Southern District of Ohio

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged six Cincinnati men in a narcotics conspiracy in an indictment unsealed here today.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac and Cincinnati City Solicitor Paula Boggs Muething announced the charges.

 

According to the 20-count indictment, beginning in November 2017 until February 2018, the defendants conspired to distribute heroin in the Cincinnati area. The indictment charges 17 counts of distribution or attempt to distribute heroin, representing separate drug deals throughout the timeframe.

 

Those charged include Calvin Tuck (also known as “Tank”), Mekil Gibson, Pierre Sneed (also known as “Rico”), Cortez Tuck (also known as “Nitty”), Daniel Williams (also known as “C.J.”) and Jarod Whitehead (also known as “Baby”). All six men reside in Cincinnati.

 

Tuck is also charged with possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime and one count of possession with intent to distribute. He faces a range of 5 to 40 years in prison for the drug charges and up to 10 years in prison for the gun charge.

 

Narcotics conspiracy and distributing or attempting to distribute a controlled substance are each federal crimes that carry a potential maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

 

Each of the defendants is currently in custody pending detention hearings next week.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the DEA and Cincinnati Division of Police, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Brucato with the City Solicitor’s Office and Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy, who are prosecuting the case.

 

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged 12 individuals in a narcotics and money laundering conspiracy in a superseding indictment unsealed here today. Members of the group allegedly distributed fentanyl from Mexico in Middletown, Ohio and sent proceeds back to the Sinaloa Drug Cartel in Mexico.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac, Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw, Preble County Prosecuting Attorney Martin P. Votel and Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Paul A. Pride announced the charges.

In addition to the superseding indictment unsealed in Cincinnati today, 40 defendants have been charged in San Diego, as well as additional defendants charged in Columbus, Ohio, the Eastern District of Kentucky, the District of Kansas and the Eastern District of Washington.

Those charged in the Cincinnati case include:

Name

Also Known As

Age

Residence

Jose Chavez-Meraz

Chema

55

Mexico

Rolando Chavez-Garcia

 

24

Mexico

Favrisio Orozco-Meraz

Favi, Gordo, Gordito

34

Mexico

Raul Trejo

Duende

52

Middletown, Ohio

Donte Holdbrook

Jay

24

Middletown, Ohio

Mariela Penaloza

 

25

Cleveland, Ohio

Charleston Quinn

Buddy, Buddy Rowe

34

Mason, Ohio

Frank Frazier, Jr.

 

24

Middletown, Ohio

Jesus Diaz

Chuy, Chewey

47

Ontario, Calif.

Jettie Bailey

 

23

Middletown, Ohio

Christopher Watkins

 

23

Trenton, Ohio

Courtney Bailey

 

24

Middletown, Ohio

According to the superseding indictment, the conspiracy included distributing fentanyl and heroin originating from Mexico into the Southern District of Ohio.

This investigation began when undercover FBI agents in San Diego learned that a known Sinaloa Cartel money-laundering boss, Jose Lopez-Albarran, coordinated and conducted multiple bulk cash pickups from a drug trafficking organization within the Southern District of Ohio.

Lopez-Albarran was one of 40 defendants charged in the Southern District of California. According to court documents there, he and other members of the Cartel allegedly laundered tens of millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds from the United States to Mexico between 2015 and 2018. Through the investigation in California, law enforcement discovered multiple drug-trafficking cells throughout the United States.

It is alleged that the Middletown, Ohio drug-trafficking cell led by Donte Holdbrook would send drug proceeds back to the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico via Lopez-Albarran.

The superseding indictment details that the Ohio drug trafficking organization primarily conducted fentanyl sales in Middletown and received the narcotics from Mexico via Chavez-Meraz. The drugs would initially enter the United States at locations in California and Arizona, where “drug mules” would then retrieve the drugs for transport to Southern Ohio.

When a sizeable amount of drug proceeds had been collected, the co-conspirators would arrange bulk cash transports back to Mexico. Investigators witnessed at least seven bulk cash pick-ups within the Southern District of Ohio, six on Tivoli Lane in Cincinnati and one at a Comfort Inn and Suites in West Chester. Each transaction involved $25,000 to more than $180,000.

From March 28 to May 4, 2017, investigators observed multiple fentanyl sales in Middletown, several of them in exchange for as much as $2,400 in a single sale.

On August 12, 2017, Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped Jettie and Courtney Bailey in a traffic stop in Preble County, when they discovered nearly three kilograms of fentanyl and two kilograms of heroin concealed in the vehicle’s fuel tank. Similarly, Holdbrook was found to be in possession of 366 grams of fentanyl during a traffic stop on December 2, 2017.

The superseding indictment details at least six drug mule trips organized by Holdbrook from Ohio to multiple locations in California and Arizona, including at least one trip with Christopher Watkins, who was a reserve auxiliary police officer with the Seven Mile, Ohio Police Department.

It is alleged that Watkins was recruited because his law enforcement experience and police training would aid the group in avoiding detection while traveling with the drugs. Watkins allegedly traveled to Ontario, Calif. to pick up narcotics in exchange for $1,000 cash.

Crimes charged in the superseding indictment include:

Crime

Potential Sentences

Narcotics Conspiracy

10 years to life in prison

Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute

(400 grams or more)

10 years to life in prison

Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute

(1 kilogram or more)

10 years to life in prison

Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute

(40 grams or more)

Five to 40 years in prison

Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises

Up to 20 years in prison

Money Laundering Conspiracy

Up to 20 years in prison

Interstate Travel Facilitating Unlawful Activities

Up to five years in prison

In Columbus, three individuals were arrested yesterday and charged by criminal complaint with money laundering, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The three Columbus residents charged include Timothy J.Cox, 41, Todd W. Spriggs, 37, and Randy Ellis Mullins, Jr., 40. Cox and Spriggs are each also charged with felon in possession of a firearm. A federal grand jury indicted the trio this morning in Columbus on the same charges.

In Lexington, Ky., three individuals – Gerardo Mejia-Palacio, Hector Salas-Pina and Ansar I. McIver – have been charged with crimes related to drug trafficking and money laundering. Another Lexington resident, Shontail M. Hocker, 42, was charged in the Southern District of California with conspiring to commit money laundering, based on her involvement with individuals implicated in the San Diego investigation.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of the cases by the FBI – including FBI San Diego Cross Border Violence Task Force, FBI Cincinnati Division and FBI Cleveland Division, Cincinnati and Middletown police departments, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Warren County Drug Task Force, as well as the coordination of Preble County Prosecutor Votel.

Glassman also commended Assistant United States Attorney Karl P. Kadon, who is prosecuting the Cincinnati case, and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Prichard, who is prosecuting the Columbus case.

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

# # #

COLUMBUS – William M. Totten, 55, of Canal Winchester, Ohio was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to serve 125 months in prison for leading a drug trafficking organization in central Ohio that distributed more than 20 kilograms of cocaine. Totten and four others were charged following a cooperative investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement in Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

According to court documents, Totten used a residence in Columbus and his residence in Canal Winchester to store narcotics and to conduct cocaine transactions. During a search warrant conducted at Totten’s residence when agents arrested him on December 6, 2013, investigators found 10 plastic wrapped packages, each containing two kilograms of cocaine powder, concealed in the basement. Agents also seized additional cocaine and kilogram-sized wrappers with residue.    

Totten pleaded guilty on September 5, 2014 to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and one count of money laundering.

Totten agreed to forfeit the proceeds of the drug activity, which include nearly $95,000 in cash, jewelry and three real properties.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the IRS, FBI, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the cooperation of the DEA, which provided information vital to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Kelley, who represented the United States in the case.

#  #  #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Eight Central Ohio defendants charged on Valentine’s Day have now been indicted by a grand jury for conspiring to launder and for laundering the proceeds of online romance scams.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Pittsburgh Division, and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the indictment, which was unsealed yesterday.

Those charged include: Kwabena M. Bonsu, Kwasi A. Oppong, Kwame Ansah, John Y. Amoah, Samuel Antwi, King Faisal Hamidu, Nkosiyoxoxo Msuthu and Cynthia Appiagyei.

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

After establishing relationships, perpetrators of the romance scams allegedly requested money, typically for investment or need-based reasons, and provided account information and directions for where money should be sent. In part, these accounts were controlled by the defendants. Typical wire amounts ranged from $10,000 to more than $100,000 per wire.

The funds were not used for the purposes claimed by the perpetrators of the romance scams. Instead, the defendants conducted transactions designed to conceal, such as withdrawing cash, transferring funds to other accounts and purchasing assets and sending the assets overseas.

“According to the indictment, the defendants laundered the funds from a scheme to seduce victims throughout the United States using dating websites like Match.com and then defrauding them of millions of dollars,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said.

It is alleged that the individuals commonly used some the fraud proceeds to purchase salvaged vehicles sold online. The cars were commonly exported to Ghana.

Fictitious reasons for investment requests included gold, diamond, oil and gas pipeline opportunities in Africa. Websites used involve Match.com, ChristianMingle.com, BabyBoomerPeopleMeet.com, PlentyofFish.com, OurTime.com, EHarmony.com and Facebook. At least 26 victims have been identified thus far.

In one example, a victim believed she was in a serious relationship with a person named “Frank Wilberg” whom she met on Match.com. She believed they planned to marry and paid $3,000 to reserve a wedding site, and had purchased a wedding gown and shoes.

“Wilberg” told the victim he owned a consulting firm that tested gold for purity and needed money to buy gold and gold contracts. He said he expected to profit $6 million and would repay her with the profits. The victim wired money to accounts controlled by Amoah, Bonsu, Msuthu, and Appiagyei, and did not receive any money back.

In furtherance of the scheme, the co-conspirators allegedly created several companies, some of which were shell companies, to help attempt to hide the true nature of their proceeds.

“The defendants attempted to launder millions of dollars in proceeds earned from an online romance scam through a series of financial transactions intended to conceal their illegal activities,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and HSI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is prosecuting the case.

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – Michael Chan, 34, of Bayside, New York, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to cyberstalking.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and University of Cincinnati Police Chief Maris Herold announced the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott.

According to the statement of facts submitted as part of the plea agreement, Chan met a female in 2009 while using online gaming. In 2012, he traveled from New York to Cincinnati to stay at her residence for approximately one week, during which time the victim made clear that the two were just friends and nothing more.

Later in 2012, Chan visited the victim uninvited and left notes throughout her house. He eventually began to text, call and Facebook message the victim all throughout the day and night. The victim then blocked Chan’s phone number and social media accounts, at which point the victim began receiving anonymous calls and texts.

These anonymous messages continued for several more years. At the same time, the victim began receiving deliveries and subscriptions that she did not order.

In 2015, Chan began sending emails to local Cincinnati news media stating a subject was driving from Canada to Cincinnati to sexually assault and murder the victim. Later that year, the victim began receiving harassing and threatening emails. This continued through 2016 and she repeatedly reported the incidents to local authorities.

