Northern District of Ohio

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Rafael Ernesto Dones Rosa, 33, of Youngstown, with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and use of the mail in causing or facilitating the commission of a felony.

The indictment alleges that on or about April 3, 2019, Rafael Ernesto Dones Rosa knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine.

The indictment also alleges that on or about April 3, 2019, Rafael Ernesto Dones Rosa did knowingly and intentionally use the mail in facilitating the commission of a felony.

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  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 the United States Postal Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.

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.

Two men with prior homicide convictions were sentenced to prison for firearms and drug trafficking charges crimes.

Maurice A. Stewart, 42, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison this week. A jury previously convicted him of drug trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of firearms.

William W. Moore, 38, was sentenced to 63 months in prison. He previously pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges.

A third man, Jason E. Cousins, 47, was sentenced to 73 months in prison. Cousins was found guilty of a firearm offense following a trial.

According to court documents and evidence presented in court:

U.S. Marshals were searching for Moore, who was wanted on drug and firearms warrants out of West Virginia, when they tracked him to a home in Canton on November 17, 2016.

A search of the home resulted in the recovery of nearly eight pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, $10,904 in cash, two loaded handguns, a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun, an AR-15 rifle and body armor.

The evidence at trial connected all three men to items recovered at the residence.

Moore was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous conviction for murder.

Stewart was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a previous conviction involuntary manslaughter.

Cousins was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of previous convictions for possession of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron P. Howell and Peter Daly following an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Canton Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Two Canadian men were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to sell carfentanil, fentanyl, heroin and other drugs over the Internet and ship the drugs to locations in Europe, Canada and the United States, including Northern Ohio.

Named in the 10-count indictment are Robert Mitrache, 34, of Chateauguay, and Louis-Vincent Bourcier, 30, of Mercier. They are charged with conspiracy to import controlled substances, distribution of furanyl fentanyl, distribution of heroin and methamphetamine, and other charges.

According to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Cleveland:

Mitrache and Bourcier were among the people who controlled the Pharmaphil vendor account that operated on dark net marketplaces such as AlphaBay, Dream Market, the Majestic Garden and other marketplaces.

The Pharmaphil account served as an online storefront that trafficked narcotics such as fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin and methamphetamine to locations in Canada, the United States, Germany, Austria and other countries. The organization had more than 1,500 confirmed sales across multiple dark net marketplaces, according to the indictment.

Mitrache, Bourcier and others used various methods designed to protect the anonymity of buyers and sellers from law enforcement and other organizations. These methods included internally hosted message boards, using encrypted messaging applications, and proxies, which bounced network traffic from one computer to another.

Members of the conspiracy laundered its drug profits through a variety of means, including maintaining and using digital currency such as bitcoin, according to the indictment.

The conspiracy took placed between at least May 2015 through December 16, 2017, according to the indictment.

Both defendants are currently incarcerated in Canada.

“This case is a stark reminder of the way deadly narcotics are bought and sold has changed dramatically,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Law enforcement has adapted too and are working to arrest and prosecute those who sell opioids and other drugs over the Internet.”

“The charges against these defendants should make it abundantly clear that those who distribute deadly drugs via the Dark Net are not out of reach of law enforcement,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis. “HSI is committed to targeting the unlawful sale of opioids, following the money trails and leveraging our international and local partnerships to dismantle drug smuggling rings and stop this opioid crisis from spreading any further.”

“Battling the distribution of synthetic opioids in the U.S. is one of the Postal Inspection Service’s highest priorities,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke.  “The indictment proves postal inspectors and their law enforcement partners remain steadfast in dismantling dark net vendors of illicit and dangerous items. This should serve as an example to criminal groups using the dark net that we are unwavering in our mission to identify and disrupt their illegal activity.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said: "These two defendants believed that by utilizing the dark web and sophisticated cyber techniques their dangerous, world wide drug dealing would go undetected by law enforcement - they were wrong.  Collaborative law enforcement techniques identified these two and now they will be held accountable for selling and distributing deadly controlled substances."   

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations as part of “Operation Darkness Falls,” a joint operation targeting people and organizations that sell fentanyl and other drugs over the dark net. Also involved in this investigation were the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the Justice Department’s Special Operations Division and federal law enforcement in the District of Arizona. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Cronin and Daniel Riedl.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations operating domestically and internationally.  The principle mission of the OCDETF Program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

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

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.

Twenty people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to obtain large amounts of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues and sell the drugs to customers on the west side of Cleveland.

Named in the 27-count indictment are: Alquin Wells, 37, of Sheffield Lake; Ronelle Davis, 28, of Sheffield Lake; Malcolm Collins, 46; Travon Gales, 24, of Maple Heights; Ronnie Edgell, 54; Lashaun Moncrief, 36; Matthew Kucera, 46; Amber Moore, 35, of Parma; Gloria Hrdy, 29; Patricia Truman, 28; Molly Medlik, 24; Cody Ray Lee, 25; Lisa Goforth, 27; Shaunna Collier, 23; Virginia May, 37; Tamie Seitz, 49; John Dickson, 39, of Brunswick; Elizabeth Gallagher, 30; Bobbi Boylan, 34, and Imani Nicholson, 23, of Sheffield Village. All are from Cleveland unless otherwise noted.

All 20 are indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues.

Goforth and Boylan are charged with distribution of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and acetylfentanyl with a potential sentencing enhancing for selling drugs that resulted in serious bodily injury on March 1.

Gales, Wells and Collins also were indicted for firearms crimes. Davis and Nicholson were indicted for conspiracy to launder money.

An additional defendant, DeMarco Clayton, 24, of Sheffield Lake, faces firearms and drug charges for allegedly having heroin, a revolver and ammunition on April 3. Clayton is forbidden from having firearms or ammunition because of numerous previous convictions, according to the indictment.

According to the indictment:

Wells and Davis obtained ounce quantities of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, which they sold to other dealers and customers in Cleveland. Specifically, Wells and Davis sold drugs to Collins, Gales and Moncrief.

Wells, Davis, Collins and Gales also sold heroin and fentanyl to Edgell, Kucera, Moore, Hrdy, Truman, Medlik, Lee, Goforth, Collier, May, Seitz, Dickson and Gallagher, who sold the heroin and fentanyl to others.

Wells, Gales and others carried firearms to protect themselves, their drugs and their drug proceeds. Wells and Davis used Davis’ residence in Sheffield Lake to store the drugs, process the heroin and fentanyl and store the profits of their drug sales, according to the indictment.

The conspiracy took place between September 2017 and April 2019, according to the indictment.

Wells was shot three times during a suspected home invasion on November 10, 2017. Two unidentified males took Wells’ gold Range Rover. The vehicle was later found burned on East 32nd Street in Cleveland, according to the indictment.

The indictment details numerous occasions when Wells met customers in the parking lots of fast food restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations and other stores to make hand-to-hand drug transactions.

Boylan and Goforth on March 1 sold a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and acetylfentanyl to someone identified as T.M., which caused T.M. to overdose and suffer serious bodily injury, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors are seeking to seize six firearms and more than $44,000 seized as part of the investigation.

“This group is accused of selling deadly drugs, illegally carrying firearms, laundering their drug profits and contributing to this scourge that has killed thousands of Ohioans,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said: “This group of individuals brought deadly drugs, firearms and danger to the public. Law enforcement's collaborative efforts have thwarted their criminal behavior for a safer community.”

“The collaborative efforts of the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force have once again resulted in taking criminal activity off of the streets of our communities,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “We hope that these arrests indictments serve as a warning to those intending to participate in future illegal activities.”

“Today’s indictment demonstrate that IRS agents will continue to follow the money trail to disrupt the flow of ill-gotten gains that are the lifeblood of criminal enterprises,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

Lakewood Police Chief Tim Malley said: “The Lakewood Police Department values its participation in the Northeast Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. Working with our partners from federal, state and other local agencies is a requirement to shut down these drug networks that have no jurisdictional boundaries.  We are committed on the law enforcement end to stopping the delivery of these deadly drugs to our communities.”

“Opioid-abuse is a public health crisis severely impacting our nation’s veterans” said Special Agent in Charge Gregg Hirstein, Department Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General. “We will investigate and seek prosecution against anyone illegally purveying these deadly products.”

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, their roles in the offense and the characteristics of the criminal conduct. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Sweeney following an investigation by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. The NOLETF is a task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Customs and Border Patrol, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Adult Parole Authority and the police departments of Euclid, Lakewood, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Moreland Hills. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiatives, which supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations operating domestically and internationally.  The principle mission of the OCDETF Program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

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 the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A Strongsville man was charged in federal court after he allegedly defrauded companies, churches, schools and others out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Christopher M. Hardin, 37, was charged via criminal information with one count of mail fraud.

According to the information:

Hardin established American Safety Surface & Recreation LLC (ASSR) in 2011 with its principal place of business being Broadview Heights. ASSR was a playground surfacing company that operated in several states, including Ohio, New Jersey, Iowa, California, New York, Texas and elsewhere.

Hardin, between September 2011 and November 2016, defrauded clients out of approximately $172,964 by obtaining deposits for promised work on playground renovations and installations that he never completed.

Hardin ordered and obtained approximately $261,083 in playground equipment and materials from OTS Company, based in South Carolina, for which payment was not made.

Hardin subcontracted approximately $270,127 of playground renovations and installation projects to MJD’s Property Solutions, LLC, for which payment was not made.

