Northern District of Ohio

A grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Jordon Louis Dongarra, 33, of Ashland, with one count of bank robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that Dongarra robbed the Ohio Savings Bank, 28880 Lorain Road, in North Olmsted, Ohio, a federally insured financial institution, on December 30, 2014.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to his 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 Justin Seabury Gould, and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and North Olmsted Police Department.

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

A criminal information has been filed in federal court charging Stephen J. Wilshinsky, 59, of Woodland Hills, California, and former stock broker with the Compass Group of Oppenheimer Inc. and Marquis Financial Services of Indiana, Inc. with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities laws violations, and wire fraud, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of FBI's Cleveland Office.

The information charges that on or about March 13, 2008, through in or around September 2012, Wilshinsky, together with at least three other co-conspirators, agreed to defraud investors and potential investors in public companies Kensington Leasing, Ltd. and Lenco Mobile, Inc.

They did this by issuing millions of shares to themselves at little or no cost and then artificially controlling the price and volume of traded shares by, among other means, paying undisclosed commissions to brokers and former brokers for directing client funds to make both authorized and unauthorized investments and fraudulently concealing the co-conspirators’ ownership interests in the manipulated public companies, according to the information.

The co-conspirators then profited by selling their shares of the companies' stock at artificially inflated prices to Wilshinsky’s clients at Oppenheimer and Marquis.  Little or no portion of the investments went to fund the operations of the companies.  Rather, Wilshinsky and his co-conspirators used the investments to enrich themselves, according to the information.

Wilshinsky received approximately $1.2 million in undisclosed cash commission payments and approximately 500,000 shares of stock from one or more co-conspirators as part of the scheme, which Wilshinsky then sold or transferred.  In total, Wilshinsky received more than $1.4 million in cash and stock for participating in the conspiracy, according to the information.

The information was filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christos N. Georgalis and Adam Hollingsworth after an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, 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 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.

Seven suburban police department in Cuyahoga County and four county sheriffs’ offices will have increased crime analysis capability through a $300,000 Justice Department grant, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“Our office will continue to support law enforcement beyond prosecuting cases, whether that means paying for more officers or advanced training or supportive technology,” Dettelbach said. “This grant will help departments utilize their resources more effectively, making both the community and the officers safer.”

The police departments which will undergo the crime analysis training are Beachwood, Bedford, Berea, Euclid, Mayfield Heights, Parma and Rocky River, as well as the sheriff’s offices in Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake and Lorain counties.

The departments will receive training, technical support, computer software and hardware related to crime analysis. When the work is completed, the departments will be capable of using their training and software to effectively map and analyze crime trends, and to also share that data with other area departments which have already undergone the training.

The grant was made to the Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium, a project administered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office which brings together leadership from the police departments of Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Elyria, Lorain, Mansfield, Toledo and Youngstown, federal and state law enforcement agencies as well as researchers from Kent State University and the University of Akron.

The eight NOVCC cities underwent similar crime analysis training last year and will receive continued training through this grant.

Each department will designate officers to receive intense training over several days. Technical support will be provided by computer and crime analysis experts. Funding will be provided for crime analysis software where necessary. Follow-up will be done to insure crime analysis capabilities are being fully implemented into all aspects of the department.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Fusion Center is also a partner in this effort. The goal will be to develop a toolkit to increase crime analysis capacity that can be replicated and shared across the country. Northern Ohio was one of three regions to be awarded the grant, along with Tempe, Ariz. and Charlotte/Mecklenburg, N.C.

The project will start Tuesday, Feb. 24, with an all-day kickoff meeting at Mayfield Village Civic Center. Marty Sumner, chief of the High Point (N.C.) Police Department, will address the group on his city’s success in reducing crime using crime analysis, evidence-based practices and community engagement. Police leadership from the NOVCC cities will also address the group on their progress and on previous projects, sharing success stories and lessons learned.

A Concord Township man was sentenced to more than three years in prison for defrauding Taupa Lithuanian Credit Union out of $2.3 million, law enforcement officials said.

John Struna, 52, was sentenced to 43 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $2.3 million in restitution. He pleaded guilty to seven counts -- one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of making false statements and four counts of money laundering.

Struna has forfeited a restaurant he owned – the Sunny Street Café in Concord Township – a condominium in Florida and a 2014 Mazda because they were purchased with proceeds of the fraud, according to court documents.

The guilty plea was announced by Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

The National Credit Union Administration and the Ohio Department of Commerce took possession of Taupa last year and placed it into receivership due to its insolvency. Taupa, based in Cleveland, had about 1,150 members and assets of approximately $24 million, according to court records.

Credit union CEO Alex Spirikaitis, former teller Michael Ruksenas and Vytas Apanavicius have previously been found guilty for their roles in conspiracies related to defrauding the credit union.

Struna maintained both personal and corporate accounts at Taupa dating back to 1995.  He began a conspiracy with Spirikaitis in 2002 and continued through 2013, during which time Spirikaitis caused Taupa to make approximately 46 fraudulent transfers into Struna’s accounts, according to court documents.

In 2011, Struna requested and received $112,105 from Spirikaitis for the purchase of a condominium located in Ft. Myers, Florida. At no time did Struna submit any credit applications or loan documents, according to court documents.

The fraudulent transfers totaled approximately $2.3 million. From 2002 through 2013, Struna repaid only approximately $15,000 of the $2.3 million Spirikaitis transferred into his accounts, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Patton and Special Assistant United States Attorney Derek Kleinmann. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.

A Youngtown man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for narcotics offenses, law enforcement officials said.

Terrence D. Howell, 43, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and maintaining a drug house.

Howell possessed more than 28 grams of crack cocaine on April 30, 2014, with the intent to distribute the drugs. He also used a home on Arch Street in Youngstown to distribute and manufacture crack cocaine from February through April 2014, according to court documents.

“We will continue to work with our partners to lock up those who attempt to flood Youngstown with drugs,” U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach said.

“I would like to express my appreciation for the dedicated work of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force on this case,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Donald Soranno said.  “Cooperative efforts with our law enforcement partners enhance our ability to remove violent criminals from the streets and make our communities safer.”

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer following an investigation by the ATF and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.

A Willoughby Hills man was sentenced to 16 1/2 years in prison for supplying multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine to other dealers for distribution in Northeast Ohio, as well as related crimes, law enforcement officials said.

Troy Williams, 44, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute heroin, being a felon in possession of a firearm and three counts of money laundering.

He was one of 12 people indicted for their roles in the conspiracy, which lasted between 2010 and 2013. All 12 have been found guilty of crimes in U.S. District Court.

Williams supplied Jason and Joseph Phillips with multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine. All the men charged then arranged for or assisted in the redistribution of the cocaine in the Northern District of Ohio and elsewhere, according to court documents.

In April 2013, Williams also possessed heroin that he intended to distribute, as well as a firearm and ammunition, despite previous felony convictions that prohibited him from having a firearm, according to court documents.