“Chan’s concerning conduct escalated in March 2017, when he sent a text message to a local detective working on the matter and said that he was coming to a pay a visit to the victim and there was nothing the detective could do about it,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Chan indicated he was coming to Cincinnati to attack the victim on the University of Cincinnati campus. He sent threatening emails to University officials up through August 2017.”

Chan was charged by a federal criminal complaint in August 2017 and indicted by a grand jury in September 2017.

The parties involved in this case have recommended a sentence of 27 months in prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Judge Dlott will consider this recommendation at a future sentencing hearing.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and University of Cincinnati Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged four Franklin County men in a 13-count indictment alleging that they conspired to distribute heroin and sell guns illegally.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the charges.

The indictment charges three men who live on the west side of Columbus, Christopher L. McElroy, 19, Lamarco T. Brown, 18, Nathan G. Nixon, aka “Fat Boy,” 20 and a Grove City man, Robert A. Petty, 31, with conspiracy to unlawfully sell firearms, which is punishable by a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The indictment charges three of the defendants, McElroy, Brown and Nixon, with conspiracy to distribute heroin, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The indictment accuses them of other crimes, including illegal distribution of heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, unlawful sales of firearms and unlawful possession of firearms.

McElroy was arrested on February 12 and is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The other defendants are at large.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the ATF and Columbus Police, and Assistant United States Attorney David J. Bosley, who is prosecuting the case.

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – Cody Lee Jackson, 22, formerly of Norwood, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 165 months in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor.

Jackson lured a minor to his apartment to have sex with Jackson while he was on home monitoring after pleading guilty to a crime in Hamilton County Common Pleas court.                                                                                              

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph T. Deters, Blue Ash Police Chief Scott Noel and Norwood Police Chief William Kramer announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett.

According to court documents, Jackson was under local supervision in Hamilton County in February 2015. While under supervision, he met the minor victim through social media and eventually persuaded her to come to his apartment.

Jackson would send a taxi to transport the victim, who was 14 years old at the time, to his apartment. He would engage in sexual activity on each visit, and took videos and photographs of the conduct.

Shortly after meeting the victim, he began to change her passwords to her social media accounts and give her instructions on what she could and could not do. If she broke his rules, he would verbally and physically abuse her.

Eventually, the minor became pregnant by Jackson.

In July 2015, Jackson left Ohio but began to contact the victim again on social media. He told the victim to send him sexually explicit pictures and threatened her family if she failed to comply.

Jackson was arrested in Utah in October 2015 after a federal complaint was filed in Cincinnati. He has been in custody since his arrest.

Following his arrest on federal charges, Jackson contacted the victim using other inmate’s calling numbers and threatened to take away the victim’s child and sue her. He also threatened to take the victim’s father’s home and car.

Jackson pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor in May 2017. As a part of that plea, parties agreed that Jackson’s federal prison sentence would run concurrent with sentences imposed in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas.

He was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release.

“Jackson has used young girls for his own purposes, punishing his victims if they don’t do as he instructs,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “This illicit sexual conduct, paired with a seemingly complete disregard for the law, calls for the sentence he received today.”

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation by the FBI and Blue Ash Police Department, Norwood Police Department and coordination with the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy, who is representing the United States in this case. 

###

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Six Ohio men, including an Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper, have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with drug-trafficking crimes arising in the Delaware, Ohio area.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and other members of the Delaware County Drug Task Force announced the charges.

Each of the defendants is charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances, as well as conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances.

Nicholas Glassburn, 47, of Delaware, Ohio, Carlos Carvalho, 42, of Sandusky, Ohio, and William Covrett, 41, are also charged with money laundering.

Jason Delcol, 43, and Benjamin Owings, 37, both of Delaware, Ohio, each face an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of human growth hormone. Delcol is charged with one count of witness tampering, as well.

Stevedore Crawford, 55, of Columbus, is charged with the first two counts named.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in June 2017, the Delaware County Drug Task Force and the FBI opened an investigation into Glassburn’s suspected drug trafficking activity in the greater Delaware area.

The investigation identified others believed to be sources of the supply of drugs trafficked by Glassburn, including an active law enforcement officer – Delcol – who was receiving drugs from and providing drugs to Glassburn and at least one other individual.

“According to the affidavit, Delcol has used his position as a law enforcement officer to provide Glassburn with information, intervene in criminal cases of Glassburn and Owings, provide Glassburn with ballistic vests and corroborate Glassburn’s alibi to law enforcement when Glassburn was caught transporting drugs in August 2017,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said.

Investigators discovered communication between defendants about drug trafficking, including HGH, testosterone, Xanax, Oxycodone, Percocet, Adderall, Suboxone, cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana.

The investigation also showed Glassburn owed $17,000 to Carvalho for marijuana. It is believed that Delcol provided ballistic vests to Glassburn, which he used in meeting with Carvalho. The investigation revealed that Carvalho is likely one of Glassburn’s main sources of supply of drugs.

Law enforcement surveillance shows Delcol visiting Glassburn’s residence at least 16 times since October 2017, including at least two occasions in which Delcol was driving his Ohio State Highway Patrol marked cruiser and in uniform. Further investigation revealed communications between the men discussing drug trafficking of HGH, testosterone, Xanax, Percocet and possibly other opioid pills.

It was also revealed that Delcol is a middleman between Glassburn and Owings. Owings supplies HGH and steroids to Delcol, which Delcol sells to Glassburn, and Glassburn sells pills to Delcol, which Delcol sells or gives to Owings. 

It is also alleged that Delcol engaged in misleading conduct toward law enforcement officers to help Glassburn. On August 5, 2017, around 4:30am, police officers from a law enforcement agency discovered Glassburn asleep at the wheel and observed a drug pipe in the backseat. A search of the car discovered a substance that later tested positive for cocaine and a substance that later tested positive for cocaine base.

Glassburn claimed to just be tired and told officers he had found and removed the drugs from one of his children’s bedrooms. He said he called a Trooper friend of his, Delcol, and asked for advice on what to do with the drugs. Another officer who had stopped to assist had Glassburn call Delcol to verify his story. The Deputy spoke with Delcol, who stated Glassburn had children who were problems and also said he did not know Glassburn to be involved with drugs. During a recorded follow-up call with police officers, Delcol again served as Glassburn’s alibi.

Five of the six defendants were arrested today and remain in custody pending detention hearings on Thursday at noon and 12:30pm.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and Delaware County Drug Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

If you have any information related to these allegations and the individuals named, please contact the FBI at 614-224-1183.

# # #

DAYTON – A federal grand jury has charged four men from Brazil with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, through “ATM skimming,” in an indictment returned here today. ATM skimming is a process that allows thieves to obtain cardholders’ personal identification information.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Services and members of the Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force announced the charges.

According to court documents, in January 2018, Dayton law enforcement officials observed defendants conducting suspicious activity, which led them to conduct further surveillance of the group. Investigators discovered three laptop computers, a magnetic stripe credit card encoder and more than 400 counterfeit credit cards in possession of the defendants in the Miller Lane vicinity of Dayton.

The indictment details that the men rented vehicles in South Florida and traveled throughout various states, including North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan.

While traveling, they received FedEx packages from South Florida that contained hundreds of counterfeit American Express, Master Card and Visa credit cards with pre-embossed alias names like “Richard Martin” and “Felipe Mello.”  The defendants then encoded information onto the magnetic strips on the counterfeit cards.

The defendants would also secretly install ATM skimming devices and pinhole cameras on commercial ATMs, it is alleged, in order to scan and obtain account names and numbers from unsuspecting credit and debit card holders.

The co-conspirators would allegedly use their counterfeit credit cards to buy clothing, luggage, watches, jewelry, electronics, hotel accommodations, food, rental cars and other associated travel expenses.

They shipped some of the items back to their South Florida counterparts, who in-turn would re-sell them on the internet.

The four defendants – Ricardo C. De Andrade, 38, Sandro L. Trancoso Da Silva, 40, Diego M. Dacosta, 31, and Leonardo W. Targino, 19 – were charged by criminal complaint and arrested last month.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the U.S. Secret Service and Miami Valley Bulk Smuggling Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Dwight Keller, who is prosecuting the case.

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

# # #

CINCINNATI – Five individuals pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for their roles in three armed bank robberies in the Cincinnati area in May and June 2017.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and Cincinnati Police Chief Eliot K. Isaac announced the pleas.

Malcolm Lorenzo Jones, 21, pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

According to statements of facts, Malcolm Lorenzo Jones brandished a black revolver while ordering bank employees and customers to the ground at the Key Bank on Springdale Road in Cincinnati on May 22, 2017. Jones then went to the front door and opened it for co-defendant Nelson Jones, 26 to enter.

When Nelson Jones entered the bank, an off-duty police officer entered immediately behind him. The off-duty officer pulled his firearm and demanded that both defendants get on the ground, but as Malcolm Lorenzo Jones moved to the ground, he raised his firearm and fired a shot at the officer. A gunfight ensued, and Malcolm Lorenzo Jones jumped over the bank counter in an attempt to dodge the shots from the officer while exchanging return fire.

Malcolm Jones was struck with at least one bullet, yet both defendants managed to flee the bank on foot, stealing approximately $3,480.

Nelson Jones also brandished a firearm while robbing North Side Bank and Trust on St. Gregory St. in Cincinnati on May 13, 2017. Co-defendant Hope Tolbert, 21, assisted in the robbery by collecting nearly $6,000 from the bank’s cash drawers.

Nelson Jones pleaded guilty to two counts related to the using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Tolbert pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery.

On June 20, 2017, Nelson Jones and Marquez Peterson, 22, – who was armed with a pistol – robbed the Wes Banco Bank on Vine Street in Cincinnati. Joy Favors, 23, rode in the car with Jones and Peterson to the bank. Favors exited the car and went inside to case the bank minutes before the robbery.  Favors returned to the car and informed Jones and Peterson of what to expect upon entering the bank. Nearly $10,700 was stolen. Peterson pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. Favors also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to use a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Armed bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison. Conspiracy to use a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence. If charged with a second subsequent count of this crime, a defendant faces a sentence range of 25 years to life in prison to be imposed consecutive to all other sentences imposed.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of these cases by the FBI and Cincinnati Police Department, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer who is prosecuting the case.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A second superseding indictment returned here today charges 23 individuals alleged to be members and associates of the Columbus clique of MS-13 in a racketeering conspiracy, which includes five murders as well as attempted murder, extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, assault, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, weapons offenses and immigration-related violations.

The most recent indictment also includes three counts of murder in aid of racketeering and one count of murder through the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, crimes that could make some of the defendants eligible for the death penalty. 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, 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 Kim Jacobs announced the new charges.

