Middle District of Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Gary Stinson Smith, age 60, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, pled guilty today before United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, to possession of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Smith admitted to possessing images depicting child pornography.  After obtaining a search warrant, law enforcement officers searched the defendant’s computer in November 2015 and located images and movies containing child pornography. 

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl Bloom. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Chelsea Miller, age 19, of Stuart, Florida, pleaded guilty on November 22, 2016, before United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, to conspiring to use stolen credit cards.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Miller conspired with others to use stolen credit cards to purchase electronic merchandise and gift cards from stores in central Pennsylvania, such as Target and Best Buy. The defendants engaged in this conduct for approximately eight months from 2014 to 2015. Miller and her co-defendants travelled from Florida to Pennsylvania breaking into cars to steal credit cards and identification documents in order to buy iPads, iPods, MacBooks and other electronic merchandise and gift cards.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe.

The maximum penalty under federal law is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Virginia man pleaded guilty today before United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton, to federal robbery and firearms charges filed in connection with the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge located on Kane Street in Scranton, which occurred on February 13, 2016.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Kwa’shon Roane, age 24, of Gloucester, Virginia, admitted to the charges of interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Roane, along with Rodney Whiting, age 23, of Scranton, Tracy Whiting, age 24, of Newport News, Virginia, and Kelvin Robinson, age 24, also of Newport News, Virginia, were indicted by a grand jury in March 2016 for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Scranton Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor Borough and Moosic Borough Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

Rodney Whiting, Tracy Whiting and Kelvin Robinson previously pleaded guilty to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and are awaiting sentencing.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Roane faces a mandatory penalty of at least seven years in prison for the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which must be served in addition to the sentence he receives for the charge of interference with commerce by robbery.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses is up to life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine.  According to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jamal High, age 37, of Philadelphia, was sentenced today to 24 months of probation by United States Middle District Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner in Harrisburg, for knowingly making false statements in order to obtain unemployment compensation.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, High was employed by the United States Postal Service as a mail handler in the Philadelphia Main Office.  From July 2012 through September 2014, High submitted forms to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry in order to receive unemployment compensation, even when fully employed by the United States Postal Service.     

Chief Judge Conner also ordered High to pay $12,856 in restitution to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. 

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Schinnour.    

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Lewis Davenport, age 39, of Northampton County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on November 18, 2016, to charges of conspiring to commit theft on federal land, and to aggravated identity theft.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Davenport and other individuals broke into unoccupied automobiles located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.  Davenport admitted that he and his conspirators stole electronics, cellular phones, credit cards and other items from the automobiles, and used the stolen credit cards at various retail businesses in Bartonsville and in Easton, Pennsylvania.

The investigation was conducted by the National Park Service Rangers.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo. 

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum combined penalties under federal law for Davenport’s charges are up to seven years of imprisonment, including a two-year consecutive mandatory term of imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft charge, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.                  

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Daniel Wise, age 55, formerly of Tafton, Pennsylvania, currently residing in New York, NY, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, to 2 years’ probation and 100 hours’ community service, for making false declarations in bankruptcy proceedings.   Judge Munley also ordered Wise to pay a $30,000 fine.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Wise filed three Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions in the Middle District of Pennsylvania between August 14 and November 21, 2012.  An indictment returned on October 14, 2015, alleged that Wise intentionally failed to reveal his ownership of a $2.4 million promissory note and that he was actively engaged in litigation over the note in New York.  Under bankruptcy law, he was required to make those disclosures in his bankruptcy petitions.  

On July 13, 2016, Wise pleaded guilty in a proceeding before Judge Munley.  He admitted that he made false declarations in connection with the bankruptcy petition filed on November 21, 2012.  He further admitted to making false sworn declarations during a January 14, 2013, creditors’ meeting.  Wise’s bankruptcy petitions were eventually dismissed on March 13, 2013.

The case was investigated by the Scranton Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.

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HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jerry Fruit, age 36, and Tykei Garner, age 33, both of New York City, were indicted on November 16, 2016, by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and over 100 grams of heroin. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the Pennsylvania State Police conducted a traffic stop on a car traveling on I-81 near Harrisburg on July 5, 2016.  During the stop, the Pennsylvania State Police found over 100 grams of heroin, which is the equivalent of approximately 4,000 individual doses, and an unspecified amount of cocaine. 

The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford. 

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 40 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on November 16, 2016, a federal grand jury in Harrisburg charged Victor Avalos-Trinidad, age 34, with illegal re-entry into the United States by a previously deported alien. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Avalos-Trinidad was previously deported from the United States in 2009.  He is alleged to have illegally reentered the United States sometime after 2009.

This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Ronald J. Scheu, age 48, of Kunkletown, Pennsylvania,  pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick in Scranton on November 16, 2016, to distributing explosives.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Scheu distributed 119 M-class devices, 26 class 1.3 mortars, and one aerial shell on or about April 28, 2016, without the appropriate license or permit.  During the hearing, Scheu admitted to maintaining a storage locker filled with hundreds of pounds of explosives, and to selling professional grade explosives without an appropriate license.  He also admitted to manufacturing flash powder and explosives at his residence.