Williams laundered approximately $72,730 in drug proceeds at the Horseshoe Cleveland Casino in July and November 2012. He did this by using cash from drug proceeds to purchase casino chips, according to court documents.

“This defendant led a group that dealt cocaine and heroin throughout Cleveland,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “He illegally carried a firearm and tried to launder his dirty drug money in downtown Cleveland. This sentence is well deserved.”

“We have zero tolerance for drug dealers. This sentence sends a clear message to those in the drug business,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office. “If you put drugs on the streets of Cleveland, we will find you, arrest you and you will go to jail.”

“This joint effort demonstrates that Ohio’s casinos will not be used by drug traffickers to clean their money,” said Troy N. Stemen, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “The laundering of drug money is as important to drug traffickers as the sale of their illegal drugs.  Without these ill-gotten gains, the drug traffickers could not finance their organizations.”

“The Ohio Casino Control Commission takes our mission to ensure the integrity of casino gaming in Ohio seriously, and appreciates the leadership of the US Attorney’s Office and the IRS in this case,” said Matthew Schuler, Executive Director of the Ohio Casino Control Commission. "We will aggressively continue to hold accountable those who would seek to use Ohio’s casinos as a platform for criminal activity.”

Williams will forfeit10 watches, $1,760 in cash as well as a pistol, ammunition and two loaded magazines.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Corts following an investigation by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force, and assistance from the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The NOLETF is a multi-agency task force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Cleveland Division of Police, Cleveland Heights Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Euclid Police Department, Regional Transit Authority Police Department, Strongsville Police Department, Westlake Police Department, and Shaker Heights Police Department. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiatives. The HIDTA Program supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.

U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach is in Washington, D.C. to participate in a conference focused on countering violent extremism.

“This is an opportunity to further home a national security strategy designed to make us all safer,” Dettelbach said. “Not only can we share the important work done in our district but, as importantly, we will learn more about what is working in other parts of the country and internationally to prevent homegrown extremism. We need to continue to forge strong partnerships among different government agencies and with the community to counter the false narratives being put out by extremists and keep our communities and our citizens safe."

The conference, convened by the White House, will take place from Tuesday to Thursday. It will focus on domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremists and their supporters from radicalizing, recruiting, or inspiring individuals or groups in the United States and abroad to commit acts of violence, efforts made even more imperative in light of recent, tragic attacks in Ottawa, Sydney, and Paris.  This summit will build on the strategy the White House released in August of 2011, Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States, the first national strategy to prevent violent extremism domestically.

Efforts to devise a national strategy in this area rely heavily on well-informed and resilient local communities.  National efforts must focus on building frameworks integrating a range of social service providers, including education administrators, mental health professionals, and religious leaders, with law enforcement agencies to address violent extremism as part of the broader mandate of community safety and crime prevention.  The summit will highlight best practices and emerging efforts in that vein.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has prosecuted domestic terrorism and religiously motivated attacks in recent years, including a group of self-described anarchists who plotted to blow up a bridge in Northeast Ohio, the arson of the largest mosque in the Toledo area and a man in the Toledo area who illegally assembled an arsenal of weapons, ammunition and body armor while tracking the movements of Jewish and African-American leaders.

The office has also done extensive community outreach to a variety of communities, including hosting a “Civics Day” for Arab and Muslim teens, conducting computer safety training for teens and parents and held town hall meetings focused on improving relationships between the community and law enforcement.

A former employee was was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for a 16-year scheme to defraud J.M. Smucker Company, of Orville, Ohio, of more than $4.1 million, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

Mark R. Kershey, age 54, of Akron and formerly of Massillon, was sentenced to 58 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent. The judge also ordered Kershey to pay more than $4.1 million in restitution to Smucker and its insurance company and to forfeit two airplanes and four automobiles.

Kershey was employed as Smucker’s chief airplane mechanic at the Akron-Canton airport when, from approximately October 1997 through January 2013, he devised a false billing scheme using a fictitious entity he controlled, under the name of Aircraft Parts Services, Co., according to court documents.

Kershey submitted false invoices to Smucker in the name of Aircraft Parts Services, which in all or nearly all instances were for nonexistent parts and/or for purported outside services that he actually performed as part of his salaried employment duties. Kershey submitted most invoices in amounts less than $10,000, which he was authorized to approve. A supervisor approved a few larger invoices based on his trust in Kershey, according to court documents.

Kershey maintained a P.O. Box under the fake company name in Greentown, Ohio, to receive checks mailed by Smucker in reliance on the fraudulent invoices. Kershey used the proceeds of his scheme for personal uses, including the purchase and maintenance of two airplanes, the purchase of several automobiles, and payments for his personal residence, according to court documents.

Court documents describe Kershey’s efforts in late 2012 to deceive Smucker with respect to the final three checks payable to Aircraft Parts Services totaling $44,000, which Kershey had failed to negotiate. Kershey told the employee that Aircraft Parts Services had been sold to another Smucker vendor (referred to in the information as SAI), and submitted a letter to Smucker purportedly from SAI’s owner, that Kershey fabricated and forged, falsely confirming the purported sale to SAI. Smucker then issued replacement checks to SAI, that SAI deposited after discussion between Kershey and SAI’s owner.

Kershey previously pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud.

The case is being handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney John M. Siegel following investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canton, Ohio.

An Akron physician was sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally prescribing hundreds of thousands of doses of painkillers and other pills to customers for no legitimate medical purpose, even after at least eight customers died from overdose-related deaths, law enforcement officials said.

Adolph Harper, Jr., 64, was also ordered to pay $417,060 in restitution. He pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to traffic drugs, four counts of health care fraud and 16 counts of drug trafficking.

Previously, Adria Harper, 35, of Akron, was sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic drugs and 25 counts of drug trafficking. Patricia Laughman, 52, of Barberton, was sentenced to more than a year in prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic drugs and 14 counts of drug trafficking. Tequilla Berry, 35, of Akron, pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to traffic drugs and seven counts of drug trafficking. She was sentenced to five years of probation.

Together, they distributed hundreds of thousands of doses of prescription medications -- including Oxycontin, Percocet, Roxicet, Opana, and others -- from Adolph Harper’s medical officers in Akron between 2009 and 2012, according to court documents.

“Harper may have been a doctor, but he sold drugs like a common street-level dealer. People who saw him became addicted, and some of them died from overdoses,” Dettelbach said. “We will continue to prosecute those who contribute to the heroin and opioid epidemic in our state.”

Steven D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland office, said: “Harper is deserving of every day of this sentence.  Harper took the trust he received simply for being a physician and used it to take advantage of those who were already suffering.  We want to thank our partners at the U.S. Health and Human Services, the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for working together to bring this case to light and this man to justice.”

“Dr. Harper ignored his primary responsibility of protecting his patient’s health and instead looked to exploit and take advantage of their condition. His actions were criminal and put the public’s safety at risk as well as vital taxpayer dollars,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region. “The OIG and its partners will continue our efforts to identify instances where physicians abuse the public’s trust and ensure that they are held accountable.”

