Eastern District of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA- Edward Sweeney, 56, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for his role in the RICO conspiracy involving members of Ironworkers Local 401.  Sweeney pleaded guilty on September 30, 2014 to RICO conspiracy, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, use of fire to commit a felony, maliciously damaging property by means of fire, conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and attempted maliciously damaging property by means of fire.  U.S. District Court Judge Michael Baylson also ordered restitution of $217,000, three years of supervised release, and a $600 special assessment.

Sweeney was a business agent for the Ironworkers Local 401 when he participated in a series of incidents as part of a plan to force non-union contractors to hire union labor.  He participated in 10 incidents of extortion or attempted extortion and was involved in the Quaker Meetinghouse arson, an arson on Grays Avenue in Philadelphia, and an attempted arson in Malvern, all of which were in retaliation for contractors’ failure to hire union ironworkers.  Sweeney is the 9th defendant to be sentenced in the case.

The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, with assistance provided by the Philadelphia Police Department Corruption Task Force, East Whiteland Township Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Employee Benefit Security Administration.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Livermore with legal assistance provided by Gerald Toner, Acting Deputy Chief for Labor-Management Racketeering, Organized Crime and Gang Section at the Department of Justice.

PHILADELPHIA - Mario Fresta, 37, of Cape Coral, Florida pleaded guilty today to one count of Hobbs Act extortion, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  U.S. District Court Judge Berle M. Schiller scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 15, 2015.

Fresta was an associate of Dominic Verdi, a-then high ranking official in Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections and Public Nuisance Task Force.  Verdi had an ownership interest in a beer distributor named “Chappy’s Beer, Butts, and Bets.”  Fresta, with or without Verdi’s knowledge, instructed O.N.E. Rittenhouse (“ONE”), a bar and nightclub, that if ONE bought its beer from Chappy’s and hired Fresta as a manager at a weekly rate of $400 in cash, Verdi would use his official position to benefit ONE.  Even after Fresta ceased his employment at ONE, Fresta instructed the operators at ONE that ONE needed to continue paying the $400 weekly rate plus an additional $300 in cash kickbacks for Verdi and other L&I officials.  Fresta informed the owners of ONE that the kickbacks were to protect ONE from suffering economic harm as a result of enforcement actions from L&I and the PTNF.  At Fresta’s direction, one of the operators of ONE made approximately 39 cash deposits, totaling more than $19,900, as a result of Fresta’s claim that these payments were allegedly necessary in order to protect ONE from Verdi “shutting down” the establishment.

Fresta faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release and a $100 special assessment.  The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Khan.

PHILADELPHIA – Dale Mentzer, 37, of Waymart, PA, was sentenced today to 264 months in prison for a string of armed robberies that he committed, between July 11, 2013 and July 19, 2013 with a co-defendant, in Berks, Chester, Lebanon, and Northampton Counties.  Mentzer and Heath DeRizzo, 38, of Manheim, PA, were charged with two counts of interference with interstate commerce by robbery, four counts of bank robbery, two counts of use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  A third defendant, Samantha Henderson, 24, of Fredericksburg, PA, was charged with accessory to robbery after the fact.  Mentzer pleaded guilty on December 11, 2014.  DeRizzo and Henderson also pleaded guilty and will be sentenced next month.  U.S. District Court Judge Edward G. Smith ordered the federal prison term to run consecutive to a 15-year sentence Mentzer is currently serving in Maryland for other robberies.  He also ordered restitution in the amount of $8,926, a special assessment of $800, and five years of supervised release. 

Mentzer and DeRizzo committed armed robberies at a Sovereign Bank branch in Kutztown, on July 11, 2013; a Northwest Savings Bank branch in Myerstown, on July 16, 2013; a First Cornerstone Bank branch in Phoenixville and The Rodeway Inn motel in Muhlenberg, on July 18, 2013; a National Penn Bank branch, on July 19, 2013; and, that same day, Cihylik Farms in Allen Township.  Henderson assisted Mentzer and DeRizzo in their efforts to avoid apprehension.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Allentown Resident Agency, Pennsylvania State Police, East Pikeland Township Police Department, Northampton Police Department, the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office, Kutztown Police Department, Muhlenberg Township Police Department, Worcester County Bureau of Investigation, and FBI Baltimore-Salisbury Resident Agency.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Gallagher and Special AUSA Kelly Lewis Fallenstein.

PHILADELPHIA – A federal jury today convicted Mark Sanders, 23, of Philadelphia, PA, in a motorcycle robbery that rendered the defendant blind.  On June 26, 2011, Sanders and two other men responded to a Craigslist ad for a dirt bike for sale.  Sanders and a co-conspirator met the seller at an agreed-upon location on Green Street in Philadelphia. The co-conspirator purported to inspect the dirt bike, asking the seller to start the bike and rev the engine.  He then told Sanders to pay for the motorcycle but Sanders, instead, pulled a firearm from his waistband, pointed it at the seller and his companions and ordered them to get on the ground. Sanders’ conspirator commandeered the dirt bike and took off.  A relative of the seller’s was at home, across the street, saw the robbery happening, and took his own, legally-owned, handgun to the scene.  When Sanders would not respond to the relative’s order to stop and, instead, turned to point his gun at the seller’s relative, the seller’s relative fired his weapon, shooting Sanders in the temple rendering him blind. 

The jury deliberated for two hours before finding Sanders guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery of a motor vehicle, robbery of a motor vehicle, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

U.S. District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez has not yet scheduled a sentencing hearing.  Sanders faces a potential maximum sentence of life in prison with a mandatory sentence of five years.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Arlene Fisk and Eric Boden.

PHILADELPHIA - Rahim Henderson, 38, Tian Larode, 34, and Waliyda Henderson, 33, all of Philadelphia, PA, were charged by indictment, unsealed today, with running a counterfeit credit card manufacturing operation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  All three defendants were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and access device fraud.  Rahim Henderson was also charged with multiple counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Rahim Henderson manufactured counterfeit credit cards and he and his co-conspirators used them at commercial establishments in the Philadelphia region.

If convicted of all charges, Rahim Henderson faces a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison with a maximum statutory sentence of 74 years in prison, a fine of up to $3 million, a special assessment of $1,200, and three years of supervised release; Tian Larode faces a maximum statutory sentence of 35 years in prison, a fine of up to $750,000, a special assessment of $300, and three years of supervised release; and Waliyda Henderson faces a maximum statutory sentence of 35 years in prison, a fine of up to $750,000, a special assessment of $300, and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Philadelphia Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Petkun.

An indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Dennis Erik Fluck Von Kiel, 58, of New Tripoli, PA, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for schemes to: defraud the IRS and the Department of Health and Human Services out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, get financial aid grants for his four eldest children, file false claims for social security disability insurance, and lie at a bankruptcy proceeding. Von Kiel is the former medical director of Lehigh County Prison. He pleaded guilty on January 12, 2015 to conspiracy to defraud the United States, five counts of attempting to defeat or evade a federal tax, one count of attempting to obstruct the due administration of the internal revenue code, five counts of failure to file tax returns, one count of wire fraud and aiding and abetting wire fraud, one count of perjury in a bankruptcy proceeding, one count of financial aid fraud and aiding and abetting financial aid fraud, and two counts of mail fraud and attempted mail fraud. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl ordered three years of supervised release, restitution to the IRS in the amount of $256,920, to the Department of Health and Human Services in the amount of $262,303.11 to the Department of Education in the amount of $36,314, forfeiture of $165,988.29, and a $1,325 special assessment.

