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16 February 2023
Federal Jury Finds Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – A federal jury convicted a Marshal County man on Wednesday of illegally possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony.
According to court documents and evidence presented at the three-day trial, Charles Derryberry, 46, robbed a victim of a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol in February of 2022, and used the gun to shoot at the victim. Afterwards, Derryberry used this firearm to commit a second robbery. A few days later, on February 27, 2022, deputies with Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle with Derryberry riding in the backseat. Derryberry possessed the .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol at the time of the traffic stop and attempted to hide the firearm under his seat. Law enforcement found the gun during a search of the truck and Derryberry was arrested. Records reflect that at the time Derryberry possessed the firearm, he had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for manslaughter, burglary, and drug trafficking.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 17, 2023. Derryberry faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment.
”This office is committed to protecting our community from violent convicted felons like this defendant who illegally possess firearms,” stated US Attorney Clay Joyner. “We are grateful to our state and federal law enforcement partners whose hard work allowed him to be taken off the streets.”
“Investigating and prosecuting repeat offenders is another example of our commitment to fight violence and how the collaborative efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement can make our streets safer,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “The conviction today sends a message to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.”
The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Stringfellow and Julie Addison 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.
Federal Jury Convicts Charleston Man of Drug and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After three days of trial, a federal jury convicted Mark Bolling, 55, of Charleston, today of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, and illegal possession of a firearm silencer.
Evidence at trial proved that on September 19, 2020, a law enforcement officer in Fayette County conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bolling and recovered approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine, 30 grams of fentanyl, a pistol magazine containing .45-caliber ammunition, and $7,000 from the vehicle.
On September 21, 2020, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bolling’s property on Keystone Drive in Charleston and seized a Rock River Arms, model LAR-15, 5.56mm rifle, a Bryco Arms, model 38, .380-caliber pistol, and a Gemtech, Model HALO, 5.56mm silencer.
The silencer was not registered to Bolling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bolling was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of prior felony convictions including possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine on September 30, 2019, and transferring and receiving stolen property on September 24, 2018, both in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the jury trial. Bolling is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“This offender posed a significant risk to the Kanawha County community because of his involvement in both illegal drugs and firearms,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “I thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Fayetteville Police Department for their excellent work in this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrch and Steve Loew and our trial team.”
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-87.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – A Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment on February 7, 2023, charging a local man with distributing methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Bennie Thomas, 29, was charged with three counts of distributing methamphetamine. On October 5 and October 20, 2022, Thomas distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On November 17, 2022, Thomas distributed 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
The defendant made an initial court appearance today before a United States Magistrate Judge in the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Thomas faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life 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.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and the Louisville Metro Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josh Porter.
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 Court Imposes Life Sentences on Man who Murdered Two, Shot a Third, and Set Crime Scene AblazeRead the Press Release
The defendant also sentenced for two other home invasion robberies.
ANCHORAGE – A federal district court judge in Alaska sentenced a Palmer man to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. In August 2022, a federal jury convicted John Smith of 10 felony charges including two counts of murder as well as robbery, drug, and firearm related charges following an eleven-day trial. The charges relate to a series of armed robberies in 2015 and 2016 that culminated in Smith murdering two people, attempting to kill a third, and burning the crime scene.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Pearl Smith, II, 36, developed a plan to rob people he believed were involved in trafficking drugs and carried out these crimes in September 2015, May 2016 and June 2016. He carried and brandished firearms during each of the three robberies.
In 2015, Smith identified a house off Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla as the location of a marijuana growing operation. Smith arrived at the house with a rifle, kicked in the door, fired a shot to frighten the resident, and stole drugs, firearms and jewelry.
In May 2016, Smith identified another house in Wasilla as the residence of a drug dealer. Smith forced his way in with a rifle, restrained the occupants with duct tape, and stole valuables including heroin, cash, and a .22 caliber revolver.
In June 2016, Smith traveled to a property on Cloudy Lake in Wasilla that was owned by Ben Gross, who was in a detached garage with Crystal Denardi and a second man. Smith kicked open the door and fired warning shots into the ceiling. When Gross threw a beer bottle at Smith, he shot Gross four times, killing him.
Holding the other victims at gunpoint, Smith searched the garage for drugs or other valuables. Smith then murdered Denardi by shooting her in the back of the head. The third victim was shot in the chest and in the head while trying to escape but managed to paddle a kayak to a nearby home across Cloudy Lake. Smith poured gasoline around the bodies of the victims and set the garage on fire.
Smith was arrested on June 28, 2016. In August, investigators were able to recover the murder weapon from a marshy area off Johnson Road in Wasilla where Smith buried it after the killings.
Investigators also recovered a map to the location of the weapon that Smith had drawn while in prison. A forensic document examiner confirmed that the handwriting on the map was Smith’s.
Smith was convicted of two counts of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to drug trafficking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery, three counts of attempted possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
“John Pearl Smith’s senseless and selfish choices caused untold harm to his victims and resulted in the tragic loss of two innocent lives.” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “This sentence ensures that Smith will never have the opportunity to harm another innocent person again.”
“This comprehensive investigation and the resulting two consecutive life sentences for Mr. Smith affirm the DEA’s commitment to hold those who traffic illegal narcotics — and use violence to further their illicit schemes—accountable for their actions,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The DEA will work relentlessly with all of our partners to protect our communities against the likes of Mr. Smith.”
“Mr. Smith’s premeditated, compounding crimes were heinous in nature,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “While this sentence will not bring the victims back to their families it is warranted for his vicious actions and will remove a clear danger from the community.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with extensive support from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Vandergaw, James Klugman, and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Father and Son Arrested, Charged with Kidnapping Conspiracy in an Attempt to Force Their Daughter/Sister to Marry in YemenRead the Press Release
CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Khaled Abughanem, 50, and Waleed Abughanem, 32, both of Lackawanna, NY, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to kidnap persons in a foreign country. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Maeve E. Huggins, who are handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, in December 2022, the FBI began investigating the travel of an adult American citizen (Victim), who investigators believe was tricked into traveling from the Buffalo area to Yemen in an attempt to force her into an arranged marriage. The complaint states that defendant Khaled Abughanem, the Victim’s father, and her brother, Waleed Abughanem, discussed killing her if she did not abide by their wishes.
Subsequent investigation determined that in September 2021, without her family’s knowledge, the Victim traveled to Mexico. After learning where she was, the Victim’s family traveled to Mexico and physically forced her, involuntarily, to return to the United States. According to the Victim, her father stated, “she would be traveling outside the United States whether she liked it or not, or he would bury her in the backyard.” The Victim attempted to flee her residence only to find that all doors had been locked. She was also forced to withdraw as a student from the University at Buffalo, lost all access to the internet and social media, and was under constant threat of harm. The Victim was told if she did not comply and agree to an arranged marriage, she would be locked up in her home without contact with the outside world forever and her fiancé, who her family disapproved of, would be killed.
On September 17, 2021, the Victim’s fiancé called the Lackawanna Police Department stating he had not been able to contact the Victim for over a week. Lackawanna Police responded to the Abughanem residence and advised the family to contact the Victim’s fiancé. Subsequently, The Abughanem family, with the Victim, left Lackawanna and traveled to Sanaa, Yemen, where the Victim is currently being held by family. According to the Victim, her father stated that “you are no longer in the West, you are in the Middle East, women like you are killed.” The Victim stated that her father proposed a marriage for which he would be paid $500,000, but she refused, and as a result was physically assaulted. The Victim’s fiancé continued to call the Lackawanna Police, who responded to the Abughanem residence but were told the Victim is fine and to stop making welfare checks. In April 2022, some members of the family left Yemen and returned to the United States, leaving the Victim in Yemen, under the supervision of two of her brothers.
