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16 November 2023
Pennsylvania Guardian Gloria Byars & Her Co-Conspirator Found Guilty of Stealing from Elderly WardsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA –United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Gloria Byars, 62, of Aldan, PA and Carlton Rembert, 69, of Hampton, VA were both found guilty for their roles in a scheme to defraud elderly, incapacitated people of over $1 million. Byars entered a guilty plea on the eve of trial, pleading guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud. Her co-conspirator and brother Carlton Rembert proceeded to trial and after a four-day trial, a jury found Rembert guilty of conspiracy, bank fraud, and wire fraud.
Between 2012 and 2018, Byars and her co-conspirators stole the life savings from dozens of incapacitated wards while Byars served as their court-appointed guardian. Prior to operating her own guardianship company, Byars was an office manager for a guardianship company in Delaware County that was appointed to care for wards in Pennsylvania. As office manager, and then as guardian herself through her own company, Byars had unfettered access to wards’ property including bank accounts, pensions, real estate, retirement accounts, and other assets. Byars stole money from the wards’ bank accounts by writing unauthorized checks to companies she controlled, or to shell companies controlled by her co-conspirators, Rembert and Alesha Mitchell. Rembert and Mitchell assisted Byars in the theft by opening bank accounts in their home state of Virginia in the names of shell companies purporting to be medical services companies. Rembert and Mitchell deposited dozens of checks containing stolen ward money into their shell business bank accounts, withdrew over $500,000 in cash, and sent most of the stolen proceeds back to Byars, after keeping a share of the stolen ward money for themselves. Byars spent the stolen ward money on vacations, clothing, vehicles, gifts, and parties.
As part of Byars’ plea agreement, she agreed to forfeit 36 gold Krugerrand coins, valuable gold coins first minted in South Africa in the 1960s to introduce the country’s gold supply onto the world market. Byars stole several Krugerrand coins from the bank safe deposit box of one of her wards. Byars also stole over $756,000 from a retired federal employee’s Thrift Savings Plan. In total, Byars and her co-conspirators stole well over $1 million from at least 120 incapacitated people in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Byars and Rembert face the following maximum possible sentences. For conspiracy to commit bank fraud and for bank fraud, the maximum sentence is 30 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. For wire fraud, the maximum sentence is 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Byars also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $500,000 fine for money laundering and for filing a false tax return, the maximum sentence is 3 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
“Byars and Rembert’s actions caused significant financial and emotional harm to their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Fraud, particularly at the expense of vulnerable people, will not be tolerated.”
“Gloria Byars was entrusted with managing the assets of elderly folks unable to do so themselves,” said Richard Langham, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Instead, she abused her role as a guardian, poaching the nest eggs of these vulnerable wards, figuring they’d never even know. The FBI takes great satisfaction in bringing Byars and her co-conspirators to justice and preventing them from doing more harm. Elder fraud and abuse are simply unconscionable. If you think you’re being victimized like this or know someone who is, please reach out to the FBI – anonymously, if you like.”
“IRS-Criminal Investigation is committed to aggressively investigating individuals who engage in money laundering, tax fraud, or other types of white-collar crimes,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. “We, along with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice will continue to work to ensure that individuals who attempt to hide their criminal involvement will be held accountable.”
“The conviction of Gloria Byars and Carlton Rembert demonstrates the shared commitment of the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and United States Attorney’s Office in pursuing justice for our most vulnerable residents. I want to thank the United States Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation for working with us on this important guardianship fraud prosecution. I would also like to thank Douglas Rhoads, Deputy District Attorney of Special Investigations, and Detective Edward Rosen of our Criminal Investigation Division for their work on this matter,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, Criminal Investigation Division, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Tiwana Wright and Samuel Dalke.
Pearl River Community Man Pleads Guilty to Habitual Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River Community man pled guilty to habitual domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, on September 21, 2019, in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Eric Shane Dan 47, using his fist, struck his spouse causing a laceration to her face which required medical treatment. Dan was previously convicted of domestic assault on two separate occasions.
Dan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
Orlando Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years for Receiving and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced William Ross King III (55, Orlando) to 24 years and 5 months in federal prison for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse materials. King had pleaded guilty on August 3, 2023.
According to court documents, on October 14, 2022, after receiving a CyberTip, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at an Orlando hotel room occupied by King and seized a laptop belonging to King. Subsequent forensic analyses of the laptop revealed 42 images and 80 videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). King admitted to downloading and viewing the CSAM. These images and videos included sadistic and masochistic conduct and other violent sexual acts against children, toddlers, and infants.
“This sentence is proof that this deviant’s perverse behavior of victimizing children will not be tolerated,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Thanks to this CyberTip, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, we were able to remove this predator from continuing victimize these children over and over.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Richardson-Jones.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Orlando Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Wendel Algarin to 30 months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Algarin had pleaded guilty on August 15, 2023.
According to court documents, between 2012 and 2019, Algarin operated a scheme to assist various subcontractors in the evasion of payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance premiums. Algarin conspired with the subcontractors to pay their undocumented construction workers “off the books.” He facilitated the offense by operating three shell companies that he allowed subcontractors to list as their employees’ employers. In return for his assistance with the scheme, Algarin was paid fees of nearly $2 million. He used the funds to live a lavish lifestyle such as by purchasing multiple luxury automobiles. By operating the scheme, Algarin defrauded the United States out of more than $3.5 million in tax revenues.
“Mr. Algarin devised a plan to defraud the American taxpayer by establishing shell companies in the construction sector and evading employment taxes. Additionally, he employed undocumented workers, which harmed the workers’ compensation insurance industry,” said Tara K. Reed, IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that IRS-CI is dedicated to investigating and building a just and impartial tax system in which all businesses can operate.”
This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt.
Operator of durable medical equipment companies admits role in $11 million dollar kickback schemeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – A Texas man and owner of two durable medical equipment companies has pleaded guilty to conspiracy for his role in a scheme to pay illegal kickbacks, resulting in more than $20 million submitted in claims to, and $11 million in payment from, Medicare.
“Medicare is a vital program that exists to assist our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our office will continue to prosecute those who exploit this institutional safety net for personal profit at the expense of patients and taxpayers.”
“When health care companies try to boost their profits through kickbacks arrangements, they compromise the medical system and increase health care costs for everyone,” says Sean Burke, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.” The FBI is committed to preventing illegal financial relationships that undermine the integrity of our public healthcare programs.”
“Kickbacks impose hidden costs on the health care system and can compromise medical decision-making,” said Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. “Working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to combat the waste of valuable taxpayer dollars and protect the integrity of federal health care programs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between at least in or about June 2016 and February 2019, Simon Orobor owned and operated Devotion Medical Supply, Inc (“Devotion”) and Durable Medical Supply, Inc. (“Durable”), which provided durable medical equipment such as knee, back, shoulder, and wrist braces. Orobor, through another entity called Digital Interventions, LLC, obtained access to thousands of Medicare beneficiaries by paying, on a weekly basis, kickbacks to Individual 1 and Company 1 in exchanged for signed doctors’ orders for braces. Orobor and Individual 1 disguised the nature and source of these kickbacks by designating the payments as marketing expenses, entering into sham contracts, and generating or causing the generation of fraudulent invoices.
In total, Orobor, through Devotion and Durable, used the doctors’ orders obtained through kickbacks to submit claims to Medicare in the approximate amount of $20,555,772 and received Medicare reimbursement in the approximate amount of $11,447,961.
Simon Orobor, 60, of Houston, Texas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks. Sentencing is scheduled for February 15, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O'Neal is prosecuting the case.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Operator of Central California Bio-Lab Indicted for Distributing Adulterated and Misbranded COVID-19 Tests and Lying to AuthoritiesRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jia Bei Zhu, aka Jesse Zhu, Qiang He, and David He, 62, a citizen of China who formerly resided in Clovis, charging him with distributing adulterated and misbranded medical devices in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and for making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between January 2020 and March 2023, through the companies Universal Meditech Incorporated (UMI) and Prestige Biotech Incorporated (PBI), Zhu sold hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits to companies throughout the United States. UMI and PBI were based in Fresno and Reedley and did not obtain pre-market approval, pre-market clearance, emergency use authorization, or other applicable exemption from the FDA as was required. UMI and PBI received millions of dollars for the sales of the test kits.
When questioned by FDA officials, Zhu made several false statements to them, including that (1) his name was Qiang “David” He, (2) he was hired by UMI as a COVID-19 consultant in 2021, (3) he was hired by PBI just a couple of weeks prior to meeting with the FDA to communicate with government agencies on PBI’s behalf, and (4) he did not know anything about the manufacturing or distribution histories for UMI or PBI.
This case is the product of an investigation by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Public Health – Food and Drug Branch. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton, Arelis M. Clemente, and Henry Z. Carbajal III are prosecuting this case.
If convicted, Zhu faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the adulterated and misbranding of medical devices charges, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the false statements charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Olanta, PA Resident Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Conviction of Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Olanta, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Brent Shaffer, age 39.
According to information presented to the court, Shaffer received parcels that were shipped from California to the Western District of California containing a total of between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigators searched Shaffer’s residence on August 31, 2021, pursuant to a federal search warrant and seized over 200 grams of methamphetamine and three firearms.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Shaffer.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Norfolk Hospital Agrees to Pay Civil Penalty for Alleged Violations of the Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NORFOLK, Va. – Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Inc. (CHKD), located in Norfolk, agreed to pay $68,400 to settle civil penalty claims for alleged record-keeping violations associated with controlled substances.