Since 2001, Von Kiel has engaged in a series of illegal schemes which were designed to help him evade creditors, including the Department of Health and Human Services to whom Von Kiel owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding medical school loans. He tried to defraud the IRS in order to avoid paying more than $200,000 in duly-owed personal income taxes.  Von Kiel also lied on applications to the Department of Education for financial student aid for four of his children, which enabled them to receive more than $36,000 in federal Pell Grants for their college educations.  Von Kiel tried to file a fraudulent claim for social security disability benefits by falsely claiming that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He also intentional made a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding.

Von Kiel is a doctor of osteopathy whose medical practice included treating inmates at LCP from approximately March 1989 until approximately August 2013. Most of Von Kiel’s schemes involved him pretending to become a minister of a “church” called the International Academy of Lymphology (which later changed its name to the International Academy of Life and then the Christian Forum Assembly), purporting to take a “vow of poverty,” and then claiming that he had no taxable income because his earnings belonged to “church.” Von Kiel convinced his employer that he was exempt from federal tax withholdings and directed his employer to deposit his bi-weekly paychecks into bank accounts for his “church.” Once the money arrived in those accounts, co-conspirators would transfer nearly the same amount of money into Pennsylvania bank accounts controlled by Von Kiel. Von Kiel then used the money to pay for all of his family’s day-to-day living expenses and to buy some luxury items.

Von Kiel has been held without bail at the Federal Detention Center since his arrest on February 28, 2014.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, the FBI, and the Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark B. Dubnoff.

PHILADELPHIA – Tamira Fonville, 34, of New York City, who lied on loan applications, helped to run a check kiting scheme, and filed for public assistance benefits while living in a luxury apartment, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison.  Fonville pleaded guilty on September 10, 2014 to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and three counts of bank fraud.  In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jan E. DuBois ordered restitution in the amount of $202,634, and three years of supervised release, with the first 9 months to be served on home confinement with electronic monitoring.

Fonville, with her co-conspirator and leader of the scheme, Ricardo Falana, and others used the ruse of a fictitious hair show to persuade young women to provide them with their bank account numbers, debit card information, including PINs, and checks.  Fonville and Falana  told these young women that the information was needed in order to pay them, and also told these women that they could earn money by allowing Fonville and Falana and their co-conspirators to use their accounts for deposits and withdrawals of funds.  Fonville was the main contact with the young women recruited for the scheme. Falana deposited the fraudulent checks and used the debit card information to withdraw money from the accounts and purchase money orders at Walmart stores.  Fonville personally benefitted from this scheme to the tune of more than $230,000 between 2008 and 2013.  She used some of the proceeds to pay for plastic surgery, to pay for the car loan on her 2011 Camaro and to pay the $2100 per month rent on her New York City apartment.  Fonville has stated that she viewed this scheme as a “career.”

In addition to the check kiting scheme, Fonville fraudulently obtained benefits from the SNAP (food stamps) program, Medicaid program and a New York child care program between 2010 and 2014, and received deferments on almost $100,000 of student loans, claiming that she had no income and was unemployed, and that, in some cases, that her father or grandmother paid her rent and other expenses.  In 2013 and 2014, she submitted letters to the New York child care program, allegedly from her father, falsely stating that her father paid her monthly apartment rent payments directly to her landlord.

In 2012, Ms. Fonville purchased a $30,000 Chevrolet Camaro through a car loan. In her loan application, she stated that she was a six year employee of Mesa Airlines and had a salary of $65,000 per year, providing fraudulent contact information for her alleged employer.  To obtain the lease on her luxury apartment in New York City in 2009, Ms. Fonville had claimed that she had worked for Mesa Airlines for three years and that her salary was $70,000 per year.  She also submitted false reference letters from an alleged landlord and Mesa Airlines, a fraudulent W-2 form, and a fraudulent bank statement showing that she had a balance of $11,000 in a Bank of America account.  Her bank account at that time was, in fact, overdrawn.

The case was investigated by the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney K.T. Newton.

Doodnath Ramnath, a/k/a “Robert Kramer,” 46, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged today by Indictment with illegal reentry after deportation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The indictment alleges that on or about October 20, 2014, Ramnath, an alien, and native and citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States on or about March 10, 2010.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of twenty years.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth F. Abrams.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Jed Bernard Connally, 55, of St. Albans, New York, was charged today by indictment with possession of a fraudulent U.S. passport card.  The indictment charges that the defendant committed this offense on or about June 17, 2014.

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of ten years in prison.  The defendant also faces three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney V. Paige Pratter.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Saud Saleh, 30, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by indictment, unsealed today, with wire fraud against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the federal Food Stamp program, and associated charges, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The defendant owned and operated Twinz Meat Market, located at 3083 Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia, PA.

According to the indictment, Saleh engaged in the illegal trafficking in of SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) by purchasing those benefits from customers of Twinz Meat Market in exchange for cash.  The indictment charges that from approximately July 2010 through approximately December 2012, as a result of his trafficking activities, Saud Saleh sought and received from USDA redemption of approximately $1.125 million in SNAP benefits.

If convicted, Saleh faces a substantial period of incarceration in addition to an additional three years of supervised release, a fine of approximately $1.8 million and restitution.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Floyd J. Miller.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Blair Thomas, Jr., 29, of East Lansdowne, PA, was convicted today of a bank robbery in Springfield, PA, the attempted armed robberies of postal employees in Yeadon and Darby, PA, and with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

In each robbery and robbery attempt, Thomas wore a special effects, movie quality mask as a disguise, and in each robbery attempt, he armed himself with a .45-caliber Ruger semi-automatic handgun.  On January 22, 2014, Thomas attempted to rob a United States Postal Service employee at the Yeadon Post Office, located at 709 Church Lane, of money orders.  That same day, Thomas brandished a firearm and tried to rob a United States Postal Service employee at the Darby Post Office, located at 801 Main Street, of money orders.  On January 23, 2014, Thomas robbed the Wells Fargo Bank, at 888 Baltimore Pike in Springfield, of approximately $1,890.

U.S. District Court Judge L. Felipe Restrepo scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 14, 2015.  Thomas faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1.5 million, and a $600 special assessment.

Thomas is also awaiting trial on separate charges in the District of Delaware.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Springfield, Yeadon, and Darby Police Departments.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Natali.

PHILADELPHIA - Flavio Guzman, a/k/a ADanny Torres,” of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged today by indictment with one count of illegal reentry after deportation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The indictment alleges that on or about March 27, 2015, Guzman, an alien, and a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States on or about May 5, 2011, and November 19, 2014.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a three-year period of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ERO”) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sozi Pedro Tulante.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Jamil Murray, a/k/a "Smooth," a/k/a "Mills," 33, of Philadelphia was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine base ("crack"), and possessing with intent to distribute crack cocaine.  Murray was a large-scale drug dealer and a pimp.  He pleaded guilty on May 2, 2014 and also stipulated to a factual basis involving forcing a woman to engage in commercial sex acts for his sole financial benefit. Murray has an extensive criminal history. Since his adolescence, he has engaged in continuous criminal behavior interrupted only by periods of incarceration.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg ordered ten years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Bensalem Township Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sherri A. Stephan and Trial Attorney Anita Channapati with the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.