The defendants made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and are being held pending a detention hearing on February 17, 2023.
The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Darren Cox, Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. Additional assistance was provided by CPB in Boston, Massachusetts, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Detroit Man Who Threatened to “Shoot up” the Detroit Job Corps Center Pleads Guilty to Making ThreatsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit man who made phone calls threatening to kill students at the Detroit Job Corps Center pleaded guilty today to making threats in interstate commerce, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.
Ison was joined in the announcement by Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG).
Elroy Knott, 24, pleaded guilty to threatening the Detroit Job Corps Center before United States District Judge Denise Page Hood. The Detroit Job Corps Center (“DJCC”) is a United States Department of Labor program that provides job training to individuals between the ages of 16-24. Besides providing free tuition, the DJCC offers room and board to students, with the majority of students residing at the campus. The DJCC houses approximately 300 students.
On April 24, and 26, 2022, Knott made multiple telephone calls to the DJCC during which he threatened to “shoot up” the place and to kill residents. He also threatened to shoot one employee in the back of the head. Following the threats on April 26, 2022, the DJCC campus was locked down for forty-eight hours, and its activities were substantially disrupted. Knott was in a relationship with one of the students at the DJCC, and he had previously made threats and been in the possession of firearms.
Knott faces a maximum of five years in prison for making the threats.
“The defendant terrorized students and staff at the Detroit Job Corps Center,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “We will not tolerate such conduct, and we will do everything in our power to protect schools from the threat of violence.”
“Threats to terrorize the safety of our community will never be acceptable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai, “ATF will remain vigilant in our commitment to public safety, whether by threat or actions, we will collaborate with the U.S. Attorney’s office, our federal, state, and local partners to bring those responsible to justice.”
“Elroy Knott threatened to harm Job Corps students and staff. His conduct caused significant disruption to learning at the Detroit Job Corps. Ensuring that Job Corps students can learn in a safe environment is a high priority for the Department of Labor. The Office of Inspector General will work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who threaten DOL students, employees, and contractors,” said Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Great Lakes Region, DOL-OIG.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Detroit Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosemary Wummel Gardey.
Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Eddie E. Kellom, also known as “Ace,” 23, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to three years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Kellom admitted to selling quantities of fentanyl to confidential informants in Raleigh County on four separate occasions between May 21, 2021, and November 1, 2021.
On January 11, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Kellom in Putnam County. The officers found approximately 250 grams of fentanyl in the vehicle. Kellom admitted that he had traveled from Michigan with the fentanyl and planned to distribute it in the Southern District of West Virginia.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-31.
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Customer Service Rep Charged with Stealing over $1.1 Million from Bank CustomersRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a sixteen-count indictment charging Ashley Miller, 36, of Akron, Ohio, with four counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud, and four counts of aggravated identity theft related to her involvement in a scheme to steal approximately $1.1 million from U.S. Bank customers.
According to court records, from May 2021 to October 2021, the defendant was employed as a customer service agent for Dial American, a third-party vendor for U.S. Bank contracted to do various customer service duties over the telephone.
Court documents state that during this timeframe, Miller allegedly devised a scheme to obtain funds from U.S. Bank customers by changing an account holder’s original mailing address for debit cards issued by U.S. Bank, causing debit cards to be mailed to a residential address in Akron owned by the defendant.
It is alleged that the defendant then used these debit cards for personal use by making fraudulent withdrawals from various ATMs. In total, court documents state that Miller compromised approximately 299 accounts for about $1,118,391.82.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service (USSS) and the Fairlawn (OH) Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryson N. Gillard.
Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Dana Michael Russell, also known as “Anthony Roberts,” 36, of Griffithsville, Lincoln County, pleaded guilty today to possession of prepubescent child pornography.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 20, 2021, Russell possessed two images of child pornography on his cell phone depicting prepubescent minor females subjected to sexually explicit conduct. Russell admitted that one of the images depicted a known child victim.
Russell further admitted to using his cell phone on June 25, 2020, to distribute and attempt to distribute an image containing child pornography using the Snapchat social media platform. Russell also admitted to distributing images containing child pornography using multiple Snapchat and Facebook accounts in June, August and December 2020. One of the Facebook accounts that Russell used had “Anthony Roberts” as the account username.
Russell faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Russell is a registered sex offender as a result of his conviction for distribution and exhibiting of material depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in Kanawha County Circuit Court on February 19, 2015.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is prosecuting the case.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-25.
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Conehatta Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Conehatta man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to court records, Adrian Farmer, 37, possessed two shotguns in July of 2021. Farmer had been previously convicted of a felony in Neshoba County Circuit Court and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
In March of 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Farmer for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Farmer subsequently pled guilty to the charge.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Clarksville Man Sentenced to over 23 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
FORT SMITH – A Clarksville man has been sentenced to federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The Honorable Judge P.K. Holmes, III, presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fort Smith.
Over the course of a period spanning all of 2021 and until April of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted an investigation regarding drug trafficking in the Clarksville, Arkansas area. The investigation revealed that multiple co-defendants were being supplied methamphetamine and cocaine from the organization’s leader, Victor Leon-Moya. During the investigation, DEA was able to conduct multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine and cocaine from the organization. After identifying multiple stash houses, DEA executed search warrants resulting in the location and seizure of approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 3 kilograms of methamphetamine, over 60 firearms and $48,844 in cash derived from the sale of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Victor Leon-Moya, age 46, of Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced yesterday to 280 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release on one count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, State of Arkansas 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Fort Smith Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Conway Police Department, Greenwood Police Department, and the Crawford County, Logan County & Sebastian County Sheriff’s Departments investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter 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.
Chicopee Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chicopee man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to creating and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Michael Geoffroy, 36, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2023. Geoffroy was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2021.
In December 2020, Geoffroy used a minor to create two videos and two images of CSAM. Geoffroy then distributed the videos and images in a chat group that same day. Geoffroy was arrested the following day and, during a search of his cellphone, was found in possession of more than 100 videos and images that depicting CSAM.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Chicopee Police Chief Patrick Major made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of Rollins’ Springfield Branch Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Canton Gambling Business Co-Owner Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Canton woman was sentenced to 24 months in prison on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after pleading guilty to conspiring to defraud the IRS in connection with her ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses in the Canton, Ohio area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2009 through 2018, Rebecca Kachner, along with other co-conspirators, owned and operated two illegal gambling businesses in the Canton area, namely Skilled Shamrock and Redemption.
As part of the guilty plea, Kachner admitted to conspiring with the other owners to defraud the IRS by filing false tax returns that omitted cash income she received from the operation of the illegal gambling businesses. Kachner also admitted to attempting to hide substantial portions of her unreported cash income. Court documents say that in January 2018, Kachner rented a locker at a local YMCA and stored $241,266 of her illegal gambling proceeds. Law enforcement authorities seized that currency during the investigation.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Nugent ordered Kachner to forfeit the $241,266 recovered from the locker and to pay $1,184,668.37 in restitution to the IRS for individual income taxes and interest owed between tax years 2012 and 2017.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the Ohio Casino Control Commission. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and an Investigator from the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office provided substantial assistance in the investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Patton, David Toepfer, and Aaron Howell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, along with Trial Attorneys Richard Rolwing and Sam Bean of the Department of Justice Tax Division.