The government alleged that CHKD failed to comply with various recordkeeping requirements under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that are mandated for DEA registrants who handle controlled substances. The government alleged that between March 29, 2021, and December 22, 2021, CHKD had packages of compounded prescription drugs delivered to its receiving warehouse, a location not registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This allegedly includes a delivery of 200 one-milliliter fentanyl syringes (10mcg/ml) that CHKD cannot show was delivered to its registered pharmacy location or otherwise account for.
The recordkeeping requirements under the CSA are designed to protect the health and safety of the public from dangers posed by highly addictive or dangerous controlled substances, such as opioids, being diverted into the illicit market, while also ensuring that patients have access to pharmaceutical controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes. In a separate agreement with the DEA Diversion Group, CHKD agreed to take measures to prevent such conduct from occurring in the future.
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the DEA, Washington Division, Norfolk District Office.
The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clare Wuerker.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
The civil claims settled by this agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability.
Ninth Defendant Convicted of Federal Conspiracy Against Rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) Offenses for 2020 Washington, D.C., Clinic Invasion and BlockadeRead the Press Release
A Massachusetts woman was found guilty today of federal civil rights conspiracy and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).
Paula “Paulette” Harlow, 75, of Kingston, was convicted following a bench trial. All nine defendants have been convicted of federal conspiracy against rights and FACE Act offenses following three separate trials in connection with an Oct. 22, 2020, blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic. On Aug. 29, a jury convicted defendants Lauren Handy, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, William Goodman and Herb Geraghty. On Sept. 15, a separate jury convicted defendants Jonathan Darnel, Jean Marshall and Joan Bell. On March 1, a tenth defendant, Jay Smith, pleaded guilty to a felony FACE Act offense.
“Violence and physical obstructions that interfere with access to reproductive health clinics violate the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The convictions in this case send a strong message that such criminal conduct against reproductive health care providers and patients will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be held accountable. The Justice Department stands ready to protect both those who provide and those who seek access to safe and legal reproductive health care.”
“Our Constitution and laws protect many rights – to protest, to debate, to advocate for different laws. But no one is entitled to deprive other people of their civil rights. That’s a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “With locks, with chains, with violence, these defendants conspired to prevent fellow citizens from exercising their rights to receive and to provide reproductive health care. As these verdicts show, our city will not tolerate that, and our department will ensure justice is done.”
“FACE Act violations such as this one are not taken lightly – these are serious crimes that endanger people’s physical safety and can be traumatizing for patients and staff,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will always work to protect every American’s access to reproductive health care services.”
“The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to peacefully express their opinions — not intimidate, threaten or interfere with those who are exercising their civil rights,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations to ensure that patients and providers can receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.”
Evidence presented at trial established that the defendants executed a clinic blockade planned by the group’s leaders, Handy and Darnel. The defendants used social media, text messages and telephone calls to organize the blockade, and several defendants traveled from northeast and midwestern states to participate in the clinic invasion. Prior to the blockade, the defendants met with other co-conspirators to formulate their tactics, which included making a fake patient appointment to ensure the group’s entry into the clinic, using chains and locks to barricade the facility and passively resisting arrest to prolong the obstruction. The clinic invasion was advertised on social media as an “historic” event and was livestreamed on Facebook.
At the outset of the invasion, the defendants forced their way into the clinic, injuring a clinic nurse. The blockade forced one patient to climb through a receptionist window to access the clinic, while another was denied entry as she lay in physical distress in the hallway outside the clinic.
On Aug. 7, Smith was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release following his guilty plea. The remaining defendants, including Harlow, who were convicted following the three trials face up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000 each. Those sentencing dates are yet to be determined.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.
Ninth Defendant Convicted of Federal Conspiracy Against Rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) Offenses for 2020 Washington, D.C., Clinic Invasion and BlockadeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Massachusetts woman was found guilty today of federal civil rights conspiracy and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act).
Paula “Paulette” Harlow, 75, of Kingston, was convicted following a bench trial. All nine defendants have been convicted of federal conspiracy against rights and FACE Act offenses following three separate trials in connection with an Oct. 22, 2020, blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic. On Aug. 29, a jury convicted defendants Lauren Handy, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, William Goodman and Herb Geraghty. On Sept. 15, a separate jury convicted defendants Jonathan Darnel, Jean Marshall and Joan Bell. On March 1, a tenth defendant, Jay Smith, pleaded guilty to a felony FACE Act offense.
“Violence and physical obstructions that interfere with access to reproductive health clinics violate the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The convictions in this case send a strong message that such criminal conduct against reproductive health care providers and patients will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be held accountable. The Justice Department stands ready to protect both those who provide and those who seek access to safe and legal reproductive health care.”
“Our Constitution and laws protect many rights – to protest, to debate, to advocate for different laws. But no one is entitled to deprive other people of their civil rights. That’s a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “With locks, with chains, with violence, these defendants conspired to prevent fellow citizens from exercising their rights to receive and to provide reproductive health care. As these verdicts show, our city will not tolerate that, and our department will ensure justice is done.”
“FACE Act violations such as this one are not taken lightly – these are serious crimes that endanger people’s physical safety and can be traumatizing for patients and staff,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will always work to protect every American’s access to reproductive health care services.”
“The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to peacefully express their opinions — not intimidate, threaten or interfere with those who are exercising their civil rights,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations to ensure that patients and providers can receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.”
Evidence presented at trial established that the defendants executed a clinic blockade planned by the group’s leaders, Handy and Darnel. The defendants used social media, text messages and telephone calls to organize the blockade, and several defendants traveled from northeast and midwestern states to participate in the clinic invasion. Prior to the blockade, the defendants met with other co-conspirators to formulate their tactics, which included making a fake patient appointment to ensure the group’s entry into the clinic, using chains and locks to barricade the facility and passively resisting arrest to prolong the obstruction. The clinic invasion was advertised on social media as an “historic” event and was livestreamed on Facebook.
At the outset of the invasion, the defendants forced their way into the clinic, injuring a clinic nurse. The blockade forced one patient to climb through a receptionist window to access the clinic, while another was denied entry as she lay in physical distress in the hallway outside the clinic.
On Aug. 7, Smith was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release following his guilty plea. The remaining defendants, including Harlow, who were convicted following the three trials face up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000 each. Those sentencing dates are yet to be determined.
The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York; and FBI Field Offices in Pittsburgh, Newark, New York City, Boston, and Detroit provided valuable assistance.
Newton Man Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Newton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
Franklin Alcantara-Lorenzo, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo Sorokin to one year and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. On Oct. 16, 2023, Alcantara-Lorenzo pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien.
Alcantara-Lorenzo, a citizen on the Dominican Republic, was deported from the United States in July 2021 after serving a 21-month federal sentence for conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. At some point thereafter, Alcantara-Lorenzo returned to the United States and was arrested by immigration authorities in Chestnut Hill in April 2023.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
New York man sentenced to 50 years in prison for surveilling and shooting a man in MiamiRead the Press Release
MIAMI – On Nov. 14, a New York man was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for surveilling and later planning the shooting of his victim from point-blank range.
Jaime Serrano Jr., 46, of New York, flew down from New York to Miami to kill his victim. Once Serrano arrived in Miami, he surveilled his victim at the victim’s home and business. Serrano rented a vehicle to conceal his surveillance of the victim. After four days of surveillance, Serrano exchanged his rental vehicle for another one to commit the shooting. Serrano’s co-defendant, Jimenez, entered the victim’s residential community wearing a mask, gloves and holding a firearm. While the victim was in his vehicle about to pull into his garage, Jimenez ran up behind him and started shooting. Jimenez fired eight rounds at the victim. The victim survived but was hit three times and needed surgery to remove the projectiles left inside his body. Jimenez ran back to Serrano’s parked car and hid in the trunk. Serrano then drove them away.
The sentence comes after Serrano’s conviction following a two-week trial in August.
A restitution hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman.
FBI Miami’s Violent Crimes and Fugitive Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman, Michael E. Gilfarb and Katherine W. Guthrie prosecuted it.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 22-cr-20389.
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New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Carjacking OffensesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 14, 2023, KYREN WASHINGTON, age 20, of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to a five-count superseding bill of information for five separate carjackings in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1).
WASHINGTON faces a sentence of up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to 3 years of supervised release for each count. He also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $500.00. Sentencing is set for February 27, 2024.
According to court documents, WASHINGTON was involved in five separate carjackings on September 29, October 2, October 4, and an attempted carjacking on October 10, 2023.
Four of the vehicles were recovered in the Algiers area of New Orleans. After the attempted carjacking, WASHINGTON was identified, and arrested by the New Orleans Police Department who learned that WASHINGTON had discarded a firearm and black backpack in the 1200 block of Poydras Ave.
Law enforcement retrieved the discarded black backpack and obtained a search warrant authorizing a search of the backpack. That search revealed two additional firearms and ammunition. Recovered were a Smith & Wesson Model M&P9, nine-millimeter and Glock Model 19X, nine-millimeter firearms along with a magazine loaded with ammunition. The discarded firearm was identified as a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.
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New Orleans Man Indicted for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CYRUS ROLLINS, age 41, a resident of New Orleans, was charged on November 16, 2023 in a three-count indictment for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts that allegedly occurred on or about August 30, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Count 1 of the indictment charged ROLLINS with possession with the intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). For these offenses, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
Count 2 charged ROLLINS with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). For this offense, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.
Count 3 charged ROLLINS with being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). For this offense, he faces up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For each count, ROLLINS also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Nevada Man Sentenced for Destroying Petroglyph at National MonumentRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to six months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and $7.303.05 in restitution for damaging a centuries-old petroglyph at Gold Butte National Monument in southeastern Nevada.
Michael Shorter, 44, pleaded guilty in April 2023 to a felony violation of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) for the unauthorized damage and removal of an archaeological resource.