PHILADELPHIA - Ryan Joseph Hribick, 34, of Minersville, formerly of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to all four counts in the pending indictment charging him with one count of possession of unregistered firearms, one count of manufacturing and dealing explosive materials, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, and one count of witness tampering.  United States District Judge Robert F. Kelly scheduled sentencing for Hribick on July 17, 2015.

From about March 2009 to about February 2013, Hribick possessed, manufactured, and sold improvised explosive devices (“IEDs”), including PVC pipes (some containing nails, screws, and/or rocks) and cardboard tubes, all center primed with flash powder.  After federal agents searched his home, Hribick instructed and conspired with others to destroy and conceal cardboard tubes and flash powder – which Hribick was using to manufacture IEDs – so as to keep that evidence from federal agents and the federal grand jury.

In addition, Hribick attempted to influence the testimony of a federal grand jury witness regarding the destruction and concealment of evidence.  Specifically, Hribick advised the witness to lie and conceal from the federal grand jury the fact that the witness had destroyed and concealed evidence according to Hribick’s instructions.  At this time, Hribick knew that the federal grand jury was actively investigating his conduct.

Hribick faces a maximum possible sentence of 60 years in prison, a $1 million fine, 3 years of supervised release and a $400 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division, the Philadelphia Police Bomb Disposal Unit, the Montgomery County Bomb Squad, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the East Whiteland Police Department, the East Whiteland Fire Department, the Malvern Fire Department, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, the Maryland State Police, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vineet Gauri.

John Corcoran IV, of Glenolden, PA, is charged by Indictment with numerous counts of child exploitation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Corcoran is charged with 20 counts of using or inducing a child to pose for child pornography, and one count of  possession of child pornography. He is currently in custody awaiting trial.

Corcoran is charged in this federal indictment with abusing 11 children at his home in Glenolden, at the children’s homes throughout Delaware County, and at the Ridley YMCA in Ridley, Pennsylvania.  He faces additional charges – involving additional victims – in Delaware County.

If convicted of all charges in federal court, Corcoran faces a maximum possible sentence of 610 years in prison, and a mandatory minimum of 15 years.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, the Glenolden Police Department, the Darby Police Department, and the Folcroft Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.

An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA- Greg Sullivan, 50, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for conspiracy to maliciously damage property by means of fire, and Hobbs Act Extortion.  Sullivan pleaded guilty on September 23, 2014.  He participated in the Grays Avenue arson and the attempted arson in Malvern.  In addition to the prison term, United States District Court Michael Baylson ordered restitution of $10,306.80 – half of which must be paid within 30 days – three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. He has 30 days to report to prison.

The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, with assistance provided by the Philadelphia Police Department Corruption Task Force, East Whiteland Township Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Employee Benefit Security Administration.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Livermore with legal assistance provided by Gerald Toner, Acting Deputy Chief for Labor-Management Racketeering, Organized Crime and Gang Section at the Department of Justice.

PHILADELPHIA - Thomas Silber, 51, of Yardley, PA, was sentenced yesterday to 14 years in prison for knowingly receiving, and attempting to receive, visual depictions, that is, DVD movies, depicting child pornography.  Between February 2007 and October 2010, Silber received 10 DVD movies, using the internet, which were shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce and contained materials that had been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce. The producing of these visual depictions involved the use of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and such visual depictions were of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  He pleaded guilty on December 18, 2014.

The DVDs that Silber purchased were produced by a company in Canada.  After ordering the DVDs, Silber contacted the videos’ producer and arranged to meet with at least one of the children depicted, who lived in Ukraine. Silber then traveled to Ukraine on multiple occasions to engage in sexual activity with that child.  Locally, Silber was employed as a school bus driver, Little League baseball umpire, and youth wrestling referee.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel ordered five years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, and a $1,000 special assessment.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the Lower Makefield Township Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Morgan.

PHILADELPHIA - Adrian Palmer, 49, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for conspiring in the sex trafficking of girls under the age of 18. Palmer pleaded guilty on October 18, 2013 to one count of conspiracy, one count of sex trafficking of minors, and one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.  In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones, II, ordered Palmer to pay restitution of $1,400, a $300 special assessment, and to complete five years of supervised release. Palmer will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

Between June 1, 2012 and June 14, 2012, Palmer, who worked as a security guard at a Days Inn motel on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, provided protection and assistance to sex traffickers operating at the motel in exchange for a daily fee.  Craig Johnson, the operator of the sex trafficking venture, recruited female juveniles to work as prostitutes. Johnson paid Palmer between $60 and $100 a day in exchange for advice about Johnson’s sex trafficking organization, including Johnson’s Backpage.com advertisements.  Palmer also provided protection for Johnson so that law enforcement authorities would not be alerted to the sex trafficking operation. In August 2013, Palmer accepted $100 from a confidential witness in exchange for protecting him from law enforcement so he could engage in the sex trafficking of a (fictitious) 16-year-old minor.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the First Judicial Court Warrant Unit.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle L. Morgan.

PHILADELPHIA - Christopher Steibing, 34, of Ewing, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 28 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct. Between September 2009 and August 2012, the defendant used the Internet to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a child to engage in illegal sexual activity. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle, III, ordered 20 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The defendant must also register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and shall be subject to any applicable state sex offender registration requirements.

When she was approximately 13 years old, the victim began receiving messages on AOL from a user claiming to be a 15 year old girl named “Amanda” who would be moving near the victim. The victim had numerous online conversations which “Amanda,” in which “Amanda” repeatedly brought up the topic of sexual intercourse, pressed the victim for information about her sexual history, and claimed to have dated the defendant. “Amanda” also introduced the victim to “Cory,” whom “Amanda” claimed was a 14 year-old male friend whom the victim should talk to. In truth, “Amanda” and “Cory” were actually the defendant, who was using the AOL screen names “AMANDAFOX93” and “NEWJERSEYSTONER” for these fictional personas.  Eventually, the victim believed that she was dating “Cory” in an online relationship. The defendant sent the victim several images that purported to be pictures of “Cory’s” naked body and asked the victim to send him nude pictures of her. The victim ultimately agreed, taking photographs of herself in poses suggested by the defendant, including images of child pornography.

