Southern District of Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final of 19 defendants to be convicted in a Columbus gang-related racketeering conspiracy pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for his part in furthering the violence of the local Crips gang. The racketeering conspiracy first charged in 2018 includes five murders, at least 26 attempted murders, and other violent and drug-trafficking crimes.

 

Shawn Nelms, 28, admitted in federal court on Sept. 8 to participating in the 2013 murder of William Moore. Nelms and others spotted Moore, a rival Poindexter Thug Life Bloods gang member, walking on Mount Vernon Ave. and agreed to kill the man for the purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions within T&A. According to his plea, in 2011, Nelms shot another man in the chest, and the gunshot victim survived. During a robbery in 2011, one of several rounds shot by Nelms went into a nearby house and struck a young girl, who also survived. Nelms’s plea includes a recommended sentence of 34 to 40 years in prison.

 

Nelms was scheduled to stand trial beginning next week and pleaded guilty at a pretrial conference yesterday evening.

 

The United States Attorney’s Office charged 19 total defendants in 2018 as part of the local gang T&A Crips. The gang derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly resided.

 

The criminal organization included various subgroups, including, Atcheson Crip Gangsters (ACG), Catch A Body (CAB), Kwamie Gang (KMG), Waun Gang, Family Over Everything (FOE), Go Gang, On The Family (OTF), Toe Tag and Go Crazy.

 

T&A identifies with the national Crips gang, adopting the traditional colors, symbols, culture, codes and enemies of the Crips gang. Its local rival Blood gangs include, but are not limited to, the Easthaven Bloods, Poindexter Thug Life (PTL) and the Milo Bloods.

 

T&A members marked the gang’s territory with graffiti and themselves with common tattoos. Members also produced songs to boast of the gang’s existence, communicate their violent methods and threaten non-members and rival gang members. These songs were posted on various social networking sites used by the T&A members.

 

T&A controlled the neighborhood through intimidation, fear and violence. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.

 

Specifically, co-conspirators in this case have been convicted of five murders:

the murder of Franky Tention on July 1, 2012, in the area of 431 Ellison Street;

the murder of William Moore on March 15, 2013;

the murder of Marvin Ector on December 23, 2013, on East 5th Avenue;

the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and

the murder of seven-year-old Deonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.

 

Additionally, from June 14, 2010 until March 15, 2017, there were at least 26 separate incidences in which T&A gang members attempted to murder more individuals by shooting at them.

Co-conspirators also threatened and/or intimidated witnesses, using violence or the threat of violence to deter them from providing information to law enforcement and to enforce a “no snitching” code.

Defendants distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and marijuana. They also used “trap houses” in other individuals’ names to store and sell narcotics.

T&A members used the drug proceeds to purchase firearms to use in gang wars in Columbus. They often traveled to Huntington, West Virginia, Portsmouth, Ohio, and Chillicothe, Ohio, (among other locations) to sell and purchase drugs and guns.

Seven defendants have been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison to date. They include:

Name

Also Known As

Sentence

Charles Carson

 

30 years in prison

Jonathan Dantzler

Jesus

30 years in prison

Eric Henderson, Sr.

Easy

15 years in prison

Michael Henderson

Bang

10 years and 9 months in prison

Steve Henderson, Jr.

Big Go, Tana

20 years in prison

Shawn Nelms

Mook

34-40 years recommended

Marcus Walton

Ox, Wax

10 years in prison

Michael Watson

Sossa

30 years in prison

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Dan Leeper, Acing Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; and United States Marshal Pete Tobin announced the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.

 

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DAYTON, Ohio – A 55-year-old Dayton man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining Social Security and COVID-19 relief funding in his deceased father’s name.

 

After a recent Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General audit caused the benefit payments to stop in summer 2020, Jon Devol, also known as John Atkins, called the SSA office pretending to be his elderly mother whom he had fraudulently named as the payee.

 

According to court documents, Devol impersonated his mother throughout the 30-minute, recorded phone call. During the call, Devol provided his parents’ Social Security numbers and when asked if his father was deceased, he said no. When the customer service representative reiterated that Devol’s father was listed as deceased in the SSA database, the defendant said, “That’s a mistake.”

 

In total, from 2015 until the 2020 audit, Devol received nearly $59,000 in Social Security benefits. Throughout those five years, Devol returned questionnaires to the SSA pretending to be his mother and stating the money was being used to care for his father’s needs.

 

In May 2020, Devol also received a $1,200 COVID-19 relief stimulus payment in his dead father’s name.

 

As part of his sentence, Devol was ordered to repay the $58,782 to Social Security and $1,200 to the IRS.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case. The SSA-OIG and United States Secret Service investigated the case.

 

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – One of 19 defendants charged in a Columbus gang-related racketeering conspiracy was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 30 years in prison for his part in furthering the violence of the local Crips gang.

 

Jonathan Dantzler, 29, murdered a rival gang member and shot at a potential witness in 2012. He is one of 19 defendants charged in 2018 as part of the local gang T&A Crips.

 

T&A Crips derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly reside. T&A controlled the neighborhood through intimidation, fear and violence. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.

 

Specifically, the co-conspirators in this case are charged with five murders:

the murder of Franky Tention on July 1, 2012, in the area of 431 Ellison Street;

the murder of William Moore on March 15, 2013;

the murder of Marvin Ector on December 23, 2013, on East 5th Avenue;

the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and

the murder of Deonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.

 

As part of his guilty plea in May 2021, Dantzler admitted to shooting Franky Tention in 2012. According to court documents, Dantzler shot at the victim because he was a member of the rival “Milo Bloods” gang and was driving into T&A territory in a “sign of disrespect.” 

 

Dantzler also discharged a firearm into the residence of a potential witness to intimidate her from cooperating with law enforcement authorities.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Dan Leeper, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; and United States Marshal Pete Tobin announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.

 

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged two men with a string of armed robberies and the February 2021 murder of Roop C. Gupta, the owner of Madeira Beverage.

 

Willie James Attaway, 30, of Cincinnati, and Lamond Johnson, 35, most recently of Cincinnati, are charged by a 14-count indictment.

 

According to the charging document, Attaway and Johnson conspired to commit five armed robberies on Feb. 8 and 9, 2021.

 

Specifically, the defendants allegedly brandished a firearm to commit robberies on the following occasions:

• February 8 – Shell on Montgomery Road in Deerfield Township,
• February 8 – Shell on Dixie Highway in Hamilton, Ohio,
• February 9 – Madeira Beverage on Kenwood Road in Madeira, Ohio,
• February 9 – Sunoco on Kenwood Road in Blue Ash, Ohio, and
• February 9 – Marathon on North Broadway in Lebanon, Ohio. 

 

Attaway and Johnson are both charged with the Feb. 9, 2021 murder of Gupta, the owner of Madeira Beverage. Using a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence is potentially punishable by the death penalty.

 

Related local charges pending against Johnson will be superseded by the federal indictment returned yesterday, and the case will proceed federally.

 

Attaway and Johnson appeared in federal court today at 1:30pm and the indictment was unsealed at that time.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.

 

The investigation was jointly conducted by ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Madeira Police Department, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Cincinnati, Lebanon, Blue Ash, and Hamilton police departments, and the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office.

 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Dublin, Ohio, man has been charged federally with crimes related to sexually exploiting at least three minors.

 

Timothy W. Wright, 50, was arrested yesterday afternoon at his home and appeared in federal court today. The charges initiated thus far were unsealed during his initial appearance today.

 

Specifically, Wright is charged with enticing a minor, producing child pornography and possessing child pornography.

 

According to court documents, Wright paid females under the age of 18 to send him nude photographs and videos. As stated in the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, CashApp and phone records allegedly connect the payments for these videos and images to Wright and his company, L&T Trucking, and phone records also indicate Wright allegedly coordinated dates and times to meet with the victims at his Dublin residence.

 

The affidavit further details that Wright allegedly paid a minor victim $300 on least five occasions in exchange for the minor lying nude on Wright’s bed while Wright engaged in sex acts.

 

Enticement of a minor is a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Producing child pornography carries a penalty of at least 15 and up to 30 years in prison. Possessing child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.

 

The case is being cooperatively investigated by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which operates under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and by Homeland Security Investigations, Columbus Division of Police, Dublin Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit, Delaware County Drug Task Force, and the United States Marshals Service.

 

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged a Cincinnati police officer with failing to report tens of thousands of dollars earned from off-duty jobs at area nightclubs.

 

Diondre Winstead, 44, of Cincinnati, is charged with three counts of filing false tax returns. He allegedly failed to report more than $58,000 earned from off-duty jobs in tax years 2015, 2016 and 2017.

 

Winstead was first charged by a federal criminal complaint and arrested on that complaint on August 18.

 

According to court documents, Winstead is charged as part of an investigation into alleged narcotics money laundering organizations operating as Cincinnati nightclubs. Promoters allegedly use drug proceeds to pay for artists and performers at the nightclubs as a way to generate revenue that would appear to be legitimate.

 

Winstead, a Cincinnati Police Officer of more than 16 years, worked off-duty jobs at the clubs and received cash payments from the promoters.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker is representing the United States in this case.

 

Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) are assisting with investigating this case.

 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Scott Surgener, 43, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 240 months in prison for sexually exploiting a minor.

 

According to court documents, from April 2018 through July 2019, Surgener engaged in sexually explicit conduct with a minor in his home for the purpose of taking pictures and videos of the sexual abuse. The pictures and videos were taken in Surgener’s residence while the victim, who was younger than 13, was in his care at child sleepovers.