Bowling Green Federal Grand Jury Returns Two Indictments Charging Franklin, KY and Nashville, TN Men with Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
-Drug Trafficking Offenses Involve Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Heroin
-One Man Also Indicted for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonBowling Green, KY – A federal grand jury in Bowling Green returned two indictments yesterday separately charging two men with drug trafficking. One of the men was also charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jerry C. Templet, Jr. of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Sheriff Jere Dee Hopson of the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement.
According to court records:
Dameon Rigsby, age 41, of Franklin, Kentucky, was charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Rigsby had previously been convicted of the felony offense of trafficking in a controlled substance – first degree – first offense, in case number 09-CR-00080 in the Simpson Kentucky Circuit Court. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Bennett Christian, age 37, of Nashville, Tennessee, was charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Simpson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the cases.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office.
These cases are 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.
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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Barrington Tax Return Preparer Charged with Falsifying Clients’ Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Chicago returned an indictment on Feb. 16, charging an Illinois man with assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
According to the indictment, from 2016 to 2018, Gary Sandiego of Barrington owned a tax return preparation business, G. Sandiego and Associates, and prepared and filed false returns for his clients. The false returns allegedly reported fictitious or inflated unreimbursed employment-related expenses and false residential energy credits, which resulted in a significant reduction of Sandiego’s clients’ total tax liability.
Sandiego will appear for his initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Andrew Kameros and Trial Attorney Sara Henderson of the Justice Department’s Tax Division 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.
Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BOMANI AFRICA, 62, last residing in Philadelphia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing armed bank robberies.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Africa met his associate, George Bratsenis, when they were both incarcerated on robbery convictions in a New Jersey state prison. On April 20, 2014, Africa and Bratsenis robbed a People’s United Bank branch located on Old Kings Highway Road in Darien, Connecticut. Bratsenis, driving his pick-up truck, dropped Africa off in downtown Darien. Africa then entered the bank, pulled out a gun, jumped over the teller counter and ordered a teller to open drawers, saying “I will shoot you if you don’t give me all your money!” Africa took a substantial amount of cash and then left the bank. Bratsenis picked up Africa a short distance away and they left the scene.
In September 2014, Africa, Bratsenis, and Africa’s son, Randi Feliciano, conspired to rob another bank. In the early morning hours of September 25, 2014, Feliciano drove Africa from Philadelphia to a parking lot in Trumbull, Connecticut, where, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Africa stole a car from a victim a gunpoint. The next morning, Africa and Bratsenis, both wearing masks and brandishing firearms, robbed a People’s United Bank branch located on Madison Avenue in Trumbull, taking nearly $30,000 in cash. After they drove from the scene in the car Africa had carjacked, they parked in a nearby parking lot and set fire to the car. Feliciano drove Africa from the scene and followed Bratsenis to a Norwalk restaurant where the three men divided the proceeds of the robbery. Feliciano then drove Africa back to Philadelphia.
On December 13, 2014, Africa and Feliciano, both wearing masks and brandishing firearms, robbed a First Niagara Bank branch located on Hawley Lane in Stratford, taking more than $15,000 in cash.
Africa, who has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple convictions for robbery offenses, has been detained since his arrest on May 28, 2015. On December 16, 2015, he pleaded guilty to one count of armed bank robbery.
Bratsenis and Feliciano pleaded guilty to the same charge. On April 5, 2022, Bratsenis was sentenced to 96 months of imprisonment and, on February 21, 2017, Feliciano was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment.
In addition to this prosecution, Africa and Bratsenis have each pleaded guilty to murder-for-hire charges in the District of New Jersey for committing a contract killing of an individual in New Jersey on May 22, 2014. They await sentencing in that case.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Darien, Trumbull, Stratford, and Bridgeport Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.
Another Straw Purchaser Sentenced for Role in Beckley-to-Philadelphia Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kyla Gilbert, 26, of Beckley, was sentenced today to three years of federal probation in connection with a conspiracy to traffic more than 130 firearms from the Beckley area to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Gilbert was recruited to purchase firearms for the trafficking conspiracy, which took place from around June 2020 to around July 2021. Gilbert admitted to purchasing two Ruger, Model Ruger 57, 5.7x28-caliber pistols in Beckley on May 10, 2021, for the firearms trafficking ring. Gilbert further admitted to buying at least four firearms for the trafficking conspiracy in April and May, 2021.
Gilbert pleaded guilty to making false statements in acquisition of firearms. Gilbert admitted that she falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 that she was the buyer of the firearms when she knew she was buying the firearms for someone else.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Negar M. Kordestani and Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
Gilbert is among 18 defendants who pleaded guilty in connection with the firearms trafficking. Of the over 140 firearms trafficked in the conspiracy, approximately 45 have been recovered at crime scenes primarily in Philadelphia and have been connected to two homicides, crimes of domestic violence, and other violent offenses.
After five days of trial, a federal jury found ringleader Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” guilty on December 16, 2022, of conspiracy to travel interstate with the intent to deal in firearms without a license, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and interstate travel with the intent to deal in firearms without a license. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on April 7, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-127.
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Amery Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Stealing More Than $500,000 from Special Needs TrustRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Sarah Anne Tischer, 43, Amery, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 18 months in federal prison for wire fraud. Tischer’s term of imprisonment is to be followed by a three-year period of supervised release. Judge Peterson also ordered Tischer to pay $526,416 in restitution. Tischer pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud on November 4, 2022.
In June 2017, Tischer established a special needs trust for a beneficiary who suffered from severe medical and developmental disabilities. As trustee, Tischer had full discretion to make payments from the trust on behalf of the beneficiary. Tischer regularly withdrew money from the investment account and deposited the funds into various bank accounts. Once in these accounts, Tischer spent the money and documented the expenditures in the trust’s ledger.
In January 2020, bank employees notified the Polk County Human Services Department that someone was spending money from the special needs trust at a casino in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. Based on this complaint, Polk County officials held an injunction hearing that resulted in Tischer being removed as trustee.
Following this hearing, the FBI opened a criminal investigation and examined the trust’s financial records. At the end of the review, an FBI forensic accountant determined that Tischer fraudulently withdrew $526,413 from the special needs trust and spent the money at casinos, on personal items, and on home improvement projects. Tischer also forged numerous ledger entries in an effort avoid detection.
In sentencing Tischer, Judge Peterson pointed out the particularly horrible nature of Tischer’s crimes. Judge Peterson specifically noted the long-term pattern of Tischer’s wrongdoing, as well as the lasting financial impact Tischer’s actions had on the trust’s beneficiary.
The charges against Tischer were the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma prosecuted this case.
Admitted Child Rapist Sentenced to 50 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A Dallas man who repeatedly raped a 7-year-old child was sentenced Wednesday to 50 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Luis Humberto Rodriguez, 30, plead guilty in January 2021 to one count of production of child pornography and one count of transportation of child pornography. He was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr to 30 years in prison on the production count plus 20 years in prison on the transportation count to run consecutively, for a total of 50 years behind bars.
In plea papers, Mr. Rodriguez admitted that he filmed himself sexually abusing a seven-year-old Jane Doe on multiple occasions, then shared the images with others over the social media application Kik.
At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, an agent testified that the defendant also admitted to sexual contact with four additional victims – including a one-year-old toddler and a special needs child.
Per court documents, the investigation into Mr. Rodriguez began when agents in Olympia, Washington seized an iPad from a registered sex offender and discovered conversations between the offender and Mr. Rodriguez. In it, the defendant discussed a child porn “trade” and offered up his email address.
Law enforcement tracked Mr. Rodriguez to Dallas and searched his home, where they seized a smartphone containing videos of the defendant sexually abusing a child and a collection of child pornography that Mr. Rodriguez estimated exceeded 20 gigabytes.
