Northern District of Ohio

Two Cleveland men were indicted for their crimes related to a carjacking and attempted armed robbery of a credit union in October, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Arvis Williams, Jr., 22, and Melvin R. Hill, 21, are charged with attempted armed credit union robbery and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Williams was also charged with carjacking and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. 

 

Williams and Hill used a firearm in an effort to rob the Willoughby Eastlake Schools Credit Union on Second Street in Willoughby on Oct. 11, 2017. On the same day, Williams used a firearm to carjack at 2015 Chevy Cruze, according to the indictment.

 

Each charge of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence carries a minimum consecutive term of five years in prison if a firearm was possessed, seven years in prison if a firearm was brandished, and a consecutive 25 years in prison for each subsequent conviction. 

 

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

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough following an investigation by the FBI Cleveland Violent Crimes Task Force and the Willoughby Police Department.

 

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

An Akron man was indicted for selling fentanyl, law enforcement officials said.

 

LeTroy Vaughn, 26, was indicted on one count of distribution of fentanyl. Vaughn sold the fentanyl on Sept. 27, 2015, according to the indictment.

 

The investigation is ongoing.

 

“This defendant will be held accountable for his sale of fentanyl, which has killed so many of our friends and neighbors here in Ohio,” Herdman said. “Law enforcement will continue to work together to investigate this case and hold drug dealers accountable for their actions.”

 

“This shows the great collaboration between the County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh. “We are relieved for the victim’s family that this offender will not escape justice on a legal technicality. I would personally like to thank Justin Herdman, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, for ensuring justice for Eric Ward’s family.”

 

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

 

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley following an investigation by the Akron Police Department’s Narcotics Unit.

 

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 Warren man was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for having a kilogram of heroin and firearms, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and Warren Police Chief Eric Merkel.

Ricardo B. McKinney, 32, was sentenced to 327 months after being convicted following a jury trial earlier this year.

“Between the kilo of heroin he had, and the two firearms he possessed despite being a felon, this defendant was a clear danger to the people of Warren,” Herdman said. “Law enforcement worked collaboratively in this case to make Trumbull County a safer place.”

Merkel said: “I would like to thank the Warren Street Crimes Unit for all of the hard work that was put into this case and their dedication to removing from our streets a drug that has killed so many in our city. I would also like to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for prosecuting this case. This partnership is an essential element in our mission to eliminate drug traffickers from our community.”

A jury convicted McKinney in March on two counts of distribution of heroin, one count of possession with the intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms following a weeklong trial.

McKinney sold heroin on two occasions in early 2015. Warren police arrested McKinney on Feb. 25, 2015, with approximately 1657.2 grams of heroin and two handguns. McKinney was prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions, according to court documents and trial testimony.

Prosecutors are forfeited nearly $30,000 and the two firearms seized as part of the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa T. Darden and Daniel J. Riedl. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Warren Police Department.

A jury convicted three people of taking federal money earmarked for job training and instead using the money to pay for personal expenses, including vacations, investments, real estate purchases and salaries for people who did not work at the company, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner.

James D. Moody, 57, of Toledo, Victoria Hawkins, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Angela Bowser, 46, of Toledo, were convicted on all counts for their activities related to Toledo-based Business Rehabilitation Informed Decisions Guiding Employment Strategies, Inc. d/b/a B.R.I.D.G.E.S., Inc..

They are scheduled to be sentenced April 10, 2018.           

Company founder and general manager Daniel E. Morris, 68, of Maumee, pleaded guilty last month to his crimes and is scheduled to be sentenced February 22, 2018.

“These defendants stole millions of dollars targeted to help the least among us learn job skills, and instead used the money to fund lavish lifestyles and pay for no-show jobs,” Herdman said. “They ripped off taxpayers and betrayed the trust placed in them.”

“This was a transparent scheme to defraud the taxpayers of Northwest Ohio,” Korner said. “Today’s guilty verdicts brings justice to thieves who enriched themselves on the backs of those struggling to survive.” 

According to court documents and trial testimony:

BRIDGES operated at 242 Reynolds Road and 310 Reynolds Road. The company was in the business of providing work placement and work training services to public assistance recipients, and nearly all of its revenue came from public funds. 

Morris was the co-founder and general manager of BRIDGES. Moody was co-founder and sole-shareholder. Hawkins was an employee from 2008 through 2012, while Bowser was an employee from 2008 through 2014.

BRIDGES was funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.  TANF was a welfare program that provided cash assistance to qualifying households with minor children or pregnant women. TANF provided federal block grants to states each year to cover benefits, administrative expenses and services targeted to needy families.

One of TANF’s goals was reducing the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage. TANF recipients must work as soon as they are job ready and no later than two years after commencing assistance.  BRIDGES placed public assistance recipients at “job sites,” where the recipients would work for free to obtain job training and as a condition of receiving public assistance benefits like cash assistance or SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps).

BRIDGES received more than $15.7 million in funding from several entities between 2004 and 2015, including the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, the Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Works First and others. This funding was based in part on BRIDGES’ grant proposals. The majority of BRIDGES’ stated administrative costs were payroll and transportation.

BRIDGES provided job training and work placement services but at substantially lower costs than those stated in its budgets and invoices. The defendants fraudulently inflated BRIDGES payroll costs, transportation and mileage.

Morris, BRIDGES and others maintained false personnel files, timesheets, mileage records and reimbursement forms for nonexistent employees. They included fake, former or nonexistent employees on the payroll. For example, BRIDGES paid Moody a salary even though he did not work there, and later continued to pay him by issuing payroll checks to Moody’s wife.

During trial, Moody testified that he placed the salary in his wife’s name in order to distance himself from BRIDGES while running for mayor in 2009 and so that she could receive Social Security benefits despite not otherwise being eligible. Moody also received non-payroll checks, which he used to purchase and rehabilitate an investment property in Toledo, purchase an interest in his real estate company, Flex Realty, and pay for legal fees. 

BRIDGES, Morris, Moody, Hawkins and Bowser used TANF funds to pay for personal living expenses including groceries, dental care, medical care, resort vacations, pharmaceuticals, clothing, toys, designer bags, furniture, video streaming services, credit card bills, legal fees unrelated to BRIDGES’ business, tattoos, cosmetic surgery, real estate, vehicles, investments and jewelry, according to court documents and trial testimony.

For example, between February 2013 and October 2014, Hawkins accessed a BRIDGES business account to make approximately $18,200 in cash withdrawals.  Hawkins also had access to a debit card through which she accessed and spent approximately $750,000 in a two-year timeframe.  Hawkins and co-defendant Morris also purchased two houses, including a $400,000 house in the Point Place neighborhood of Toledo. 

Bowser, a program manager at BRIDGES, received numerous non-payroll checks from the company, some of which were used to purchase a house in Toledo.  Bowser continued to receive bi-weekly payments from the company after she stopped working there in 2014.  

Each defendant was convicted of conspiracy to commit federal program theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses, substantive federal program theft counts, and substantive money laundering counts.

Morris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit federal program theft and mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and willful failure to pay over withheld payroll tax.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah P. Hood and Gene Crawford following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations with the assistance of the Ohio Auditor of State’s Office, Public Integrity Assurance Team.

A federal grand jury indicted Antonio W. Saunders, 38, of Maple Heights, on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, said Justin E. Herdman, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

 

The indictment alleges that on or about November 1, 2017, Saunders possessed a Bersa, Semi-Automatic, 9mm pistol and ammunition, after having been previously convicted of two felony offenses in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in 2001 and 2011.  The indictment also alleges that on or about the same date, Saunders possessed with the intent to distribute less than 100 pounds of marijuana.   

 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ranya Elzein.

 

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 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.

 Four people were charged with illegally reentering the United States, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Indicted are Santos Adelmo Escobar-Garcia, 44, of Honduras; Juan Carlos Galindo-Escobar, 48, of Guatemala; Bernabe Vazquez-Bamaca, 33, of Mexico, and Santos Guevara- Batres, 26, of El Salvador.

 

The cases were investigated by U.S. States Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

 

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.

A Canton man was indicted on child pornography charges, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Andrew H. Daugherty, 27, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

 

Daugherty knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in August 2017, according to the indictment.

 

Daugherty also possessed a computer on Nov. 14 that contained child pornography, according to the indictment.

 

If convicted, the defendant's sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not

exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Canton Police Department and FBI.

 

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

Twenty-six people were indicted in federal court for their roles in two separate conspiracies to bring large amounts of drugs – including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine – to Northeast Ohio, law enforcement officials said.

 

Fifteen people were charged in a 29-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and U-47700 (a fentanyl analogue). They are: Irwin Jose Vargas, 42, of Euclid; Keyra Linnette Martinez, 42, of Euclid; Irwing Vargas Rosario, 24, of Cleveland; Isidoro M. Gonzalez, 41, of Cleveland; Alcides Garcia, 46, of Ponce, Puerto Rice; Austin Natale, 27, of Cleveland; Kayle Mae Jonela, 22, of Brook Park; Rosemary Howell, 55, of Cleveland; Dennis Mansfield, 58, of Cleveland; William Rodriguez, 41, of Cleveland; Jeffrey Mack, 44, of Cleveland; Victor Felix, 39, of Cleveland; Nelson Benitez, Jr., 34, of Cleveland; Thomas Lopez, 39, of Cleveland, and Edgar Arroyo, 37, of Cleveland.

