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27 September 2023
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Four Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to committing multiple bank robberies in Massachusetts.
Jacob Pimentel, 31, pleaded guilty to four counts of bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Dec. 20, 2023. Pimentel was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022.
Between April and May 2022, Pimentel robbed four separate banks in the greater Boston area, stealing a total of more than $6,000. Specifically, Pimentel robbed the TD Bank branch in Allston on April 25, 2022; the TD Bank branch in Brighton on May 4, 2022; the Santander Bank branch in Brookline on May 13, 2022; and the TD Bank branch in Cambridge on May 23, 2022.
The charge of bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
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 today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston and Cambridge Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Bookkeeper Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling $304,903 from Labor UnionRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Denise E. Kovacs (60, Clermont) to18 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for embezzling labor union funds. Kovacs was also ordered to pay $304,903.27 in restitution. Kovacs had pleaded guilty on February 23, 2023.
According to court documents and testimony presented at sentencing, Kovacs was the bookkeeper at Plumbers AFL-CIO Local 803, a labor union that represents plumbers and pipefitters in central Florida. During a nearly five-year period of employment, Kovacs stole $43,777 in cash from union dues and charged $261,126 in expenses on the union’s credit card. To conceal her theft, Kovacs altered internal business records which kept union officials in the dark about her ongoing embezzlement of funds.
This case was investigated by the Department of Labor, Office of Labor- Management Standards. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.
Blaine Business Owner Pleads Guilty in $600,000 Scheme to Defraud Hundreds of JobseekersRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Blaine man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after devising an employment opportunity scheme to defraud hundreds of jobseekers out of approximately $600,000, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, Charles Edward Fields, 44, was the owner and operator of a series of companies through which he pitched employment opportunities to prospective workers throughout the United States. The employment opportunities that Fields purported to provide were through his businesses, some of which included HOMESoft Systems Incorporated, WaterTek Marketing Corporation, Water Innovations Group, Inc., W I G Holdings Corporation, Mile High H20 Corporation, and the NEW H20. Fields, claimed that, after job applicants paid him an upfront deposit of approximately $3,000 to $5,000, he would hire them as sales contractors to sell products nationwide to the public, primarily home security or water filtration systems. As part of the scheme, Fields also misrepresented his affiliation with, and his authority to act on behalf of, Company A, a long-standing international company that designs and distributes various models of water machines and filtration systems.
According to court documents, Fields routinely posted nationwide online employment advertisements promising job seekers training, sales leads, and $6,000 in guaranteed monthly profit. Despite paying Fields the required upfront deposit, many of his victims never received the product or the training that they paid for as a condition of their employment. In reality, the employment opportunities never materialized as promised by Fields. In addition, Fields misrepresented to job applicants that their deposits would be securely held in escrow and subsequently refunded to them upon request. However, rather than provide victims with the promised equipment or employment opportunities, Fields instead used much of the victims’ funds for his own personal use and benefit or to refund some victims using other victims’ money. In order to conceal his fraud and stave off scrutiny, Fields lulled his victims with bogus excuses as to why he was unable to fulfill his promises or return their funds. In total, Fields defrauded at least 250 victims of at least $600,000.
Fields pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Senior Judge David S. Doty. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert is prosecuting the case.
Billings man sentenced to more than three years in prison for possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man convicted of sending two videos of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct to an undercover officer was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Ethan Andrew Schilling, 25, pleaded guilty in January to a superseding information charging him with possession of child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
In court documents, the government alleged that in March 2022, law enforcement was conducting an undercover investigation and began corresponding with Schilling on a social media application. The undercover officer posed as the relative of a 12-year-old girl. Schilling’s intentions regarding the fictitious girl became increasing sexual in nature. Schilling offered that he had “pics” and sent the undercover officer two videos of a prepubescent minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In May 2022, law enforcement served search warrant at Schilling’s residence. During an interview with law enforcement, Schilling stated that he sent the videos and acknowledged that it was illegal to send child pornography.
Zeno B. Baucus prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.
This case was initiated under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, which was launched in 2006 to combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. Through a network of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and advocacy organizations, Project Safe Childhood attempts to protect children by investigating and prosecuting offenders involved in child sexual exploitation. It is implemented through partnerships including the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The ICAC Task Force Program was created to assist state and local law enforcement agencies by enhancing their investigative response to technology facilitated crimes against children.
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Billings man charged with making threats to kill U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, threats against President Joe BidenRead the Press Release
BILLINGS — A Billings man accused of threatening to kill Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and threatening President Joe Biden appeared on an indictment on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Anthony James Cross, 29, pleaded not guilty to threats to injure and murder a United States Senator and to threats against the President. If convicted of the most serious charge, Cross faces a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Cross was detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment alleges that on April 17, 2023 in Billings, Cross threatened to assault and murder Sen. Jon Tester with intent to retaliate against Tester on account of the performance of his official duties. The indictment further alleges that on April 10, 2023 in Billings, Cross knowingly and willfully made a threat to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon, the President of the United States, in that he stated in part, “I will personally kill Joe Biden.”
An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
PACER case reference. 23-101.
The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl
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Anchorage Nonprofit Directors Indicted for Stealing $1.6 million in COVID Recovery FundsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury for using their nonprofit, House of Transformations, and other corporate entities, as part of a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in COVID-19 recovery funds.
According to court documents, Rosaline Natazha Mavaega, 41, and Esau Malele Fualema Jr., 44, submitted applications for over $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in April 2021. The ARPA funds were being administered by the Municipality of Anchorage to help businesses who were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the application, Mavaega and Fualema falsely claimed the nonprofit would be providing housing, treatment and vocational training services, and strengthened their request with inaccurate information on the finances, organization and management of House of Transformations.
In August 2021, the Municipality of Anchorage issued a check for $1,623,165, which was deposited into the House of Transformations checking account. According to the indictment, instead of using these funds for the purposes identified in the grant, the defendants moved the money into their personal bank accounts and accounts associated with other corporations under their control. They allegedly used the money to finance their for-profit business operations, pay tax dept on another business, secure a personal cash loan and buy cryptocurrency.
In December 2021, the defendants submitted applications for various corporate entities under their control for over a million dollars in loans from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, a Small Business Administration fund that assists businesses impacted by major disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic. According to court documents, the defendants falsified these applications by lying about the status of their businesses. They allegedly inflated the number of employees, made false claims about the corporations’ administration and structure, and used other people’s personal identifying information to make it appear that they were associated with the corporations’ management when they were not.
In summer 2022, Mavaega and Fualema fraudulently applied to the Municipality of Anchorage for approximately $2 million of additional ARPA grants.
Mavaega and Fualema are charged with five federal counts; one count major fraud against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1031; one count wire fraud conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§1343 and 1349; one count wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343; one count money laundering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§1956(h) and 1957; and one count aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A(a)(1). Both defendants were arrested today – Mavaega was arrested at Captain Cook Hotel, and Fualema was arrested at his residence. The defendants will make their initial U.S. District Court appearances on a later date. If convicted, they face a mandatory minimum penalty of 24 months in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska; IRS Criminal Investigation, Seattle Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes; and Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King made the announcement.
The IRS Seattle Division and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Klugman and Karen Vandergaw, and former U.S. Attorney George Tran are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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26 September 2023
Worcester Man Sentenced for Fraud and Identity Theft Charges Related to COVID-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today for fraudulently applying for business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and then spending the money on personal expenses.
Richard Oworae, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to two years in prison and one year of supervised release. On Sept. 15, 2021, Oworae pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Between late July 2020 and late August 2020, Oworae schemed to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA) by submitting applications through SBA’s website for at least three Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) totaling approximately $194,700. Oworae fraudulently applied for EIDL funding, provided false statements on the loan applications using the stolen personal identification information of another person and misappropriated the loan funds for personal use. Oworae also created fictitious companies for the purpose of fraudulently applying for EIDL funding, and spent funds obtained from that fraud on unauthorized personal expenses and to make money transfers to numerous individuals in Ghana.
EIDL funds were available to eligible individuals and businesses pursuant to the CARES Act. The provisions of the CARES Act allowed for the SBA to offer EIDL funding to business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The provisions of the EIDL program require that loan proceeds only be used on certain permissible business expenses, which can include payment of fixed business debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other business-related expenses that could have been paid had the COVID-19 disaster not occurred.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’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.
Woman who Tampered with a Witness Involved in a Federal Trial Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A woman who tampered with a witness involved in a federal trial was sentenced September 25, 2023, to 30 months in federal prison.
Jenise Colvin, age 38, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a May 5, 2023 guilty plea to conspiracy to tamper with a witness and tampering with a witness.
Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that Colvin and her co-defendant, Michael Lynn Ashford, spoke about their plan to contact the witness who had called 911 after a firearm was pointed at the witness while at a gas station in Dubuque. Colvin then called the witness. When Colvin spoke to the witness, she told the witness that they knew personal information about the witness, including name and address. In imposing its sentence, the district court expressed that witness tampering goes to the core of the justice system.
Colvin was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Colvin was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Colvin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
Co-defendant Michael Lynn Ashford has not yet been sentenced. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for each count of witness tampering.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Dubuque Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 22-CR- 1037-02.
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West Virginia man sentenced for methamphetamine chargeRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Jonathon Andrew Swiger, age 35, of Belington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 172 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Swiger traveled from Marietta, Ohio, to Upshur County, West Virginia, to sell methamphetamine. A search of Swiger’s vehicle yielded methamphetamine, a gun, a black safe, and $2,997.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
United States Obtains More Than $370 Million in Judgments Against Kentucky Businessman and His Companies for Laboratory Testing Scheme That Targeted MedicareRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces today that the United States has obtained more than $370 million in judgments against a Kentucky businessman and his companies for a laboratory testing scheme that targeted the Medicare program.