In plea papers, Mr. Rodriguez admitted that he possessed more than 600 videos and images of child pornography, including “sadistic” imagery.
“The sexual exploitation of children is unconscionable. It is the mission of HSI Dallas to secure the safety of all children. Now that justice has prevailed, our hope is that the victims, their families, and the community will now begin their journey of recovery with this predator behind bars,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes Jr.
Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas and Olympia Field Offices conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks prosecuted the case.
15 February 2023
Yankton Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Fentanyl ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Yankton, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on February 7, 2023.
Justin Duane Langen, 38, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Langen was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in June 2021. He pleaded guilty on November 14, 2022.
In June of 2021, Langen reached an agreement to distribute over 400 grams fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, in the District of South Dakota. During his involvement, he obtained Fentanyl pills from a co-conspirator and sold them to drug customers in South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Langen was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Wilmington Felon Receives 90 Months for Fourth Conviction of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Michael Kwame Hines, 31, of Wilmington, NC, was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison for two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. On August 11, 2022, Hines pled guilty to the charges.
“Through our ongoing partnership and collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement, we are able to put dangerous criminals behind bars and make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant has decided to illegally possess guns again and again. Felons in Wilmington and beyond should take warning from Mr. Hines’ case – possessing a gun will get you federal time.”
“I am very proud of our officers for making this arrest and for their continued effort to reduce violent crime on our streets,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams. “I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, the ATF, and our other partner agencies both local, state, and federal who continue to work with us to incarcerate violent individuals. We remain committed to combatting gun crime within the Wilmington community and keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, in February of 2021, members of the Wilmington Police Department received several complaints regarding narcotics sales and people with firearms on the porch of a residence on Meares Street. Officers conducted surveillance on the residence over several days and it was apparent that drug transactions were being conducted. On February 27, 2021, officers approached the residence and made contact with Michael Hines, Quemar Wooten, and another individual on the front porch. During their investigation, officers located a stolen firearm in Wooten’s waistband and another firearm underneath a sweatshirt belonging to Hines. Officers searched Hines’ rental vehicle in the driveway and located a digital scale, approximately 41 grams of marijuana, and small Ziplock bags that are typically used to distribute narcotics. Hines was arrested on state charges and subsequently bonded out of jail.
On May 3, 2021, while out on bond for the charges from February 27, Wilmington Police Department officers were conducting surveillance on Hines and witnessed him park his rental car at a grocery store in Wilmington and leave in another vehicle. Officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle and located, a Glock 43 firearm, three magazines of ammunition, and a digital scale with marijuana residue on it. Hines was arrested the next day.
Hines has multiple prior felony convictions, including robbery with a dangerous weapon, and this sentence will represent his third and fourth conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
On June 24, 2021, Wooten pled guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and on, October 12, 2022, he was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison.
Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crime Task Force, the Mobile Field Force Unit, and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case and Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the cases. Special Assistant United States Attorney William Van Trigt represents the government. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-00055-FL.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Launch of Gun Safe Storage InitiativeRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – On February 15, 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced the launch of a three-part campaign to promote safe gun storage in Vermont. The campaign consists of a public service announcement (PSA) aimed at encouraging gun owners to safely store weapons, as well as distribution of free cable gun locks to facilitate safe gun storage, and promotion of the Vermont State Police’s partnership with federal firearms licensees (FFL) around the state providing for temporary, off-site storage for firearms that cannot be maintained safely at home. All of the relevant information related to this safe storage initiative, including the locations to pick up free cable gun locks, the Vermont State Police/FFL website, and links to the PSA, is compiled on a new website – www.gunsafevt.org.
This gun safe storage initiative is the result of collaboration among many partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, the UVM Medical Center, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, the Vermont Sheriffs’ Association, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Vermont’s Office of the Director of Violence Prevention.
U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest thanked all of the initiative partners for their important contributions and also stated, “Storing guns securely protects children and adults by preventing unintentional shootings, gun suicides, gun thefts, and criminal discharges of firearms. Our slogan ‘Keep your gun safe. Keep your people safe,’ and this initiative, are designed to raise awareness and promote responsible gun storage and ownership. If guns are stored safely, we can help prevent personal crises from escalating to include gun violence.”
Two Men Indicted on Federal Charges Related to Drive-By Shooting in LakelandRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Nicholas Quinton Hanson (32, Lakeland) with possessing ammunition as a convicted felon and Marcus Dewonn Mobley, Jr. (22, Lakeland) with possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.
According to court documents and information presented in court, on January 30, 2023, Hanson, Mobley, and others shot 11 men in Lakeland from a blue Nissan Altima in a drive-by shooting. The victims all survived. Crime scene technicians recovered 9-millimeter, .40 caliber, and 5.56 millimeter spent shell casings from the crime scene. The evidence includes DNA collected from some of those shell casings, as well as from the Altima. Mobley’s DNA was recovered from a .40 caliber spent shell casing and the Altima. Hanson’s DNA was recovered from two spent 9-millimeter shell casings. Officers also subsequently seized a loaded, 9-millimeter handgun from Hanson’s home.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension (SPARTA) unit of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Lakeland Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray
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.
Download Criminal Complaint (Hanson)
Download Indictment (Hanson/Mobley)Two Euclid Men Charged with Stealing COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Insurance BenefitsRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A federal grand jury has returned a thirteen-count indictment charging Robert Nathaniel Andre Thomas III, 24, and Montareo Banks, 24, both of Euclid, Ohio, with engaging in a conspiracy to steal approximately $44,000 in pandemic unemployment insurance benefits from the federal government and the States of Ohio, Arizona, California, and New Jersey.
Thomas and Banks are charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and five counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the indictment, from May through November 2020, the defendants and their co-conspirators are accused of engaging in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. These benefits were provided via the Department of Labor (DOL) to State Workforce Agencies under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act of 2020.
The indictment alleges that as part of their scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators knowingly made false statements and omissions regarding employment history, residency, and other information on applications for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), California Employment Development Department (EDD), and the New Jersey Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
Court documents state that as a result of the scheme, the defendants and their co-conspirators received approximately $40,000 in pandemic unemployment insurance benefits to which they were not entitled.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum; in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.
This case was investigated by the Cleveland FBI and the Department of Labor. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryson N. Gillard.
Three Men Indicted in Bank Robbery ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Luke Kenna a/k/a “Lt.,” age 43, of Johnstown, New York; Michael Brown, Jr. a/k/a “Russ,” a/k/a “Doc Grimson,” age 40, of Exton, Pennsylvania; and Brian Tierney, a/k/a “Wodanaz”, age 29, of North Bellmore, New York, were charged by indictment yesterday with conspiring to commit bank robbery. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that between November 14 and November 27, 2022, Kenna, Brown, and Tierney agreed to and planned to commit an armed bank robbery at a bank branch in Johnstown, New York. Kenna, as part of that conspiracy, conducted surveillance of the bank and purchased items, including weapons, with which to commit the robbery. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Kenna, Brown, and Tierney were previously charged by criminal complaints and arrested; all are presently detained.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI Albany Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), which includes FBI Special Agents, and federal, state, and local investigators, including from the New York State Police, is investigating the case. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office, the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, and New York State Police Special Investigations Unit also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
Third Georgia-Based “Romance Scam” Co-Conspirator Convicted in Federal Court in Rhode IslandRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A third member of an Atlanta-based conspiracy that bilked unsuspecting seniors in Rhode Island and several other states out of more than $3.2 million was convicted today in federal court in Rhode Island after pleading guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Sadae Mills, 28, of Houston, TX, admitted to a federal judge that for approximately three months, beginning in April 2018, she agreed to receive payments that she knew had been fraudulently obtained from women through internet and app-based romance scams. Mills would take these payments, mostly in the form of money orders, cash, or wire transfers, deposit the ill-gotten funds into her bank account, and would then withdraw or transfer the proceeds, as directed by a co-conspirator. In doing so, Mills acted with the intent to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the funds.