 

Twelve people were charged in a 26-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, N-Ethyl Pentalone (an analogue to MDMA or “molly”) and marijuana. They are: Emad Silmi, 43, of North Olmsted; Christopher Young, 46, of Westlake; Herbert Shaw, 44, of Cleveland; Samer Abu-Kwaik, 46, of Cleveland; Nelson Benitez, Jr., 34, of Cleveland; Jonathan Smith, 34, of Lathrup Village, Mich.; John D. Ciarlillo, 42, of Medina; Anthony Quinn Greenlee, 26, of Huron; Santana Jones, 22, of Cleveland; Gregory Lowery, 32, of Painesville; Mogahed Mustafa, 30, of North Olmsted, and Erkan Nevzadi, 29, of Cleveland.

 

Benitez is charged in both indictments.

 

“These groups brought hundreds of pounds of dangerous drugs into Northeast Ohio and sold them throughout our community,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “We will continue to work collaboratively to shut off the flow of drugs and seek long prison sentences for traffickers.”

 

“This long term investigation was aimed at stopping dangerous drugs from flowing into our city and streets, and holding accountable those that choose to illegally pollute our communities.  Heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and synthetic opioids were among the drugs seized, and the FBI, along with our many law enforcement partners, are committed to working to defeat this menacing threat one drug trafficking organization at a time."

 

"This investigation was the culmination of strong relationships between the various law enforcement partners,” Cuyahoga County Sheriff Cliff Pinckney said. “The Sheriff's Department will always vigorously pursue drug traffickers in conjunction with this partnership."

“Today's massive take down marks a major step forward in combating illegal opiate sales within the city of Cleveland,” Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said. “As you can see from this joint effort, law-enforcement remains committed to erasing this problem in Northeast Ohio.  Further, we encourage anyone battling addiction to utilize the many resources that are available and to strive to get well.” 

 

Vargas, Martinez and Gonzales arranged for shipments of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine from Puerto Rico between 2016 and the present. These shipments included at least a kilogram of fentanyl, a kilogram of heroin and five kilograms of cocaine. Many of these shipments came through the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS, according to the indictment.

 

Vargas, Martinez, Gonzales and Rosario then sold the drugs to other drug traffickers in Cleveland. Members of the conspiracy used several locations in Greater Cleveland to receive, store and distribute the drugs, including: 4705 Bridge Ave. (Vargas’ business, Santiago Auto Care Services, also known as Capu Auto and Sound); 6841 Day Drive, Apartment 605, in Parma and 754 Hemlock Drive in Euclid (Vargas’ and Martinez’s residences); 3871 Ridge Road (Gonzales’ business, Ways to Save Auto Sales); 5601 Wichita Ave. (Gonzales’ residence) and 11901 Lena Ave. (Howell’s and Mansfield’s residence), according to the indictment.

 

Vargas and Martinez often used the U.S. Postal Service online system to track shipments of parcels sent to Northeast Ohio from Puerto Rico, as well as packages shipped from China to Puerto Rico, according to the indictment

 

In the second conspiracy, Silmi obtained large amounts of cocaine from Abu-Kwaik and then sold it to other drug dealers from his business Global Auto Body & Collision at 4317 W. 130th Street. He also obtained large amounts of N-Ethyl Pentylone – an analogue of “molly” – from Greenlee, which Greenlee had obtained from suppliers in China. Silmi sold the molly analogue to other dealers from his Cleveland auto body shop, according to the indictment.

 

Silmi obtained at least five kilograms of cocaine and more than 100 kilograms of marijuana between January 2016 and March 2017, according to the indictment.

 

Greenlee used 3006 Cleveland Road West, Apartment 8 in Huron (his residence) and U.S. Motor Sales at 4927 Brookpark Road in Parma (his business) to store and distribute drugs. Kwaik used U.S. Motor Sales at 4927 Brookpark Road, Parma, Ohio (his business) and 7358 Meadow Lane, Parma, Ohio (his residence) to store and distribute drugs, according to the indictment.

 

Greenlee and Nevzadi used firearms, ammunition and other weapons to protect their drug trafficking activities, according to the indictment.

 

Silmi is also charged with conspiracy to launder money as part of an effort to hide his drug profits, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Division of Police, the IRS, and members of the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area personnel.

 

The NOLETF is a long standing multi-agency task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the police departments of Broadview Heights, Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Euclid, Independence, North Royalton, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Shaker Heights. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiatives. HIDTA supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.

 

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Matthew J. Cronin.

 

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

Eleven people from the Canton area were indicted in federal court for firearms violations, including firearms trafficking, illegal sale of a machine gun and drug charges, law enforcement officials said.

 

Indicted are: Rasheed Babb, 25; Shawntez Block, 25; Andre Bowers, 41; Ikasha Clark, 38; Darnell Curtis, 39; Kamari Kidd, 21; Tae’Vontae Miles, 22; Jesse Gulley, 44; Thomas Lorenz, 60; Arthur Keeney, 28, and Sean Foster, 33.

 

All the defendants live in Canton except Lorenz, who is from Dover, and Block, who is from Massillon.

 

Bowers was charged with illegally dealing firearms while Kidd and Miles were charged with assisting his firearms trafficking.

 

Bowers engaged in the unlicensed dealing of firearms between December 2016 and February 2017. Bowers’ previous convictions include aggravated assault, cocaine trafficking, domestic violence, escape and other crimes.

 

At various times he sold or possessed a Harrington & Richardson .32-caliber revolver, a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, a Glock .40-caliber pistol, another Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun, a Marlin .22-caliber rifle, a Rossi 20-gauge shotgun and a Kel-Tec 5.56 mm pistol, according to the indictment.

 

Bowers also distributed heroin, according to the indictment.

 

Gulley, Clark and Lorenz were indicted for a transaction in July 2017 in which Lorenz transferred to Gulley and Clark a Heckler and Koch, 308-caliber machine gun, according to the indictment.

 

Gulley on July 25, 2017, possessed the aforementioned machine gun, ammunition and six other firearms, despite prior convictions for felonious assault and possession of cocaine. On the same day, Gulley and Clark possessed a sawed-off shotgun, according to the indictment.

 

“Cases like these are exercises in homicide prevention,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “These defendants have no business carrying firearms, given their previous criminal conduct. This operation has made Canton safer.”

 

“The value of these types of cases can be measured in human lives,” said Canton Police Chief Bruce Lawver. “These cases involve illegally possessed firearms in the hands of criminal. They demonstrate the cooperation that exists between the Canton Police Department and our federal law enforcement partners.”

 

“These arrests are just the next step in our work with our partners at the Canton Police Department and the FBI,” said Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division.  “We will continue to work together to make Canton and the surrounding communities safer by removing individuals who use violence to further their criminal activities from our streets.”

 

“These dangerous individuals will now be held accountable for their numerous criminal violations involving guns,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. “The FBI commends the collaborative work done by all agencies involved, especially the ATF and Canton Police Department.”

 

Keeney possessed a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol and nine rounds of 9 mm Winchester brand ammunition on Dec. 7, 2016, despite prior convictions for felonious assault and improper handling of a firearm in a mother vehicle, according to the indictment.

 

Foster possessed a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol , a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol, a Fabrique Nationale .40-caliber pistol and 35 rounds of ammunition on Oct. 1, 2017, despite prior convictions for trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine, according to the indictment.

 

Block possessed a Ruger 9mm pistol on Jan. 16, 2016, despite prior convictions for aggravated drug trafficking and endangering children, according to the indictment.

 

Curtis possessed a Remingon 12-gauge shotgun and a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun on May 11, 2017, despite a prior conviction for aggravated robbery with a firearms specification, according to the indictment.

 

Babb possessed a Harrington and Richardson .32-caliber revolver on Oct. 19, 2017, despite a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, according to the indictment.

Approximately 30 firearms were seized as part of the operation, along with ballistic vests, ammunition, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.

 

These cases were investigated by the Canton Police Department, the ATF and the FBI, with assistance from the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron P. Howell and Henry F. DeBaggis.

 

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the Court after consideration of the federal sentencing guidelines, which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique 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.

 

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

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging a Cuyahoga Falls man with making interstate death threats, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Wei Li, 28, is charged with one count of making an interstate threat of murder and one count of obstructing an official proceeding.

 

Li transmitted a threat from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to Nevada on Nov. 6 in which he threatened to murder his wife and others. His text messages included: “You will be dead,”, “I am not crazy. I am a high functioning sociopath…”, “Automatic rifle. I can't find you, then I just sweep the place. Make it big...” and “...We have 1000 people in our church. I will make the biggest one in history.”, among others, according to the indictment.

 

Li deleted text messages during a Nov. 10, interview with FBI agents, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department.  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 Barberton man will be deported after pleading guilty to lying about his actions during the war in the former Yugoslavia, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit office.

Oliver Dragic, 42, pleaded guilty to possessing and fraudulently obtained immigration documents. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he will be deported.