 

In total, the defendant produced 28 videos and images of the exploitation.

 

Surgener was charged by a federal criminal complaint in October 2019 and has remained in custody since. He pleaded guilty in February 2021 to producing child pornography.

 

Surgener was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release following imprisonment and ordered to pay $3,000 in victim restitution.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Dan Leeper, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey and Springdale Police Chief Thomas Wells announced the sentence imposed yesterday evening by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.

 

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DAYTON, Ohio – Two Daytonians pleaded guilty in federal court to crimes related to a conspiracy to steal checks, credit cards, debit cards, bank account information and Social Security numbers to enrich themselves.

 

Myrtle Lynn “Mi Mi” Jackson, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today, and Joshua Dylan “Jo Jo” Chapman, 29, pleaded guilty on August 4, to conspiring to engage in access device fraud and to aggravated identity theft.

 

According to court documents, the defendants stole victims’ personal information from occupied and unoccupied residences, vehicles and mailboxes. Jackson and Chapman then used stolen credit cards, debit cards and checks to illicitly acquire cash, drugs, and other goods and services.

 

The co-conspirators used victims’ information to fraudulently apply for personal loans, student loans, unemployment benefits, credit cards, debit cards and checks.

 

Jackson and Chapman used the proceeds of their fraud scheme to buy illicit drugs and make purchases at Walmart, Dollar General, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lees Famous Chicken. The fraudulent funds were also used to pay for motel rooms and for gambling activities at a casino in Dayton. The charged conspiracy transpired from May 28, 2019 – triggered by the tornadoes in the Greater-Dayton area – until/ May 11, 2021.

 

Conspiring to engage in access device fraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 90 months in prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the guilty pleas entered and commended the investigation of the United States Secret Service and Dayton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.

 

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John S. Billhimer, age 40, of Spring Valley, Ohio pleaded guilty today to a one count federal information charging him with filing a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for tax years 2014 through 2017, said Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Cincinnati Field Office.

Billhimer owned and operated various businesses which conducted internet sales of aftermarket automobile parts and accessories, and electronics, on eBay and Amazon. As the sole shareholder of these corporations, Billhimer was responsible for reporting any income that he personally received from these corporations on Schedule E of his U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040. For tax years 2014 through 2017, Billhimer willfully filed tax returns which fraudulently understated his tax liabilities and caused a tax loss to the United States of $56,000.

“Income, from whatever source derived, is taxable and needs to be properly reported by all taxpayers,” Bryant said. “IRS-CI works everyday to ensure those who don’t pay their fair share are held accountable to the fullest extent possible under the law.”

Billhimer will be sentenced on January 6, 2022 by U.S. District Court Judge Michael J. Newman. 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 (3 years) and in most cases it will be less than the maximum. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace, following an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to making fake IDs claiming he was a Special Agent with Homeland Security and an employee of the Defense Logistics Agency, which is the Department of Defense’s combat logistics support agency.

 

David Lomache, 61, was indicted by a grand jury and arrested by federal agents on April 16, 2021.

 

According to the court documents, Lomache fraudulently obtained a United States Federal Contractor badge in order to impersonate a civilian contractor technician for the Defense Logistics Agency.

 

In January of 2021, Lomache produced fake identification documents for both the Defense Logistics Agency and for Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”). He listed his titles on the fraudulent documents as “Civilian Contractor Technician” and “Homeland Security Special Agent.”

 

Fraud in connection with identification documents is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations; and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Matthew McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney Painter is representing the United States in this case.

 

Anyone who believes they may be a victim of fraud in relation to this investigation is asked to call 866-347-2423 (TTY for hearing impaired: 802-872-6196) or visit the website at https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.

 

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CINCINNATI – Frank Morris, 73, of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to using the identity of a deceased childhood friend to obtain more than $120,000 in Social Security and SNAP food stamp benefits. Morris also compiled a criminal record in the victim’s name over the 50-year span in which Morris used the identity. 

 

Specifically, Morris pleaded guilty to theft of public money (punishable by up to 10 years in prison) and false representation of a Social Security number (punishable by up to five years in prison).

 

According to court documents, Morris assumed the identity of an individual after the individual’s death in 1966. Since at least 1973 and continuing up to present, Morris was repeatedly arrested under the victim’s identity.

 

In 2004, Morris began using the victim’s identity to collect Supplemental Security Income disability payments. From 2004 until 2020, Morris received more than $123,000 in disability payments.

 

In 2018, Morris applied for SNAP food stamp benefits using the victim’s identity and received approximately $1,600 in benefits.

 

The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, United States Secret Service, USDA Office of Inspector General and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles cooperatively investigated this case.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the plea entered into before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Roxanne Bates, 52, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of theft of public money, acknowledging that she took her mother’s Social Security benefits for almost eight years after her mother died.

According to court documents, Bates’ mother died in January 2012. Before she died, she was receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration. Those benefits should have ceased when she died, but the Social Security Administration was not notified of the death and continued to pay benefits totaling $146,143.

The benefits were deposited into a bank account controlled by Bates’ mother. On a regular basis, Bates knowingly and willfully stole the money by withdrawing it from the account using a debit card with her late mother’s name on it.

An audit by the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General detected the theft. Agents interviewed Bates in August 2020 and she acknowledged that she took money out of the account after her mother died.

Theft of public money is a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison, but the court will apply federal sentencing guidelines to determine an appropriate sentence. The plea agreement requires Bates to repay the money she stole.

The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General and the United States Secret Service cooperatively investigated this case.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the plea entered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 26-year-old Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 30 years in prison for participating in a local gang’s racketeering conspiracy.

 

Charles Carson pleaded guilty in February 2020 and accepted responsibility for the 2015 murder of Quincy Story. Carson shot and killed Story on S. James Road in Columbus.

 

According to court documents, Carson and 18 other defendants were charged as members and associates of the Trevitt and Atcheson Crips gang known as T&A. The gang derived its name from Trevitt and Atcheson streets in the King-Lincoln District of Columbus, where its members predominantly reside.

 

The murder victim, Story, was perceived as disrespecting a fallen associate of the T&A subgroup Waun Gang.

 

Beginning in June 2010, T&A members and associates conspired in a racketeering enterprise and engaged in murders, attempted murders, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, witness tampering, robbery, assault and other crimes.

 

The gang controlled the neighborhood through intimidation, fear and violence. Gang members were expected to retaliate with acts of violence when their members and associates were disrespected, threatened, intimidated or subjected to acts of violence.

 

Specifically, co-conspirators are charged with five murders:

the murder of Franky Tention on July 1, 2012, in the area of 431 Ellison Street;

the murder of William Moore on March 15, 2013;

the murder of Marvin Ector on December 23, 2013, on East 5th Avenue;

the murder of Quincy Story on January 24, 2015; and

the murder of Deaonte Fisher on March 4, 2016.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; and United States Marshal Pete Tobin announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

DAYTON – A Burlington, Kentucky, woman was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 70 months in prison for aiding and abetting her daughter in intimidating a witness after the murder of her ex-son-in-law.

 

Chandra Harmon, 57, admitted in January 2021 to aiding and abetting the intimidation of a witness after the August 2017 murder of Robert Caldwell. Harmon and her daughter, Tawnney Caldwell, attempted to prevent the witness from providing testimony to law enforcement about weapons provided to a co-defendant. 

 

According to court documents, around 6pm on Aug. 15, 2017, Robert Caldwell and his three minor children left a counseling appointment in Riverside, Ohio. While crossing the parking lot, Robert Caldwell was shot multiple times by an assailant in front of his children and died at the scene. The assailant was later identified as co-defendant Sterling Roberts.

Tawnney Caldwell is the ex-wife of the murder victim and was the girlfriend of Sterling Roberts at the time of the incident. Chandra Harmon is Tawnney Caldwell’s mother and previous mother-in-law to Robert Caldwell.

Tawnney Caldwell and the murder victim had an ongoing dispute regarding the custody of their children and Tawnney Caldwell had talked to Sterling Roberts on at least two occasions (while Roberts was incarcerated in Montgomery County) about killing Robert Caldwell.

Sterling Roberts; his brothers, Chance Deakin and Christopher Roberts; Chandra Harmon (Tawnney’s mother); and James Harmon (Tawnney’s step-father) collaborated to plan, execute and cover-up the violent crime resulting in the death of Robert Caldwell.

Tawnney Caldwell was sentenced in July to 35 years in prison for interstate stalking resulting in death, and Sterling Roberts awaits trial.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Riverside Police Chief Frank Robinson and Sugarcreek Township Police Chief Michael Brown announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith, Sheila G. Lafferty and Kevin Koller are representing the United States in this case.

 

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CINCINNATI – Acting United States Attorney Vipal J. Patel and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley announced today the designation of a special prosecutor to assist with federal gun cases.

 

Meagan W. Myers with the City of Cincinnati Law Department has been designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) and will continue an anti-violence initiative between the local and federal prosecutor’s offices.

 

“Meagan is an accomplished and respected prosecutor for the City of Cincinnati, and we look forward to continued success in her new role at the Department of Justice,” said Deputy City Solicitor Emily Smart Woerner.

 

The initiative includes a committed focus from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to work collaboratively to identify those individuals who consistently use firearms to commit crimes, who habitually possess illegal firearms, and who present a clear threat to the safety of the community.