According to court documents, on September 15, 2018, at the Mud Wash area of Gold Butte National Monument, Shorter climbed onto a ledge and kicked a petroglyph 15 feet onto the ground below, causing the petroglyph to be partially damaged. The petroglyph was created approximately 700 to 1500 years ago. This site is important to people of the Moapa Band of Paiutes, Southern Paiute tribes more broadly, and other indigenous people of the region.
The petroglyph, which was part of a larger panel of petroglyphs, was broken into multiple pieces. Shorter transported the broken petroglyph away from the Gold Butte National Monument to his home where it was displayed in a garden before being destroyed.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Land Management.
United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and State Director Jon Raby for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada made the announcement.
ARPA prohibits the unauthorized excavation and removal of archaeological resources on federal lands as well as the unlawful sale, purchase, or exchange of such resources.
To report natural resources crimes on Bureau of Land Management-managed public lands, please call Bureau of Land Management’s Law Enforcement Dispatch at (800) 637-9152.
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Milwaukee Felon Indicted for Illegally Importing Machinegun Conversion Devices and Other Firearm Related OffensesRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 14, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Demario M. Robinson (age: 21) of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The indictment charges Robinson with three counts of purchasing and receiving machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) that had been illegally imported into the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 545.
According to a criminal complaint previously issued in the case, the MCDs (commonly known as “switches”) converted semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firing machine guns. The complaint further alleged that Robinson had purchased and received hundreds of MCDs between July 2022 and June 2023. If convicted of any of the three importation charges, Robinson would face a 20-year maximum term of imprisonment.
The indictment also alleges that on June 20, 2023, Robinson possessed a machine gun, namely a Glock 9mm handgun that had been converted to firing automatically, and that he possessed a firearm despite being a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 922(g)(1). Finally, the indictment also charges Robinson with possession with intent to distribute marijuana on June 20, 2021, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D).
If convicted, Robinson would be subject to a ten-year maximum term of imprisonment for the possession of machinegun offense and 15-year maximum term of imprisonment for the felon-in-possession charge. If convicted of the drug offense, Robinson would face a five-year maximum prison term.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Roach and Michael Schindhelm.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant has pled not guilty, is presumed innocent, and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer
Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
414-297-1700
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Middlesex County Women Charged with COVID-19 Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, woman was arrested on charges that she fraudulently obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and unemployment insurance benefits totaling $694,212, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.
Damaris Valerio, 41, of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. She made her initial appearance on Nov. 15, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From April 2020 through December 2021, Valerio fraudulently obtained $694,212 in COVID-19 emergency relief funds, which included loans and cash advances meant for distressed small businesses under the EIDL program and PPP and unemployment insurance benefits meant for unemployed workers, by submitting false and fraudulent applications inflating her business’ revenue, payroll expenses, and number of employees. After receiving the fraudulent funds, she diverted virtually all of the proceeds for her personal gain.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendants or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, special agents of U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, and special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott, with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
valerio.complaint.pdfMexican National Arraigned for Kidnapping, Hostage Taking and Alien Smuggling in FresnoRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Cristian Ortiz Coronado, 31, a resident of Mexico, was arraigned today on a six-count indictment charging him with kidnapping, hostage taking, and transporting illegal aliens, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Coronado was indicted on November 9 by a federal grand jury.
According to court documents, Ortiz Coronado was hired to deliver a family to Fresno on Aug. 25, 2023 after they illegally crossed the border from Mexico. When Ortiz Coronado picked the family up, including a mother, her four-year-old daughter, and her nine-year-old son, he locked the doors and would not let them leave the vehicle. Ortiz Coronado then demanded an additional $21,000 from relatives before he would release the family, including children, in Fresno. When relatives did not have the money and tried to block Ortiz Coronado from driving away, Ortiz Coronado rammed first a relatives’ vehicle and then the father of the children before driving away with the mother and her nine-year-old son, leaving the four-year-old behind.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Stokman and Robert Veneman-Hughes are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Ortiz Coronado faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $3 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Memphis Woman Facing Federal Charges for Assault on United States Secret Service Agents and EmployeesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a Memphis woman with assault on a government officer or employee and for discharging a firearm during that offense. Raven Jones, 41, is facing federal charges alleging that she assaulted federal officers during an altercation at the United States Secret Service field office in Memphis.
According to a previously sealed complaint, on October 19, 2023, Jones is alleged to have approached the entrance door of the field office while using her cell phone to livestream on Facebook. The door was clearly marked as entry to the United States Secret Service offices and Jones arrived during normal business hours on a workday; the office was staffed with agents, task force officers, administrative staff, and visitors.
Jones allegedly then produced a 9mm handgun and fired a single shot into the wall next to the doorway, placed the weapon on the floor, and raised her hands above her head. Federal officers entered the hallway and detained Jones.
The case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow of the National Security and Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Jones faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison for the firearms charge and a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment along with a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider several variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Member of MS-13 Pleads Guilty in Connection with 2016 Fairfax MurderRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An El Salvadoran member of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with the kidnapping and murder of an adolescent boy in 2016.
According to court documents, Edwin Orellana Caballero, who was 16 years old and living in Alexandria at the time, was one of several members and associates of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13 who kidnapped and killed 14-year-old victim, S.A.A.T. On the night of September 26, 2016, the gang lured S.A.A.T. to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County and murdered him in a wooded area there with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe. Specifically, Orellana Caballero struck S.A.A.T. multiple times with the pickaxe. Once S.A.A.T. was dead, the gang buried him in a shallow grave.
Orellana Caballero, who was transferred for prosecution as an adult under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, pleaded guilty to one count of maiming in aid of racketeering activity and faces a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 25 years in prison when sentenced on February 28, 2024. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
To date, a total of 17 defendants have been charged in this case. Of those, five defendants went to trial and were convicted of all charges. Ten defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr. accepted the plea.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Washington Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Alexandria Police Department, the Prince William County Police Department, the Montgomery County (MD) Police Department, and the Marin County (CA) Sheriff’s Office provided significant assistance on the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Blanchard and Cristina C. Stam are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The Justice Department recently announced several new commitments as part of its Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. Instituted by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in May 2021, the strategy focuses on harnessing federal resources, intelligence, and expertise as a force-multiplier with state, local, and Tribal law enforcement. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta highlighted the more than $334 million in critical grant funding to law enforcement agencies and stakeholders awarded today by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office).The COPS grants announced include funding to help law enforcement agencies hire over 1,730 new law enforcement officers across the country while also providing critical funding to support school safety and continue to advance community policing nationwide.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-153.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 9 Months in Prison for Attempted Witness Tampering in Relation to Healthcare Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Atawan Mundu John, a.k.a., John Mundu Atawan, 46, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was sentenced today to nine months in prison for attempting to tamper with a witness more than nine years ago during a federal healthcare fraud investigation.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
In February 2014, a federal grand jury charged Florence Bikundi, who owned and operated a home health care agency, with various offenses related to a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud the D.C. Medicaid program. The defendant was employed by Bikundi’s agency as a personal care aide. After Bikundi was arrested, the investigation into her and others continued. As part of its investigation, law enforcement agents interviewed the defendant multiple times.
On June 12, 2014, a Medicaid beneficiary who received kickbacks from the defendant to help facilitate Medicaid fraud placed a recorded call to the defendant that lasted approximately 18 minutes. During that call, the defendant – fully aware of the active federal investigation – instructed the beneficiary to lie to the FBI about ever receiving money or kickbacks. The defendant admitted on the call that paying money to beneficiaries was fraud. Law enforcement agents confronted the defendant with the recorded call five days later. Before formal charges were brought against him, the defendant fled the area.
In December 2014, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Florence Bikundi, her husband Michael Bikundi, Christian Asongcha, five other individuals, and the defendant with various offenses related to the scheme to defraud Medicaid. The defendant was charged with one count of attempted witness tampering. Five of the individuals pleaded guilty to health care fraud, and in November 2015, a jury convicted Florence and Michael Bikundi of multiple offenses after a trial. By June 2016, the Bikundis and five other individuals all had been sentenced while Asongcha, who has never been apprehended, and the defendant remained fugitives. Florence Bikundi was sentenced to ten years in prison; her husband Michael Bikundi received a seven-year sentence. The co-defendants received sentences ranging from probation with home confinement to three months in prison.
The defendant remained a fugitive until July 13, 2023, when he was arrested in Maryland. He has been held without bond since his arrest.
On August 4, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to attempted tampering with a witness before U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell.
Today, Judge Howell sentenced him to nine months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She also ordered that he pay $80,493 in restitution to the D.C. Medicaid program, an amount equal to what Medicaid paid home health agencies for false claims associated with three Medicaid beneficiaries to whom the defendant paid kickbacks.
The government urges the public to provide tips and assistance to stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, including the whereabouts of Christian Asongcha, please call the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General hotline at 800-HHS‑TIPS (800 447-8477) or the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS (202 724-8477).
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Multiple people from the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked on the case, including former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lionel A. André, Anthony Saler, and Michelle Bradford, who tried Florence and Michael Bikundi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman prosecuted Atawan Mundu John from the time of his arrest through today’s sentencing.
Manchester Man Arrested on Drug Distribution ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was arrested for distributing fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Thomas Holland, 37, was indicted on three counts of distribution of fentanyl. Holland was arrested this afternoon in Manchester. He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Concord tomorrow.