All four defendants conspired to distribute addictive controlled substances, including prescription painkillers and anti-anxiety medication, outside the usual course of professional practice and without any legitimate medical purpose, according to court documents.

Adolph Harper’s customers, many of whom were drug addicts exhibiting clear signs of drug addiction during their visits to his office, came to his office and received “prescriptions” for addictive prescription medications without being examined by Harper and often without seeing him at all, according to the court documents.

Harper continued to distribute prescriptions for controlled substances after he learned that some of his customers had died from overdose-related deaths. He also continued to distribute narcotics to customers who had overdosed on controlled substances he had earlier prescribed, according to the court documents.
For example, a customer identified in court documents as K.C. was hospitalized several times after overdosing on drugs prescribed by Harper. The hospital and others notified Harper of this fact, but he continued to prescribe narcotics to K.C. She died from an overdose of oxycodone less than a week after Harper prescribed even more oxycodone and alprazolam to her, according to court documents.

Adria Harper, Laughman and Berry distributed prescriptions to these customers when Adolph Harper was out of the office and also used Adolph Harper’s pre-signed prescription pad to distribute prescriptions for addictive painkillers to themselves, according to the court documents.

Additionally, Adolph Harper executed four separate schemes to defraud health insurance providers by (1) submitting insurance claims for services using a higher billing code than the service justified; (2) submitting insurance claims for unperformed services; (3) billing an insurance provider for a service after collecting a cash payment for the same service; and (4) causing the submission of insurance claims for prescriptions for controlled substances that were issued outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, according to court documents.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Margaret A. Sweeney, Edward F. Feran, and Rebecca C. Lutzko following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services -- Office of the Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Akron Police Department.

Bruce A. Grubb, 56, from Wooster, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges that from on or about October 4, 2014, through on or about October 13, 2014, Grubb knowingly received and distributed in interstate and foreign commerce, by computer, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. 

The indictment also charges that on January 21, 2015, Grubb possessed computer disks that contained child pornography.

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.  The case was investigated by the Canton Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department.

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

A one-count criminal information was filed against Victoria Mason, 31, of South Euclid, charging her with conspiracy to defraud the government with respect to filing fraudulent income tax refund claims, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Kathy Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati Field Office.

Mason, acting together with separately charged defendants Veronica Mason, Tenisha Cleveland, and other individuals not yet charged, engaged in a false tax refund scheme in which they prepared at least 64 false income tax returns for the years 2008 through 2011, for approximately 27 persons, which claimed income tax refunds that were greater than the actual refunds, if any, to which the taxpayers were entitled, according to the information. 

On each return, Mason and her cohorts generated false refund claims, at least in part, by reporting a falsely inflated or fictitious wage income and a resulting false earned income credit, according to the information.

On some returns, Cleveland and her confederates also claimed false dependents and/or reported false or inflated amounts of tax withholding, sometimes supported by fictitious Wage and Tax Statements, Form W-2.  Mason and Veronica Mason, who has been charged in a separate criminal information, filed the returns electronically on behalf of taxpayers, through private and public internet connections.  Generally, the co-conspirators did not provide a copy of the return to the taxpayer, and the taxpayer did not know the amount of the refund claimed, according to the information.

The electronic filings included requests that the IRS direct-deposit refunds into bank accounts owned or controlled by Cleveland, Veronica Mason and their co-conspirators, or provide the refunds on pre-paid debit cards purchased by the co-conspirators.  After receiving the refunds, Mason, Cleveland, Veronica Mason and their co-conspirators paid only a portion of the refund, if any, to the taxpayer, according to the information. 

According to the information, Mason and her co-conspirators inflated the refund claims on the 64 charged returns by a total of approximately $114,930.  Additionally, Mason and her co-conspirators falsely filed an additional 823 fictitious claims for tax refunds with the IRS, which inflated the total refund claims by the conspirators by an additional $1,079,750.  The IRS issued refunds totaling approximately $815,577.27 to Mason and her co-conspirators.

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

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Om Kakani, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

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 the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Walter Lee Dunn, 31, of Richmond, Kentucky, was charged with transportation of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges on or about December 31, 2014, Dunn knowingly transported an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, that is a 13 year-old girl, in interstate commerce from Ohio to Kentucky, with the intent that such 13 year-old girl engage in sexual activity for which Dunn could be charged with a criminal offense.

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.  The case was investigated by the Canton Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

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.

Douglas Kushen, 44, of Elyria, was charged with receiving, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges that from on or about June 29, 2003, through on or about August 14, 2011, Kushen knowingly received and distributed in interstate and foreign commerce, by computer, numerous computer files, which files contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The indictment also charges that on or about August 12, 2014, Kushen possessed computer disks that contained child pornography.

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.  The case was investigated by the Elyria Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Elyria Police Department.

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

A criminal information was filed charging Jacquelyn A. Bradley, 58, of Rossford, Ohio, with structuring a currency transaction to avoid a reporting requirement, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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 Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Toledo, Ohio.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Gene Crawford.

An information 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 criminal information was filed charging Herman Wayne Bradley, 59, of Rossford, Ohio, for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Bradley is accused of defrauding several lending institutions related to the sale of at least 33 properties in the Toledo area in 2005 and 2006. He did this by representing to various lenders false sales prices on homes, then adding “addendums” for a lower sales price and keeping the difference, according to court documents.

Bradley faces one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return.

The conspiracy took place between November 2005 and continuing through December 2008, according to the information.

Prosecutors are also seeking to forfeit more than $2 million in cash seized in 2011 from 713 Glenwood Road, Rossford, as well as a 2010 Ford F-150 truck.

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 Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Toledo, Ohio.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Gene Crawford.

An information 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 criminal information was filed charging Lawrence Cline, 62, of Englewood, Ohio, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud related to the sale of four homes in Toledo, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The conspiracy took place from at least November 2005 through July 2006, according to court documents.

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

The investigating agency in this case is the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, Toledo, Ohio.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Gene Crawford.

An information 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.

An indictment was filed charging Joshua R. McMillan, 26, of Toledo, with receipt and distribution of material involving the sexual exploitation of a child between January 23, 2013 and May 2, 2013, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alissa M. Sterling.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  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 indictment was filed charging Steve Nesbit, 41, of Northwood, with receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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, Toledo.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Freeman.

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

A 33-count federal indictment was filed charging a Cleveland man with preparing dozens of false tax returns and falsely claiming more than $133,000 in refunds, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

Sean Houston, 46, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and 32 counts of making false, fictitious or fraudulent claims.

Nikita Griffin, 39, of Atlanta, was also indicted on one count of conspiracy to defraud the government.

“As we enter tax season, this indictment should serve as a reminder to those who would file fraudulent tax returns and claim money to which they aren’t entitled,” Dettelbach said.

“Law-abiding citizens expect the government to hold accountable those who use deceit and fraud to line their pockets with money, especially when that money represents stolen federal taxes,” Enstrom said. “We will continue to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and investigate the criminals who engage in such brazen and fraudulent conduct.”