In August 2022, the United States filed a complaint-in-intervention against Rajen Shah and his companies United Diagnostics Lab, Tomoka Medical Lab, Tennessee Valley Regional Laboratory, Luminus Diagnostics, and Golden Rule Management for violations of the False Claims Act. The complaint alleged that Shah caused his laboratories to bill Medicare for expensive molecular tests that were not ordered by a licensed healthcare provider.
On September 21, 2023, the district court granted the United States’ motion for default judgment and awarded judgment in favor of the United States and against the defendants in the amount of $105,634,097.50 for Shah, $6,159,118 for Tomoka Medical Lab, Inc., $23,996,305.50 for Tennessee Valley Regional Laboratories, LLC, $75,478,674.00 for Luminus Diagnostics, LLC, $105,634,097.50 for Golden Rule Management, LLC, and $54,587,325.00 for United Diagnostics Lab, LLC.
“The integrity of our healthcare system depends on the government being able to rely on accurate and truthful information submitted by laboratories, and that labs only bill for services ordered by a beneficiary’s doctor or nurse practitioner,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “We will continue to hold people accountable when they disregard Medicare’s regulations.”
“Providers who seek to boost their own profits by submitting inaccurate billing information to federal health care programs like Medicare undermine the integrity of these programs, which beneficiaries rely on for safe and effective health care services,” stated Acting Special Agent in Charge Julie Rivera of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our agency, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate health care fraud schemes, including those involving providers allegedly submitting fraudulent claims in violation of the False Claims Act.”
In 2021, Shah received a jail sentence for a criminal contempt charge stemming from his violation of court orders related to the United States’ fraud investigation.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Keefe.
The False Claims Act is a federal statute originally enacted in 1863 in response to defense contractor fraud during the American Civil War. It allows the United States to recover damages and penalties for the false or fraudulent submission of claims seeking reimbursement from the government. The United States intervened in a lawsuit originally brought by Jacqueline Cushing, a former Tomoka employee, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. The Act permits private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery.
The case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Jacqueline Cushing v. Rajen Shah, et al, Case No. 19-cv-2997-T-33TGW.
United States Files Forfeiture Action to Recover Cryptocurrency Traceable to Fraud and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office filed a civil forfeiture action to recover cryptocurrency alleged to be the proceeds of a “pig-butchering” fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident and involved in money laundering. Specifically, the government seeks to forfeit 412,543.555 Tether (USDT) and 100.896 Binance Coin (BNB) seized from two accounts located at Binance.com, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian. Collectively, this cryptocurrency has a current estimated value of around $434,000.
In early 2023, an investigation began into a pig-butchering scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident. In a pig-butchering scheme, scammers obtain funds from victims using manipulative tactics. The scammer establishes a level of trust with a victim in online communications and then entices the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. Often the victim is enticed to make additional payments, before realizing they are a victim of fraud.
As alleged in court documents, after targeting a Massachusetts victim and fostering an online relationship, scammers claiming to have access to profitable investment opportunities induced the victim to invest personal funds into a fake cryptocurrency investment platform. Law enforcement was able to trace cryptocurrency involved in the fraud and money laundering to two Binance accounts, where it was seized.
It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses. It is also a violation of federal law to conduct, or attempt to conduct, a financial transaction involving property which is known to represent the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, knowing that such transaction is designed to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of those proceeds of unlawful activity. The complaint alleges that the defendant cryptocurrency is traceable to proceeds of wire fraud and was involved in money laundering. A civil forfeiture action allows third parties to assert claims to property, which must be resolved before the property can be forfeited to the United States and returned to victims.
This is the seventh civil forfeiture action the U.S. Attorney’s Office has ever filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams and pig-butchering fraud scams – should contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. The civil forfeiture action is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan T. Mockler of the Asset Recovery Unit.
The details contained in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The United States Attorney’s Office has not filed a corresponding criminal action on the matter.
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and HUD Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis Host a Safe Housing Seminar Focused on Promoting Health and Safety in HUD-Assisted HousingRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis hosted a Safe Housing Seminar today focused on promoting the health and safety of tenants living in HUD-assisted housing.
The seminar, which took place at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia as part of the HUD Office of Inspector General’s new community outreach initiative, focused on eliminating environmental hazards and combatting sexual misconduct in HUD-assisted housing. The topics included effective safe housing strategies, environmental justice concepts and issues, and how to recognize and report sexual misconduct in housing.
Participants included representatives from organizations who routinely work with vulnerable populations most likely to be impacted by environmental injustices, such as lead paint in their homes, or become victims of sexual harassment in housing by their landlords, property managers, maintenance staff, or other housing personnel in positions of authority. Organizations represented included local law enforcement agencies, legal aid offices, fair housing organizations, shelters, and transitional housing providers. Participants were encouraged to share their experiences, concerns, and expertise to build future partnerships and provide aid and assistance to beneficiaries when reporting matters related to health and safety in housing.
“My office and our investigative partners at HUD OIG are committed to the comprehensive environmental justice strategies aimed at reversing environmental inequities in underserved communities that rely heavily on HUD’s housing assistance programs,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Through our longstanding partnership, we will also continue to work together to enforce the Fair Housing Act by investigating and prosecuting discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, and familial status. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by the Fair Housing Act, and together we will investigate and prosecute offenders taking advantage of tenants and prospective tenants in violation of the law.”
“Environmental justice violations and sexual harassment in housing are egregious violations of a person’s right to safe and fair housing under federal law,” Inspector General Oliver Davis said. “We are working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to spread the word about ways to help victims who currently are experiencing these issues or who have been impacted by them in the past. Outreach events like the one we hosted today are an important way to increase awareness, share information, and build strong partnerships in the community to help call out and eliminate these problems together.”
If you or someone you know has information about environmental hazards and unsafe unit conditions in HUD-assisted housing or has been a victim of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual exploitation—even if the events occurred years ago—report it to the HUD Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or visit the website at www.hudoig.gov/hotline.
You may also contact the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-844-380-6178 or visit www.civilrights.justice.gov. Individuals who believe they may have been victims of environmental injustices or housing discrimination may also contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 615 Chestnut Street, Suite 1250, Philadelphia, PA 19106, ATTN: Environmental Justice Coordinator Erin Lindgren, USAPAE-EnvironmentalJustice@usdoj.gov, or Civil Rights Coordinator Lauren DeBruicker, USAPAE.CivilRights@usdoj.gov.
HUD OIG Sexual Misconduct in Housing Public Service Announcement: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqXSMjUZIZU
HUD OIG Environmental Justice Public Service Announcement: https://youtu.be/Xk4uExYYph0
DOJ Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative: www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Announces over $6 Million in Department of Justice Programs Grant FundingRead the Press Release
KNOXVLLE, Tenn. On September 25, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee announced $6,487,260 in Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) funding.
- Blount County, County Executive - $22,147.
- City of Chattanooga - $192,244.
- City of Kingsport - $28,103.
- City of Knoxville - $154,782.
- City of Morristown - $18,819.
- Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking - $950,000.
- County of Washington - $31,657.
- First Things First Inc. - $764,508.
- Hamilton County Board of Education - $1,000,000.
- Knox County - $1,300,000.
- Knoxville Leadership Foundation - $900,000.
- Rescue 180, Inc. - $1,125,000.
The Office of Justice Programs is a federal agency that provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and uphold the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. OJP’s six program offices support state, local, and tribal community safety efforts; crime victim assistance and compensation programs; juvenile justice and child protection activities; sex offender management; a wide range of training and technical assistance opportunities; ground-breaking criminal justice research; and, statistical collections covering a host of justice system topics.
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. Additional information about FY23 awards can be found on OJP’s website here: www.ojp.gov/funding/explore/ojp-award-data. For more information, please contact ojpcongressional@ojp.usdoj.gov.
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Tulsa Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding over $8 Million from OSU Medical CenterRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. –A Broken Arrow woman who defrauded more than eight million dollars from Oklahoma State University Medical Center (OSUMC) pleaded guilty today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
Leslie Ann Ameen, 62, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark T. Steele and pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
“Ameen brazenly defrauded a state-funded institution without regard for the impact it might have on the medical needs of the community it serves and its related educational mission,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office together with our law enforcement partners will continue to hold fraudsters and embezzlers accountable for their criminal conduct.”
“The defendant exploited a healthcare system funded by taxpayer dollars in order to line her own pockets,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who seek to enrich themselves by diverting critical healthcare resources from where they are truly needed.”
Ameen admitted that, while employed as a Telecommunications Specialist at OSUMC, she devised and executed a scheme to defraud OSUMC. Specifically, she arranged for OSUMC to purchase electronic devices, including laptops, phones, and tablets from Techsico Enterprises Solutions, LLC, a company that provided telecommunications support services to OSUMC. Ameen further admitted that she arranged for the devices to be purchased so that she could fraudulently abscond with the devices and sell them for a profit. To accomplish this objective, Ameen caused Techsico to email her invoices for the devices, which she falsely represented to Techsico were being acquired for OSUMC’s business operations. Ameen then falsified the invoices by, among other things, forging the signature of her direct supervisor at OSUMC. As a result, Ameen caused OSUMC to pay for the devices without the knowledge or permission of her supervisors. Once the devices were acquired, she stole and then sold them to acquaintances and other individuals for a personal profit. In total, her scheme resulted in a loss to OSUMC of approximately $8,293,611.00.
Ameen faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain/loss caused by her actions. Ameen further faces forfeiture of any property constituting, or derived from, or traceable to, the proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, from the fraud, including, but not limited to a money judgment in an amount of at least $8,293,611.00. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A date for sentencing has not been set.