Dragic failed to disclose his paramilitary police service for the Republika Srpska, a rogue state unrecognized by the international community that attempted to create an ethnically pure Serbian nation within the ethnically-mixed territory of the Yugoslav Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina.  Dragic completed police training in Serbia in 1994 and returned to Bosnia, where he voluntarily joined a special police unit that joined in Republika Srpska’s army during military operations, according to court documents.

Dragic applied for refugee status in the U.S. in May 1998, claiming he was a victim of the Bosnian war. He claimed in that application that he had never worked, when in fact he had served in the paramilitary unit, according to court documents.

“This defendant claimed to be a refugee but served in a paramilitary force during the war in the former Yugoslavia,” Herdman said.

“The investigation, prosecution, and ultimate removal of individuals like Dragic are paramount to the mission of Homeland Security Investigations and to the safety our communities,” Francis said.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Cronin and Om Kakani prosecuted the case following an investigation by HSI Special Agent Matt Hamulak and Historian Michael MacQueen.

Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are urged to contact HSI by calling the toll-free tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199.  They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov (link sends e-mail).

A Youngstown man was charged with selling heroin and crack cocaine near a school, law enforcement officials said

 

Anthony A. Scrutchen, Jr., 31, distributed heroin within 1,000 feet of the Youngstown Academy of Excellence, a public elementary school, on at least eight occasions between October 2016 and January 2017, according to the 10-count criminal information.

 

Scrutchen possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine within 1,000 feet of the Youngstown Academy of Excellence in January 2017, according to the information.

 

Scrutchen is also charged with maintained a location at 173South Jackson Street in Youngstown for the purpose of distributing narcotics, according to the information.

 

“Selling drugs responsible for killing thousands of our friends and relatives so close to a school is particularly reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “Law enforcement will continue to work shut off the flow of opioids into our neighborhoods.”

 

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

 

The investigation preceding the information was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mahoning Valley Task Force and the Youngstown Police Department.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.

 

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

An eight-count indictment was filed charging a Rocky River business executive with collecting nearly $860,000 from his employees but not paying the money to the IRS, as well as embezzling more than $130,000 from an employee retirement plan, law enforcement officials said.

C. David Snyder, 65, 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 the indictment.

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 the indictment.

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 the indictment.

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 $130,415 in contributions and loan repayments withheld from Attevo and Ruralogic employee wages, according to the indictment.

During the time of his alleged criminal conduct, Snyder paid approximately $510,000 for the rental of his personal residence in Lakewood and his vacation home in Chautauqua County, New York. He took cash advances from Attevo’s credit card and then caused approximately $82,237 in cash to be deposited into his bank account and $182,988 to be deposited into his wife’s bank account. His wife did not work for Attevo, according to the indictment.

Snyder earned income from Attevo totaling approximately $850,132 between 2009 and 2011, according to the indictment.

“This defendant embezzled money from an employee retirement account and did not pay to the IRS money he withheld from his employees’ paychecks, all while living a lavish lifestyle,” U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

“Business owners have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the Internal Revenue Service,” said IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner. “The failure to pay over withheld taxes results in the loss of tax revenue to the United States government and the loss of future Social Security or Medicare benefits for employees.”

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations relating to labor racketeering and theft of pension funds covered by ERISA. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations,” stated James Vanderberg, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Regional Office of the United States 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 Michael L. Collyer and Megan R. Miller.

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the Court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique 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 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 former Broadview Heights man was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the Cuyahoga Heights School District out of millions of dollars, law enforcement officials said.

David Donadeo, 43, (formerly known as Donald A. Rupp) was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison and ordered to pay approximately $2.6 million in restitution.

Donadeo and others established and owned shell vendor companies that were used to defraud the school district. Joseph Palazzo worked as Cuyahoga Heights School District’s information technology director.  Palazzo was responsible for managing the District’s IT Department, which included purchasing hardware and software and making other IT expenditures to benefit the District and its students, according to court documents. 

Palazzo, Donadeo, and others devised a scheme to divert millions of dollars of school district funds to their own personal use. Overall, the school district sustained a loss of approximately $3.3 million.

This scheme involved Palazzo submitting to the school distict false invoices that purported to be for IT-related goods and services purchased from legitimate companies by the school district’s IT department.  Palazzo represented that the invoices he submitted were legitimate, and he approved the false invoices himself or forged the signature of another in the approval section, according to court documents.

The companies named on the invoices did not supply such goods to or perform such services for the District and were nothing more than shell companies set up by Donadeo and others to perpetrate the fraud scheme. The invoices listed services that were never performed, fictitious software and hardware, adn software and hardware never received or already purchased by the school district from another source, according to court documents.

Relying on these invoices, the school district issued checks to these shell vendor corporations, two of which Donadeo operated. Donadeo, and the other shell vendor corporation owner kept approximately half of the stolen money themselves and funneled the remainder of the money back to Palazzo for his personal use, according to court documents. 

According to court documents, Donadeo fled the country with his family shortly after learning authorities were were pursuing a criminal investigation and had executed search warrants. The case was indicted in 2013, but Donadeo remained at large until May 2017, when Spain extradited Donadeo and returned him to the U.S. to face prosecution.

“This defendant set up sham corporations that he used to steal millions of dollars from the students and taxpayers of Cuyahoga Heights,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

“David Donadeo will be in prison for more than five years for his involvement in a scheme laced with a web of financial lies, but the harm caused to the students and citizens of Cuyahoga Heights may last a lifetime,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charged, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

“David Donadeo stole from the citizens and students of Cuyahoga Heights and then avoided the consequences of his actions for years,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office. “The investigators are to be commended for uncovering this enormous fraud.”

Joseph Palazzo was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy. His brother, Dominic Palazzo, was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Dennis Boyles was sentenced to more than two years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service -- Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the State of Ohio Auditor’s Office, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Lutzko and Assistant United States Attorney James L. Morford.

A Geauga County man pleaded guilty to two counts related to possessing videos of children being raped and sexually assaulted, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

 

John S. Mobasseri, 39, of Novelty, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19. He pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possession of child pornography.

 

Mobasseri earlier this year had two USB storage devices, 14 computer disks and a computer that contained images of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mobasseri received and distributed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct between 2009 and 2017, according to court documents.

 

The files include titles such as “10Yo Preteen Raped (Incest).mpeg” and images such as children being blindfolded and sexually assaulted, as well as children being bound and masked while being sexually assaulted, according to court documents.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Two men were arrested and charged with attempted possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, law enforcement officials said.

Michael B. Lawrence, 43, of Youngstown, and Dainon L. Jones, 37, of Girard, were arrested after accepting a package from China that they believed contained approximately 273 grams of methoxyacetyl fentanyl.

Homeland Security Investigations special agents became aware on Nov. 20 of a suspicious package shipped by Wei Zhu of Shanghai, China, to an Erik Fields at 731 Judson Ave. in Youngstown. Previous packages shipped by Zhu have contained large amounts fentanyl seized in Seattle, New York and Detroit, according to court documents.

The package shipped to Youngstown was labeled as containing “pants zipper”. Law enforcement examined the parcel a discovered a white powder consistent with fentanyl. A forensic test revealed the contents to be approximately 273 grams of methoxyacetyl fentanyl, according to court documents.

A search of law enforcement databases revealed no Erik Fields living at 731 Judson Ave. Undercover agents made a controlled delivery at 731 Judson Ave. on Nov. 29. Jones arrived at the address approximately two minutes later in a silver Mercedes, made contact with the resident, retrieved the package and drove away with it, according to court documents.

Jones drove to 3311 Idlewood in Youngstown, where he picked up Lawrence. They drove to a nearby gas station, where Lawrence exited the Mercedes with the package. He took a bus to downtown Youngstown, where Jones again picked him up in his Mercedes. They then drove together to 57 East Wilson in Girard and entered the front door, according to court documents.

Both Jones and Lawrence took off running as law enforcement approached the home in Girard. Both eventually were arrested, according to court documents.

“The amount of fentanyl these defendants are accused of bringing to downtown Youngstown from China could have killed hundreds of people,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “Aggressive enforcement, combined with increased prevention and education efforts, is our best chance to turn the tide on this epidemic.”

“The opioid crisis touches almost every American community,” said Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations’ Detroit office. “HSI and our partners are proud to be at the tip of the spear, using our broad authorities to combat the groups and individuals allegedly involved in this deadly trade.”

This case was investigated by HSI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force, the TAG Drug Task Force and the DEA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toeper.

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique 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.

A charge 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 17 years in prison for selling heroin that caused three overdoses in Wooster last year, law enforcement officials said.

 

Demetrius L. Frizzell, 31, previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of attempted witness tampering.

 

Wooster police learned about a heroin overdose victim who on Nov. 3 was brought to an emergency room unresponsive and appeared to be deceased. He was revived after emergency-room staff administered 12 doses of Narcan. Investigators traced the sale of heroin to Frizzell, according to court documents.

 

Frizzell also sold heroin on Oct. 29 and Nov. 2 that resulted in overdoses. All three people who overdosed were revived with Narcan, according to court documents.

 

Frizzell made a call from jail to an unknown male and instructed him to go to the home of one of the people who overdosed called and get him “in line,” according to court documents.