In 2010, Houston prepared false tax returns, listing fictitious wages and income-tax withholdings when he knew no wages had been earned and no taxes withheld. The returns also claimed “making work pay” tax credits to which they were not entitled, according to the indictment.

Houston also sent the filed tax returns to the Santa Barbara Bank and Trust in San Diego in order to obtain refund anticipation loans, from which he took preparation fees. In the course of the scheme, Houston claimed refunds totaling $133,612 and obtained preparation fees totaling $9,605, according to the indictment.

Houston solicited Griffin to negotiate refund checks generated by the scheme. Griffing deposited three checks into a bank account he controlled and helped third parties negotiate additional checks, according to the indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James V. Moroney following an investigation by IRS-CI.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

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.

Sean M. Barnhill, 36, of North Ridgeville, was charged with distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges that from on or about August 1, 2014, through on or about August 30, 2014, Barnhill knowingly received and distributed, by computer, numerous computer files, which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  It is further alleged that between the dates of September 1, 2013 and January 8, 2015, Barnhill accessed with intent to view images of child pornography on his computer.

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 Carol M. Skutnik.  The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Elyria Office.

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

A federal grand jury today returned an indictment in U.S. District Court charging Harley J. Hervey, 63, of Mentor, with theft of public money, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The alleged theft of Social Security funds, occurring between 2007 and 2014, totaled approximately $86,926, according to the indictment.

The United States Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Seabury Gould. 

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

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

Cory A. Buckholz, 24, of Lakewood, was charged with distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment charges that from on or about May 13, 2014, through on or about May 19, 2014, Buckholz knowingly received and distributed, by computer, numerous computer files, which contained visual depictions of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  It is further alleged that on August 1, 2014, Barnhill possessed a black, homemade, tower computer, a Western Digital external hard drive, and a Seagate external hard drive that contained child pornography.

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 Carol M. Skutnik.  The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service 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 11-count federal indictment was filed charging Akron man with defrauding federal and state agencies out of nearly $350,000 by claiming he was disabled while actually working as a home-repair contractor, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

James Van Buskirk, 53, faces charges of theft of government funds, wire fraud, and fraudulently securing Social Security benefits.

"These programs exist to help those who are truly disabled and cannot work," Dettelbach said. "We will continue to prosecute those who abuse programs like these for their own enrichment."

The indictment alleges Van Buskirk stole $75,823 in Social Security benefits designated for the truly disabled by reporting complete disability while still performing physical labor as a home repair contractor.  He similarly falsely applied for and received $269,932 from the Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation (OBWC) through the same scheme to defraud.

Van Buskirk executed this scheme from approximately November 2002 through April 2014, according to the indictment.   

The indictment also alleges that Van Buskirk concealed and failed to disclose his self-employment, knowing that it would affect his right to Social Security disability benefits.

Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Cronin is prosecuting the case following an investigation by the SSA Office of Inspector General and the OBWC.

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 federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Paula Laverne Gist, 67, of Warrensville Heights, with theft of public money, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The alleged theft of Social Security funds occurred between 1994 and 2014 and totaled approximately $189,564, according to the indictment

The United States Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Seabury Gould. 

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

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

A federal grand jury today returned an indictment in U.S. District Court charging Stephanie Laverne Washington, 46, and Carolyn Badley-Pinson, 56, both of Cleveland, with bank fraud, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The women are accused of using counterfeit checks to obtain prepaid debit or credit cards at 26 Target stores in Ohio, including stores in Willoughby, Mayfield Heights, Akron and North Olmsted between 2010 and 2013. Several financial institutions were defrauded a total of approximately $164,083 as a result of the scheme, according to the indictment.

The United States Secret Service and the Ontario (Ohio) Police Department conducted the investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.        

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

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

A grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Kison Robertson, 23, of Cleveland, with escape from Oriana Halfway House, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough following an investigation by agents of the United States Marshals Service.

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

An indictment was filed today charging Najee Muhammad, aka Paul Cook, age 50, of Cleveland, with three counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of access device fraud, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
           
The indictment charges that Muhammad stole and used the identities of three separate individuals in 2013 and 2014.  The indictment further charges that Muhammad knowingly and with the intent to defraud, traffic in and use one or more unauthorized access devices, obtained approximately $31,762 by fraudulently charging merchandise and services on various credit accounts, including Capital One, Dell, Galls Police Equipment, AT&T, CitiBank, Target, Safe Home Security, and Dish Network.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the 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 United States Attorneys Chelsea Rice and Adam Hollingsworth after an investigation 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.

A grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging David W. Vickers, 41, of Leesburg, Virginia, with receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, enticement, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough following an investigation by the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the United States Secret Service.

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

A six-count federal indictment was unsealed today charging a Cleveland man with fraudulently obtaining nearly $1 million from the now-closed St. Paul Croatian Federal Credit Union, said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office.

Joe Spaqi, 60, was arrested Wednesday. He was indicted on four counts of financial institution fraud and two counts of money laundering.

Spaqi aided and abetted credit union chief operating officer Anthony Raguz and a relative identified only as P.S. in a scheme to defraud the credit union between 2005 and 2009. Spaqi did this by requesting loans from the credit union through Raguz. He did not follow established procedures and made false statements to obtain these loans, according to the indictment.

Raguz approved multiple loans to Spaqi, Eclipse Bar and Grill (which Spaqi owned) or Luke Nue (an alias he used) which totaled approximately $965,422. Those monies were paid in checks to Spaqi, Eclipse, Nue, P.S. and unrelated third parties. As a result, the credit union and National Credit Union Administration suffered losses of approximately $965,422, according to the indictment.

Spaqi is also accused of depositing fraudulent loan proceeds from Eclipse Bar and Grill into her personal share accounts, according to the indictment.

The credit union, headquartered in Eastlake, was closed and then liquidated in 2010 after sustaining losses of approximately $170 million, making it one of the largest credit union failures in American history. Nearly 20 people have been convicted of crimes related to fraudulent lending that resulted in the credit union’s failure.

Raguz is currently serving a 14-year federal prison sentence. He is one of nearly 20 people have been convicted of crimes related to St. Paul Croatian Federal Credit Union.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan and United States Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach following an investigation by the Cleveland Offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.

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

An indictment is only 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 metal plating company in Cleveland was fined $50,000 for making illegal discharges with high concentrations of metals such as chrome and zinc into the sewer system, which in turn, after treatment, discharges to Lake Erie, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Kelly Plating Company, a metal-plating operation located in Cleveland, also agreed to make a $25,000 charitable donation to the Cleveland Foundation, which will be used to improve water quality in Northeast Ohio.

Thomas E. White, of Fairview Park, pleaded guilty earlier this year to two counts of making improper discharges. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 16.

White was an employee at Kelly Plating and responsible for operating the equipment which reduced the amount of pollutants discharged into the sewer system to an acceptable level. Starting around January 28, 2012, White changed the way wastewater at the Kelly Plating facility was processed.  During the weekdays, White ensured that the pollution control equipment was operated properly, according to court documents.

