Northern District of Ohio

An Akron man was indicted on charges for stealing the identities of others in relation to bank fraud.

Dante Dixon was indicted on five counts of aggravated identity theft and three counts of identity theft.

Dixon fraudulently used the identities of three individuals to commit the crimes of bank fraud and wire fraud, according to the indictment. 

This investigation was conducted by the Akron Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley.

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 violation.  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.

Two men from Northwest Ohio were indicted on federal firearms charges.

David L. Hannah, 52, of Findlay, and Terrence Turner, 31, of Toledo, were both indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Their cases are otherwise unrelated.

Hannah possessed nine firearms on Sept. 22, despite a previous conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hannah possessed two AM15, 5.56 mm rifles, two .22-caliber rifles, two 12-gauge shotguns and three handguns, according to the indictment.

Turner on Aug. 6 possessed a Smith & Wesson Model 15 firearm despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, 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 Hannah case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Thomas P. Weldon. The Turner case was investigated by the ATF and Toledo Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew 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 North Royalton man was charged with theft of government funds and wire fraud.

Louis C. Cooper, 57, 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 of the criminal information.

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 the information.

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.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Payum Doroodian is prosecuting the case.

If convicted, the Court will determine the defendant’s sentence 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 violation.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum.  In most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

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 Cleveland man pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court after he was found to have large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, PCP and crack cocaine.

Germine Bradley, 35, pleaded guilty to six counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 14

Bradley, on April 26, possessed 17 grams of PCP, 11 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of crack cocaine and four grams of fentanyl, according to court documents.

On May 31, Bradley possessed 41 grams of PCP and 249 grams of cocaine, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Morrison.

More than 22 tons of prescription medication were returned in Ohio as part of DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events last month.

The DEA’s Detroit Field Division, servicing Michigan and Ohio collected a total of 69,584 pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription drugs. The state of Ohio collected 45,206 pounsd, while Michigan collected 24,378 pounds. Each state collecting larger amounts than the previous event. 

Nationally, DEA and federal, state and local partners disposed of more than 900,000 pounds of prescription medications collected at nearly 6,000 sites across the country during the 16th semiannual event on Oct. 27. Together with almost 5,000 local, state and federal partners, DEA collected and destroyed more than 457 tons of potentially dangerous leftover prescription drugs.

With the robust participation of Americans nationwide, DEA and its law enforcement partners have now surpassed its 10 million pound goal and collected nearly 11 million pounds of unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications over the course of 16 successful DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back events.

This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 10,878,950 pounds, or 5,439.5 tons.

“The results of our most recent Take Back Day clearly demonstrate a need for this initiative as a tool in the fight against America’s opioid crisis,” said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “The success of this event is a direct reflection of DEA’s commitment to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths in the U.S. Together, we are all helping to make a difference to keep our friends and families safe.”  

“We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio 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.”

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events continue to remove opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they could be stolen and abused by family members and visitors, including children and teens.

DEA began putting on Take Back Day events when the public had no other way to appropriately dispose of their leftover painkillers and other potentially dangerous drugs. These events have been extremely successful not only in getting unused drugs out of the house, but also in raising awareness of their link to addiction and overdose deaths. Since DEA launched this program nine years ago, doctors are prescribing fewer painkillers, and law enforcement agencies, pharmacies and others have installed permanent prescription drug drop boxes on-site, making drug disposal even more convenient.

Helping people to dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way DEA is working to reduce the addiction and overdose deaths plaguing this country due to opioid medications.

Complete results for DEA’s fall Take Back Day are available at https://takebackday.dea.gov/#initiative-results. DEA’s next Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 27, 2019.

 

An Akron woman was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for defrauding the U.S. Department of Education out of $1.8 million through a scheme where she and others enrolled prison inmates and people whose identities they stole in an Arizona community college in order to obtain financial aid.

Janice M. Shufford, 54, was sentenced to 81 months in prison and ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution. A jury convicted her earlier this year of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud following a trial.

Bridgid D. Sommerville, 48, and Christine M. Robinson, 39, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.

“These defendants lied on applications or used stolen identities to steal money that otherwise would have gone to deserving students,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Our office will continue to prosecute those who defraud the federal government.”

“These individuals engaged in fraud that resulted in over a million dollars lining their greedy pockets and not going to deserving, eligible students in need,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI will continue efforts to bring self-serving fraudsters to justice."

Financial aid is sometimes provided to eligible students by the U.S. Department of Education to help pay for college. This money can include living expenses, beyond the cost of tuition, that is sometimes disbursed via bank debit cards. In this case, those refunds were sent to addresses or bank accounts controlled by the defendants, according to the indictment.

The defendants conspired to obtain federal student financial aid money to which the recipients were neither eligible nor entitled.  For example, people who are incarcerated, or have not received a high school diploma or GED are not entitled to receive federal financial aid, according to the indictment.

The defendants fraudulently enrolled hundreds of people at Maricopa Community College in Arizona between 2011 and 2015, according to the indictment. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian McDonough and Ranya Elzein following an investigation by the Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

An Akron man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for firearms violations.

Lashawn Johnson, 40, previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Akron Police officers responded on Feb. 4 to a 911 call from a man who stated that Johnson pointed a gun in his face and threatened him outside of a convenience store.  Police responded and found the Johnson in the store, according to court records and statements in court. 

Officers attempted to talk to Johnson and he tried to leave and fought with the officers.  The officers found a loaded firearm and less than a gram of methoxyacetylfentanyl on Johnson, according to court records and statements in court.

Johnson is barred from having a firearm because has a prior federal conviction for trafficking cocaine and prior felony convictions for trafficking heroin and cocaine in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell following an investigation by the Akron Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A Cleveland man was arrested and charged with firearms violations in federal court.

Ahmed Williams, 37, was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Williams possessed five .410 shotgun cartridges and a modified flare gun on Oct. 26, despite a previous conviction for attempted felonious assault.

Williams was arrested on Oct. 26 when he went to the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Rehabilitation Department, where his child was a patient. Williams told workers at the Cleveland Clinic that “people were out to kill him” and making unusual statements about the FBI, police officers and other topics, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

Williams denied having a firearm, but later said he had a firearm concealed in his pants. Cleveland Clinic police officers retrieved a HK Sig P2 flare fun as well as five .410 shotgun cartridges. Williams agreed to be transported to the Cleveland Clinic Emergency Department for an evaluation, according to the affidavit.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cleveland Clinic Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton.

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. 

A charge is only an allegation and 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.

United States Attorney Justin E. Herdman announced today that Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Miller will lead the efforts of the office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day program for the upcoming November 6, 2018, general election. 

AUSA Miller has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the Northern District of Ohio and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,” Herdman said. “The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Herdman stated that AUSA Miller will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 216-622-3855.

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

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.

Herdman said: “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate.  It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

Rocky River business executive C. David Snyder was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzlement and tax crimes.

Snyder was also ordered to pay approximately $781,000 in restitution.

A federal jury convicted Snyder earlier this year on six charges related to embezzling $126,000 from an employee retirement fund and collecting nearly $860,000 from his employees but not paying the money to the IRS.

Snyder, 61, served as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Attevo, Inc., a technology consulting company headquartered in Cleveland. He also served as chairman and primary shareholder at Ruralogic, Inc., headquartered in Bryan, Ohio.

Attevo employees prepared financial records and schedules, quarterly and annual returns and reports for Attevo, at Snyder’s direction. Snyder ranked Attevo’s payables in order of importance, according to court documents.