 

Federally, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Defendants convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to life in prison. Offenders who possess a firearm after having been convicted of three violent felonies face between 15 years and life in prison.

 

The SAUSA position is dedicated as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus woman pleaded guilty in federal court here today to crimes related to COVID relief fraud.

 

Janet Jenison, 38, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement on a Paycheck Protection Program loan application.  Jenison was charged by bill of information on May 20, 2021.

 

According to court documents, Jenison submitted three fraudulent applications to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, created by the CARES Act, for Janet Minton Marketing, LLC, a business registered in her maiden name. The applications collectively sought $298,719.67 in fraudulent loans.

 

Two of the applications were approved and a financial institution disbursed $160,247. Jenison first received $98,120 in June 2020. She filed the second successful application on Feb. 18, 2021, and received $62,127.

 

To date, the United States has seized and recovered $58,276.56 of the fraudulent proceeds.

 

In support of the three applications, Jenison created false Fifth Third Bank account statements for her business for the period Feb. 8, 2020 to March 6, 2020. The bank statements showed debits for payroll, tax withholding and business expenses.  The business account at Fifth Third Bank was not opened until April 27, 2020.

 

Jenison also submitted false tax documents. One document claimed she elected for her marketing business to be classified as a corporation and was dated Jan. 24, 2020, but the employer identification number on the form was not created until four months later. In support of her loan applications, the defendant also submitted fabricated tax documents claiming that she had made federal employment tax deposits on behalf of employees of her business, when in fact she had not done so.

 

Jenison was interviewed by law enforcement in March 2021 and admitted to creating the false documents submitted in support of the applications.

 

Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Making a false statement is punishable by up to five years in prison. Each crime carries a potential fine not to exceed $250,000. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; officials with the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office announced the plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a range of federal crimes, including fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, false claims to United States citizenship and firearms violations.

 

Nana Yaw Addo, 56, a citizen of Ghana, admitted his guilt to 10 separate counts today. He admitted to stealing an individual’s identity in order to create a fraudulent business and accompanying bank account, laundering the proceeds of “man in the middle” email scams, organizing the theft of lines of credit at furniture stores, printing and encoding fake credit cards, and illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm.

 

In total, the intended loss from Addo’s fraud was between half a million and $1.5 million.

 

According to Addo’s plea agreement, in 2018, he stole an individual’s identity and used the stolen identity to create a business called Focal Point Wireless. Addo fraudulently registered the company with an address on Cleveland Avenue in Columbus. The address matched that of Addo’s actual company, Beeps Computer Clinic.

 

Addo then laundered the proceeds of business email compromise scams through his American bank accounts.

 

For example, a co-conspirator compromised the email address of a supervisor at a separate victim company in order to initiate a wire transfer of more than $67,000 to an account Addo opened using the stolen identity.

 

An employee of the victim company received an email into his/her workplace email account purportedly from his/her supervisor telling the employee to initiate the wire transfer and that the supervisor would later provide an invoice. When the employee asked the supervisor about when to expect to receive the invoice, the victim company discovered the supervisor’s email had been compromised.

 

Bank records show Addo wired at least $20,000 of the victim company’s money into a Beeps Computer Clinic bank account and purchased $2,000 in money orders at Kroger.

 

Addo received and laundered the proceeds of a scam defrauding a second victim company of $80,499 in October 2018.

 

The next month, Addo laundered nearly $422,000 obtained by fraudsters through a “man in the middle” email scheme. In this type of scheme, the attacker impersonates a vendor or customer by mimicking email address domain names which appear to the same, but are, in reality, slightly different.

 

Addo admitted in his plea agreement that he served as a leader of credit card scams at furniture retailers. The defendant would send other people into retailers with victims’ stolen personal information in order to open lines of credit and order furniture. The furniture was then delivered to Addo’s business address on Cleveland Avenue. The stolen information was also used to print and encode fraudulent credit cards.

 

While searching his residence and business, law enforcement officials discovered more than 600 stolen credit card numbers.

 

Addo falsely claimed to be a United States citizen to get a driver’s license and lied on federal forms to purchase a firearm.

 

As part of his plea, Addo will pay nearly $214,000 in restitution.

 

Addo faces up to 20 years in prison for money laundering, up to 10 years in prison for each firearm crime, up to five years in prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud, up to three years in prison for falsely claiming to be a United States citizen and a mandatory term of two years in prison – to be served consecutively to any other imposed sentence – for aggravated identity theft.

 

Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentences. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation; and Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the plea entered into today before Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly A. Norris and Peter K. Glenn-Applegate are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant responsible for murder as charged in the federal case against local members and associates of MS-13 was sentenced in U.S. District Court today.

 

Juan Flores-Castro, 32, of Columbus, is the ninth defendant to be convicted and sentenced to at least 30 years in prison for committing murder on behalf of the transnational criminal organization. Specifically, Flores-Castro was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

 

The others include:

• Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera (“Momia”) – sentenced to life in prison without parole
• Jose Bonilla-Mejia (“Espia”) – sentenced to life in prison without parole
• Pedro Alfonso Osorio-Flores (“Smokey”) – sentenced to 40 years in prison
• Jose Manuel Romero-Parada (“Russo”) – sentenced to 40 years in prison
• Jose Salvador Gonzalez-Campos (“Danger”) – sentenced to 40 years in prison
• Juan Jose Jimenez-Montufar (“Chele Trece”) – sentenced to 35 years in prison
• Jose Daniel Gonzalez-Campos (“Flaco”) – sentenced to 30 years in prison
• Jose Mendez-Peraza (“Shadow”) – sentenced to 30 years in prison

 

The murders include: 1) the December 2006 murder of Jose Mendez, a suspected confidential informant, in Perry County; 2) the November 2008 murder of Ramon Ramos on Lockbourne Road in Columbus; 3) the mid-2015 murder of Carlos Serrano-Ramos, a suspected rival gang member, near Innis Road in Columbus; 4) the November 2015 murder of Wilson Villeda near Innis Road in Columbus; 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz,  a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus; 6) the 2016 murder of Jose Ovillio Ayala-Alas in Virginia; 7) the 2017 murder of 15-year-old Genesis Lizbeth Cornejo-Alvarado, who was believed to have dated a rival gang member, in Texas; and 8) the 2017 murder and dismemberment of Israel Anibal Mejia-Martinez in Indianapolis.

 

In total, 22 defendants have been convicted. The U.S. Attorney’s Office charged 23 individuals as members and associates of MS-13 in Columbus in a February 2018 second superseding indictment. Daniel Alexander Diaz-Romero (“Manchas”) remains a fugitive.

The defendants have been found guilty as part of a racketeering conspiracy, which includes eight murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.  Specifically, Flores-Castro was held responsible for his role in the murders of Wilson Villeda and Salvador Martinez-Diaz, as well as for selling drugs on behalf of the gang.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Rebecca Adducci, Detroit Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the sentence imposed this morning by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

 

Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a motion today requesting a federal judge to find local landlord John Klosterman in civil contempt of court for failing to meet the requirements of a negotiated federal consent decree.

 

The United States sued Klosterman in 2018, alleging Klosterman sexually harassed female tenants since at least 2013 at the 55 residential properties he and his wife Susan Klosterman owned in Sedamsville.

 

Klosterman engaged in unwanted sexual touching, offered to reduce rent and overlook or excuse late or unpaid rent in exchange for sex. He evicted or threatened to evict female tenants who objected to or refused sexual advances. Klosterman also entered the homes of female tenants without their consent and otherwise monitored their daily activities with cameras directed at their units. 

 

In 2020, the Justice Department settled the lawsuit with Klosterman, who agreed to various terms in a consent decree. Today’s filing states Klosterman has violated these terms:

• Accurately represent and update the extent of their rental property holdings;
• Cease personally interacting with tenants or otherwise participating in rental management;
• Secure an independent property manager for any properties owned outside of a receivership created as a result of a lawsuit filed by the City of Cincinnati;
• Complete fair housing training and ensure compliance with a sexual harassment policy; and
• Pay monetary damages.

 

The United States argues Klosterman has failed to fully comply with the provisions of the federal court’s consent decree. For example, according to today’s motion, Klosterman continues to personally manage five rental properties, failed to secure an independent property manager, and has been accused of further improper conduct regarding female tenants.

 

In September and November 2020, Klosterman was charged criminally by the state of Ohio with Menacing by Stalking a female tenant victim.

 

“Klosterman’s repeated and ongoing refusal to comply with the consent decree justifies a finding of civil contempt in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “We seek to hold Klosterman accountable for his severe and pervasive sexual harassment.”

 

The court may remedy civil contempt by issuing fines or other relief intended to secure compliance with the federal court’s orders.

 

The United States’ motion asks the court to fine Klosterman $100 per day and $500 per incident until he meets various provisions of the consent decree. The United States is also asking the court to extend the duration of the decree by nine months, until July 2026.

 

The United States’ lawsuit was pursued jointly with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color religion, national origin, sex disability and familial status. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt.

 

Individuals can report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743, emailing the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or submitting a report online.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the motion filed in federal court today. Civil Chief Matthew J. Horwitz is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – FirstEnergy Corp. has been charged federally with conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud and has agreed to pay a $230 million monetary penalty. The company signed a deferred prosecution agreement that could potentially result in dismissal of the charge.