The charge of drug distribution provides for a sentence up to 20 years in prison, at least a three-year term of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is leading the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department and the Nashua Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Luzerne County Man Indicted on Drug Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Essameddin Birry, age 41, of Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted on November 14, 2023, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that between May 31, 2023, and July 27, 2023, Birry distributed methamphetamine on multiple occasions in Luzerne County. The indictment further alleges that on September 11, 2023, Birry possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a handgun during and in relation to drug trafficking when he was a person prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. 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.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Los Angeles, California, Man Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and HeroinRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Los Angeles, California, man, Juan Trujillo, 44, was sentenced on November 13, 2023, by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to 144 months in prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
Trujillo was indicted in March 2019 and pleaded guilty in December 2022.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin are up to life in prison, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Springfield Police Department, Illinois State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Trujillo is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Leader of Machine Gun Switch Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Mark Totten commits to prioritize cases involving the distribution of switches, which are fueling the national gun violence epidemic
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Torez Burnett, 21, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison. Burnett imported machine gun conversion devices, or “switches,” from China and distributed them to members of his street gang, My Brother’s Keeper (MBK), and others in Benton Harbor and Grand Rapids. When installed, switches convert semiautomatic handguns into fully automatic machine guns that can fire a thousand rounds of ammunition per minute.
“Switches pose an extremely dangerous risk to our communities, our children, our law enforcement officers, and anyone who stands in the way of their indiscriminate spray,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. “A year ago, switches were seldom seen. Now they’re everywhere. My office will use every resource we have to disrupt the gun trafficking rings bringing these lethal devices into our communities.”
On December 15, 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan announced charges against 10 defendants, including Burnett. On May 11, 2023, Burnett pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to possess and transfer machine guns and the charge of possession and transfer of a machine gun. Burnett distributed switches to buyers in at least Benton Harbor and Grand Rapids. Some of his buyers included fellow members of MBK. The previous press release can be viewed by visiting the following link: Eleven Men Face Drug And Firearm Charges, Including For Sale Of “Switches” That Turn Semi-Automatic Pistols Into Fully Automatic Machineguns.
The nine other defendants have also pleaded guilty. The court has sentenced six of them:
Defendant
Sentence
Jayvon Anthony
84 months
Demarcus Greely
38 months
Nicholas Hallo
46 months
Demitrius Seuell
33 months
Omarion Branch
38 months
Eric Williams
24 months
Sentencing hearings for Timothy Thomas and Quincy Bowman are scheduled for November 29, 2023. The Court has not yet scheduled sentencing for Armando Villanueva.
“Holding those accountable who flood our streets with illegal weapons is a huge step forward in curtailing the violence in our community,” said Benton Harbor Director of Public Safety Daniel McGinnis. “We thank our local, state, and federal partners for their dedication and commitment to working together to ensure the safety of Benton Harbor residents."
“Mr. Burnett and other defendants from the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) gang are rightfully facing appropriate consequences for their violent and reckless behavior in importing machine gun conversion devices into our community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “Thanks to the efforts of the Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners, a dangerous criminal enterprise that directly threatened Michigan residents was disrupted. The FBI is committed to removing dangerous criminals from our communities and will continue to work with our partners to achieve the goal of a safer Michigan."
“Machine gun conversion devices are a threat to our community and public safety. They are not toys and cannot be imported illegally from China,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “Mr. Burnett chose to illegally import these devices from China and through his excessive greed, he chose to arm known gang members with fully automatic machine guns. In the end, Mr. Burnett will have a considerable amount of time in prison to reflect on his poor decision making.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Berrien County Sherriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Michigan State Police, Benton Charter Township Police Department, Pokagon Band Tribal Police Department, Grand Rapids Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Michigan Department of Corrections and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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Lancaster County Woman Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Moniqua Ramirez, age 44, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine following a three-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson that concluded on November 15, 2023.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Ramirez conspired with others to smuggle kilograms of cocaine into Central Pennsylvania through the U.S. Mail. The cocaine was shipped in Puerto Rico and mailed to various drop locations in Lancaster, where the parcels were retrieved by conspirators for further distribution. They also engaged in street level drug trafficking, including selling heroin and fentanyl to customers. The conspirators transported cash back to Puerto Rico in furtherance of the trafficking.
Ramirez’s coconspirators, Ricardo Soto, Jonathan Lopez Arizmendi, Ricky Sanchez, Angel Leon-Rivera, Omar Carmenaty Morales, and Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado, pleaded guilty. On January 19, 2023, Ricardo Soto was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Jonathan Arizmendi, Ricky Sanchez, Angel Leon-Rivera, Omar Carmenaty Morales, and Lucas Doel Gonzalez-Alvarado are awaiting sentencing.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Lancaster County Drug Task Force and York County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Consiglio and Christian Haugsby are prosecuting the case.
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Lakeland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Construction-Related Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ramon Paz (53, Lakeland) to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $500,731, the proceeds of the wire-fraud conspiracy. Paz had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023.
According to court documents, Paz owned and managed a construction company which purported to supply construction services and labor for construction contractors and subcontractors. In order to comply with Florida law, Paz’s company was required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage. Paz’s company had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Paz’s employees at construction sites, and these workers were often undocumented aliens who were actually working for and under the daily supervision and direction of the contractors. Paz or others would then regularly receive “payroll checks” from contractors that were cashed at various financial institutions to pay Paz’s purported “employees” and other related expenses.
During the time period charged, Paz falsely and fraudulently represented in insurance applications that his company had a very limited payroll and a very limited number of employees who worked on construction jobsites. Paz also falsely and fraudulently sent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that his company’s “employees” had full worker’s compensation coverage.
In reality, Paz’s company received and cashed more than $21 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees.” These payroll figures far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Paz had reported to his worker’s compensation insurance company. As a result, these employees, in reality the employees of other entities, performed work on jobsites without adequate insurance coverage. In addition, the insurers lost premiums they would have charged had they been aware of the true number of workers their policies were thus being manipulated to cover.
As a result of these misrepresentations, Paz’s company also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States and that required state and federal payroll taxes were being paid for these workers. The contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were thus also able to avoid responsibility for those duties as well.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is part of a lengthy investigation by those agencies into the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.
Kilogram Drug Trafficker in Robeson County Sentenced to 25 YearsRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Maxton man was sentenced yesterday to 300 months in prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for moving kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin from Mexico to Robeson County. Antonio Lavonne Locklear pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, and possession of methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin with intent to distribute.
“Our ongoing partnership with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office has secured this 25-year sentence for a large-scale drug trafficker bringing kilogram quantities of narcotics from Mexico into Robeson County,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Narco-traffickers should be warned. The partnership between local law enforcement and federal agencies has never been stronger or more focused on dismantling drug trafficking organizations.”
“The sentencing of Locklear will have a huge positive impact within the Prospect community of Robeson County and beyond,” said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “The punishment Locklear received should be an eye opener to others that continue to wreak havoc on our county. Thank you to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF for the partnership as we continue to try and make our county safer.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, Locklear, age 38, was identified during a multi-year investigation into a group of Robeson County-based individuals who were trafficking kilograms of controlled substances from Mexico into the Brownsville, Texas, area. Investigators learned that members of this drug trafficking organization would travel to Texas, cross the border to meet with suppliers, and then personally transport kilograms of drugs across the border and ultimately back to Robeson County, where the drugs would be sold. During the investigation Robeson County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a March 2020 search warrant at one of Locklear’s stash houses and collected over 400 grams of cocaine.
On October 14, 2020, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a rental vehicle occupied by Locklear and two other individuals as they returned from Texas. Investigators located 2.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2.98 kilograms of cocaine, 967.7 grams of heroin, and more than $58,000 in U.S. currency inside the spare tire of the vehicle.
In the spring of 2021, investigators began to receive information that members of the drug trafficking organization had resumed traveling to Texas to pick up controlled substances from the same suppliers. Through coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs and Border Patrol, co-defendant Jeremiah Eli Lowery was stopped at a border checkpoint near Brownsville, Texas on the way back into the United States from Mexico on April 8, 2021. After a canine alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle, officers recovered 2.8 kilograms of cocaine and 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine from the spare tire. Lowery has previously been sentenced to 252 months imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-CR-59-D-2.
Justice Department and Department of Education Announce Successful First Year of New Student-Loan Bankruptcy Discharge ProcessRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department, in close coordination with the Department of Education, announced today a successful first year of the new process for handling cases in which individuals seek to discharge their federal student loans in bankruptcy. One year after Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta announced the process in November 2022, data and information show that the process is achieving its goals of ensuring consistency and equity in the evaluation of student loan discharge requests, and that the process has translated into increasing numbers of eligible federal student loan borrowers seeking and obtaining debt relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
The departments finalized new guidance in November 2022 that outlined a fairer, more accessible process to ensure consistent treatment of the discharge of federal student loans, reduce the burden on borrowers of pursuing such proceedings, and facilitate identifying cases where discharge is appropriate. At the time, both the departments committed to assessing the guidance after the first year of implementation. To do so, the Justice Department surveyed all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and consulted closely with the Department of Education to gather data and comments on the process. A dedicated group of experts within the Civil Division also collected input on the new process from consumer law groups, including the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. Finally, the Civil Division has conducted large-scale trainings for Department attorneys, as well as public training events supported by regional bar associations and the courts, including most recently a training session hosted by the American Bankruptcy Institute that was attended by over 300 consumer bankruptcy attorneys. The Department of Education also participated in training events hosted by regional bar associations, as well as at the annual meeting of the National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees (NACTT), which included private attorneys as well as Chapter 13 trustees.
The information that the departments have collected indicates that the new process is making it easier for eligible debtors to achieve bankruptcy discharge of their federal student loan debts. Since the process was announced one year ago:
- 632 cases were filed in the first 10 months of the new process (November 2022 through September 2023), a significant increase from recent years. The departments anticipate that this trend will continue.
- 97% of all borrowers in the cases filed are voluntarily using the new streamlined process.