According to the information, Hardin fraudulently misrepresented to clients the use of project deposits, the timing of project completion and issues causing delays in projects, when Hardin knew he was using client funds for purposes other than what he had promised, including purchasing a vehicle, restaurant and bar purchases, and clothing unrelated to ASSR projects

As a result of Hardin’s scheme, the following customers sustained losses in the approximate amounts listed below for deposits they provided to Hardin for work that was never performed: Plainview Co-Op Nursery School ($28,755); Hudson Valley SportsDome, Inc. ($28,380); Saint Bellarmine Church ($21,375); St. Stephan of Hungary School, New York, New York ($18,450); St. Paul Lutheran Church & School, Ogden, Utah ($6,550); the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland, Ohio ($15,900); Norbeck Montessori, Rockville, Maryland ($6,000); Village of Dolgeville, New York ($4,000); Northfield Presbyerian Daycare Center, Northfield, Ohio ($7,125); All Kids First I & II, Vineland, New Jersey ($9,500); NORWESCAP,Inc.,Phillipsburg, New Jersey ($2,475);  John Link, Thompson, Ohio ($300); Little Wonders Daycare, San Mateo, California ($6,629); Lorene Cosimo, Cummings, Iowa ($1,825) Jan & Niles Davies Learning Center, and West Haverstraw, New York: $15,700, according to the information.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, 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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Kall.

An information 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.

A Ravenna man was indicted in federal court for robbing four stores in Portage County earlier this year.

Matthew L. Shilling, 31, was charged with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of bank robbery.

The indictment alleges Shilling robbed the following locations: Circle K on East Main Street in Ravenna on February 15; BP gas station on State Highway 14 in Ravenna on February 18; Circle K on West Main Street in Ravenna on March 1 and Chase Bank on Waterloo Road in Randolph on March 5.

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  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 the FBI, Ravenna Police Department and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Joyce.

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.

A Fairview Park man was charged with assaulting federal officers and illegally having a firearm after he allegedly had a firearm and struck task force officers who were trying to arrest him.

Kevin W. Walker, 33, on March 6 struck two police officers working with the U.S. Marshals as part of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force with his vehicle, according to the indictment.

Walker also possessed a Taurus 9 mm firearm and ammunition on March 6. Walker was prohibited from having the firearm and ammunition because of previous convictions for domestic violence, aggravated assault, and other crimes, according to the indictment.

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  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 the U.S. Marshal Service, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Zarzycki and Danielle Angeli.

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.

Extrudex Aluminum, Inc., an aluminum manufacturing company in Mahoning County, with a parent company in Canada, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony in connection with a conspiracy to obstruct justice related to an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

The company is scheduled to be sentenced August 1.

Extrudex, through its employees, concealed felony obstruction of justice offenses from Extrudex management in Canada and further failed to inform law enforcement of the commission of those offenses. This took place between April 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018, according to a criminal information

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Henderson and Om Kakani.

With robust public participation over the course of 16 prior events, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens. In continuation of this effort, DEA and its national, tribal and community partners will hold the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country on Saturday, April 27. The service is free and anonymous.

Now in its ninth year, DEA has collected a total of nearly 11 million pounds (more than 5,400 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications through its Take Back Day events. This weekend, approximately 6,000 collection sites manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The public can find a nearby collection site at www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.)

"Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends," said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. "Helping people keep their loved ones safe by disposing of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications is just one of many ways that DEA is working to break the cycle of addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country."

“We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Properly disposing of these pills is one important step anyone can take to get involved in turning the tide on the opioid epidemic that has caused so much pain here in Ohio.”

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The majority of prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse.

National Take Back Day has received enthusiastic public support since its inception in 2010. Last October, the public turned in 457 tons (914,236 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,800 of its local and tribal partners.  

An Akron man was charged in federal court with bank fraud and possession of fentanyl.

Ramon J. Wright, Jr., 31, was charged via criminal information with one count of bank fraud and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Wright possessed more than 22 grams of fentanyl on August 30, 2018, according to the information.

Wright, in August and September 2017, allegedly helped two people obtain fraudulent bank loans totaling $71,300 by using fraudulent and falsified documents that misrepresented the other person’s employment, income and utility account information, according to the information.

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 the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Akron Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter E. Daly.

An information 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.

An Akron man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for having a firearm while trafficking a mix of fentanyl and cocaine.

Lamar Harris, 34, was sentenced to 130 months in prison. Harris was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and 60 months for possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking. The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Harris pleaded guilty earlier this year. He was found with more than 16 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine on January 31, 2018, as well as a loaded .45-caliber pistol, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and the Medina County Drug Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick P. Burke.

The Department of Justice today released two complementary reports that focus on the mental health and safety of the nation’s federal, state, local and tribal police officers. The reports, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress and Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, were published by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) as required by the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) of 2017. 

The LEMHWA passed both chambers unanimously and without amendment and was signed by the President shortly thereafter. These actions show that its purpose and intended effects are uncontroversial among policymakers – law enforcement agencies need and deserve support in their ongoing efforts to protect the mental health and well-being of their employees. Congress took the important step in improving the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services that will help our nation’s more than 800,000 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers.  

"Serving as a law enforcement officer requires courage, strength, and dedication," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "The demands of this work, day in and day out, can take a toll on the health and well-being of our officers, but the Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to help. I want to thank the men and women of our COPS office for their hard work to support our officers every day, and specifically for these thoughtful and insightful reports, which detail both the challenges facing our officers and some specific ways we can give them the support that they deserve."

"A damaging national narrative has emerged in which law enforcement officers – whether federal, state, local, or tribal – are seen not as protectors of communities but as oppressors," said COPS Office Director Phil Keith. "In this environment, where an inherently stressful job is made more so by a constant undercurrent of distrust and negative public opinion, the risks to officer wellness are exacerbated. This report is an important measure and reflection in our ongoing commitment to protect those who protect us."

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said: "We owe it to the men and women who protect us to understand the challenges they face on the job and away from it, and ways we as a Department and a country can better support them.”

Under the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, the COPS Office was required to submit reports to Congress that addressed:

(1) Recommendations to Congress on effectiveness of crisis lines for law enforcement officers, efficacy of annual mental health checks for law enforcement officers, expansion of peer mentoring programs, and ensuring privacy considerations for these types of programs;

(2) Mental health practices and services in the U.S. Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) that could be adopted by federal, state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies; and

(3) Case studies of programs designed primarily to address officer psychological health and well-being.

The first report, Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act: Report to Congress, includes 22 recommendations to Congress ranging from supporting programs to embed mental health professionals in law enforcement agencies to supporting the development of model policies and implementation guidance for law enforcement agencies to make substantial efforts to reduce suicide.

The case studies report,  Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Programs: Eleven Case Studies, is designed to provide an overview of multiple successful and promising law enforcement mental health and wellness strategies with the joint aims of informing Congress, state and local government officials, and the law enforcement field. The report includes 11 case studies from a diverse group of sites across the United States.

The Department of Justice is pleased to respond to the LEMHWA as officer safety, health, and wellness is a longstanding priority of the agency. The reports released today address some of the most pressing issues currently facing our law enforcement community.

The COPS Office has a near 25-year history of supporting the efforts of state, local and tribal law enforcement, including the management of the National Blue Alert Network. The agency awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

A federal jury today convicted two Bucharest, Romania, residents of 21 counts related to their scheme to infect victim computers with malware in order to steal credit card and other information to sell on dark market websites, mine cryptocurrency and engage in online auction fraud, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio.

Bogdan Nicolescu, 36, and Radu Miclaus, 37, were convicted after a 12-day trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit service marks, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering and 12 counts each of wire fraud.  Sentencing has been set for Aug. 14, 2019 before Chief Judge Patricia A. Gaughan of the Northern District of Ohio.

According to testimony at trial and court documents, Nicolescu, Miclaus, and a co-conspirator who pleaded guilty, collectively operated a criminal conspiracy from Bucharest, Romania.  It began in 2007 with the development of proprietary malware, which they disseminated through malicious emails purporting to be legitimate from such entities as Western Union, Norton AntiVirus and the IRS. When recipients clicked on an attached file, the malware was surreptitiously installed onto their computer.

This malware harvested email addresses from the infected computer, such as from contact lists or email accounts, and then sent malicious emails to these harvested email addresses.  The defendants infected and controlled more than 400,000 individual computers, primarily in the United States.

Controlling these computers allowed the defendants to harvest personal information, such as credit card information, user names and passwords.  They disabled victims’ malware protection and blocked the victims’ access to websites associated with law enforcement.

Controlling the computers also allowed the defendants to use the processing power of the computer to solve complex algorithms for the financial benefit of the group, a process known as cryptocurrency mining.

The defendants used stolen email credentials to copy a victim’s email contacts.  They also activated files that forced infected computers to register email accounts with AOL.  The defendants registered more than 100,000 email accounts using this method.  They then sent malicious emails from these addresses to the compromised contact lists.  Through this method, they sent tens of millions of malicious emails.

When victims with infected computers visited websites such as Facebook, PayPal, eBay or others, the defendants would intercept the request and redirect the computer to a nearly identical website they had created.  The defendants would then steal account credentials.  They used the stolen credit card information to fund their criminal infrastructure, including renting server space, registering domain names using fictitious identities and paying for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which further concealed their identities.

The defendants were also able to inject fake pages into legitimate websites, such as eBay, to make victims believe they were receiving and following instructions from legitimate websites, when they were actually following the instructions of the defendants.