The plea remains subject to approval by United States District Court Judge Richard P. Conaboy.  As a condition of his pre-sentencing release, Judge Mehalchick ordered Scheu to dispose of all firearms in his possession.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Carbon County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the charge is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Kerry Edward Tropasso, age 35, of Lebanon County, was indicted on November 16, 2016, by a federal grand jury on charges relating to the sexual abuse of children. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Tropasso used a minor victim to transmit live visual depictions of the minor engaged in sexual activity; coercing and enticing the minor to engage in sexual activity; distributing images depicting the sexual abuse of a minor; and receiving obscene visual depictions of the sexual abuse of children.    

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the Lancaster County Detectives Office and the Northern Lebanon Township Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl Bloom. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. 

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Criminal Information was filed on November 16, 2016, charging Marcus Young, age 32, a federal inmate at the United States Penitentiary at Schuylkill with possession of contraband in prison.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the information charges Young with possession of a cell phone in prison on October 14, 2016.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service.  Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is one year of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Artur Samarin, age 24, also known as Asher Potts, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg, to two months in federal prison on a two count indictment, which charged Samarin with passport and social security frauds. 

Judge Rambo ordered Sarmarin’s sentence to run consecutive to any local sentence he may receive.  Samarin currently is waiting to be sentenced in Dauphin County for theft by deception; conspiracy involving theft by deception; tampering with public records; conspiracy involving tampering with public records; statutory sexual assault; and unsworn falsification to authorities.  

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Samarin, a Ukrainian man, posed as a high school student in Harrisburg, and used a fictitious identity, Asher Potts, to apply for a United States passport and a social security card. 

This case was investigated by the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the City of Harrisburg Bureau of Police and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom. 

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HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a former Rite Aid Vice President and a New Jersey business man were sentenced on November 16, 2016, by United States District Court Judge John E. Jones, III, in Harrisburg, for their participation in a $12.9 million dollar fraud and kickback scheme.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Jay Findling, age 55, of Manalapan, New Jersey, was sentenced to 48 months’ incarceration for his role in the scheme.  In February 2015, Findling pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 

In a separate proceeding, Judge Jones sentenced former Rite Aid Vice President Timothy P. Foster, age 66, of Portland Oregon, to 60 months’ incarceration.  Foster pleaded guilty in February 2015, to an information charging him with false statements to authorities.

Judge Jones also ordered Findling and Foster to jointly pay $8,034,183 in restitution.  Findling was ordered to pay $6,257,997 within 15 days of sentencing and Foster was ordered to pay $1,776,186 by the end of yesterday.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Findling also forfeited and turned over an additional $11.6 million to the government at the time he entered his guilty plea.

Both Findling and Foster are to voluntarily surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on January 17, 2017.            

The charges are based upon Foster’s and Findling’s 9-year conspiracy to defraud Rite Aid via a surplus inventory sales scheme between 2001 and 2010.  As the Vice President for Quality Assurance, Foster’s primary responsibilities at Rite Aid involved the liquidation of surplus Rite Aid inventory across the United States.  During the time period in question Foster worked for Rite Aid in Oregon. The scheme succeeded by making Rite Aid believe its surplus inventory had been sold to Findling’s company, J. Finn Industries, LLC, for amounts reported by Foster when, in fact, the inventory had been sold to third parties for greater amounts.  Findling would then kick back a portion of his profits to Foster.

The scheme started in 2001 and continued until February of 2010 when Foster ended his employment with Rite Aid.  Findling admitted he established a bank account in New Jersey under the name of “Rite Aid Salvage Liquidation.” The account was used by the conspirators to collect the payments submitted by the real buyers of the surplus Rite Aid inventory.  After the payments were received, Findling would send lesser amounts dictated by Foster to Rite Aid for the goods, thus inducing Rite Aid to believe the inventory had been purchased by J. Finn Industries, not the real buyers. 

During a loss hearing in June 2015, the government introduced proof that Findling received at least $127.7 million from the real buyers of the surplus Rite Aid inventory but, with Foster’s help, only tendered $98.6 million of that amount to Rite Aid, leaving Findling with a profit of approximately $29.1 million from the scheme. The government also introduced proof that Findling kicked back $5.9 million of the $29.1 million to Foster, primarily in the form of cash.  Upon the conclusion of the loss hearing, Judge Jones concluded the net loss to Rite Aid, after giving Findling some credit for his services, was $11.2 million. Judge Jones also found that Rite Aid sustained an additional $1.7 million loss as a result of a similar kick-back scheme with another West Coast businessman who was not charged in the scheme, bringing the total loss to Rite Aid to $12.9 million.

Foster admitted he knowingly and willfully lied when he was interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in January 2014 and denied he conspired with Findling to defraud Rite Aid.  Foster subsequently recanted his false statements when he was re-interviewed on May 1, 2014.  During that interview Foster not only admitted to conspiring to defraud Rite Aid with Findling, Foster voluntarily surrendered $2,941,940 in cash kickbacks he had received from Findling over the life of the conspiracy.  Foster stored the cash in three, 5-gallon paint containers in his Phoenix, Arizona garage.  Foster later surrendered to the FBI an additional $454,020 in cash and approximately $541,342 in gold and silver coins.

The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Grant Harris, age 36, of Carbon County, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, to producing child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Harris, who resided in Albrightsville at the time of the offense, admitted to persuading and enticing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual image of that conduct.