Snyder, on behalf of Attevo, and the IRS in 2011 agreed to a monthly payment plan of $48,350 per month to repay the company’s outstanding payroll tax liabilities. Attevo made 10 payments totaling $483,500 then made no further payments, according to court documents.

Snyder withheld payroll tax from employees but failed to pay it to the IRS. Snyder failed to pay over approximately $328,355 of employee’s portion of payroll taxes in 2010 and approximately $530,778 in 2012, according to court documents.

Snyder created a 401(k) and profit-sharing plan for Attevo employees in 2009. Ruralogic was added to the plan in 2010. The plan was funded through employee payroll deferrals. Between 2010 and 2012, Snyder failed to pay into the plan approximately $126,000 in contributions and loan repayments withheld from Attevo and Ruralogic employee wages, according to court documents.

During the time of his criminal conduct, instead of paying Attevo’s employment taxes, Snyder paid $20,000 per month for the rental of a personal residence in Lakewood and his vacation home in Chautauqua, New York, leases on four vehicles and other personal expenses, according to trial testimony and court documents.

He also used Attevo’s American Express to pay personal expenses, including women’s clothing at Ann Taylor, Nieman-Marcus and other stores, beauty supplies at Oro Gold in Las Vegas, travel to resorts in Florida and for pool/spa renovations, according to trial testimony and court documents.

Snyder earned income from Attevo totaling approximately $1.6 million between 2009 and 2012, according to the court documents and trial testimony.

“This defendant embezzled money from his employees and pocketed taxes he took out of their paychecks, which he used to pay for his vacation home, swimming pool renovation and to otherwise fund his lifestyle,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This sentence demonstrates that we take fraud seriously and criminals will be held accountable, whether they operate on street corners or in corner suites.”

“C. David Snyder was placed in the utmost position of trust by Attevo, Inc. and Ruralogic, Inc., but he chose to abuse that position of trust for his own personal greed,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “These companies ended up being his own personal piggy bank as he used their money to pay for his residence, vacation home, vehicles, and other personal expenses.  Now he is a convicted felon and owes a substantial amount of money to the IRS.”

“Charles David Snyder embezzled over $126,000 from his employees’ 401(k) retirement plan.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration to protect the retirement assets covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act,” said James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan R. Miller and Michael L. Collyer.

 

A Richland County man affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America was arrested and charged in federal court with production of child pornography after he surreptitiously recorded children changing.

Thomas Close, 39, of Shelby, was charged with sexual exploitation of children and receiving and distributing child pornogrpahy. The investigation is ongoing.

According to an affidavit filed in the case:

Homeland Security Investigations agents received information from the Cyber Crimes Center regarding videos taken of minor boys changing before or after swimming at the YMCA in Sandusky.

A review of several videos revealed they were recorded at the YMCA facility in Sandusky, which sometimes rented its pool to the Boy Scouts, inside teepees used at the Firelands Scout Reservation in Wakeman, as well as inside the bathroom of a home that appeared to have a swimming pool.

Investigators met with Boy Scouts of America officials in Cleveland, whose area includes seven counties. Due to the fact that all of the photos appear to revolve around changing before or after swimming, Boy Scout officials alerted investigators to an incident report from June 2017 documenting an occurrence at the Firelands Scout Reservation they felt could be related. The report was made by a den leader regarding a Boy Scouts of America staff member named Thomas Close, also known as “Aqua Joe,” according to the affidavit.

Close is associated with Boy Scout Troop 406 and has a pool in his back yard.

HSI investigators went to Close’s home on Nov. 1. Upon viewing his bathroom, they realized it is the same bathroom depicted in one of the videos. Close admitted to making the videos and said he created videos between 2011 and the summer of 2018, according to the affidavit.

He also admitted to downloading child pornography and said he had approximately five terabytes of child pornography on his computer, according to the affidavit.

“This case was solved because of good investigative work but also because a parent who was trained to look for signs of suspicious activity raised their concerns to Scout leadership,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “We all have an obligation to be aware of what is taking place around us and let authorities know when there are concerns.”

“This individual is accused of violating his position of trust with the Boy Scouts and as a teacher to exploit and take advantage of young people under his supervision," said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio. "The exploitation of children is reprehensible, and HSI has highly skilled and dedicated special agents to investigate child exploitation crimes to ensure that we identify and arrest perpetrators while protecting our most vulnerable population, our children."

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 was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Shelby Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik.

A charge is only an allegation and 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.

Anyone with knowledge of the man’s unsupervised contact with children should contact HSI at 216-749-9602.

 

A Cleveland man was sentenced to more than six years in prison for illegally having ammunition stemming from a shootout last year in which two people were killed.

Jesus Bey, 25, was sentenced to 78 months in prison. A jury convicted Bey earlier this year of being a felon in possession of ammunition following a weeklong trial.

Bey possessed 12 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition on Jan. 25, 2017, despite prior convictions that made it illegal for him to have ammunition, including felonious assault with a firearm specification, having weapon under disability and attempted felonious assault, according to court documents.

“This defendant has demonstrated that he walks around our streets carrying guns and ammunition the way a painter carries a ladder or a doctor carries a stethoscope. They are the tools of his trade,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “People who prey on others will be sent to prison and this case is an example of that.”

According to trial exhibits and testimony:

Bey was outside Harvard Wine and Grill on Jan. 25, 2017, when a shootout began at the intersection of East 142nd Street and Harvard Avenue. When the shootout was over, two men (one wearing a ski mask) were dead and at least 60 shell casings were recovered at the scene.

Bey was previously sentenced to prison for a 2013 shooting in a bar in Cleveland Heights, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly L. Galvin and Scott Zarzycki following an investigation by the Cleveland Division of Police’s Gang Impact Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

A Mexican citizen who had been living in Marion was sentenced to more than four years in prison for operating a document mill that produced more than 1,000 false identification documents, as well as stealing the identity of another.

Martha Buendia-Chavarria, 44, was sentenced to 54 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to possession of false with intent to transfer false identity documents, possession of document-making implements, false claim of citizenship to obtain benefits and aggravated identity theft.

Law enforcement agents executed a search warrant in Willard in July 2017 related to an identity-theft investigation. The target of that investigation, Manuel Granados, eventually pleaded guilty to related crimes. Granados purchased false identity documents from Buendia-Chavarria in Marion, which he later resold.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Buendia-Chavarria’s residence in October 2017, where they located numerous false identification documents, five handwritten ledgers containing other peoples’ names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers, and in some cases, who the identity was sold to, according to court documents.

Forensic analysis of the printers and devices seized from Buendia-Chavarria’s residence indicated she produced more than 1,000 false identification documents, according to court documents.

Buendia-Chavarria also stole the identity of another person, which she used to make a false claim of citizenship.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah P. Hood following investigations by the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, in Sandusky and the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in Detroit.

The FBI, Cleveland Division - Youngstown Resident Agency, members of the Mahoning Valley Violent Crimes Task Force, the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation,  and the United States Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Ohio, announce the arrest of David Grunden, 34, of Lisbon.

Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Oct. 30 at Grunden's residence in Lisbon following a nine-month investigation.  Gruden is believed to have been engaging in the solitication and enticement of children, as well as soliciting male adults to have sex with children on film.   

Grunden was taken into custody without incident upon conclusion of the executed search warrant.  Grunden has been federally charged with solicitation and advertising for child pornography.

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

After collecting a total of more than 9.9 million pounds of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications during 15 previous events over the past eight years, the Drug Enforcement Administration expects to reach a total of 10 million pounds collected following the upcoming fall 2018 Take back event. DEA and its national, tribal and community partners will hold the 16th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day across the country on Saturday, October 27.

The service is free and anonymous.