 

“This defendant sold heroin that resulted in several overdoses and would have caused deaths, but for the intervention from first responders and hospital personnel,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman. “Aggressive enforcement, combined with increased prevention and education efforts, is our best chance to turn around this epidemic.”

 

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon stated: “Overdoses and overdose deaths related to heroin have become an epidemic across the country and Ohio has been hit particularly hard by this problem. Identifying and bringing to justice those individuals that distribute illegal drugs that result in an overdose is one of DEA’s top priorities.”

 

MEDWAY Director Donald Hall said: “The MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency will continue to collaborate and work closely with our federal partners to hold people accountable for their actions who are involved in trafficking drugs in our communities.”

 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, the Wooster Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Teresa Riley and Mark Bennett.

A Munroe Falls man was indicted in federal court after receiving shipments of a fentanyl analogue from China, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Don A. Maigari, 36, was indicted on one count of attempt to possess and distribute methoxyacetylfentanyl. 

 

Maigari was arrested on a federal criminal complaint after receiving shipments of the drug from China last month. Packages containing the drugs were shipped to an apartment in Akron. Maigari retrieved the package on Oct. 13, 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 violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

 

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron P. Howell following an investigation by the Akron Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.

 

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 Medina man was indicted in federal court trying to induce a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activities with him and sending images of himself engaged in sexual activities, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Jason M. Sasso, 43, was named in the six-count indictment, with charges including enticement, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, receiving visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and transferring obscenity to a minor.

 

Sasso, via cell phoned, attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce what he believed were two girls who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in illegal sexual activity with him. This took place from Aug. 25 through Oct. 15, 2017, and again Oct. 11 through Oct. 24, 2017, according to the indictment.

 

Sasso also used a cell phone to transfer digital files with images of himself engaged in sexual activity to a law enforcement officer he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He also attempted to persuade minor girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purposes of producing a visual depiction of the conduct, according to the indictment.

 

He also received numerous images of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct or being sexually abused, according to the indictment.

 

If convicted, the sentence in this case will be determined by the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation.  In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael A. Sullivan following an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

 

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 possession of a sawed-off shotgun, transportation of explosive materials, and possession of a destructive device, law enforcement officials said.  

 

Elijah B. Blankenship, 27, possessed a sawed-off 12-gauge Iver Johnson shotgun on Feb. 17, according to the indictment.

 

On Aug. 16, he possessed a pipe bomb. He knowingly transported explosive materials on the same date, according to the indictment.

 

In the early evening of August  16, 2017, Akron Police officers began speaking with Elijah Blankenship in the area of Druid Walk in Akron.  Through the discussion with Blankenship it was determined that Blankenship possessed a folding knife in his waistband.  An Ohio State Highway Patrol K-9 Officer and his partner approached the scene and alerted to Blankenship's vehicle.  Two packages of unknown powder substances, gunpowder and a pipe bomb were discovered during the probable cause search of the vehicle.  Blankenship was placed in custody by law enforcement, according to court documents. 

 

All items were collected for laboratory analysis and evidence.  The disassembly of the suspected pipe bomb and pyrotechnic aerial shell revealed PVC components containing metal screws, nuts, and bolts as well as an unknown powder.  A test burn was conducted of the unknown powder.  The powder burned in a manner consistent with an energetic pyrotechnic powder, 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 violations.  In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

 

The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa L. Riley following an investigation the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Akron Police Department, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

 

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.

 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced $98,495,397 in grant funding through the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.

 

The Justice Department has awarded nearly $2 million over three years to hire 14 officers in the Northern District of Ohio. Municipalities receiving funding are: Canton (eight officers), Lima (three officers), East Cleveland (two officers) and Dennison Village (one officer).

 

“Cities and states that cooperate with federal law enforcement make all of us safer by helping remove dangerous criminals from our communities,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “Today, the Justice Department announced that 80 percent of this year’s COPS Hiring Program grantees have agreed to cooperate with federal immigration authorities in their detention facilities. I applaud their commitment to the rule of law and to ending violent crime, including violent crime stemming from illegal immigration. I continue to encourage every jurisdiction in America to collaborate with federal law enforcement and help us make this country safer.”

 

“I’m gratified we are able to continue to support the good police work taking place all across the District,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “This money will help reduce violent crime, enhance data-driven policing and support law enforcement on the front lines of the opioid crisis.”

 

CHP provides grant funding directly to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address specific crime problems through community policing strategies.

 

In September, the Justice Department announced additional priority consideration criteria for FY2017 COPS Office grants. Applicants were notified that their application would receive additional points in the application scoring process by certifying their willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities within their detention facilities. Cooperation may include providing access to detention facilities for an interview of aliens in the jurisdiction’s custody and providing advance notice of an alien’s release from custody upon request. 143 of the 179 (80 percent) awarded agencies received additional points based on their certifications of willingness to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

 

The complete list of award recipients can be found here.

 

The COPS Office awards grants to hire community policing officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders, and all levels of law enforcement. Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to help advance community policing.

A one-count information was filed charging a Jordanian citizen living in Youngstown with making a false claim of citizenship related to the purchase a firearm, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.

 

Abdul Maola Alabadi, 35, falsely and willfully represented himself to be a citizen of the United States on Aug. 30, 2017, according to the information.

 

The manager at Fin Fur Feather in Boardman called the ATF on Sept. 2 after he stopped the purchase of a rifle by Alabadi based on comments made by Alabadi. The manager told agents that Alabadi purchased a 9 mm pistol the previous week, according to the court documents.

 

Alabadi told a sales associate he wanted to purchase a “sniper rifle for training.” The manager estimated Alabadi was in the store for two to three hours and at one point had someone come to translate and attempt to straw purchase a firearm for him, according to court documents.

 

During the previous purchase of the 9 mm, Alabadi checked a box indicating he was a U.S. citizen. Alabadi is not a U.S. citizen, 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 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 information was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

 

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.

The Cleveland Division of the FBI, The United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District and the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department announce the arrest of a Cuyahoga Falls man charged with interstate threatening communications and destruction of evidence.

 

 Wei Li, 28, texted his estranged wife on November 6, 2017 multiple times threatening to kill her and to shoot up a Las Vegas hotel and casino.  Li also referenced conducting a mass shooting at a church with at least 1,000 people in attendance.   Li indicated in the text messaging that the killing he planned to commit would go down in history and that he would blame his wife for all the deaths.  Li’s wife was employed at a Las Vegas casino at the time of the text.

 

On November 10, 2017, during a joint interview with FBI agents and Cuyahoga Falls Police Detectives, Li was asked to unlock his phone. He complied but proceeded to delete a string of text messages.  Li was immediately arrested and placed in local custody.

 

This morning, Li was transferred into federal custody.  He will have his initial appearance in U.S. Magistrate Judge George Limbert’s courtroom today, Thursday, November 16, 2017, at 9a.m. 

         

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.

A Cleveland man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after he was arrested trying to film people showering at Geneva State Park, law enforcement officials said.

James D. Sullivan, 60, was found guilty of child pornography crimes.

Law enforcement received a complaint of someone attempting to record people while they were showering at the Geneva State Park’s campground restroom on July 18, 2015, according to court documents.

The restroom has drop ceilings. An Ohio State trooper found an ajar ceiling tile and entered the space, where he found a blanket, a bottle of lotion and bodily fluid on a ceiling tile. The bodily fluid was tested and was a DNA match for Sullivan, according to court documents.

A subsequent search of his Cleveland apartment revealed Sullivan had a Dell laptop computer containing nearly 100 images of children being sexually assaulted.

Sullivan was previously convicted of attempted rape, burglary and gross sexual imposition, according to court documents.

“This defendant has preyed upon people for years, whether abusing people here in Cleveland or trading in images of children being victimized,” U.S Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. “This prison sentence makes our community safer.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Sullivan and Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Secret Service.

A Toronto resident was arrested in Orlando, Florida, this morning based on federal charges filed in the Northern District of Ohio for coercion and enticement, and transfer of obscene material to minors. 

 

Daniel Jason Wnek, 27, was placed in custody without incident by law enforcement this morning.

 

On November 3, 2017, FBI Cleveland Division, Lima Resident Agency, was notified by Auglaize County Sheriff’s Office of an allegation of an adult male attempting to set up a meeting with a juvenile for the purpose of committing a sex act with the juvenile.  The adult male was ultimately identified as Daniel Wnek.

 

Wnek initially portrayed himself as a fellow teen, describing himself as a 14-year-old as he interacted with what he believed to be a 14-year-old female.  The underage female was actually an 11-year-old female.  Numerous sexually graphic conversations occurred between Wnek and the underage female via two different platforms online.  Wnek acknowledged during the conversations his intent to have sex with the underage female, and potentially her friends.  

 

Wnek entered the United States with his destination being Orlando, Florida on November 13, 2017.   FBI agents from the FBI Lima Resident Agency traveled to Orlando, Florida, and assisted in executing the arrest of Wnek this morning, Thursday, at approximately 8 a.m. at an area hotel.  Wnek will have an initial appearance in United States Middle District of Florida court.

 

This investigation was a collaborative effort with special thanks to the following agencies:  FBI, Tampa Division; United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio and Middle District of Florida; Toronto Police Service and the United States Customs and Border Protection. 