They placed more than 1,000 fraudulent listings for automobiles, motorcycles and other high-priced goods on eBay and similar auction sites.  Photos of the items were infected with malware, which redirected computers that clicked on the image to fictitious webpages designed by the defendants to resemble legitimate eBay pages.

These fictitious webpages prompted users to pay for their goods through a nonexistent “eBay Escrow Agent” who was simply a person hired by the defendants.  Users paid for the goods to the fraudulent escrow agents, who in turn wired the money to others in Eastern Europe, who in turn gave it to the defendants.  The payers/victims never received the items and never got their money back.

This resulted in a loss of millions of dollars.

The Bayrob group laundered this money by hiring “money transfer agents” and created fictitious companies with fraudulent websites designed to give the impression they were actual businesses engaged in legitimate financial transactions.  Money stolen from victims was wired to these fraudulent companies and then in turn wired to Western Union or Money Gram offices in Romania.  European “money mules” used fake identity documents to collect the money and deliver it to the defendants. 

The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Romanian National Police.  Senior Counsel Brian Levine of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan T. Brown and Brian McDonough of the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.  The Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in this case.

A federal jury today convicted two Romanian nationals of 21 counts related to their scheme to infect victim computers with malware in order to steal credit card and other information to sell on dark market websites, mine cryptocurrency and engage in online auction fraud.

Bogdan Nicolescu, 36, and Radu Miclaus, 37, were convicted after a 12-day trial of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit service marks, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering and 12 counts each of wire fraud. 

The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman of the Northern District of Ohio, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith.

“The evidence at presented at trial set out an international criminal enterprise with victims around the world, including people here in Northern Ohio,” Justin Herdman said. “While they stole millions of dollars, what they thought was a veil of anonymity was no protection against law enforcement, who worked diligently to track them down and bring them to justice in an American courthouse.”

"This conviction reveals the dynamic landscape in which international criminals utilize sophisticated cyber methods to take advantage of and defraud, unsuspecting victims,” Smith said. “Despite the complexity and global character of this type of investigation, this judgment demonstrates the commitment by the FBI and our partners to aggressively pursue the individuals responsible, anywhere in the world, and bring them to justice.”

According to testimony at trial and court documents, Nicolescu, Miclaus, and a co-conspirator who pleaded guilty, collectively operated a criminal conspiracy from Bucharest, Romania.  It began in 2007 with the development of proprietary malware, which they disseminated through malicious emails purporting to be legitimate from such entities as Western Union, Norton AntiVirus and the IRS. When recipients clicked on an attached file, the malware was surreptitiously installed onto their computer.

This malware harvested email addresses from the infected computer, such as from contact lists or email accounts, and then sent malicious emails to these harvested email addresses.  The defendants infected and controlled more than 400,000 individual computers, primarily in the United States.

Controlling these computers allowed the defendants to harvest personal information, such as credit card information, user names and passwords.  They disabled victims’ malware protection and blocked the victims’ access to websites associated with law enforcement.

Controlling the computers also allowed the defendants to use the processing power of the computer to solve complex algorithms for the financial benefit of the group, a process known as cryptocurrency mining.

The defendants used stolen email credentials to copy a victim’s email contacts.  They also activated files that forced infected computers to register email accounts with AOL.  The defendants registered more than 100,000 email accounts using this method.  They then sent malicious emails from these addresses to the compromised contact lists.  Through this method, they sent tens of millions of malicious emails.

When victims with infected computers visited websites such as Facebook, PayPal, eBay or others, the defendants would intercept the request and redirect the computer to a nearly identical website they had created.  The defendants would then steal account credentials.  They used the stolen credit card information to fund their criminal infrastructure, including renting server space, registering domain names using fictitious identities and paying for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which further concealed their identities.

The defendants were also able to inject fake pages into legitimate websites, such as eBay, to make victims believe they were receiving and following instructions from legitimate websites, when they were actually following the instructions of the defendants.

They placed more than 1,000 fraudulent listings for automobiles, motorcycles and other high-priced goods on eBay and similar auction sites.  Photos of the items were infected with malware, which redirected computers that clicked on the image to fictitious webpages designed by the defendants to resemble legitimate eBay pages.

These fictitious webpages prompted users to pay for their goods through a nonexistent “eBay Escrow Agent” who was simply a person hired by the defendants.  Users paid for the goods to the fraudulent escrow agents, who in turn wired the money to others in Eastern Europe, who in turn gave it to the defendants.  The payers/victims never received the items and never got their money back.

This resulted in a loss of millions of dollars.

The Bayrob group laundered this money by hiring “money transfer agents” and created fictitious companies with fraudulent websites designed to give the impression they were actual businesses engaged in legitimate financial transactions.  Money stolen from victims was wired to these fraudulent companies and then in turn wired to Western Union or Money Gram offices in Romania.  European “money mules” used fake identity documents to collect the money and deliver it to the defendants. 

The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Romanian National Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Duncan T. Brown and Brian McDonough and Senior Counsel Brian Levine of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. The Office of International Affairs also provided assistance in this case.

A jury convicted an Elyria man of illegally having a firearm and ammunition.

Gregory Raymore, 32, was convicted of one county of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a four-day trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 17.

Raymore possessed a .45-caliber handgun and 22 rounds of ammunition. Lorain police officers responded to a fatal shooting in an alleyway outside a bar in May 2018. The murder investigation led to the recovery of a firearm and ammunition near the crime scene that contained Raymore's DNA, although it was not the firearm that caused the death, according to trial testimony.

Raymore was not allowed to possess the firearm or ammunition because of multiple previous convictions, including for aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, possession of drugs and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to trial testimony and court documents

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

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Zarzycki and Maggie Kane following an investigation by the Lorain Police Department and FBI.

The former Chief Operating Officer of MetroHealth Hospital System was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to defraud the hospital and others through a series of bribes and kickbacks totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars related to the hospital’s dental program.

Edward R. Hills, 58, of Aurora, was sentenced to 188 months in prison. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

A jury previously found Hills, Sari Alqsous, 34, of Cleveland, Yazan B. Al-Madani, 34, of Westlake, and Tariq Sayegh, 38, of Cleveland, guilty of criminal charges following a trial last year. The other three defendants are scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

“Dr. Hills violated the trust of taxpayers and the leadership of a hospital dedicated to serving the least among us,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Dr. Hills earned this prison sentence by putting his greed above all else, soliciting and taking cash, rent payments, plane tickets, an expensive briefcase and other items as bribes.”

"Mr. Hills will now serve his deserved sentence for defrauding our healthcare system,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said. "The investigation and subsequent prosecution of Hills and his associates revealed these individuals had engaged in a pervasive pattern of fraud, betraying the MetroHealth Hospital System, its employees, and our community.  The collective efforts of law enforcement and MetroHealth officials led to the disruption of this destructive illegal deceit. "

“Misusing their position of trust for their own personal gain and obstructing justice by telling witnesses to not to cooperate with law enforcement is what ultimately lead to the downfall of these defendants,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “The success of this case is a direct result of the excellent partnership amongst IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Ohio Office of the Inspector General.”

“These four criminals hit Ohio’s taxpayers and healthcare system right in the teeth,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “With today’s sentence, justice struck back. I’m pleased our Bureau of Criminal Investigation could assist our law enforcement partners who investigated and prosecuted this case.”

Hills worked in various capacities at MetroHealth, including as Chief Operating Officer and Director of MetroHealth Dental. He also served as interim President and Chief Executive Officer from December 2012 through July 2013. Alqsous, Al-Madani and Sayegh are dentists who worked for MetroHealth.

According to court documents, testimony and documents presented at trial:

Hills, Alqsous and Al-Madani engaged in a racketeering conspiracy from 2008 through 2016 involving a series of elaborate bribery conspiracies, witness tampering and other crimes. These bribes include Hills soliciting cash, checks, a $3,879 Louis Vuitton briefcase, a 55-inch television, airline flights and use of a downtown apartment from Alqsous, Al-Madani and others. In return, Hills took official actions on their behalf, including allowing them to work at their private dental businesses during regular business hours while receiving a full-time salary from MetroHealth.

Alqsous, Al-Madani and others gave cash, checks and other things of value to Hills beginning in 2009. Evidence included text messages and meetings, often at expensive restaurants, which resulted in cash being deposited into Hills’ bank accounts.

Alqsous sent a text message to Al-Madani and another person in 2013 that stated: “With 22nd of October approaching we ll be celebrating Dr hills bday earlier this year…1000 dollars each is the gift from the 3 sons their father.” Later that day, $3,000 was deposited into Hills’ bank account.

In 2012, Alqsous rented and lived in an apartment at the Perry Payne apartment building in downtown Cleveland. When he bought a residence, Hills instructed Alqsous to continue paying rent and other bills at the Perry Payne building, even though Alqsous would no longer be living there. Hills used the Perry Payne apartment to house an associate and for his own personal use in 2013 and 2014 while Alqsous, acting on Hills’ orders, continued to pay rent and other bills.

Hills instructed Alqsous to purchase furniture for the apartment for Hills’ personal use. Alqsous sent Hills a text in 2013 stating: “I bought your bedroom yesterday…there is mirrors everywhere…You will like it.”

Hills became interim President and CEO of the MetroHealth Hospital System in December 2012. Around that time, he told Alqsous, Al-Madani and others that he wanted a specific Louis Vuitton briefcase because his predecessor had a similar briefcase.