Ultimately, the defendant threatened to send nude photographs of the victim to others, including her family, if she did not send him more images. The defendant then made good on this threat and sent degrading and humiliating images of the victim to her family. After the victim decided to stop communicating with “Cory,” she received contacts from other AOL screen names whose language resembled “Cory’s.” In fact, the defendant was the one sending these messages as well. The defendant stored some of his images of the victim on a laptop computer, which, in March 2012, he kept at a girlfriend’s home in Bucks County. He later transported the laptop to his mother’s house in Ewing, New Jersey where, on May 1, 2012, police executed a search warrant and seized the laptop, along with an iPod Touch, which collectively contained hundreds of image files depicting the victim.  During their searches, the police and FBI also discovered that the defendant had kept and distributed numerous images of child pornography in which the face of his own daughter, who was no older than 11 years old at the time, had been digitally “morphed” onto the bodies of other minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

The case was investigated by the Falls Township Police Department, the Ewing, New Jersey Police Department, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Khan.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

PHILADELPHIA – A federal jury, yesterday, convicted tax preparer David Nixon, 50, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of 63 counts of fraud related to the preparation of federal income tax returns.  A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 7, 2015.

Nixon, as the owner of Economy Tax Services at 3731 Stanton Street in Philadelphia, prepared materially false federal income tax returns for his clients for tax years 2007 through 2009.  The fraudulent returns included credits for children, earned income credit, tuition and fees, residential energy efficiency credits, incorrect filing status, and false or falsely inflated Form 1040 Schedule A deductions for charitable contributions and employee business expenses.  More than 25 of the taxpayers testified during at trial that Nixon changed their filing status from married to head of household, inflated their charitable contributions, and/or created employee business expenses. The jury also heard a recorded meeting between Nixon and an undercover IRS agent during which Nixon said, “I cheated to get them [other taxpayers] two, three thousand,” “I had a 99.9% record of people who’ve got refunds,” and “my rule of thumb, let me get you some money before I get mine.” The tax returns that Nixon prepared and filed increased the amount of the refunds his clients received.  As a result of the false and fraudulent income tax returns prepared by Nixon, the IRS was defrauded of more than $200,000 in fraudulently obtained refunds.

Nixon faces a possible advisory sentencing guideline range of 33 to 41 months in prison, a fine of up to $21 million, up to one year of supervised release, and a special assessment of $6,300.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.

Tony Myers, 29, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by Indictment, unsealed yesterday, with two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The indictment alleges that on or about August 7, 2013, February 16, 2014 and April 2, 2014, Myers received and possessed images of child pornography.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of fifty years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Yanira Lopez, 29, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for a tax fraud and identity theft scheme in which she and her husband, Rafael Henriquez Polanco, sought more than $1.7 million in fraudulent tax refunds.  Polanco, 32, was sentenced on February 17, 2015 to 51 months in prison for numerous fraud and narcotics offenses.  In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg ordered three years of supervised release for each defendant, restitution totaling $447,299 for Lopez and $409,779 for Polanco, and special assessments of $500 and $600, respectively.

Lopez and Polanco both pleaded guilty to tax fraud, passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, and presentation of an immigration application containing a false statement. Additionally, Polanco pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and Lopez pleaded guilty to wire fraud.  Polanco is an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic, and, prior to his arrest in 2012, he and Lopez resided together in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.

“These individuals demonstrated a blatant disregard of the integrity of the United States tax system and caused immeasurable hardship to innocent victims,” said Special Agent-In-Charge Akeia Conner, IRS Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation, along with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney's Office, remain committed to the pursuit of identity theft. We will hold those who engage in similar conduct accountable.”

Between January 2008 and September 2011, Polanco and Lopez obtained the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of patients of Community Hospital in Chester, Pennsylvania and Crozer‑Chester Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania, by paying employees of the hospitals to steal confidential medical forms.  Polanco and Lopez then utilized the stolen identities to file fraudulent individual income tax returns with the IRS claiming fraudulent refunds.  In support of the false returns, the defendants submitted phony Forms W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) and listed one of several return addresses in Chester, Pennsylvania, or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which addresses the defendants controlled.  Polanco and Lopez opened several bank accounts, and paid others to open bank accounts, using false identities for the purpose of depositing the fraudulently procured tax refund checks.  Lopez, a former bank teller, utilized her knowledge of bank procedures to further this aspect of the scheme.   Between February 23, 2009 and September 16, 2011, the defendants caused the United States Department of the Treasury to issue federal tax refund checks totaling $257,710.79.

Between October 26, 2008 and May 18, 2010, Lopez devised a scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment benefits from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  In furtherance of this scheme, Lopez represented to the Commonwealth that she was unemployed, when in fact she was employed full-time at Brandywine Maintenance, Inc., in Spring City, Pennsylvania, where she worked under the alias "Leslie Serrano."

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Department of Labor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Brenner and Maureen McCartney.

PHILADELPHIA - Abdoulaye Diallo, 50, and Lassana Nianghane, 51, both of Philadelphia, PA, were charged by indictment, unsealed today, with conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  Both defendants were arrested today.

According to the indictment, Diallo, the owner and operator of Brothers Food Market, located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, trafficked in SNAP benefits with SNAP program beneficiaries by purchasing benefits for cash, which is illegal. It is further alleged that Nianghane, also known as the “purse man,” aided Diallo by acting as the initial contact person for beneficiaries who wanted to sell their SNAP benefits for cash. According to the indictment, instead of accompanying SNAP beneficiaries to Brothers Food Market, defendant Nianghane telephoned defendant Diallo and relayed to Diallo the particulars of the proposed illegal sales over the phone.

Between June of 2011 and May of 2014, according to the indictment, Diallo submitted to USDA, on behalf of Brothers, total SNAP reimbursements of approximately $1.1 million.

If convicted, Diallo and Nianghane face a substantial period of incarceration, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1.8 million, and restitution.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Floyd J. Miller.

PHILADELPHIA – Keonna Thomas, a/k/a “Fatayat Al Khilafah,” a/k/a “YoungLioness,” 30, of Philadelphia, was charged today by Criminal Complaint with knowingly attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  According to the complaint, Thomas knowingly attempted to travel overseas in order to join, fight with, and martyr herself on behalf of ISIL.

The Complaint alleges that Thomas posted on Twitter the following statement:  “If we truly knew the realities . . . we all would be rushing to join our brothers in the front lines pray ALLAH accept us as shuhada [martyrs].”  The Complaint further alleges that Thomas applied for a U.S. Passport, and advised an associate that she had deactivated her Twitter “till i leave for sham [greater Syria]. . . .  don’t want to draw attention of the kuffar [non-believers].   Thomas then allegedly engaged in electronic communications with an ISIL fighter in Syria, who asked Thomas if she wanted to be a part of a martyrdom operation.  Thomas responded by stating, “that would be amazing….a girl can only wish.”  Thomas also allegedly conducted online research into various indirect travel routes to Turkey, and allegedly purchased an electronic visa to Turkey.  The Complaint alleges that Turkey is known to be the most common and most direct transit point for individuals traveling from locations in Europe who are seeking to enter Syria and join ISIL.   And on or about March 26, 2015, Thomas allegedly purchased airline tickets to fly to Spain three days later, on March 29, 2015. 

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 15 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams and Trial Attorney Paul Casey of the Counterterrorism Section in the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

           A Criminal Complaint is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Dewey McNair, 54 of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison for illegally exchanging food stamp benefits for cash at his West Philadelphia fish store, Bottom of the Sea.  Dewey McNair is the owner of Lancaster Avenue Seafood Inc., which operated a seafood store called Bottom of the Sea.  McNair has admitted that, over the fourteen month period from October 2011 through November 2012, he paid cash to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits ("SNAP") recipients in exchange for benefits, knowing that to do so was illegal..