Mills admitted that from approximately April 25, 2018, through June 7, 2018, she received a total of $34,710 in fraud proceeds and deposited them into her bank account. Mills also admitted that she spent some of the funds; transferred some of the proceeds to other banks, as directed by co-conspirator Dominique Golden, 31, of Houston, TX; and withdrew some of the funds in cash, which she then provided to Golden.
Golden, convicted on September 1, 2022, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, was sentenced on January 25, 2023, to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release, and to pay restitution in the amount of $1,263,822.54, romance scam proceeds she admitted to collecting and banking.
Co-conspirator Breauna Williams, 29, of Jacksonville, NC, is awaiting sentencing, having pleaded guilty on January 17, 2023, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on April 18, 2023.
Co-conspirators Wisdom Oghenekaro Onyobeno, 42, of Atlanta, GA. and Syretta Scherer, 41, of Atlanta, GA, are awaiting trial in U.S. District Court in Providence. The trial is scheduled to be begin on May 1, 2023. Onyobeno has been in custody since his arrest on November 19, 2019.
Mills is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise M. Barton and John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration in Atlanta.
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Syracuse Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tramond G. Wallace, Jr., age 28, of Syracuse, pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-New York Division, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) made the announcement.
As part of his guilty plea, Wallace admitted that at his apartment in the Town of DeWitt, he possessed a parcel containing 1,024 grams of pills containing fentanyl, which had been mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. Wallace admitted that he intended to distribute these pills, and other quantities of fentanyl that he possessed in his apartment, to others. Wallace further admitted that in the same apartment, he possessed two (2) Glock .40 caliber pistols, which he possessed in furtherance of his drug-trafficking.
At sentencing, Wallace faces at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison, a maximum fine of $5,000,000, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
DEA and USPIS investigated the case, with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.
Supplier in Juvenile Fentanyl Overdoses Case Charged with Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A top source of supply in the Carrollton fentanyl overdoses case has been charged with a federal drug crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.
Jason Xavier Villanueva, 22, was charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance. He was arrested on Tuesday and made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday afternoon.
According to the complaint, Mr. Villanueva allegedly worked through a juvenile dealer to supply fentanyl-laced pills to Luis Eduardo Navarrete, 21, and Magaly Mejia Cano, 29, the pair accused of peddling pills to teenage dealers in Carrollton. Mr. Villanueva also allegedly transacted with some of the teenage dealers directly.
Mr. Navarrete and Ms. Cano were charged via criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances last week and remain detained pending trial.
“Fentanyl is killing our kids. We are angry about it. We are heartbroken about it. And we are determined to do all we can about it,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “Make no mistake: Unless it comes from a licensed medical provider, that pill your child thinks is Percocet, or OxyContin, or Xanax, or Adderall, may actually be fentanyl. And if it is fentanyl, chances are, even a small part of one pill may be deadly.”
“Fentanyl does not discriminate by age, race, gender, or socio-economic status. Its addictive properties cannot be compared to anything else on the streets today. The overdose and poisoning margin of error between life or death is microscopic,” DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Eduardo Chávez said at the press conference. “We all have a role in this fight. Because it is a fight. It is a fight for our families, it is a fight to curb substance abuse, and it is a fight to hold criminal drug networks accountable for their actions.”
“We take this seriously in our community; we will leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety of our children,” said Carrollton Police Chief Roberto Arredondo.
All three defendants allegedly trafficked pills, mostly blue tablets inscribed “M-30,” to juvenile dealers in Carrollton, who went on to sell to friends and classmates.
The drugs led to as many as ten overdoses, three of them fatal, of nine teenagers in the Carrollton Farmer’s Branch Independent School District. The victims, all middle and high school students, ranged in age from 13 to 17 and usually referred to the pills with slang terms like “percs,” “yerks,” “blues,” or “M-30s.”
According to the complaint, three of the surviving overdose victims identified two juvenile dealers as their sources for pills. Evidence showed that both juvenile dealers corresponded with Mr. Villanueva over social media about drug purchases, and one even admitted to law enforcement that Villanueva was his supplier.
In an interview with law enforcement following his arrest, Mr. Navarrete allegedly revealed that he, too, obtained the drugs he allegedly dealt to minors from Mr. Villanueva through one of the juvenile dealers.
Mr. Villanueva allegedly posted photographs of “M30” pills, money, and firearms on social media. He used the message function on a popular social media app to negotiate drug transactions with juvenile dealers and described the quality of the pills he was selling to his customers.
Following Navarrete and Cano’s arrests last week, Mr. Villanueva posted on social media, “Only thing that’s gonna stop us is feds.”A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like Mr. Navarrete and Ms. Cano, Mr. Villanueva is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years each in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Carrollton Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of School Resource Officers from the Carrollton – Farmer’s Branch Independent School. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phelesa Guy and Rick Calvert are prosecuting the case.
Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.Street Gang Member Pleads Guilty to RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A Virgin Islands man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
According to court documents, Wahilli James, aka Dapa, of Frederiksted, St. Croix, was a member of the Paul Girard Criminal Enterprise (Enterprise), a local street gang in the Virgin Islands. Members and associates of the Enterprise engaged in narcotics distribution; money laundering; planned armed robberies of jewelry stores, racetracks, and banks; and ultimately, a violent struggle with a rival gang that led to three murders and several other shootings. James participated in two of the armed robberies and provided guns for his co-conspirators to use in criminal activity.
“This defendant is the eleventh and final Girard gang member to either plead guilty or be convicted at trial for their heinous crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants victimized local residents by waging a bloody street war throughout St. Croix and robbing commercial establishments on both St. Croix and St. Thomas. As this case demonstrates, outstanding cooperation between federal and local law enforcement is vital to dismantling violent criminal enterprises and keeping our communities safe.”
“The Paul Girard Criminal Enterprise was a vicious and lawless gang that terrorized and victimized the people of the Virgin Islands for years,” stated U.S. Attorney Delia Smith for the District of the Virgin Islands. “The tremendous work of the FBI, the Virgin Islands Police Department, and attorneys from my office and the Justice Department’s Criminal Division delivered the ultimate reward to the people of our territory – just and lengthy sentences of imprisonment to those involved.”
“Criminal organizations like the one James took part in thrive by destabilizing governance through violence and intimidation,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “With this guilty plea, the FBI reiterates its commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
James pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Paul Girard, the leader of the Enterprise, coordinated all of the gang’s activities while in prison. Girard and two other co-conspirators were convicted at trial in March 2022.
The FBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Marie Zisa and Christopher Taylor of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Edwards for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case.
Stockton Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Lawrence Macken, 45, of Stockton, was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on Dec. 12, 2019, law enforcement officers stopped Macken’s vehicle and found a Bersa Firestorm .380 semi-automatic handgun in the dash compartment near the vehicle’s driver’s seat. Macken has several prior felony convictions—including two felon-in-possession-of-a-firearm convictions, two assault convictions, and multiple vehicle-theft convictions—which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
This case was the product of an investigation by the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office; the Stockton Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron D. Pennekamp 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 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.