Those named in today’s indictment include:

Name

Also Known As

Age

City

Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera

Momia, Pelon

32

Columbus, Ohio / Indianapolis

Jose Bonilla-Mejia

Espia

29

California

Juan Jose Jiminez-Montufar

Chele Trece

34

Columbus, Ohio

Pedro Alfonso Osorio-Flores

Smokey

38

Columbus, Ohio

Isaias Alvarado

Cabo

45

Columbus, Ohio

Cruz Alberto-Arbarngas

Cruzito

30

Columbus, Ohio

Jose Manuel Romero-Parada

Russo

23

Indianapolis

Juan Jose Alvarenga-Alberto

Sailen

27

Columbus, Ohio

Juan Pablo Flores-Castro

Duende

29

Columbus, Ohio

Jose Daniel Gonzalez-Campos

Flaco

29

Virginia

Jose Salvador Gonzalez-Campos

Danger

27

Indianapolis/ Virginia

Jose Mendez-Peraza

Shadow

36

Columbus, Ohio

Erasmo Humberto Lima-Martinez

Tun Tun, Azul, Chino

31

Columbus, Ohio

Nehemias Joel Martinez-Hernandez

Mysterio

21

Columbus, Ohio

Jose Carlos Mercado-Crespin

Payaso

32

Ohio

Denis Donaldo Fuentes-Avila

 

18

Columbus, Ohio

Daniel Alexander Diaz-Romero

Manchas

24

Deported

Gerardo Davila-Colindres

Cuervo, Enano

39

Columbus, Ohio

Marvin Otero-Serrano

Vaca, Bandallero, Yankee

31

Columbus, Ohio

Jorge Alberto Landaverde

Grenas

34

Columbus, Ohio

Jose Salinas-Enriquez

Martillo

32

Dayton, Ohio

*Nelson Alexander Flores

Mula

46

Fugitive

Carolina Garcia-Miranda

Mamayema

30

Columbus, Ohio

*Fugitive

Charged with murder

Since the beginning of this investigation, additional defendants have been arrested and charged in criminal complaints with federal immigration-related crimes.

MS-13

• MS-13, formally La Mara Salvatrucha, is a multi-national criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.  The organization’s leadership is based in El Salvador, where many of the gang’s high-ranking members are imprisoned. 
   
• In 2012, the United States government designated MS-13 as a “transnational criminal organization.”  It is the first and only street gang to receive that designation.  MS-13 has become one of the largest and most violent criminal organizations in the United States, with more than 10,000 members and associates operating in at least 40 states, including Ohio.
   
• In Ohio and elsewhere in the United States, MS-13 is organized into “cliques,” which are smaller groups of MS-13 members and associates acting under the larger mantle of the organization and operating in a specific region, city or part of a city.  Cliques are grouped into larger “programs,” and the Columbus, Ohio clique of MS-13 is part of the East Coast Program.

 

• Cliques raise money through various forms of criminal activity, including extortion and narcotics trafficking, in addition to paying regular dues at clique meetings, and a portion of that money is wired to leadership in El Salvador.  Gang leaders use this money to purchase weapons and cell phones and to provide clothing, legal assistance and other forms of aid to MS-13 members who are incarcerated and to support the families of MS-13 members who have been killed.
   
• Violence is a central tenet of MS-13.  The organization’s motto, “mata, viola, controla,” means kill, rape, control. Historically, MS-13 members and associates have committed murders and other violent acts using machetes, knives and similar bladed weapons in order to intimidate and instill fear in others.

This Case

In July 2017, a federal grand jury charged 10 individuals with conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to commit money laundering and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

In December 2017, a superseding indictment charged four additional defendants and added charges of cocaine and marijuana distribution, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, obstruction of justice and illegal re-entry into the United States. Today’s second superseding indictment alleges the defendants have engaged in a racketeering conspiracy since approximately 2006 in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.

The racketeering activity involves multiple acts of murder, extortion, drug trafficking, money laundering, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation. 

The second superseding indictment alleges that defendants committed a host of overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy, including: 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; and 5) the December 2016 murder of Salvador Martinez-Diaz,  a suspected rival gang member, on Melroy Avenue in Columbus.

Other criminal activity detailed in the newest indictment includes burning a victim’s car when the victim refused to be extorted for money, conspiring to murder at least one potential witness, threatening the lives of a Transnational Anti-Gang Unit officer and the officer’s family in El Salvador, threatening to kill an individual’s family if he cooperated with law enforcement, possessing multiple firearms and ammunition, possessing and distributing cocaine and marijuana and destroying evidence.

The crimes charged in this case and each crime’s potential maximum sentence include:

Crime

Potential Maximum Sentence

Conspiracy to commit racketeering

Life in prison (for defendants who committed murder)

 

20 years in prison (for all other defendants)

Murder in aid of racketeering

Life in prison or death

Murder through use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

Life in prison or death

Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

At least 7 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed

Using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence

At least 5 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

20 years in prison

Alien in possession of firearm or ammunition

10 years in prison

Obstruction of justice

20 years in prison

Destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure

5 years in prison

Illegal re-entry of a removed alien

2 years in prison

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim, who are prosecuting the case. The Organized Crime and Gang Section of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice assisted in reviewing the racketeering charges.

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

If you are a victim of the alleged crimes, or have additional information about MS-13, please call the FBI hotline at 614-849-1765.  Callers can remain anonymous.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A second superseding indictment returned here today charges 23 individuals alleged to be members and associates of the Columbus clique of MS-13 in a racketeering conspiracy. The most recent indictment includes crimes that could make some of the defendants eligible for the death penalty.

 

The briefing will be held:

 

TODAY: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2018

 

WHEN:           2:30 P.M.

 

WHERE:         U.S. Attorney’s Office

                        Main Conference Room

                        303 Marconi Blvd. Suite 200

                        Columbus, Ohio 43215

 

WHO:             U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman

                        Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, FBI

                        Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin

                        Caleb Lowe, Assistant Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations

                        Tim Becker, Deputy Chief, Columbus Division of Police

                       

                                              

Room available beginning at 2:15 P.M. No TV lighting or multbox will be available. ID will be required for entrance at Security.

#  #  #

ASHLAND, Ky. –  Today, the three United States Attorneys for the Tristate area:  Robert M. Duncan, Jr., of the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael B. Stuart, of the Southern District of West Virginia; and Benjamin C. Glassman, of the Southern District of Ohio, along with representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), state and local law enforcement and prosecutors, and other law enforcement partners announced the formation of a law enforcement working group, to enhance joint efforts to combat violent crime and drug trafficking in the Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio Tri-State area. 

 

            The working group met for the first time on February 9, 2018, in Ashland.  

 

            The collaboration is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s enhanced Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, a crime reduction program incorporating long-standing law enforcement partnerships to help produce a long-term, meaningful reduction in violent crime.  PSN is a comprehensive approach to public safety, one that includes prevention, enforcement, and reentry efforts.    

 

            The working group will focus its efforts on individuals responsible for violent crimes and significant drug trafficking activities in the area.  As part of the collaborative partnership, members of ATF, FBI, DEA, and state and local law enforcement personnel will meet regularly to share intelligence, and to review cases about the most dangerous offenders in the area, including those cases in which the offender’s conduct involves possession or use of a firearm.  The cases will be evaluated to ensure that the most appropriate penalties will be applied to the offenders, whether in federal or state court.  The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to reduce violent crime and access to illegal drugs, and make the Tri-State safer. 

 

“As Attorney General Sessions has confirmed, combatting violent crime, reducing access to drugs, and partnering with state and local law enforcement efforts are top priorities for the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “By working together to investigate and prosecute the most dangerous individuals in the Tristate, we are sending a clear message that we will protect our communities against those who do them harm.  If you are using firearms to commit acts of violence or illegally selling drugs – especially those that cause an overdose death – you are on notice:  your conduct will not be tolerated; and if it continues, you risk arrest, prosecution, and the forfeiture of your freedom.”   

 

“The good people of the Tristate and good cities like Huntington, Ashland, Ironton and Portsmouth, have paid too high a price because of violent crime and the drug scourge.  Effective partnerships, sharing resources and intelligence, and aggressive enforcement are the best offense to defeat those that bring chaos and despair to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Stuart. “Now is the time to take our streets back from violent offenders and drug dealers that cause havoc.  We are committed to working together as true partners in this fight to reduce violent crime, protect our citizens, and put dangerous criminals behind bars for as long as possible.”

 

“State lines don’t stop criminals from committing violence in our communities, so they shouldn’t stop our law enforcement efforts, either,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said.  “Today’s announcement highlights our dedication to working together across governmental levels and geographic boundaries to get the job done.”

 

            Today’s announcement follows U.S. Attorney General Sessions’s directives to federal law enforcement and prosecutors, to reinvigorate the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in an effort to reduce rising violent crime in America, and to combat access to illegal drugs, particularly opiates and opioids. 

 

– END –

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gerald A. Lawson III, 30, of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, was charged by criminal complaint for allegedly acting as a straw purchaser for Quentin L. Smith, a convicted felon who shot and killed two Westerville Police Officers on February 10.

 

Lawson was charged with aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was arrested today by federal agents and is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly A. Jolson today at 3:30pm.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced the charges.

 

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, when Westerville Police Officers Anthony Morelli and Eric Joering responded to a disturbance call on Cross Wind Drive in Westerville, Smith was armed with a Glock semi-automatic handgun.

 

As a convicted felon, Smith is prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm.

 

An undisclosed witness told investigators Smith provided Lawson money for the firearm and an extra $100 to compensate Lawson – who knew Smith had been convicted of a felony – for buying the gun for him.

 

Investigators learned that Lawson and Smith have a long history of friendship. A review of Lawson’s social media account after the incident on February 10 revealed a post by Lawson displaying three photographs of both of the men together. A comment by Lawson associated with the post also referenced the long-standing friendship between the two.

Firearm trace results indicate the Glock firearm was purchased by Lawson in Broadview Heights, Ohio.

 

Aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm by a prohibited person is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by ATF, and Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton, who is prosecuting the case.

 

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

DAYTON – Nicholas Gay, 37, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison for distributing fentanyl.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer and other members of the Sheriff’s Office RANGE Task Force announced the sentence handed by U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.

 

According to court documents, Gay sold a confidential informant fentanyl on three occasions, totaling approximately 14 grams of the drug. A recorded conversation between Gay and the confidential informant included Gay giving instructions on how to dilute the drug in order to make a larger profit when reselling it.

 

When executing a search warrant at Gay’s home, investigators found an additional 200 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl/heroin mixture in a Crown Royal bag in plain view on a table, as well as $5,000 in cash.

 

Gay pleaded guilty in September 2017 to one count of distributing fentanyl.

 

“Gay had in his home more than 200 grams of various fentanyl mixtures – the equivalent of thousands of potential sales to drug addicts,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “After having previously served time for dealing cocaine, Gay will now will spend the next decade in prison for trafficking fentanyl. His removal makes the community safer.”

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office RANGE Task Force, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brent G. Tabacchi and Andrew J. Hunt, who are representing the United States in this case. 

###

CINCINNATI – Angelia Zwick, also known as Angelia Strunk, 47, of Cincinnati, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for defrauding her employer.