The crime occurred sometime between 2008 and 2009, when the victim was eight-years-old. Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2015, shortly after agents and police discovered the child pornography on a computer used by the defendant.   

Judge Munley ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed and scheduled sentencing in the case for February 17, 2017.  Harris remains detained in prison pending sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Harris faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Michael Charles Clarke, age 43, of York, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty on November 15, 2016, before Senior Judge Sylvia Rambo in Harrisburg to production, possession and transportation of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, between 2010 and 2015, Clarke sexually assaulted a minor child on multiple occasions and videoed that abuse.  Clarke was arrested by the Southwestern Regional Police Department on September 26, 2015 and charged with rape of a child and associated offenses.  When Clarke’s home was searched, multiple computers, hard drives, thumb drives and CDs were seized.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation forensically examined this evidence and discovered that Clarke had downloaded and saved child pornography images on a number of the devices.  Further investigation revealed that in 2010, Clarke transported images of child pornography across state lines, from Iowa to Pennsylvania.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Southwestern Regional Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Taylor.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The production of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and the maximum penalty under federal law is 70 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Brian Tate, age 34, of Gordon, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 15, 2016, for attempting to entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and transporting child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that between October 17, 2016 and November 9, 2016, Tate used the internet to attempt to persuade and entice a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, and during that same time period transported child pornography by any means, including by computer.  

If convicted, Tate faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison for the attempted enticement of a minor charge, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for transporting child pornography.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspectors, and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Scranton returned a superseding indictment on November 15, 2016, charging Thurman Stanley, age 39, of East Stroudsburg, with four new counts of sex trafficking by force and coercion, two new counts of attempted sex trafficking, and a new drug trafficking charge, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force and coercion, and three counts of interstate transportation of others for purposes of prostitution.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the superseding indictment alleges that Stanley forced and coerced several females to engage in prostitution in Monroe County and elsewhere, transported females from Pennsylvania to New York, Iowa, and North Dakota to engage in prostitution, and trafficked in illegal drugs.  

The superseding indictment alleges that Stanley and/or his co-conspirators used social network sites to recruit females for prostitution; used cell phones to post ads on adult escort websites to solicit customers; rented hotel and motel rooms in Monroe County and elsewhere for purposes of prostitution; provided heroin and other illegal drugs to the prostitutes; and used force, threats, and coercion to carry out prostitution activities. The indictment alleges that the conduct occurred between December 2013 and December 2015.

If convicted of the charges, Stanley faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison for each of the sex trafficking charges, up to 10 years in prison on each of the interstate prostitution charges, and up to 20 years in prison on the drug trafficking charge

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Bismarck, North Dakota detectives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Johnny Biggs, age 37, inmate at United States Penitentiary, Canaan, was indicted on November 15, 2016, by a federal grand jury for possession of a dangerous weapon and possession of contraband.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Biggs attacked another inmate with a weapon fashioned from a padlock tied to a sock.  The victim suffered multiple lacerations to his head, face, and back.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers at USP Canaan.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the assault offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Fleisher, age 36, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge William W. Caldwell in Harrisburg to 46 months’ imprisonment for firearm charges.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Fleisher pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge stems from an incident that occurred on June 4, 2015 in Harrisburg and involved a stolen .38 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun.

The case was investigated by the Harrisburg Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harrisburg Police Department and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of Probation and Parole. Prosecution of the case was assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William A. Behe.          

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.      

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SCRANTON -  The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Senior United States District Judge Richard P. Conaboy sentenced a Hazleton man to 15 months’ imprisonment for passing counterfeit $100 bills between December 2012 and February 2013. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Edwin Batista, age 36, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, received the sentence following his guilty plea to a one-count information charging him with passing counterfeit $100 bills at various businesses in Luzerne County.  In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Conaboy ordered Batista to pay $6,510 in restitution, and to serve a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. 

The case was investigated by the Scranton office of the United States Secret Service, and the Hazleton Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney John Gurganus prosecuted the case.         

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SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Omar Bell, age 33, of Wilkes-Barre, pleaded guilty on November 10, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton to conspiring with others to distribute large amounts of heroin during February through November 2014.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Bell admitted to regularly obtaining multiple bricks of heroin from Desmond Mercer and his associates and distributing that heroin to customers in Luzerne County. Bell admitted to distributing between 100 and 400 grams of heroin, which is equivalent to between 4,000 and 16,000 retail bags of heroin.

Mercer, the leader of the drug operation, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Shaliek Stroman and Shaquan Murphy, two key associates of Mercer, were each sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for their roles in the conspiracy. Another member of the conspiracy, Antuan Jamison, was sentenced to five years in prison.

Judge Munley scheduled Bell’s sentencing for February 9, 2017. Bell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, and Kingston Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jeff Smith, age 29, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 9, 2016, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Smith possessed with the intent to distribute over 280 grams of crack cocaine from 2014 through his arrest on October 5, 2016. The distribution of 280 grams or more of crack cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.     