 

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.

A Lima man was indicted on child pornography charges, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Mason Shepherd, 28, knowingly received and distributed numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between 2013 and 2017, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney 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 federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging April Baxley-Humbert, 48, of Lake County, with failure to register as a sex offender, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott.

 

The indictment charges that beginning on or about Jan. 9, 2015, through Oct. 18, 2017, Baxley-Humbert failed to register, or update a registration, as a sex offender as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”), after having traveled in interstate commerce.

 

Humbert was convicted in 2002 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, of indecent assault and corruption of minors, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.  The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danielle Angeli and Michael Sullivan.

 

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

A third Toledo man has been indicted on federal charges including sex trafficking of minors, U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony said.

Kenneth Butler, 37, Cordell Jenkins, 47, and Anthony Haynes, 38, are all charged with conspiracy to sex traffic children as part of an 11-count superseding indictment.

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

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

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

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

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

Jenkins also caused another juvenile girl to engage in commercial sex acts in March 2017, according to the indictment

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

“These three men violated the trust of these children and the communities they purported to serve,” Herdman said. “We are grateful for the courage of the victims and the dedication of our law enforcement personnel in bringing these men to justice.”

 “Adults in a position of trust taking advantage of children for their own sexual gratification is beyond reprehensible,” Anthony said. “These defendants are a stark reminder that human trafficking can be hidden in plain view.  Law enforcement, in partnership with our communities, must remain vigilant in protecting our children.”

The investigation is ongoing.

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

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

Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the appointment of nine new U.S. Attorneys to serve two-year terms on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). The AGAC was created in 1973 and reports to the Attorney General through the Deputy Attorney General. AGAC represents the U.S. Attorneys and provides advice and counsel to the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys. 

 

The new appointees include: U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Richard Moore; U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah John W. Huber; U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu; U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin E. Herdman; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Robert Higdon; U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Robert Trent Shores; U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana Joshua Minkler; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Jeff Jensen; and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Bryan Schroder.

 

U.S. Attorney Richard Moore will serve as the Chair of AGAC, and U.S. Attorney John W. Huber will serve as the Vice Chair.

 

“I am pleased to announce the first members of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee under this administration. These U.S. Attorneys will play an important role in carrying out the Department of Justice’s mission to reduce violent crime, combat transnational criminal organizations, secure our southern border, end the devastating opioid crisis, and return to the rule of law,” said Attorney General Sessions.

 

“I am honored to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and believe that our office’s experience dealing with the threats posed by violent crime, the opioid epidemic, national security and other priority issues will be valuable to our Justice Department leadership,” Herdman said.

 

A brief bio on each nominee is below:

 

Richard Moore (Chair)

The Senate confirmed Richard Moore’s appointment as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama in September 2017.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Moore served as the Inspector General for the Tennessee Valley Authority.  From May 2009 to March 2011, Mr. Moore was the Chairman of the Investigations Committee for the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency.  Prior to this position, Mr. Moore served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama from 1985 to 2003.  From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Moore was an Atlantic Fellow in Public Policy at Oxford University in England.  Mr. Moore received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Spring Hill College and his J.D. from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law.

 

John W. Huber (Vice Chair)

Since June 2015, John Huber has served as the United States Attorney for the District of Utah, and in August 2017, the Senate again confirmed his appointment.  Prior to being United States Attorney, Mr. Huber served as an Assistant United States Attorney for thirteen years.  Mr. Huber began his prosecutorial career in the Weber County (Utah) Attorney’s Office, and later served as the Chief Prosecutor for West Valley City, Utah, before joining the United States Attorney’s Office in 2002.  Mr. Huber received his B.A. from the University of Utah and his J.D. from the University of Utah College of Law.

 

Justin E. Herdman

The Senate confirmed Justin Herdman’s appointment as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio in August 2017.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Herdman was a partner at Jones Day and an Assistant United States Attorney in Cleveland, Ohio.  Mr. Herdman previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City from 2001 to 2005 and as an associate at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP.  He is currently a Judge Advocate General in the United States Air Force Reserve.  Mr. Herdman received his B.A. from Ohio University, his Master of Philosophy from the University of Glasgow and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

 

Robert Higdon

The Senate confirmed Robert Higdon to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina in October 2017.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Higdon was a partner at the law firm of Williams Mullen.  He previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in both the Western and Eastern Districts of North Carolina.  In the Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Higdon served as Chief of the Criminal Division for more than 11 years.  Mr. Higdon also served as senior trial counsel in the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice.  He received his B.A., cum laude, from Wake Forest University and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law.

 

Jeff Jensen

The Senate confirmed Jeff Jensen to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri in October 2017.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Jensen was a partner at Husch Blackwell LLP.  He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Missouri starting in 1999, and was Executive United States Attorney from 2005 to 2009.  Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Jensen was an FBI Special Agent from 1989 to 1999.  While working at the FBI, Mr. Jensen attended St. Louis University School of Law at night, graduating magna cum laude.  He also received his B.A., cum laude, from Indiana University School of Business.

 

Jessie K. Liu

The Senate confirmed Jessie Liu to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia in September 2017.  Ms. Liu was previously Deputy General Counsel for the United States Department of the Treasury and a partner at the law firms of Morrison & Foerster LLP and Jenner & Block LLP.  In addition, she has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia and in several senior positions in the United States Department of Justice, including as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division, counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, and deputy chief of staff for the National Security Division.  Ms. Liu clerked for then-Chief Judge Carolyn Dineen King of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.  She received her A.B., summa cum laude, from Harvard University and her J.D. from Yale Law School.

 

Joshua Minkler

The Senate confirmed Joshua Minkler to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana in October 2017.  Since June 2015, Mr. Minkler had served as the interim United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana.  Prior to that position, he served for 21 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Indiana.  Before he joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Minkler served for five years as an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Office of the Kent County Michigan Prosecuting Attorney.  Mr. Minkler received his B.A. from Wabash College, and his J.D. from Indiana University Maurer School of Law.  

 

Bryan Schroder

Bryan Schroder’s nomination to be United States Attorney for the District of Alaska is pending in the Senate.  Mr. Schroder is currently the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Alaska, and previously served as the First Assistant United States Attorney and Criminal Chief.  Mr. Schroder has served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for more than 11 years.  Mr. Schroder is a retired Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard, having served for 24 years.  Mr. Schroder graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the University of Washington School of Law.

 

Robert Trent Shores

The Senate confirmed Robert Trent Shores to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma in September 2017.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Shores was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Oklahoma.  Mr. Shores previously served as First Assistant Attorney General for the State of Oklahoma and deputy director for the Department of Justice’s Office of Tribal Justice, where he developed initiatives to promote public safety in Indian Country.  Mr. Shores received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Willoughby Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office announce the arrest of two individuals responsible for the October 11 robbery of the Willoughby Eastlake Credit Union.

Arvis Williams, Jr., 22, and Melvin Hill, IV, 21, were placed in federal custody this morning.  Williams and Hill are charged attempted bank robbery and brandishing a weapon during a crime of violence. A third suspect identified as a juvenile is not being charged federally.

On October 11, at approximately 9:55a.m., an off-duty uniformed Willoughby Police Officer was working as security at the Willoughby Eastlake Credit Union, located at 38024 Second Street in Willoughby. The off-duty police officer reported an attempted bank robbery by two male suspects wearing hoodies that entered the credit union.  The suspects observed the uniformed officer, dropped their loaded Smith and Wesson MP-15 assault rifle at the credit union entrance and fled. 

 

Additional marked and unmarked units responded to the area to assist in locating the suspects.  Two suspects were apprehended, Arvis Williams, Jr. and the second suspect was identified as a juvenile.

 

A short time later a patrol officer observed a possible additional suspect, after questioning, this individual was identified as Melvin Hill, the getaway driver.

 

The suspects were taken into custody and charged locally.  Today, Williams and Hill were transported to federal custody. 

 

Additional federal charges are anticipated as these two are suspected of being responsible for several credit union robberies.  

A Ravenna man was indicted for selling carfentanil, heroin, fentanyl and illegally having a firearm, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

A grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Deangelo Frost, 28, with distributing narcotics and with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

 

Frost sold carfentanil and fentanyl on May 3, 2017. He sold synthetic cannabinoids in April 2017 and sold heroin on multiple dates in October 2015, according to the indictment.

 

Frost also possessed a Deutsche Werke, 7.65 mm pistol in October 2015 despite previous convictions for attempted witness intimidation and possession of cocaine, according to the indictment.

 

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and the Portage County Drug Task Force. The matter 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.

The former vice president of a bank in Kent was charged with defrauding his employer out of at least $160,000 and demanding bribes in return for approving loans, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner.

Steven P. McDonald, 43, of Kent, was charged in an 18-count criminal information with bank fraud, receipt of a bribe by a bank official, filing false tax returns and other charges.

McDonald was employed as a commercial loan officer and then vice president of commercial lending at Hometown Bank.

McDonald, in 2011, submitted an application for a $225,000 loan in the name of a friend, without that friend’s knowledge. McDonald directed the statements to be mailed to a post office box he controlled and withdrew approximately $223,000 to pay personal debts, according to the information.