This weekend, more than 5,400 collection sites manned by more than 4,400 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.)

“We know that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet,” said Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon. “If we reduce the availability of those unused or expired medications through proper disposal, the fewer drugs there are to be misused, and fewer people will be at risk for abuse, addiction, overdose, and even death.”

“We know of many cases where leftover pain pills have led to an opioid addiction,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio 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.”

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative addresses a critical public safety and public health issue. 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. Because the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have advised the public that flushing their prescription drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards, DEA launched its prescription drug take back program to encourage the safe disposal of medications.

National Take Back Day has received robust public support since its inception in 2010. Last April, the public turned in 456 tons (912,305 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,700 of its local and tribal partners.

A Stark County man previously convicted of manslaughter was indicted for having a firearm and ammunition.

Michael Winland, 40, was arrested Friday and a federal indictment was unsealed charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Winland on Aug. 20 possessed a Taurus .45 revolver and ammunition, despite previous convictions in the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas for involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated burglary and aggravated robbery, 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 U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell following an investigation by the Beach City Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

An indictment is only a charge and 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.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein joined United States Attorney Justin Herdman, federal and local law enforcement officials today to announce a new strike force to target drug trafficking and violent crime in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force will bring together more than 200 local police, federal agents and prosecutors to work side-by-side to strengthen public safety.  The strike force’s mission will be to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and their subsidiaries trafficking narcotics, weapons, humans and the proceeds of their crimes.  Cooperative investigations will be focused on dissolving these organizations, their financial infrastructure, and the violence that accompanies their activities.

“This Strike Force brings our best federal and local law enforcement talents together in a united front to take the fight to the streets of Cleveland and to stop this drug-fueled violence in its tracks,” said Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein.  “It’s an honor to join U.S. Attorney Herdman, the city of Cleveland and the many federal and local law enforcement leaders partnering in this effort.” 

“The Strike Force will increase sharing of intelligence so we can more quickly and effectively target drug trafficking organizations and the groups responsible for armed robberies, shootings and other violent crime in Cleveland and the outlying suburbs,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.

The strike force will target violent street gangs involved in retaliatory homicides, carjackings, commercial robberies and other violent activities, as well as people and organizations involved in trafficking opioids, which has fueled the overdose epidemic plaguing Ohio. This includes focusing on interdicting packages containing drugs traveling via the U.S. mail, as well as investigations focused on online drug trafficking.

Participating agencies include: FBI, DEA, HSI, IRS, ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Border Patrol, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the Independence Police Department. Several other area law enforcement agencies have agreed to participate in the Strike Force as well.

Police officers, agents and both federal and state prosecutors will work together in open workspace. Both the physical and organizational structure will lead to collaborative, centralized intelligence sharing. Wire rooms will also be located at the building so intelligence and information can be shared in real time.

The Strike Force will be jointly led by the FBI and DEA. The U.S. Attorney will serve as chair of Strike Force Executive Council.

“The creation of the Cleveland Strike Force is an exciting time for law enforcement and a valuable tool to help protect our citizens and hold criminals accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “Combining under one roof the unique skills, talents and capabilities of the participating agencies will enable us to better address the wide variety of significant drug and violent crime threats facing our community. The FBI is fully committed to help lead this critical new initiative with substantial resources, equipment and technology.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon said: “As a part of the Cleveland OCDETF Strike Force, we are committed to a long-term partnership that allows law enforcement to reduce the illegal drug supply by aggressively targeting criminal organizations operating throughout northern Ohio. Drug trafficking and violence go hand-in-hand, which is why federal, state and local law enforcement are making these dangerous drug trafficking organizations a top priority.  By working with our partners, we are able to leverage resources that bring these violent individuals to justice and improve the safety of our communities.  We are focused on the current opioid epidemic, but this initiative is ready to adapt to any future drug threat facing northern Ohio.”

“Crime, particularly violent crime, challenges our quality of life and affects our ability to create a great city with a sustainable future,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “The addition of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force will help us more effectively fight drug problems and violent crime.”

“Here in Northeast Ohio, we are fortunate to have strong and lasting law enforcement partnerships at the local, state and federal levels,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “The implementation of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force will further enhance our efforts to reduce drug trafficking and gun violence.” 

The cost of the build-out, rent, equipment and support costs will be paid by the Justice Department. The Strike Force is expected to be operational by mid-2019.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein joined United States Attorney Justin Herdman, federal and local law enforcement officials today to announce a new strike force to target drug trafficking and violent crime in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force will bring together more than 200 local police, federal agents and prosecutors to work side-by-side to strengthen public safety.  The strike force’s mission will be to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and their subsidiaries trafficking narcotics, weapons, humans and the proceeds of their crimes.  Cooperative investigations will be focused on dissolving these organizations, their financial infrastructure, and the violence that accompanies their activities.

“This Strike Force brings our best federal and local law enforcement talents together in a united front to take the fight to the streets of Cleveland and to stop this drug-fueled violence in its tracks,” said Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein.  “It’s an honor to join U.S. Attorney Herdman, the city of Cleveland and the many federal and local law enforcement leaders partnering in this effort.” 

“The Strike Force will increase sharing of intelligence so we can more quickly and effectively target drug trafficking organizations and the groups responsible for armed robberies, shootings and other violent crime in Cleveland and the outlying suburbs,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said.

The strike force will target violent street gangs involved in retaliatory homicides, carjackings, commercial robberies and other violent activities, as well as people and organizations involved in trafficking opioids, which has fueled the overdose epidemic plaguing Ohio. This includes focusing on interdicting packages containing drugs traveling via the U.S. mail, as well as investigations focused on online drug trafficking.

Participating agencies include: FBI, DEA, HSI, IRS, ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Border Patrol, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the Independence Police Department. Several other area law enforcement agencies have agreed to participate in the Strike Force as well.

Police officers, agents and both federal and state prosecutors will work together in open workspace. Both the physical and organizational structure will lead to collaborative, centralized intelligence sharing. Wire rooms will also be located at the building so intelligence and information can be shared in real time.

The Strike Force will be jointly led by the FBI and DEA. The U.S. Attorney will serve as chair of Strike Force Executive Council.

“The creation of the Cleveland Strike Force is an exciting time for law enforcement and a valuable tool to help protect our citizens and hold criminals accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “Combining under one roof the unique skills, talents and capabilities of the participating agencies will enable us to better address the wide variety of significant drug and violent crime threats facing our community. The FBI is fully committed to help lead this critical new initiative with substantial resources, equipment and technology.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon said: “As a part of the Cleveland OCDETF Strike Force, we are committed to a long-term partnership that allows law enforcement to reduce the illegal drug supply by aggressively targeting criminal organizations operating throughout northern Ohio. Drug trafficking and violence go hand-in-hand, which is why federal, state and local law enforcement are making these dangerous drug trafficking organizations a top priority.  By working with our partners, we are able to leverage resources that bring these violent individuals to justice and improve the safety of our communities.  We are focused on the current opioid epidemic, but this initiative is ready to adapt to any future drug threat facing northern Ohio.”

“Crime, particularly violent crime, challenges our quality of life and affects our ability to create a great city with a sustainable future,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “The addition of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force will help us more effectively fight drug problems and violent crime.”

“Here in Northeast Ohio, we are fortunate to have strong and lasting law enforcement partnerships at the local, state and federal levels,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “The implementation of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force will further enhance our efforts to reduce drug trafficking and gun violence.” 

The cost of the build-out, rent, equipment and support costs will be paid by the Justice Department. The Strike Force is expected to be operational by mid-2019.

A federal judge today approved an injunction permanently barring an Akron doctor from prescribing opioids or practicing medicine, the Department of Justice announced today.