Zwick, who was convicted of one count of wire fraud and one count of willfully filing a false income tax return with the IRS, was also ordered to pay nearly $329,000 in restitution to Sheakley Group, Inc. and its insurers and nearly $122,000 in restitution to the IRS.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, and Yvonne Dicristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott.

According to court documents, from approximately July 2009 through May 2013, Angelia Zwick worked for Sheakley Group, Inc. and devised a scheme to defraud her employer by embezzling funds in excess of her authorized pay and compensation. Zwick wired the stolen funds from her employer’s bank account to a bank account for Amerihealth and Life Solutions, LLC, a company owned by Zwick.

As a result, Zwick took more than $328,000 of refunds and other payments intended for her employer and diverted those funds into bank accounts that she controlled.

In addition, Zwick filed false income tax returns with the IRS for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 income tax years, for which she owes $121,810 in additional income taxes. For the 2010 income tax year, Zwick failed to report as income the funds she embezzled from her employer. For the 2011 and 2012 income tax years, Zwick claimed false expenses for Amerihealth.

“We are early in this year’s tax filing season and this case should serve as a reminder that no matter what the source of income, all income is taxable, even stolen money,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS and U.S. Secret Service, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Mangan, who is prosecuting the case.

# # #

CINCINNATI – Five Southern Ohio men and one woman have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 1,000 grams of heroin.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the charges, which were unsealed today.

Those charged include:

Name

Age

City of Residence

Miguel Monroy-Cuadros

29

Fairfield, Ohio

Annel Reyes-Valdes

28

Fairfield, Ohio

Armando Gonzalez-Rosas

25

Fairfield, Ohio

Felix Garcia-Rosas*

30

Liberty Township, Ohio

Omar Santos

37

Oxford, Ohio

Armando Reyes

36

Oxford, Ohio

*Defendant is currently a fugitive

Gonzalez-Rosas and Garcia-Rosas are also charged with distribution of heroin. Monroy-Cuadros, Santos and Reyes are each also charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. In addition, Santos and Reyes were each also charged with unlawful possession of firearms by an illegal alien and unlawfully possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, the six men were conspiring to operate a heroin-trafficking ring in the Cincinnati area from at least October 2017 until this week.

After DEA agents conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Gonzalez-Rosas in September 2017, U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett authorized the interceptions of wire communications on cell phones used by the defendants. Communications led agents to believe Monroy-Cuadros was likely the source of supply for the group and Reyes-Valdes wired the group’s drug proceeds to Mexico. The farm on which Santos and Reyes lived in Oxford, Ohio was allegedly used as a stash location for the drug and drug proceeds.

Investigators intercepted calls and observed drug buys on numerous occasions between October 2017 and January 2018.

On January 9, troopers with Ohio State Highway Patrol discovered more than $132,446 in three separate locations in a vehicle. One of the locations included a plastic bag with more than $50,000 that is believed to have been delivered to the vehicle by Monroy-Cuadros.

On January 25, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit conducted a traffic stop of Monroy-Cuadros. Following a positive indication by the K9, the vehicle was searched and $10,000 was discovered in a white plastic bag. Monroy-Cuadros was given a ticket for a moving violation.

Agents learned on Monday that Monroy-Cuadros and Reyes-Valdes were in Chicago. Agents from DEA Chicago observed Monroy-Cuadros board a bus, which was traveling to Mexico.

Search warrants obtained on Tuesday were executed at the farm in Oxford and a residence in Fairfield, Ohio. Several firearms – strategically located as-if for defense against home invasion – were found in the home in Oxford, as well as 300 grams of heroin. Agents discovered several money transfer receipts at the home in Fairfield.

Five of the defendants were arrested yesterday, including Monroy-Cuadros, who was arrested in Dallas when officers with the Dallas Police Department interdicted the bus. Garcia-Rosas remains at large.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the DEA and the assistance of DEA Chicago and Dallas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ohio State Highway Patrol, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Oxford, Fairfield, Springdale and Dallas Police Departments, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Karl P. Kadon, who is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two cousins have each been charged in the Southern District of Ohio with unlawfully transporting illegal aliens, primarily Mexican citizens, within the United States.

 

Bromley D. Hackney, 57, of Ashville, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of transportation of an alien within the United States. Robert G. Smith, 58, of Natalia, Texas, was charged by criminal complaint with the same crime and arrested this morning in Texas.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Paul A. Pride and officials with U.S. Border Patrol announced the charges and the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

 

According to an affidavit filed in support of the Criminal Complaint charging Smith, in October 2016, HSI agents received information from the Ohio State Highway Patrol regarding the suspected unlawful transportation of aliens. The source alleged that Hackney was using a semi-truck to move undocumented aliens within the United States for profit.

 

In December 2016, Hackney was stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Laredo, Texas and agents found four undocumented aliens attempting to conceal themselves in hidden compartments in the cabin of the freight box truck. All of the individuals were taken into custody and later released.

 

Hackney agreed to be interviewed by investigators in Ohio in March 2017 and said he “knew that this day would come” and was going to go to a Border Patrol station soon to inquire about a possible investigation involving him. He admitted that he unlawfully transported aliens, which he and Smith began to do during the year 2011.

 

Smith, who was interviewed in June 2017, told investigators he would receive calls from a subject using the alias “Skinny” who would give him instructions on where to pick up the illegal aliens to be unlawfully transported. Smith would then contact others to arrange some of the transports, which he did approximately four times per week. He earned at least $2,000 per week coordinating the transactions.

 

Smith unlawfully transported aliens at least 72 times from 2011 through 2016 and transported four individuals each time. At first, he charged $800 per person and after the first two years increased the cost to $1,000 per person. The total amount of proceeds from the offense was nearly $269,000.

 

Transportation of an alien within the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

 

“Smuggling human beings is a noxious business,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “We don’t want this sort of unlawful activity taking place in the Southern District of Ohio, and we’ll continue to work to identify and prosecute those who profit from transporting people illegally.”

 

“Dismantling criminal smuggling operations which prey on human beings with absolutely no regard for human life is a top priority for HSI," said Steve Francis, special agent in charge of HSI Detroit. "We will continue to aggressively pursue these alien smugglers who jeopardize human lives for money."

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by HSI, Ohio State Highway Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard, who is the District’s Immigration and Border Security Coordinator and who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced on Jan. 22, to 22 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for training with terrorists overseas and leading a terrorist plot. 

 

Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Angela L. Byers of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and the FBI’s Columbus Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael H Watson.

 

“Mohamud traveled to Syria to train and fight with the designated terrorist organization al-Nusrah Front. He then returned to the United States with the intent to conduct an attack here,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente.  “Thanks to the tremendous efforts of law enforcement, Mohamud was arrested and his plans were thwarted.  One of the National Security Division’s highest priorities remains identifying and neutralizing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters who return to the United States.”

 

“Mohamud engaged in terrorist activity overseas, which included training and fighting with the Al-Nusrah Front, a designated foreign terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “He then returned to the United States with a plan to do grievous harm, recruited others to help him in his homeland plot, and then planned and prepared for attacks in the United States. Once caught, he orchestrated a cover-up beginning with his material misstatements to the FBI. The seriousness of his actions cannot be overstated and today’s sentence illustrates that.”

 

“Mohamud was originally arrested and indicted in state court by my office and a $2 million bond was set that maintained him in custody.  Those state charges were dismissed when the federal prosecution commenced and Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Gibson was added to the federal team as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney,” said Franklin County Prosecutor O’Brien.  “This case illustrates the effectiveness of the cooperative effort in the Columbus area to combat terrorism.”

 

A federal grand jury charged Mohamud in April 2015 with one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to terrorists, one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization – namely, al-Nusrah Front – and one count of making false statements to the FBI involving international terrorism.  Mohamud pleaded guilty to those charges in August 2015.  The plea was sealed until June 2017 because of an ongoing investigation.

 

According to court documents, Mohamud is a Somali-born naturalized U.S. citizen, who, in 2014, obtained a U.S. passport and one-way ticket to Greece.  During his travel in April 2014, Mohamud did not board his connecting flight to Athens, Greece.  Rather, during his layover in Istanbul, Turkey, he completed pre-arranged plans to cross the border into Syria.  In Syria, Mohamud received training from al-Nusrah Front, a terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda. 

 

According to a statement of facts supporting Mohamud’s guilty plea, while in Syria, Mohamud trained with al-Nusrah Front on fitness, and on the use of weapons and tactics. Mohamud also engaged in a firefight and expressed his desire to die fighting in Syria.

 

Mohamud returned to the United States after his brother was killed fighting for al-Nusrah Front.

 

The statement of facts details that after returning to the United States, Mohamud planned to obtain weapons in order to kill military officers, other government employees or people in uniform.  Evidence seized by the FBI indicates that Mohamud researched places in the U.S. to carry out such plans.

 

Mr. Boente and Mr. Glassman commended the cooperative investigation of the FBI’s JTTF and numerous local partners.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Squires, Jessica H. Kim and Salvador Dominguez, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Gibson of the Southern District of Ohio; and Trial Attorneys Bridget Behling and Lolita Lukose of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, 26, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 264 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for training with terrorists overseas and leading a terrorist plot. 

 

A federal grand jury charged Mohamud in April 2015 with one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to terrorists, one count of attempting to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization – namely, al-Nusrah Front – and one count of making false statements to the FBI involving international terrorism. He pleaded guilty to those charges in August 2015. The plea was sealed until June 2017 because of an ongoing investigation.

 

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and the FBI’s Columbus Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H Watson.

 

According to court documents, Mohamud is a Somali-born naturalized citizen of the United States who, in 2014, obtained a U.S. passport and one-way ticket to Greece. During his travel in April 2014, Mohamud did not board his connecting flight to Athens, Greece; rather, during his layover in Istanbul, Turkey, he completed pre-arranged plans to cross the border into Syria.  In Syria, Mohamud received training from al-Nusrah Front, a terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaeda. 

 

According to a statement of facts supporting Mohamud’s guilty plea, while in Syria, Mohamud trained with al-Nusrah Front on fitness, and on the use of weapons and tactics. Mohamud also engaged in a firefight and expressed his desire to die fighting in Syria.

 

Mohamud returned to the United States after his brother was killed fighting for al-Nusrah Front.

 

The statement of facts details that after returning to the United States, Mohamud planned to obtain weapons in order to kill military officers, other government employees or people in uniform. Evidence seized by the FBI indicates that Mohamud researched places in the U.S. to carry out such plans.

 

“Mohamud traveled to Syria to train and fight with the designated terrorist organization al-Nusrah Front. He then returned to the United States with the intent to conduct an attack here,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente.  “Thanks to the tremendous efforts of law enforcement, Mohamud was arrested and his plans were thwarted.  One of the National Security Division’s highest priorities remains identifying and neutralizing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters who return to the United States.”