 

The charge and agreement stem from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing public corruption prosecutions. In today’s court filings, FirstEnergy Corp., an Akron, Ohio-based public utility holding company, admits it conspired with public officials and other individuals and entities to pay millions of dollars to public officials in exchange for specific official action for FirstEnergy Corp.’s benefit.

 

FirstEnergy Corp. acknowledged in the deferred prosecution agreement that it paid millions of dollars to an elected state public official through the official’s alleged 501(c)(4) in return for the official pursuing nuclear legislation for FirstEnergy Corp.’s benefit.

 

The company also acknowledged that it used 501(c)(4) entities, including one it controlled, to further the scheme because it allowed certain FirstEnergy Corp. executives and co-conspirators to conceal from the public the nature, source and control of payments.

 

FirstEnergy Corp. further acknowledged that it paid $4.3 million dollars to a second public official. In return, the individual acted in their official capacity to further First Energy Corp.’s interests related to passage of nuclear legislation and other company priorities.

 

FirstEnergy Corp. has cooperated substantially with the government, and according to the deferred prosecution agreement, the company must continue to cooperate fully with the United States in all matters related to the company’s conduct described in the agreement and other conduct under investigation by the government, among other obligations.

 

For example, within 60 days of today’s filing, FirstEnergy Corp. must pay $115 million to the United States and $115 million to the Ohio Development Service Agency’s Percentage of Income Payment Plus Plan, a program that provides assistance to Ohioans in paying their regulated utility bills.

 

Other terms in the agreement include publicly disclosing on its website any FirstEnergy Corp. contributions to 501(c)(4) entities and entities known by FirstEnergy Corp. to be operating for the benefit of a public official, either directly or indirectly, and making various provisions to improve corporate compliance moving forward.

 

As part of the agreement, FirstEnergy Corp. admitted to the facts alleged in the Information and outlined in the Statement of Facts, which detail actions by FirstEnergy Corp. executives to pay money to public officials in return for official action. As a corporation, FirstEnergy Corp. is responsible for the acts of its current and former officers, directors, employees and agents. 

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the charge and agreement. Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew C. Singer are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

 

DAYTON, Ohio – A Huber Heights man who possessed more than 3,400 images and 800 videos of child pornography has been sentenced to 240 months in prison, the maximum sentence provided under federal law for possession of child pornography.

 

Stephen E. Kirby II, 38, was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release as a sex offender.

 

According to court documents filed when Kirby pleaded guilty in June 2020 to one count of possession of child pornography, Kirby used multiple internet message services to receive and distribute child pornography files and to communicate with others about the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. One of the people Kirby contacted in 2019 was actually an undercover FBI agent investigating child pornography trafficking. Kirby was taken into custody following his plea and remains in custody.

 

“Kirby received the maximum sentence because of the brazen and flagrant way he committed his crimes, resuming his criminal behavior about a month after the Bureau of Prisons released Kirby following his 2013 conviction for distribution of child pornography,” said Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. “Kirby demonstrated that nothing short of prison would keep him from engaging in child sexual exploitation crimes.  Federal law is set up to deal harshly with repeat offenders who victimize children.”

 

Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), joined Acting U.S. Attorney Patel in announcing the sentence handed down July 20 by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Christina E. Mahy is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged a local, self-identified “Incel” with attempting to conduct a mass shooting of women and with illegally possessing a machine gun.

 

Tres Genco, 21, of Hillsboro, Ohio, allegedly plotted to commit a hate crime, namely, a plan to shoot women at a university in Ohio. He was arrested by federal agents today.

 

Genco identified as an Incel or “involuntary celibate.” The Incel movement is an online community of predominantly men who harbor anger towards women. Incels advocate violence in support of their belief that women unjustly deny them sexual or romantic attention to which they believe they are entitled.   

 

According to the indictment, Genco maintained profiles on a popular Incel website from at least July 2019 through mid-March 2020. Genco was a frequent poster on the site.

 

In one post, Genco allegedly detailed spraying “some foids and couples” with orange juice in a water gun. Foids is an Incel term short for “femoids,” referring to women. According to the charging document, Genco compared his “extremely empowering action” to similar conduct by known Incel Elliot Rodger. In May 2014, Rodger killed six people and injured 14 others, including shooting individuals outside a University of California, Santa Barbara sorority house. Prior to his mass attack, Rodger shot a group of college students with orange juice from a water gun.

 

Genco also allegedly wrote a manifesto, stating he would “slaughter” women “out of hatred, jealousy and revenge…” and referring to death as the “great equalizer.” As part of this investigation, law enforcement agents discovered a note of Genco’s that indicated he hoped to “aim big” for a kill count of 3,000 people with a reference to the same date as Elliot Rodger’s attack, and intended to attend military training. The investigation revealed that the day he wrote his manifesto, he searched online for sororities and a university in Ohio.

 

It is alleged that in 2019, Genco purchased tactical gloves, a bulletproof vest, a hoodie bearing the word “Revenge,” cargo pants, a bowie knife, a skull facemask, two Glock 17 magazines, a 9mm Glock 17 clip, and a holster clip concealed carry for a Glock.

 

Genco attended Army Basic Training in Georgia from August through December 2019. He was discharged for entry-level performance and conduct.

 

In January 2020, Genco allegedly wrote a document entitled “isolated” that he described as “the writings of the deluded and homicidal.” Genco signed the document, “Your hopeful friend and murderer.”

 

The charging document alleges Genco conducted surveillance at an Ohio university on Jan. 15, 2020. That same day, he allegedly searched online for topics including “planning a shooting crime” and “when does preparing for a crime become an attempt?”

 

On March 12, 2020, Highland County sheriff’s deputies responded to Genco’s residence. At the residence, in the trunk of Genco’s vehicle, police officers found, among other things, a firearm with a bump stock attached, several loaded magazines, body armor and boxes of ammunition. Inside the residence, police officers found a modified Glock-style 9mm semiautomatic pistol, with no manufacturer’s marks or serial number, hidden in a heating vent in Genco’s bedroom. 

 

Genco is charged with one count of attempting to commit a hate crime and one count of illegally possessing a machinegun. The hate crime charge is punishable by up to life imprisonment.  The machinegun charge is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney Painter and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case.

 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged 16 individuals in narcotics and firearms conspiracies.

 

The alleged narcotics conspiracy involves 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine and 10 grams or more of LSD, as well as detectable amounts of MDMA, DMT, marijuana and ketamine. Defendants are also alleged to have conspired to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

 

The grand jury originally charged the two individuals allegedly involved in an Aug. 7, 2020 chase through Cincinnati that resulted in the deaths of two bystanders in Newport, Kentucky. The original indictment was returned Aug. 26, 2020. Mason Meyer, 29, and Kirsten Johnson, 23, both of Cincinnati, were charged federally with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Meyer is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. In Campbell County, Kentucky, Meyer is charged with two counts of murder, endangerment, and fleeing and evading.

 

Ongoing investigation led to the additional defendants and charges. The second superseding indictment charges 14 additional defendants. As charged in the latest indictment, the narcotics conspiracy is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

 

According to court documents, officials with the ATF, Cincinnati Police and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force were surveilling Meyer in Cincinnati on Aug. 7, 2020 when Meyer drove away.

 

Cincinnati Police officers attempted to stop Meyer when he fled, causing a police chase through Cincinnati and into Covington and Newport, Kentucky.

 

Local court documents detail that Meyer’s vehicle struck and killed a couple dining on the patio of Press on Monmouth in Newport, Kentucky. Two other pedestrians were struck and suffered minor injuries.

 

At the time of the chase, court documents allege Meyer and Johnson possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two loaded handguns and a loaded rifle.

 

Those currently charged in the case include:

Name

Age

City of Residence

Mason Meyer

29

Cincinnati

Kirsten Johnson

29

Cincinnati

Ryan Haskamp

33

Cincinnati

William Keith Jenkins

34

Cincinnati

Michael Alden Mobley

39

Ghent, Ky.

Michael Tyler Boeh

32

Cincinnati

Victoria Stauffer

27

Cincinnati

Quincy Pemberton

30

Cincinnati

Damon Gene Wade

28

California, Ky.

Kelly Marie Smart

32

Cincinnati

Kevin Patrick Thiery

41

Cincinnati

Crystal Randall

33

Cincinnati

Rory Hartmann

27

Cincinnati

Julie Renae Wetzel

31

Cincinnati

Ashley Long

27

Cincinnati

Haley Pennington

23

Moraine, Ohio

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and agencies with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force (DART) announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Oakley, Jennifer K. Weinhold and Ashley N. Brucato are representing the United States in this case.

 

An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final of six defendants in a Columbus-to-West Virginia methamphetamine ring pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to a drug conspiracy crime punishable by 10 years up to life in prison.

 

Marvin C. Bozeman, II, 31, of Las Vegas, served as the group’s methamphetamine supplier.

 

According to court documents, in spring 2019, Columbus Division of Police officers received information from law enforcement in West Virginia that large amounts of methamphetamine were being transported from Columbus to be distributed in West Virginia.

 

Further investigation revealed the defendants were distributing large quantities of the drug and using various residences in Central Ohio to store and distribute the methamphetamine. Drug premises included residences on Rumsey Road, Lock Avenue and Esther Drive, among others.

 

Co-conspirators charged in this case include: Joseph Brian Howard, Timothy D. Copley, Samantha Howard, Darin T. Copeland and Charlee Ann Blankenship. They have each pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

 

Bozeman admitted to supplying Howard with packages containing pounds of methamphetamine from Las Vegas. Portions of the drugs were then redistributed amongst co-conspirators and throughout the region. Bozeman used the United States Postal Service to send nine-to-10-pound packages of methamphetamine in the mail. The local drug traffickers paid him approximately $1,000 per pound.