United States District Judge Sara Lioi entered the consent decree and permanent injunction against Dr. Michael P. Tricaso.

According to a complaint filed by the United States on August 15, Tricaso, an osteopath who operated the Better Living Clinic of Akron, illegally prescribed controlled substances from April through August. The substances included Oxycodone, an opiate that normally is used to treat pain but that is highly addictive and can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses. The complaint described various meetings that Tricaso had with two confidential sources to whom Tricaso illegally prescribed and sold the controlled substances. According to the complaint, Tricaso conducted transactions with the confidential sources in a hotel parking lot, where he wrote prescriptions and also directly sold the sources controlled substances. The complaint further alleged that Tricaso prescribed dangerous opioid painkillers and steroids without any legitimate medical purpose. The government asked the court in the complaint to prohibit Tricaso from dispensing, distributing, or prescribing controlled substances.

On August 17, Judge Lioi issued a temporary restraining order that temporarily barred Tricaso from issuing additional controlled substance prescriptions. Shortly thereafter, after being served with the federal lawsuit, Tricaso voluntarily surrendered to federal officials his legal authority to prescribe controlled substances under the CSA. Moreover, Tricaso permanently surrendered to Ohio officials his license to practice osteopathic medicine.

On August 22, Attorney General Sessions, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman, and other Department officials announced the first ever civil injunctions under the Controlled Substances Act, against doctors Tricaso and Gerber. Pursuant to President Trump’s Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, the Justice Department’s Prescription Interdiction & Litigation (PIL) Task Force aggressively deploys and coordinates all available criminal and civil law enforcement tools to reverse the tide of opioid overdoses in the United States. The temporary restraining orders for Tricaso and Gerber resulted from the PIL Task Force’s efforts.

“The opioid crisis that we are facing today is the deadliest drug crisis in American history,” said Assistant Attorney General Joseph H. Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “For the first time, the Department of Justice is going to court to use civil injunctions to stop the spread of opioids to our communities. Today's injunction means that this doctor — who allegedly sold and prescribed dangerous opioids without a legitimate medical purpose —no longer presents a risk of harm to patients or the community. ”

“Some drug dealers work on street corners, others operate from a doctor’s office,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman for the Northern District of Ohio. “Tricaso illegally prescribed painkillers and other drugs for no legitimate medical purpose. Putting so-called physicians like these out of business is one of several steps we are taking to turn the tide on the opioid and drug crisis that has caused so much death and heartbreak in our community.”

The consent decree entered by Judge Lioi, and agreed to by Tricaso and the United States, permanently bars Tricaso from dispensing, prescribing, or distributing any controlled substances.  Tricaso has also agreed never to reapply for privileges under the CSA to prescribe or dispense controlled substances, and he has agreed never to apply for a license to practice osteopathic medicine anywhere in the United States.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch as part of the Justice Department’s Prescription Interdiction and Litigation (PIL) Task Force.

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

A federal judge in Akron, Ohio, today approved an injunction permanently barring an Ohio doctor from prescribing opioids or practicing medicine, the Department of Justice announced today. United States District Judge Sara Lioi entered the consent decree and permanent injunction against Dr. Michael P. Tricaso.

According to a complaint filed by the United States on August 15, Tricaso, an osteopath who operated the Better Living Clinic of Akron, illegally prescribed controlled substances from April through August. The substances included Oxycodone, an opiate that normally is used to treat pain but that is highly addictive and can cause respiratory distress and death when taken in high doses. The complaint described various meetings that Tricaso had with two confidential sources to whom Tricaso illegally prescribed and sold the controlled substances. According to the complaint, Tricaso conducted transactions with the confidential sources in a hotel parking lot, where he wrote prescriptions and also directly sold the sources controlled substances. The complaint further alleged that Tricaso prescribed dangerous opioid painkillers and steroids without any legitimate medical purpose. The government asked the court in the complaint to prohibit Tricaso from dispensing, distributing, or prescribing controlled substances.

On August 17, Judge Lioi issued a temporary restraining order that temporarily barred Tricaso from issuing additional controlled substance prescriptions. Shortly thereafter, after being served with the federal lawsuit, Tricaso voluntarily surrendered to federal officials his legal authority to prescribe controlled substances under the CSA. Moreover, Tricaso permanently surrendered to Ohio officials his license to practice osteopathic medicine.

On August 22, Attorney General Sessions, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman, and other Department officials announced the first ever civil injunctions under the Controlled Substances Act, against doctors Tricaso and Gerber. Pursuant to President Trump’s Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, the Justice Department’s Prescription Interdiction & Litigation (PIL) Task Force aggressively deploys and coordinates all available criminal and civil law enforcement tools to reverse the tide of opioid overdoses in the United States. The temporary restraining orders for Tricaso and Gerber resulted from the PIL Task Force’s efforts.

“The opioid crisis that we are facing today is the deadliest drug crisis in American history,” said Assistant Attorney General Joseph H. Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “For the first time, the Department of Justice is going to court to use civil injunctions to stop the spread of opioids to our communities. Today's injunction means that this doctor — who allegedly sold and prescribed dangerous opioids without a legitimate medical purpose —no longer presents a risk of harm to patients or the community. ”

“Some drug dealers work on street corners, others operate from a doctor’s office,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman for the Northern District of Ohio. “Tricaso illegally prescribed painkillers and other drugs for no legitimate medical purpose. Putting so-called physicians like these out of business is one of several steps we are taking to turn the tide on the opioid and drug crisis that has caused so much death and heartbreak in our community.”

The consent decree entered by Judge Lioi, and agreed to by Tricaso and the United States, permanently bars Tricaso from dispensing, prescribing, or distributing any controlled substances.  Tricaso has also agreed never to reapply for privileges under the CSA to prescribe or dispense controlled substances, and he has agreed never to apply for a license to practice osteopathic medicine anywhere in the United States.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio and the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch as part of the Justice Department’s Prescription Interdiction and Litigation (PIL) Task Force.

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

Two men employed by an aluminum manufacturing company in Mahoning County were indicted for conspiracy to obstruct justice related to an investigation following the workplace death of an employee.

Named in the four-count indictment are Brian K. Carder, 62, of Stow, and Paul Love, 57, of Lake Milton. Both men are charged with one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice and  obstruction of proceedings. Love is also charged with one count of making false statements to law enforcement.

Carder was the general manager at Extrudex, an aluminum extrusion manufacturing company with a facility in North Jackson. Love was the safety coordinator and human resources director at Extrudex.

According to the indictment:

Extrudex processed aluminum. Part of this process included the conveyance of extruded aluminum pieces through a long, walk-in, tunnel-style oven. Employees routinely loaded and unloaded the oven manually by pushing racks of aluminum into and out of the oven on a roller conveyor system. This was known as the racks and rollers system.

Carder on Dec. 3, 2009 sent an email to an Extrudex employee, copying Love and other employees, regarding maintenance and safety issues with the racks and rollers system in the oven. Among other things, Carder wrote that the racks and rollers system was “in need of dire attention” and that issues with the system “must be a priority or someone is going to get seriously hurt.”

Love sent an email to employees and copied Carder on Nov. 30, 2011, regarding oven racks falling off the rollers.

Carder sent an email to Love and other employees on June 12, 2012, about safety issues with the racks and rollers system. Carder stated that he witnessed racks fall off the rollers and maintenance was needed. He added regular monitoring and maintenance was needed and stated that “[w]e are going to wait until someone gets seriously injury or possibly killed when a rack falls on them.”

Love forwarded this email from Carder to others stating that routine inspection of the racks and rollers “must be a top priority issue.”