- The vast majority of borrowers seeking discharge have received full or partial discharges. In 99% of cases where courts have entered orders or judgments to date, the government recommended, and the court agreed to, a full discharge or partial discharge.
- Two bankruptcy courts — the Northern and Central Districts of California — have adopted procedures recognizing the utility of the new process, aimed at further streamlining the procedures debtors must follow to obtain discharges.
“One year ago, we set out to simplify and improve the process for student loan borrowers in bankruptcy,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “I am thrilled that our one-year review indicates that our efforts have made a real difference in borrowers’ lives by ensuring student-loan discharges are more accessible to eligible borrowers. We will continue working with our partners at the Department of Education to ensure the process continues to be a success.”
“It is clear that this improved process is helping struggling borrowers,” said Chief Operating Officer Rich Cordray of the Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid. “This guidance is an important piece of our overall efforts to create a student loan system that is more humane, with affordable payments and programs that work as intended. In partnership with the Justice Department, we will continue working to streamline this process and to provide student loan borrowers a pathway to obtaining much-needed relief in bankruptcy.”
Because the new process is working well, the Justice Department is not making any changes to the guidance at this time. The departments will continue to meet regularly to ensure that the guidance is appropriately implemented and to consider adjustments as warranted. Subject-matter experts in the Civil Division plan to continue to promote awareness of and provide training on the guidance both within and outside the government. The departments will also continue to conduct outreach to the broader community potentially affected by the process.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with New York City Health Care System to Resolve Allegations of Employment DiscriminationRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYCHH), which provides health care services to more than one million New Yorkers. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that NYCHH violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) when it rejected a worker’s valid work authorization document based on the worker’s national origin.
“Employers cannot reject valid documents showing someone’s permission to work based on the country the person was born in,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Federal civil rights law protects workers from discrimination that can occur when employers are checking their permission to work. The Justice Department will continue to hold accountable employers that treat workers differently because of where they were born or their national origin.”
The department’s investigation determined that NYCHH unlawfully rejected a worker’s valid employment authorization document (EAD), which was automatically extended through a notice in the Federal Register applicable to those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The department determined that NYCHH rejected the valid document and delayed the onboarding of the worker based on its incorrect assumption that the worker’s country of birth listed on her EAD had to be the same as the country designated for TPS.
TPS is a temporary immigration benefit that allows qualified individuals from designated countries to stay in the United States for a limited time period due to conditions in the designated country, such as on-going armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. Workers with TPS, like all workers, have the right to provide their choice of valid documentation to demonstrate their permission to work. Federal Register notices that automatically extend a TPS worker’s permission to work explain that the worker does not have to show additional documentation or prove their citizenship status, and that the country of birth listed on the worker’s documentation does not have to match the TPS-designated country.
Under the terms of the agreement, NYCHH will pay back pay to the affected worker to compensate for lost wages that the department determined the worker was eligible for due to the discrimination. It will also pay a civil penalty to the United States, train its staff on the anti-discrimination provision of the INA, review and revise its employment policies and training materials and be subject to departmental monitoring for three years.
The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee, unfair documentary practices and retaliation and intimidation.
Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work on IER’s website. Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video. Individuals with TPS who have questions about their rights can find more information on IER’s website. Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify), or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge. The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email IER@usdoj.gov; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER.
nychh_settlementagreement_05.01.pdfJustice Department Secures Agreement with Arizona Prison System Resolving Discrimination Against Incarcerated People with Vision DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR) has agreed to adopt systemwide reforms to correct and prevent discrimination against incarcerated people with vision disabilities.
The agreement resolves the Justice Department’s findings that ADCRR violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by discriminating against incarcerated individuals with vision disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision. The department found that ADCRR failed to reasonably modify its policies or provide auxiliary aids and services, such as Braille materials and displays, audio recordings and screen reader software, to ensure that people with vision disabilities could communicate effectively while incarcerated. ADCRR failed to provide accessible processes to request accommodations or file disability-related complaints. ADCRR also over-relied on other incarcerated people to help individuals with vision disabilities without properly training or supervising those providing help.
“People with vision disabilities held in jails and prisons should not be subjected to a higher risk of harm or exposed to greater restrictions than their sighted peers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “They should not be denied trained aides, or accessible technology and materials that allow them to participate in work, education and recreation programs. This agreement embodies the Justice Department’s commitment to ensuring that prisons and jails throughout the country, respect and protect the rights of all people detained inside these facilities, including those with vision disabilities.”
“This agreement is a critical step towards giving Arizonans with vision disabilities an equal chance to benefit from prison programs and to successfully reenter society,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We appreciate Director Thornell’s leadership and ADCRR’s willingness to proactively work with the Justice Department to address our concerns. We look forward to continuing to collaborate to make the Arizona prison system more just, more equal and more genuinely rehabilitative for Arizonans with disabilities.”
Under the three-year agreement, ADCRR will retain an expert third-party consultant to help revise its policies and practices, train its personnel and provide necessary modifications, aids and services and assistive technology to people with vision disabilities in ADCRR custody. ADCRR will regularly report to the department and adopt robust screening and documentation procedures to ensure people with vision disabilities are provided with any aids and services they need throughout their incarceration. ADCRR will also designate a systemwide ADA Administrator and facility ADA coordinators to ensure consistent implementation of the agreement across all state facilities.
The Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section handled this matter in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the ADA’s goals of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities, including people who are incarcerated. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov.
Justice Department Launches New Interagency Language Access Working GroupRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today the launch of the Federal Language Access Working Group, a new interagency effort that will coordinate language access across the federal government. Along with the creation of this working group, the Department also announced the release of updated federal agency language access plans on its website, www.LEP.gov, on the one-year anniversary of the Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s language access memorandum to federal agencies.
In November 2022, Attorney General Garland directed federal agencies to revise their language access plans, share best practices, and exchange information about language access initiatives and efforts in compliance with Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.” Today marks the release of the first batch of those updated plans with additional federal agencies posting updated plans in the coming months.
“Our government serves all Americans better when we ensure that language barriers do not stand in the way of participation in civic life,” said Attorney General Garland. “Today, I’m pleased to share that more than a dozen federal agencies have answered my call to re-examine the ways in which they are addressing these barriers through the release of updated language access plans and policies aimed at ensuring that government programs remain accessible to all. The Justice Department will continue to support agencies in implementing their language access plans and their broader efforts to close the language gap across federal programs and services.”
“Everyone in the country should be able to exercise their rights, obtain critical information and access benefits and services that they are eligible for, regardless of the language they speak, read or write,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The updated language access plans released today lay out the steps that federal employees are taking to ensure that people with limited English proficiency are provided real and meaningful access to federal programs and activities. These plans also equip federal employees with the information they need to communicate accurately and effectively with all communities.”
The Federal Language Access Working Group will serve as a central resource for providing support and technical assistance to federal agencies as they work to implement their updated language access plans. The working group will also directly engage with community groups, individuals with limited English proficiency, and other stakeholders to ensure adherence with Executive Order 13166 and other federal language access obligations. The working group will also focus on ensuring that recipients of federal funds comply with their language access obligations under federal law. The Attorney General’s memorandum called upon agencies to consider additional ways in which agencies can ensure that federal financial assistance recipients understand and comply with their obligations to provide meaningful language access under the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations.
Today’s announcement builds on the Justice Department’s longstanding commitment to advancing language access. The Civil Rights Division recently issued a fact sheet on courts language access in coordination with a webinar for state courts. The division also launched the Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative, a nationwide effort to assist law enforcement agencies in meeting their obligations to provide meaningful language access.
Pursuant to the Attorney General’s November 2022 memorandum, the Justice Department issued its revised Language Access Plan in August, which can be found here. Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Arabic, and French translations are also available. The Office for Access to Justice’s Language Access Program coordinates implementation of the Department’s revised plan, provides training and technical assistance to Department components, expands language access resources, and promotes improved language access policies and practices in compliance with the Department’s plan. The program’s Language Access Coordinator chairs the Department’s Language Access Working Group, a Department-wide effort to implement the Department’s plan.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt and information about limited English proficiency and Executive Order 13166 is available at www.LEP.gov.
Justice Department Finds Oklahoma Mobile App Inaccessible to People with Vision DisabilitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today its findings that Service Oklahoma violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining a mobile application that is inaccessible to individuals with vision disabilities.
In a letter issued to Service Oklahoma, the department detailed its findings following its investigation of a complaint filed by an Oklahoma resident who is blind and could not access the Oklahoma Mobile ID Application (OK Mobile ID App).
Service Oklahoma’s OK Mobile ID App allows users to store their identification on a smartphone and use it in many contexts where a person would normally use a physical driver’s license or other state-issued ID. This includes applying for unemployment benefits and paying for purchases at retail stores. It can also be used to start an application for a REAL ID, which will be required in the future for such things as boarding domestic flights, visiting military bases or entering specific federal buildings.
“Public entities, like Service Oklahoma, are increasingly using mobile apps to offer a wide range of critical government services, yet people with disabilities often face significant barriers accessing them,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In Oklahoma, the OK Mobile ID App provides users with important benefits such as additional convenience, security and privacy. We will fully enforce the law to ensure that when public services are made available through technology such as mobile apps, those services are equally accessible to people with disabilities.”
The department found that the OK Mobile ID App imposes critical accessibility barriers for people with vision disabilities. To use the OK Mobile ID App, people must scan or take photos of their identification cards and take pictures of themselves by connecting the dots that appear on the screen using only head and eye movements. Both tasks are difficult or impossible for individuals who are blind to do without receiving any verbal feedback. Thus, Service Oklahoma violates the ADA by denying people with vision disabilities equal access to the OK Mobile ID App and by failing to ensure that communications with them are as effective as communications with others.