 

The narcotics conspiracy as charged in this case is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Congress sets the minimum and maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Elizabeth Geraghty are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Timothy L. Miller, 55, of Gahanna, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of wire fraud and two counts of filing a false income tax return.  Miller was charged by Bill of Information on April 26, 2021.

According to court documents, from July 2015 through December 2017 Miller was president of Big Drum USA LTD, an ice cream manufacturer located in Columbus, Ohio.  Miller fraudulently withdrew $1,797,127.49 from a Big Drum bank account.  The withdrawals consisted of the purchase of cashier’s checks made payable directly to casinos, debit card transactions involving hotels and casinos, and cash withdrawals in Ohio, Nevada, Utah, Iowa, Pennsylvania, California, and Ontario, Canada.  Miller concealed his actions by logging the transactions as “petty cash” or “loans” in the ledgers of Big Drum. 

In addition, Miller filed false tax returns for the 2016 and 2017 tax years that failed to report the funds that he fraudulently withdrew from Big Drum, which resulted in the loss to the IRS of $674,873.35.

Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000.  Filing a false income tax return carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. The plea agreement mandates that Miller pay restitution to Big Drum in the amount of $1,797,127.49 and $674,873.35 to the IRS.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division announced the plea entered before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brenda S. Shoemaker and David J. Twombly. The case was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Wayne Cusimano, 55, of Hamersville, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 204 months in prison for distributing child pornography through Kik messenger chat groups.

According to court documents, from January through September 2018, Cusimano belonged to online chat groups dedicated to the trading of child pornography. Cusimano posted images and videos to the groups depicting adults sexually abusing minor children.

In one chat group, Cusimano served as the group’s administrator. He promoted others in the group, banned users, and vetted individuals who sought to join the group.

Cusimano pleaded guilty in January 2021 to two counts of distributing child pornography.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Vance Callendar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the sentence handed down July 15 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Matthew Singer are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

DAYTON – A 37-year-old Centerville woman was sentenced in federal court today to 420 months in prison for interstate stalking that resulted in her ex-husband’s death.

 

Tawnney Caldwell accepted responsibility for her role in the August 2017 murder of Robert Caldwell. She pleaded guilty in federal court in October 2020.

 

According to court documents, around 6pm on August 15, 2017, Robert Caldwell and his three minor children left a counseling appointment in Riverside, Ohio. While crossing the parking lot, Robert Caldwell was shot multiple times by an assailant in front of his children and died at the scene. The assailant is alleged to be co-defendant Sterling Roberts.

 

Tawnney Caldwell is the ex-wife of the murder victim and was the girlfriend of Sterling Roberts at the time of the incident.

 

She and the murder victim had an ongoing dispute regarding the custody of their children and Tawnney Caldwell had talked to Sterling Roberts on at least two occasions (while Roberts was incarcerated in Montgomery County) about killing Robert Caldwell.

 

Tawnney Caldwell collaborated with others, including Sterling Roberts; his brothers, Chance Deakin and Christopher Roberts; Chandra Harmon (Tawnney’s mother); and James Harmon (Tawnney’s step-father), to plan, execute and cover-up the violent crime resulting in the death of Robert Caldwell.

 

Sterling Roberts is scheduled for jury trial in U.S. District Court on March 7, 2022. Each of the other defendants has pleaded guilty in this case.

 

Vipal J. Patel, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Riverside Police Chief Frank Robinson and Sugarcreek Township Police Chief Michael Brown announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith, Sheila G. Lafferty and Kevin Koller are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The leader of an online car sales scam that cheated hundreds of victims around the country out of more than $10.6 million total was sentenced in federal court today to 170 months in prison.

 

Terry J. Boutwell, 38, of Columbus, and others, pretended to part of an eBay program in order steal money through fake car sales.

 

Boutwell pleaded guilty in July 2019 to conspiring to commit money laundering. As part of his sentencing, he is ordered to pay $10,639,225.91 in restitution.

 

Court documents outline that Boutwell and others operated the scheme from 2015 until October 2018. He and the other co-conspirators were part of a network that attracted online customers through fraudulent postings for vehicle sales.

 

Defendants communicated with victims through email and phone, posing as employees of eBay, and used third parties to open bank accounts in the names of shell corporations that appeared to be affiliated with eBay. They instructed victims to wire funds to various third-party bank accounts they set up. They claimed to be affiliated with eBay’s Buyer Protection Program, when in fact, no such relationship existed.

 

Accounts in Boutwell’s control received more than $10.6 million from more than 850 victims around the country.

 

“Boutwell and his co-conspirators may have been dedicated to carrying out this sophisticated scheme, but our law enforcement partners on all levels throughout the country were just as dedicated to getting justice for the hundreds of victims who lost hard-earned money to this criminal conspiracy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Now, through restitution, we hope to get that money back to them. In the meantime, Boutwell will be serving a lengthy stay in federal prison.”

 

“This case serves as an unfortunate reminder that scammers will find new and sinister ways to relieve you of your hard-earned dollars,” Patel added. “Any attempt to communicate or make payment outside of an online merchant’s existing system should be met with extreme skepticism and caution.”

 

Two co-conspirators have also been sentenced in this case. Tiffany A. Strobl, 41, of Columbus, was sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution.  Shalitha R. Schexnayder, 41, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced to six months of home confinement as part of five years of federal probation.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Noah Litton is representing the United States in this case.

 

Acting U.S. Attorney Patel recognized the assistance of United States Secret Service in Toledo, Ohio and Miami, Florida; the FBI’s Baltimore field office; United States Postal Inspection Service in Detroit; New York State Police; the Canton, Ohio, Butler Village, Ohio, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Marlboro Township, New Jersey and Janesville, Wisconsin police departments; and the Walworth County, Wisconsin and Clarke County, Alabama sheriff’s offices.

 

# # #

DAYTON – David Joseph Carter II, 21, of Powell, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to robbing a local Dollar General store five times while armed.

 

According to his plea, Carter robbed the Dollar General store on Salem Avenue in Dayton on Feb. 3, 8, 13, 28 and March 7, 2021. Shortly after he stole $471 from the store on March 7, the Dayton Police Department’s Violent Offenders Unit conducted a search warrant at an apartment where Carter was residing and discovered the clothing and shoes he wore during the most recent robbery.

 

Carter admitted to brandishing a firearm and stealing cash from the store on each of the five occasions.

 

The defendant pleaded guilty to interfering with commerce by threats or violence and to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

 

Carter faces a minimum of seven years and up to a lifetime in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Dayton Police Chief Richard S. Biehl announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

 

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

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – The former bookkeeper of My Sister’s House, a now-shuttered domestic violence shelter in Washington Court House, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to two counts related to stealing funds from the federally funded shelter.

 

Jaime Cardinal, 45, of Washington Court House, was arrested in July 2020, along with Crystal Chrisman, 53, of Columbus, the former executive director of the shelter.

 

Cardinal admitted that she and Chrisman spent tens of thousands of dollars intended for the operation of the shelter on personal expenses, including food, a trip to Disney World and Universal Studios for the defendants’ daughters, and thousands of dollars in purchases from Avon, Thirty-One and iTunes.

 

Cardinal’s plea details that, between January 2014 and October 2016, she misused debit cards connected to the shelter’s bank accounts to make hundreds of personal purchases at restaurants, auctions, craft stores and bowling alleys, among other places – including purchases made when few, if any, victims were living at the shelter. For example, in March and April 2016, when no victims were in the shelter, Cardinal and Chrisman charged more than $6,000 to the shelter’s debit cards for food at restaurants and grocery stores, car repair and fuel for personal cars, weight-loss supplements, and other personal expenses.

 

Due to the thefts, which totaled more than $50,000, My Sister’s House fell behind on payroll and on paying taxes. In November 2016, the shelter’s board placed all employees on administrative leave pending investigation. The domestic violence shelter never reopened.

 

Cardinal faces a prison sentence of up to five years in prison for conspiring to commit theft and up to 10 years in prison for committing theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Under the plea agreement, Cardinal has agreed to pay $25,000 in restitution.

 

My Sister’s House received more than $10,000 annually in federal grant funds, including grants under the Violence Against Women Act, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act and the Victims of Crime Act. The grants are intended to be used to pay for salaries and benefits of staff and for shelter operations, including supplies and shelter maintenance.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Sixteen people living in Cincinnati have been arrested and charged with federal gun crimes in the third wave of federal cases filed as part of Cincinnati’s initiative to reduce gun violence.

Fifteen are convicted felons. They are all charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a crime punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.

The defendants include one man, Carl Godfrey, who is now also facing state charges as part of a murder-for-hire plot. Another defendant, Kendall Black, led police on a six-mile chase last October that ended in a crash. Other defendants have been connected to incidents of shots fired and dealing illegal drugs including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The Gun Crimes Task Force, which includes the Cincinnati Police and ATF, recovered stolen weapons and stolen CPD body armor during this third wave.

One defendant, Darius Hillman-Carter is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime, punishable by a minimum of five years in federal prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel, ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland Herndon, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey announced the cases today. In late September, the officials announced gun-related charges filed against 16 other individuals in Cincinnati. Charges against twenty more were announced in November.

The aim of the initiative is to identify repeat and dangerous offenders for federal prosecution.