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the York City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith A. Taylor.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is lifetime imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Tennessee couple were indicted by a federal grand jury on November 9, 2016, for fraudulently obtaining $98,165 in veterans’ unemployment compensation benefits.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Earl Lafayete Hall, III, age 35, and his wife, Renita Blunt, age 31, both of Arlington, Tennessee, are charged in a second superseding indictment with mail fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

According to the second superseding indictment, with Blunt’s assistance, Hall allegedly applied for veteran’s unemployment compensation benefits in three states under the false name and identity of 11 individuals (ten men and one women) between January 2013 and March 2015.   One claim was submitted to the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, three claims were submitted to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, and seven claims were submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

Hall and Blunt allegedly received the benefits under the Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Service Members Program, commonly known as “The UCX Program,” a federally-funded U.S. Department of Labor program administered by the individual states.  Under this federal-state partnership, the states pay out unemployment insurance benefits to the veterans and are subsequently reimbursed by the various branches of the military.  Benefits are based upon the military wages and pay grade of the serviceman at the time of his or her separation from military service.

Hall and Blunt were previously indicted by a Middle District of Pennsylvania grand jury on June 22, 2016.  Today’s second superseding indictment adds Blunt as a defendant on the ten money laundering counts, adds a count of conspiracy to commit money laundering against both defendants, and alleges the three false Utah claims for UCX benefits, which paid out approximately $10,000 in benefits, were also part of the mail fraud scheme.  No date has yet been scheduled for the defendants’ arraignment on the new charges.

The investigation is being conducted by the  U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service with assistance from Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Internal Audits Division, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Office of Unemployment Compensation Benefits and Policy, and the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury, Office of Unemployment Compensation Disbursements. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.         

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each count is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Monroe County man pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton, to participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy that stretched from Stroudsburg to New York to the state of Maine, and to a forcing or coercing women into engaging in prostitution in northeastern Pennsylvania.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the defendant, Jose Velazquez, age 26, who used the street name “Sev,” admitted to conspiring with others to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin (which is approximately equivalent to 4,000 retail bags of heroin) and to sex trafficking an adult female between 2012 and 2014.

Velazquez was indicted along with six other people by a federal grand jury in Scranton in September 2015, as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, Maine State Police, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, and local police in Monroe County. In October 2016, Velazquez was charged in a superseding indictment with drug trafficking and sex trafficking crimes.

The superseding indictment alleges that Velazquez participated in a street gang known as the Black P-Stones; that male gang members were “beaten-in” to the gang and female members were “sexed-in” to the gang. The superseding indictment further alleged that members of the Black P-Stones obtained heroin in New York and distributed the heroin in Stroudsburg and locations in the state of Maine. According to the superseding indictment, couriers were used to transport heroin from New York to Maine.

The superseding indictment alleges that females were “sexed-in” to the gang by being forced to engage in sex with male gang members; recruited and coerced to engage in prostitution; advertised as adult escorts on a website; provided with heroin and other drugs; and placed in various area hotels/motels to work as prostitutes. It is alleged that the sex trafficking defendants used threats, force, and intimidation to coerce females to engage in prostitution.

In today’s proceeding, Velazquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute in excess of 100 grams of heroin, and one count of sex trafficking by force or coercion.  He faces a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence and a potential 40-year prison sentence for the drug conspiracy charge; and a mandatory minimum 15-year prison sentence and a potential life sentence for the sex trafficking charge

One of Velazquez’s co-defendants, Sean Griffin, age 22, who used the street name “Kritical,” also pleaded guilty today before Judge Mannion to participating in the same drug trafficking conspiracy. He admitted to being a sub-distributor of between 100 grams and 400 grams of heroin for the Black P-Stones. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  

Judge Mannion ordered pre-sentence investigations to be completed. Sentencing for both defendants will be scheduled at a later date.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 28-year-old Scranton man pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton, to sex trafficking of a minor.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the defendant, Mark Matis, admitted to assisting others in transporting and maintaining a minor for the purpose of having the minor engage in prostitution during February through May 2014.

The sex trafficking activity involved placing photographs of the minor along with ads in the adult “escort” section of a website; renting motel rooms in Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties where the prostitution activities occurred; providing drugs to the minor; purchasing and providing condoms for the minor to use during commercial sex acts; and serving as security or “bodyguards” at the motels where the commercial sex acts took place.

Matis was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2015, as a result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Four persons were charged in connection with the investigation. Sean Cantelmo previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 151 months in prison. Jimmy Cantelmo also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Justin Strait pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Judge Munley scheduled sentencing in the case for February 8, 2017. Matis faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. Matis remains detained in prison pending sentencing.

“HSI is pleased that our joint investigation with PSP resulted in the defendant pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor,” said Marlon Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “HSI is devoted to protecting children from predators.”

Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Angel Luis Carrasco-Rivera a/k/a Manuel Calcagno, age 54, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 2, 2016, for obstructing justice and committing perjury.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Carrasco-Rivera was charged with obstruction of proceedings and perjury in connection with his recent prosecution and conviction for mail fraud.  The fraud prosecution involved Carrasco-Rivera obtaining more than $102,000 by filing false claims for unemployment compensation benefits from 2008 through late 2012.  He was sentenced in June 2016 to serve 18 months in prison for that offense. 

Today’s indictment alleges that during the official proceedings in federal court, Carrasco-Rivera lied about his identity to influence the court’s decision about the appropriate sentence for his mail fraud conviction.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations.  Prosecution has been assigned to Assistant United States Attorney James T. Clancy.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty for the perjury offense under federal law is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine; the maximum penalty for the obstruction offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg indicted Kevin Dwight Holland, age 23, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 2016, on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Holland possessed with the intent to distribute more than 28 grams of crack cocaine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of or in relation to drug trafficking.  Additionally, Holland was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm.