Ameen was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case.
Trinitarios Gang Member Charged in Connection with Two Shootings in Queens and Brooklyn on the Same DayRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Abel Mora, a member of the Trinitarios, a violent street gang, with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition related to two separate shootings Mora allegedly committed in Queens and Brooklyn on August 13, 2023. Mora was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the charges and arrest.
“As alleged, this defendant was a one-man crime wave, who engaged in a broad daylight gunfight in Queens, then robbed and shot someone in Brooklyn later that same day,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will continue working tirelessly to dismantle gangs and reduce gun violence by prosecuting violent offenders who put the safety of communities in our district at extreme risk.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force and the NYPD’s 75th and 101st Precincts for their outstanding work and assistance in this investigation and prosecution.
“Gang members like Mora continue to plague our city with his blatant disregard for the safety of our community and his reckless indifference to human life. It is only through our local and federal partnerships that we are able to put a stop to these violent repeat offenders,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. “This case is another example of how the FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to keeping the streets of New York City Safe for everyone in our community.”
“Today’s indictment is a result of the tight focus the NYPD and our law enforcement partners maintain to identify and remove from the streets the individuals who are most significantly driving crime and violence in New York City neighborhoods,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “I thank our colleagues at the FBI and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District, in particular, for their unwavering dedication to our shared public safety mission.”
As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, the charges stem from two shootings allegedly committed by the defendant on August 13, 2023 within a span of nine hours. At approximately 1:05 p.m. in Far Rockaway, Queens, Mora exchanged gunfire with individuals inside of a vehicle as they chased each other throughout a residential neighborhood in the vicinity of New Haven Avenue and Beach 13th Street. The shooting, which was captured on video, arose from a fight that broke out between an occupant of the vehicle and Mora’s associate. Residents of the neighborhood, including children, ran for cover to escape harm.
The second shooting occurred at approximately 9:18 p.m. outside of 3441 Fulton Street in East New York, Brooklyn. Mora allegedly shot a victim and robbed him of his backpack. Video surveillance capturing this incident showed that Mora committed this violent crime outside of a busy convenience store with customers and children present inside and outside the location. Immediately following the shooting, Mora fled to Etna Street with the stolen property, where he was picked up by an associate on a scooter. The victim survived. A total of ten 9mm Luger cartridges were possessed by Mora in the two shootings.
This morning, law enforcement recovered a loaded 9mm firearm with a 17-round magazine inside Mora’s residence.
At the time of the shootings, Mora had a prior felony conviction for assault.
The charge in the indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Mora faces up to 15 years in prison on each of the two counts.
This case was brought as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily J. Dean and Dana Rehnquist are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ABEL MORA
Age: 22
Far Rockaway, QueensE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-383 (FB)
St. Louis Park Man Sentenced to Prison in Cyberstalking CaseRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Louis Park man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for cyberstalking two victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea and court documents, between September 2020 through December 2021, Julyen Alonzo Martin, 30, cyberstalked and threatened to kill, injure, and harass his victims. In violation of orders of protection issued against him, Martin sent numerous threats and unwanted messages via text message and social media applications directed at the victims and their families. Martin stated in one series of threats, “I will [expletive] up your life as long as I live. Someone better come kill me right now. Before I kill somebody. You know what I wanna do.” As a part of his cyberstalking scheme, Martin created social media accounts posing as one of the victims online and posted harmful allegations about both victims. According to court documents, Martin also contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”), falsely alleging that one of the victims was using their work computer to view child pornography. Martin emailed and called the victim’s employer several times claiming the victim was a pedophile being investigated for child endangerment. Martin also posed as a federal agent in furtherance of his cyberstalking scheme and claimed to be an FBI Special Agent intending to search the victim’s place of work for evidence.
Martin was sentenced on September 22, 2023, in U.S. District Court before Judge Susan Richard Nelson on two counts of cyberstalking. Judge Nelson described the case as “one of the most vicious and cruel cyberstalking cases” she’s ever encountered. Judge Nelson reflected on the impact of Martin’s actions on the victims, stating that Martin committed acts “capable of destroying the lives” of his victims.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.
South Texan sentenced for summer smuggling of 70 in semiRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 60-year-old Mission resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for transportation of an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Thomas Taylor Charlton pleaded guilty May 2.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Charlton to serve 51 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding the incident that described 70 people locked in a trailer with only hatchets to exit.
Before imposing the sentence, Judge Morales also heard additional evidence regarding his history which includes a conviction for aggravated battery.
On July 10, 2022, Charlton arrived at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. He claimed he was hauling chili peppers, but a K-9 alerted to the trailer. Law enforcement had to use bolt cutters to remove the lock and gain access to the trailer. They also found hatchets located in the trailer.
Upon further investigation, authorities discovered 70 people illegally present in the United States concealed behind pallets of produce in the locked refrigerated trailer portion of the tractor trailer Charlton was driving.
They also found a handheld walkie talkie in the trailer and cab of the tractor, both on the same frequency that would allow communication between the tractor and trailer.
The key to the trailer was found in the cab.
Charlton will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liesel Roscher and Patrick Overman prosecuted the case.
Smuggler sentenced for transporting five people in jet skisRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A South Texas man has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling aliens in two personal watercrafts, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Fernando Cerda Jr., 26, Mission, pleaded guilty July 3.
U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered Cerda to serve 48 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court viewed images of how the undocumented aliens were sealed in the hollowed engine compartments of two jet skis. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the egregious manner in which the migrants were transported.
On April 24, Cerda approached the Falfurrias checkpoint towing two jet skis. A K-9 soon alerted to them. Law enforcement conducted an inspection and discovered five aliens concealed inside the watercrafts. The aliens reported they feared for their lives while they were trapped in the jet skis.
Cerda will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lamont prosecuted the case.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Daniel Quintero, age 38, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to serve 72 months in federal prison for receiving hundreds of images and videos depicting child pornography.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Alfred A. Watson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
As part of his earlier guilty plea, Quintero admitted that from on or about May 1, 2019 through March 2, 2022, he downloaded hundreds of videos and images of child pornography onto multiple electronic devices and a cloud storage account.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also sentenced Quintero to 10 years of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment. Quintero was also ordered to forfeit four electronic devices that he used to commit his crimes, and to pay a total of $9,000 in restitution to three victims whose abuse was depicted in the images Quintero possessed. Quintero will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
This case was investigated by FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Colonie Police Department, Rotterdam Police Department, and the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Allen J. Vickey prosecuted this case as a part of Project Safe Childhood.
Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
San Francisco Daycare Worker Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Using Access to Children to Produce, Possess, and Distribute Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – Jace Wong was sentenced to serve 300 months in prison for production, attempted production, distribution, and possession of child pornography in connection with a scheme to take pictures and videos of four- to six-year-olds that he could share on child pornography sites online announced U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. James Donato, United States District Judge.
Wong pleaded guilty to the charges on April 24, 2023. According to his plea agreement, Wong admitted that beginning March 19, 2021, while he was employed at a daycare facility in San Francisco, he surreptitiously took sexually explicit photos and videos of prepubescent minors at the facility while they were going to the bathroom. Wong acknowledged that the children were approximately four to six years old and that the photos and videos he captured depicted the prepubescent minors’ genitalia. Wong admitted that he distributed those videos and images online in group chats and in private messages.
“This case is heartbreaking, to say the least,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey. “Jace Wong worked at daycare facilities and victimized at least six young children in his care, not to mention other minors whose images he possessed and distributed. It is not possible to measure the harm he caused. His decades-long prison sentence, however, makes crystal clear that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to remove perpetrators who victimize our most vulnerable citizens — young children — from society so they cannot continue their heinous behavior.”
“Wong's actions were shocking. Instead of attending to their safety, Wong exploited children of tender years for his own gratification. His sentence makes clear child predators will be held accountable,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Tripp. ”The FBI is committed to protecting our most vulnerable citizens and apprehending sexual offenders.”
Wong admitted in his plea agreement that between August 2019 and December 2020, he worked at a separate daycare center in Livermore, Calif., where he took at least three videos of the prepubescent minors in his care. The victims were approximately three to four years old. He posted photos and videos of his victims on the dark web in October and December 2020. Wong admitted that these videos contained hands-on sexual contact. He stopped recording these videos when the victims moved away from him. Further, Wong admitted that he possessed and distributed visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including at least one video of material containing child sexual abuse. Wong was arrested after he sent a video containing child pornography to an undercover officer and investigators were able to deduce where the video was created.
On October 18, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Wong charging him with five counts of production or attempted production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e); one count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2) and (b); and one count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). Wong pleaded guilty to all the counts.
Wong has been in custody since his arrest in April of 2021. He will begin serving his prison term immediately. In addition to the prison term, Judge Donato also ordered Wong to serve 15 years of supervised release which will begin after his term of imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey Davidson, with assistance from Kevin Costello and Maria Sunga. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with assistance from U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin.
Right-Wing Extremist Convicted of Murder and Attempted Murder After Drive-By Shooting at Federal CourthouseRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury convicted Robert Alvin Justus, Jr. of aiding and abetting the murder of Protective Services Officer (“PSO”) Dave Patrick Underwood and aiding and abetting the attempted murder of a second PSO in the May 29, 2020, drive-by shooting at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland, Calif., announced U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) San Francisco Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The verdict follows a two-week trial before the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, United States District Judge.