 

“Mohamud engaged in terrorist activity overseas, which included training and fighting with the Al-Nusrah Front, a designated foreign terrorist organization,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “He then returned to the United States with a plan to do grievous harm, recruited others to help him in his homeland plot, and then planned and prepared for attacks in the United States. Once caught, he orchestrated a cover-up beginning with his material misstatements to the FBI. The seriousness of his actions cannot be overstated. Protecting our national security requires constant vigilance – every day, regardless of whatever else is happening. I commend the diligence of the national security and law enforcement professionals who have brought this case to conclusion today.”

 

“Mohamud was originally arrested and indicted in state court by my office and a $2 million bond was set that maintained him in custody. Those state charges were dismissed when the federal prosecution commenced and an assistant prosecutor was added to the federal team as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney,” O’Brien said “This case illustrates the effectiveness of the cooperative effort in the Columbus area to combat terrorism.”

 

“HSI will seek a civil denaturalization of Mohamud and eventual deportation to his country of origin, Somalia,” said the HSI Resident Agent in Charge Nathan Emery.

 

Acting Assistant Attorney General Boente and U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation of the FBI’s JTTF with numerous local partners, and Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas Squires, Jessica H. Kim and Salvador Dominguez and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Gibson, as well as Trial Attorneys Bridget Behling and Lolita Lukose of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, who are prosecuting the case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Adrian A. Douglas, 48, of Columbus, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 144 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Douglas led a Central Ohio marijuana trafficking ring that involved receiving UPS shipments of the drug from Las Vegas and mailing cash back to the supplier. He pleaded guilty to the two charges in June 2017.

 

Douglas’s son, Justin A. Douglas, 28, as well as Joshua N. Barron, 28, previously pleaded guilty to the same two charges. Justin Douglas was sentenced to 48 months in prison and Barron is scheduled for sentencing on January 30.

 

Raymond Tillman, 42, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. All three men are also Columbus residents.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and other members of the Ohio Organized Crime Commission’s Central Ohio Drug Enforcement task force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H Watson.

 

The Statement of Facts in this case details that between November 2015 and December 2016, investigators documented 264 packages sent via UPS from Las Vegas to Columbus. Those packages contained a total of more than 3,000 kilograms of marijuana.

 

Once co-conspirators distributed the marijuana in Central Ohio, they mailed cash back to the source of supply in Las Vegas. Investigators documented 41 packages shipped from Columbus to Las Vegas during the same timeframe.

 

For example, on December 7, 2016, an 18-pound package was shipped via UPS from Columbus to Las Vegas but was interdicted in Kentucky by law enforcement. The package contained more than $199,000 in cash.

 

On December 21, 2016, a series of search warrants were conducted at locations associated with the drug ring and turned up more than $331,000 in cash at Justin Douglas’s residence on Scioto Chase Blvd. An Additional $27,000 in cash was found at the residence of Adrian Douglas and more than $58,000 was seized from Raymond Tillman during a traffic stop.

 

All four defendants were indicted in February.

 

As part of the federal sentencing guidelines, which are advisory and not binding on the court, both the offense level and the criminal history of the defendant were taken into account. There are six criminal history categories, with category six including the most significant past criminal conduct. Douglas’s criminal history was classified as a category five.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation, DEA and Columbus Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Rodney D. Cydrus, 48, formerly of Chillicothe, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to mailing threatening communications. Cydrus was an inmate at Lebanon Correctional Institution at the time of this offense.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announced the plea entered into today before U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

 

According to court documents, on five separate occasions in January 2017, Cydrus mailed letters threatening to injure numerous government officials, including the President of the United States, federal judges, the FBI and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. Four of the letters were addressed to the FBI and one letter was addressed to the Federal Public Defender’s Office.

 

As part of the threat, Cydrus included a powdered substance (namely his own medication) in the letter to the Federal Public Defender’s Office on January 17, 2017.

 

Cydrus was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2017.

 

Mailing threatening communications is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and U.S. Secret Service, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan, who is prosecuting the case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gregory R. Lee, 53, of Columbus, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 262 months in prison and 20 years of supervised release and a $10,000 fine for production of child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer, Dublin Police Chief Heinz von Eckartsberg and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, the parents of a teenage female contacted Dublin Police in May 2017 after discovering information in the teenager’s personal journal regarding sexual activity with Lee, who had been her high school teacher at Dublin Scioto High School.

 

While being interviewed by law enforcement, the victim admitted that she and Lee engaged in oral sex on numerous occasions in Lee’s classroom and in his vehicle beginning when she was 15 years old. She said Lee also instructed her to create and exchange nude photographs through her phone.

 

A forensic examination of Lee’s electronic devices uncovered approximately 234 images of the victim, at least 49 of which depicted the minor in various stages of nudity. The victim confirmed that Lee had taken some of the nude pictures of her that were found on his devices.

 

The forensic examination also revealed nude images of another female that was believed to be a former student of Lee’s. The former student confirmed that she took the photographs with her cell phone when she was 17 years old and sent them to Lee.

 

“This offense involves a significant violation of the trust placed in Lee as a teacher,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “He engaged in a sexual relationship with a student who was more than 30 years his junior. She was a child, and it was his duty as the adult to prevent any inappropriate interactions with his students. He failed that duty miserably, and his sentence today reflects the seriousness of his crime.”

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, Dublin Police and Task Force Officers, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Heather A. Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch, Director, Franklin County Special Victim’s Unit, who are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jordan L. Price, 28, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to production of child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien and other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the plea entered into before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, in July 2017, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received two reports from Google regarding an email account that had been used to send numerous child pornography files.

 

A search warrant of the Gmail account revealed the email belonged to Price. Further investigation of Price revealed pornographic pictures of a toddler and a prepubescent female that he had taken on his cell phone.

 

In addition to the pornography that Price produced, he was also found to possess more than 200 child pornography files, including depictions of the rape of toddlers, in his Dropbox account. 

 

As part of his plea agreement, all parties involved have recommended a term of incarceration between 278 and 322 months in prison. That sentencing recommendation will be considered by Judge Watson at a future hearing.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office as well as Assistant United States Attorney Heather A. Hill and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Rausch, Director, Franklin County Special Victim’s Unit, who are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Joy McShan Edwards, 37, of Steubenville, was convicted in U.S. District Court today of retaliation against a witness.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Marshal Pete Tobin announced the verdict, which was reached today by Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr, after a one-day bench trial on December 11, 2017.

 

Edwards’s two brothers, Fred McShan and David McShan, were convicted at a federal jury trial in March 2016 of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin in the Southern District of Ohio.

 

During the trial, Deputy U.S. Marshals had to escort multiple family members and friends of the McShan brothers out of the courtroom for violating the Federal Court’s cell phone policy. The family and friends had been attempting to photograph and video record witnesses in the case.

 

After the first day of trial, a Social Media post to Snapchat was posted by a family member, which revealed a comment about a government witness and a short video of the confidential informant’s testimony.

 

On May 11, the United States Probation Department released its pre-sentence investigation report and recommended sentences for Fred and David McShan. On that same day, authorities discovered Edwards made a post on her Facebook page about the confidential informant. The post included photos of the witness cropped onto a body and comments that the confidential informant was a “snitch.”

 

Edwards continued posting multiple images of the witness cropped onto other photographs, including images of rats and skulls.

 

According to the victim, the retaliation via social media has severely impacted his life and the safety of himself and his family.

 

“We take very seriously the safety and security of government witnesses,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Those who retaliate against government witnesses will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Today’s verdict is an example.”

 

Retaliating against a witness, victim or an informant is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

Edwards was charged by criminal complaint and arrested in June. She was indicted by a federal grand jury in August.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the DEA and the U.S. Marshals Service, as well as Deputy Criminal Chief Michael J. Hunter and Jefferson County Prosecutor and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jane M. Hanlin, who are representing the United States in this case. 

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Susan M. Ruhe, 54, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 21 months in prison and four years of supervised release for one count of bank fraud. Ruhe defrauded her former employer, Procter & Gamble, of more than $454,000.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Yvonne DiCristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, Ruhe was employed by Procter & Gamble, the multinational consumer goods company headquartered in Cincinnati, from July 1989 through June 2013. Her last job title was Executive Assistant in the Global Beauty Care Business Development Group. In that capacity, her primary job duties were executive travel planning, expense reporting, calendar management and the scheduling of team meetings and events.

 

From November 2007 through the end of her employment, Ruhe defrauded the company by requesting that the payment department issue corporate checks to be used to pay for expenses that Procter & Gamble had incurred in the ordinary course of business. In reality, she used the corporate checks to make payments on her personal credit card accounts. Both accounts were through Citibank.

 

To conceal her scheme, Ruhe used the email of an executive without consent to approve her requests for corporate checks. She would then designate an unwitting third party from whom she would retrieve the checks in accordance with company policy. In total, she obtained 40 fraudulent corporate checks through this scheme.

 

Ruhe pleaded guilty in June 2017, and as part of the plea agreement, agreed to pay $454,116.47 in restitution to Procter & Gamble.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the U.S. Secret Service and Assistant United States Attorney Deborah D. Grimes, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

DAYTON – Two Indianapolis men were sentenced today in U.S. District Court for conspiring to rob a Middletown pharmacy of morphine and oxycodone on April 29, 2017 for the purpose of selling the drugs on the street.

 

Eric Lamont Bates, 20, was sentenced to 96 months in prison and Yasar Jamal Burnett, 18, was sentenced to 72 months in prison. Each had pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the robbery and possessing with the intent to distribute morphine and oxycodone.

 

Bates and Burnett are two of 11 total defendants in three current federal pharmacy robbery indictments in Dayton.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division and Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw announced the sentences handed down today by U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.

 

In May 2017, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging individuals with robbing two Middletown pharmacies and stealing prescription drugs including morphine, oxycodone and hydrocodone for the purpose of selling the drugs on the street.

 

The grand jury charged two Dayton men, Calvin Cavonte Tribble and Savon Anthony Davis, with attempted robbery of a pharmacy in Middletown on April 18, 2017 and robbing the pharmacy on April 19.

 

In a separate indictment, the grand jury charged Bates and Burnett.

 

In July, a 10-count superseding indictment added six defendants who also allegedly conspired to rob pharmacies between March and June 2017 in Fairfield, Middletown, Franklin, Hamilton, Westerville, Trotwood, Dayton, Oakwood, Kettering, Beavercreek, Moraine, Vandalia, Union Township and Cincinnati.

 

It was part of the alleged conspiracy that defendants would approach the pharmacy counter at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Best Pharmacy locations as if to turn in a prescription to be filled. In actuality, the slip of paper included a note that this was an armed robbery and the pharmacist would be harmed if they did not comply. The note demanded pharmacy employees to fill two bags with a list of controlled substances identified by name, amount and prescription dosage.

 

Those charged in the superseding indictment include Martez Henderson, Tiwonne Montgomery, Kenneth Evans, Jr., Brandon Freeman, David Harris and Jamar Warren.

 

In September, Jamie Deandre Williams was charged in a five-count indictment for allegedly robbing CVS pharmacies in Beavercreek, Sidney, Moraine, Cincinnati and Dayton between February and June 2017.