However, on the weekends White bypassed the pollution control equipment and discharged partially treated wastewater and sludge directly into the sewer system.  These discharges contained high concentrations of chrome and zinc.  This practice ended on May 19, 2012, according to court documents.

“We here in Northeast Ohio know the importance of clean water, both for our economy and our quality of life,” Dettelbach said. “We will aggressively investigate and prosecute cases in which people pollute Ohio’s streams, rivers and lakes.”

“Discharging untreated and partially treated industrial wastewater into the sewer system is illegal and endangers human health, wildlife, and the environment,” said Randall Ashe, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Ohio.  “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this offense and EPA’s commitment to protecting our natural resources and the communities that rely upon them.”

“Illegal dumping into Ohio sewers can result in severe consequences both for our environment and for human health,” said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “My office is committed to bringing to justice violators who knowingly participate in illegal dumping.”

“It was through the continuous water quality monitoring of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District that it identified rising levels of pollution at its Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Sewer District then took action and identified the source, and then worked with the U.S. EPA, the Ohio EPA and the Ohio BCI to determine the extent of the wrongdoing by Kelly Plating,” said Julius Ciaccia, NEORSD Chief Executive Officer. “The sentencing of Kelly Plating should be a swift reminder that violating and jeopardizing the health of our waterways will not be tolerated by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.”

“Today’s sentencing concludes a successful investigation and prosecution of the discharge of chrome and zinc into waters of the state, which violated the federal Clean Water Act,” said Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler. “I’m proud of the work done by our Office of Special Investigations and all of our partners, including the U.S. EPA Criminal Investigation Division, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.”

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Beeson following an investigation by the Ohio EPA, U.S. EPA, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Daron Nesbitt, 35, of Youngstown, with distribution of controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about October 20, 2014, Nesbitt distributed heroin and MDMA.

Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 5, 2014, Nesbitt distributed heroin and MDMA.

Count 3 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 12, 2014, Nesbitt possessed with the intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, MDMA and marijuana.

Count 4 of the indictment alleges that Nesbitt possessed a Raven Arms, model P25, .25 caliber pistol, and a Walther, model P22, .22 caliber pistol, and ammunition, after having been convicted on felonious assault in the Court of Common Pleas, Mahoning County, Ohio; trafficking in drugs in the Court of Common Pleas, Columbiana County, Ohio; and aggravated trafficking in drugs in the Court of Common Pleas, Trumbull County, Ohio.

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 and the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.   The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

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

A 38-count federal indictment was filed charging four people from Northeast Ohio with conspiring to defraud states out of more than $1.1 million in unemployment insurance benefits, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Indicted are: Juan Sanders, 34, of Cleveland Heights; Trina Grant, 36, of Cleveland; Ashley Robinson, 30, of Warrensville Heights, and Robert Barrett, 40, of Cleveland. The charges include conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Sanders faces an additional count of aggravated identity theft.

“These defendants took advantage of a program designed to help people out of work and instead used it to enrich themselves,” Dettelbach said. “We will prosecute waste, fraud and abuse of government programs.”

The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to defraud state unemployment offices in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Illinois from about September 2011 to January 2014. Under this scheme, Sanders fraudulently obtained personal identifying information from unsuspecting individuals to submit fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance benefits.

Sanders also created state unemployment insurance accounts for multiple fictitious employers in Ohio, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Illinois. Sanders then filed claims from “employees” who had been purportedly laid off by the fictitious companies. Sanders caused benefit debit cards for the “employees” of these fictitious companies to be mailed to various addresses in Ohio, according to the indictment.

Once the benefits were loaded or reloaded onto the debit cards, Sanders, Grant, Robinson and Barrett used the debit cards at various ATMs in Ohio and withdrew the fraudulently obtained money, according to the indictment.

The indictment charges that as a result of this scheme, approximately $1,174,767 in fraudulent unemployment benefits were paid from state agencies in North Carolina ($572,170), Ohio ($261,509), Illinois ($144,240), California ($129,600) and Massachusetts ($67,248).

Sanders used $16,900 in fraudulently obtained cash to pay off a car loan on his 2007 Jaguar XJ automobile as well as several months’ rent on a Cleveland Heights apartment, according to the indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Kern, M. Kendra Klump, and James Morford following an investigation by the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.

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

 An indictment is only 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 California man was sentenced to more than 22 years in federal prison for trafficking cocaine.

Dwight Erwin Herrera, 40, was convicted by a jury in November of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine greater than five kilograms. Herrera and others were arrested in Cleveland on Dec. 1, 2012, with approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine that had been transported to Cleveland from California, according to court documents.

Herrera is one of eight defendants who were indicted and convicted as part of this conspiracy. The group was responsible for the distribution of more than 50 kilograms of cocaine in Ohio, according to court documents.

The investigation into this conspiracy led to the subsequent indictments in federal and state court of an additional 23 people who have been convicted of participating in a drug conspiracy.

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

A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Pamela E. Vincent, 43, and William Roberts, 40, both of Warren, with false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that on or about October 9, 2014, Roberts aided, abetted, and counseled Vincent in connection with the acquisition of a Ruger, model 9E, 9mm pistol, from J & D Firearms, Inc., 3323 Parkman Road, Warren, in that Vincent knowingly made a false and fictitious written statement which was intended to deceive J & D Firearms, Inc., as to a fact material to the lawfulness of the sale of the firearm, in that Vincent represented that she was the purchaser of the firearm, when in fact, she was purchasing said firearm for another individual.        

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.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.   The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason M. Katz.

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

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio filed 167 firearms indictments last year, U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach announced.

“Our office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work collaboratively to target the worst of the worst,” said Steven M. Dettelbach. “These include people who carry firearms, ammunition and sometimes body armor despite prior felony convictions, or those who help prohibited people to obtain firearms.”

“ATF’s mission is to combat violent crime and protect the public,” said Donald J. Soranno, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbus Field Division. “We will continue to actively investigate the criminal use of firearms and strive to make our communities safer for the people who live and work there.”

Broken down by geography in the district, the most indictments filed came out of the Cleveland office, with 86. That was followed by the Youngstown office (34), Akron office (27) and Toledo office (20).

Details of selected cases:

Operation Samson II: Sixty people were indicted and 110 firearms were seized as part of a summerlong enhanced enforcement initiative targeting the criminal possession, use and sale of firearms in Greater Cleveland. Forty-two people were indicted in federal court while 18 people were indicted in state court. Charges include engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, possession of unregistered firearms that had been modified (sawed-off shotguns), possession and sale of firearms with obliterated serial numbers and related drug counts.

 The indictments are the result of “Operation Samson II,” which was organized around three operational groups.  The first used undercover operations to investigate people known to criminally possess, use and sell firearms, as well as people possessing firearms while conducting drug activities. The second group, referred to as the “Follow the Gun Group,” used firearms trace data and ballistics information from the National Ballistics Information Network to pursue leads related to firearms that have been diverted from legal commerce to criminal use. The third group involved ATF Industry Operations conducting inspections at Cleveland-area federal firearms licensees to ensure that dealers are selling firearms in accordance with federal law and regulations.