The evidence at trial established that Justus, 33, of Millbrae, was the driver of the vehicle from which Steven Carrillo, 35, of Santa Cruz fired the gunshots that killed Officer Underwood and wounded the second officer. The trial evidence demonstrated that, at approximately 9:27 p.m., on May 29, 2020, Justus parked a white Ford Econoline van directly across the street from the federal building in Oakland on Jefferson Street. The van was on the southeast corner in the spot closest to the intersection with an unobstructed view of the guard post where Officer Underwood and his partner that evening stood guard to protect the building and its occupants. At approximately 9:44 p.m., the exterior lights of the van turned on and Justus drove the van north on Jefferson Street toward the guard post. The passenger-side sliding door opened, and Carrillo fired numerous rounds from an AR-style rifle toward the guard post, killing Officer Underwood and seriously injuring his partner.
The incident set off an eight-day manhunt that resulted in Carrillo’s capture at his residence in Ben Lomond, Calif., -- but not before Carrillo killed a Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Deputy and injured another. Carrillo opened fire on the deputies when they arrived at his property. Several days later, after Justus became aware that he was under investigation, he travelled to the Federal Building in San Francisco, met with the FBI, and admitted to his involvement in the shooting including his role as the driver of the vehicle. Justus claimed—during that meeting and in his trial testimony—that Carrillo had forced him to participate in the shooting against his will.
The trial evidence established that Justus and Carrillo shared an allegiance to a right-wing anti-government movement called Boogaloo. Both men’s social media activity and other correspondence in the months before the shooting demonstrated a strong desire to carry out violent acts against federal law enforcement officers and other public servants. In February of 2020, Justus commented on Facebook that he had a “bloodlust for police.” In April 2020, Justus corresponded with an armed anti-government militia group he was interested in joining. On May 27, 2020, Justus posted an image depicting a police officer being shot in the head with a caption reading “Speak to cops in a language they understand.” On the day before the shooting, Carrillo posted a video of a mob attacking police cruisers and commented, “[T]his needs to be nationwide. It’s a great opportunity to target the specialty soup bois”—a Boogaloo slang term for federal agents. Justus responded to Carrillo’s post that same day, writing “Let’s boogie.” The following day, the two met in a San Leandro parking lot to go to Oakland. They planned to capitalize on protests that night in response to the death of George Floyd, hoping that their attack would spark further anti-government violence.
The trial evidence also showed that, after arriving in Oakland the evening of May 29, Justus and Carrillo circled the downtown area several times. In the hour leading up to the shooting, Justus exited the van twice to scout the area on foot and locate targets, returning to the van both times. Following the fatal shooting, Justus drove Carrillo back to Milbrae and the two separated. In the days following the murder, Justus destroyed digital and physical evidence connecting him to the shooting, continued to post anti-law enforcement content on Facebook, and corresponded with Carrillo about future meetings.
The jury convicted Justus of murder of a federal employee and attempted murder of a federal employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1114(3), 1111. Justus now faces a mandatory term of life in prison. Judge Gonzalez Rogers scheduled Justus’s sentencing hearing for February 24, 2024.
On February 11, 2022, Carrillo pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to the May 29, 2020, shooting—use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j)(1) and 2, and attempted murder of a person assisting an officer of the United States Government, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1114(3), 1111. On June 3, 2022, Judge Gonzalez Rogers sentenced Carrillo to serve 41 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for his role in the crimes. Carrillo also received a life sentence in Santa Cruz County Superior Court in connection with his murder of the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Deputy.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan U. Lee and John C. Bostic are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Patricia Mahoney, Yenni Weinberg, and Lynette Dixon. The case is being investigated by the FBI, the ATF, the FPS, and the U.S. Marshal Service with assistance from the Oakland Police Department and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Rhode Island Man Charged with Possessing Twelve Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Freddy Rodriguez, 38, of West Warwick, Rhode Island, has been charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Rodriguez initially appeared before Magistrate Judge Doyle on September 20, 2023, and a detention hearing was delayed until September 25, 2023. Rodriguez was released on conditions of pretrial supervision at the conclusion of the hearing on September 25, 2023.
According to court documents, federal agents encountered Rodriguez behind a rented camp in Highgate, Vermont the night of September 18 into September 19, 2023. Agents observed Rodriguez walking to the shore of Lake Champlain at approximately 12:05 am carrying a bag. After agents received notice that a vessel had entered the United States on the lake traveling south near the camp’s location, they observed Rodriguez transfer objects from his bag into a kayak, and began to drag the kayak into the water. When agents confronted him, Rodriguez unsuccessfully tried to flee. The objects Rodriguez had loaded into the kayak were brick-like objects wrapped in black cellophane-style packaging containing a white powder that tested presumptively positive for the presence of cocaine. The packages and their contents weighed approximately 12.2 kilograms (approximately 26.4 pounds).
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint contains allegations only and that Rodriguez is presumed innocent until and unless he is convicted of a crime. As presently charged, Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment for the possession of more than 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute it. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts and rapid response of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Border Patrol.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Lasher. Rodriguez is represented by William Keefe, Esq. of Boston, Massachusetts.
Randolph Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking Runaway MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Randolph man has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston of sex trafficking a 15-year-old minor who ran away from home.
Admilson Gomes Pires, 26, was convicted on Sept. 22, 2023 following a five-day jury trial of one count of sex trafficking of a child and one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a child. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2023. Pires was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2020.
“Mr. Pires preyed on a vulnerable child, subjected her to unimaginable exploitation and pocketed the profits and now he will pay the price,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Sex traffickers like Mr. Pires inflict immeasurable trauma and harm. This conduct is despicable and has no place in a civilized society. This Office has created a dedicated team of prosecutors who are working tirelessly with our federal, state and local partners to hold sex traffickers accountable and bring justice to the brave survivors of these crimes."
“Today’s conviction is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to ensure that justice is served to predators who exploit and harm our children for their own financial gain,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “When human beings are treated as commodities, they are not only being abused physically, but emotionally and financially. We thank the brave survivor in this case who worked with us to bring Mr. Pires to justice, and the jury for holding him accountable.”
According to evidence presented at trial, in February 2019, Pires met the minor victim who had run from her home in Western Massachusetts and began a sexual relationship with her. Pires groomed the minor victim and, in July 2019, began trafficking her in Boston and Norwood. He first sold the minor victim for sex to a family member of his in Dorchester and then created and posted a commercial sex advertisement online that contained explicit photographs and a video of the minor victim. Pires told the victim that she would have to engage in prostitution with strangers if she wanted to stay in a relationship with him.
Pires used drugs to manipulate an adult female into agreeing to harbor the minor victim at her apartment in Norwood for sex trafficking. He then arranged for sex buyers to have sex with the minor victim in exchange for money he kept.
On Aug. 1, 2019, local law enforcement located the minor victim in Norwood and returned her home.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The charge of sex trafficking of a child carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk and Norfolk County District Attorney’s Offices; the Massachusetts State Police; and the Arlington, Boston, Fall River, Norwood, Randolph and Springfield Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Moran, Chief of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley, Chief of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit prosecuted the case.
Physician and two pharmacists charged for $170M fraud schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON - A 13-count indictment was unsealed today charging two pharmacists and a physician for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud, kickback and money laundering scheme.
A federal grand jury in Houston returned the 13-count indictment Sept. 7, which was unsealed today.
According to court documents, Shalondria Simpson, 45, Houston, is a pharmacist who owned and operated two pharmacies in Houston: Advance Pharmacy and TruCare Pharmacy. Simpson’s twin sister, physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp, 45, Allen, allegedly referred prescriptions to Advance and TruCare in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes. Shayla Bryant, 38, Houston, was a pharmacist and Advance and TruCare’s business manager.
Between 2016 and 2022, Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant allegedly conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP) for high reimbursing drugs that were often medically unnecessary and induced by kickbacks and bribes. DOL-OWCP administers workers’ compensation benefits on behalf of the Federal Employee’s Compensation Act (FECA),
Further, Simpson, Simpson-Camp, Bryant and others allegedly conspired to pay and receive these kickbacks. Simpson and Bryan allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, often through shell entities or in cash, directly to physicians like Simpson-Camp, a clinic owner, a medical assistant and other marketers. In total, Simpson’s pharmacies allegedly submitted approximately $170 million in fraudulent claims to FECA through DOL-OWCP.
To conceal the scheme and disguise its proceeds, Simpson also allegedly conspired to launder the proceeds of the criminal activity through financial transactions greater than $10,000. According to the indictment, after learning of the investigation, Simpson attempted to cover her tracks by converting criminal proceeds to cash and transferring funds among over 10 bank accounts and a cryptocurrency wallet. She also allegedly solicited others’ help in liquidating assets and concealing her ownership and control of those assets.
The indictment charges Simpson, Simpson-Camp and Bryant with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Simpson is also charged with five counts of paying health care kickbacks, one of which also charges Bryant. The indictment further charges Simpson with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and five counts of money laundering. If convicted, Simpson, Simpson-Campq and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks as well as 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Simpson and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of paying health care kickbacks. Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to launder money instruments and 10 years for each count of money laundering.
The U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, FBI and Veterans Affairs – OIG conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fyffe and Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Physician and Two Pharmacists Charged for $170M Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A 13-count indictment was unsealed today charging two pharmacists and a physician for their roles in a multimillion-dollar health care fraud, kickback, and money laundering scheme.
According to court documents, Shalondria Simpson, 45, of Houston, is a pharmacist who owned and operated two pharmacies in Houston: Advance Pharmacy (Advance) and TruCare Pharmacy (TruCare). Simpson’s twin sister, physician Lashondria Simpson-Camp, 45, of Allen, Texas, allegedly referred prescriptions to Advance and TruCare in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes. Shayla Bryant, 38, of Houston, was a pharmacist and Advance and TruCare’s business manager.