Alqsous texted a photo of the briefcase to Hills and wrote: “The guys are also very excited about their raise haha.” Hills responded with: “Thanks I’m so excited to have my bag to start my new job as #1.” Later that day, Alqsous, Al-Madani and others purchased the briefcase for $3,879 from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beachwood and later presented it to Hills.

As director of MetroHealth Dental, Hills was responsible for determining monthly bonuses for dentists who produced receipts in excess of their monthly salary and benefits. Dentists typically received a monthly bonus totaling 25 percent of the monies they generated for excess receipts.

Between 2010 and 2014, Hills regularly upwardly adjusted the bonuses of Alqsous, Al-Madani and others, by a total of approximately $92,829.

Hills also allowed Alqsous, Al-Madani and others to retain full-time salaries and benefits at MetroHealth without requiring them to work full-time hours, thus allowing them to operate private dental clinics. Hills, acting at the request of Alqsous and Al-Madani, provided MetroHealth dental residents to practice at those private clinics during regular business hours. Neither Alqsous nor Al-Madani paid wages or salaries to the resident dentists.

Additionally, Alqsous, Al-Madani and Sayegh solicited and accepted bribes totaling tens of thousands of dollars from prospective candidates to the MetroHealth Dental residency program.

In a typical year, the MetroHealth Dental residency accepted four to six candidates for the residency program from a pool of 40 to 60 applicants. Alqsous, Sayegh and Al-Madani each had the authority to influence the selection of dental residents, and Hills had final decisional authority over who was selected for the residency program.

Alqsous and Sayegh often identified and selected candidates who were from Jordan or trained at a Jordanian dental school, telling them they would have to pay a “donation” to MetroHealth to be considered. Alqsous and Sayegh directed the candidates to pay the “donation” directly to them, and in some cases, told the candidates a portion of the money would go to Hills.

Alqsous, Sayegh and Al-Madani solicited at least $75,000 in bribes from resident dentist candidate between 2008 and 2014.

In another conspiracy, Al-Madani and Alqsous paid bribes to Hills in exchange for him taking actions to refer Medicaid recipients to private dental clinics owned by Al-Madani and Alqsous instead of MetroHealth. All three took steps to conceal this activity by claiming kickback checks totaling $17,600 written to Hills were for “consultation fees” or “professional fees”.

Hills, Alqsous and Al-Madani also conspired to obstruct justice, instructing people not to cooperate with law enforcement after becoming aware of the federal investigation in 2014.

Hills also made false statements on tax returns, failing to claim approximately $165,751 in unreported income stemming from bribes, kickbacks and other things of value between 2011 and 2013.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani, Michael L. Collyer and James Lewis following an investigation by the FBI, IRS-CI, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Ohio Office of the Inspector General.   

Eleven people from the Mahoning Valley were indicted for their roles distributing crack and powder cocaine in the Youngstown area.

Several people also face related firearms charges.

Named in a 45-count indictment are: Robert Taylor, 58, of Youngstown; Raymond L. Rue, 39, of Liberty; Sadiya Az-Zahra Sow, aka Tina Robinson, 47, of Youngstown; Daniel M. Ortello, Jr., 30, of Niles; Terrell D. Green, 46, of Youngstown; Dewon R. Dawson, 35, of Youngstown; Darrell Dawson, 46, of Youngstown, and Bradley E. Weitzel, 61, of Butler, Pennsylvania.

All eight people are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Taylor and Dewon Dawson also face firearms charges.

The indictment alleges that from in or around August 2017 through June 2018, the defendants conspired to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Youngstown area.

According to the indictment, Taylor supplied cocaine to Sow, Rue, Ortello and Green for distribution in the Youngstown area. Sow supplied cocaine to the Dawsons and Weitzel for distribution in Youngstown and Western Pennsylvania.

Rue and Dewon Dawson cooked powder cocaine into crack cocaine, according to the indictment.

In a separate four-count indictment, Robin Rutledge, 48, of Youngstown, was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, as well as firearms crimes.

Another 26-count indictment charges Nicki L. Warfield, 42, of Warren, John Weaver, Jr., 62, of  Warren, and the aforementioned Sadiya Az-Zahra Sow with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.

Warfield, Weaver and Sow conspired to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Warren and Youngstown areas between December 2017 through May 2018, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit approximately 22 firearms, ammunition and $258,324 seized as part of these investigations, according to court documents.

“These defendants are accused of bringing large amounts of cocaine into the Mahoning Valley, which they sold for profit,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Taking this group off the street, along with the dozens of firearms associated with them, will make Youngstown, Warren and the entire region safer.”

“This network of individuals brought danger and violence to our communities through their trafficking of illegal drugs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “The FBI's well established law enforcement network, through long standing task force partnerships, have disrupted this illegal business and these defendants will be held accountable in court.”

“The success of this law enforcement operation and others like it, would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force (MVLETF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation,” said Sergeant Laurence McLaughlin, Commander of the MVLETF. “The Youngstown FBI office and MVLETF have a long history of working together and continue to have a positive impact in reducing narcotics trafficking and violence within Mahoning Valley. The MVLETF is thankful for their professional working relationships with the Department of Justice and the FBI.”

“There is no place in our community for those who use firearms for violent, criminal purposes,” said Kyle Walton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure those individuals are brought to justice.”

If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique

to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

These case are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer. They were investigated by  Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Youngstown Police Department.

The MVLETF is comprised of agents and officers from the Austintown Police Department , ATF, FBI , Hubbard City Police Department, Liberty Township Police Department, Poland Township Police Department, Mahoning County Sheriff's Office, Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, Springfield Police Department, Struthers City Police Department, Vienna Township Police Department, Youngstown City Police Department and Youngstown State University Police Department .

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.

Two men were indicted on firearms charges.

Christopher J. Alston, 33, of Ashtabula, was charged with being felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Alston on January 24 possessed a loaded pistol after being previously convicted of robbery and trafficking in drugs, according to the indictment.

Joshua Walker, 32, of Cleveland, was charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Walker possessed shell casings from a 9 mm Luger on October 25, 2017, despite a previous conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, according to the indictment.

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 record, 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.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.   They are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz (Alston) and John Hanley (Walker).

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.

An Akron man was indicted in federal court on charges that he robbed eight businesses in Akron or Cuyahoga Falls.

Darrion L. Powers, 22, was indicted on six counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of bank robbery.

According to the indictment, Powers is accused of robbing the following locations:

On December 4, 2018, Powers robbed Ms. Julye’s Kitchen on S. Main Street in Akron.

On December 24, 2018, Powers robbed Marco’s Pizza on Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls.

On January 4, 2019, Powers robbed Huntington Bank on S. Arlington Street in Akron.

On January 29, 2019, Powers robbed Rocco’s Pizza on Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls.

On February 1, 2019, Powers robbed Mark and Philly’s Pizza on Bailey Road in Cuyahoga Falls.

On February 1, 2019, Powers robbed Italo’s Pizza on Brown Street in Akron.

On February 1, 2019, Powers robbed Two Monks Brewing Co. on Massillon Road in Akron.

On February 12, 2019, Powers robbed PNC Bank on Massillon Road in Akron.

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 the FBI, Akron Police, and Cuyahoga Falls Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter E. Daly.

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

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.

 

A Ravenna man was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for drug and firearms crimes.

Jesse Templeton, 37, was sentenced to 123 months in federal prison. A jury last year convicted Templeton on one count of possession with intent to distribute dimethyltrytapmine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Templeton on July 4, 2018, possessed more than 1,200 grams of dimethyltrytapmine and a Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Daly and Aaron Howell following an investigation by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A Lima man was indicted on charges of using firearms while trafficking cocaine.

Gregory L. Buckmon, 36, was charged in a seven-count indictment with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, using a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Buckmon at different points in 2018 possessed cocaine and various firearms. It was illegal for Buckmon to possess firearms because of previous convictions for burglary, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, 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 investigating agency in this case is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Matthew D. Simko.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The burden of proof is always on the government to prove a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.       

A Youngstown man was indicted on cocaine trafficking charges.

A grand jury charged Frank Martinez, Jr., 33, with one count of with possession with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine.

Martinez knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine on March 7, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors are also seeking to forfeit a Glock 9 mm pistol seized on March 7, according to the indictment.

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 record, 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 Youngstown Police Department, Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer.

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.

A Cleveland man was indicted for allegedly committing five armed robberies in December 2018.

Dwyon Moore, 50, was indicted on five counts of Hobbs Act robbery and five counts using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

Moore is accused of using a firearm to rob the following businesses in Cleveland: Wonton Gourmet on Payne Avenue on December 12; of D.O. Summers Cleaners and Laundry on Carnegie Avenue on December 14; Dark and Lovely Hair and Beauty on Cedar Avenue on December 14; Bo Loong on St. Clair Avenue on December 14, and Good Times Café on East 55th Street on December 14, according to the indictment.

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

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  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 Division of Police, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office’s Crime Strategies Unit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley.

An indictment is only an allegation 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.

A jury found a Warren man guilty of selling heroin that resulted in the overdose death of a woman, as well as other crimes.

John G. Simer II, 39, was found guilty of all 13 countss he faced, including: distribution of heroin that resulted in death, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, using firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of body armor.

Simer is scheduled to be sentenced July 17.

Simer sold heroin on March 20, 2017. A Warren woman ingested the heroin and died, according to court documents and trial testimony.

Simer possessed heroin and cocaine on April 19, 2017. He also possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol, 58 rounds of ammunition and body armor on that day, despite previous convictions for aggravated robbery and firearms offenses that made it illegal for him to have a firearm or body armor, according to court documents and trial testimony.