The investigation was conducted by the Susquehanna Township Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph J. Terz.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

Indictments are only allegations.  All persons charged are presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

The maximum penalties under federal law include 40 years for possession with intent to distribute 28 grams and more of crack cocaine, 10 years' imprisonment for a felon in possession of a firearm, and life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg indicted Jerome King on November 2, 2016, for possession of a short-barreled shotgun.   

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, King, a 29-year-old resident of Harrisburg, was arrested after he was seen possessing a short-barreled shotgun that did not have an identifiable serial number.  Possession of a short-barreled shotgun violates federal law if the firearm is not properly registered or if the firearm does not have an identifiable serial number, and as a convicted felon, King is prohibited from possessing any firearm.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Harrisburg Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes with firearms.

Indictments are only allegations.  All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.  For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a grand jury in Scranton charged Edwin Vaquiz, age 27, a resident of Berwick, Pennsylvania, on October 25, 2016, with distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin. 

The indictment was unsealed yesterday following the arrest of Vaquiz in Berwick.  Vaquiz was arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick and was ordered detained. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Vaquiz with distributing heroin on January 22, 2016 and possession with intent to distribute over sixty grams (equivalent of approximately 1,800 retail bags) of heroin on January 29, 2016, in the Berwick area. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Berwick Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the heroin initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Wilkes-Barre man was charged with making false statements to a federally licensed firearm dealer. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Ruben Rosario, age 19, of Wilkes-Barre, was charged in a Criminal Information, filed October 31, 2016, in United States District Court in Scranton, with providing false information to Piestrak’s Gun Shop, in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, on April 5, 2016, in connection with the purchase of a firearm. 

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

Together with the Criminal Information, the government also filed a plea agreement with Rosario, which is subject to the approval of the court. No date has yet been scheduled for the entry of Rosario’s guilty plea. 

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is ten years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that United States District Judge Malachy Mannion sentenced Reuben Blajos, age 42, and Manuel Vasquez-Perez, age 40, for assaulting another inmate while incarcerated at the United States Penitentiary Canaan (USP Canaan) in Waymart, Pennsylvania. Both inmates received a 70 month term of imprisonment.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Blajos and Vasquez-Perez previously pleaded guilty to the assault, and admitted they beat another inmate with modified flails fashioned from padlocks affixed to socks, and repeatedly kicked their victim while he was on the ground.  The victim suffered serious, but not life-threatening brain injuries, and numerous cuts and abrasions throughout his body.

At the time of the assault, Blajos was serving a sentence at USP Canaan pursuant to a 2010 federal conviction for racketeering and narcotics trafficking conspiracies.  Judge Mannion ordered that his new sentence run consecutive to his undischarged term of imprisonment. 

Vasquez-Perez, a citizen of Mexico, was serving a sentence at USP Canaan pursuant to a 2012 federal conviction for entering the United States illegally after having previously been deported.  That sentence for entering the United States illegally expired during the course of the prosecution for the assault offense.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers from USP Canaan.  Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joshua Keziah, age 28, an inmate incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution in Frackville, Pennsylvania was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in federal court, in Scranton, to 14 months’ imprisonment.  Additionally, Keziah receieved two years of post-release supervision that requires the defendant to spend 90 days in a halfway house.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, in August 2016, the defendant pleaded guilty to sending a threathening letter to President Judge Joseph Mandespacher of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Lancaster County Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Evan Gotlob prosecuted the case.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Criminal Information was filed in U.S. District Court in Scranton charging a Scranton man and a Dunmore man with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the fraudulent receipt of unemployment benefits.   

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Samuel Borgia, age 52, and Steven Borgia, age 46, owned and operated Home Resource Corporation, a home improvement company in Scranton.  From 2009 to 2012, the defendants allegedly filed fraudulent claims for unemployment compensation and received unemployment benefits to which they were not entitled. 

The defendants also allegedly instructed a number of their employees to falsely report to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor that the employees were not employed in order for the employees to also fraudulently receive unemployment benefits. The Information charges that the defendants and their co-conspirators received more than $150,000 as a result of the scheme. 

The government also filed plea agreements which are subject to the approval of the court, where the defendants indicate that they intend to plead guilty to the charge when they appear in federal court for their arraignment.

The charges stem from an investigation by the United States Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Evan Gotlob.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense charged in this case is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Harrisburg Police Officer was charged by way of a criminal complaint with theft of money that belonged to a federal agency and removing property to prevent its seizure.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the criminal complaint alleges that Sean Cornick, age 44, of Harrisburg, a Corporal with the Harrisburg Bureau of Police, stole money from an evidence locker which he believed was property seized in a drug investigation.    Cornick was allegedly videotaped taking money out of the locker.  An inventory later confirmed money was missing from the locker.

The charges against Cornick resulted from an internal investigation by the Harrisburg Bureau of Police that was referred to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pennsylvania State Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Eric Pfisterer, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, is prosecuting the case.

Cornick appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Susan E. Schwab yesterday and was released under conditions that he post a $10,000 signature bond, restrict his travel to the Middle District of Pennsylvania, surrender his passport, have no contact with potential witnesses, and not possess a firearm. 