“We are committed to getting guns out of the hands of people who have already been convicted of violent crimes and are prohibited under federal law from owning, possessing or controlling firearms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Enforcement is not the only answer to reducing violent crime facing our communities, but without enforcement, there is no answer.”

“ATF’s core mission is to investigate criminal cases against individuals who illegally possess and use firearms in furtherance of their criminal activities,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Roland H. Herndon, Jr. “We will continue to work with our partners in the greater Cincinnati area to ensure that persons who foster violence in our communities are dealt with accordingly.”

Those charged include:

Name

Age

BLACK, Kendall

30

BRYANT, Daniel

36

COACH, Nygel

31

COLVIN, Mashi

26

EVANS, Sa-Thon

40

FERGUSON, Marvin

39

GODFREY, Carl

21

HILLMAN-CARTER, Darious

22

HUBBARD, Brandon

 31

JACKSON, Michael

37

LIGON, Leonard

32

MALONE, Dallis

37

MOYE, Matthew

48

RILEY, Carlito

23

RILEY, Kiontay

24

STUCKEY, Timothy

31

Patel also acknowledged the participation of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, The Ohio State Highway Patrol and Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters for sharing their expertise and information in building federal cases against the defendants.

Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Brucato, Julie Garcia, Timothy Oakley, Anthony Springer, Ebunoluwa Taiwo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacqueline Stachowiak with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office and Zach Kessler with the Cincinnati Law Department are representing the United States in the cases.

# # #

CINCINNATI - A 46-year old Cincinnati man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for selling heroin laced with fentanyl to three people who overdosed on it.

Darrell R. Seay was sentenced yesterday. He pleaded guilty on March 25 to one count of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in serious bodily injury.

Court documents reveal that Seay came under investigation by the Hamilton County Heroin Coalition (now known as the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition) after Cincinnati Police responded to triple, non-fatal overdoses on January 14, 2020 and learned that Seay had sold one of the victims the fentanyl-laced heroin just before all three victims ingested the substance and overdosed. The three victims overdosed at the residence where he sold it (two in the house and one in the front yard). All three victims were administered Narcan at the scene, were transported to a nearby hospital and survived.

After further investigation, agents obtained a search warrant for the Seay’s residence. When searched on February 21, 2020, law enforcement seized more than half a kilogram of cocaine, approximately 65 grams of fentanyl, more than $75,000 in U.S. currency, two semi-automatic pistols, and paraphernalia indicative of drug trafficking, including digital scales. The guns were found in the wardrobe in the second-floor bedroom where the defendant and his wife sleep. In that wardrobe agents also found baggies of white powder individually wrapped into approximately 10-20 different bags of equal weight, indicative of further drug distribution to customers. Although the guns were not loaded, there were two loaded magazines in that same wardrobe that could properly attach to the firearms seized.

"Drug dealers prey on the addicted and we will hold dealers accountable," said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel in reminding people of the Fentanyl in Narcotic Drugs (FIND) Awareness project launched last December. “Street drugs are laced with fentanyl, which makes addiction even more deadly and peddling such drugs all the more dangerous.”

“This sentencing is the result of great police work in Hamilton County and individuals, like Mr. Seay, who choose to deal drugs in this community will have to answer for their crimes,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug and the three victims in this case could have easily joined the tens of thousands who have already lost their lives to this public health crisis.”

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer K. Weinhold prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A Columbus, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in multiple home invasions in the greater Dayton region.

William Anthony-Lee Baylor, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Hobbs Act.

According to court documents, Baylor, co-defendant Kieran Chandre Furnace and others conspired to commit home invasions of Dayton-area drug dealers.

Baylor admitted to taking part in armed robberies of drug dealers to steal from their illicit drug inventories and cash proceeds of drug dealing. The co-conspirators also stole vehicles, jewelry, clothing, shoes and firearms.

For example, in January 2019, Baylor acknowledged that he and others forced entry into a residence in Trotwood. While inside the home, defendants bound up the ankles and wrists of two individuals, forced them to lie face down on the floor, and brandished firearms towards the individuals.

As part of Baylor’s global plea agreement, he also admits his guilt to five local charges in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas: two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of theft and one count of kidnapping.

Baylor faces up to 20 years in prison on his federal charge. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Charges remain pending against Furness, who is alleged to have invaded at least five Dayton-area homes as part of this conspiracy.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck; Trotwood Police Chief Erik Wilson; and Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias H. Heck, Jr. announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose. Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller is representing the United States in this case.

# # #

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury here has indicted William T. Caniff, Jr., 52, of Toronto, Ohio alleging multiple wire fraud and money laundering charges related to a binary options fraud scheme.

Binary options are a type of options contract in which the payout depended on the outcome of a yes/no proposition, typically related to whether the price of a particular asset would rise above or fall below a certain amount.  A binary option did not give the holder the right to buy or sell the underlying asset.   Instead, the holder received a pre-determined amount of money or nothing at all.

According to the indictment, it is alleged that Caniff and another individual formed Berkley Capital Management, LLC in January 2016 which purported to be in the business of trading binary options.  Berkley Capital Management was the general partner for Bbot 1 LP (Bbot) which was created in January 2016 and Berkley II LP (Berkley II), which was created in August 2017.  Bbot 1 LP and Berkley II LP were established as an investment pool that would offer participants the opportunity to trade binary options in a pool with other participants.

Caniff was the designated trader for Bbot and Berkley II.  Caniff established bank accounts for Berkley Capital Management, Bbot 1, and Berkley II and had control of the bank accounts.

The indictment alleges that Caniff knowingly made and caused to be made materially false representations to investors to fraudulently obtain and retain money, including false representations about the risks involved with the investments, the expected and actual returns on investments, and the ways investor funds would be used and were used.  Caniff created or caused to be created false documents in order to mislead investors, including false account statements.

The indictment also alleges that, even though Bbot and Berkley II received more than $4 million in funds from investors, Caniff caused only $85,000 of the funds to be invested through Nadex, an online binary options exchange. Caniff fraudulently misappropriated at least $2 million of investors’ funds for his own benefit and the benefit of a business partner, the indictment charges.

If convicted of wire fraud, Caniff faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Money laundering is punishable by up to ten years in prison. 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the charges.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

CINCINNATI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, in consultation with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced today they have concluded their review of the July 2015 fatal shooting of Samuel DuBose by former University of Cincinnati police officer Raymond Tensing without filing criminal charges against the former officer.  The FBI has similarly concluded its investigation.

Justice Department officials have notified Mr. DuBose’s family of this decision via the family’s counsel.

Federal civil rights statutes – which are written by Congress – require federal authorities to prove beyond a reasonable doubt unanimously to a jury of twelve that a defendant willfully used unreasonable force with the specific intent of violating a victim’s constitutional rights.  To establish willfulness beyond a reasonable doubt, federal authorities would be required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the former officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids. This is one of the highest standards of intent imposed by law.

# # #

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court to criminally interfering with the right to fair housing. The charges stem from antisemitic threats the defendant made to his neighbors.

According to court documents, Douglas G. Schifer, 66, threatened neighbors and their guests because of their religion during an outdoor gathering at the neighbors’ residence on Nov. 7, 2020.

Plea documents detail that Schifer stated in part, “all you f***ing people, it’s no wonder Hitler burned you people in ovens, “f***ing Hitler should have gassed you,” and “Jews burn, you belong in ovens.”

Plea documents say that Schifer also said to the neighbors, “f***ing dog” and “I will poison your dog if it comes back to the fence.” Schifer admitted to threatening to shoot the neighbors and their dog, and to “burn to the ground” a garage the neighbors were remodeling into an apartment.

Schifer shouted other antisemitic slurs, obscenities and other derogatory language about their religion at his neighbors and their guests on Nov. 7, 2020. He also broke one of their windows and spat on one of the neighbors. He also made reference to gassing Jewish people, chopping them up, and burning them in ovens.

Schifer was charged by a federal criminal complaint in March. Schifer faces up to one year in prison and a possible fine of up to $100,000.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the plea entered into on Monday, June 28 before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill, and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are representing the United States in this case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A United States District Court jury has convicted Christopher M. Sammons, 28, of four counts related to creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a five-year old. Sammons faces at least 15 years in prison.

The jury reached the verdict late Friday, June 25 following a trial that began on June 21 before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison.

According to court documents and trial testimony, on March 11, 2019, an undercover FBI agent in Little Rock, Arkansas, received a message from Sammons regarding sexual interest in children.

Throughout their conversations, Sammons encouraged the undercover agent to “just make some homemade stuff” when discussing the availability of child pornography.

Sammons detailed sexually abusing a then five-year-old victim and also offered to “share her next time if you’re interested in a long-term thing.” Sammons sent the agent child pornography files and suggested plans for he and the agent to exchange videos of them sexually abusing minors.

Based on IP address information, the investigative lead was forwarded to FBI Columbus and a Task Force Officer here began communicating with Sammons. Sammons told the task force officer he had been sexually abusing the victim for a year.

The jury convicted Sammons of one count of sexually exploiting a minor (punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison), two counts of making a notice for child pornography (15 to 30 years in prison) and one count of distributing child pornography (five to 20 years in prison).

Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati District; Westerville Police Chief Charles Chandler and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced today’s verdict. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch, Legal Director of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Human Trafficking Initiative, represented the United States in this case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

# # #

COLUMBUS, OHIO – David Fachman, 59, of New Albany, Ohio pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of willful failure to pay over tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

According to court documents, since at least 1998 Fachman owned and operated The Scarefactory, Inc., a haunted house and special effects supplier in Columbus, Ohio.  As the owner, Fachman always maintained financial and administrative control over the business.  From at least January 1, 2015 and continuing until in or about December 31, 2018, Fachman withheld and collected the trust fund portion of the employment taxes from his employees’ paychecks but failed to file timely and to remit the payment to the IRS.  Scarefactory was required to make deposits of the federal employment taxes to the IRS for all employees on a periodic basis.  Fachman had a corporate responsibility to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over business’ payroll taxes and failed to do so.

For example, on October 31, 2018, Fachman had an obligation to file a Form 941 and pay over $26,226.02 in employee withheld federal employment taxes.  Fachman failed to file timely and to pay $26,226.02 of those taxes over to the IRS.

In total, Fachman failed to pay over employee and employer federal employment taxes totaling $547,854.73.

Willful failure to pay over tax carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. 

"Business owners have a responsibility to collect and turn over all IRS employment taxes," said Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. "Employment fraud can also impact employees who may see future benefits affected such as Social Security, Medicare or Unemployment Compensation." 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus Jr.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica Knight and was investigated by special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation.

# # #

 

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to charges related to a Colombia-to-America cocaine conspiracy.

 

In March 2020, Jose Luis DeLeon-Baltazar, 40, was extradited to Columbus from Bogota, Colombia. He is the second defendant to be extradited to the United States in this case.

 

As part of his plea, DeLeon-Baltazar admitted he conspired with others to ship hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia, via sea and land, through Central America and Mexico to the United States.

 

DeLeon-Baltazar, also known as “Enano,” was indicted in September 2018.  Specifically, DeLeon-Baltazar pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute at least five kilograms or more of cocaine on the high seas, which is a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years in prison.

 

According to court documents, as part of the conspiracy individuals would use “load” coordinators to assist with logistics of cocaine shipments, locate drivers and boat operators for narcotic-laden vehicles and vessels, and secure shared investments from multiple co-conspirators in specific cocaine shipments.  Fishermen and other commercial maritime laborers were allegedly recruited by conspirators to transport cocaine and refueling vessels. 

 

Conspirators allegedly paid a “tax” or “fee” to send cocaine through areas controlled by a different drug trafficking organization or cartel.

 

Members of the conspiracy allegedly shared information on the activities and locations of law enforcement and military personnel assigned to interdict narcotics shipments. It is alleged co-conspirators also sheltered individuals who were at risk of extradition to other countries.

 

Low-level co-conspirators would allegedly take responsibility for an entire load of seized cocaine to free higher-level members.

 

Specifically, DeLeon-Baltazar received multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine transported on go-fast speed boats from Colombia into Guatemala.  Once the cocaine arrived in Guatemala, DeLeon-Baltazar hid the cocaine in buildings in Tecun Uman, Guatemala until the cocaine was transported across Guatemala’s northern border into Mexico.  On May 19, 2016, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a go-fast boat that contained 880 kilograms of cocaine approximately 400 miles south of the Guatemal/Mexico. That shipment was to be received by DeLeon-Baltazar in Guatemala where he would store it until it was to be transported to Mexico.

 

Additional cocaine shipments seized in this case thus far include:

 

• 720 kilograms of cocaine seized by the United States Coast Guard northwest of the Galapagos Islands on Aug. 18, 2017; and
• 34 kilograms of cocaine seized by the Guatemalan Policia National Civil in San Marcos, Guatemala on or about Nov. 26, 2017.

 

Four defendants were transported to Ohio for prosecution in September 2017, following the 720 kilogram seizure near the Galapagos Islands. That seizure alone included more than 1,584 pounds of cocaine, equaling an approximate street value of $25 million.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Richard S. Fambro announced the plea offered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J.C. Grey, Elizabeth R. Rabe, and Kelly A. Norris are representing the United States in this case.

  

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – Karen Lamb, 61, of Trotwood, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to six months in prison followed by six months in home detention for stealing Social Security benefits and COVID-19 stimulus money in the name of her deceased brother. Lamb was also ordered to repay the money she stole. 

 

According to court documents, Lamb fraudulently obtained nearly $223,000 in Social Security payments and $1,200 in COVID-19 stimulus money.

 

Lamb’s brother died in 2004, when he was a recipient of Social Security benefits. Lamb did not notify Social Security or the bank of her brother’s death, and instead continued to receive his payments into a shared bank account. Lamb updated the address associated with the bank account to her own physical address.

 

“This sentence demonstrates that concealing someone’s death to gain access to their Social Security’s benefits is a Federal crime, and one that the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will continue to fight,” said Andrew Boockmeier, Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA OIG Chicago Field Division. “The collaborative efforts of our auditors and investigators uncovered this nearly 16-year ruse. I thank the United States Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Landry for working with us to hold this individual accountable.”

 

The theft in this case was detected through an audit by the SSA’s Office of Inspector General. The United States Secret Service also assisted with this case.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed yesterday by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Thomas M. Rose. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case.

 

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 12 months and one day in prison for his role in a conspiracy to steal at least 35 vehicles to dismantle and sell their parts, causing more than $300,000 in loss.

 

Mike Silva, 31, pleaded guilty in October 2020 to one count of conspiring to operate a chop shop and violate the Clean Air Act. Silva operated an autobody shop that served as the chop shop where stolen vehicles were dismantled.

 

As part of his sentence, Silva is ordered to pay approximately $301,000 in restitution.

 

Conspiracy leader James A. Imes, 51, of Columbus, was sentenced in July 2019 to 120 months in prison. His wife, Tina Imes, 41, was sentenced in September 2020 to 36 months in prison. The couple was ordered to pay approximately $550,000 in restitution. Co-defendant Scottie Johnson was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay approximately $263,000 in restitution.

 

According to court documents, from January 2013 until April 2014, defendants stole at least 35 vehicles to dismantle them and sell their parts throughout the Midwest, earning $10,000 to $15,000 per week. Co-conspirators operated chop shops in three locations on the West side of Columbus to traffic the car parts.

 

Most of the vehicles were sold as parts or scrap to salvage yards. More valuable parts were sold on Craigslist through posts advertised in cities across Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia.

 

During the destruction of the vehicles, HCFC refrigerant chemicals were released into the atmosphere when vehicle air conditioning tubes were cut.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Director Laurie A. Stevenson; and Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack announced the sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan J.C. Grey and Special Assistant United States Attorneys J. Michael Marous, Christopher N. St.Pierre and Heather Robinson are representing the United States in this case. 

 

The case was investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Ohio EPA Special Investigations Unit, as well as the assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police Auto Theft Unit and Ohio State Highway Patrol Theft and Fraud Unit.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – A Warren County man who met his victims through his volunteer work as a church bus driver was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 360 months in prison for sexually abusing a minor under the age of 12.

 

A federal grand jury charged Jory Leedy, 51, of Franklin, Ohio, in April 2016. Leedy pleaded guilty in June 2019 on the day he was scheduled to begin a jury trial.

 

According to court documents, Leedy sexually abused at least two minor boys as young as 7 and 8 years old. Leedy met the minors through a religious organization in Dayton, where he volunteered as a bus driver. The children rode the bus, along with their mother, to the ministry on Sunday. Thereafter, Leedy stopped by the residence to play with the boys and eat dinner with the family. Leedy stopped volunteering as a bus driver shortly after.

 

Leedy began going to the residence on a nightly basis. He began buying the minors clothes and games. Eventually, Leedy ingratiated himself into the family, taking the boys to church in Cincinnati and on trips to the zoo, Cincinnati Reds games and Kings Island. He began taking the boys on vacations out of state. For example, Leedy took the victims to religious concerts and to Disney World.

 

Leedy arranged for the purchase of a car for the family. He helped enroll the boys in a private school. Further, Leedy assisted the family in securing another home that was owned by a friend of his; Leedy paid for part of the rent.

 

Leedy had provided the victims’ family with a fake name. His true identity was discovered during an altercation with the victims’ father in which the police were called. Police advised the parents of Leedy’s true identity and that he was a registered sex offender.

 

The victims told police the abuse took place over the course of two years and occurred in different states, including Kentucky, Florida and New York.

 

In addition, Leedy admitted in court documents that between 1999 and 2001 he sexually abused a then-minor relative when he would take the boy on trips for sporting events. 

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Hamilton County Sheriff Charmain McGuffey and other members of the Regional Electronics and Computer Investigations (RECI) Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Black. OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy and Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged a Dayton man with distributing fentanyl and cocaine that resulted in five overdoses in the late hours of New Year’s Eve and into the early hours of New Year’s Day 2019.

 

Kelsey V. Williams, Jr., 40, was arrested on Tuesday in Minnesota. He appeared in federal court in Minnesota today for a detention hearing and his case was unsealed here this afternoon.

 

According to the indictment returned on May 25, on New Year’s Eve 2018 and New Year’s Day 2019, the defendant allegedly distributed a fentanyl and cocaine mixture responsible for three fatal and two nonfatal overdoses.

 

Distributing a controlled substance that results in death or serious bodily injury is a federal crime punishable by 20 years up to life in prison.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Dayton Police Chief Richard S. Biehl announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Ryan A. Saunders are representing the United States in this case.