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Berle M. Schiller ordered McNair to pay restitution of $120,000 to the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Abrams.

PHILADELPHIA – Romeo Callueng, 45, and Susan Callueng, 43, of Woodlyn, PA, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2015 to tax evasion and fraud in connection to a health care benefit program.  The Calluengs, who owned the “Club 27” nightclub at 27 Bank Street in Philadelphia, were receiving assistance from Medicaid and LIHEAP (Low Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program) despite making substantially more than the maximum income eligibility.  Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and four counts of tax evasion for evading income taxes in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

The Calluengs listed Club 27 for sale through a realtor in 2009. Undercover IRS agents met with the realtor in 2009, posing as buyers. They were provided income statements that had been prepared by defendant Susan Callueng, in which the defendant asserted that the club had profits of about $400,000 per year in 2007 and 2008, and almost $300,000 for the first eight months of 2009 (an annualized rate of about $450,000). The undercover agents then met with both the defendant and her husband. Both Romeo Callueng and Susan Callueng explained to the agents, in consensually recorded conversations, that they did not report all their income to “Uncle Sam” and that they preferred cash registers to the POS system because of the lack of records. Romeo Callueng explained to the undercovers that “it’s book number one and book number two.”  He told the agents that they kept track of their income, but they did not record it, because “you want to hide as much as you can.”

During a meeting with both of the Calluengs, Romeo Callueng explained to the undercover agents that his wife could teach them how to run the business so that they would not be “throwing red flags” to “Uncle Sam.” Defendant Susan Callueng was asked about the income statements that she had prepared, and asked what portion is “off the books.” She replied, “Everything is off.” She then opined that “everybody in this business is off the books.” She stated that they report a “bare minimum” of income to the Department of Labor in order to avoid putting a “red flag up there.” She also told them that she destroys the records related to receipts because she does not want records to be available. The defendants paid their employees and their expenses out of cash, in order to avoid making excessive deposits and to avoid generating records of their expenses which could trigger government attention.

The defendants had also applied for and received both LIHEAP and Medicaid. On the applications for these benefits, defendants claimed income varying from $100 each per week to $700 per week, significantly below the actual profit they earned from Club 27. The income that they were actually earning from Club 27 greatly exceeded the maximum income for eligibility for either of these federally funded programs. In order to apply for these benefits, the defendants were required to submit proof of their income. They attached letters on Club 27 letterhead, purportedly signed by the manager of the Club. However, the manager never signed those letters.

U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 26, 2015.  Each defendant faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of 25 years in prison with an estimated advisory sentencing guideline range of 18 to 24 months, plus restitution to the IRS, a possible fine of up to $1.25 million, a $500 special assessment, and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Rue.

Download indictment_-_rossid.pdf

PHILADELPHIA - Dean Rossi, 49, of Warrington, PA, was arrested today in connection with an alleged mortgage fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  Rossi, a real estate investor who owned numerous low-income properties throughout the Philadelphia area, was charged by indictment, unsealed today, with conspiracy, mail fraud affecting a financial institution, and bank fraud.

The indictment alleges that Rossi misappropriated in excess of $643,000 from real estate closings. After obtaining bank loans to purchase or refinance residential properties, Rossi allegedly teamed up with title/closing agents to divert a substantial portion of the loan proceeds. According to the indictment, Rossi received cash from the settlements that otherwise should have been used to pay off prior mortgages and tax liens on certain properties. To prevent the scheme from being detected, Rossi allegedly continued to cause payments to be made on the prior existing mortgages years after those loans were supposed to have been paid in full.       

If convicted, the defendant faces a possible advisory sentencing guideline range of 46 to 57 months in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $4 million, and a $400 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen M. Klotz.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Joseph and Anna Rose Vitelli, of Conshohocken, PA, were sentenced today for their roles in a Racketeering conspiracy involving the Mastronardo Bookmaking Organization. Joseph Vitelli, 71, was sentenced to five months in prison and three years of supervised release, with the first five months served on house arrest.  His wife, Anna Rose, 67, was sentenced to five months in prison and three years of supervised release, with the first five months served on house arrest.  Harry Murray, 62, of Boca Raton, FL, was also sentenced today for his role in the Racketeering conspiracy.  Murray was sentenced to eight months in prison and two years of supervised release, with the first eight months served on house arrest.  U.S. District Court Judge Jan E. DuBois handed down the sentences.

The Mastronardo Bookmaking Organization was a multi-million dollar sports betting operation with bettors throughout the U.S.  At its peak, the organization had more than 1,000 bettors and was generating millions of dollars a year.  The Vitellis and Murray were among 15 defendants charged by indictment with Racketeering conspiracy in the case.  All 15 of those defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial.  The government will forfeit approximately $3.7 million as a result of the guilty pleas in this case.

Joseph Vitelli and Anna Rose Vitelli owned J & A Check Cashing in Philadelphia.  From 2005–2010, J & A Check Cashing laundered over $500,000 of checks to assist the Mastronardo Bookmaking Organization.  And, in 2005 and 2006, the couple allowed the Mastronardo Bookmaking Organization to use a second floor office to run the illegal gambling business.

Murray was a bookmaker in Florida.  He pleaded guilty to his role in three separate money laundering conspiracies, including the use of J & A Check Cashing to launder gambling proceeds.  In March 2010, Joseph V. Mastronardo, Jr., in a conversation with Murray, commented “Well times like this I’m happy I’m a bookmaker,” to which Murray responded, “Me too.”

Between January 1, 2005 and January 1, 2011, the organization utilized internet websites and telephone numbers that allowed bettors to place sports bets on football, baseball, basketball, golf, horse racing, and other sporting events.  Residents of Costa Rica staffed the internet and telephone sites.  Members of the organization used telephone, Skype, email, text messaging, and in-person communication to take bets and collect or deliver payments that ranged from $1,000 to more than $100,000.

Prior to today’s hearings, four other defendants had been sentenced.  Joseph Vito Mastronardo, Jr., was sentenced to 20 months in prison and a $100,000 fine.  His son, Joseph F. Mastronardo, was sentenced was sentenced to five months in prison, three years of supervised release, with the first five months served on house arrest, and a $5,000 fine. His brother, John Vito Mastronardo, was sentenced to nine months in prison, three years of supervised release, with the first five months served on house arrest, and a $5,000 fine.  An associate, Eric Woehlcke, was sentenced to eight months in prison, three years of supervised release, with the first eight months served on house arrest, and a $3,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Montgomery County Detective Bureau, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason P. Bologna.

PHILADELPHIA - Matthew Lowry, 33, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty today, in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, to crimes arising out of his tampering with substantial quantities of drug evidence while working as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”). Lowry pleaded guilty to 20 counts of obstruction of justice, 18 counts of falsification of records, 13 counts of conversion of property, and 13 counts of possession of heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas F. Hogan scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 29, 2015.  Lowry faces at least 87 months in prison under the advisory guideline range calculated by the government.