United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler stated, “It is always a sad day when fellow law enforcement officers are alleged to have broken the laws they have sworn to uphold.  Our office takes these matters very seriously and we greatly appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the Harrisburg Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police in conducting this investigation.”

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Philadelphia Division, Michael T. Harpster, said "When an officer who took an oath to protect and serve crosses the line, as alleged here, it's an affront to all those in law enforcement who carry out their sworn duties with integrity.  Public corruption is insidious, corroding people's faith in the system. For that reason, it continues to be a top FBI priority."

Major David E. Relph, Director, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, said, “It is a sad day for law enforcement when an officer crosses the line into criminal conduct. It is crucial that a complete and thorough investigation is conducted to maintain the public confidence in law enforcement. Cooperation between agencies is critical in cases like this. We appreciate the hard work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in this investigation.”

Criminal complaints are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for removal of property to prevent seizure is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. Theft of Federal Funds under $1,000 is punishable by up to one-year imprisonment. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on October 25, 2016, a federal grand jury in Scranton charged Damontray Taylor, age, 30, a resident of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with firearms and drug offenses.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Taylor with possessing the controlled substances in February of 2016, with the intent to distribute the drugs in the Williamsport area.  Taylor was also charged with possession of three firearms in furtherance of his drug activities, and a separate felony charge for possessing firearms as a convicted felon.

The investigation was conducted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Lycoming County Narcotics Enforcement Unit.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

This case was also brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the heroin initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalties under federal law include 20 years of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, 10 years of imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm, a five year mandatory term of imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  If convicted of possessing a firearm Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Eric Pfisterer will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2016, general elections.  AUSA Pfisterer has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Brandler said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud.  The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 8, 2016, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Brandler stated that AUSA/DEO Pfisterer will be on duty in this District while the polls are open.  He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: (717) 221-4482.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day.  The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (717) 232-8686.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.

United States Attorney Brandler said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate.  It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

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WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Williamsport returned an indictment charging Tony A. Vonneida, age 62, of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography.  

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that in 2014, Vonneida, coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, in violation of federal law. It is also alleged that Vonneida committed the acts while he was required to register as a sex offender under Pennsylvania law.

The indictment further alleges that Vonneida knowingly possessed digital images that contained images of child pornography including minors who had not attained 12 years of age that had been mailed, or shipped or transported in interstate commerce.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur has been assigned to prosecute the case. 

Indictments are only allegations.  All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statues and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. 

The maximum penalty under federal law is 60 years of imprisonment, up to a lifetime term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $750,000 fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not necessarily an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.                                                                       

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Lancaster County man was sentenced yesterday on felony computer hacking charges related to his illegal access of over 100 Apple and Google e-mail accounts, including those belonging to members of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, United States District Court Judge William W. Caldwell sentenced Ryan Collins, 36, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to 18 months in federal prison for a felony violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.  He was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.

Collins pled guilty in May to one count of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information.  Collins was originally charged in Los Angeles, but the parties agreed to transfer the case to Harrisburg in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, near Collins' home, for the entry of his guilty plea and sentencing.

The case against Collins stems from the investigation into the leaks of photographs of numerous female celebrities in September 2014, known as "Celebgate."  Investigators have not uncovered any evidence linking Collins to the actual leaks or that Collins shared or uploaded the information he obtained, however.

From November 2012 until the beginning of September 2014, Collins engaged in a sophisticated phishing scheme to obtain usernames and passwords for his victims.  He sent e-mails to victims that appeared to be from Apple or Google and asked victims to provide their usernames and passwords.

When the victims responded, Collins then had access to the victims' e-mail accounts.  After illegally accessing the e-mail accounts, Collins obtained personal information including nude photographs and videos.  In some instances, Collins would use a software program to download the entire contents of the victims' Apple iCloud backups.  In addition, Collins ran a modeling scam in which he tricked his victims into sending him nude photographs.

Investigators identified over 600 victims, many of whom were members of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.  By illegally accessing the e-mail accounts, Collins accessed at least 50 iCloud accounts and 72 Gmail accounts, many of which belonged to female celebrities.

The case against Ryan Collins was investigated by FBI agents based in Los Angeles, and the plea agreement was negotiated by Assistant United States Attorneys Ryan White and Vicki Chou in the United States Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.  The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania assisted in the prosecution by handling the guilty plea and sentencing. 

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that the former owners of a money transmitter service business located in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, have been sentenced in federal court in Scranton by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, German Ossa-Rocha, age 50, and Mirela Desouza, age 46, the former owners of Tropical Express, a money transmitter service business, conspired together and with others, to utilize their business in order to transfer the proceeds of unlawful criminal activity to the Dominican Republic. 

Ossa-Rocha was sentenced on October 25, 2016, to serve 27 months in federal prison, followed by a two-year term of supervised release.  Desouza was sentenced on October 26, 2016, to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by a two-year term of supervised release.

The charges were the result of a drug trafficking investigation conducted jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service.  The investigation revealed that beginning in approximately January of 2008 and continuing through December 2011, Ossa-Rocha and Desouza structured financial transactions that represented the proceeds of drug trafficking in a manner intended to avoid reporting and recording requirements under State and Federal law.  The amount of funds involved in the structuring was approximately $340,000.  The funds were transmitted by Ossa-Rocha and Desouza via wire transfers to the Dominican Republic.