This letter is part of the Civil Rights Division’s Tech Equity Initiative to combat disability discrimination that occurs through technology, such as in websites and mobile apps. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt. Complaints may be filed online at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
Justice Department Files Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Maine Landlord for Sexually Harassing TenantsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Fred Wheeler, of Manchester, Maine, for sexually harassing female tenants and housing applicants in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Wheeler has managed residential rental properties in Lewiston, Maine, and other central Maine municipalities since at least 2016.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, alleges that since at least 2016, Wheeler subjected female tenants to unwelcome sexual contact and comments about their physical appearances; entered rental units without consent; conditioned a tenant’s rental agreement on a romantic relationship; and offered to forgive unpaid rent in exchange for sex acts. The lawsuit also names Landscape Center of Maine Inc., the property owner, as a defendant.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate persons harmed by the alleged harassment, civil penalties to vindicate the public interest and a court order barring future discrimination.
“No one should live in fear in their home because of their landlord’s sexual harassment and predatory conduct,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “No one should be denied access to housing because of their refusal to accept a landlord’s sexual demands. The Justice Department stands ready to hold accountable any landlord who preys upon vulnerable tenants and those seeking housing.”
“I urge any other tenants alleging discrimination by Mr. Wheeler to contact my office,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. “A home should be a sanctuary. No one should be subjected to sexual harassment under any conditions, but particularly not by the person responsible for providing safe and secure housing. The Justice Department and my office will hold accountable any property owners who engage in sexual harassment and will enforce fair housing laws designed to protect against this and other discriminatory conduct.”
The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. It also prohibits sexual harassment, a form of sex discrimination. Individuals who believe that they may have been victims of sexual harassment or other types of housing discrimination at rental properties owned or managed by Fred Wheeler, or who have other information that may be relevant to this case, may contact the Justice Department by calling the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine at 207-780-3257 or emailing USAME.Fairhousing@usdoj.gov.
The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The initiative seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 37 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10.8 million for victims of such harassment. The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting people from sexual misconduct.
wheeler_complaint_november_16.pdfIsraeli Hacker-For-Hire Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Involvement in Massive Spearphishing CampaignRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that AVIRAM AZARI was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with his involvement in a massive computer-hacking campaign targeting companies and individuals in the U.S. and around the world. AZARI was arrested on these charges in September 2019 while traveling to the U. S. from abroad and has been detained since his arrest. U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “From his home in Israel, Aviram Azari played a major role in orchestrating and facilitating an international hacking-for-hire spearphishing campaign. The conspiracy targeted individuals and companies in the U.S. and abroad, resulting in the theft of data and netting Azari over $4.8 million in criminal proceeds. Today’s sentencing sends an unmistakable message about my Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting hackers, domestic and foreign alike.”
According to the allegations contained in the Indictment to which AZARI pled guilty, public court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:
From approximately November 2014 to September 2019, AZARI engaged in an extensive spearphishing campaign that targeted individuals and companies in the U. S. and around the globe. AZARI owned and operated an Israeli intelligence firm. Clients hired AZARI to manage “Projects” that were described as intelligence gathering efforts but were, in fact, hacking campaigns specifically targeting certain groups of victims, including climate change activists and individuals and financial firms that had been a critical part of the German payment processing company Wirecard A.G. AZARI paid different hacking groups, including a particular group located in India, to send spearphishing emails to victims of the various Projects. The hacking groups updated AZARI on their progress, including sending him lists that tracked their hacking efforts against specific victims. The hackers also sent AZARI reports, advising when they were successful in accessing victims’ accounts and stealing information.
One of AZARI’s hacking Projects was focused on targeting individuals and organizations involved with climate change advocacy. Some of the hacked documents that were stolen from various of the victims’ online accounts were leaked to the press, resulting in articles relating to the New York and Massachusetts Attorneys Generals’ investigations into Exxon Mobil Corporation’s knowledge about climate change and potential misstatements made by Exxon regarding what it knew about the risks of climate change.
Clients of AZARI’s Israeli private intelligence company paid AZARI more than approximately $4.8 million over a nearly five-year period for managing the intelligence gathering and spearphishing campaign. AZARI executed his crimes deliberately and over an extended period primarily for his own self-enrichment. Some of AZARI’s thousands of victims have described the devastating personal, financial, and reputational impact AZARI’s crimes had on them. Victims have described the persistent and relentless targeting of them and their associates, as well as the theft of their identities and personal data, as “psychological assault” that has caused them “anxiety, paranoia, depression, sleeplessness, and fear,” and the victims have expressed continued concerns for their personal safety.
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AZARI, 52, of Kiryat Yam, Israel, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, one count of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. In addition to his prison term, AZARI was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay forfeiture of $4,844,968.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Juliana N. Murray and Olga Zverovich are in charge of the prosecution.
Indianapolis Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Manufacturing Counterfeit CurrencyRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Jacob Seyfried, 47, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to manufacturing counterfeit currency.
According to court documents, on November 13, 2021, a Carmel Police Department Officer initiated a traffic stop on a Cadillac with stolen license plates near 96th street. The driver was Jacob Seyfried. Seyfried stated that he had been released from jail about six days prior and had been staying at the nearby Clarion Hotel. He claimed that he borrowed the Cadillac and just finished shopping at Kohls.
The Carmel officer searched the vehicle and found a $100 bill under the console that appeared brighter in color than normal. The officer also found several receipts on the floorboard of the vehicle, a paper shredder in the trunk, and a Kohl’s shopping bag containing a Nike coat and backpack.
The officers searched Seyfried’s person and removed a wad of fifty-dollar bills. Seyfried told officers he had about $400 in cash on him at the time. Officers examined the money and noticed that most of the bills had the exact same serial number. Officers recovered a total of $300 in counterfeit $100 and $50 bills. Officers went to Kohl’s and recovered the bills that Seyfried used to pay for his purchases, which were also counterfeit. A $50 bill Seyfried used at Kohls had the same serial number as the counterfeit bills police later found on his person.
At the Clarion Hotel, law enforcement officers searched the room Seyfried checked out of that morning. During their search, they located items used to manufacture counterfeit bills, including gel pens, double-sided tape, a water proofer, a printing paper booklet, several articles of ink and paint, and two printers. Officers also recovered eight pages of printed, counterfeit $100 bills, and four pages of printed counterfeit $50 bills.
Seyfried has a lengthy criminal history including convictions for forgery, possessing a handgun as a convicted felon, and a prior federal conviction for mail fraud. He was caught with a counterfeit title for a stolen, $50,000 Dodge Charger while on pretrial release in this case.
“Undeterred by multiple convictions and jail time, Mr. Seyfried continued to use fraud and deceit to line his pockets,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Creating counterfeit currency is not a victimless crime, it harms everyone in our economy-stealing income from businesses and raising prices for consumers. The serious prison sentence here demonstrates that fraudsters and forgers will face serious punishment for economic crimes. I commend the Carmel Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service, along with our federal prosecutor, for their diligent work to ensure that this criminal is held accountable.”
“The sentencing in this case is a testament to the outstanding work of the Carmel Police Department,” said Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “We would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Carmel Police Department for their partnership in this investigation.”
The Carmel Police Department and U.S. Secret Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Seyfried be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison.
U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Eakman, who prosecuted this case.
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Health Insurance Fraudster Pleads Guilty in El Paso Federal CourtRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man pleaded guilty in a federal court in El Paso to one count of wire fraud.
According to court documents, Daniel Steadley, 68, operated two companies in El Paso which marketed and sold a healthcare insurance plan known as the Unique Healthcare MEC Plan. Steadley sold the insurance plan under false claims that it complied with the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). He also falsely claimed that he was a lawyer who had previously overseen an elite team of lawyers while working for a U.S. Senator at the White House, and that he had been a commander in the Navy, as well as a SEAL team member.
Several purchasers of Steadley’s fraudulent Unique Plan suffered injuries or had diseases that required hospitalization or other medical attention. When these individuals attempted to use their Unique Plan card, hospitals and other providers did not recognize the plan and there was no coverage of their medical bills. Several Unique Plan members received medical bills that were significant, ranging from hundreds of dollars to more than $100,000. Approximately 2,600 individuals in the El Paso area purchased the Unique Plan between Dec. 1, 2014 and Aug. 31, 2020. The investigation identified $974,193.68 in victim losses.
Steadley faces up to 20 years in prison for one count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The FBI and Texas Department of Insurance are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Skillern and Michael Osterberg are prosecuting the case.
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Hammond Woman Pleads Guilty to Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TRACIE L. MIXON, age 42, of Hammond, LA, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan to a bill of information for making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
On March 27, 2020, The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
According to court documents, MIXON made false statements on an SBA form to an approved lender on or about February 23, 2021, to fraudulently obtain a PPP loan. MIXON affirmed that she had not been previously convicted of federal program financial assistance fraud when, in truth, she pled guilty, in the Eastern District of Virginia, to conspiracy to commit federal student loan fraud and mail fraud in a scheme that involved stolen identities.
Sentencing will be on March 12, 2023. At that time, MIXON faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for her false statements. MIXON must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee after conviction.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Grand jury indicts 4 Ecuadorian nationals with running national theft ringRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio -- A federal grand jury has indicted four Ecuadorian nationals with crimes related to stealing jewelry and Apple products at retail centers in multiple states to then resell the items on the black market.
Those charged include Alexander Wilson Diaz-Remache, 39; Jonathan Eduardo Remache-Diaz, 33; Alvaro Oswaldo Loaiza-Alvarez, 27; and Gustavo Daniel Vinueaza-Bueno, 36. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court today.
“This office will seek to hold accountable anyone stealing from and endangering the hard-working men and women who deliver our goods and mail. Whether it be UPS, FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service, or any other deliverer, we will not tolerate attacks against individuals simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker.