Lowry was assigned to the Washington, D.C. Field Office (“WFO”), and was a member of the Cross-Border Task Force (“CBTF”). He participated in the undercover purchase of heroin and, in lieu of turning the heroin into evidence and documenting its seizure, Lowry ingested the heroin.  He also tampered with heroin evidence seized during several of his investigations.

The FBI referred this matter to the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, which initiated the investigation.  Because Lowry’s investigations, as an agent, occurred within the District of Columbia and the districts surrounding it, those offices have been recused by the Department of Justice.  The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as requested by the OIG. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin R. Brenner and Maureen McCartney.

PHILADELPHIA – Nazariy Kmet, 37, of Jamison, PA, a co-owner and the President of Life Support Corporation (Life Support), was sentenced today to 72 months in prison, for an extensive health care fraud scheme.  The defendant pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy and paying kickbacks.  The company, Life Support, which is now defunct, had been located in the Feasterville-Trevose area and had been incorporated in 2010.

The defendant owned and operated Life Support, an ambulance company that transported patients who were able to walk and could travel safely by means other than ambulance and who, therefore, were not eligible for ambulance transportation under Medicare requirements.  The defendant, or others acting on his behalf, falsified reports to make it appear that the patients needed to be transported by ambulance when the defendant and his employees knew that the patients could be transported safely by other means and that many of them were able to walk.  The defendant paid kickbacks to patients so that the patients would continue to be transported by Life Support, as opposed to any other ambulance company.  The defendant billed for the ambulance services as if those services were medically necessary and, as a result of the fraudulent billing, the Medicare program paid more than $1.9 million and Highmark, Inc. paid an additional amount in excess of $150,000 for this inappropriate method of transportation.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quinones Alejandro ordered restitution of $1,912,526.32 to Medicare; restitution of $150,938.78 to Highmark, Inc.; a money judgment of $1,912,526.32; three years of supervised release to follow imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles.  The defendant could also be excluded from participating in federal health care programs.  He must surrender to begin serving his prison term on May 18, 2015.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.

PHILADELPHIA - Mikel Smith, 25, Curtis Cotton, 47, and Wesley Thomas, 36, all of Philadelphia, PA, were charged today by indictment with four robberies which interfered with interstate commerce and related firearm charges, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the indictment, the defendants robbed Grace Mini Market, at 2339 W. Somerset Street, Philadelphia, on February 3, 2015; Nunez Grocery, at 617 W. York Street, Philadelphia, on February 3, 2015;  New Almonte Mini Market, located at 2001 W. Spencer Street, Philadelphia, on February 4, 2015; and Rodriguez Deli, at 5766 Colgate Street, Philadelphia, on February 5, 2015.  It is further alleged that in each robbery, the defendants brandished a handgun. Smith is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

If convicted of the charges, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentenced of 82 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life, up to five years of supervised release, a possible fine, an $800 special assessment, and restitution.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ewald Zittlau.

   An indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Jose Nelio Silvestre-Ortega, 40, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged today by indictment with illegal reentry after deportation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The indictment alleges that on or about February 27, 2015, Silvestre-Ortega, an alien, and native and citizen of the Dominican Republic, was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States on or about September 29, 2011.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Josh A. Davison.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Robert Alton Stukes, 22, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged today by indictment with three counts of making false statements to a firearms dealer, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. According to the indictment, on three separate occasions - January 15, 2014, January 17, 2014, and March 7, 2014 - Stukes straw purchased guns from Delaware Valley Sports Center, Inc., located at 101 Geiger Road in Philadelphia, PA.

The indictment alleges that Stukes bought a rifle and three handguns for Anthony Andrews, charged elsewhere, who was a convicted felon, having been convicted in a court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

If convicted of all counts, Stukes faces a possible advisory sentencing guideline range of at least 21 months in prison, with a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a $400 special assessment, and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jose Arteaga.

An Indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Jahmal Williams, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was charged today by indictment with robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The charges arise from the defendant’s gunpoint robbery of Tag It Tag Agency, a vehicle registration and title transfer company, located at 4973 Lancaster Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne Osirim.

     An Indictment or Information is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Jibri Cunningham, 27, of Sharon Hill, PA, Tajeldin Cunningham, 28, Samar Taylor, 26, and Lavell Carter, 22, all of Philadelphia, were charged today by indictment with Hobbs Act Robbery and a gun offense, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  According to the indictment, on December 27, 2013, the defendants robbed the owner of H&Y Royal Jewelers, located at 2437 South 23rd Street, in Philadelphia.  The indictment alleges that the defendants stole money from the owner and his family using guns.

If convicted of both charges, each defendant faces a mandatory term of 84 months in prison in addition to the following possible advisory sentencing guideline ranges: Jibri Cunningham, 63 to 84 months in prison; Tajeldin Cunningham, 30 to 51 months in prison; Samuel Taylor, 46 to 78 months in prison; and Lavell Carter, 37 to 63 months in prison; plus possible fines, supervised release, and a special assessment of $200.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the United States Marshal Service, Lower Gwynedd Township Police, Montgomery County Police Department, and White Marsh Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer C. Barry.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Amin De Castro, 39, of Philadelphia, PA was charged today by Indictment with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The indictment alleges that on or about September 22, 2014, De Castro, an alien, and native and citizen of the Dominican Republic, was found in the United States in possession of a .380 caliber firearm.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of ten years imprisonment.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations ("ERO") and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Virgil B. Walker.

PHILADELPHIA – Marc Hubbard, 46, of Cornelius, North Carolina, and Franklin Green, 45, of Washington, DC, were charged by indictment, unsealed today, in a conspiracy to defraud victims who thought they were investing in concert promotions.  The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy and seven counts of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The fraud scheme involved approximately $2 million.

Hubbard was president of Sports Dimensions, Inc. (“SDI”) which purported to specialize in concert promotions and nightclub management, and was also president of Castle Entertainment which purported to specialize in nightclub management. Green, a lawyer in Washington, DC, was formerly a lawyer in Philadelphia, PA.

According to the indictment, Hubbard portrayed himself and SDI as highly successful concert promoters and falsely represented approximately $14,277,068 in ticket sales from July 2006 to January 10, 2008.  He allegedly promised investors an approximate return of 25-30% on their short-term investments with SDI.  Green was Hubbard’s attorney and allegedly negotiated or assisted in the negotiation of the contracts with Hubbard’s investors.  Hubbard allegedly told investors that their funds were protected by a $10 million surety bond which was offered as collateral on most of the investors’ contracts but he did not tell them that the surety bond was bogus.  It is further alleged that Hubbard provided investors with false documentation of his own financial solvency as well as SDI’s and Castle’s.

According to the indictment, instead of using the investors’ funds for concert promotions, Hubbard used the money to pay earlier investors and to pay his personal and business expenses.  In total, it is alleged that investors gave Hubbard approximately $2,125,000 to invest and only received approximately $326,500 in return.  Hubbard allegedly took at least $1,798,500 from his victims and, of that amount, Green took approximately $333,000.

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum possible statutory sentence of 20 years in prison with a possible advisory sentencing guideline range of 33 to 57 months in prison, restitution, a fine of up to $250,000, an $800 special assessment, and three years of supervised release.  The indictment also contains a notice of forfeiture for $2,125,000.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer C. Barry.