An employee sent an email to Love on June 26, 2012 stating a rack fell off the rollers and that racks were frequently “freezing up.” The employee also stated: “I’m afraid someone is going to get hurt if we can’t think of a better system to get these racks out of the oven safely.” Love forwarded that email to others, including Carder.

The same employee sent another email to other employees on Oct. 26, 2012 stating the oven racks fell off the rollers twice that night and that “someone is going to (get) hurt if nothing else is done about it”.

On that same date another employee sent an email stating the oven racks fell off twice and “someone is seriously going to get hurt or even killed because of this.”

On Oct. 30, 2012, two metal racks stacked on top of each other with hot aluminum product weighing an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 pounds tipped over onto two employees who were pushing the racks on the roller conveyor system.

Both employees were pinned under the hot racks and hot aluminum. One employee, identified in the indictment as J.T., was pronounced dead the scene. Another employee, identified in the indictment as D.B., was rescued by other works and hospitalized with severe burns.

The next day, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated an investigation.

OSHA requested Extrudex, Carder and Love produce emails from specific employees to management regarding racks and rollers. Carder, Love and Extrudex produced the two emails of Oct. 26, 2012, but not the June 26, 2012 email.

Carder and Love devised a plan to provide false statements to the OSHA investigator. They persuaded employees -- including by suggesting their jobs might be in jeopardy -- to draft statements recanting previous emails about safety issues with the racks and rollers system, according to the indictment.

Love and Carder also provided materially false statements regarding, among other things, the safety issues with the racks and rollers system, according to the indictment.

“These supervisors threatened employees and lied to investigators,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “They will be held accountable.”

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of criminal misconduct related to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) programs.  We will continue to work DOL’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who jeopardize workers’ safety,” said James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

The investigation is ongoing.

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 defendants’ sentences will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal records, if any, the defendants’ 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.

An indictment 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 Mexican citizen was charged with possessing a firearm while illegally in the United States.

Jose Rusbelt Morales-Gutierrez, 28, was living in Canton. Morales-Gutierrez possessed a Beretta, Model PX4 Storm, 9 mm caliber pistol on Aug. 18, after illegally or unlawfully entering the United States. 

If convicted, a 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 was conducted by the Canton Police Department, Department of Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Cleveland Field Office of ATF.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad J. Beeson.

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.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio announced that the United States has resolved its review under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of five Northwest Ohio area high school athletic stadiums. The review focused on a complaint alleging that the stadiums did not provide equal access to persons with disabilities.

In resolution of the complaint, high schools completed renovations to their athletic stadiums making them more accessible to persons with disabilities in compliance with the ADA.

School districts for Bryan, Evergreen, Wauseon, Swanton, and Montpelier renovated their home and visitor side bleachers, adding or modifying integrated accessible seating, ramps, ticket windows, and took other steps to allow access for everyone to enjoy events at their high school stadiums.  Throughout the review, district personnel for each school made it clear that they are committed to providing equal access for all members of the community.

The review was prompted by a complaint filed by the Ability Center of Toledo on behalf of a couple that regularly attended high school football games. That became more difficult after the husband had a stroke and used a wheelchair. The couple discovered some schools did not have accessible seating.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said: “There are few things better to do on an autumn night in Ohio than go watch high school football, and these agreements will ensure that everyone in the community will be able to root for their hometown team in person. The school districts are to be credited for working collaboratively and making these changes to their facilities.”

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the passage of the ADA, which provides in part that no qualified individual with a disability shall, because of that disability, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in the services, programs, and activities of all state or local government entities. Under title II of the ADA, public school districts have an obligation to make services, programs, and activities readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.  This includes programs or activities held at high school athletic stadiums.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelita Cruz Bridges handled this matter for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

For more information on the ADA, visit http://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information Line at contact the ADA Information Line at
800-514-0301 (voice) 800-514-0383 (TTY).

An Elyria man was indicted in federal court for sexually exploiting a child in Utah and related child pornography crimes.

Christopher Goodin, 33, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of receipt of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possessing child pornography.

Goodin, between June and Aug. 18, 2018, controlled multiple social media accounts which he used to communicate with a young girl in Utah. With one account, Goodin posed as “Shorty853” --  a young girl who was harassed and threatened by an older man. With another account, Goodin posed as “Sambam01,” the older man. Sambam01 said the victim he would stop bothering “Fungirl2901” if the victim sent sexually explicit photos to him, which the victim did, according to court documents.

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 U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

An indictment is only a charge and 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 Cleveland men were indicted for attempting to pass counterfeit $50 and $20 bills.

Jamel Williams, 35, tried to spend 16 counterfeit $50 bills and three counterfeit $20 bills at the Target in Mayfield Heights on Nov. 27, 2015, according to the indictment.

Antoine Blackshear, 42, tried to spend 10 counterfeit $50 and 10 counterfeit $20 bills on on Nov. 3, 2016, 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein is prosecuting the case following an investigation by United States Secret Service. 

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 sentenced to 12 years in prison for selling fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Brunswick man last year.

Rafael Jones, 40, previously pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death as well as a firearms charge.

Jones on May 13, 2017 sold fentanyl to a Brunswick man who ingested the fentanyl and died, according to court documents.

Jones was arrested a month later in Cleveland and found with a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and ammunition. Jones was prohibited from having the handgun and ammunition because of prior convictions for domestic violence and heroin trafficking, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Medina County Drug Task Force, DEA, Brunswick Police Department and with the assistance of the Medina County Coroner’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Corts.

A Cleveland man was indicted in federal court for selling drugs that resulted in a fatal overdose of a man inside a hotel in downtown Cleveland in July.

Terry Lee Christian, 35, was indicted Wednesday on one count of distribution of controlled substances, which included a potential sentencing enhancement for causing death. He was also indicted on one count of using a phone to facilitate a felony drug offense.

Christian was arrested Monday and remains in custody.

Christian is accused of causing the death of a person identified in court papers as S.K. on July 13.

“This case is yet another reminder that any drug people are buying likely contains fentanyl, which can kill even in very small doses,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “By all accounts, the victim in this case believed he was buying cocaine, not opioids. This epidemic is cutting across all demographics and people need to understand there is no safe amount of drugs that can be used recreationally.”

“This case highlights the collaboration between the Cleveland Division of Police Heroin Death Investigators, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory and the Northern Ohio United States District Attorney’s Office,” said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “The indictment of Mr. Christian should serve as an example to those trafficking in these dangerous and deadly narcotics.  Through thorough investigations and the efforts of the attorneys who prosecute the cases, these criminals can be held accountable at the highest level.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon said: “This death underscores the seriousness of the opioid crisis plaguing northern Ohio and the need for dedicated collaboration from law enforcement. The DEA, Cleveland Division of Police and the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to expend our time, energy and resources in an effort to stem the tide against this epidemic.”

Members of the Cleveland Division of Police’s Heroin Involved Death Investigations Unit responded to a drug overdose at a hotel room in Cleveland on July 14. Officers observed a bag of suspected cocaine on the dresser and suspected cocaine residue on the dresser and bathroom vanity, according to an affidavit filed in the case.

The narcotics were tested and found to be a mixture of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. The packaging material was tested and DNA found on the package matched Christian, according to the affidavit.

A review of the victim’s phone and other evidence revealed the man who overdosed met with Christian on July 13 and several calls between them on that day. Shortly after the calls and meeting, the man who ovedosed made a hand-to-hand transaction with someone in a minivan, according to the affidavit.

This case was investigated by the Cleveland Division of Police and Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vasile Katsaros and Kathryn Andrachik.