 

“This offense was an attempt by Bates and Burnett to make quick money,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “The defendants were in and out of the Rite Aid Pharmacy in less than five minutes. During the course of those few minutes, though, they used physical force and fear to ensure compliance from their victims, manhandling three female employees of the store to obtain narcotics that they could sell on the street. I hope the sentences they received today serve as a warning to others that the quick cash isn’t worth it. Offenders will be caught. They will be prosecuted. And they will be punished.”

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation of this case by the Middletown Police and the FBI, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Brent Tabacchi, who are representing the United States in the case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Barbara K. Temeck, 67, of Cincinnati, was convicted in U.S. District Court today of one count of distributing a controlled substance.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Gavin McClaren, Resident Agent in Charge, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigations Division (VA-OIG), announced the verdict reached today following a jury trial before U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

 

A federal grand jury indicted Temeck in May 2017. According to the court documents and testimony, she illegally dispensed Diazepam on November 2, 2013. 

 

Temeck served as the Chief of Staff at the VA Medical Center in Cincinnati. 

 

Distribution of a controlled substance is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison for Schedule IV drugs such as Diazepam.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the VA-OIG, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Timothy D. Oakley, who are representing the United States in this case. 

 

###

COLUMBUS, Ohio – William E. Young, 54, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of cyberstalking.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea offered before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King.

 

According to court documents, Young was arrested in October 1999 for menacing by stalking a female in Delaware County, Ohio. He has continuously harassed and stalked one of his arresting officers since the time of his arrest and conviction.

 

The Statement of Facts filed in support of the plea agreement details that Young engaged in a course of conduct with the intent to harass and intimidate the victim and the victim’s spouse.

 

Young created webpages using the victim’s name in order to make derogatory statements about the victim and his official position.

 

He mailed letters on numerous occasions to the victim’s wife and family, neighbors, physician, barber, church and church pastor and pastor’s wife, as well as  to Ohio Wesleyan College, Delaware City Hall, the Delaware Chamber of Commerce, the Delaware City Mayor, Delaware City Council members, the Delaware Police Department, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, the Delaware County Jail, the Arapahoe County Prosecutor’s Office and other local community businesses.

 

One such letter included the victim’s face superimposed on the bodies of cartoon characters and stated “Even worse, a gay wimp who wants to hide behind a gun and badge because he’s a little pussy. I’m gonna kick your ‘puny’ ass!...When judgement day comes for you make sure they pack an air conditioner in your coffin. You’ll need it.”

 

A 62-page letter mailed in September 2015 to the victim’s spouse stated: “I’ll force his hand if the powers that be make the mistake of coming after me again. Then I’ll take everyone down who had a hand in what was done to me one by one.”

 

As part of his effort to harass and intimidate, Young has filed multiple state and federal civil lawsuits against the victim and another arresting officer from Young’s 1999 arrest, and the Delaware Police Department, alleging various claims of corruption and fraud.

 

Young was indicted by a federal grand jury in August.

 

Cyberstalking is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, and Assistant United States Attorney Jessica H. Kim, who is prosecuting the case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Adam Keith Charles, 37, of Cincinnati was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 14 months in prison for stealing the identity of a U.S. Military veteran and using it to obtain more than $20,000 in medical services at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Gavin McClaren, Resident Agent in Charge, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General Criminal Investigations Division (VA-OIG), announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott.

 

According to court documents, in August 2016, Charles went to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Cincinnati for medical treatment knowing he had never served in the armed forces and therefore is not eligible for its health care benefits.

 

Charles falsely identified himself as his half-brother, who is a veteran, in order to obtain care. He did this on a number of occasions on an outpatient basis, incurring $1,700 to approximately $4,000 in care each time. In September 2016, he was admitted for nearly $10,800 worth of inpatient care and was given an identification wristband with the photo of another individual, presumably the half-brother, on it.

 

Charles pleaded guilty in July to one count of making a false statement and has remained in custody since.

 

He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $20,287.11 in restitution.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the VA-OIG, as well as Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry, who is representing the United States in this case. 

 

###

DAYTON – Daniel E. Jones, 29, of Harrison Township, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 144 months in prison for possessing fentanyl and a firearm.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer and other members of the FBI’s Southern Ohio Safe Streets Task Force and the Regional Agency Narcotics Gun Enforcement (RANGE) Task Force announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.

 

According to court documents, on March 31, 2016, Jones engaged in an hours-long standoff with federal and local authorities at an apartment complex in Montgomery County, refusing to allow police access to his residence, because he had fentanyl in his apartment that he intended to sell in the Dayton area.

 

As the standoff continued, he attempted to burn the drugs. Officers noticed smoke and flames inside of the apartment. An investigator on scene accessed Jones’s Facebook page and discovered that Jones was posting a live video feed of himself with footage of an active fire inside of the shower in a bathroom of the apartment.

 

Jones stated “No evidence on me buddy” after recording the active fire in the shower. He also flashed bundles of cash and referred to himself as “El Chapo Jr.” during the video.

 

Ultimately, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Regional SWAT Team officers and federal agents gained access to the apartment, arrested Jones and recovered a firearm as well as the remnants of the burnt fentanyl.

 

Upon arresting Jones, officers found more than $3,000 in cash on Jones and more than $100,000 cash throughout the apartment.

 

Jones was charged by a federal criminal complaint in March 2016 and indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2016. He pleaded guilty in April 2017 to one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the FBI and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Brent G. Tabacchi, who is representing the United States in this case. 

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Four additional individuals alleged to be members and associates of MS-13 have been charged by a federal grand jury in a superseding indictment returned here Dec. 14 and unsealed today.

 

The new indictment also includes eight additional charges, including in part: conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, alien in possession of firearms and/or ammunition, obstruction of justice, destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure and illegal reentry of a previously removed alien.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 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 Kim Jacobs announced the new charges.

 

The four additional defendants are:

Name

Also Known As

Age

City

*Jose Daniel Gonzalez-Campos

Flaco

27

Fugitive – whereabouts unknown

Daniel Alexander Diaz-Romero

Manchas

23

Deported

Denis Donaldo Fuentes-Avila

 

18

Columbus, Ohio

Carolina Garcia-Miranda

Mamayema

29

Columbus, Ohio

 

In July, a federal grand jury charged 10 individuals with conspiracy to commit extortion, conspiracy to commit money laundering and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

 

Five other individuals were arrested and charged in criminal complaints this summer with federal immigration-related crimes. Since that time, another four individuals have been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with federal immigration-related crimes.

 

MS-13, formally La Mara Salvatrucha, is a multi-national criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.  The organization’s leadership is based in El Salvador, where many of the gang’s high-ranking members are imprisoned. 

 

In 2012, the United States government designated MS-13 as a “transnational criminal organization.”  It is the first and only street gang to receive that designation. MS-13 has become one of the largest and most violent criminal organizations in the United States, with more than 10,000 members and associates operating in at least 40 states, including Ohio.

 

In Ohio and elsewhere in the United States, MS-13 is organized into “cliques,” which are smaller groups of MS-13 members and associates acting under the larger mantle of the organization and operating in a specific region, city or part of a city.

 

The 11-count superseding indictment alleges that defendants – members and associates of the MS-13 – conspired to commit extortion through the use of threatened or actual force, violence or fear to intimidate their victims into paying money to the defendants and their co-conspirators. Many of the proceeds were sent, usually by wire transfer and often through intermediaries, to MS-13 members and associates in El Salvador and elsewhere. The money was then used to promote and facilitate the criminal activities of MS-13 in El Salvador and the United States.   

 

As part of the alleged conspiracy, the defendants and their co-conspirators unlawfully obtained extortion and drug trafficking proceeds to be used to, among other things, buy items that MS-13 uses to engage in criminal activity, such as cell phones, narcotics and weapons; provide financial support and information to MS-13 members, including those incarcerated in El Salvador and the United States, as well as those who have been deported; and aid families of deceased MS-13 members.

 

The superseding indictment also alleges that various defendants conspired to possess cocaine and marijuana with the intent of distributing the drugs.

 

Jose Martin Aguilar-Rivera, an illegal alien, allegedly possessed ammunition. Juan Jimenez-Monufar, also an illegal alien, allegedly possessed multiple firearms.

 

On August 26, according to the superseding indictment, Isaias Alvarado attempted to obstruct justice and prevent the lawful seizure of evidence by directing another individual to dispose of a firearm.

 

The 10 defendants also charged in the original indictment are: 

Name

Also Known As

Age

City

Jose Martin Neftali Aguilar-Rivera

Momia, Pelon

32

Columbus, Ohio/ Indianapolis, Ind.

Pedro Alfonso Osorio-Flores

Smokey

38

Columbus, Ohio

Juan Jose Jiminez-Montufar

Chele Trece

34

Columbus, Ohio

Isaias Alvarado

Cabo

44

Columbus, Ohio

Cruz Alberto-Arbarngas

Cruzito

30

Columbus, Ohio

Jose Manuel Romero-Parada

Russo

23

Indianapolis, Ind.

Jose Salinas-Enriquez

Martillo

32

Dayton, Ohio

Jorge Cazares

Veneno

37

Columbus, Ohio

Jose Ramiro Aparicio-Olivares

Flaco

42

Columbus, Ohio

*Nelson Alexander Flores

Mula

46

Fugitive – whereabouts unknown

 

The crimes charged in the superseding indictment and each crime’s potential maximum sentence include:

Crime

Potential Maximum Sentence

Conspiracy to commit extortion

20 years in prison

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

20 years in prison

Brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence

At least 7 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances

20 years in prison

Possession with intent to distribute controlled substances

20 years in prison

Alien in possession of firearm or ammunition

10 years in prison

Obstruction of justice

20 years in prison

Destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure

5 years in prison

Illegal reentry of a removed alien

2 years in prison

 

“The defendants and charges added in the indictment unsealed today illustrate our continued dedication to eradicating MS-13’s presence from our communities in the Southern District of Ohio,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “This investigation is ongoing.”

 

“This is a great example of law enforcement and the community working together to make neighborhoods safe," stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Angela Byers. "We urge any additional victims of MS-13 to contact the FBI so we can provide assistance and continue these important efforts.”

 

“ICE will continue to be relentless in our efforts to rid the community of MS-13 members and the related criminal activity that comes with gang activity,” said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ERO Detroit, which covers Michigan and Ohio. “Working together with our law enforcement partners, ICE will use its unique authorities to arrest MS-13 members who are subject to removal from the United States.”

 

If you are a victim of the alleged crimes, or have additional information about MS-13, please call the FBI hotline at 614-849-1765. Callers can remain anonymous.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, ICE, Columbus Division of Police and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the assistance of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Martinez and Jessica H. Kim, who are prosecuting the case.

 

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

 

# # #

DAYTON – Jason Alexander Bigler, 46, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 252 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for knowingly distributing child pornography of children under the age of 12. Bigler is a registered sex offender because of a prior federal conviction of possessing child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Rose.