PHILADELPHIA - Shirley Goldwire, 68, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged by information with two counts of theft of government funds, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  According to the information, the defendant received retirement benefits intended for her husband, after her husband’s death in July 1998 until the defendant’s fraud was discovered in 2012.  Additionally, the defendant is alleged to have also stolen money intended for a friend of her ex-husband, who was also deceased at the time of the defendant’s husband’s death.  The defendant’s alleged actions resulted in a loss to the government of approximately $264,021.        

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison, a three‑year period of supervised release, restitution to the government of $264,021, a $500,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.

An Information is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

A Maryland man was charged today in the District of Columbia with crimes arising out of his tampering with substantial quantities of drug evidence while working as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  The 64-count information charges Matthew Lowry with 20 counts of obstruction of justice, 18 counts of falsification of records, 13 counts of conversion of property, and 13 counts of possession of heroin.

Matthew Lowry, 33, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was assigned to the Washington, D.C. Field Office (WFO), and was a member of the Cross-Border Task Force (CBTF).  As a member of the CBTF, the defendant participated in several large-scale investigations that resulted in numerous seizures of significant quantities of narcotics, including heroin. According to the information, in 2013 and 2014, the defendant tampered with heroin evidence seized during several of his investigations.  As those investigations occurred within the District of Columbia and the districts surrounding it, those offices have been recused by the Department of Justice, and the prosecution is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In several instances, it is alleged that the defendant went to the WFO’s Evidence Control Center (ECC) and removed seized heroin from evidence, writing on a chain of custody record a false explanation for his taking of the evidence.  The information alleges that over a period of several weeks or months, the defendant kept the heroin in his car and periodically ingested it.  Before returning the heroin to the ECC or bringing it to a laboratory for testing, the defendant allegedly added to the heroin a measured amount of a cutting agent, either the supplement Creatine or the laxative Purelax, in order to account for the weight discrepancy resulting from his illegal usage; placed the altered heroin into a new evidence bag, on which he placed a new sticker signifying that the evidence bag had been sealed; copied the content written on the original sealing sticker to the new sealing sticker, forging the names or signatures of FBI agents who purportedly witnessed his sealing of the evidence; peeled off a barcode sticker from the original evidence bag and applied it to the new bag; and disposed of the original evidence bag and sealing sticker.

The defendant also participated in many undercover, controlled purchases of heroin from targets in his investigations.  Following several of these transactions, the defendant, rather than check the heroin into evidence as required, is alleged to have kept the heroin in his car for a period of several weeks or months, during which he periodically ingested it.  Before checking the heroin into the ECC, it is alleged that the defendant added a cutting agent to account for the weight discrepancy resulting from his ingesting the heroin; placed sealing stickers on evidence bags and filled out all requested information except for the seizure and sealing dates, which he left blank; requested that another agent, who had no knowledge of the defendant’s improper motives, sign as the witnessing official the undated sealing stickers; and wrote on the sealing stickers the accurate date on which the drugs were seized but falsely indicated that the evidence was sealed that same day.

Additionally, on one occasion, the defendant participated in an undercover, controlled purchase of heroin from a target, and in lieu of turning the heroin into evidence and documenting its seizure, the defendant allegedly ingested the heroin and never turned it into evidence.

The FBI referred this matter to the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), which initiated the investigation.  The investigation has not identified any criminal conduct by other agents

If convicted, the defendant faces at least 87 months in prison under the advisory guideline range calculated by the government, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $16 million, and a $6,400 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the DOJ-OIG, with assistance from the FBI as requested by the DOJ-OIG.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin R. Brenner and Maureen McCartney.

An information is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Lowry Information

PHILADELPHIA - Raymond Rysheem E. Starr, 21, of Philadelphia, PA was charged today by indictment with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of oxycodone, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.

According to the indictment, Starr obtained identifying information and Keystone First account information of a Medicaid beneficiary and used that information to visit a physician and obtain prescriptions for oxycodone, cyclobenzaprine and ibuprofen.  Because there was no co-pay, the pharmacies sent claims for payment to Keystone First which paid the pharmacies.

If convicted, Starr faces a maximum possible sentence of 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department, Springfield Township, Montgomery County Police Department, Abington Police Department and the Bensalem Police Department.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys K.T. Newton and Yvonne Osirim.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Willie Singletary, 33, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 20 months in prison for lying to the FBI when questioned about ticket fixing at the former Philadelphia Traffic Court.  A federal jury found Singletary guilty of the charge in July 2014 following a trial. Three of Singletary’s co-defendants – Michael Lowry, Robert Mulgrew, and Thomasine Tynes – were convicted of committing perjury before the federal grand jury; and co-defendants H. Warren Hogeland, Kenneth Miller, Fortunato Perri, William Hird, and Henry P. Alfano pleaded guilty prior to trial.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence Stengel ordered one year of supervised release, a fine of $1,500, and a special assessment of $100.
 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise S. Wolf and Anthony J. Wzorek.

Following a hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Timothy R. Rice, the Honorable Juan R. Sanchez today held attorneys J. Michael Farrell and Stephen P. Patrizio in civil contempt of court for providing discovery disks to their clients, contrary to a protective order entered by Judge Sanchez in United States v. Whitfield, Parnell, et al., Criminal No. 12-418, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Attorneys Farrell and Patrizio, and the government, agreed in writing to the contempt sanctions which the Court then imposed after considering the terms of the agreement.

In the case of United States v. Whitfield, Parnell, et al., Mr. Farrell was retained to represent Robert Lamar Whitfield, and Mr. Patrizio was appointed to represent Kenneth Parnell. Defendants Whitfield and Parnell were charged with conspiracy, robbery, and cocaine distribution offenses. The discovery in the case included videos taken by an undercover agent, which disclosed the identities of both the undercover agent and a confidential informant. To protect those identities, the government filed a request for, and the Court granted, a protective order, prohibiting counsel from duplicating the discovery or providing copies to defendants who were in custody awaiting trial. Contrary to the terms of the protective order, attorneys Farrell and Patrizio provided multiple disks of discovery to their clients, including the disks containing the videos recorded by the undercover officer. Ultimately, one of those videos was provided by one of their clients to a Philadelphia television news station, and was played during a television news broadcast.

The attorneys have asserted that this dissemination was inadvertent and not done with willful intent to violate the Court’s protective order. Nonetheless, they have taken full responsibility for having violated the Court’s order. For disclosing this discovery in violation of the Court’s protective order, attorneys Farrell and Patrizio were found in civil contempt of court and ordered to pay $5,000 each. This sum serves both as a penalty for the attorneys’ violation and to induce compliance with the Court’s protective orders in the future.

The United States Attorney’s Office recognizes its obligation to protect victims, agents, and witnesses while providing discovery to defendants and their counsel. To honor these obligations, this office will continue to seek protective orders that limit disseminating discovery materials, and will pursue appropriate sanctions against those individuals, including attorneys, who violate protective orders.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arlene Fisk.

PHILADELPHIA - Farhan Ali Abu Siam, 42, and Mohammed Abuawada, 26, both of Philadelphia, were charged yesterday by indictment in a conspiracy to defraud a government assistance program, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the federal Food Stamp program.