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.

An indictment 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 Texas couple who had thousands of online sales of fentanyl and other drugs pleaded guilty to drug crimes.

Matthew and Holly Roberts pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and other crimes. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 7, 2019.

The Roberts are both 35 and from San Antonio. The Roberts’ created and operated several dark net marketplace accounts, including MH4LIFE, TRAPPEDINTIME, FASTFORWARD and MRHIGH4LIFE. They operated these accounts on dark net marketplace websites, including Dream Market, Silk Road, AlphaBay, Darknet Heroes League, Nucleus and several others.

MH4LIFE had the highest number of verified transactions worldwide of any fentanyl dealer on the dark net based upon a review of the Dream Market when the Roberts’ were arrested earlier this year, according to court documents.

They used these accounts between 2011 and May 12, 2018 to possess and distribute fentanyl, MethoxyAcetylFentanyl, other fentanyl analogues, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, LSD, marijuana, Xanax, Oxycodone and other drugs.

The Roberts’ used private messaging, encryption software, Virtual Private Networks and proxies through the TOR network to provide security for the criminal organization. They used decoys, such as glow bracelets and other mundane items, to hide the fact they were mailing narcotics..

They also used cryptocurrency to launder their criminal proceeds. Customers used digital currency to purchase narcotics, which the defendants laundered and ultimately converted into official fiat currency and spent on person goods and services, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. Cronin and Daniel J. Riedl following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The charges are part of “Operation Darkness Falls,” a multiagency federal task force specializing in the investigation and prosecution of dark net criminals.

 

 

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A Canton man was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for child pornography crimes.

Marshall Belden, Jr., 70, previously pleaded guilty to receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Belden was sentenced to 103 months in federal prison.

Belden on Oct. 24, 2016 knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and which files had been shipped and transported in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce. On Jan. 26, 2017, Belden possessed a computer and an external hard drive, each of which contained child pornography, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Canton office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.

Under the leadership of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Department of Justice charged the largest number of violent crime and firearm defendants in its history in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018.

In the Northern District of Ohio, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed indictments against 959 defendants – an increase of 50 percent over the previous fiscal year and the highest number since FY 2006.

Those indictments in the Northern District of Ohio include:

• Indictments filed against 393 defendants for narcotics offenses – the highest number since 2005 and an increase of 69 percent over the previous fiscal year.
• Indictments filed against 268 defendants for violent crime offenses – the highest since 2004 and an increase of 53 percent over the previous fiscal year.

“President Donald Trump is a law-and-order President—and this is a law-and-order administration,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions.  “The Department of Justice is breaking law enforcement records and doing so by significant margins.  When I took office as Attorney General, I ordered federal prosecutors and agents to take illegal guns off of our streets, to prosecute crimes aggressively, to protect our nation’s borders, and to target white collar fraud.  With support from our state and local partners, our federal prosecutors and agents have delivered—and I am grateful to them and the fabulous state and local officers who worked so hard to make these achievements possible. And we are seeing results.  Violent crime and homicides, which jumped in 2015 and 2016, both dropped in 2017 and will drop again in 2018.  There can be no doubt that good law enforcement policies can make our communities safer.”

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman said: “We have identified violent crime and drug overdoses as the biggest threats to our community. We have worked with local police and federal agencies to try to dismantle drug distribution networks, seek long prison sentences for those who use guns to commit crimes and strategically target those who have caused pain and suffering for our neighbors. Aggressive enforcement of the law is a crucial part of a broad strategy to improve our communities.”

Herdman added: “Numbers tell only part of the story, but they are an important reflection of the sustained, maximum effort made by the men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office into making our communities safer and healthier.”

According to data from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys (EOUSA), the number of defendants charged with criminal felony offenses increased by nearly 15 percent from more than 71,200 defendants in FY 2017 to more than 81,800 in FY 2018. 

In FY 2018, the Justice Department charged the largest number of violent crime defendants since EOUSA started to track this category more than 25 years ago (more than 16,800)—surpassing by nearly 15 percent the previous record set just last year.

In FY 2018, the Justice Department charged more than 15,300 defendants with federal firearms offenses, which is 17 percent more than the previous record.

In FY 2018, over 23,400 defendants were charged with felony illegal re-entry, an increase of more than 38 percent from FY 2017.

In FY 2018, over 23,600 defendants were charged with drug-related offenses, an increase of more than six percent from FY 2017.  

Also in FY 2018, the Justice Department increased white-collar prosecutions by more than three percent, charging more than 6,500 defendants.

Finally, in FY 2018, more than 68,400 defendants were charged with misdemeanor illegal entry.  This is the highest number of such defendants charged since EOUSA started to track this category and an almost 86 percent increase from the previous year.  This total is also more than 4 percent higher than the previous record of over 65,500 defendants set in FY 2013.

A Cleveland man was indicted for robbing five banks in August and September.

Anthony Jones, 59, was indicted on five counts of bank robbery.

He is accused of robbing the following banks: U.S. Bank at 1350 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland on Aug. 27; Huntington Bank at 905 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland on Aug. 30; Fifth Third Bank at 600 Superior Ave. in Cleveland on Sept. 4; Citizen’s Bank at 2175 Warrensville Center Road in University Heights on Sept. 6; and Woodforest National Bank at 3400 Steelyard Drive in Cleveland on Sept. 8.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police and University Heights Police Department.

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.

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 from Northeast Ohio were indicted on federal firearms charges.

Ronnie Edward Calton, 39, of Streetsboro, and Jaron Parrish, 27, of Cleveland, were each charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Calton on Sept. 21 possessed a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol and ammunition, despite having been previously convicted of illegally assembly or possession of chemicals to manufacture a controlled substance, according to the indictment.

Parrish on Aug. 20 possessed an Intratech 9 mm pistol and 40 rounds of ammunition, despite having been previously convicted of burglary, 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 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 Calton case was investigated by the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department and RAVEN Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Margaret Kane.

The Parrish case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and 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.

Timothy G. Simms, 31, of Stow, was indicted for counterfeiting.

The indictment alleges that between July 2 and July 4, Simms did falsely make, forge, counterfeit and alter one or more obligations or other securities of the United States, with the intent to defraud.

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 United States Secret Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis.

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 Michigan man was indicted after he was found to have 36 counterfeit credit cards, nearly 500 credit card account numbers and a machine for making counterfeit credit cards.

Edris Alim Sherrieff, 24, of Roseville, Michigan, was indicted on one count of possession of counterfeit credit cards and one count of illegal possession of device-making equipment.

Sherrieff was found on July 21, 2017, in possession of 36 counterfeit credit cards, 490 unique credit card account numbers and a credit card encoder, according to the indictment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Deckert following an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

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.

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 father and son from Mahoning County were indicted on firearms charges after the son allegedly gave a firearm to his father, who was previously convicted of rape, kidnapping, attempted murder and other crimes, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

Rodney P. McMeans, 43, of Struthers, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Rodney P. McMeans, Jr., 24, of Youngstown, was indicted on one count of transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person.

“The older defendant has absolutely no business with a gun, given his history of violent crime, and his son knew that,” Herdman said. “We will continue to work to keep firearms out of people who have no regard for the law.”

McMeans on April 24 possessed a FN Herstal 5.7-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite previous convictions for rape, kidnapping, felonious assault, attempted aggravated murder and improperly discharging a firearm into a habitation, according to the indictment.

McMeans, Jr. transferred the FN Herstal 5.7-caliber pistol to his father sometime between January and April 24, knowing and having reasonable cause to know McMeans was a felon who was not allowed to possess a firearm, 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 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. States Attorney Peter E. Daly.