South Dakota Man Sentenced to over 12 Years for Meth DistributionRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Harrison, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on February 13, 2023.
James Dean Houseman, 62, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Houseman was indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on November 8, 2022.
In October of 2021, Houseman was pulled over by a South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper. After a search of the vehicle, the trooper found more than five grams of pure methamphetamine, which Houseman had separated out into smaller baggies in order to distribute them into the community. In the vehicle, troopers also found a loaded magazine containing Ruger .22 ammunition. A later search of Houseman’s house revealed a loaded semiautomatic .22 caliber Phoenix pistol and an additional 15 pounds of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the South Dakota Highway Patrol, South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert, who also serves as a prosecutor with the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.
Houseman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Transportation of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on February 13, 2023.
Terry Zoppe, age 49, was sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Zoppe was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. He pleaded guilty on November 8, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from incidents between September 19, 2017, and March 23, 2021, when Zoppe knowingly transported child pornography over the internet. After searching the internet for child pornography, he downloaded the files containing child pornography to his two e-mail accounts with Google domain. Zoppe also had child pornography on three cell phones. He knew the files contained child pornography before he chose to download them.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, SD Division of Criminal Investigation, SD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Sioux Falls PD, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Zoppe was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sherman Oaks Man Found Guilty of Scheming with His Brother to Defraud Investors Through Business They Ran Out of Parents’ HouseRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – A San Fernando Valley man has been found guilty by a jury of scheming with his brother to fraudulently obtain more than $6 million from at least 40 investors through an investment company they ran out of their parents’ house, the Justice Department announced today.
Sassi Mizrahi, 58, of Sherman Oaks, was found guilty late Tuesday of five counts of wire fraud. The jury found Mizrahi not guilty of one wire fraud count.
His brother, Motty Mizrahi, 51, of Encino, pleaded guilty on January 6 to six counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
According to evidence presented at the six-day trial, Motty Mizrahi falsely portrayed himself as a licensed broker, a certified public accountant, and an experienced trader who employed sophisticated financial option- and insurance-hedging strategies through the brothers’ business, MBIG Company. Both Mizrahi brothers operated MBIG out of their parents’ home in Encino.
From June 2012 until March 2019, the Mizrahi brothers raised more than $6 million from investors, promised them “guaranteed” returns between 2% and 3% per month, promised annual rates of return ranging from 30% to 102%, and assured them that their funds could be withdrawn after an initial holding period on an on-demand basis.
Neither Mizrahi brother ever invested any victim-investor funds in an account under MBIG’s name. Instead, Motty Mizrahi transferred most of the victim-investor funds into his personal trading accounts at E*TRADE and TD Ameritrade, in which he accumulated persistent and extensive losses. As a result of their investments with MBIG, victim-investors sustained losses of at least $3.3 million. Sassi Mizrahi received hundreds of thousands of dollars of investor money, and helped his brother conceal the truth about the scheme from MBIG’s investors.
Sassi Mizrahi and his brother submitted phony monthly account statements that purported to show consistent monthly gains and falsely showed that MBIG’s account balances were between $6 million and $9 million. However, Motty Mizrahi instead lost the investors’ money – losses he and Sassi Mizrahi denied when confronted by victims who unsuccessfully demanded their money back.
United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney scheduled a June 26 sentencing hearing for Sassi Mizrahi, who will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count.
At his sentencing hearing that is scheduled for May 15, Motty Mizrahi will face up to 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count and a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to his wire fraud prison term for the aggravated identity theft count.
In October 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a judgment of more than $3 million against Motty Mizrahi and MBIG for perpetuating the fraud.
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Morgan J. Cohen and David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.
Shawnee Man Sentenced for Child PornRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 96 months in prison time followed by five years of supervised release after he admitted to possessing child pornography images.In September 2022, Justin Packham, 34, of Shawnee pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Based on a cybertip, the Shawnee Police Department launched an investigation that revealed dozens of child pornography images had been uploaded into Google Drive using an email account in Packham’s name. Using a subsequent search warrant for Packham’s residence, Shawnee investigators found more than 1,000 child pornography photos and videos on various electronic devices and thumb drives.
The U.S. Secret Service and the Shawnee Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
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Sells Man Sentenced to over 12 Years for Aggravated Sexual AbuseRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Emmett Miguel, 33, of Sells, Arizona, was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 151 months in prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and a concurrent 120 months’ confinement for Abusive Sexual Contact. On September 22, 2022, Miguel was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting the 17-year-old victim at a dance in Sacaton, Arizona, in January 2012.
The Gila River Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Raynette Logan and Alanna Kennedy, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-21-00301-PHX-SMB
RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-021_Miguel# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Rapid City Man Charged with Illegal Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Rapid City, South Dakota, man for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Jarrad Smith, age 37, was indicted in January of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on February 10, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge stems from Smith knowingly possessing a semi-automatic pistol in Rapid City in December of 2022. Smith has a prior felony conviction and, as a result, cannot legally possess firearms.
The charge is merely an accusation and Smith is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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 investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Sazama is prosecuting the case.
Smith was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for April 18, 2023.
RGV man guilty of carjackingRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 34-year-old McAllen resident has admitted to robbery of a motor vehicle with intent to cause serious harm or death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
On Nov. 25, 2021, Fidel Garza Jr. was on the 1200 block of 28th street riding in the passenger seat of a truck and pulled in front of an SUV and stopped. A 67-year-old man was driving that vehicle. Garza exited the passenger side of the truck and approached the SUV. He then pointed a handgun at the driver and demanded he and his three minor passengers get out of the vehicle. Fearing for their lives, they complied. Garza then entered the SUV and fled the scene.
Law enforcement tracked him to a rural location in Edinburg. They arrested him in December 2021, at which time he admitted his role in the robbery.
U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez will impose sentencing April 27. At that time, Garza faces up to 15 years in prison.
He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.
The McAllen Police Department and Texas Department of Criminal Justice conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and the Edinburg Police Department as part of the Rio Grande Valley Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Evans is prosecuting the case.
Quincy Man Charged with Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly committing a hate crime.
John Sullivan, 77, was charged with one count of violating the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
According to the indictment, on Dec. 2, 2022, Sullivan used his vehicle to willfully cause bodily injury to a victim because of that victim’s actual and perceived race and national origin.
“Hate has no place here in Massachusetts. As this case demonstrates, we will aggressively prosecute hate crimes and other civil-rights offenses committed because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any individual or group. Confronting hate crimes is a priority of my administration. I have established a standalone Criminal Civil Rights Unit and a hotline dedicated to the investigation and potential prosecution of civil rights violations,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Our thoughts are with the victim and their family at this time. The alleged hate-filled and violent behavior of Mr. Sullivan is reprehensible and we intend to hold him accountable.”
“There is no way to undo the alleged damage that Mr. Sullivan did to this victim with his hateful, repulsive, and violent behavior. No one should ever be targeted or threatened because of their race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or immigration status said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim, but they also instill fear and threaten and intimidate an entire community which is why the FBI worked so closely with the Quincy Police Department to bring Mr. Sullivan to face justice. We urge members of our community to report incidents like this to us because hate-based violence has no place in our society and will not be tolerated.”
In August 2022, U.S. Attorney Rollins announced the creation of the “End Hate Now” hotline – 1-83-END-H8-NOW (1-833-634-8669) – for reporting hate-based incidents or potential criminal activity. Massachusetts residents and visitors are encouraged to call the hotline to report concerning or troubling incidents of hate, potential hate crimes, or concerns regarding individuals believed to be espousing the hate-filled views or actions we learn of far too often in the wake of mass shootings and/or acts of hate-based violent extremism. Callers are encouraged to leave their contact information but may remain anonymous. At this time, the hotline is available in English, Spanish, Cantonese and French.