United States v. Barnette: Jeremy P. Barnette, 28, of Ravenna, was charged with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. The indictment alleges that on or about March 27, 2014, Barnette, in connection with the acquisition of the following firearms: a Norinco, Model 84S-1, 5.56x45 rifle; a Ruger, Model 03800, 45 ACP pistol; and a Glock, Model 19, 9mm pistol, from Ohio Trading, 8855 State Street, NE, Louisville, Ohio, stated on the Firearm Transaction Report that he was purchasing the firearms for himself, when he was, in fact, purchasing the firearms for another individual who was a convicted felon. His case remains pending.

United States v. Powell: Lewis Powell, 37, of Warren, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for of being an unlicensed dealer willfully engaged in the business of dealing firearms and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. Powell  sold 20 firearms, including three with obliterated serial numbers, as well are heroin, according to court documents.

United States v. Green: Michael Green, 34, of Niles, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms, ammunition and body armor. Green possessed a MAADI, model RML, 7.62” x 39” rifle; a Ruger, model SR40, .40 caliber pistol; 97 rounds of 7.62” x 39” ammunition; 16 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition and body armor after he had previously been convicted of burglary, assault on a peace officer and failure to comply with order or signal of a police officer.

United States v. Thompson et. al.: Jemel E. Thompson, 25, of Ashtabula, and Maranda M. Rabenold, 31, of Madison, pleaded guilty to firearms violations last year.

On or about August 8, 2014, Thompson was in possession of ammunition, after he had been previously convicted of arson in the Oakland County, Michigan, Circuit Court. On or about June 16, 2014, Rabenold, aided and abetted by Thompson, made false statements to the Great Outdoors Store, North Kingsville, Ohio in connection with the purchase of a HiPoint, 9mm pistol. On or about July 19, 2014, Rabenold, aided and abetted by Thompson, made false statements to LWS LJC, Inc., Jefferson, Ohio in connection with the purchase of a HiPoint JCP pistol. Thompson also pleaded guilty to heroin charges.

Both are scheduled to be sentenced in March.

Firearm prosecution statistics for calendar year 2002 through 2013 are as follows:

2002: 117 indictments

2003: 155 indictments

2004: 184 indictments

2005: 220 indictments

2006: 187 indictments

2007: 191 indictments

2008: 157 indictments

2009: 156 indictments

2010: 166 indictments

2011: 218 indictments

2012: 176 indictments

2013: 207 indictments

A 59-count federal indictment was unsealed today charging three Toledo residents for their roles in a conspiracy in which they are accused of forging a will to fraudulently gain control of an estate worth approximately $2.2 million, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Indicted are: Susan M. Pioch, 58; Margaret L. McKnight, 40, and Kurt L. Mallory, 51. They each face one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud, 21 counts of bank fraud, seven counts of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Pioch, McKnight and Mallory each face additional counts of money laundering. McKnight faces an additional count of structuring cash withdrawals, three tax counts and seven counts of causing a financial institution to fail to file a required report.

“This group lied, cheated and stole millions of dollars that had been amassed over a lifetime,” Dettelbach said.

“When you knowingly mix deceit and trickery into the financial well-being of individuals, you create a recipe for devastation that could last a lifetime,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

Martin E. Fewlas executed a will in 1993 devising his entire estate to his brother. If his brother did not survive Fewlas, the estate was to go to his nephew and then his great-nephew, identified in the indictment as JRM.

Fewlas owned the duplex located at 2557 Broadway Street in Toledo. He lived in the lower half and for approximately 10 years, McKnight and Mallory lived together in the upper half, according to the indictment.

Fewlas died on Aug. 28, 2010, leaving an estate worth approximately $2.2 million. On Sept. 2, 2010, McKnight, Mallory and Pioch – an attorney who had previously done legal work for McKnight and Mallory forged a will in Fewlas’ name. The forged will was drafted by Pioch and named McKnight as the executor and sole devisee of Fewlas’ assets. Pioch filed the forged will with the Lucas County Probate Court on or around Sept. 2, 2010. McKnight identified herself as executor of the estate and Pioch identified herself as attorney for the executor in probate court documents, according to the indictment.

By filing the forged will and concealing its fraudulent nature, Pioch, McKnight and Mallory succeeded in obtaining Probate Court authority to take possession of Fewlas’ assets. After obtaining those assets, they disbursed the assets to themselves for their own enrichment, according to the indictment.

Pioch, McKnight and Mallory used those assets to purchase, among other things, a used car dealership, a 2000 Discovery motorhome for $55,036, a classic 1972 Chevrolet El Camino for $17,000, a 2010 Kia Soul SUV for $21,338, as well as property. They also withdrew more than $500,000 in cash for Fewlas’ estate proceeds, according to the indictment.

JRM, Fewlas’ great nephew and the sole remaining devisee from the 1993 will, received nothing, according to the indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gene Crawford and James V. Moroney following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Toledo Police Department.

If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

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

A federal indictment was unsealed that charges a Streetsboro man with with two counts related to child pornography, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Cleveland Office.

Ronald Flick, 46, was charged with one count of receiving and distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and one count of possessing computers, hard drives and compact discs containing child pornography.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sullivan following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Streetsboro 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 eight-count federal indictment has been returned charging a Uniontown man for his role operating a Ponzi scheme in which 19 investors were defrauded out of approximately $5.5 million, law enforcement officials said.

Geoffrey W. Nehrenz, 36, faces one count of securities fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of fraud by an investment advisor, and two counts of money laundering.

“This defendant took advantage of people who trusted him and used their hard-earned money to fund his lifestyle,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

“Geoffrey Nehrenz callously preyed on the desires of 19 individuals to make wise investments and duped them out of millions,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cleveland Office. “The FBI will continue to root out fraudsters like Mr. Nehrenz.”

"Promoters of Ponzi schemes prey upon trusting investors and then steal their hard-earned money. Investors should be wary that programs promising unbelievable returns on investments should be looked at carefully,” said Kathy A. Enstrom, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “Remember the old cliché: 'If it's too good to be true, it probably is.’"

Between October 2009 and September 2013, Nehrenz promoted and sold investment contracts to clients through Keystone Capital Management, LLC (“KCM”) an investment adviser company located in Uniontown, which is an Ohio limited liability company registered as an investment adviser firm, but not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Nehrenz was the managing member, president, and chief executive officer of KCM, according to the indictment.

Nehrenz induced 19 clients to invest in Keystone by promoting KCM’s ability to generate positive investment returns in equity markets while mitigating risk.  He falsely represented to potential clients that their funds would be pooled, invested during the day in large- and mid-capitalization, publicly traded U.S. securities exclusively, and converted to cash overnight.  Rather than investing the funds, Nehrenz used client money to pay his personal expenses, to pay business expenses to promote and prolong his investment scheme, and to make speculative, high-risk trades with domestic and overseas private placement vehicles without his clients’ authority, transactions known as “side pocket investments,” according to the indictment.