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 using a firearm to rob a bank in Independence last month.

Rolland C. Scales, Jr., 24, was indicted on one count of armed bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Scales used a firearm on Sept. 10 to rob the Chase Bank at 6200 Brecksville Road, according to the indictment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Zarzycki following an investigation by the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and Independence Police Department.

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.

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 for having firearms and dealing fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.

Carl Hundley, Jr., 45, was charged in a five-count indictment with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, distribution of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine.

Hundley on April 10 possessed fentanyl and heroin. He also had a Ruger pistol, a Taurus revolver and ammunition, despite previous convictions for trafficking heroin and other crimes, according to the indictment.

Hundley on Aug. 9 possessed fentanyl and methamphetamine, 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 records, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. 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.

Two people from Honduras were indicted for illegally reentering the United States.

Yoselin Gomez-Valle, 30, was found in Ohio on Sept. 7 after having been deported three previous times, according to the indictment.

Yeris Gomez-Arguijo, 32, was found in Ohio on Sept. 7 after having been deported four previous times, 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 United States Border Patrol out of Sandusky.  The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley A. Futrell.

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

A Toledo man was indicted for attempting to coerce what he believed to be a 17-year-old to travel interstate to engage in sex.

Douglas Wayne Kemp, 28, was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and one count of attempted enticement of a minor.

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 out of Toledo, Ohio. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.

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

Lonnie Alton Butler, 34, of Rossford, was indicted for failure to register as a sex offender.

Butler was required to register as a sex offender but did not do so when he traveled between Michigan and Ohio between Aug. 19 and Sept. 26, 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 United States Marshals Service. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley A. Futrell and Tracey Ballard Tangeman.

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 Michigan man was indicted for attempting to engage in sex acts with a child.

Riley Thomas Griffin, 21, of Monroe, Michigan, was indicted on one count of traveling with intent to engage in sexual conduct with a minor and one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.

Griffin received and distributed numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place in September, according to the indictment.

He also sent the images to an undercover agent and corresponded with this undercover agent about traveling from Michigan to Ohio to engage in sex acts with the undercover agent’s purported 9-year-old daughter, 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, in Toledo, Ohio.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.       

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 Lima man was indicted on child pornography charges.

Christopher L. Frater, 41, was indicted on one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography. He allegedly received numerous images of child pornography in 2017 and 2018.

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 U.S. Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman.

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

A Solon woman was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for embezzling $156,000 from a fund established on behalf of someone entrusted to her care.

Teresita Sidoti, 52, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. She was ordered to pay $156,949 to the victim’s family and $27,797 to the Internal Revenue Service. She pleaded guilty earlier this year to bank fraud and filing false tax returns. 

Sidoti worked as a caregiver for Noel Zugay and was the trustee of the Noel Zugay Supplemental Needs Trust. From 2009 through 2015, Sidoti devised a scheme to defraud the trust of funds held at Huntington Bank for Zugay’s benefit.  Sidoti used those funds for her personal benefit. She also diverted deposits that should have been to the trust account into her own personal account, according to the criminal information. 

In total, Sidoti embezzled approximately $156,949, according to the information. 

Sidoti also failed to claim some of this income on her tax returns between 2011 and 2014, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Kall, following an investigation by the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigations. 

A Romanian national was returned to the United States Friday to face federal charges that accuse him of being the leader of an international cyber fraud ring that used malware to steal in excess of $4 million after taking people’s passwords, personal identifying information, and bank account information.

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, Peter Elliot of the U.S. Marshals Service, Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI and Chief Kevin Bielozer of the Westlake Police Department made the announcement.

Romeo Vasile Chita, 38, was charged in a four-count indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, Ohio. The charges include racketeering, wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit services.

Eight other defendants were named in the indictment unsealed today.  Two defendants—Daniel Mihai Radu, 39; and Manuel Tudor, 37, —have already been extradited from Romania and are awaiting trial in Cleveland. The other five defendants remain at large.

“Romeo Vasile Chita allegedly led a multinational criminal enterprise that stole sensitive personal data through deceptive phishing emails and organized fraudulent online auctions, causing millions of dollars in losses to innocent victims,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  “The Criminal Division will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, both domestic and international, to aggressively disrupt and dismantle international cyber criminal organizations that victimize our citizens and businesses.”

“This defendant led an international operation that used fraudulent emails and the internet to scam hard-working people out of their savings,” said U.S. Attorney Herdman.  “It is gratifying that this defendant will be forced to answer the charges filed against him.”

According to the indictment, Chita was based in Romania and led a racketeering enterprise that operated in the United States, Romania, Canada, Croatia, Latvia, Hungary, Bosnia, China, Jordan, Malaysia and elsewhere. The goal of the enterprise was to generate money through various criminal acts, including wire fraud, trafficking in counterfeit services, and money laundering.  It began operating as early as 2007.

Among other things, Chita’s group sent “phishing” emails purporting to be from the Better Business Bureau, the IRS, U.S. Tax Court, the National Payroll Records Center, and others. When a victim clicked on a link in a fraudulent email, specialized malware incorporating a “keylogger” was installed onto the victims’ computers, allowing members of the criminal enterprise to capture sensitive and confidential information, including the victims’ bank account information.

The conspirators, including Chita, then transmitted the sensitive information to each other and others for the purpose of fraudulently withdrawing funds from the victims’ bank accounts. The stolen funds were then transferred to specific accounts in the United States, where the money was withdrawn and transferred to other members of the conspiracy. The conspirators used their own network of accounts and “money mules” to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time to conceal the origin of the money.

The defendants also are alleged to have engaged in an extensive campaign of online auction fraud, placing ads for non-existent cars and other expensive items on eBay, Craigslist, Autotrader.com, and other websites.  According to the indictment, victims were tricked into wiring thousands of dollars to money mules to purchase these vehicles.  The money mules then transferred and laundered the proceeds for the benefit of the enterprise.    

Chita managed and facilitated the various schemes, as well as directing other conspirators to launder fraudulently obtained money.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, the Westlake Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Brian L. Levine of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan Brown of the Northern District of Ohio.  Valuable assistance is being provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.  The Justice Department thanks the government of Romania for its assistance in this matter.

The prosecution of Chita prosecution is timely, as it occurs during National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM).  NCSAM – observed every October – was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure every American has the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online.  The Department of Justice encourages citizens to take advantage of cybersecurity tips and information provided by law enforcement to ensure their personal information is secured.

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

A Cleveland man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in federal prison for stealing a firearm from a gun show in Berea.

Anthony Lett, 41, was convicted by a jury earlier this year on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of being in possession of a stolen firearm following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court.

"This is a person with a long history of violence who has no business having a firearm," U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. "Our community is safer with him behind bars."

Lett stole a Kahr Arms .45-caliber pistol from a gun show in Berea on April 30, 2016. Lett has prior convictions that make it illegal for him to have a firearm, including convictions for kidnapping, felonious assault, carrying a concealed weapon, drug trafficking and other crimes, according to court documents.

Lett is currently serving 20 years in state prison for unrelated convictions including attempted murder, aggravated robbery and other crimes, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly Galvin and Elliot Morrison following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Berea Police Department, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police.

Two men from Toledo were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine.

Jeffrey A. Geckle, 40, and Scott A. Nigh, 39, were each indicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of attempted to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Prosecutors are seeking to forfeit approximately $320,000 in cash that was seized on Sept. 18 from Nigh and Geckle, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendants’ prior criminal record, if any, the defendants’ 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 in Lima. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Freeman.

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.

Several people with domestic violence convictions have recently been indicted in federal court as part of an emphasis on keeping firearms out of the hands of domestic abusers.