McDonald made some payments on the loan but Hometown sustained a loss of approximately $160,000 from his conduct, according to the information.

McDonald also corruptly solicited and demanded bribes in return for approving loans for bank customers. These bribes came in the form of cashier’s checks totaling approximately $80,000 and a personal loan from a bank customer to McDonald in the amount of $165,000, according to the information.

McDonald also falsified bank records and failed to pay taxes on the income he derived from the fraud scheme, according to the information.

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

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Patton following an investigation by the FBI and IRS.

 

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.

Five people were indicted for firearms crimes and, in some cases, related violations, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.

 

Indicted are: Joey D. Wiseman, Jr., 36, of Elyria; Ryan D. Drummond, 30, of Warren; Dijoun Reed, 25, of Akron; Calvin Jones, Jr., 26, of Cleveland; Jean Claude Phillip McKenzie, 34, a citizen of Jamaica.

 

Wiseman on Aug. 4 had a Lorcin 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number and ammunition, despite numerous previous convictions that made it illegal for him to have a firearm, including possession of cocaine, having weapons while under disability, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and drug trafficking. Wiseman also sold cocaine on the same day, according to the indictment.

 

Drummond possessed a Smith and Wesson, model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol, a Smith and Wesson, model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol, a Remington, model 870 Express Magnum, 12 gauge shotgun and ammunition on Aug. 21, after previous convictions for possession of cocaine with a firearms specification and trafficking in cocaine, according to the indictment.

 

Reed on Oct. 24 possessed a Smith & Wesson, M&P, 40-caliber pistol, and ammunition despite prior convictions for tampering with evidence and having weapons while under disability that made it illegal for him to have a firearm, according to the indictment.

 

Jones was found on Sept. 27 to have a Colt .25-caliber handgun despite prior convictions for aggravated assault and attempted felonious assault that made it illegal for him to have a firearm, according to the indictment

 

McKenzie was found on Oct. 1 in possession of a SCCY 9 mm pistol in Cleveland after having been deported from the United States in 2012, McKenzie was also indicted for illegally reentering the United States.

 

 

The Wiseman case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Pinjuh following an investigation by the Elyria Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

 

The Drummond case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer following an investigation by the ATF, the Warren Police Department and the Adult Parole Authority.  

 

The Reed case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry F. DeBaggis following an investigation by the ATF and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.

 

The Jones case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Angeli following an investigation by the Shaker Heights Police Department and the ATF.

 

The McKenzie case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karrie D. Howard following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Custom Enforcement and the Cleveland Division of Police.

 

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 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 charged with child pornography crimes, said U.S Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthiony.

 

Anthony Gore, 24, was indicted on one count of receipt of visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

 

Gore received numbers computer files with contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between February and April 2017, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Carol M. Skutnik following an investigation by Task Force Officer Joanna Nagy Unger, with the FBI Violent Crime/Child Exploitation Task Force.

 

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 23-count indictment was filed charging three Akron women with defrauding the U.S. Department of Education out of $1.8 million through a scheme where they enrolled inmates and people whose identities they stole in an Arizona community college in order to obtain financial aid, law enforcement officials said.

 

Janice M. Shufford, 53, Bridgid D. Sommerville, 47, and Christine M. Robinson, 38, are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and multiple counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

 

“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. 

 

As a result of the conspiracy, the Department of Education was defrauded and sustained a total loss of at least $1,826,064, according to the indictment.

 

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

          

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

 

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.

Americans nationwide did their part to reduce the opioid crisis by bringing the DEA and its more than 4,200 local and tribal law enforcement partners a record-setting 912,305 pounds—456 tons—of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for disposal at more than 5,300 collection sites. That is almost six tons more than was collected at last spring’s event. This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 9,015,668 pounds, or 4,508 tons.

 

In Ohio, nearly 18 tons – 35,797 pounds – of unused pills were collected.

 

Now in its 8th year, this event continues to remove ever-higher amounts of 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. The DEA action comes just days after President Donald J. Trump announced the mobilization of his entire Administration to address drug addiction and opioid abuse by directing the declaration of a Nationwide Public Health Emergency to address the opioids crisis.

 

“More people start down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs than any other substance. The abuse of these prescription drugs has fueled the nation’s opioid epidemic, which has led to the highest rate of overdose deaths this country has ever seen,” said Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson. “This is a crisis that must be addressed from multiple angles.  Educating the public and removing these medications from households across the Unites States prevents misuse where it often starts.”

 

“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.”

 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—posed potential safety and health hazards.

 

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 www.deatakeback.com. DEA’s next Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 28, 2018.

Two former U.S. Postal employees were sentenced to prison for stealing packages containing marijuana from the U.S. mail and then selling the drugs, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Rabih Kairouz, 29, of Akron, was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

 

Scott Gay, Jr., 33, of Canton, was sentenced to six months incarceration followed by six months of

house arrest.

 

Corey Turnbull, 26, of Ravenna, was sentenced to probation.

 

Anton D. Easter, Jr., 27, of Akron is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

 

Kairouz, Gay and Turnbull worked for the U.S. Postal Service. Kairouz and Turnbull worked as a supervisor at the Five Points station in Akron while Gay was a manager at the North Hill station, according to court documents.

 

Together, intercepted suspected drug parcels at U.S. Post Offices in Akron, opened the parcels, removed marijuana contained inside, sold the marijuana to Easter and shared the profits. This took place between February and May 2017, according to court documents.

 

Kairouz also had a kilogram of methamphetamine that he stole from the mail, according to court documents.

 

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Akron Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry F. DeBaggis and Teresa L. Riley.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Akron Police Department, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, announce Elijah Blankenship has been federally charged with transporting explosive materials, a violation of Title 18, Section 842(a)(3).  Blankenship will have an initial appearance in U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke’s courtroom today at 10am. 

In the early evening of August  16, 2017, Akron Police officers began speaking with Elijah Blankenship in the area of Druid Walk in Akron.  Through the discussion with Blankenship it was determined that Blankenship possessed a folding knife in his waistband.  An Ohio State Highway Patrol K-9 Officer and his partner approached the scene and alerted to Blankenship's vehicle.  Two packages of unknown powder substances, gunpowder and a pipe bomb were discovered during the probable cause search of the vehicle.  Blankenship was placed in custody by law enforcement. 

All items were collected for laboratory analysis and evidence.  The disassembly of the suspected pipe bomb and pyrotechnic aerial shell revealed PVC components containing metal screws, nuts, and bolts as well as an unknown powder.  A test burn was conducted of the unknown powder.  The powder burned in a manner consistent with an energetic pyrotechnic powder.   

Today, November 7, 2017, Elijah Blankenship was charged in federal court with possession of an explosive device without a license. 

Stephen Anthony, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation said: “Officers on scene are commended for their swift and thorough response to the dangerous situation they encountered.  The FBI will continue to work collaboratively with local, state and federal agencies in order to ensure our community and our citizens are kept safe.”

“Law enforcement did an outstanding job identifying this defendant and finding the explosive he possessed,”  U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said.  “Collaborative efforts such as this are crucial to keeping our nation and community safe.”

“Our officers did a great job being vigilant and proactive in stopping Elijah Blankenship.  We are and will continue to work with our federal partners to bring this case to justice,” said Chief Kenneth Ball, Akron Police Department.

“ATF maintains a wealth of expertise in the areas of firearms and explosives,” said Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division.  “This case would not have been possible without the continued professionalism of our partners in the Akron Police Department and the Summit County Bomb Squad.  We are committed to working with them and all of our law enforcement partners and to use our expertise to remove the most violent criminals from our streets.”

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.  The investigation is ongoing, therefore information, other than the unsealed complaint, cannot  be provided.

Yahya Farooq Mohammad, 39, was sentenced today to 27 ½ years in prison for one count of conspiracy to provide and conceal material support or resources to terrorists and one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

 

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin E. Herdman, Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Division, and U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott of the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan supervised the prosecution of the solicitation to commit a crime of violence charge

 

“As part of his conspiracy, the defendant provided thousands of dollars to Anwar Al-Awlaki in response to his calls to support violent jihad.  Once detained, the defendant also solicited the murder of the federal judge presiding over his case.  With this prison sentence, he is now being held accountable for his crimes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is counterterrorism and we will continue to pursue justice against those who provide material support to terrorists and those who seek to harm members of our judiciary.”

 

“For those who wish to harm the United States and support terrorists, whether in Yemen or right here in Toledo, these decades of prison serve as an important reminder that America’s law enforcement will pursue justice across the globe,” U.S. Attorney Herdman said. “He threatened the safety of our citizens, a judge and the independent judiciary. Now he is being held accountable.”

“The FBI is pleased that this individual will be spending a lengthy sentence behind bars for his support of terrorism and a plot to commit murder,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony. “The FBI will continue working daily to identify and bring to justice those that want to harm the individuals that protect our country or a judge that is upholding the law.” 

“Protecting the federal judiciary is our highest priority,” said U.S. Marshal Elliott.  “This is an example where we were able to work with our law enforcement partners to protect a judge and bring charges against a dangerous individual.”