Nehrenz induced at least 19 clients to invest approximately $7 million into his hedge fund, resulting in losses to his clients in the amount of approximately $5.5 million.

The indictment was presented by AUSA Christos N. Georgalis after an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service.

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

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

A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Mary Jo Schmidbauer, age 67, of East Liverpool, Ohio, with bank fraud, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The indictment alleges that from on or about August 14, 2007, through on or about September 9, 2013, Schmidbauer knowingly devised a scheme to obtain money under the custody and control of Home Savings and Loan, East Liverpool, Ohio, a financial institution insured by the FDIC, by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses and representations.

It was part of the scheme and artifice that Mary Jo Schmidbauer, while employed by Home Savings and Loan, obtained permission from J.M. to manage money that J.M. deposited into accounts maintained by Home Savings and Loan.  After retiring from her position, Schmidbauer obtained a power of attorney from J.M. to continue managing the accounts maintained by Home Savings and Loan, according to the indictment.

It was further part of the scheme and artifice that Schmidbauer withdrew cash from J.M.’s accounts for Schmidbauer’s own personal use. It was further part of the scheme and artifice that Schmidbauer transferred money from J.M.’s accounts into Schmidbauer’s accounts.  Schmidbauer then withdrew that money for her own personal use, according to the indictment.

On or about August 14, 2007, Schmidbauer executed the scheme and artifice as set forth above, in that she withdrew $3,000 in cash from J.M.’s account for Schmidbauer’s own personal use.  Schmidbauer withdrew this money while employed by Home Savings and Loan and without J.M.’s consent.

On or about September 9, 2013, Schmidbauer executed the scheme and artifice as set forth above, in that she withdrew $100,415.81 from J.M.’s accounts and transferred the money into Schmidbauer’s accounts for her own personal use.  Schmidbauer  transferred this money by misrepresenting the scope of her authority under J.M.’s power of attorney, according to the indictment.

As a result of the scheme and artifice described above, Schmidbauer obtained approximately $860,000 from J.M.’s accounts, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Clair Township Police Department.   The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David M. Toepfer.

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

A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment charging Nakesha M. Taylor, age 35, of Cleveland,  with making false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims with the Internal Revenue Service, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Taylor publicly offered her services as a tax preparer using the name “Kesha Tax Service.” In January and February 2010, she carried out a scheme to enrich herself by obtaining portions of fraudulently inflated tax refunds from tax returns Taylor prepared and filed from her home on behalf of individual taxpayers.

The indictment charges that Taylor inflated the refunds without the taxpayers’ knowledge, resulting in false claims totaling approximately $101,405.

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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Collyer, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal 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.

A 30-count federal indictment was unsealed charging 13 people with participating in a multi-state conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, a conspiracy which was controlled by an inmate inside an Ohio prison, law enforcement officials said.

Indicted are: Fernando Auces, 50, currently residing at Grafton Correctional Institution; Ricardo Morales-Almazan, 32, currently residing at FCI Big Spring in Texas; Alejandro Sanchez, 33, of Toledo; Roberto Agapito Vallejo-Becerra, 50, currently residing at East Hidalgo Detention Center in Texas; Alexander Gonzales, 38, currently residing at Southern Ohio Correctional Institution (Lucasville); Tammy Gibson, 40, of Akron; Javier Jimenez, 39, of Toledo; Noe Reyes, 33, currently residing at FCI Lucero in Alabama; Randy Koelblin, 39, of Cincinnati; Jasmine Reyes, 29, of Omaha, Neb.; Jenneth De La Rosa, 58, of Toledo; Daniel Ulis, 40, of Toledo and Anthony King, 41, currently residing at Ross Correctional Institution (Chillicothe).

All 13 people were indicted in Count 1 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Auces, while an inmate at Allen Correctional Institute in Lima, Ohio, with the assistance of Almazan and others, controlled a multi-state drug operation by communicating through a contraband cell phone with others outside the prison to arrange the delivery and sale of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the indictment.

Between 2010 and 2014, Auces and others arranged for deliveries of large amounts of heroin to Ohio from suppliers in Indiana and Texas. He recruited friends and relatives, including Almazan, De La Rosa, Sanchez, Ulis, King, Jimenez and Koelblin to receive and distribute the heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine to Cleveland, Toledo and elsewhere, according to the indictment.

Auces, as part of the conspiracy, agreed with Gonzales, an inmate at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, Ohio, to share customers and drug suppliers. Auces arranged for Gonzales to distribute drugs to various locations throughout Ohio, including Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Dayton and Cincinnati, according to the indictment.

“This was a major interstate drug ring run from inside a prison cell,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners those who were helping this drug trafficker from the outside will soon be joining him behind bars. We will continue to work together to reduce the supply of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.”

“Refuge from law enforcement can't be found behind a prison wall,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Office. “The Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force will continue to bring to justice drug dealers that distribute pois0n to our streets, no matter where they reside."

“Our collective enforcement efforts in this investigation have effectively shut down an operation that allegedly funneled copious amounts of illegal drugs into this community," Marlon Miller, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Detroit, which covers Michigan and Ohio. "These charges announced today are the culmination of an extensive multi-agency approach to combating drug trafficking organizations."

Counts 2 through 7 are substantive counts of distribution of methamphetamine or heroin. Counts 8 through 28 deal with the use of communication facility to facilitate a felony. Counts 29 and 30 deal with traveling interstate to distribute heroin. The indictment also seeks to forfeit $37,050 in cash seized from a storage locker in Toledo on April 4, 2014, according to the indictment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vasile C. Katsaros and Christian H. Stickan and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Tomaro of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office following an investigation by the Northern Ohio Law Enforcement Task Force. The NOLETF is a task force comprised of investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Division of Police, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the police departments of Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Lakewood, the Regional Transit Authority, Westlake and Shaker Heights. The NOLETF is also one of the initial Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiatives, which supports and helps coordinate numerous Ohio drug task forces in their efforts to eliminate or reduce drug trafficking in Ohio.
If convicted, the defendants’ sentences will be determined by the court after a review of the federal sentencing guidelines and factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

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 Willoughby Hills man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for filing false tax returns, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Alexander J. Cucu, 41, filed false tax returns in 2008, 2009 and 2010, underreporting his income by approximately $139,434. He pleaded guilty to three counts last year.

This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark S. Bennett following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.

Aan indictment was filed charging Jewel A. Washington, 50, of Toledo, with two counts of unauthorized access of a computer for private financial gain and one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax return information, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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, and 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 Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Detroit, Michigan.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Hood.

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 criminal information was filed charging Mark T. Vandeilen, 58, of Toledo, with grossly negligent operation of a vessel, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

The investigating agency in this case is the United States Coast Guard.  The case is being handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Benedict S. Gullo of the United States Coast Guard and Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Hood.