Among those charged with firearms offenses: William G. Smith III, 33, of Ravenna; Edward Kennerly, 46, of Cleveland; Antonio Stewart, 30, of Lorain; Elijah Harder, 23, of Cleveland; Steven Kennedy, 29, of Euclid; Jason Calton, 44, of Liberty Center.

“The law is clear: if you have been convicted of domestic violence, even a misdemeanor, or have an active protection order, you are not allowed to have a gun,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Data tells us that more than half of all women homicide victims were killed by their partners. We also know one of the greatest risks for police officers is responding to a domestic disturbance. These indictments will help make our community safer.”

“We should all feel safe in our homes, with our families, friends, and loved ones,” said Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division.  “It is a breach of trust when family members  suffer violence at the hands of those they trust most.  ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who break that trust while using firearms face the full consequences of their actions.”

Federal prosecutors in recent months have met with police, local prosecutors and domestic violence advocates to discuss filing more federal indictments for domestic abusers found to be in possession of firearms.  

A study by the Centers for Disease Control released in July showed more than 55 percent of the deaths of women came at the hands of an intimate partner. The study examined more than 10,000 homicides between 2003 and 2014.

Additionally, several police officers killed in the line of duty recently in Ohio were killed while responding to domestic violence calls.

This enforcement initiative is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which one year ago Attorney General Sessions has made the centerpiece of the Department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Smith had a SCCY 9mm pistol, a Remington .22-caliber rifle, a Masterpiece Arms .45-caliber pistol, a Ruger 5.56-caliber rifle , a Glock .45-caliber pistol and a Romarm Cugir 7.62-caliber rifle earlier this year, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.

Kennerly attempted to buy a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun from Gold Star Pawn & Gun in Eastlake last year. Kennerly made false statements in an effort to acquire the shotgun, including that he was not under a restraining order from the court barring him from contact with his intimate partner and that he was not under indictment for domestic violence, according to court documents.

Stewart had a CN Romarm 7.62-caliber assault rifle, a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun, another Smith & Wesson handgun and ammunition in August, despite a conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.

Harder possessed a Derringer Corp. GE, Model CB9 pistol in May after having been convicted of domestic violence, according to court documents.

Kennedy in August possessed a Smith & Wesson .40-caliber pistol and ammunition despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.

Calton possessed a Harrington & Richardson .22-caliber revolver last year, despite a previous conviction for domestic violence, according to court documents.

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.

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

On the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, the Department of Justice announced it is awarding almost $320 million to combat the opioid crisis in America. The unprecedented funding will directly help those most impacted by the deadliest drug crisis in American history, including crime victims, children, families, and first responders.

Included in the grants are more than $1.8 million to support programs in Cuyahoga and Lucas County, as well as nearly $2.9 million for statewide programming in Ohio.

"President Trump has made ending the opioid crisis a priority for this administration, and under his leadership, the Department of Justice has taken historic action," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. "Today we are announcing our next steps: investing $320 million into all three parts of the President’s comprehensive plan to end the epidemic: prevention, treatment, and enforcement. We are attacking this crisis from every angle—and we will not let up until we bring it to an end."

“This money will help us do a better job sharing and analyzing data, as well as helping support drug courts and treatment,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “By attacking this epidemic from all fronts – aggressive law enforcement, education and prevention, changing prescribing practices and supporting treatment for those ready to make a change – we will make progress.”

Among the grants with ties to Northern Ohio:

$932,233 to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County. This money will be used to help improve, coordinate and analyze data sharing among law enforcement, social service providers, healthcare institutions and other stakeholders.

$500,000 to the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. This money will be used to support drug court programs in Lucas County.

$400,000 to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. This money will be used to help facilitate collaboration among criminal justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems in Cuyahoga County.

In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses, an increase from the 64,000 overdose deaths in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of these deaths can be attributed to opioids, including illicit fentanyl and its analogues. October marks two important anti-drug events: Red Ribbon Week and National Prescription Drug Takeback Day. Red Ribbon Week takes place every year between October 23-31 and encourages students, parents, schools, and communities to promote drug-free lifestyles. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 27 aims to provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent overdose deaths and drug addictions before they start. DOJ expanded on DEA's Drug Takeback Days and collected more than 2.7 million pounds of expired or unused prescription drugs since April 2017. 

The Attorney General has been resolute in the fight against the drug crisis in America. The Department assigned more than 300 federal prosecutors to U.S. Attorneys’ offices and hired more than 400 DEA task force officers, announced the formation of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a new program to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas, and created a new data analytics program called the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit to assist 12 prosecutors sent to drug “hot spot districts.” In addition, the Department charged more than 3,000 defendants with trafficking in heroin, fentanyl, or prescription drugs in FY 2017, announced the first-ever indictments of Chinese nationals for fentanyl trafficking, and scheduled variants of fentanyl to prevent illicit drug labs from circumventing the law. In addition, DOJ executed the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action charging more than 600 defendants and proposed rules consistent with President Trump's "Safe Prescribing Plan," requiring a reduction of ten percent in 2019 in manufacturing quotas. The Department dismantled AlphaBay, the largest criminal marketplace on the Internet and has already generated prosecutions in the fight against online drug trafficking through the Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement Team (J-CODE). 

The approximately $320 million awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) will be distributed in order to maximize effectiveness over the country. A breakdown of the grant funding can be found here.

• Innovative Prosecution Solutions for Combating Violent Crime and Opioid Abuse ($2.8 Million). Help prosecutors develop strategies to address violent crime caused by illegal opioid distribution and abuse.
• Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program ($162 Million). Help jurisdictions plan and implement programs aimed at reducing opioid abuse and mitigating its impact on crime victims, including training and technical assistance.
• Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program ($5.9 Million). Address the treatment needs of people using opioids under the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.
• Helping Children and Youth Impacted by Opioids ($46.6 Million). Help children and youth impacted by the opioid crisis, including training and technical assistance.
• Drug Courts ($81.2 Million). Assist adult, juvenile, and family drug courts and veterans treatment courts, including training and technical assistance
• Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program ($17 Million). Address the dramatic increase in deaths and the backlogs of seized drugs as a result of the opioid crisis.
• Opioid-Related Research for Criminal Justice Purposes ($4.1 Million). Development of new tools to enforce the law, ensure public safety, prevent and control crime, and ensure fair and impartial administration of justice.

OJP provides federal leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP and its components can be found at: www.ojp.gov.

 

A Barberton man with a history of drug convictions was sentenced to 10 years in prison for firearms crimes.

Sergio Watson, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by U.S. District Judge John Adams. Watson was previously found guilty of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Watson on April 19 possessed four pistols loaded with ammunition: a Springfield Armory XD 40 .40 caliber pistol, a stolen Smith and Wesson SW40VE .40 caliber pistol, a Ruger SR9C 9mm pistol and a stolen Titan Manufacturing .25 caliber pistol. Watson had previous convictions for burglary, heroin trafficking, aggravated drug trafficking, having weapons while under disability, cocaine possession and other crimes, according to court documents.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Howell following an investigation by the Akron Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

Two men from Cleveland were indicted on federal firearms charges.

Rondel P. Wylie, 37, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Wylie on Aug. 16 possessed a Kimber .45-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite previous convictions for aggravated assault, domestic violence and drug trafficking, according to the indictment.

Raven Mullins, 29, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Mullins on July 27 possessed a Lorcin .380-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite previous convictions for attempted felonious assault and robbery, according to the indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian S. Deckert and Kelly Galvin are prosecuting the cases following investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Cleveland Division of Police.

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.

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.