 

Mohammad is an Indian citizen who was an engineering student at Ohio State University between 2002 and 2004. He married a U.S. citizen in 2008. He and three other defendants – his brother, Ibrahim Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim, and Sultane Room Salim – were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2015. The case against the remaining three defendants is pending. They have pleaded not guilty.

 

Mohammad admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants to travel to Yemen to provide thousands of dollars, equipment, and other assistance to Anwar Al-Awlaki, in an effort to support violent jihad against U.S. military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world. Al-Awlaki was later designated as a global terrorist in 2010 and identified as a “key leader” of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, according to court documents.

 

On July 22, 2009, Mohammad travelled with two associates to Yemen to meet Awlaki and deliver the $22,000 that they had raised. Although they were unable to meet Awlaki in person, Mohammad and his associates did ensure that Awlaki received the money through a courier.

 

In addition to pleading guilty to conspiring to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, Mohammad also admitted to soliciting an undercover FBI employee (UCE), posing as a “hitman,” to kidnap and murder U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary. In or about April 2016 – while the terrorism case was pending and assigned to Judge Zouhary – Mohammad told another inmate in the Lucas County Corrections Center in Toledo, Ohio that he wanted Zouhary kidnapped and murdered and that he was willing to pay $15,000 to have this carried out. The inmate provided Mohammad with the contact information for the UCE and stated that the UCE would need a $1,000 down payment before the murder could occur. The inmate also provided Mohammad with an agreed upon code to use when discussing the planned murder over the jail telephone.

 

On or about April 26, 2016, Mohammad called the UCE from the Lucas County Corrections Center. Using the agreed-upon code, Mohammad told the UCE he wanted to have Judge Zouhary killed. Mohammad agreed to provide the $1,000 down payment. When asked when he wanted the murder committed, Mohammad stated, “The sooner would be good, you know.”  Over the ensuing days, Mohammad arranged to have a family member provide the $1,000 in cash to the UCE. On May 5, 2016, that family member met with the UCE and provided the UCE with $1,000 in cash. Mohammad later informed the inmate that the rest of the money for the murder was coming, according to court documents.

 

Mohammad will be deported from the U.S. upon completion of his sentence, under the terms of his plea agreement.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Freeman and Matthew Shepherd of the Northern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorneys Gregory Gonzalez and David Smith of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, following an investigation by the FBI. 

 

Yahya Farooq Mohammad, 39, was sentenced today to 27 ½ years in prison for one count of conspiracy to provide and conceal material support or resources to terrorists and one count of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.

 

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin E. Herdman, Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony of the FBI’s Cleveland Field Division, and U.S. Marshal Peter J. Elliott of the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan supervised the prosecution of the solicitation to commit a crime of violence charge

 

“As part of his conspiracy, the defendant provided thousands of dollars to Anwar Al-Awlaki in response to his calls to support violent jihad.  Once detained, the defendant also solicited the murder of the federal judge presiding over his case.  With this prison sentence, he is now being held accountable for his crimes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is counterterrorism and we will continue to pursue justice against those who provide material support to terrorists and those who seek to harm members of our judiciary.”

 

“For those who wish to harm the United States and support terrorists, whether in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, or right here in Toledo, these decades of prison serve as an important reminder that America’s law enforcement will pursue justice across the globe,” U.S. Attorney Herdman said.  “He threatened the safety of our citizens, a judge and the independent judiciary. Now he is being held accountable.”

“The FBI is pleased that this individual will be spending a lengthy sentence behind bars for his support of terrorism and a plot to commit murder,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony.  “The FBI will continue working daily to identify and bring to justice those that want to harm the individuals that protect our country or a judge that is upholding the law.” 

“Protecting the federal judiciary is our highest priority,” said U.S. Marshal Elliott.  “This is an example where we were able to work with our law enforcement partners to protect a judge and bring charges against a dangerous individual.”

Mohammad is an Indian citizen who was an engineering student at Ohio State University between 2002 and 2004.  He married a U.S. citizen in 2008.  He and three other defendants – his brother, Ibrahim Mohammad, Asif Ahmed Salim, and Sultane Room Salim – were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2015.  The case against the remaining three defendants is pending.  They have pleaded not guilty.

 

Mohammad admitted to conspiring with his co-defendants to travel to Yemen to provide thousands of dollars, equipment, and other assistance to Anwar Al-Awlaki, in an effort to support violent jihad against U.S. military personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world.  Al-Awlaki was later designated as a global terrorist in 2010 and identified as a “key leader” of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, according to court documents.

 

On July 22, 2009, Mohammad travelled with two associates to Yemen to meet Awlaki and deliver the $22,000 that they had raised.  Although they were unable to meet Awlaki in person, Mohammad and his associates did ensure that Awlaki received the money through a courier.

 

In addition to pleading guilty to conspiring to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, Mohammad also admitted to soliciting an undercover FBI employee (UCE), posing as a “hitman,” to kidnap and murder U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary.  In or about April 2016 – while the terrorism case was pending and assigned to Judge Zouhary – Mohammad told another inmate in the Lucas County Corrections Center in Toledo, Ohio that he wanted Zouhary kidnapped and murdered and that he was willing to pay $15,000 to have this carried out.  The inmate provided Mohammad with the contact information for the UCE and stated that the UCE would need a $1,000 down payment before the murder could occur.  The inmate also provided Mohammad with an agreed upon code to use when discussing the planned murder over the jail telephone.

 

On or about April 26, 2016, Mohammad called the UCE from the Lucas County Corrections Center.  Using the agreed-upon code, Mohammad told the UCE he wanted to have Judge Zouhary killed. Mohammad agreed to provide the $1,000 down payment.  When asked when he wanted the murder committed, Mohammad stated, “The sooner would be good, you know.”   Over the ensuing days, Mohammad arranged to have a family member provide the $1,000 in cash to the UCE. On May 5, 2016, that family member met with the UCE and provided the UCE with $1,000 in cash. Mohammad later informed the inmate that the rest of the money for the murder was coming, according to court documents.

 

Mohammad will be deported from the U.S. upon completion of his sentence, under the terms of his plea agreement.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Freeman, Matthew Shepherd and Christos N. Georgalis of the Northern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorneys Gregory Gonzalez and David Smith of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, following an investigation by the FBI. 

A Norwalk man was indicted on multiple charges after fraudulently inducing teen girls into engaging in sexually explicit conduct and recording the conduct under the false promise that he was producing a pornographic film, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Charles Thomas Barbarotta, 32, was indicted on two counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of wire fraud.

 

Barbarotta used fraud to cause two minors to engage in commercial sex acts in December 2016. He also induced two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of the conduct, according to the indictment.

 

Barbarotta also used a scheme to induce the two minor victims into performing sex acts with him for what he fraudulently purported would be a pornographic film he would produce or direct, according to the indictment.

 

Barbarotta is suspected of engaging in similar conduct with other victims. Anyone with information about him is encouraged to call the FBI at 419-243-6122.

 

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 and the Ottawa, Huron and Erie County Sheriff’s Offices.  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. 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 for selling fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, heroin and cocaine, including a fentanyl analogue that resulted in an overdose, law enforcement officials said.

 

Lloyd T. Turks, Jr., 23, was named in five-count federal indictment. He was indicted on one count of distribution of fentanyl, methylfentanyl, heroin and cocaine; one count of distribution of methylfentanyl; one count of distribution of cocaine and two counts of distribution of U47700, a fentanyl analogue.

 

One of the distribution of U47700 counts carries a sentencing enhancement for causing serious physical harm, which could result in a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. That charge alleges that on Aug. 23, Turks sold U47700 in Lima that resulted in someone overdosing.

 

The indictment further alleges that Turks sold drugs on several occasions between February and August 2017.

 

"The opioid epidemic has ravaged every corner of our state, and we will continue to pursue comprehensive solutions to turning the tide," U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman said. "One tool we will use is the aggressive prosecution of those who sell the opioids that kill or injure our neighbors, friends and relatives."

 

"This is another example of an individual willing to distribute deadly drugs into our neighborhoods," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony. "Law enforcement will continue to partner with the community in an effort to bring those that deal poison to justice."

 

"With Ohio being at the epicenter of the heroin epidemic killing thousands, it is only by working together that a difference can be made," said West Central Ohio Crime Task Force Commander Kevin Litsley. "The West Central Ohio Crime Task Force works closely with its counterparts at the local, state and federal levels. It is this collaboration that sends a strong message to drug dealers, who continue to illegally traffic the substances that ruin people's lives across the nation."

 

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 and the West Central Ohio Crime Task Force. 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. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt

Four people were indicted for illegally reentering the United States, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Perfecto Tehuacatl-Cuaquehua, 29, of Mexico, illegally reentered the U.S. on October 17, 2017, according to the indictment.

 

Alberto Orlando Hinojosa-Anguiano, 23, of Mexico, illegally reentered the U.S. on Oct. 5, 2017, according to the indictment

 

Bernabel Basurto-Anastacio, 28, of Mexico, illegally reentered the U.S. on October 20, 2017, according to the indictment.

           

Emilio Rivera-Portillo, 32, of Honduras, illegally reentered the U.S. following a previous deportation in 2003, according to the indictment.