 

According to the statement of facts attached to the plea agreement, which was entered into in September, Bigler distributed, received, transported and possessed more than 2,150 images and 215 videos of child pornography. The images and videos showed adult males raping and abusing pre-pubescent and infant females.

 

Bigler used Kik and Omegle messenger applications to meet and communicate with the individuals with whom he traded child pornography.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and Assistant United States Attorney Dwight K. Keller, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

DAYTON – Kyle Jordan, 31, of Franklin, Ohio was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 72 months in prison for one count of sexual abuse.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Lt. Col. Randal Pendleton, Commander, Air Force Office of Special Investigations 10th Field Investigations Squandron, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.

 

According to the signed Statement of Facts attached to the plea agreement, in December 2015, Jordan sexually assaulted an unconscious woman while staying at a Temporary Lodging Facility located on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

 

Jordan raped the victim in a bedroom after they both consumed alcohol.

 

Jordan pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse count in January.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Air Force OSI and FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Hunt, and Amy M. Smith, who are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Enson Trading LLC, which does business as Eternal Food Service, was sentenced in U.S. District Court for failing to file required IRS forms for cash transactions exceeding $10,000, and for violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Thomas J. Ullom, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, Enson is a Lockland-based wholesale food storage facility and distributor to primarily Asian restaurants in Ohio and nine other states, and many of the company’s customers pay in cash.

 

Between October 2010 and June 2012, the company failed to file a federal Form 8300 for 41 cash transactions totaling more than half a million dollars. Federal laws and regulations require every person engaged in a nonfinancial trade or business that receives cash in excess of $10,000 to file the form within 15 days of receipt of the cash.

 

The company also conspired to continue operation after receiving an out-of-service order from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

 

In June 2010, FMCSA conducted a compliance review of the trucks the company used to distribute its products in Ohio and out of state and issued the company an unsatisfactory safety rating based upon critical violations of several regulations. FMCSA gave the company 60 days to address the violations or they would receive an out-of-service order.

 

Eight days before the company’s trucking operations were to be put out of service, the company registered and incorporated under a different name. The company did that five more times between 2010 and 2014, using the names Heng Hua, National Trucking, Eternal Trading Corporation, Aspiron and FC Logistics.

 

As part of its sentence, the company has been ordered to pay a $525,000 fine and forfeit $215,012.55. In July, Enson Trading, LLC manager Qing Xia Zheng entered a guilty plea on behalf of the company, which was also ordered to serve three years of probation.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and the FBI, as well as District Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

DAYTON – Robert Phelps, 49, of Jackson Center, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison for possessing child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.

 

Phelps was one of three defendants convicted in the Southern District of Ohio as the result of a national FBI investigation, “Operation Pacifier,” which involved the takedown of a “dark web” site dedicated to child pornography. Using a court-approved Network Investigative Technique to pierce through the anonymity provided by the Tor network, agents uncovered IP addresses and other information that helped locate and identify users. Investigators sent more than 1,000 leads to FBI field offices in every state in the country and thousands more to oversees partners.

 

As a result of the investigation, at least 350 U.S.-based individuals have been arrested, 25 producers of child pornography have been prosecuted, 51 alleged hands-on abusers have been prosecuted and 55 American children who were subjected to sexual abuse have been successfully identified or rescued.

 

According to court documents in this case, when federal agents executed a search warrant in July at Phelps’s home, on just one computer they discovered more than 6,300 images and 590 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. A separate hard drive contained an additional 255,000 images and 120 videos.

 

Phelps pleaded guilty in April to one count of possessing child pornography.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation by the FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys Amy M. Smith and Andrew J. Hunt, who are representing the United States in this case. 

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – U.S. Attorney Benjamin C. Glassman recognized nine employees of the Southern District of Ohio in four categories for their distinguished public service in his second annual United States Attorney’s Awards in Outstanding Performance.

 

Outstanding Performance in Legal Support – Leah A. Gezinski

Ms. Gezinski’s support has enabled the Dayton office to successfully investigate and charge those trafficking heroin, fentanyl and other opioids.

 

“Ms. Gezinski has been invaluable in supporting some of the most labor-intensive investigations, particularly involving wiretaps,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “She worked tirelessly, and often at late or early hours, to ensure the success of wires that have been instrumental in charging and convicting opioid traffickers.”

 

Outstanding Performance by an Assistant United States Attorney – Heather A. Hill

Ms. Hill led three jury trials in the first four months of 2017 that arose from separate child-exploitation investigations.

 

In January, Thomas A. Sweeney was convicted of all counts, including production of child pornography, attempted coercion/enticement of a minor, receipt of child pornography and commission of a sex offense while registered as a sex offender. He was sentenced in July to serve 55 years in prison for the sex crimes, which involved a 14-year-old.

 

Joshua D. Chapman-Sexton was convicted of all counts in February. He was on supervised release when he committed the new offenses, which included receipt and possession of child pornography, and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

 

In April, Shawn P. Parrish was also convicted of all counts, including receiving and possessing child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

 

“Assistant United States Attorneys are the best trial lawyers in the world, and no one performed as much or at a higher level in 2017 than Heather Hill,” Glassman said. “First chairing three jury trials in four months is a remarkable feat, and Ms. Hill’s accomplishment is all the more impressive because the defendants were charged with serious child-exploitation offenses, and she convicted them on every count.”

 

Outstanding Performance by a Litigative Team – Financial Litigation Unit

Assistant United States Attorney Bethany J. Hamilton, Paralegal Specialists Craig A. Black and Cloteal J. Turner, Legal Assistant Nicole Burczyk and Contract Paralegals Stephanie Crosson and Danielle DeLeon Spires were recognized for collecting more than $261 million in fiscal year 2017 – the highest total in the history of the Southern District of Ohio.

 

“The Financial Litigation Unit accomplished this new record for our District through 4,322 enforcement activities, close coordination with the Criminal and Civil divisions, and teamwork of the highest order,” Glassman said.

 

Outstanding Performance in Administration – Karen S. Stocker

As the District’s Budget Officer, Ms. Stocker handled a once-in-a-generation type of transition this past year to a new financial management system that was implemented in each U.S Attorney’s Office across the country. 

 

“Ms. Stocker has been an exemplary Budget Officer for the last decade, and this past year, she not only managed to accommodate within our budget expenses for ambitious investigations and litigation, but she also did so while transitioning to a new national financial management system,” Glassman said. “This transition was among the most significant in many years, but thanks to Ms. Stocker’s diligence and hard work, most litigators in our office probably didn’t even notice.”

 

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A United States District Court jury convicted Deandre Forrest, 39, of Columbus, of seven counts related to the distribution of cocaine and crack and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the verdict reached today following a three-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham.

 

According to court documents and testimony, from October 2016 until June 2017, Forrest conspired to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine and cocaine. Forrest also possessed three revolvers and two pistols, which were used in furtherance of the drug trafficking.

 

Conspiracy to distribute more than 280 grams or more of crack, and actual distribution of that amount of the drug, are each crimes punishable by 10 years to life in prison.

 

Distributing cocaine and possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it are each crimes punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

 

Using a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a mandatory five-year sentence up to life in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the ATF and Columbus Division of Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorneys David M. DeVillers and Noah R. Litton, who are representing the United States in this case. 

 

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CINCINNATI – Grady Calhoun, 35, of Hamilton, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 15 months in prison and two years of supervised release for three counts of bank fraud related to making representations as part of his application to obtain credit cards.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Hayden, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, on three separate occasions, Calhoun made false claims about his occupation and income. During one application process with Chase Bank, he claimed he was a partner and president of a law firm called Serdekor LLC. Serdekor LLC is an Ohio limited liability company that was created and registered by Calhoun; however, Serdekor LLC is not a law firm and the defendant is not a licensed attorney. Rather, Calhoun was employed as a paralegal at a law firm in the Southern District of Ohio.

 

Calhoun manipulated the payment process to Chase Bank to keep the credit card accounts open as long as possible, and owes nearly $408,000 as a result of this scheme.

 

He also fraudulently obtained credit card accounts at Barclay’s Bank and applied for other lines of credit with another individual’s social security number. Calhoun owes Barclay’s more than $28,000.

 

Calhoun pleaded guilty in June, and as part of the plea agreement, Calhoun has agreed to pay the loss amounts to both banks in restitution.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Secret Service and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

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CINCINNATI – Eric Zyn Ho, 25, and Bryan Mathew Otero, 27, both of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of conspiracy to sex traffic a child. Ho also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Union Township Police Chief Scott Gaviglia and other members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the pleas entered into today before U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott.

 

In May, the defendants conspired to harbor a 14-year-old female and caused her to engage in a commercial sex act.

 

Both defendants were charged by criminal complaint and arrested on May 4 and remain in custody. They were indicted by a federal grand jury in the same month.

 

Conspiracy to sex traffic children is a crime punishable by up to life in prison. Conspiracy to produce child pornography carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison up to 30 years.

 

Pursuant to the Child Victims’ and Child Witnesses’ Rights Act, specific details of the plea agreements remain under seal.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, including FBI Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Kansas City field offices, and Union Township Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey, who is prosecuting the case.

 

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CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged two individuals – Ciera Richter, 25, of Cincinnati, and Jason Fletcher, 40, of Franklin, Ohio – with charges related to the selling of a child and creating child pornography in an indictment returned here yesterday afternoon.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the charges.

 

According to court documents, Fletcher was previously convicted by the state of Ohio of importuning a minor, among other crimes. Under the terms of his probation, he was not to possess pornography of any kind.

 

In May 2017, during a visit with his probation officer, the officer noticed Fletcher had two mobile devices and, after having Fletcher provide access to the devices, started to review the phones’ contents. The probation officer found pornography of a minor female on one of the phones and Fletcher was subsequently arrested.

 

Search of the phone revealed, among a collection of child pornography, child pornography videos made with the phone. Some of the videos on the phone involve Fletcher, Richter and a two-year-old.

In the videos, Richter helps hold, entertain and position the toddler, while Fletcher records himself sexually abusing the child.

 

According to the indictment and other court documents, Richter procured a two-year-old for the purpose of making the videos and intended to sell the videos. 

 

“The indictment alleges that Richter provided the toddler to Fletcher with the knowledge that as a consequence of the transfer, the two-year-old would be portrayed in child pornography,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “Offenses like those alleged here are among the most heinous, and most important, that we prosecute. We take seriously our duty and responsibility to keep children safe from those who would prey upon them.”

 

“Child pornography is the permanent record of a child being sexually exploited, and this victimization continues every time that image is transmitted, downloaded, shared or viewed,” said Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI for Michigan and Ohio. “HSI special agents take special pride in their role of seeking justice on behalf of those who have been sexually exploited and victimized.”

 

Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography. Those crimes generally carry a potential sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison. Fletcher faces a potential range of 35 years to life in prison, because he has at least two prior state convictions for crimes involving children.

 

Richter is also charged with one count of selling a child, which is punishable by a range of 30 years to life in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by HSI and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney, who is prosecuting the case.