Ossa-Rocha was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 9, 2015.  Desouza waived indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to a felony information on June 11, 2015.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski.       

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Harold Rinko, age 74 of Hallstead, Pennsylvania and Ahmad Feras Diri, age 43, of London, United Kingdom were sentenced by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton for their involvement in a conspiracy to illegally export goods to Syria.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Diri, age 39, of London, United Kingdom, was sentenced yesterday to a 37-month term of imprisonment, a $100 special assessment, and ordered to forfeit $45,698 to the government.  Diri was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London on March 14, 2013, and extradited to the United States on charges in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. 

On October 13, 2016, Rinko was sentenced to a term of time served, 12 months of home confinement, a fine of $2,600, a term of supervised release of 2 years, and was ordered to forfeit $45,698 to the government.

A third defendant, Moawea Deri, a citizen of Syria, remains a fugitive from justice.

Rinko operated an export business in Hallstead, Pennsylvania and conspired with Diri to ship items purchased by customers in Syria in violation of United States law. The three men conspired to export various items from the United States, through third party countries to customers in Syria.  The conspirators prepared false invoices which undervalued and mislabeled the goods being purchased and also listed false information as to the identity and geographic location of the purchasers of the goods.  The items would be shipped from the United States to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, and thereafter transshipped to Syria.  One such item is described in communications between the conspirators as “it is a portable multi-gas scanner for the detection of chemical warfare agents.  Nerve, blood and lung warfare agents are detected using a highly sensitive ion mobility spectrometer.”      

"HSI's counter proliferation measures are in place to safeguard our borders and defend our interests across the world. The defendant's willful circumvention of those interests is inexcusable and today's sentencing is an example of the significant repercussions for such action," said Brian Michael, acting special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia.

Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office, Bureau of Industry and Security, US Department of Commerce. "This case demonstrates the outstanding collaboration among law enforcement agencies, and I commend our colleagues at HSI and the Justice Department, as well as our counterparts in the United Kingdom, for bringing this case to a successful conclusion. Shutting down illegal and dangerous trade with anyone who would threaten our national security is the sole focus for Special Agents of the Office of Export Enforcement.  We will continue to pursue violators of our nation's export control laws wherever they are located."

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley and Heather Alpino, Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice, National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case. 

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced today that a federal grand jury in Scranton returned an indictment on October 25, 2016, charging a Scranton man with sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, drug trafficking, and attempting to tamper with a witness.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment alleges that Mark Cook, age 38, who used the street name of “Lucky,” conspired with others to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion involving three female victims; distributed heroin, cocaine, and “molly”; and attempted to tamper with a witness. It is alleged that all of the offenses occurred between April 2015 and October 2016.

According to the indictment, Cook used a website to post advertisements for prostitution, rented hotel rooms in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Poconos for prostitution purposes, and used intimidation, threats, physical assaults, and illegal drugs to further the prostitution business.

The charges against Cook resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Scranton Police.  Assistant United States Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

The four sex trafficking offenses each carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. The drug charge and attempted witness tampering charge each carry a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative

launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Karl E. Rominger, age 43, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was sentenced yesterday by the United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg to twenty months' incarceration in connection with evading taxes and failing to file tax returns.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, on July 7, 2016, Rominger, a former attorney practicing in Carlisle, pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of failure to file a tax return.

Judge Rambo ordered Rominger to pay restitution in the amount of $317,803.  Judge Rambo further ordered that Rominger begin to serve his federal sentence after completing his undischarged state prison term for misappropriating client funds.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph J. Terz.        

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Harrisburg returned an indictment on October 19, 2016 against William Papoutsis, Jr., age 34, for tampering with a witness in a federal trial.         

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Papoutsis made threats through Facebook against a witness in upcoming federal trials involving Papoutsis’ nephew, Derek Pelker.  A grand jury returned two indictments against Pelker on August 24, 2016 relating to the robbery of the Susquehanna Bank in East Prospect on April 24, 2015 and the robbery of the M&T Bank in Lebanon on April 5, 2016. 

The matter was investigated by the FBI Capital City Violent Crimes Task Force.  The Task Force consists of representatives from the FBI’s Harrisburg Field Office and the Harrisburg Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott R. Ford.   

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty for the offenses is 45 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $750,000 fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Dauphin County couple was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 19, 2016, for social security fraud, harboring an illegal alien and confiscating a passport for forced labor and services.    

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the grand jury alleges that Stephayne McClure-Potts, age 51, provided false information to the Commissioner of Social Security on numerous occasions with the intent to obtain a social security card with a fictitious identity for another person.  Additionally, the grand jury alleged that McClure-Potts confiscated the passport and immigration documents of that citizen of Ukraine for labor and services and threatened to have that individual deported. 

Finally, Stephayne McClure-Potts and her husband, Michael McClure-Potts, age 60, are both charged with harboring an illegal alien from March 2013 through August 2015.  The indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of the defendants.

This case was investigated by the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the City of Harrisburg Bureau of Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.  

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. 

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalties under federal law, for each of Counts 1 and 3 is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release of three years and a $250,000 fine.  The maximum penalty under federal law, for Count 2 is ten years’ imprisonment, a three term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a grand jury in Scranton returned an Indictment on October 18, 2016, charging Morris Smith, age 33, a resident of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. 