 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

This case is being prosecuted as part of Operation S.O.S. In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the launch of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S), a program aimed at reducing the supply of synthetic opioids in 10 high impact areas and identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

 

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged eight individuals in a narcotics conspiracy involving at least 14 kilograms of fentanyl destined for resale in Clark, Greene, Hamilton and Montgomery counties.

 

The indictment was returned on June 8 and unsealed today.

 

Each of the defendants is charged with conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, a crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

 

The 13-count indictment alleges that between December 2020 until June 2021, the defendants used a network of sellers in southern Ohio to distribute kilogram quantities of opioids from supply sources in Mexico and the western United States. The co-conspirators allegedly used a series of properties throughout southern Ohio to process, store, and distribute controlled substances and their resulting cash proceeds.

 

As part of the conspiracy, one defendant, under the guise of her profession as a truck driver, transported thousands of dollars in cash to sources of drug supply in Mexico and the western United States.

 

Those charged include:

Name

Also Known As

Age

Residence

Clemente Quezada

 

38

Fairborn, Ohio

Isai David Navarro-Rivas

Pollo

44

Calexico, Calif.

Juana Elvira-Arrechea Gilbert

 

60

San Diego

Edson Cruz-Medina

 

32

Springfield, Ohio

Tiun Todd

Tito Todd

37

Cincinnati

Jonathan Lopez

 

31

Cincinnati

Mark Turner

 

42

Xenia, Ohio

Erick Collins

Erick Johnson

36

Cincinnati

 

“This is a sophisticated, alleged drug trafficking organization that stretched from the Mexican border to southern Ohio. We believe this group, and others who we are working to bring to justice, are responsible for trafficking a significant amount of fentanyl into southern Ohio,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin. “Fentanyl remains a significant threat to this region. DEA and our law enforcement partners are intensifying efforts to go after those who exchange the suffering of thousands for their own personal gain.”

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Richard S. Fambro; and Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak announced the charges. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi and Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith are representing the United States in this case.

 

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

 

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man on supervised release from a prior federal case pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to dealing methamphetamine near Austin Landing in Miamisburg.

 

Terry Scott Jones, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

 

In March 2021, officers with the City of Moraine executed a search warrant in Jones’ hotel room at the Home2Suites at Austin Landing. Detectives discovered more than 89 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.

 

Just one year prior, in March 2020, Jones was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the theft of firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee.

 

Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Roland Herndon, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Moraine Police Chief Craig Richardson announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this case.

 

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

 

# # #

DAYTON, Ohio – Brendan J. Eardly, 50, of Troy, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 348 months in prison for producing child pornography by enticing juvenile males to send him sexually explicit videos and images via social media.

 

According to court documents, between October 2015 and August 2018, Eardly created multiple social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Kik Messenger and communicated with more than 60 juveniles worldwide.

 

Eardly told some of the minors that he could be their “gay mentor,” someone whom they could talk to about sex, and someone who could provide them advice about sex. The defendant sent and requested nude and sexually explicit images to and from the minors.

 

For example, Eardly sent videos and images of himself to a 13-year-old male in Utah. Eardly purchased gifts for the boy and coerced him into sending at least 8 images and two videos of child pornography.

 

Eardly similarly victimized teenage males in Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, California and New York. He sometimes sent the child pornography obtained from one victim to other victims with whom he was communicating.

 

At the time of his instant offense, Eardly was required to register as a sex offender as the result of a prior sex conviction in Miami County.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Troy Police Chief Charles Phelps; and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) announced the sentence imposed Friday evening by U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Laura I. Clemmens is representing the United States in this case.

 

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lewis Center man pleaded guilty in federal court today for his role in conspiring to launder the proceeds of online romance scams for roughly two years. He also admitted to fraudulently misapplying CARES Act loan funds to buy himself boats while out on release from his initial charges.

 

Eric Ahiekpor, 50, was indicted by a grand jury in June 2020 and charged by a superseding bill of information in May 2021.

 

In total, as part of the romance scams, bank accounts under Ahiekpor’s control received more than $2.4 million in criminally derived funds.

 

Kwame Yeboah, 37, of Columbus, has also pleaded guilty in the money laundering scheme. Robert Asante, 36, of Canal Winchester, was charged in the money laundering scheme and is awaiting trial.

 

According to court documents, individuals committing fraud created several profiles on online dating sites. They then contacted men and women throughout the United States and elsewhere, with whom they cultivated a sense of affection, and often, romance.

 

After establishing relationships, perpetrators of the romance scams requested money, typically for investment or need-based reasons, and provided victims with account information and directions for where money should be sent. In part, these accounts were in the names of Ahiekpor and his co-defendants, in the names of the defendants’ family members, and in the names of the defendants’ companies. The funds were not used for the purposes claimed by the perpetrators of the romance scams.

 

Ahiekpor is not accused of committing romance fraud. Instead, by pleading guilty he admits that he helped the perpetrators of the romance fraud move the fraud proceeds from the United States to Ghana.

 

While he was on release in the romance scam case, in a separate and unrelated scheme, Ahiekpor obtained a coronavirus relief loan for $150,000 and fraudulently misapplied the loan proceeds. In June 2020, Ahiekpor submitted an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) on behalf of Premier Choice Health Services, a business he owned.

 

The EIDL Program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The EIDL Program was expanded under the CARES Act. EIDL proceeds can be used for working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. EIDL proceeds cannot be used for the applicant’s personal benefit.

 

One day after receiving the relief funds, Ahiekpor bought a 2017 Sun Tracker “Fishin’ Barge 22 DKX” boat for $32,000, motor and boat trailer. Shortly thereafter, he also purchased a 1995 Sea Ray Sundancer boat. He continued to fraudulently misapply the EIDL proceeds after his release from his money laundering charges.

 

Conspiracy to launder money and wire fraud are federal crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine, as well as forfeiture of any proceeds involved in the crimes.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate is representing the United States in this case.

 

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CINCINNATI – The lead of three defendants charged in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today.

 

Derek (Duke) Ragan, 51, appeared in U.S. District Court today to enter his guilty plea for conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.

 

Co-defendants Anthony (Pea Head) Sanderson, 65, and Lawrence (LB) Bell, 68, have also pleaded guilty in this case.

 

The three were charged in 2019 after an extensive investigation by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. In 2010, police seized more than $1 million in cash, along with guns and drugs from Ragan’s residence “Duke’s Place.” Ragan forfeited the million dollars in that local case as part of his plea to local gambling charges.

 

According to court documents in the current case, the co-conspirators brought fentanyl and other drugs into the Cincinnati area, where they were further processed, cut, combined, packaged and stored prior to distribution. The defendants used “Duke’s Place” on Oliver Street in Cincinnati to distribute the illegal opioids.

 

As part of his plea, Ragan admitted to eight specific occasions in which he conspired to sell anywhere between 28 and 283 grams of fentanyl. Each transaction involved between $2,800 and $28,000 worth of narcotics.

 

Ragan, Sanderson and Bell will be sentenced at future court hearings. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant is determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the plea entered into today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker and Criminal Chief Karl P. Kadon are representing the United States in this case.

 

 

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CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati nightclub owner pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to federal firearms and tax crimes.

 

Julian Rodgers, 45, of Cincinnati, was charged by a bill of information on March 31.

 

He admitted to underreporting his income by at least $100,000 and to illegally possessing firearms after being convicted of a felony crime.

 

According to his plea agreement, Rodgers reported his 2017 income as approximately $90,000. He did not report at least $105,107.92 in additional income that year, causing a tax loss of nearly $36,000.

 

Financial records show Rodgers spent money in 2017 on personal expenditures out of his business bank accounts, including payments on a Porsche and gambling expenses at a casino.

 

In August 2018, federal agents advised Rodgers that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. When agents executed a search warrant at Rodgers’ residence in October 2018, they discovered two firearms, a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and a 40-caliber handgun.

 

Possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Filing a false income tax return carries a potential penalty of up to three years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation; and Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Timothy S. Mangan and Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth L. Parker are representing the United States in this case.

 

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CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 480 months in prison for sex trafficking and creating child pornography of a 16-year-old victim.

 

Ismail Salaam, 38, was convicted after a jury trial in November 2018. He was charged by a criminal complaint in September 2016 and indicted by a grand jury in October 2016 and January 2017.

 

“Salaam physically abused, prostituted and sexually exploited a 16-year-old female. When the victim attempted to stop the abuse, Salaam became violent, choking the victim and pulling her hair,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Our community is surely safer with Salaam serving a lengthy sentence in federal prison.”

 

According to court documents and testimony at trial, Springdale officers responded to the La Quinta Motel in Springdale in September 2016 in response to a report of a juvenile runaway in the motel. Officers discovered Salaam there with the 16-year-old juvenile runaway.

 

It was further discovered that Salaam had been with the minor girl for the previous three weeks. Salaam paid for food, hairstyling, manicures and clothing for the victim.

 

Salaam took explicit photographs of the girl and attempted to have the victim post an advertisement on Backpage.com in the escorts section.

 

Salaam coordinated encounters with at least two men, in which the victim was to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for money. In text messages, Salaam instructed the victim to flirt with the men, offer sexual acts, and collect money and marijuana. In one instance, an adult male had intercourse with the victim and provided $100, which the girl provided to Salaam.

 

Vipal J. Patel, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Chris Hoffman, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Springdale Police Chief Thomas Wells announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Black. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew C. Singer and Kyle J. Healey and OCDETF Deputy Criminal Chief Christy L. Muncy are representing the United States in this case.

 

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