 

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

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Scott W. Atway, 44, of Powell, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to filing a false tax return.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, announced the plea entered into today before Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, for several years, including 2010 through 2013, Atway owned multiple Verizon Wireless stores in Central Ohio aside from being a self-employed attorney who operated his own law practice. In 2013, he also generated income from a real-estate holding company for his rental properties.

 

Atway provided incomplete or false documents to his tax-return preparer. He further made false statements to her when asked to justify how he paid for his lifestyle.

 

During this timeframe, Atway was building and improving upon a luxury home in Powell. He paid more than $800,000 to contractors for additions including an enclosed tennis court, basketball court, in-ground pool, six-car garage and an elevator. These expenses could not have been covered by the amount of taxable income Atway reported to the IRS.

 

He was also buying high-end cars, including a $99,000 Land Rover, a $50,000 Porsche 911, a $24,000 Lexus IS250, a $71,000 BMW X6 and a nearly $143,000 Audi R8. For these cars, he either received no financing or paid off the loans early, and the income he reported to the dealerships was much greater than what he reported on his tax returns.

 

For 2010 through 2013, Atway caused a tax loss to the United States of between $250,000 and $1.5 million.

 

“Scott Atway is well-educated and seemingly a successful businessman, but he chose to lie to the IRS and now he is a convicted felon,” said Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office.

 

Filing a false tax return is a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, who is representing the United States in this case. 

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Jake M. Damron, 25, of Loveland, Ohio, was arrested yesterday and charged with receipt and distribution of child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, Hamilton Township Police Chief Scott Hughes and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force announced the charge. 

 

Damron was charged by a criminal complaint that was unsealed today at his initial appearance in federal court.

 

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Hamilton Township Police received a report on November 20 that Damron had taken pornographic pictures of a five year old to whom he had access. It was reported that Damron was trading images of the victim for other child pornography via the Kik messenger app.

 

During an interview with FBI agents, Damron confirmed that he had taken sexually explicit photographs of the five year old. He stated this was the only victim he had photographed and that he had “probably” taken them due to easy access.

 

Receipt and distribution of child pornography in this case is punishable by a range of five to 20 years in prison.

 

“I commend the investigation by the FBI and the Hamilton Township Police, particularly the speed with which they were able to act,” said U.S. Attorney Glassman. “This kind of close cooperation between federal and local law enforcement partners helps make urgent action possible.” U.S. Attorney Glassman further commended Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey, who is prosecuting the case.

 

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

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has charged David L. Dobbins, 38, of Urbancrest, Ohio, with seven charges related to distributing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine – including distribution that resulted in death – in a superseding indictment returned here today.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Grove City Police Chief Jeffrey A. Pearson announced the charges.

 

The superseding indictment alleges that in February, Dobbins distributed heroin, cocaine and fentanyl that caused the death of at least one known individual. The victim was found dead at the Star City Inn in Grove City.

 

Dobbins is also charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute the controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

 

Dobbins was arrested April 14 and remains in custody. He was charged by an original indictment in October and this superseding indictment adds the charge of distributing heroin, fentanyl and cocaine that resulted in death.

 

Distributing narcotics that result in death is a federal crime that carries a potential sentence of 20 years to life in prison. Each possession with the intent to distribute count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Possessing a firearm while committing a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a range of seven years to life in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the DEA and Grove City Police, and Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard, who is prosecuting the case.

 

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

# # #

DAYTON – Christopher Paul Murphy, 68, of Golden Valley, Ariz., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the plea entered into before U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice.

 

According to the statement of facts in this case, Murphy intentionally attempted to access a protected computer system last month without authorization in an effort to gain information for his own private commercial gain.

 

Murphy planned to obtain client information of customers of National BiWeekly Mortgage Administration, Inc. (NBA) in Xenia. Murphy wanted to use the information to solicit customers to his own similar business.

 

The defendant attempted to obtain the information by causing an email containing malware to be sent to an NBA employee. He also provided a thumb drive to an NBA employee and directed that, in the event the malware failed, the employee should download the company’s client lists onto the thumb drive.

 

Murphy pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization, which is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI and Assistant United States Attorney Brent G. Tabacchi, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

CINCINNATI – Michael Chandler, 29, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 200 months in prison for distributing fentanyl. As part of his sentence, Chandler was also ordered to pay more than $9,000 in restitution to cover the funeral costs for an overdose death that resulted from Chandler’s drug distributing.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

 

This investigation was initiated by the Campbell County, Ky. Drug Task Force and investigated by the Hamilton County Heroin Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

Investigators were alerted on April 20, 2016 to a suspected heroin overdose. According to the statement of facts in this case, the overdose was actually caused by the ingestion of fentanyl, which was traced back to Chandler as the source of supply. The next day, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Chandler.

 

While executing a search warrant at a residence used by Chandler on Lowell Avenue in Cincinnati, investigators discovered nearly 644 grams of fentanyl, 28 grams of cocaine, a handgun, ammunition and other miscellaneous drug paraphernalia.

 

Chandler was indicted on the six drug distribution charges in June 2016 and pleaded guilty in May 2017.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Drug Task Force and Criminal Chief Kenneth L. Parker, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

The Hamilton County Heroin Task Force was established in early 2015 by the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police for the purpose of investigating all source dealers of heroin and other opiates that lead to overdoses and overdose deaths, and ultimately prosecute the source dealer on applicable State of Ohio and Federal charges. The Hamilton County Heroin Task Force has agents assigned from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, Cincinnati Police Division, Amberley Village Police Department, Sharonville Police Department, Blue Ash Police Department, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Cincinnati Resident Office. The Task Force has formal partnerships with the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC), Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office, The Drug Enforcement  Administration, U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General’s Office and all 44 police agencies in Hamilton County.

 

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CINCINNATI – Suraj Patel, 38, of Long Beach, Calif., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today for his role in a $3.5 million scheme involving distribution for Macy’s. As part of his sentence, Patel was ordered to pay approximately $925,000 in restitution to the company.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Ryan L. Korner, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett.

 

Rudy Rampertab, 46, of Ocoee, Fla., was sentenced in July to six months in prison for one count each of mail fraud and money laundering.

 

According to court documents, Rampertab was an employee of Macy’s from 1988 until 2010. Beginning in 1998, Rampertab managed Macy’s distribution center in Carson, Calif. and supervised the transport of merchandise to centers throughout the country.

 

Starting in July 2010, Rampertab began diverting the shipment of goods to Patel, who established several shipping companies. Ramptertab obtained approval for Patel’s companies to become third party vendors for Macy’s; however, Rampertab did not disclose his personal connection to the companies, which he helped operate. Rampertab also did not disclose to Macy’s that he personally profited from the operations of these vendors.

 

Between July and December 2010, Patel’s companies received more than $3.5 million in Macy’s shipping and packaging jobs. After paying expenses, Rampertab and Patel generated more than $900,000 in net profits from the diverted business.

 

Rampertab and Patel used the proceeds to purchase real estate and vehicles, including a 2010 Aston Martin costing $199,000.

 

Patel was sentenced to serve one day in prison, followed by six months of home confinement as part of his three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty in September 2016 to mail fraud and money laundering.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the IRS Criminal Investigation and FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Tim Mangan, who is representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Justin M. Nickell, 36, of Galloway, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 160 months in prison for distribution of child pornography.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Westerville Police Chief Joseph Morbitzer, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and other members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force announced the sentence handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr.

 

According to the Statement of Facts in this case, Nickell communicated with an undercover task force officer posing online as the mother of young children.

 

During conversation on the Kik Messenger App, Nickell routinely made comments indicating that he wished to engage in sexual activity with the undercover persona’s fictitious children. He also told the officer he secretly recorded a 12-year-old girl in his household getting out of the shower and drying off, and would then masturbate to the video afterwards. Nickell sent a screen shot from one of the videos to the officer. Nickell admitted to hiding his phone in a container in the bathroom under some clothing and also to recording her outside of the bathroom by placing his phone under the door.

 

On more than one occasion, Nickell sent nude photos of the 12-year-old girl to the undercover officer.

 

“The nature and circumstances of Nickell’s actions involve an unimaginable violation of trust,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “His offenses, paired with the fact that he stated – in excruciating detail and on multiple occasions – that he wanted to engage in very specific sexual acts with the undercover officer’s young fictitious children, call for significant time in federal prison.”

 

Nickell was indicted by a federal grand jury in March and pleaded guilty in August.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the Franklin County ICAC and Assistant United States Attorneys Heather A. Hill and Jessica H. Kim, who are representing the United States in this case.

 

# # #

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Rasim Ukoja, 51, of Morton Grove, Ill., was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 43 months in prison for robbery.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs announced the sentence handed down today by U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

 

Ukoja was involved in a robbery at Gold Craft Company jewelry store on Sinclair Road in Columbus in July 2014.

 

According to the Statement of Facts, co-defendant Anthony Persinger was approached by a friend to become involved in the robbery of a diamond seller in Columbus and traveled to Columbus from Chicago with Victor Aloush and Ukoja.

 

On the afternoon of July 29, 2014, Aloush scheduled a meeting with the store owner to negotiate the purchase of two bags of small diamonds. During the meeting, he opened the locked office door.

 

Persinger opened the office door and announced, “FBI! Don’t move! Get on the ground.”

 

Persinger pushed the store owner to the ground and attempted to put him in flex cuffs, but the owner bit Persinger’s finger, ripping off the fingernail. As Ukoja and the other defendants fled the store with approximately $242,000 in diamonds, the owner retrieved his firearm and tried to fire but the safety was engaged. The owner was unable to disengage the safety because Persinger had dislocated his thumb.

 

The diamonds were transported back to Chicago and Ukoja and others were paid for their roles in the offense.

 

Ukoja pleaded guilty in May to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Persinger and Aloush each previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the cooperative investigation by ATF and Columbus Police, as well as Assistant United States Attorney David J. Bosley, who is representing the United States in this case. 

 

###

CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged Ronquieze Head, 35, and Seronte Newby, 29, both of Cincinnati, with crimes related to theft from gun stores in Ohio and Kentucky in an indictment returned in Cincinnati.

 

Specifically, the defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit theft and two counts of theft from a federal firearms licensee. Head is also charged with one count of possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

 

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Trevor Velinor, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced the charges.

 

The indictment alleges that Head and Newby stole approximately 20 firearms from a gun store in Sharonville, Ohio on July 2. On July 8, it is further alleged that the defendants stole approximately 22 firearms from a gun store in Florence, Ky. Finally, according to the indictment, the pair stole approximately 32 weapons from a third gun store in Springboro, Ohio on July 16.

 

Conspiracy to commit theft, theft from a federal firearms licensee, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a stolen firearm are each crimes punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

 

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by ATF and Sharonville, Florence, Springboro and Cincinnati police departments, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney, who is prosecuting the case.

 

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

 

Anyone having information about these burglaries or the stolen firearms should contact ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (800-283-4867). Individuals may also email ATFTips@atf.gov, or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt® app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

 

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