“Opioids and other drugs have caused a staggering amount of pain and death across our state, particularly in Trumbull County,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “We will continue to seek long prison sentences for people who sell heroin and profit off this epidemic.”

Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel said: "I hope this case serves as a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks their criminal liability ends after they have sold their drugs. We will continue to investigate these overdose deaths and bring those responsible to justice. I would like to thank Detective Melanie Gambill and the Warren Street Crimes Unit for all of their hard work on this case."

This case was investigated by the Warren Police Department’s Street Crimes and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Segev Phillips.

Three Cleveland men were indicted on firearms charges.

Leandre M. Jeter, 29 possessed a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 rifle and a RG Industries .22-caliber revolver on January 25, despite a previous convictions for aggravated robbery with a firearm specification and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the indictment.

Aaron Stallworth, 30, possessed a Taurus 9 mm firearm and 45 rounds of ammunition on November 23, 2018, despite a previous conviction for felonious assault, according to the indictment.

Roger Patrick, 29, possessed a SCCY 9 mm firearm and 10 rounds of ammunition on November 25, 2018, despite previous convictions for robbery with a firearm specification and drug trafficking, according to the indictment.

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Division of Police. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin and John C. Hanley.

An indictment is only an allegation 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.

 

A Michigan man was charged with fraudulently obtaining nearly $12 million in government construction contracts in Cleveland and Michigan by falsely claiming the company receiving the contracts was owned by a disabled veteran.

William Kozerski, 62, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, was charged via criminal information with one count of wire fraud.

According to the information filed in federal court in Cleveland:

Congress established the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program to help service-disabled veterans by setting aside certain contracts for small businesses majority owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans

CA Services was a construction company based in Michigan. Kozerski and CA Services held out that a service-disabled veteran was the owner and primary manager of CA Services when, in fact, the disabled veteran was not.

Kozerski, between 2007 and 2015, fraudulently claimed CA Services met the requirements of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program in order to obtain approximately $11.8 million in contracts for work at VA Medical Centers in Cleveland, Detroit and Ann Arbor.

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

The investigation was conducted by Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Veteran Affairs – Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service -- Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chelsea Rice and Robert Kern.

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.

 

 

 

 

A Massillon man was indicted for selling heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs over the dark web, as well as on firearms charges and for operating a drug house.

Landon Thomas Willoughby, 25, was indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, attempted distribution of methamphetamine, distributing controlled substances by means of the Internet, maintaining a drug-involved premises and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to the indictment:

Willoughby conspired with others to create accounts on dark net marketplaces such as Dream Market and Empire Market, from which he sold heroin, methamphetamine, Xanax, Klonopin and Valium. He used encryption and Virtual Private Networks in an effort to protect the anonymity of the conspirators.

Willoughby utilized the U.S. postal system and private carriers for distributing drugs. He used digital currency such as Bitcoin to launder the drug profits.

The conspiracy took place between October 2018 and February 25, 2019, according to the indictment.

He used the location at 533 Tremont Avenue SW, Upper, in Massillon to manufacture, distribute and store methamphetamine and other drugs. He possessed a Hi Point 380 pistol, a Mossberg 20-gauge shotgun and a Smith & Wesson pistol on February 25 in furtherance of drug trafficking, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  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 U.S Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Massillon Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Segev Phillips and Matthew Cronin.

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.

A Lorain man was indicted on child pornography charges.

Dylan T. Flanigan, 46, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Flanigan knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place in November 2018, according to the indictment.

The indictment also charges that on or about February 22, 2019, Flanigan possessed a computer which contained child pornography.

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 record, 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.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle K. Angeli following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Brunswick Police Department.  

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.

A jury found a Toledo pastor guilty of sex trafficking of a minor and other crimes, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said.

Anthony Haynes, 40, is scheduled to be sentenced June 17. A jury found him guilty of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking, child exploitation and obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation following a trial that began on Monday.

Two other pastors -- Kenneth Butler and Cordell Jenkins – previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the sex trafficking conspiracy involving minors.

Haynes, Butler and Jenkins sexually assaulted a juvenile girl beginning in 2014 through 2017, according to court documents.

The girl was 14 when the conduct began and she was in the custody of Haynes. Some of this conduct took place at Greater Life Christian Center in Toledo, where Haynes was pastor at the time. Haynes used his cellular telephone to record these sexual assaults, according to trial testimony and court documents.

Haynes routinely gave the victim money after the acts and told her not to say anything. He told her that if she said anything, it would ruin his family and his church, according to court documents.

Haynes also facilitated the victim being sexually exploited by other men, including Jenkins, according to trial testimony and court documents.

Jenkins repeatedly sexually exploited the minor at his home on Barrington Drive, at his office at Abundant Life Ministries and at a motel in Toledo. He paid her and referred to the payment as “hush money.” He often recorded these interactions with his cellular telephone, according to court documents.

Jenkins also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts in March 2017, according to court documents.

Butler also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts from 2015 through 2017, according to court documents.

“We are gratified by the jury’s verdict and relieved these men can no longer prey on children,” Herdman said. “I am in awe of the courage of the victims and the dedication of our law enforcement personnel in bringing these men to justice.”

"Our children should not be bought, sold or traded,” Smith said. “They should not be used for financial or personal gain.  The children who are victimized in the vicious world of sex trafficking deserve justice.  In federal court in Toledo, justice was served.  Pastor Anthony Haynes violated every trust bestowed on him - as a leader of the church, he was responsible for helping those in need.  Especially children.  As we saw this week, he violated that trust in the worst way imaginable.  Today we are thankful for the law enforcement partnerships that led to this verdict."

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Freeman and Alissa Sterling following an investigation by the FBI’s Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The Task Force is comprised of members of the FBI, Toledo Police Department, Perrysburg Township Police Department, Lima Police Department, Oregon Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Lucas County Sheriff’s Office.

Extrudex Aluminum, Inc., an aluminum manufacturing company in Mahoning County, with a parent company in Canada, was charged by information for misprision of felony in connection with a conspiracy to obstruct justice related to an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 

As charged in the information, from April 1, 2016, through January 1, 2018, Extrudex, through its employees, concealed felony obstruction of justice offenses from Extrudex management in Canada and further failed to inform law enforcement of the commission of those offenses.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen Henderson and Om Kakani.

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 record, if any, the defendant’s culpability 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.

An information is only an accusation 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.

A Columbus man was indicted for robbing banks in Cleveland, Lakewood and Eastlake.

Andre Harris, 59, was indicted on three counts of bank robbery.

He is accused of robbing the Key Bank at 3601 Chester Ave. in Cleveland on February 8, the Fifth Third at 14800 Madison Ave. in Lakewood on February 11 and Chase Bank at 35400 Vine Street in Eastlake on February 15, according to the indictment.

“Bank robberies are not just crimes against financial institutions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith. “They leave bank employees and customers shaken not just in the moment, but sometimes for years after. The FBI will continue to work with our local law enforcement partners to address these violent crimes.”

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

These robberies were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Ranya Elzein.

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.

A Berea man was indicted in federal court after he allegedly contacted several children between the ages of 12 and 15 and coerced them into sending him sexually explicit images.

Cody Swinnerton, 24, of Berea, was indicted on three counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents:

The Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a tip that Swinnerton appeared to be enticing and coercing minors to produce sexually explicit images. Swinnerton controlled multiple accounts and targeted minors between the ages of 12 and 15 on Instagram and Facebook.

Swinnerton contacted the victims’ friends and family to coerce the victims into producing more images. He also threatened the victims in an effort to get them to produce sexually explicit images. Further investigation revealed potential victims in Ohio, Tennessee, Iowa, Texas, Australia, Austria and France.

A search warrant was executed at the home where Swinnerton lives in Berea on January 25. Relatives said Swinnerton was on vacation in Australia at the time. A review of his computer revealed several images of child pornography.

These alleged crimes took place between 2013 and 2018, according to court documents.

“This case demonstrates how predators will target our children over social media,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are communicating with. We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to prosecute these predators.”

“This case is a disturbing reminder that international borders are no longer a hindrance for online predators,” said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio. “However, this arrest should assure victims around the world that Homeland Security Investigations and our partners in the international law enforcement community are committed to aggressively targeting those engaged in these heinous acts.”

"Swinnerton groomed and gained the trust of these young boys, then turned against them for his own gratification," said David Frattare, Ohio ICAC commander. "Victims often get caught up in this vicious cycle and feel they have no option but to comply."

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation is ongoing

This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, HSI-Canberra, the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.

A charge is only an allegation  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.

A Mexican national was indicted on charges of aggravated identity theft and making a false claim of United States citizenship.

Javier Sanchez-Cruz, 38, knowingly and willfully claimed and represented himself to be a United States citizen when, in fact, he was a citizen of Mexico. In the course of committing this crime, he possessed and used the identity of a United States citizen, according to the indictment.

Sanchez-Cruz lived in New Philadelphia using the identity of a resident of Puerto Rico, according to court documents

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

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement/Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz.

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.

A Cleveland woman was sentenced to three months in prison for making a straw purchase of two firearms that were purchased with money from a robbery and used in additional violent crimes.

Tyla Spencer, 22, was sentenced to three months in prison after previously pleading guilty to making false or fictitious statements to purchase firearms.

Spencer went on January 2, 2018, to the Cleveland Armory in Valley View with Lashawn Davis and a juvenile. Spencer bought them a Glock 9 mm and Glock .40-caliber handgun with cash that Davis and the juvenile got from robbing a check-cashing store in Cleveland the day before, according to court documents.