According to the indictment, between January and September 2023, the defendants conspired to steal interstate shipments and transported stolen goods in interstate commerce.
It is alleged three of the defendants entered the United States on travel visas and established California as a base of their illegal activities with Diaz-Remache. From their California base, the coconspirators would allegedly travel by plane and car to other states, including Ohio, Virginia and Maryland, in search of malls and retail centers housing Apple stores, jewelry stores and other businesses.
The defendants would allegedly establish surveillance at these retail centers and track deliveries from UPS, FedEx and other common carriers to learn their delivery patterns. The men then allegedly stole the goods on the delivery vehicles, repackaged them, and mailed them back to California to eventually resell them on the international black market. After saturating an area with thefts of interstate shipments, the coconspirators relocated their efforts, often moving from state to state.
In the Southern District of Ohio, the men allegedly performed surveillance of a FedEx delivery truck at the Greene Town Center in Beavercreek on Sept. 19. One defendant allegedly attempted to distract the delivery driver in a hallway while the other three forced entry into the delivery truck, stealing 300 Apple watches.
A few days later, on Sept. 22, the four defendants allegedly began surveillance of a UPS truck at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek with the intent to steal the interstate shipment within it.
Other thefts alleged in the indictment include approximately $300,000 in diamonds and other jewelry from a UPS truck in Rockville, Maryland, and thousands of dollars in jewelry from a UPS truck in Fairfax, Virginia.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Beavercreek Police Chief Jeff Fiorita. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Grand Jury Indicts Bakersfield Man for Firearms TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Joshua Ruic Kimball, 40, of Bakersfield, charging him with trafficking in firearms, unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act, and unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of state law, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Kimball was the owner of Show Off Sports LLC, a licensed firearms dealer in Bakersfield. Through his shop, Kimball sold firearms illegally, including short-barrel rifles and silencers. He did not require background checks, firearms registration, or any paperwork for the firearms sales. More than 100 firearms traced back to Kimball have been recovered in connection to crimes in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Stephanie M. Stokman are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Kimball faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison for trafficking in firearms, 10 years in prison for unlawfully transferring firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act and five years in prison for unlawfully transferring firearms in violation of state law, and a fine up to $250,000 for each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Fourteen Defendants Indicted in $5 Million California State Unemployment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 16, 2023
SAN DIEGO – An indictment partially unsealed today charges 14 defendants with fraud and money laundering offenses for a scheme centered around fraudulent unemployment applications submitted to the California Employment Development Department during the pandemic. The indictment alleges the fraud netted the defendants almost $5.2 million in funds from the state of California.
According to the indictment, David Constantin and Constantin Bobi Sandu, who was arrested and charged separately in March 2023, helped hundreds of applicants apply for EDD benefits using fraudulent documents. Constantin and Sandu recruited potential applicants through Facebook and met applicants at parks throughout Southern California to complete the application process. Applicants paid Constantin or Sandu a partial fee up front for assisting with fraudulent applications and another fee after applicants received EDD payments.
The indictment alleges that from July 2020 to August 2022, Constantin transmitted more than $128,000 in fraud proceeds to associates in Romania. Another defendant who fraudulently obtained EDD benefits with Constantin’s help, Eduard Buse, transmitted almost $129,000 to Romania in the same period. Buse also purchased a 2020 BMW X6 with over $105,000 in cash fraud proceeds in December 2022 and shipped the vehicle to Romania. Several other defendants also transmitted fraud proceeds to accounts in Romania.
David Constantin was arrested in Romania at the request of the United States on November 13th by Romanian authorities who also served search warrants and seized, among other things, the BMW with California license plates. The Department of Justice will seek Constantin’s extradition to the United States. Buse and defendants Leonard Miclescu, Constantin Iosif Constantin and Florentina Sima were arrested in California and Texas. Nine other defendants remain at large.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Adeline Schulberg and Valerie Chu with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, FBI's Legal Attaché in Bucharest, and Romanian authorities including the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DCCO) Service for Countering of Organized Criminal Groups, Brigade for Combating Organized Crime (BCCO) – Pitești, County Service for Countering Organized Crime – Teleorman, Romanian Gendarmerie Battalion, Romanian Ministry of Justice, and Romanian Criminal Investigative Directorate - Fugitive Unit.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 23CR2090-LAB
David Constantin Age: 27 Arges County, Romania
aka Vlad Alexandru
Eduard Buse Age: 30 Transient, Romanian
Leonard Miclescu Age: 49 Transient, Romanian
Constantin Iosif Constantin Age: 30 Transient, Romanian
Florentina Sima Age: 29 Transient, Romanian
*Additional defendants are not in custody and their names are redacted
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Title 18, U.S.C. § 1349 — Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Title 18, U.S.C. § 1343 — Wire Fraud
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, $1 million fine
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) — Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Laundering of Monetary Instruments
Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(B)(i) — Laundering of Monetary Instruments
Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater
AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit
IRS Criminal Investigation
California Employment Development Department Investigative Division
Department of Labor Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Four Inmates Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Weapons at FCI BeckleyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Today, inmates Rico Salguero, 40, Jamal Brooks, 26, and Jarvis Burl, 26, were each sentenced to one year and one day in prison and inmate John Durant, 34, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison. Today’s sentences will run consecutive to the prison terms the inmates are currently serving, and will be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, each inmate admitted to possessing a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank,” at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley in separate incidents on the following dates: Salguero on December 9, 2022; Brooks on January 7, 2023; Burl on February 22, 2023; and Durant on April 10, 2023.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:23-cr-105 (Salguero), 5:23-cr-103 (Brooks), 5:23-cr-101 (Burl), and 5:23-cr-102 (Durant).
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Four Indicted on Federal Charges for Fraudulent Vehicle Sale SchemeRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Four St. Louis men are facing multiple federal charges for their alleged actions in a scheme to use fake cashier’s checks to buy vehicles from private sellers online, to then resell for profit.
The 11-count indictment charges Alen Saric, 35, Valentino Colic, 32, Emad Hasanbegovic, 33, and Almir Palic, 24, with multiple felonies including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
“Many people use the internet to sell personal property, but unfortunately, scammers also use the internet as a tool to defraud and steal,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.
According to court documents, the codefendants participated in a scheme to defraud vehicle sellers on Facebook and Craigslist with fake cashier’s checks from 2018 until August 2023. Once the fraudsters possessed a vehicle, they would then resell the vehicle to another individual for cash before the original victim could try to cash the check and realize it was worthless.
“The conspiracy as outlined in the indictment is yet another example of criminals using fake checks to defraud victims,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “The FBI advises the public to not assume checks are genuine when received from individuals not previously known. Such caution should be exercised whether the check appears to be cashier’s, official, or certified. Criminals are skilled at creating fake checks that look real, so protect yourself by either going to the bank that issued the check to confirm its authenticity or waiting until the check clears your bank before turning over property or otherwise transferring funds.”
To keep their names out of the chain of title, the indictment alleges the codefendants used the names of prior victims to buy and sell the vehicles and to complete documents such as titles and bills of sale. When posing as the victims, they often used victims’ photo IDs.
The fraudsters bought vehicles from victims in Madison, Jasper, Bond and Fayette counties within the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment alleges the co-conspirators issued more than $1 million in fake cashier’s checks.
For allegedly transferring the vehicles from Illinois to Missouri, Colic and Saric are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods.
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and interstate transportation of stolen goods is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
FBI Springfield Field Office, the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Jefferson County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department and several local police departments contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed is prosecuting the case.
Former San Francisco Venture Capitalist Convicted of Multiple Fraud and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Michael Brent Rothenberg, a former San Francisco venture capitalist once described in Bloomberg as “Silicon Valley’s Party Animal,” was convicted today of wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and making false statements to a bank by a federal jury, announced Criminal Division Chief Thomas C. Colthurst, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation Mark Silva. The guilty verdicts followed a seven-week jury trial before the Hon. Jon S. Tigar, U.S. District Judge. All told, the evidence introduced at trial established that Rothenberg’s schemes resulted in approximately $18.8 million in missing money.
The jury found that Rothenberg, 39, committed wire fraud with respect to a number of investments from investors in two of the venture capital funds that he managed in 2015 and 2016. In addition, the jury found that Rothenberg committed wire fraud in February 2016 with respect to a $2 million investment made in a company he owned named Bend Reality LLC (which did business as River Studios), and that he thereafter committed money laundering by transferring a large portion of those proceeds through various bank accounts. Finally, the jury found the defendant guilty of committing bank fraud and making false statements to a bank in relation to a line of credit that Rothenberg obtained for his venture capital management company from Silicon Valley Bank in late 2015.
Evidence at trial showed that Rothenberg founded a venture capital management company, Rothenberg Ventures Management Company, LLC (“RVMC”), that he used between 2012 and 2018 to raise and manage four annual venture capital funds. The purpose of the funds was to invest in Silicon Valley start-up companies, and particularly companies in the field of virtual reality technologies. The evidence also showed that in approximately 2015, Rothenberg founded River Studios for the purpose of producing content to be used in virtual reality headsets. The evidence presented at trial showed that, throughout 2015 and 2016, Rothenberg told his employees, fund investors, and the investor into River Studios that River Studios had been “self-funded” by him and that no venture capital funds had been used to fund the operations of that company. The evidence showed, however, that Rothenberg misappropriated a large amount of venture capital fund money to pay for River Studios’ operations during that period. In addition to using venture capital funds to pay for River Studios’ operations, the evidence also showed that Rothenberg routinely took excess fees from the venture capital funds that he managed throughout 2015 and 2016 and that investors’ funds were routinely used for purposes other than as represented to fund investors, such as to pay for RVMC’s operating expenses and to secure a line of credit taken out from Silicon Valley Bank by RVMC in late 2015.