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the Indictment charges Smith with possessing cocaine in March 2016, with the intent to distribute it in the Williamsport area.  Smith was also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug activities, and a separate felony charge for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Williamsport Bureau of Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the heroin initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalties under federal law include 20 years of imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, 10 years’ imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm, a five year mandatory term of imprisonment for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that on October 18, 2016, a grand jury in Scranton charged Robert Stoddard, age 46, an inmate at United States Penitentiary, Allenwood, Pennsylvania, (USP Allenwood) with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of contraband.

According to United States Attorney Bruce Brandler, the Indictment alleges that Stoddard attacked another inmate with a weapon fashioned from a razor blade (commonly known as a “shank”).  The victim required over fifty stitches for his wounds.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers at USP Allenwood.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a Hazleton man pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion in Scranton, to conspiring with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, hydrocodone, Tramadol, Diazepam, and other Schedule II and IV drugs.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the defendant, Franklin Tejeda, age 35, admitted to regularly orchestrating the delivery of parcels of Schedule II and IV pills to co-conspirators’ residences in Hazleton, and distributing the drugs to customers. The illegal conduct occurred between November 2014 and March 2016. The drugs were obtained from suppliers in India.

Tejeda was charged in a criminal information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office in April 2016. The charge stemmed from an investigation by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspectors, and Hazleton Police.

Judge Mannion ordered a presentence investigation to be completed and will schedule sentencing after the pre-sentence investigation is completed. Tejeda faces a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.  

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a former U.S. Navy Contractor, Andrew Persaud, age 44, of North Potomac, Maryland, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg to 21 months’ incarceration in connection with making a false statement to the government in connection with a $4.4 million contract to renovate warehouses at the Naval Support Facility in Mechanicsburg, PA.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Persaud was indicted in October 2015 and charged with three counts of false statements to the Government and three counts of wire fraud.  On February 23, 2016, Persaud pled guilty to one count of false statements before Judge Rambo.

Persaud was the President and Corporate Director of Persaud Companies, Inc., a Virginia and Maryland based construction company that entered into a $4.4 million contract in 2011 to renovate several warehouses at the Naval Support Activity (NSA) facility in Mechanicsburg. 

Persaud hired approximately 17 sub-contractors to work on the project which began in May of 2012.             In June and July of 2012, Persaud submitted invoices to the Navy for progress payments.  In the documents, Persaud attached signed certifications verifying that all of his subcontractors had been paid for their work. Relying on the verity of Persaud’s representations, the Navy paid Persaud $1,206,470 between June and August 2012.

However, by September 2012, most of the subcontractors had walked off the job site and the Navy terminated Persaud’s contract after it learned, contrary to Persaud’s certifications, that none of the subcontractors had received payment for their work on the project.

The Navy had required Persaud to purchase a materials/labor bond prior to his first contract draw, the premium for which cost Persuad $53,539.  As a result, the subcontractors filed claims and eventually received payments from the bond carrier for their work totaling $1,281,753.

Under the terms of a plea agreement with the government Persaud agreed that the loss suffered by the victims was $1,206,470. 

Judge Rambo ordered Persaud to pay restitution in the amount of $1,206,470 and entered a forfeiture against him in that same amount.  Persaud was ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons on November 21, 2016.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel.

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HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a former Adams County man was sentenced today to 87 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg for receipt of child pornography.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Earl Greg Walker, age 53, pled guilty on June 13, 2016, to receiving child pornography at his home in Adams County between 2011-2012. 

An examination of Walker’s computer revealed over 1,000 Skype chat messages with minor Russian females and three minor females between the ages of 13-15 years old in the United States.  Also recovered from Walker’s computer were numerous video files containing minor females engaged in sexual acts and various stages of undress, to include full nudity. 

“There is no greater satisfaction than an investigation culminating in a child predator facing justice.  Minors here and abroad are safer with the defendant in custody,” said Brian A. Michael, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigation Philadelphia.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daryl F. Bloom.  

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit  www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

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SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a Scranton man and a Virginia man pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Scranton on October 18, 2016, before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to a firearms charge filed in connection with the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge located on Kane Street in Scranton, which occurred on February 13, 2016.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Rodney Whiting, age 23, of Scranton, and Tracy Whiting, age 24, of Newport News, Virginia, admitted to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Rodney Whiting and Tracy Whiting, along with Kelvin Robinson, age 24, also of Newport News, Virginia, and Kwa’shon Roane, age 24, of Gloucester, Virginia, were indicted by a grand jury in March 2016 for the armed robbery of the Econo Lodge.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Scranton Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office and numerous local law enforcement agencies, including the Taylor Borough and Moosic Borough Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara.

Kelvin Robinson previously pleaded guilty on October 5, 2016, to the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and is awaiting sentencing.

The charges against Kwa’shon Roane are still pending.  

This case was brought as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Partnership (“VCRP”), a district wide initiative to combat the spread of violent crime in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the VCRP consists of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose mission is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit violent crimes.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Rodney Whiting and Tracy Whiting each face a mandatory penalty of at least seven years in prison for the charge of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The maximum penalty under federal law is up to life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment and a fine.   According to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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