Between 2016 and 2022, Simpson, Simpson-Camp, and Bryant allegedly conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (DOL-OWCP), which administered workers’ compensation benefits on behalf of the Federal Employee’s Compensation Act (FECA), for high reimbursing drugs that were often medically unnecessary and induced by kickbacks and bribes. Further, Simpson, Simpson-Camp, Bryant, and others allegedly conspired to pay and receive these kickbacks. Simpson and Bryan allegedly paid illegal kickbacks and bribes, often through shell entities or in cash, directly to physicians like Simpson-Camp, a clinic owner, a medical assistant, and other marketers. In total, Simpson’s pharmacies allegedly submitted approximately $170 million in fraudulent claims to FECA through DOL-OWCP.
To conceal the scheme and disguise its proceeds, Simpson also allegedly conspired to launder the proceeds of the criminal activity through financial transactions greater than $10,000. According to the indictment, after learning of the investigation, Simpson attempted to cover her tracks by converting criminal proceeds to cash, and transferring funds among over ten bank accounts and a cryptocurrency wallet. She also allegedly solicited others’ help in liquidating assets and concealing her ownership and control of those assets.
The indictment charges Simpson, Simpson-Camp, and Bryant with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Simpson is also charged with five counts of paying health care kickbacks, one of which also charges Bryant. The indictment further charges Simpson with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and five counts of money laundering. If convicted, Simpson, Simpson-Camp, and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay and receive health care kickbacks, and 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Simpson and Bryant each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of paying health care kickbacks. Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to launder money instruments and 10 years for each count of money laundering.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), Acting Special Agent in Charge Casey Howard of the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Acting Special Agent in Charge David L. Martinez of the FBI Houston Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office made the announcement.
The USPS-OIG, DOL-OIG, FBI, and VA-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fyffe for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
New Castle Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Forrest Gilmore pled guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, and to distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Gilmore, age 28, of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on January 29, 2024, at 1:45 p.m.
The law provides for a sentence of at least one year and up to 90 years in prison and a fine of up to $6,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Modesto Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Myron Kilgore, 44, of Modesto, pleaded guilty Monday to being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 2, 2021, Kilgore was arrested in Modesto after a Glock style P80 handgun was discovered under the driver’s side floormat during a search of his vehicle. The handgun was loaded with six rounds of ammunition. Kilgore is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Modesto Police Department, and the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
Kilgore is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Dec. 18, 2023. Kilgore faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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.
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.
Mexican National Residing in Stockton Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jose Cruz Ivan Aispuro, 38, a Mexican national residing in Stockton, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, between November 2018 and December 2019, Aispuro and co-defendant Frank Guzman, of Stockton, conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl. As part of this conspiracy, Aispuro supplied heroin that Guzman sold to a confidential source and undercover agent on three occasions. Aispuro also supplied 500 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that Guzman sold to the undercover agent on two occasions. Approximately 4.5 kilograms of heroin and $42,066 in cash were seized from Aispuro’s residence. Aispuro has agreed to forfeit the $42,066 to the United States as part of his plea agreement. Approximately 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and 2.8 kilograms of heroin were seized from Guzman’s residence.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the San Joaquin Metropolitan Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case.
Aispuro is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on Jan. 9, 2024. Guzman is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 12, 2023. Aispuro and Guzman each face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentences, however, will 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.
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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
McAlester Resident Sentenced for Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Crystal Marie Haworth, age 33, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 240 months in prison for Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.
The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Pittsburg Country Sheriff’s Office.
On September 18, 2023, Haworth pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. According to investigators, on July 15, 2020, Haworth stabbed the victim to death at a McAlester residence, drove to the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, waived her Miranda rights, and confessed to the murder.
The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable David C. Joseph, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Haworth will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Department of Justice Criminal Division Organized Crime and Gang Section Trial Attorney Christopher Usher and Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at sentencing.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Federal Prison for Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Judge James K. Bredar yesterday sentenced Elias Nick Costianes, age 44, formerly of Nottingham, Maryland, to 24 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after Costianes’s plea of guilty to possession of firearms and ammunition by an unlawful user of any controlled substance.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.
According to his plea agreement, on February 12, 2021, the FBI executed search warrants for Costianes’s residence, his vehicle, and his cellphone. Costianes was taken into custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Costianes was advised of his Miranda rights and voluntarily agreed to be interviewed. Costianes told agents that he kept four firearms in cases in the basement. Law enforcement searched the basement and recovered the four firearms described by Costianes: a 9mm pistol; a M&P 15 semi-automatic rifle; a .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle; and a 12-gauge shotgun, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition, including 9mm, .22 caliber, .223 caliber, and shotgun cartridges. A box containing 100 rounds of 9mm ammunition was also found in the trunk of Costianes’ vehicle. Two of the firearms were semiautomatic and capable of accepting a large-capacity magazine.
As detailed in his plea agreement, during the search, law enforcement also recovered marijuana and four vials containing either testosterone enanthate or testosterone cypionate, both controlled substances. The electronic evidence from Costianes’ phone, including photographs and text message conversations, revealed that Costianes illegally used cocaine, testosterone, and marijuana and that his use of each substance was consistent, prolonged, and recent. Costianes further admitted that he not only purchased cocaine and testosterone for personal use, but that he also conspired to distribute, and did distribute, cocaine and testosterone to others.
United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey J. Izant and P. Michael Cunningham, who prosecuted the federal case. Mr. Barron also thanked Paralegals Andrew Branigan, and Mark Phares, and Intelligence Research Specialist Angelina Thompson for their assistance.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Man with Loaded Firearm at Charlotte Transportation Center Is Sentenced to 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell sentenced Everett Jamal Taite, 30, of Charlotte, to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a stolen firearm at the Charlotte Transportation Center, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Brian Mein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on October 4, 2022, law enforcement encountered Taite in a public restroom at the Charlotte Transportation Center where they observed him holding a small bag of cocaine. Court records show that when Taite was confronted by law enforcement, he attempted to put the cocaine into his backpack, failed to follow commands of the officer, resisted arrest, struck the officer in the face, and stated that he had a gun. Taite was taken into custody shortly thereafter. In Taite’s waistband, officers found a loaded .45 caliber pistol that had been reported stolen. Taite has previously been convicted in state court of conspiracy to commit common law robbery, two counts of felony breaking and entering, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On April 17, 2023, Taite pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted 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.
Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for His Role in Wide-Ranging Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Puerto Rican man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for his role in a wide-ranging cocaine trafficking conspiracy.
Abel Rodriguez Rivera, 35, of Ponce, Puerto Rico was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to five years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. On March 10, 2023, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
Following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization in the Fitchburg area. Beginning in July 2019, court authorized interceptions of wire and electronic communications to and from telephones used by members and suppliers of the drug trafficking organization revealed that Torres was a cocaine dealer who supplied cocaine to the drug trafficking organization.
Over the course of the investigation, over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine, over 50 grams of crack cocaine, a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000 in U.S. currency were seized.
Torres is the 13th defendant to be sentenced in this case. All 18 defendants have been convicted – either by guilty plea or jury conviction following trial. The remaining convicted defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in October and November 2023.Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments and U.S. Postal Inspection Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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.
Los Angeles County Trio Found Guilty of Laundering Target Gift Cards Purchased by Victims of Transnational Fraud RingsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Three Los Angeles County residents were found guilty by a jury today of scheming to launder the proceeds of scams targeting older adults and other victims who were conned into buying Target gift cards, supposedly to resolve various financial problems.
At the conclusion of a 10-day trial, a jury convicted the three defendants – Blade Bai, 35, of El Monte; Bowen Hu, 28, of Hacienda Heights; and Tairan Shi, 29, of Diamond Bar – of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The jury also found Bai guilty of an additional charge of conspiring to commit money laundering, an offense he committed after being freed on bond in the initial case.
Hu and Shi were remanded into custody immediately after today’s verdict, and Bai has been in custody since February 2022
According to evidence presented at trial, telephone scammers based overseas lied to victims to persuade them to buy one or more Target gift cards to fix nonexistent problems. Some victims received calls from fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers or government employees, who claimed the victims’ identities had been stolen or warrants had been issued for the victims’ arrest, and that money in the form of Target gift cards was necessary to remedy the problems.
Other victims were tricked into responding to tech support emails that purported to be from well-known companies and claimed there were serious problems relating to the victims’ financial accounts that could only be resolved by paying money in the form of Target gift cards.
As a result of the scammers’ lies and misrepresentations, the victims were convinced to buy Target gift cards – often more than one – typically in increments of $500 and to read the card numbers and access codes over the phone to the scam artists.
Bai, Hu and Shi obtained more than 5,000 gift cards from a group of unknown persons in China that called itself the “Magic Lamp” and sold gift card information via the online messenging application WeChat.
The defendants used WeChat to coordinate the distribution of gift cards to “runners,” who used the gift cards at Target stores primarily in Los Angeles and Orange counties to purchase consumer electronics, other gift cards and other items, according to court documents. Through the purchases and other transactions at multiple Target stores, the defendants and their co-conspirators sought to conceal the fact that the gift cards had been originally funded with fraudulent proceeds.
Prosecutors estimate that the defendants laundered more than $2.5 million in gift cards between approximately June 2019 and November 2020.
Bai was arrested on a criminal complaint in this matter in November 2020 and was released on bond. Within days of his release from federal custody, Bai engaged in another money laundering conspiracy involving Target gift cards. Bai offered to introduce an associate to someone who bought merchandise from him, and thereafter asked the associate to help him liquidate approximately $36,000 of Target gift cards. With Bai unwilling to be paid directly for the sale, two accomplices together arranged a deal in which they sold, to the customer, Bai’s gift cards for approximately 90 cents on the dollar.
Law enforcement arrested Bai again in February 2022 on a superseding indictment and he has remained in federal custody since that time.
United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled a January 26, 2024, sentencing hearing, at which time Bai, Hu and Shi will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each money laundering conspiracy count.