In addition to defrauding investors in two of the venture capital funds that he managed, the jury also found Rothenberg guilty of defrauding an investor with respect to a $2 million investment that the investor made into River Studios in February 2016. The evidence at trial showed that Rothenberg falsely told that investor that he had “self-funded” River Studios and that he falsely told that investor that its investment would be used for particular purposes, when, in fact, Rothenberg knew that he needed a large portion of that investor’s investment to pay back money he had misappropriated at the end of 2015 from two of the venture capital funds that he managed. The evidence showed that those repayments, in addition to other transactions, constituted instances of money laundering.
With respect to the line of credit RVMC obtained from Silicon Valley Bank, the evidence at trial showed that, because of the excess money he took from one of the venture capital funds, Rothenberg faced a shortfall at the end of 2015 that he did not wish to report to his investors. The evidence presented at trial showed that, accordingly, Rothenberg engaged in a scheme to defraud Silicon Valley Bank by making false statements and misrepresentations to the bank to obtain a $4 million line of credit to pay back the fund from which he had taken excess fees.
A federal grand jury indicted Rothenberg in August 2020. He was charged with bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; making false statements to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014; wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
Rothenberg is currently on pretrial release pursuant to an unsecured bond. Judge Tigar scheduled Rothenberg’s sentencing hearing for March 1, 2024. The maximum statutory penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344 and 18 U.S.C. § 1014 is 30 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000. The maximum penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 is 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957 is 10 years and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle F. Waldinger, Nicholas J. Walsh, and Benjamin K. Kleinman are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Beth Margen, Megan Pagaduan, and Isabel Trevizo. The prosecution is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
Former Potosi Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Trafficking, Other ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A former Potosi, Missouri police officer on Thursday admitted providing cash, vape cartridges and other items to three male minors for nude pictures or after performing sex acts on the victims.
Matthew N. Skaggs, 40, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to three felony charges: sex trafficking, solicitation of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor.
In Thursday’s plea hearing, Skaggs admitted that between Jan. 1, 2022 and Aug. 10, 2022, he provided vape cartridges, alcohol, CBD and THC to a 13-year-old boy in exchange for nude pictures of the boy. Skaggs also gave the victim vape cartridges after groping him in a police vehicle at a kindergarten center while Skaggs was wearing his police uniform. Skaggs also gave the boy vape cartridges in a middle school boys’ bathroom.
Skaggs repeatedly offered money to another boy when he was between the ages of 14 and 16 for sex, and asked for a received a picture of the boys’ genitals, his plea agreement says.
Skaggs also admitted performing a sex act on a third victim, aged 17, twice, and then providing money and alcohol to the minor. Between June 13, 202 and July 14, 2022, Skaggs paid the boy amounts ranging from $5 to $75 via Cash App. Skaggs also gave the boy cigarettes and vape pods.
At the time of his arrest, Skaggs was attending training to become a school resource officer.
Skaggs is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 14, 2024.
As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than 300 months in prison. The sex trafficking and coercion charges are each punishable by a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. The solicitation of child pornography charge carries a minimum five-year term and a maximum of life in prison. All also are punishable by a fine of up to $250,000.
Skaggs has also agreed to forfeit electronic devices including an iPad, two cell phones and storage devices.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Needham Police Officer Sentenced for Insider Trading ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Needham police officer was sentenced yesterday for conspiring to trade on inside information about a Massachusetts company’s planned acquisition of a California semiconductor company.
David Forte, 60, of Acton, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to one year of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. Judge Burroughs also imposed a $25,000 fine. Forte was charged in January 2022 along with co-conspirators John Younis and Gregory Manning. In June 2023, Forte was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud.
Beginning in or around June 2016, Forte obtained material non-public information from his brother, who was a senior executive at Analog Devices, Inc. (Analog), a Massachusetts-based semiconductor company, about Analog’s planned acquisition of Linear Technology Corp. (Linear), a semiconductor company based in Milpitas, Calif. Forte passed the information to Younis and Manning and proposed that the two purchase Linear securities and share their trading profits with him. To avoid detection, Forte did not trade Linear securities in his own name, and he advised Younis not to buy Analog securities because of his brother’s role at the company.
Over the course of the week leading up to the public announcement of the acquisition on July 26, 2016, Forte exchanged numerous phone calls with Younis and Manning, and Younis and Manning amassed Linear securities – sometimes trading within minutes of phone calls with Forte. After the announcement of the deal, which caused Linear’s share price to increase by 30 percent, Younis and Manning sold their Linear securities for a profit and later paid Forte a share of the money they made from trading on Forte’s stock tip.
In June 2022, Younis was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to one month of home detention and two years of probation after pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Manning pleaded guilty in October 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 3, 2024.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. The Securities & Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David M. Holcomb and Leslie A. Wright of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Former General Motors Manager Found Guilty of Conspiring to Receive Bribe from Foreign Parts Supplier Seeking ContractRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former manager at General Motors was found guilty by a jury today of conspiring to solicit and receive a $5 million bribe from a South Korean company in return for a promise to deliver a contract in excess of $100 million for various car parts.
Hyoung Nam So, 48, a.k.a. “Brian So,” of Irvine, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.
According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, in 2015 a foreign parts supplier paid So a total of $3.45 million in cash. As a manager and team leader at General Motors (GM), So oversaw the supply of parts used to build interiors for GM automobiles in North America. In October 2015, So promised the contract – which was to be awarded through a competitive bidding process – to the owner of the South Korean parts company – Wookyung MIT – in exchange for $5 million, which So demanded in cash.
The following month, the owner of Wookyung MIT arranged to have $1 million in cash transferred from South Korea to Los Angeles through money brokers, which an accomplice then drove to Troy, Michigan, where So was then living. The owner of Wookyung MIT flew to Detroit in late November 2015 and personally delivered the cash to So during a meeting at a hotel in Troy.
By the time So received the first $1 million installment of the bribe payment, he had already learned that Wookyung MIT was not the lowest bidder on the contract. So arranged for information to be provided to Wookyung MIT that would allow it to revise its bid. On December 8, 2015, So recommended to GM executives that the contract be awarded to Wookyung MIT, and the contract was awarded to Wookyung MIT on the same day.
So refrained from notifying Wookyung MIT that it had won the contract and continued to withhold that information until Wookyung MIT’s owner paid the remaining portion of the bribe. That occurred on December 20, 2015, when the owner of Wookyung MIT paid So $2.45 million in cash at a restaurant in Detroit – cash that also had been driven from Los Angeles to Michigan. The following day, So arranged for Wookyung MIT to be informed that it had won the contract.
Homeland Security Investigations seized $3.19 million believed to be proceeds from the bribery scheme from a private vault in Los Altos in 2017, and HSI subsequently returned the money to South Korean authorities.
The owner of Wookyung MIT was prosecuted in South Korea for offenses related to the bribery scheme.
United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled a May 24, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time So will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
The investigation into the bribery scheme was conducted by HSI’s Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force comprised of federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance during the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Mitchell and David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.
Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling from Missouri CompanyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Thursday sentenced a man who embezzled about $280,000 from his employer to buy a boat and make other personal purchases to a year and a day in prison.
Matthew Olinger, 40, of Florida, pleaded guilty to a felony wire fraud charge in July and admitted embezzling from his employer in two ways. Olinger worked for a seed company as an area business manager, managing field sales representatives and occasionally purchasing agricultural equipment for the seedsmen, employees who sold seeds to regional customers.
Olinger fraudulently misused his company credit card to make at least $180,000 worth of personal purchases on hundreds of occasions, including family meals, vacations, clothing, boating expenses and personal entertainment, his plea agreement says. Olinger covered up the personal purchases by submitting fake or altered receipts to the company.
Olinger also stole company funds to help a seedman buy a 2022 Cobalt R35 boat and a trailer. Olinger authorized an employee to sign a contract with a seedman that would have misappropriated $75,000 in company funds each year for a decade, or a total of $750,000, to buy the Cobalt boat and the trailer and pay associated boating expenses. Olinger stole $100,000 in company funds by submitting three fraudulent funding requests to his employer for a “seed tender” and “seed equipment” before his scheme was discovered by the company.
The money has been repaid to the company.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.
Federal Jury Finds Waukesha Man Guilty of Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 15, 2023, a jury found Cornelius Jackson (age 34) of Waukesha guilty of all counts with which he was charged, including four counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion, and Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking.
The evidence presented at trial established that between 2014 and 2020, Jackson used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to compel female victims to engage in commercial sex acts in cities and states across the country, including in Waukesha, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio.
The evidence showed that Jackson recruited his victims through dating apps and social media. The victims all testified that Jackson kept and controlled all of the money they made, using violence to ensure they all continued to comply with his demands. The victims testified that Jackson strangled them and that they each saw him strangle other female victims.
Jackson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 15 years of imprisonment. Further, he will be required to register as a Sex Offender for life.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation with the assistance of the Waukesha Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department, and Oneida Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Abbey M. Marzick.
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Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
414-297-1700
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Federal Indictment Returned for Obstruction of Justice and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a two-count indictment against Da’Ron Jerome Collins, 47, of Boiling Springs for obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
The indictment alleges that Collins knowingly obstructed the investigation of a matter within the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice, that is, kidnapping, a possible violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(a); and that Collins knowingly engaged in misleading conduct towards another person with the intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal offense to a law enforcement officer and a judge of the United States.
Collins faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment as to each count and is currently being held in the Spartanburg County Detention Center. A detention hearing is scheduled for Nov. 21 at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leesa Washington is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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