The charge provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years, 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.
U.S. Attorney Rollins; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; FBI SAC Bonavolonta; Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan; and Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of Rollins’ Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Tara Allison of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Providence Man Admits to Possessing More than Forty Grams of Fentanyl Six Days After Pleading Guilty to Trafficking Anabolic SteroidsRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A 30-year-old Providence man today admitted to a federal judge that he possessed more than 250 grams of fentanyl and a firearm, and did so less than a week after pleading guilty, in February 2021, to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
According to court documents, Mason A. Nieves previously participated in a conspiracy that distributed significantly more than 60,000 units of steroids, leading to his arrest on February 19, 2020. He pleaded guilty on February 3, 2021, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids.
Six days after Nieves entered his guilty plea, and while he awaited sentencing, members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Area (HIDTA) Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Nieves’ Providence residence as part of an ongoing Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl in Rhode Island . During the search, law enforcement seized 251 grams of fentanyl and drug packaging materials from inside a kitchen cabinet; a loaded firearm from under Nieves’ bed; and $1,591 in cash. Today, Nieves pleaded guilty to an additional charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Nieves is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2023, for both conspiring to distribute anabolic steroids and for possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christine D. Lowell.
These cases are 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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Providence Man Admits Role in Counterfeit Check SchemeRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man today admitted to a federal judge that he willingly participated in a bank fraud scheme that obtained bank routing and account information of unsuspecting individuals that were used to create and deposit counterfeit checks and withdraw funds, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
In pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud, Julio Ariza, 27, admitted that, from approximately October 28, 2020, to November 4, 2020, he arranged for and coordinated the deposit of at least seven counterfeit checks, with the intent of defrauding banks of $102,694.38.
Ariza is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
A co-defendant in this matter, Nestor Concepcion, 27, of Johnston, similarly charged, pleaded guilty on January 21, 2022, and was sentenced on April 25, 2022, to sixteen months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. Concepcion admitted to the court that the intended loss to banks due to his criminal conduct totaled $71,717.77.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.
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Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on February 3, 2023.
Julian James Hard Heart, 20, was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Hard Heart was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Hard Heart was indicted for Second Degree Murder by a federal grand jury in January of 2022. He pleaded guilty on October 21, 2022.
The conviction stems from Hard Heart shooting another person after a verbal altercation on November 28, 2021, in Pine Ridge. The victim succumbed to his injuries.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Hard Heart was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Ohio Gambling Business Owner Sentenced for Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
An Ohio woman was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the IRS relating to her ownership and operation of illegal gambling businesses in Canton, Ohio.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2010 through 2018, Rebecca Kachner, along with other coconspirators, owned and operated two illegal gambling businesses, Skilled Shamrock and Redemption Skill Games 777. Kachner conspired with her husband and the other owners to defraud the IRS by filing false tax returns that omitted most of the income they received from their illegal gambling operation and by using a nominee owner to conceal their ownership of the businesses.
From 2012 through 2017, patrons of Skilled Shamrock wagered a total of more than $34 million, which resulted in more than $4 million in income to the owners. In total, Kachner and her husband received more than $2.3 million from the illegal gambling businesses. They did not report most of this income on their annual tax returns during these years. Investigators also recovered approximately $241,000 of illegal gambling proceeds in cash from a storage locker Kachner admitted to renting.
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Donald Nugent ordered the defendant to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay $1,184,668 in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle M. Baeppler for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of the Inspector General, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and the Ohio Casino Control Commission investigated the case. U.S. Homeland Security Investigations provided substantial assistance.
Trial Attorneys Richard M. Rolwing and Sam Bean of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Patton and David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.
Ogle County Man Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Federal Prison for Transporting Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Byron, Ill. man was sentenced today to fourteen years in federal prison for transportation of child pornography.
OSCAR FLORES-VAZQUEZ, 51, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of knowingly transporting child pornography. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey imposed the sentence. Flores-Vazquez was also ordered to pay $8,750.00 in restitution to certain victims.
The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus.
Flores-Vazquez admitted in a plea agreement that he used a peer-to-peer application on his computer to knowingly allow others, including an undercover law enforcement agent, to access files on his computer that Flores-Vazquez knew contained child pornography. In June 2018, Flores-Vazquez knowingly transported child pornography, including a file depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Flores-Vazquez further admitted in the plea agreement that he possessed a laptop that contained more than 600 images of child pornography.
Oglala Man Sentenced to Life ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Kidnapping, Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force, Interstate Domestic Violence, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault by Strangulation of a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on February 10, 2023.
Jesse Sierra, a/k/a Jesse Sierro, 37, was sentenced to Life imprisonment for Kidnapping and Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force. Sierra was also sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on the convictions for Interstate Domestic Violence, Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, and Assault by Strangulation of a Dating Partner. Each of the sentences was ordered to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $500 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $8,395.79 in restitution.
Sierra was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in August of 2019. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City in October of 2022. Also indicted with Jesse Sierra was his brother, Dustin Sierra, who was also convicted of various offenses arising out of the same event.
The convictions related to Jesse Sierra and his brother, Dustin Sierra, traveling to the female victim’s place of employment in July of 2019 and convincing her to leave with them. When Dustin Sierra began driving the female to the Pine Ridge Reservation, Jesse Sierra wrapped his arm around her neck and strangled her until she became unconscious. Each time the female regained consciousness, Jesse Sierra strangled her again. Between July 13, 2019, and July 17, 2019, Jesse Sierra took the female to a number of locations on the Pine Ridge Reservation against her will. Jesse inflicted multiple physical and sexual assaults upon the female during the time he held her against her will. Around July 17, 2019, Dustin Sierra drove Jesse Sierra and the female to Chadron, Nebraska. Jesse Sierra then hid her in a motel in Crawford, Nebraska. On July 21, 2019, Jesse dropped her off at the emergency room in Chadron. Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies searched for the victim from July 14, 2019, until she was located at the Chadron hospital on July 21, 2019.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Rapid City Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Box Elder Police Department, Dawes County Sheriff’s Office, Chadron Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Sazama and Kelsey Blair prosecuted the case.
Sierra was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Oglala Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Kidnapping and Interstate Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping, and Aiding and Abetting Interstate Domestic Violence. The sentencing took place on February 10, 2023.
Dustin Sierra, a/k/a Dustin Sierro, 38, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison for Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping, and 10 years in federal prison to for Aiding and Abetting Interstate Domestic Violence. Both sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Sierra was ordered to serve five years of supervised release for the Aiding and Abetting Kidnapping charge and three years on the Aiding and Abetting Interstate Domestic Violence charge, to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay $200 in special assessments to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sierra was indicted for the charges by a federal grand jury in August of 2019. He was found guilty following a federal jury trial in Rapid City in October of 2022. Also indicted with Dustin Sierra was his brother, Jesse Sierra, who was also convicted of various offenses arising out of the same event.
The convictions related to Dustin Sierra and his brother, Jesse Sierra, traveling to the female victim’s place of employment in July of 2019 and convincing her to leave with them. When Dustin Sierra began driving the female to the Pine Ridge Reservation, Jesse Sierra wrapped his arm around her neck and strangled her until she became unconscious. Each time the female regained consciousness, Jesse Sierra strangled her again. Between July 13, 2019, and July 17, 2019, Jesse Sierra took the female to a number of locations on the Pine Ridge Reservation against her will. Jesse inflicted multiple physical and sexual assaults upon the female during the time he held her against her will. Around July 17, 2019, Dustin Sierra drove Jesse Sierra and the female to Chadron, Nebraska. Jesse Sierra then hid her in a motel in Crawford, Nebraska. On July 21, 2019, Jesse dropped her off at the emergency room in Chadron. Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies searched for the victim from July 14, 2019, until she was located at the Chadron hospital on July 21, 2019.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Rapid City Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Box Elder Police Department, Dawes County Sheriff’s Office, Chadron Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Sazama and Kelsey Blair prosecuted the case.