Spencer falsely stated she was the true buyer of the firearms when, in fact, she was purchasing the firearms on behalf of the males. Davis and the juvenile then used the firearms in a bank robbery and carjacking in February, according to court documents and statements in court.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki following an investigation by the FBI, the Cleveland Division of Police and the Valley View Police Department.

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

A pair from the Mahoning Valley were indicted for sexually exploiting a minor.

Candis Sue Marie Wynn, 32, of Girard, and Daniel Robert Parker, 32, of Youngstown, were charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt and distribution of child pornography and possessing child pornography.

Wynn and Parker coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. This took place between November 30, 2018 through January 8, 2019, according to the indictment.

The indictment also charges that between those dates, Wynn and Parker received and distributed visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit. Wynn possessed in January 2018 a Moto Z cellular phone and another a cellular phone that contained child pornography, according to the indictment.

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 record, 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 maximum. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.  The case was investigated by TFO Brenda Golec, Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force, Cleveland Office. 

An indictment is only a charge. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Five men were charged in a 71-count indictment with engaging in conspiracies to defraud several federal agencies by paying bribes and fraudulently obtaining at least $15 million in government contracts they were not entitled to though disabled-veteran set asides and other programs.

Indicted are: James A. Clark, 61, of Chipley, Florida, who owned several businesses, including Enola Contracting Services, Inc.; Eric L. Hogan, 59, of Bonaire, Georgia, who owned P&E Construction, LLC; Kenneth A. Latham, 73, of Albany, Georgia, who was employed by the U.S. Navy as a civilian engineering technician; James K. Alford, 55, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, who owned K&S Constructors, Inc., and Harvey Daniels, Jr., 40, of Marianna, Florida, who owned HDJ Security, Inc.

The charges include conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to submit false claims, false claims and major fraud.

Construction projects detailed in the indictment include contracts at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, the VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky, and the NASA Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio.

According to the indictment:

Federal departments and agencies, as directed by Congress, work with the Small Business Administration to award portions of contracts to small businesses, with specific goals for small disadvantaged business, including service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Businesses must register and meet a number of criteria to be classified as small disadvantaged business – also known as the 8(a) program -- such as being at least 51 percent owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Businesses must also meet a number of criteria to be classified as a service-disabled veteran-owned small business, such as being at least 51 percent owned by a veteran with a service-connected disability who controls the management and daily operations of the company. Service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses are permitted to enter into joint ventures with other companies but must meet specific requirements to do so.

The defendants and others engaged in several criminal schemes designed to deprive the government of its right to honest services of its employees through bribes and kickbacks, and to submit false claims and defraud the United States by obtaining government contracts set aside for qualified companies to which they were otherwise ineligible to obtain by fraudulently using proxy and pass-through companies.

P&E, through Hogan and Clark, made false statements, misrepresentations and omissions of facts. Hogan on several occasions certified P&E was a service-disabled veteran-owned small business. It also registered as a joint venture with Enola, with Hogan listed as president and Clark as vice president of the joint venture. HDJ Security was enrolled in the 8(a) program. Daniels self-identified as the president of HDJ, the sole owner of the company and to be socially disadvantaged.

In one scheme, Latham accepted a series of bribes and kickbacks from Hogan and Clark --  including cash, meals, a hunting trip,  a fence, and an all-terrain vehicle -- in return for Latham using his official position with the Navy to benefit Hogan, Clark and their businesses. These benefits included assistance in finding and securing government contracts, approval of invoices for payments to pass-through companies used by Hogan and Clark to obtain set-aside contracts for which their companies were not otherwise eligible, and concealing Clark and Hogan’s use of pass-through companies to obtain bonding.

Another scheme involved defrauding the VA and the TK by fraudulently representing that P&E and Hogan independently qualified for the service-disabled veteran-owned small business program despite Clark’s involvement in providing bonding for and equity ownership in P&E.

Clark, Hogan, Alford, Daniels and others defrauded the government by using purported service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and 8(a) businesses as proxies to bid on and obtain set-aside contracts.

Arrow Construction, which was registered in the 8(a) program, was awarded a $2.8 million contract for work at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, in September 2011. Clark and Arrow officials Kent Reynolds and Jennifer Dillard (who both have been previously charged in the Northern District of Ohio) agreed that about 90 percent of the value of the contract was passed through to Clark and Enola, in violation of the 8(a) program.

HDJ was awarded a contract for work at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia, in September 2012. HDJ was paid approximately $2.6 million. Clark, Hogan and Daniels agreed to pass through approximately 95 percent of the value of the contract to Clark, Hogan, Enola and P&E, in violation of the terms of the 8(a) program.

The VA in June 2011 awarded a contract to P&E Construction for work at the VA Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The VA paid P&E approximately $4.5 million that the company would not have received if the VA knew P&E was acting as a pass-through for K&S and that it was back-bonded by Clark and Enola.

P&E submitted a winning bid in February 2013 for a contract for construction services at the NASA Plum Brook Station near Sandusky, Ohio. NASA paid P&E approximately $5.6 million that the company would not have received if NASA knew it was acting as a pass-through for K&S and that P&E was back-bonded by Clark and Enola.

“These programs were created to help companies owned by disabled veterans and other struggling small businesses,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “The defendants in this case took advantage of these programs to fraudulently obtain taxpayer money.”

Michael J. Missal, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, said: “The VA’s Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business Program supports qualified veterans who have served and sacrificed for their country.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who wrongfully and fraudulently exploit these federal contracting opportunities that are meant only for service-disabled veterans.”

“I commend the outstanding investigative efforts of the NASA OIG, NCIS, DCIS, SBA-OIG, VA-OIG, DCAA, and AFOSI Agents, and the work of the USAO for the Northern District of Ohio,” said NASA Inspector General Paul Martin. “Their teamwork uncovered evidence of a criminal scheme that prevented legitimate small businesses from obtaining lucrative contracts that the defendants obtained through fraud.”

"The acceptance of bribes and kickbacks is both a violation of law and the trust the Department of the Navy places in its employees," said NCIS Director Andrew Traver.  "NCIS will continue to protect the Department of the Navy from these fraudulent schemes to ensure readiness of the fleet."

"Protecting the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD's) contracting process and ensuring the integrity of DoD employees are top investigative priorities for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS)," stated Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office.  "Today's indictment of five individuals, including an employee of the U.S. Navy, is the direct result of a joint investigative effort and demonstrates the DCIS' ongoing commitment to work with its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office to identify, investigate and prosecute those who seek to fraudulently profit at the expense of the DoD's procurement system."

"Conspiring to commit fraud is no way to gain or extend access to SBA’s set-aside contracting programs,” said SBA Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware.  “OIG is committed to rooting out fraud in SBA’s programs and bringing those responsible to justice.  I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, 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.

This case was investigated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration -- Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Veterans Affairs -- Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration -- Office of Inspector General, Defense Contract Audit Agency and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Alejandro A. Abreu.

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.

 

 

 

A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment charging Haki Toplica, 24, Luisa Rivera Goris, 22, Kathryn Lissette De La Torre, 24, Haider Islam, 21, and Robert Rosso, 27, all of New York, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property.

The defendants conspired to defraud and take money and property from a 69-year-old victim in Ohio by making false statements regarding fictitious fees and costs associated with purported loans by collecting money from the victim, and obtaining titles to property owned by the victim. This took place between June 2018 through  about September 26, 2018, according to the indictment.

For example, Toplica told the victim around June 2018 that in order to obtain a $475,000 loan to pay off his creditors, the victims would have to pay fees associated with the loan via wire. The loan fees were fictitious, according to the indictment.

A month later, Toplica told the victim the victim would have to pay a $100,000 fee to obtain a $3 million loan. There was no loan, according to the indictment.

In August 2018, the victim signed over approximately 55 vehicles and equipment to Toplica to secure a $10 million loan that did not exist, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique

to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ role in the offenses and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigation was conducted by Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz.

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.

####

Twenty-two people were indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl, heroin, fentanyl analogues including carfentanil and other drugs, which they sold in Euclid and Cleveland to customers from across Northeast Ohio.

Named in the 42-count indictment are: Joseph P. Gray, Jr., 30; Malcolm Gibson, 26; Samuel Gibson, 26; Mark Evans, 44; Westley Siggers, 37; Raqwan Ofield, 22; Paul Bell, 33; Larry Jackson, 30; Ricky Jackson, 29; Brendan Craig, 29; Aaron Crosby, 29; Chino Massey, 30; Shondell Mack, 28; Lejon Kidd, Jr., 22; Da’eon Gray, 22; Aminah Colvin, 25; Shanita Jennings, 29; Leanna Nabulsi, 27; George Salem, 22; Jeffrey Auvil, 36; William Bloomfield, 33, and Christina Gordenier, 42.

According to the indictment:

Gray led a drug trafficking organization that sold heroin, fentanyl, fentanyl analogues (such as carfentanil or acetylfentanyl), crack cocaine and powder cocaine. It concentrated on customers from the east side of Cleveland, Euclid and Lake County. The “heroin” sold by the group was generally fentanyl, fentanyl analogues or a mixture of those drugs and heroin.

Members of the conspiracy used phones in the names of other people to avoid detection by law enforcement. They shared a single “customer phone” that was passed between members of the conspiracy so that customers could obtain drugs at any hour, day or night.