Yan Fu, 60, of Chino Hills, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Fu, who was one of the “runners” in this conspiracy, is serving a 20 month-sentence in federal prison. Judge Birotte also ordered Fu to pay $48,073 in restitution.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI. The investigation was conducted under the auspice of HSI Los Angeles’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force comprised of federal and state investigators focused on financial crimes in Southern California.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General provided substantial assistance during the investigation, as did the following law enforcement agencies: the Brea Police Department; the La Palma Police Department; the Menifee Police Department; the Glynn County (Georgia) Police Department; the Fontana Police Department; the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (North Carolina) Police Department; the Streamwood (Illinois) Police Department; the Cleveland Police Department; the Madera County Sheriff's Office; the New York Police Department; the Norwood (New Jersey) Police Department; the Loudon County (Virginia) Sheriff's Office; the Waukesha County (Wisconsin) Sheriff's Department; the Fremont Police Department; the Marin County Sheriff's Office; the County of Hawaii Police Department; the Henderson (Nevada) Police Department; the Wilmington (Massachusetts) Police Department; the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department; the Lewisville (Texas) Police Department; the Gardena Police Department; the Des Moines Police Department; the Cobb County (Georgia) Sheriff`s Department; the Millburn (New Jersey) Police; the Wauwatosa (Wisconsin) Police Department; the San Angelo (Texas) Police Department; the Fairfax City (Virginia) Police Department; and the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Monica E. Tait of the Major Frauds Section and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Wei Xiang and Meredith Healy of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney’s Office and the Consumer Protection Branch are part of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, which investigates and prosecutes scams targeting older adults and are run by transnational criminal organizations. These scams include mass mailing, telemarketing, and tech support scams.
If you fall victim to a gift card scam, immediately call the gift card issuer and ask them to freeze the gift card numbers involved – and save your receipt and the gift card. Then, report the crime to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/ or (877) 382-4357, and your local police department.
Lame Deer man admits meth trafficking role in large-scale ring based on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLNGS — A Lame Deer man admitted on Monday to distributing methamphetamine on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation that he received through a large-scale narcotics trafficking operation based on the Crow Indian Reservation, U.S. Jesse Laslovich said today.
Joseph John Simpson, 49, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Simpson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Simpson was detained pending further proceedings.
In court documents, the government alleged that from May 2022 to July 2023, law enforcement obtained information from multiple sources that Simpson was distributing meth on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and elsewhere. Simpson was affiliated with a large-scale, multiple-state narcotics trafficking operation centered on multiple properties on the Crow reservation, including one referred to as Spear Siding. Spear Siding was a source of meth for individuals, including Simpson.
The government further alleged that on July 13, a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer in Lame Deer observed a pickup truck that appeared to be stolen and was driven by an individual, later identified as Simpson. The officer pulled behind the truck, but it fled. The truck was stopped, and Simpson was taken into custody. Simpson had meth, a glass pipe and $328 on his person. The officer also observed four firearms and ammunition in the truck. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on the truck and found a duffle bag containing Simpson’s tribal identification card, approximately one pound of meth, a scale caked with possible meth residue, multiple plastic baggies and $305 in cash. Officers also found a submachine gun and a lockbox containing $9,120 in cash and an additional pound of meth.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys are prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation.
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.
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Justice Department Awards $68.19 Million in Grants to Support American Indian and Alaska Native CommunitiesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that it will award $68,196,816 through 88 grants to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to provide services and promote justice for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking. The awards are administered through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and will enhance Tribal justice systems, support an array of services for victims of these crimes, and provide training and technical assistance to service providers and Tribal governments. The awards were announced in conjunction with the 5th annual Tribal Governments Program Summit in Jacksonville, Florida.
“For too long, Alaska Native and American Indian communities have endured persistent and disproportionate levels of violence,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These grants are another step in the Justice Department’s efforts to work in partnership with Tribes to deliver justice for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and trafficking, and to help make Tribal communities safer.”
One National Institute of Justice study found that over 80% of American Indian and Alaska Native individuals have experienced violence in their lifetimes. This includes over 56% of women and 27% of men who have experienced sexual violence, and over 55% of women and 43% of men who have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner.
“American Indian and Alaska Native individuals experience unacceptably high rates of violence, which is in many ways a direct reflection of systematic injustice and institutional failures these populations face,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Through the authority and funding in VAWA 2022, the Justice Department is strengthening our partnerships with more Tribes, supporting communities in holding individuals accountable, and focusing on solutions that center survivors.”
“American Indian and Alaska Native communities know best the unique challenges they face and how best to allocate resources, strengthen prevention efforts, and provide pathways for safety, healing, and justice for survivors,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “Today’s grant announcements are a direct result of Tribes, advocates, and survivors who have bravely shared their stories, challenges, recommendations, and leadership. We look forward to continuing our strong partnerships with Tribes and strengthening the collaboration to advance these shared goals.”
Today’s announced grants include:
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48 grants totaling $39,958,557 under OVW’s Tribal Governments Program to support Tribes in developing strategies to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking against Indian women, support survivor safety, and develop education and prevention strategies;
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20 grants totaling $7,643,760 under the Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program to encourage the development of nonprofit, nongovernmental Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions;
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Seven grants totaling $6,450,000 under the Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program to support projects that create, maintain, and expand services for sexual assault survivors provided by Tribes, Tribal organizations, and nonprofits within Tribal lands;
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Four grants totaling $6 million under the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Grant Program for Tribal governments to provide support and technical assistance in planning and implementing changes in their criminal justice systems to exercise special criminal jurisdiction and for expenses incurred in exercising the jurisdiction. In addition, OVW will award two grants totaling $3 million under the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative;
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Five grants totaling $4,149,999 under OVW’s Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative, which funds the salary, training, travel, and supplies for Tribal prosecutors who are designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs) to work directly with U.S. Attorney’s Offices in their investigation and prosecution of Indian country domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and sex trafficking cases; and
Two grants totaling $994,500 under OVW’s National Tribal Clearinghouse on Sexual Assault (NTCSA) initiative to provide training and technical assistance on issues related to sexual assault of American Indian and Alaska Native women.
OVW administers grant programs designed to develop the nation’s capacity to reduce sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. Tribal organizations and governments interested in applying for these and other grants are encouraged to visit the OVW website for more details and application guidelines.
Full Award Lists
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2023 OVW STCJ-Alaska Awards
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2023 OVW STCJ Awards
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2023 OVW TSAUSA Awards
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2023 OVW TSASP Awards
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2023 OVW Tribal Government Awards
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2023 OVW Tribal Coalition Awards
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2023 OVW NTCSA Awards
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Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Assault with Intent to Kill and Other Charges Stemming from 2019 ShootingRead the Press Release
Defendant Shot Victim as Victim was Leaving the Scene
WASHINGTON – Dominic Copeland, 33, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on September 21, 2023, of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charges are in connection with a shooting that occurred on April 26, 2019, in the Truxton Circle area of Washington, D.C.
The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 29, 2023.
According to evidence presented at trial, the victim drove to a local fast-food restaurant after work to meet Copeland. He was then directed to follow Copeland’s car to the area of N Street and First Street NW. Once parked, the victim entered the back seat of the car Copeland was in and handed Copeland money. Copeland took the victim’s money and, after a dispute, told the victim to “take the loss like a champ.” The victim exited and returned to his own car and got in the driver’s seat. Copeland then exited the car he was in, pulled out a handgun, and shot at the victim multiple times. The victim began to drive away but was hit twice in the upper back and crashed into multiple parked cars before finally coming to a rest on the side of the street. MPD officers promptly responded to the scene and found that the victim was unable to physically move because one of the gunshot wounds temporarily paralyzed him. The victim promptly identified his shooter to police as “Dominic,” whom he knew from work and, up to that point, had considered a friend.
Police recovered six fired cartridge casings from the scene. Evidence showed that two bullets entered the victim’s upper back, one of which punctured his lung causing a severe medical emergency that the treating physician declared would have resulted in the victim’s death had he not received medical care. Doctors left the bullets inside the victim’s body after determining that it would cause even more injury to attempt to remove them.
U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the MPD. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and acknowledged the efforts of all of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Forman, Seth Gilmore, Gregory Kimak, and Paul Courtney, Paralegal Specialist Debra McPherson, and Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Danai and Richard Carlton, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Haverhill Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Haverhill man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl and conspiring to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
Elijah Declet, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to eight years in prison and four years of supervised release. Declet pleaded guilty on March 29, 2023.
Declet was charged in November 2021 along with 12 others in connection with a large drug conspiracy centering around the Gangster Disciples in Lawrence, Haverhill and Methuen. The investigation, which began in August 2020, intercepted communications between Gangster Disciples’ leaders, members and drug suppliers pertaining to their alleged distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and Suboxone in Massachusetts, Maine and southern New Hampshire as well as into the Essex County Jail. Calls were intercepted between Declet and other gang members, who conspired to distribute cocaine and fentanyl pills, and on several occasions, Declet distributed cocaine and methamphetamine pills to a cooperating witness.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and John E. Mawn, Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted 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.
This case is also a 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.
Hartford Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics Distribution and Gun Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTOPHER ALAMO, also known as “Tito,” 36, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force identified Alamo as a distributor of heroin and cocaine in Connecticut, New York, and elsewhere. Alamo was arrested on January 13, 2021, after a court-authorized search of his residence revealed approximately 13,000 wax folds of fentanyl, more than 300 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately one kilogram of cocaine, quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a .40 caliber handgun equipped with a loaded 28-round high-capacity magazine, a separate loaded 50-round “drum” magazine, assorted ammunition, a ballistic vest, and approximately $5,000 in cash.