 

The cases were investigated by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneyd Thomas P. Weldon, Michael J. Freeman, Noah P. Hood and Alissa M. Sterling.

 

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.  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 former financial secretary of United Steelworkers Local 207-L in Findlay was indicted for embezzling more than $30,000 from the union, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Ronald G. Coldren, 55, of Findlay, was indicted on one count of embezzlement from a labor organization.

 

Coldren served as financial secretary for the union from 2006 through 2016. Coldren embezzled approxmimately $30,639 from the union between 2012 and 2016, 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 U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas P. Weldon      

 

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.

 

Six people were indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to ship at a ton of marijuana to Ohio from Hawaii, California and Oregon, and then launder the drug profits, law enforcement officials said.

Named in the two-count indictment are: William B. Murphy, 37, of Kealakekua, Hawaii; Michael W. Spellman, 59, of Kealakekua, Hawaii; Peter Reichert, 30, of Lyndhurst; Dustin Robinson, of East Liverpool; Young Hee Park, of Broadview Heights, and So Young Park, of Kealakekua, Hawaii.

All the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Murphy, Spellman and the Parks are charged with conspiracy to launder money.

According to the indictment:

Murphy grew marijuana in Hawaii and procured marijuana in Hawaii, California and Oregon and had it shipped to people in Ohio.

Spellman packaged the marijuana inside five-pound foil coffee bags, which also contained loose coffee beans, and mailed them to various addresses in Northeast Ohio, including a location in Shaker Heights. Murphy paid Spellman $100 for each package he mailed.

Reichert received packages of marijuana in Northeast Ohio, including in Chester Township, mailed from Hawaii, California and Oregon, for further distribution. Robinson received packages of marijuana in Pennsylvania mailed from Hawaii and California.

Robinson also mailed bulk cash to Spellman from East Liverpool. Murphy and Spellman had drug profits mailed to them at several post office boxes in Hawaii and California.

Young Hee Park received cash payments in Ohio from various marijuana customers and then mailed the cash to Murphy in Hawaii. Park mailed the packages containing cash from 25 different post offices in Northeast Ohio to avoid suspicion.

Spellman opened a bank account at Fifth Third Bank in Mentor. He and Murphy directed people in Ohio to deposit cash into the account from at least 15 different bank branches, in order to avoid detection. They used a similar arrangement with accounts opened at PNC Bank.

The defendants deposited at least $348,000 in cash into the accounts between 2014 and 2016. They used the accounts to pay for living expenses and other purchases, including airline tickets from flights between Cleveland and Hawaii totaling $40,959; drones from Drones, Inc. totaling $13,062; a greenhouse in Hawaii for $10,632; a Honda ATV for $11,170, and other purchases.

Overall, Murphy, Spellman and the other conspirators caused approximately 1,113 packages containing marijuana to be shipped to Northeast Ohio between 2014 and 2016. Additionally, they caused approximately 965 packages containing bulk cash to be mailed from Ohio to Hawaii, California and Oregon.

“This group mailed thousands of pounds of marijuana to Greater Cleveland from the West Coast and then laundered nearly $350,000 in drug profits,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “The leaders of this conspiracy paid for a lavish lifestyle with drug money, but now it will cost them federal prison.”

“From coast to coast the IRS will take every step to ferret out those who attempt to launder the proceeds of illegal drug profits,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.  “The laundering of illegal drug profits is as important and essential to drug traffickers as the very distribution of their illegal drugs.  Without these ill-gotten gains, the traffickers could not finance their organizations.”

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Howell following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and the Lake County Narcotics Agency.

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 Highland Heights man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for selling furanyl fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Cleveland teen, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

 

Alec J. Steinberger, 22, was also ordered to pay $10,548 to the family of the deceased to pay for his funeral expenses.

 

Steinberger previously pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance the resulted in death, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug offense.

 

“This case is another example of one of our neighbors dying from opioids coming to Northeast Ohio from China,” Herdman said. “We will continue to seek long prison sentences for those who sell drugs in our community.”

 

“Investigators of the Heroin Death Investigation Team are trained to investigate heroin overdose cases and link the victims back to the dealers,” Williams said. “It is through the combined efforts of law enforcement, at the local, state and federal levels, and prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that these indictments are secured and convictions are won.  It is the hope that these examples will deter others from continuing this deadly cycle.”

 

Beginning on Jan. 30, 2016, Steinberger received Alprazolam (also known as Xanax) and furanyl fentanyl for distribution. Furanyl fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. These drugs came to Steinberger through the mail, according to court documents.

 

On Feb. 23, 2016, Steinberger texted an associated: “I just got a pack bro.” He then informed several people that he had drugs for sale, including Laith Hudson.

 

Steinberger texted Hudson repeatedly the next day. Messages included: “bro I did it last night any my pupils got so small they disappeared and then I was nodding for 18 hrs,” “Bro this is uncut from the road” and “this is uncut from china,” according to court documents. 

 

Steinberger then repeatedly texted Hudson if he knew anyone that could cut or dilute the drugs and repackage it for sale. Steinberger texted: “We gonna chill tmr” “and go to the hood and give samples” and “try and find out how to cut and re rock,” according to court documents.

 

Shortly after midnight on Feb. 25, Steinberger texted Hudson.: “Find me customers and tell them you’re the plug and I’ll get it to you and then sell it and cut u in a tiny bit and throw u a free (Klonopin) and dope,” according to court documents.

 

On Feb. 25, Hudson fatally overdosed on furanyl fentanyl he bought from Steinberger, according to court documents.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cronin following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Cleveland Division of Police.

 

 

Two Wooster men were indicted for distributing heroin and cocaine that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Wayne County woman, law enforcement officials said.

Jamie Curtis, 36, and Theodore Alleman, 28, were both indicted on one count of distribution of heroin and cocaine. The charge carries a potential sentencing enhancement because the drugs they distributed resulted in a death.

Curtis is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Curtis had a Witness 9 mm firearm with an obliterated serial number, and ammunition, despite a prior felony conviction for drug trafficking in Wayne County Common Pleas Court.

Curtis sold heroin and cocaine to Alleman from June 2016 through January 2017, according to the indictment.

Alleman, on Nov. 12, 2016, contacted a Wayne County woman identified in the indictment as H.C. H.C. was a recovering drug addict. Alleman repeatedly attempted to persuade H.C. to inject heroin with him, but she refused, according to the indictment.

Alleman purchased drinks for H.C. throughout the evening at a local pub and continued to ask her to inject heroin with him. In the early morning hours of Nov. 13, H.C. agreed. Alleman went to an ATM to get money and texted Curtis “I need a g” (gram of heroin), according to the indictment.

A friend identified in the indictment as G.C. fought with Alleman and H.C. about getting heroin. C.G. was forcefully removed from the vehicle. Alleman and H.C. met with Curtis and purchased heroin and cocaine, according to the indictment.

On Nov. 13, Alleman prepared a mixture of heroin and cocaine that he and H.C. injected. H.C. then overdosed and died, according to the indictment.

“These men sold drugs that directly resulted in the death of a young woman,” Herdman said. “We will continue to seek long prison sentences for drug dealers who kill and injure our friends and neighbors.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. Plancon said: “Identifying and bringing to justice the individuals that distribute drugs that lead to overdose death is a top priority of DEA.  Today’s charges send the message to all drug dealers that they will be held accountable for bringing that poison into the community, and their deadly results.” 

“The continued collaborative efforts of the Medway Drug Task Force and the Cleveland DEA to investigate these opiate overdoses, truly sends a message to our community that people will be held accountable,” said MEDWAY Director Don Hall.

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

This case is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Riley following an investigation by the DEA, ATF, MEDWAY Drug Enforcement Agency, Wooster Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff's Office, Wayne County Coroner's Office and Ohio BCI.

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 Cleveland residents were sentenced to prison for defrauding a bank out of at least $76,000 by using fake identities, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman.

 

Delon Roberson, 26, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison while Shameka Roberson, 27, was sentenced to more than three years in prison. Both were ordered to pay $765,399 in restitution to Key Bank.

 

Both were previously found guilty of  one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

 

Delon Roberson used the social media site Facebook to recruit numerous local individuals to open accounts or turn over their bank ATM or debit cards and PINs. Delon Roberson and Shameka Roberson then caused the deposit of at least 138 fraudulent checks totaling more than $159,000 into the bank accounts of the recruited individuals. Approximately $76,399 was later withdrawn from the accounts through ATM transactions and debit card purchases between May 2015 and April 2016, according to court documents.

 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert W. Kern and Megan R. Miller following and investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Task Force.  This case specifically involved the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, the Cleveland Heights Police Department and the Cleveland Division of Police.  

Lawrence Michael Lynde, 49, of Streetsboro, was indicted on charges of with receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and possessing child pornography, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman.

 

The conduct took place between October 2014 and December 2015, according to the indictment.

 

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

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian McDonough and Danielle Angeli following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

 

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.

 

 Christopher T. Fowler, 47, of Rootstown Township, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony.

 

Fowler knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. This took place between June and December 2016, according to the indictment

 

Fowler also possessed three micro-SD cards, each of which contained child pornography, according to the indictment.     

 

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

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan. 

 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  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.