Siggers, Ofield, Ricky Jackson, Crosby, Massey, Kidd and other members of the organization primarily sold to their own customer bases, but coordinated with Gray to keep an inventory of drugs available for sale. The Gray organization discussed not keeping a large inventory of drugs on hand because of the legal and financial risk. They often re-supplied in small quantities, sometimes on a daily basis.

They directed customers to specific locations where they would meet and sell drugs, including a residence on Arcade Avenue in Cleveland, a residence on Huntmere Avenue in Cleveland, the parking lot of a Family Dollar Store in Cleveland and the intersection of East 246th Street and Ellsworth Avenue in Euclid.

They also used a commercial property on Holmes Avenue in Cleveland as a centralized location to weigh and package drugs, conduct drug transaction and counting and dividing drug trafficking profits.

The drug organization accepted payments in cash, through the purchase of gasoline and other goods, and through digital payment services such as Cash App.

Gray and others possessed and used firearms to protect their drug trafficking activities.

Siggers in January 2018 possessed six grams of cocaine and four grams of a mixture of carfentanil, heroin and cocaine in Willoughby.

Siggers also sold a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues on June 6, 2018 in Wickliffe, and the buyer overdosed. When officers attempted to stop Siggers, he fled. He possessed 29 grams of fentanyl analogues and nearly five grams of cocaine

Gray on January 8, 2019, possessed a loaded Sig Sauer .40-caliber pistol, two grams of crack cocaine and nearly five grams of fentanyl analogues when he was arrested Cleveland after fleeing from law enforcement. Gray was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On January 10, 2019, Gray, Crosby, Ofield and Gray and others possessed at the shop on Holmes Avenue a money counter, a scale, drug packaging materials and a range of drugs, including approximately 37 grams of crack cocaine, four grams of a mixture of heroin, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, one gram of a mixture of fentanyl, carfentanil and heroin, one gram of a mixture of fentanyl and cocaine.

“These defendants sold deadly drugs, including fentanyl, carfentanil and heroin, to customers who came into Cleveland and Euclid from across the region,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will aggressively prosecute those who seek to profit from this drug epidemic that has affected so many of our friends and neighbors.”

“This investigation is a result of the dedication of the men and women of the Cleveland OCDETF Strike Force,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon. “Their efforts have resulted in the arrests of individuals who had no regard for the destruction their drug trafficking actions inflicted on northeast Ohio communities.  DEA’s goal is to keep the public safe from the dangers of drug abuse.  DEA will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who look to exploit the vulnerabilities of others are brought to justice.   

Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer said: “The Euclid Police Department would like to thank our federal, state, county and local partners.  I want to specifically recognize the DEA and our task force partnership with that organization.  Law enforcement has an obligation to address the dysfunction, chaos and danger created by those who choose to traffic in drug and gun violence.  The Euclid Police Department will continue to proactively address those who participate in illicit and violent activities which have an adverse and negative impact on our community.  Euclid is a diverse community of good, hardworking and caring residents.  We will continue to work with any individual, group or organization that shares the mission of making Euclid a safe and vibrant community for all.”

"The importance of collaboration and teamwork in law enforcement operations cannot be understated," said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. "This particular investigation spanned multiple counties, cities and communities and would not have come together so comprehensively without the partnerships between the agencies you see here today.  The hard work of the investigators, detectives, agents and attorneys has paid off in the indictment announced today."

The case remains under investigation.

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 record, 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.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Euclid Police Department, and the Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network, which includes the police departments of Lyndhurst, Highland Heights, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village and Richmond Heights. This case was investigated as part of the Cleveland Strike Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Elliot Morrison.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.  The OCDETF Program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations operating domestically and internationally.  The principle mission of the OCDETF Program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, money laundering and violent criminal organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

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.

 

A Toledo man currently serving 18 years in state prison for shooting at police officers was indicted in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and heroin.

Jayvon Wynne, 23, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Others previously indicted in for their alleged roles in the conspiracy include:

Terrance Allen, 25; Nathaniel Barringer, 23; Chad Burkholder, 34; Megan Champion, 40; Ryin Douglas-Reed, 28; Laurie Lehman, 49; Donte Walker, 30, and Russell Watson, 37, all of Toledo.

All are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and 400 grams of fentanyl. The conspiracy took place from March 2018 through this month, according to the indictment.

Wynne possessed a Glock 9 mm pistol on July 25, 2017, which he used in furtherance of drug trafficking. On the same day, he possessed more than five grams of heroin, according to the indictment.

 “These defendants worked together to sell large amounts of fentanyl, which has killed so many of our neighbors,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “We will work with federal agents and police officers to prosecute those who would profit from this drug epidemic.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith said: “This group of individuals brought drugs and violence to the streets of our community. Collaborative law enforcement actions will hold them accountable for the danger they have caused.”

“This is just another example of how the Toledo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation work together to keep all Toledoans safe,” Toledo Police Chief George Kral said. “This operation has identified numerous individuals who, through their actions, have victimized and harmed many. The City of Toledo is a safer place with these people behind bars. Those in our community who continue to sell drugs, carry firearms and victimize others should take notice of these arrests. We now hope that the judiciary will impose the harshest of sentences if convictions are realized.”

"This is yet another example of TPD, working in conjunction with our State and Federal law enforcement partners, taking the most dangerous individuals off of Toledo's streets" said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. "This four year investigation culminated in at least thirty charges on nine different defendants. These individuals posed a clear and present danger to the citizens of this city. As shown by one of the defendants, Jayvon Wynnne, who, in addition to this case, was convicted of shooting at a TPD detective on the night of December 6, 2018. TPD will never stop identifying, investigating, and assisting in the prosecution of Toledo's most prolific offenders."    

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Toledo Police Department, the Toledo Metro Drug Task Force and Northwest Ohio Violent Crime Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alissa M. Sterling.

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 record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is 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.

 

A North Royalton man was sentenced to seven months in prison and ordered to repay the $245,000 he fraudulently received from Social Security and Ohio Workers’ Compensation.

Louis C. Cooper, 57, previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and theft of government property.

Cooper fraudulently collected benefits from Social Security and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation while concealing his employment as a general contractor.  Cooper had been entitled to disability payments from a work-related injury in 1996.  However, Cooper was required to report to both agencies whether he returned to work, which would terminate his ability to receive continued payments from both agencies, according to court documents.

Cooper developed a scheme where he could conceal his income as general contractor by asking his clients to not pay him directly. For the past eight years, Cooper earned at least $185,000 as a general contractor, but reported to both agencies numerous times that he was too injured to work in order to fraudulently secure an additional $245,000 total from both agencies, according to court documents.

Special Agents Kelly Clark from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and Mike George from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Special Investigations Department, conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting the case.

A Mansfield man with a long criminal record was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a firearms crime.

James D. Butler, 56, was sentenced after a jury last year found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Butler possessed a Walther 9 mm pistol and ammunition, on Aug. 24, 2017, despite prior convictions for aggravated arson, aggravated assault, robbery and burglary, according to the indictment.

Butler was arrested after the owner of Madison Sporting Arms in Mansfield complained Butler stole the firearm from his store and showed a police officer video surveillance that recorded the theft, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Mansfield Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Howell and Peter Daly.

A jury convicted a Beachwood woman of stealing the identities of more than a dozen people and filing false tax returns.

Aesha Johnson, 41, was convicted on all 29 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

Her daughter, Brittany Williams, previously pleaded guilty to her role in the conspiracy.

Williams and Johnson, when she was living in West Virginia, conspired together to use stolen identities to file false tax returns with the IRS, seeking tax refunds. Johnson acquired many of these identities through a previous criminal fraud scheme, according to the indictment.

Johnson and Williams used an address associated with the family on East 142nd Street in Cleveland as the address of record for many of the false tax returns. They often communicated with each other using a code that referred to the victims using numbers 1 through 31, and created and used fictitious email accounts in the names of the victims to communicate with the IRS, according to the indictment

Williams filed the false tax returns online, obtained prepaid debit cards in the names of the identity-theft victims and requested the IRS deposit the refunds onto those cards. Williams then withdraw cash or made purchases with the cards, according to the indictment.

“This pair stole people’s identities then used it to steal from taxpayers,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.

“The defendant who perpetrated this scheme systemically defrauded the government, the taxpaying public, and their identity theft victims,” said William Cheung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Cincinnati Field Office. “This guilty verdict should serve as a stern warning for those engaging in similar conduct: you will be caught, and you will be held accountable.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Cronin and Justin Seabury Gould following an investigation by the IRS. 

A Wooster man was indicted in federal court after making threats purporting to be from women associated with an adult website.

Christopher Smallwood, 25, was indicted on one count of interstate transmission of a threat and one count of willfully making a threat.

Smallwood made a series of reports to the online ATF tip website about threats to kill people with explosives and firearms, to destroy government buildings and declarations of allegiance to terrorist organizations. Smallwood purported these threats came from women associated with the website myfreecams.com, according to the indictment.

This took place between September 1 and November 14, 2018, according to the indictment

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 record, 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.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Joyce.

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.

A Struthers man was indicted for failing to register as a sex offender.

Dustin M. Wynn, 22, was arrested last month on a probation violation warrant out of West Virginia.  Wynn is a convicted sex offender who failed to register despite living in the Youngstown area for more than four months, according to the indictment.                                                                                                        

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 record, 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 the United States Marshals Service.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Katz.                                   

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.

A Toledo man was indicted for trafficking large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.

Rudy Torres, 40, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of maintaining drug-involved premises. 

Torres conspired with others to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine and 500 grams of methamphetamine. He also used a residence on Upton Avenue in Toledo as part of his drug trafficking, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, 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 investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alissa M. Sterling.            