While Alamo was detained in federal custody awaiting trial, he continued to coordinate the distribution of fentanyl through his wife, Maria Maldonado, as well as Maldonado’s son, Carlos Santiago, Jr., and a drug supplier, Henry DeJesus-Morales. On June 2, 2021, a court-authorized search of Maldonado’s residence, the same residence that was search in January 2021, revealed approximately 71 grams of loose fentanyl, approximately 1,800 wax folds of fentanyl, distribution quantities of marijuana, drug packaging supplies, a loaded pistol, a loaded shotgun, and approximately $13,000 in cash. The same day, a court-authorized search of Alamo’s father’s house revealed approximately $60,000 in U.S. currency and assorted jewelry, which were seized as proceeds of drug trafficking.
Alamo’s criminal history includes multiple felony convictions.
Alamo has been detained since his arrest. On February 7, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Maldonado, Santiago, and DeJesus-Morales pleaded guilty to related charges and were sentenced to prison terms of 24, six, and 44 months, respectively.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ruff through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Guatemalan Citizen Sentenced for Attempted Transport of an AlienRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK –Fredi Chanchavac-Del Cid, age 34, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced today to time served (more than 6 months in jail) for the attempted transport of another person illegally present in the United States. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Chanchavac-Del Cid admitted that on March 22, 2023, he drove to Franklin County, New York, and just south of the Canadian border Shortly thereafter, a Mexican citizen who had just illegally crossed into the United States from Canada exited the woods along the road and got into Chanchavac-Del Cid’s vehicle. Chanchavac-Del Cid admitted that he expected to be paid for transporting the illegal alien. However, both individuals were arrested by Border Patrol before he could drive the car away, and Chanchavac-Del Cid has been in custody since that time.
Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case.
Georgia Woman Pleads Guilty to Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting EldersRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Georgia woman has pleaded guilty to her role in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, from 2016 through February 2020, Rita Antoinette Albritton, 59, of Stockbridge, Georgia, knowingly conspired with others to devise a telemarketing scheme that victimized numerous individuals across the United States, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable. Albritton worked as a telemarketer for World Wide Publication Inc., a Georgia-based company involved in fraudulent magazine sales. The company, owned by co-defendant Ronald Coleman, used fraudulent sales scripts to defraud victim-consumers, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable, out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The fraudulent sales scripts were designed to induce consumers, through a series of lies and misrepresentations, into making large or repeat payments. When acting as a telemarketer, Albritton at times used the alias of “Cynthia Alvarez.”
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, among other misrepresentations she made as directed by the scripts, Albritton falsely claimed that the victim-consumers owed a large outstanding balance for existing magazine subscriptions and fraudulently offered to pay off that balance in exchange for a one-time payment of $199.99. In reality, the victim-consumers did not have any existing subscriptions with World Wide Publication, they did not owe the company any outstanding balance, and the company did not have the ability to cancel the victim-consumers’ ongoing magazine subscriptions. In the course of the scheme, Albritton, Coleman, and their co-conspirators defrauded thousands of victims of approximately $1,749,959.
Albritton pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 23, 2024.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additional assistance was provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, Garrett S. Fields, and Melinda A. Williams are prosecuting the case.
Former Clay County Softball Coach Sentenced to 20 Years for Producing and Attempting to Produce Sexually Explicit Images and Videos of ChildrenRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Andrew Lynn Overheul (43, Orange Park) to 20 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production and attempted production of sexually explicit images and videos of children. Overheul had pleaded guilty on June 7, 2023. He has been detained since his arrest on April 20, 2023.
According to court documents, on September 17, 2022, the parent of a 12-year-old child (“MV1”) contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (“CCSO”) to report a complaint that MV1 had made about finding a cellphone recording her changing and using the shower in the bathroom at her softball coach’s house. CCSO responded that night and interviewed the parent and MV1. The parent and MV1 said that they were at Overheul’s home earlier that day for a softball team family party, and that the children had decided to have an impromptu group sleepover at Overheul’s home. Overheul told MV1 she could take a shower in the master bathroom, as another girl was using the shower in his other bathroom.
MV1 spotted a phone on the bathroom counter propped up between two boxes, with the camera facing the shower. Upon closer inspection, MV1 discovered the phone was actively recording and she immediately grabbed the phone and stopped the recording. MV1 reviewed the video and discovered that it depicted her, so she deleted the video, placed the phone back on the counter, and called her parents to pick her up.
MV1’s parent sent a text message to Overheul at 8:17 pm indicating they were on their way to pick up their daughter and would tell Overheul about it when they got there. At 8:44 pm, Overheul responded by text message, “Hey we talked with the girls. No one is addmitting [sic] to playing a joke. The others that were in that bathroom said they saw my phone charging but no other phones.”
After interviewing the parents and MV1, CCSO detectives responded to Overheul’s residence early the next day and conducted a recorded interview in which Overheul acknowledged that he was the only person that used or had access and control of his cellphone. Overheul acknowledged that his phone was in the bathroom and claimed he had placed it there to charge.
Agents obtained a search warrant to search Overheul’s cellphone. During the forensic review, agents found two photos of several minor females on the softball team wearing swimsuits and sitting on the floor in Overheul’s living room, dated September 17, 2022, with a time stamp of 5:36 pm. Forensics also showed that at 7:38 pm a search for “canon remote app” was conducted on Overheul’s phone, and then the Canon Camera Connect app was installed a few seconds later. This app allows a camera to remote shoot with live view imaging of the camera from a smartphone. Forensics also showed a search in the evening of September 17, 2022, in the Google Play Store on Overheul’s phone, for two applications which were downloaded. These apps can be used to delete information from a person’s phone.
On November 18, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at Overheul’s residence. Numerous electronic devices were seized. Agents discovered hundreds of photos and videos of minors that appeared to have been taken surreptitiously without their consent.
“This individual, in a position of trust, mentorship, and oversight over children in our community, abused this position in the most heinous of ways and will be held accountable for his despicable actions,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “This is another successful Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force investigation that has stopped another dangerous predator from exploiting the vulnerability of unsuspecting children.”
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington.
This case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former CHP Officer Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Timothy Allen Horwath, 53, formerly of Redding, was sentenced today to 10 years and one month in prison, 10 years of supervised release, $53,000 in restitution and a $5,100 special assessment for receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Horwath was serving as a California Highway Patrol officer while, in his nonworking time, he was receiving visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including children as young as three and four years old being sexually abused by adult males. While released on bond, Horwath violated the court conditions that he not use the internet or a device capable of accessing the internet. Investigators caught Horwath with a home internet subscription and an iPhone that he had used to carry out dozens of WhatsApp encrypted conversations with females, many of which were sexual in nature. Horwath’s bond was revoked following execution of a search warrant that confirmed he was violating his bond conditions.
This case was the product of an investigation by the California Highway Patrol’s Computer Crimes Investigation Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina McCall prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.
Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alejandro Marin-Gutierrez, age 44 and a foreign national, pleaded guilty to one count of Illegal Reentry of Previously Removed Alien.
The Indictment alleged that Marin-Gutierrez, who had been previously convicted of a felony and subsequently removed from the United States, was found again in the United States on or about June 2, 2022.
According to investigators, law enforcement observed and apprehended Marin-Gutierrez at a residence in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 2, 2022.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security—Enforcement and Removal Operations.
The Honorable Judge Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Marin-Gutierrez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Traster represented the United States.
Fifth Defendant in Multi-Agency Drug Trafficking Investigation Sentenced to 120 Months for Attempting to Possess Fentanyl for DistributionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Reginald Jemison, 56, Chicago, Illinois was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 120 months in prison for attempting to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute. Jemison pleaded guilty to this charge on June 8, 2023.
In 2020, federal and state law enforcement agencies collaborated to investigate several known drug traffickers in Dane County, Wisconsin. As part of this investigation, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) learned that an individual in Chicago, later identified as Jemison, coordinated with Andre McClinton to ship a parcel of narcotics to an apartment building in Madison, Wisconsin via the U.S. Mail.
On December 7, 2020, a U.S. Postal Inspector identified the parcel, obtained a federal warrant, and searched the package. Inside, investigators found a vacuum-sealed bag that contained a white substance. The substance weighed approximately 590 grams, and the Wisconsin State Crime Lab determined it tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. DCI agents took custody of the drugs and resealed the parcel for a controlled delivery.
Later on December 7, 2020, investigators delivered the parcel to the address in Madison. Approximately one minute after delivering the parcel, a silver sedan with Illinois license plates pulled up to the building. A male subject exited the front passenger seat, walked towards the building, and took the parcel. Law enforcement arrested the subject, later identified as Jeffrey Kemp, as he put the parcel into the sedan. Officers also arrested the driver of the vehicle, who agents identified as Antonio Dillard.
During post-arrest interviews, Kemp and Dillard admitted that Jemison paid them to pick up the parcel and transport the drugs back to Chicago for distribution.
In sentencing Jemison, Judge Peterson underscored the seriousness of Jemison’s crime. Judge Peterson specifically noted that Jemison attempted to possess a significant amount of dangerous drug that has caused thousands of overdose deaths in the United States.
On May 6, 2022, Judge Peterson sentenced Jeffrey Kemp to 48 months in prison, and on April 1, 2022, Judge Peterson sentenced Antonio Dillard to 24 months in prison for their roles in attempting to possess the fentanyl with intent to distribute. Additionally, Judge Peterson sentenced Andre McClinton on March 23, 2022 to 108 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine and illegally possessing a firearm. On December 9, 2021, Judge Peterson sentenced McClinton’s codefendant Michael C. Henderson to 84 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine.
The charge against Jemison was the result of an investigation conducted by DCI, the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Federal Jury Convicts Tampa Woman of Stealing Department of Veterans Affairs Benefits Intended to Assist Disabled Vets to Return to EmploymentRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Melanie Marshall (38, Tampa), a/k/a Melanie Gutermuth, guilty of theft of government funds. Marshall faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2023. Marshall had been indicted on December 19, 2018.