Sierra was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Officers Found Illegal Drugs, Firearms after KC Man Called 911 for His MotherRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who called 911 emergency assistance for his mother pleaded guilty in federal court today after the police officers who responded to his home found illegal drugs, six firearms he illegally possessed, and large amounts of cash.
Michael Thomas Cummings II, also known as “Blue,” 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Kansas City police officers arrived at Cummings’s residence shortly before midnight on June 7, 2021, after he had called 911 for his mother because she was unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel were in the process of attempting lifesaving measures when police officers arrived, but she was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at approximately 12:04 a.m. on June 8, 2021. Cummings, who lived with his mother, told officers she suffered from cognitive decline. Officers noted she appeared to be emaciated.
Officers saw a loaded Heckler & Koch .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol sitting next to $438 in cash on a table. They also saw an SKS-style 7.62 x 54mm assault rifle with a magazine leaning against the wall of a back stairwell that led to the basement. Cummings, a felon, was arrested for illegally possessing the firearms.
Officers executed a search warrant at Cummings’s residence later the same day. They found a total of 351.37 grams of methamphetamine in Cummings’s bedroom and a Pioneer Arms 7.62 x 39mm AKM-47 style pistol in a bedroom closet. On a desk in the bedroom, officers also found a baggie that contained approximately .24 grams of fentanyl/heroin, and two baggies that contained approximately 28.1 grams of crack cocaine, as well as a baggie of marijuana in a desk drawer. Officers also found $3,512 in cash in the bedroom.
Officers found a Ruger .22-caliber pistol in another bedroom that had been converted into a weight room.
In a third bedroom, officers found a Smith and Wesson AR-15 style assault rifle in the closet and a safe that contained $175,100 in cash and a Ruger revolver that had been reported as stolen.
Officers also found $180 under the couch cushion, and sodium sulfate, which is often used by drug dealers as a cutting agent to dilute drugs, on a coffee table.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Cummings has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.
Under federal statutes, Cummings is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
New Haven Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Cocaine Trafficking RingRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANGEL CORREA-ORTIZ, 38, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his involvement in a cocaine trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2020, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force executed a federal search warrant on a suspicious package that had been sent through the U.S. Mail from New Haven to an address in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The package contained $102,450 in cash. The investigation revealed that Jose L. Gerena, of New Haven, was supervising the receipt of numerous parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico to addresses in and around New Haven, the resale of the cocaine to others, and the shipment of narcotics proceeds to individuals in Puerto Rico. During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted multiple parcels of cocaine and U.S. currency that was sent through the U.S. Mail.
Correa-Ortiz helped identify addresses for the organization to use to receive parcels, moved parcels once they were received, and he accompanied other members of the organization during drug transactions.
Most of the parcels containing cocaine were transported to a stash house on Exchange Street in New Haven that Gerena, Jose Rodriguez-Caraballo and others used as a hub to distribute wholesale quantities of cocaine.
Rodriguez-Caraballo, also known as “Puma,” was arrested on March 18, 2021, after he traveled with another co-conspirator to a location in Milford to sell two kilograms of cocaine for $86,000. Investigators seized the cocaine and a loaded 9mm handgun from their vehicle. Correa-Ortiz, who had traveled to the same location in another vehicle, was not arrested at that time.
Gerena was arrested on August 10, 2021, after investigators made a controlled delivery of a parcel containing a kilogram of cocaine to his New Haven residence.
Correa-Ortiz was arrested on September 30, 2021. On August 26, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Correa-Ortiz, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 22.
Gerena and Rodriguez-Caraballo also pleaded guilty. Gerena awaits sentencing. On November 2, 2022, Rodriguez-Caraballo was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the New Haven Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and the Hartford, New Britain, Meriden and Town of Groton Police Departments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Karen Peck 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.
New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Evading More Than $400,000 in Federal Income TaxesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to evading more than $431,000 in federal income taxes over the course of seven years.
Victor M. Cruz, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of tax evasion. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for May 9, 2023. Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2021.
From 2015 through 2017, while earning between $183,000 and $212,000 in annual wages as a crewmember for various fishing vessels, Cruz failed to file federal tax returns on his income for any of the years. In addition, Cruz failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2010 through 2014 while receiving an annual income of at least $150,000. Despite receiving at least two notices from the Internal Revenue Service directing him to file returns and pay delinquent taxes, Cruz failed to file any federal tax returns and took other measures to prevent authorities from tracing his income or determining his tax liabilities. In total, Cruz evaded paying more than $431,000 in federal taxes, not including delinquency penalties and interest.
The charges of tax evasion each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Nampa Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
BOISE – Isaac Bright, 29, of Nampa, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, the maximum allowable sentence, for unlawful possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today.
According to court records, on January 29, 2022, a police officer with the Wilder Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bright. Bright failed to stop, resulting in a high-speed pursuit. Bright was eventually arrested after discharging a firearm at the officer. When Bright was arrested, he possessed a 9mm caliber pistol. At the time of the arrest, Bright was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2016 conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Bright is a documented member of the Latin Kings gang with an extensive criminal history, including convictions for second degree kidnapping, domestic battery in the presence of a child, and malicious injury to property. At the time of the offense, Bright was on supervised release for his 2016 firearm offense.
Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered Bright to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Bright pleaded guilty to the federal firearm charge on October 3, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Hurwit credited the cooperative efforts of the Wilder Police Department and the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force, which led to charges. The Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Ada County Sheriff’s Office; Boise Police Department; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; Meridian Police Department; Nampa Police Department; and Idaho Department of Correction.
This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org.
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Morgan City Woman Convicted by Lafayette Jury of Conspiracy to Commit Wire FraudRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE, La. – Karen Hawkins Gier, 53, of Morgan City, Louisiana, was convicted yesterday afternoon by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. presided over the trial this week.
Gier was charged in an indictment in November 2021 with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with fraudulently applying for disaster benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security.
In August 2016, severe flooding impacted south Louisiana and a Presidential disaster declaration was issued on August 14, 2016 under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. The incident period covered August 11, 2016 through August 31, 2016. FEMA was authorized to provide transportation assistance for repair or replacement of a primary vehicle damaged by the disaster.
Between August 11, 2016 and March 30, 2017, Gier, acting in concert with others, made false statements and representations to FEMA in applications for transportation benefits and submitted fake invoices from non-existent mechanic shops. Gier’s false representations to FEMA included lying about vehicles being flooded when they were not, and lying about the location of the vehicles being in a disaster area, when in fact they were not. Gier also included fake mechanic shop invoices in the applications to FEMA showing repair estimates that were completely made up by her and other co-conspirators. FEMA disbursed benefits for these alleged damages to the claimants who would then pay a portion of those funds to Gier as a kickback for submitting their fraudulent applications.
Gier faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing for Gier is scheduled for June 29, 2023.
A co-defendant in this case, Justin Maurice Hawkins, pleaded guilty to a Bill of Information charging him with one count of theft of government funds. Hawkins is scheduled to be sentenced May 4, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren L. Gardner and J. Luke Walker.
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