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

A jury convicted a Willard man of child pornography crimes.

Karl J. Rogers, 34, is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

Rogers was convicted of one count of receipt of child pornography. He knowingly received numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between October and December 2017, according to trial testimony and court documents.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mansfield Police Department and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.  

A former Toledo police officer was charged in federal court with possession of a stolen firearm.

Curtis Stone, 56, of Delta, was in possession of a Taurus .380-caliber pistol on December 4, 2018, that was previously recorded as being destroyed by the Toledo Police Department.

According to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court:

Toledo police officers recovered a loaded Canik 9 mm pistol during a traffic stop in September 2018. Officers charged an occupant of the car with having a weapon under disability since he had previous convictions for drug and gang offenses.

An ATF task force officer subsequently investigated the incident and discovered the firearm had previously been recovered by Toledo police in 2015 and marked as destroyed in February 2016 by Stone, who was assigned to the Toledo Police Department’s property room at the time.

Stone retired from the Toledo Police Department in January 2018.

Toledo police obtained and executed a search warrant for Stone’s residence in Delta on December 4, 2018. They recovered the Taurus .380-caliber pistol, ten miscellaneous magazines for firearms, miscellaneous ammunition and two Toledo Police Department evidence tags/labels.

The Taurus pistol found in Stone’s home was previously recorded in Toledo Police Department property room records by Stone as having been destroyed.

“Any time a former police officer, like this defendant, appears to have broken the law, we will hold them accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “His conduct is not representative of the vast majority of police officers, who go to work every day looking to make their community safer.”

“This case is a disappointing example of an individual that violated the public’s trust as well as the trust of his colleagues,” said Toledo Police Chief George Kral. “We will continue to work with our federal partners to fight crime, wherever it leads. Toledoans should rest assured, the Toledo Police Department is a top-notch police organization that will hold those who fall short accountable.” 

The matter remains under investigation.

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 record, 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.

This case was investigated by the Toledo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford.

A charge is only an allegation 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.

 

Tyrin Davis, 20, of Euclid, was indicted on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, extortion and possession of child pornography.

According to court documents:

The Toronto (Canada) Police Service’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit contacted Homeland Security Investigations after learning the 13-year-old had been enticed and extorted into sending multiple sexually explicit images of herself via Instagram and Snapchat. The girl and her mother approached the Toronto Police Service in May 2018 to report the ongoing extortion.

The suspect told the girl he would pay $1,000 if she were to send nude photos of herself. The girl stated her parents were going through a rough time financially and she thought that by sending the photos, she could do her part to help.

She sent a few nude photos, at which point the suspect began to send messages asking for more. The girl later said that the suspect told her that if she did not send more, he would put the ones she already sent online for the world to see. As a result, she sent more photos of herself to the suspect.

Once the victim realized things had gone too far, she attempted to stop communication with the suspect. The suspect sent nude photos of her to several of her friends on Instagram. The suspect also communicated with the victim’s cousin on Instagram and stated that if the cousin did not send nude pictures of herself, the suspect would post more nude photos of the 13-year-old online.

Investigators eventually traced the messages to the 13-year-old victim to an IP address assigned to Tyrin Davis on Chestnut Lane in Richmond Heights. Davis subsequently moved to Euclid.

“This case demonstrates the danger posed by the Internet, particularly for teens posting photos and communicating with people they don’t really know,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Parents and trusted adults need to make it their business to know who their kids are talking to.”

"These cases are a painful reminder that we can never have enough conversations with our children about the potential dangers of the internet,” said Homeland Security Investigations' Special Agent in Charge Steve Francis. “Through our iGuardian educational program, HSI is fully committed to ensuring that parents and young people have all the information they need when it comes to online safety.”

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 record, 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 case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Toronto Police Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan.

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.

 

An Akron man pleaded guilty to launching denial of service attacks that shut down web sites for the city of Akron and the Akron Police Department.

James Robinson, 33, is scheduled to be sentenced July 1. He pleaded guilty to damaging protected computers.

According to court documents filed in the case:

Servers hosting web sites belonging to the city of Akron were victims of an active distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack on Aug. 1, 2017. Two website domains appeared to be the target of the attacks: akronohio.gov and akroncops.org.

The DDoS attack ultimately overwhelmed the web sites with network traffic and rendered them unavailable to users.

A tweet that same day from @AkronPhoenix420 took credit for targeting the Akron web sites, including a link to a youtube video and a screenshot showing akronohio.gov was not accessible. The tweet included hashtags #Anonymous and #TangoDown.

The video showed a static image of an individual in a Guy Fawkes mask making statements including “it’s time we teach the law a lesson,” “Akron PD abuses the law” and “this week the city of Akron experienced system failures on multiple domains including their emergency TCP ports.”

The subsequent investigation identified attacks coming from an Internet connection registered to James Robinson and that Robinson’s phone was associated with the Twitter account @AkronPhoenix420.

@AkronPhoenix420 also claimed credit for many other DDoS attacks including many in 2018 that bore similar characteristics to the Akron attacks. Targets of those attacks web site domains and servers hosted by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Information Security Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Treasury and others. Multiple DDoS attacks have been claimed by AkronPhoenix420, including many in 2018.

Law enforcement authorities got a search warrant for Robinson’s house on Edison Avenue in Akron in May 2018. Agents located a Guy Fawkes mask and a cell phone with a cracked screen similar to a phone seen in tweets by @AkronPhoenix420. Robinson stated he was responsible for the DDoS attacks against the Department of Defense, city of Akron and others, according to court documents.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Akron Police Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Treasury. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Om Kakani and Daniel J. Riedl.

The former Allen County Sheriff pleaded guilty to for asking for and taking bribes from people arrested in prostitution stings, suspected gamblers and others.

Samuel A. Crish, 56, is scheduled to be sentenced later this year. He pleaded guilty to multiple counts of extortion and soliciting bribes.

“The conduct Mr. Crish admitted to is as offensive as it is audacious,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “Demanding bribes from gamblers and johns arrested in prostitution stings reads like something out of a bad movie. This defendant let down the people of Allen County and the men and women who served with him at the Sheriff’s Office. He does not represent the vast majority of law enforcement, and he will now be held accountable for his crimes.”

“Mr. Crish tarnished his badge when he chose to use his official capacity to influence criminal investigations and to protect self-interests,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric Smith.  “As a law enforcement officer and county sheriff sworn to uphold the law, his conduct was abhorrent.  We are pleased that Mr. Crish has now accepted responsibility for his actions.”

Court documents detail Crish extorting or soliciting tens of thousands of dollars from several people between 2012 and 2016.

According to court documents:

Crish joined the Allen County Sheriff’s Office in 1991, where he held numerous positions, including commander of the office’s Investigative Division and the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force (WCOCTF). He was elected sheriff in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

In June 2012, Crish approached a person identified in the charges as Person 1 and asked Person 1 for $8,000, falsely stating he needed the money to cover medical bills. Person 1 gave Crish the money in cash in an alley behind the sheriff’s office in July 2012.

Two months later, Person 1 applied for the position of nurse at the Allen County Jail, which Crish oversaw. Based on conversations with Crish, Person 1 understood the job was theirs. Crish stated in October 2012 he would try to hire Person 1 as nurse. In the same conversation, he stated he needed $42,000 to pay his debts and asked if Person 1 could help.

Person 1 took out a home equity line of credit and, on Oct. 12, 2012, gave Crish a check for $42,000 in the alley behind the sheriff’s office. Crish agreed to repay the money in monthly increments of $480. On Dec. 15, 2012, Person 1 was hired by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office to work as the nurse at the county jail.

Person 3 operated a used car business and was arrested by members of the sheriff’s office and WCOCTF on Aug. 19, 2015 during a prostitution sting. He was charged with solicitation in Lima Municipal Court.

Crish visited Person 3’s business several times in August and September 2015, at one point asking Person 3 for a $7,000 loan. Person 3 gave Crish a check for $7,000 on Sept. 25, 2015.

Crish met with prosecutors and law enforcement officials about Person 3’s case on Nov. 24, 2015, and demanded the Lima City Attorney’s Office drop the charges. The solicitation case was dismissed on Feb. 18, 2016. Eight days later, Crish texted Person 3 to meet, where they discussed the dismissal of Person 3’s case.

Person 4 operated a used car business in Elida, Ohio. Crish asked Person 4 in September 2015 to work as an informant. He also asked Person 4 to loan him $10,000.

Person 4 gave Crish $10,000 in cash on Nov. 3, 2015. The next day, Person 4 was arrested at a motel in Lima as part of a prostitution sting operation. Following his arrest, Person 4 asked to speak to Crish. All of the other men arrested were charged.

Crish visited Person 4’s business on Nov. 5, 2015, and told him not to worry about the arrest because he was working for Crish.

Crish visited Person 4’s business again on Nov. 17, 2015, and asked for $500. Person 4 insisted Crish would have to pay back the $500, unlike the previous $10,000. Crish called Person 4 in May 2016 and told him he was “fine” referring to the charges for the prostitution arrest.

Person 5 owned a grocery store in Allen County. Crish stopped by Person 5’s business in October 2015 to ask for a loan. Crish inferred during the visit that an agency was coming to investigate Person 5’s business for suspected illegal gambling operations, but that Crish could stop the investigation if Person 5 provided Crish with a loan.

Person 5 gave Crish a $2,000 loan in October 2015, which Crish repaid without interest.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gene Crawford.