A 22-count federal indictment was filed charging three individuals with conspiring to defraud states out of $233,000 in unemployment insurance benefits, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Indicted are: Arthur Obleton, 62, Oltheus Hill, 53, and James Smith, 32, all of Cleveland. The charges include conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

The indictment alleges that the defendants executed a “fictitious employer” scheme from about October 2011 to August 2013. Under this scheme, the defendants submitted false paperwork to states’ unemployment-insurance offices in which the defendants registered employers that did not actually exist and reported non-existent earnings for fictitious employees. The defendants then submitted false claims for unemployment-insurance benefits of the purported employees. In doing so, the defendants stole and used actual individuals’ personal identifying information that the defendants had obtained through misrepresentations.

The indictment charges that as a result of this scheme, approximately $233,830 in fraudulent unemployment benefits were paid from Illinois ($134,383), Iowa ($80,781) and and California ($18,666).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Kern, M. Kendra Klump, and James Morford following an investigation by the Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division.

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

An indictment is only 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 indictment was filed charging Michael D. Vaughn II, 26, an inmate at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown with threatening the President of the United States and the First Family, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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

The investigating agency in this case is the United States Secret Service, Toledo, Ohio.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Freeman.

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

A criminal information was filed charging Nicholas W. Bradley, 34, of Haskins, Ohio, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and filing a false tax return from March 2006 and through December 2008, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

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 Internal Revenue Service, Toledo, Ohio.  The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Gene Crawford.

An information 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 grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Ronald Bergrin, 56, of New York, New York, with cyberstalking, threatening in retaliation, and threatening in an interstate communication, an FBI agent from on or about December 2012 through on or about December 18, 2014, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

On Dec. 18, 2014, Bergrin threatened to assault a federal law enforcement officer, sending an email from the Northern District of Ohio in which he wrote the following: “She thinks she’s living in a safe place. A place where nobody can find out where she lives and nobody could get her. I’m going to teach her that I could crush her like the bug she is…She will never sleep at night again. She will have nightmares,” according to the indictment.

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

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. McDonough and Matthew Shepherd, following an investigation by agents of the Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Newark 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.

Stephen Fleischer, 29, of Youngstown, was charged last week with sexual exploitation of a child, transferring obscenity to a minor and transportation of a minor, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The Indictment charges that on or about April 1, 2014, through on or about May 30, 2014, in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, Fleischer attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor, that is, a 14-year-old girl to engage in sexually explicit conduct, for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, knowing and having reason to know that such visual depiction would be transported, using any means or facility of interstate and foreign commerce, and in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce.

The indictment also charges that on or about April 1, 2014, through on or about May 30, 2014, in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, Fleischer used a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, that is, a device connected to the Internet, to knowingly transfer obscene matter, that is, a visual depiction of his erect penis, to an individual who he knew had not attained the age of 16 years, that is, a fourteen 14-year-old girl.

The indictment also charges that on three separate occasions from on or about May 1, 2014, through on or about July 26, 2014, in the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, and elsewhere, Fleischer knowingly transported an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, that is a 14 year-old girl, in interstate commerce from the State of Pennsylvania to the State of Ohio, with the intent that such 14 year-old girl engage in sexual activity for which Fleischer could be charged with a criminal offense.

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.  The case was investigated by the Youngstown office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Austintown 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.

U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach announced that the Northern District of Ohio collected a record $356.7 million in Fiscal Year 2014 from criminal and civil actions handled exclusively or substantially by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, more than 20 times the office’s annual budget.

The office’s total overall budget for the fiscal year was about $16.6 million.

Additionally, the office took in about $11.4 million in civil and criminal forfeitures.

“The work of this office and our partners not only recovers hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars – it helps make crime victims whole, it punishes those who lie and cheat to enrich themselves and it hits criminals and scammers where it can hurt the most, right in the wallet,”  Dettelbach said. “It is worth noting that the money collected by this office last year was 20 times more than our annual budget.”

Attorney General Eric Holder said: “Every day, the Justice Department’s federal prosecutors and trial attorneys work hard to protect our citizens, to safeguard precious taxpayer resources, and to provide a valuable return on investment to the American people. Their diligent efforts are enabling us to achieve justice and recoup losses in virtually every sector of the U.S. economy.  And it shows the fruits of the Justice Department’s tireless work in enforcing federal laws; in protecting the American people from violent crime, national security threats, discrimination, exploitation, and abuse; and in holding financial institutions accountable for their roles in causing the 2008 financial crisis.” 

The money collected is used to compensate crime victims, is distributed to state and local law enforcement partners who participate in investigations and is returned to federal agencies for losses sustained by their programs, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and to the general treasury. Among the largest collections this year:

U.S. Bank: U.S. Bank paid $200 million to resolve civil allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet applicable requirements. As part of the settlement, U.S. Bank admitted that, from 2006 through 2011, it repeatedly certified for FHA insurance mortgage loans that did not meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development underwriting requirements. U.S. Bank also admitted that its quality control program did not meet FHA requirements, and as a result, it failed to identify deficiencies in many of the loans it had certified for FHA insurance, failed to self-report many deficient loans to HUD, and failed to take corrective action required under the program.  U.S. Bank further acknowledged that its conduct caused FHA to insure thousands of loans that were not eligible for insurance and that the FHA suffered substantial losses when it later paid insurance claims on those loans.

United States v. Diebold Inc.: Diebold Inc., the Ohio-based provider of integrated self-service delivery and security systems, including automated teller machines, paid a $25.2 million criminal penalty to resolve allegations that it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by bribing government officials in China and Indonesia and falsifying records in Russia in order to obtain and retain contracts to provide ATMs to state-owned and private banks in those countries.

United States, ex. rel. Gale v. Omnicare Inc.: Omnicare Inc., the nation’s largest provider of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services to nursing homes, paid $124 million for allegedly offering improper financial incentives to skilled nursing facilities in return for their continued selection of Omnicare to supply drugs to elderly Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Approximately $116 million of the settlement resolved allegations in a lawsuit brought under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act that Omnicare submitted false claims by entering into below-cost contracts to supply prescription medication and other pharmaceutical drugs to skilled nursing facilities and their resident patients to induce the facilities to select Omnicare as their pharmacy provider.

Attorney General Holder announced that across the country, the Justice Department collected $24.7 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year 2014. The more than $24 billion in collections in FY 2014 represents nearly eight and a half times the appropriated $2.91 billion budget for the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and the main litigating divisions of the Justice Department combined in that same period.

The amount is more than three times the $8 billion collected in FY 2013.  The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, many of which were brought under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected from  individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights, tax, or environmental laws.  In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.

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

Below is a complete breakdown of collections in the Northern District of Ohio over the past decade:

2013: $23.9 million

2012: $79.7 million

2011: $48.6 million

2010: $42 million

2009: $17.7 million

2008: $36.7 million

2007: $63.5 million

2006: $80 million

2005: $51.4 million

2004: $22.3 million