According to evidence presented at trial, Marshall stole from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) program. Marshall was eligible for the VRE program, which was designed to assist veterans with service-connected disabilities prepare for, find, and keep suitable employment, but lied to her VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) to continue receiving benefits beyond what had been approved. Marshall signed an Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan with the stated objective being to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health/Health Education. Marshall graduated with her Bachelor of Science in approximately December 2015. However, Marshall failed to report to her VRC that she had completed the program she was approved for – by graduating with her bachelor’s degree – and lied on multiple occasions regarding her progress toward completion of her bachelor’s degree. Marshall also provided fake degree audits to support her repeated lies to the VRC regarding her progress towards her bachelor’s degree. As a result of Marshall’s lies and misrepresentations, the VA paid for classes and issued monthly subsistence allowance payments after she had already completed her approved VRE program. The total loss to the VA was $20,986.92.
“The Veteran Readiness and Employment program provides vital job training, education, and employment accommodations for our nation’s deserving veterans with service-connected disabilities. The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to holding accountable those who would commit fraud against VA’s programs and services,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Social Security Administration OIG for their efforts in this joint investigation.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler and Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
Federal Grand Jury in Paducah Indicts Oklahoma Man for CARES Act FraudRead the Press Release
Paducah, KY – A federal grand jury in Paducah, Kentucky returned an indictment on August 8, 2023, charging an Oklahoma man with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud involving the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) financial assistance program.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge John McCabe of the United States Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at Fort Campbell made the announcement.
According to the indictment, between February 2021 and April 29, 2021, Kendarian Quentrell Dixon, 23, of Yukon, Oklahoma, conspired with unnamed persons to file a fraudulent application for a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a financial assistance program established by the CARES Act. At the time, Dixon was a soldier in the United States Army stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Dixon received $20,833 from the loan, which he transferred to associates and spent on personal expenses.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP loans were designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses who were in operation on February 15, 2020, to keep their workers on the payroll. PPP loan proceeds were required to be used by the business on certain permissible expenses. Interest and principal on PPP loans could be entirely forgiven if the business spent the loan proceeds on the allowable expenses within a designated period and used a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses.
Dixon made his initial court appearance today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Dixon faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The FBI Paducah Satellite Office and the United States Army CID at Fort Campbell are investigating the case.
Assistant United States Attorney Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts New Orleans Man for Murdering Two VictimsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On August 18, 2023, BLAIR TAYLOR, a/k/a “Blood” a New Orleans resident, was charged in a recently unsealed two-count indictment. Both Counts 1 and 2, charged TAYLOR with causing a death through the use of a firearm, pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(j)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. TAYLOR was arrested on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, in Norwich, Connecticut.
According to the indictment, on or about August l0, 2014, TAYLOR, during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime described as a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846, knowingly used, carried, brandished, and discharged a firearm, during his commission of a violation of Title18, United States Code, Section 924(c), that caused the deaths of two victims. The indictment further alleges that the deaths of these victims, through the use of a firearm, constituted the crime of murder as defined in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1111; all of which violated Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(j)(1) and 2.
As to each count, TAYLOR faces a maximum term of life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven 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 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich and Unit Chief Attorney Elizabeth Privitera, both of the Violent Crime Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.
Farrell, Pa Resident Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, PA – Denzel Williams pled guilty to trafficking fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today.
Williams, age 29, of Farrell, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Williams pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base, between June 2020 and June 2021. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on January 30, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
The law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is to be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the conviction in this case.
This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
El Departamento de Justicia Logra un Acuerdo de $9 Millones con la Compañía Washington Trust para Resolver Reclamos de Prácticas Discriminatorias en Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, RI – La Oficina del Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Rhode Island y la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia anunciaron hoy que la Compañía Washington Trust (Washington Trust), el banco comunitario más antiguo del país, acordó pagar $9 millones para resolver las alegaciones de que participó en un patrón o práctica de exclusión financiera (“redlining” en inglés) al marcar vecindarios de mayoría hispana y raza negra en Rhode Island.
“Redlining” es una práctica ilegal en la que los prestamistas evitan brindar servicios de crédito a personas que viven en comunidades de color debido a la raza, el color de piel o el origen nacional de los residentes de esas comunidades.
“Todos los que persiguen el sueño americano tienen derecho a esperar ser tratados con igualdad y dignidad, independientemente de su raza, origen o código postal. Cuando a las comunidades se les niega el acceso a préstamos justos, a las familias se les niega la oportunidad de generar estabilidad y éxito financiero”, dijo el fiscal federal Zachary A. Cunha. “Me complace que, como resultado del arduo trabajo de los abogados de mi oficina y de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento, Washington Trust haya acordado tomar medidas específicas y amplias para que servicios de préstamos significativos estén disponibles para todos los habitantes de Rhode Island, independientemente de su raza u origen”.
“Este acuerdo debería enviar un mensaje contundente a los bancos sobre el firme compromiso del Departamento de Justicia de combatir las practicas discriminatorias modernas y garantizar que todos los prestamistas brinden igualdad de acceso a oportunidades de préstamos hipotecarios a las comunidades de color”, dijo la Fiscal General Adjunta Kristen Clarke de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Esta resolución brindará un alivio fundamental a las comunidades de raza negra e hispanas afectadas, permitiéndoles comprar una casa, conservarla o acceder al valor líquido de su vivienda. Poner fin a las prácticas discriminatorias y brindar ayuda a las comunidades de color afectadas por esta práctica ilegal es un paso necesario en los esfuerzos continuos para reducir la riqueza racial y las brechas en la propiedad de viviendas en todo nuestro país”.
La demanda alega que, desde 2016 hasta al menos 2021, Washington Trust no proporcionó servicios de préstamos hipotecarios a vecindarios de mayoría raza negra e hispana en Rhode Island. La denuncia alega que, a pesar de su expansión en todo el estado de Rhode Island, Washington Trust nunca ha abierto uno de sus bancos en un vecindario de mayoría raza negra e hispana. La demanda alega que Washington Trust dependió de funcionarios de préstamos hipotecarios que trabajaban únicamente en áreas de mayoría raza blanca como fuente principal para generar solicitudes de préstamos, y Washington Trust no capacitó ni incentivó a sus empleados de préstamos ni realizó actividades de divulgación, marketing y publicidad de sus servicios hipotecarios para compensar su falta de bancos y presencia en áreas de mayoría raza negra e hispana. La demanda alega además que, en comparación con Washington Trust, durante el mismo período de seis años, otros bancos recibieron casi cuatro veces más solicitudes de préstamos cada año en vecindarios de mayoría raza negra e hispana en Rhode Island. La demanda también alega que, incluso cuando Washington Trust generó solicitudes de préstamos de áreas de mayoría raza negra e hispana, los propios solicitantes eran desproporcionadamente blancos.
Según la orden de consentimiento propuesta, que está sujeta a la aprobación del tribunal, Washington Trust ha acordado hacer lo siguiente:
- Invertir al menos $7 millones en un fondo de subsidio de préstamos para aumentar el acceso a hipotecas, mejoras del hogar, refinanciamiento de viviendas y préstamos y líneas de crédito sobre el valor líquido de la vivienda para los residentes de vecindarios de mayoría raza negra e hispana en Rhode Island;
- Invertir $1 millón en asociaciones comunitarias para brindar servicios que aumenten el acceso al crédito hipotecario residencial para los residentes de esos vecindarios;
- Invertir $1 millón en publicidad, divulgación, educación financiera del consumidor y asesoramiento crediticio centrado en vecindarios de mayoría raza negra e hispana;
- Abrir dos sucursales nuevas en vecindarios de mayoría raza negra e hispana en Rhode Island; y garantizar que al menos dos oficiales de préstamos hipotecarios se dediquen a prestar servicios a estos vecindarios; y
- Emplear un Director de Préstamos Comunitarios que supervisará el desarrollo continuo de los préstamos en comunidades de color.
Washington Trust también acordó completar una evaluación de las necesidades crediticias de la comunidad, para evaluar e informar sobre su programa de préstamos justos; y capacitar sus empleados sobre las obligaciones del banco según la orden de consentimiento. Washington Trust trabajó en cooperación con el Departamento para resolver y remediar las inquietudes sobre las prácticas discriminatorias que fueron identificadas y acordó resolver este asunto sin litigios impugnados.
En octubre de 2021, el Fiscal General Merrick B. Garland y la Fiscal General Adjunta Kristen Clarke lanzaron la Iniciativa contra la Exclusión Financiera, o “Redlining”, del Departamento de Justicia, un esfuerzo coordinado de aplicación de la ley para abordar esta forma persistente de discriminación contra las comunidades de color. Desde 2021, el departamento ha anunciado nueve casos de exclusión y ha obtenido $98 millones en ayuda para las comunidades de color que han sido víctimas de discriminación crediticia en todo el país.
Puede encontrar una copia de la queja e información sobre la aplicación de préstamos justos por parte del departamento en www.justice.gov/fairhousing. Las personas pueden reportar discriminación crediticia llamando a la línea de información sobre discriminación en vivienda del Departamento de Justicia al 1-833-591-0291 o enviando un informe en línea.
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washington_trust_branch_locations.pdfDuluth Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A Duluth man has pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
According to court documents, on July 26, 2021, Jason Lamount Burns, 38, possessed a magazine loaded with 9mm ammunition that Duluth Police Department officers found stored on a shelf in Burns’ bedroom closet while executing a search warrant at his home.
Because Burns has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.
Burns pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of felon in possession of ammunition. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Duluth Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen is prosecuting the case.