Abu Siam and Abuawada owned and operated S&S Farmer’s Market, a retail grocery store, now defunct, that was located at 2722 Germantown Avenue, in Philadelphia.  According to the indictment, the defendants trafficked SNAP benefits by purchasing those benefits from customers of S&S Farmer’s Market in exchange for cash, which is illegal.  It is further alleged that from June 2012 until March 2013, as a result of their trafficking activities, the defendants sought and received redemption of more than $1 million in SNAP benefits from USDA.

If convicted, each defendant faces a substantial period of incarceration, restitution to the government, three years of supervised release and possible fines.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcemen Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Mark Haynes, 56, of West Chester, PA, was indicted on March 12, 2015, on charges of child exploitation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Haynes, a former parochial Vicar, is charged with using the Internet to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, transfer of obscene material to a minor, distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and destruction or concealment of evidence.

According to court documents, around 2010, Haynes posed as a 16-year old girl named “Katie” on a teen dating website.  As “Katie,” Haynes would meet minor girls online and allegedly request that they take and send sexually explicit pictures.  Haynes is also charged with distributing other images and videos of children being sexually assaulted over the Internet in 2014, again posing as “Katie.”

If convicted of all charges, Haynes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life, possible fines, and at least five years up to a lifetime of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Chester County Criminal Investigative Division.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Rotella.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Nakia Calicat, 38, of Philadelphia, PA, was charged by indictment, unsealed today, with concealing the death of her child in order to continue receiving Supplemental Security Income payments for her deceased daughter, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  Calicat is charged with ten counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government money, two counts of false statements, and one count of Social Security representative payee fraud.

Calicat gave birth to a child in December 2006 and filed for SSI benefits in March 2007.  The child died in July of 2010 but the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) did not learn of the death until August of 2013.  SSA sent notice to Calicat that the benefits for her child would be terminated.  In October 2013, the indictment alleges that Calicat told an SSA employee that her child was still alive.  In August 2014, Calicat spoke to a Special Agent with the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and, again, allegedly lied about her daughter’s death.  According to the indictment, between July 2010 and August 2014, Calicat illegally received Social Security benefits on behalf of her decease child defrauding the government of approximately $26,224.       

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of up to 225 years in prison, a three‑year period of supervised release, a $3.5 million fine, restitution of $26,224 and a $1,400 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Amanda R. Reinitz.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Louay Shaman, 32, of Cliffside Heights, New Jersey, was sentenced on March 13, 2015, to eight years in prison for traveling with purpose of having illicit sexual conduct with a minor.  Shaman pleaded guilty to the charge on January 6, 2014.   

Shaman met the then-14-year old victim on an Internet dating site called “Are You Interested.”  He conversed with her via the Internet two days before driving to her home near Allentown, Pennsylvania, meeting her for the first time, driving her back to New Jersey, and having sex with her in the car.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge James Knoll Gardner ordered 10 years of supervised release, forfeiture of the defendant’s BMW, and a $100 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a Pennsylvania local police department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Albert S. Glenn.

Hostyn Manuel Perez-Corza, a/k/a “Christian Moises Perez-Corza,” 34, of West Reading, PA, was charged yesterday by indictment with illegal reentry after deportation, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger.  The indictment alleges that on or about July 22, 2014, Perez-Corza, an alien, and native and citizen of Mexico, was found in the United States after having been deported from the United States on or about January 14, 2010 and February 26, 2014.

If convicted the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of ten years.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ERO”), and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurie Magid.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – Dr. Mudassar Sharif, 40, of Bernards Township, NJ, was charged yesterday by indictment with illegally dispensing prescription pills through Garden State Primary Care, which he owned, in Kearny, NJ, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Sharif is also charged with trying to set fire to the building that houses the medical practice.

According to the indictment, on February 12, 2015, Sharif knowingly dispensed and distributed, outside the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of oxycodone. According to a criminal complaint, Sharif has been providing medically unnecessary prescriptions to a Cooperating Witness (CW#1) since November of 2012 when Sharif traveled to CW#1’s residence to sell CW#1 a dog. Sharif did not perform any medical examination before writing the prescription.  Sharif allegedly began providing oxycodone prescriptions to CW#1, once a month, for $500 for each prescription. Other than on two occasions, Sharif allegedly traveled to Philadelphia to give the prescriptions to CW#1.  It is further alleged that Sharif wrote the prescriptions in five or six names provided by CW#1 and eventually began to sell oxycodone pills to CW#1 in addition to the prescriptions.  According to the criminal complaint, Sharif currently charges $15 per pill and $3,000 for prescriptions.

According to the criminal complaint, Sharif began talking to CW#l about burning down Sharif's office building, located at 711 Kearney Avenue, in Kearney, NJ, in order to destroy his files because he was having an issue with Medicare or Medicaid. Sharif allegedly agreed that in exchange for CW#l burning down his office, CW#l would not have to pay Sharif for 300 pills he had already provided to CW#l.  Sharif allegedly told CW#l that no one lived in his building and no one would be in the office when CW#l committed the arson. According to the criminal complaint, Sharif claimed that a disabled woman who lived near his office would be fine and, later, when CW#l commented that the whole building would go up in flames and the lady would be dead, Sharif did not protest.

If convicted of all charges, Sharif faces a mandatory minimum term of 60 months in prison with an advisory sentencing guideline range of 108 to 135 months in prison, plus fines of up to $1.25 million, at least three years of supervised release up to a lifetime of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Health Care Fraud Task Force with the assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department and the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jose Arteaga and Mary Kay Costello.

Jermaine McClary, 39, of Reading, PA, was charged yesterday by indictment with drug trafficking and firearms violations, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger and Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams.

According to the indictment, McClary possessed and intended to distribute, in Reading, PA, heroin and cocaine.  It is further alleged that he possessed a .38 caliber revolver in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessed both that gun and a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol as a convicted felon.

If convicted of all charges, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of five years, six years supervised release, a fine of up to $2,750,000, and a $500 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the Reading Police department, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. LaBar and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jesse C. Leisawitz.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA - Nathaniel E. Robinson, 62, of Philadelphia, plead guilty today to using funds intended to help the homeless to pay for his own personal and living expenses.  Robinson was the Chief Program Officer at SELF, Inc.  He was charged with theft from a program receiving federal funds.

Between 2006 and 2010, Robinson used his corporate American Express credit card at SELF to charge personal expenses.  The government alleges he stole approximately $154,050 and reimbursed a total of $2,594.30 before his employment was terminated.  Robinson used the corporate American Express card to pay for trips to Alabama, including airfare, lodging, and restaurants; lodging in Orlando, Florida, and Philadelphia; car rentals; car repairs; admission tickets to Six Flags Great Adventure and Clementon Amusement Park; Amtrak tickets; purchases at Walmart and Filene’s Basement; and restaurant charges in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD.  Today, Robinson admitted that he stole at least $5,000 of SELF’s funds for personal use.

U.S. District Court Judge Berle M. Schiller scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 8, 2015. Robinson faces a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, restitution, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated jointly by the FBI and the Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, and was initiated by a tip to the Inspector General’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karen L. Grigsby.