyria Police Department, with assistance from the FBI Cleveland Division, the Lorain Police Department, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office and the United States Marshals Service.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert F. Corts and Vasile C. Katsaros.

This effort was 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was also investigated as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.)., an initiative that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids and to identify wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers in Lorain County.