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12 December 2022
Four York County Men Indicted for Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a three-count indictment against Quonzy Hope, 33, Timario Gayton, 30, Javaris Johnson, 35, and Thomas Perry, 29, all of the York County area, for drug trafficking offenses.
The indictment alleges that beginning in August 2022, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, and over 500 grams of cocaine. The indictment further alleges that on October 19, 2022, the defendants possessed with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, and over 500 grams of cocaine. Additionally, the indictment alleges that in August 2022, Hope possessed with intent to distribute and distributed over 400 grams of fentanyl.
The defendants face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (YCMDEU). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Former VA Psychologist Charged with Submitting False Medical Documents to Employer, Obstruction of Justice, Medicare FraudRead the Press Release
Benton, Ill. – A federal grand jury in Benton, Illinois, returned a six-count indictment charging Theresa Kelly, 56, of Herrin, Illinois, with engaging in a scheme to seek approved medical leave and reasonable accommodations from her former employer without valid documentation. Kelly was also charged with submitting false medical documents in connection with a 2020 lawsuit against the VA, as well as a scheme to bill Medicare for services that she did not provide at a Southern Illinois nursing home.
Kelly, a licensed clinical psychologist, was employed by the VA at its medical center in Marion, Illinois. According to court documents, between November 2016 and August 2020, Kelly submitted fraudulent medical documentation in the name of real and fake medical providers as part of the approval process for reasonable accommodations and medical leave, including FMLA leave.
The indictment alleges that Kelly provided the VA with letters and documentation purportedly from a “Dr. K. William Dixon” and “Amy J. Aron, Ph.D.” that detailed those providers’ alleged treatment of Kelly. Investigators later determined that there were no medical providers by the name of “Dr. K. William Dixon” or “Amy J. Aron, Ph.D.” practicing in Illinois, and that the documents submitted by Kelly were fraudulent. Kelly is also charged with submitting false medical documents that bore the forged signature of two legitimate medical providers.
“Employees who make fraudulent claims to government agencies and assistance programs for personal gain threaten the public’s trust in our systems,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Committing fraud and submitting false medical documents are serious offenses, and justice will prevail for those who attempt to take advantage of taxpayer dollars.”
Kelly was charged with four counts of making false statements to the VA in connection with the false medical documents she submitted and her efforts to conceal the fraudulent nature of those documents. The indictment also alleges in December 2020, Kelly obstructed justice in a civil proceeding in federal court by submitting fraudulent medical documentation to her attorney—the contents of which were used to seek a continuance of the judicial proceeding.
“Allegations of a VA employee providing false information and obstructing justice are taken seriously by the VA OIG and will be thoroughly investigated,” said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Billingsley with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Central Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this joint investigation.”
In addition to her submission of fraudulent medical documents, the indictment alleges that between May 2016 and January 2018, Kelly engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare and obtain payment for psychiatric services that she did not provide to residents of a Southern Illinois nursing home. In addition to her full-time job at the VA, Kelly owned a company by the name of TS Onsite Mental Health through which she claimed to provide psychotherapy sessions to patients at Shawnee Christian Nursing Center in Herrin, Illinois. According to the indictment, Kelly billed Medicare for over 400 claims—worth more than $54,000—for services that she did not provide. Kelly billed for at least some of the services on days she was on approved medical leave from the VA.
“HHS-OIG is committed to safeguarding federal health care programs from fraud and ensuring the appropriate use of taxpayer dollars,” said Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute such egregious conduct.”
An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, the defendant is presumed to be innocent of the charges until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Kelly is scheduled to appear on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022 for her arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Reona J. Daly at the federal courthouse in Benton. If convicted, Kelly faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Kelly could also be ordered to repay the government for her fraudulent billing of Medicare.
The investigation was conducted by investigators with the VA-OIG and HHS-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe J. Gross is prosecuting the case.
Former President of the New York Building and Construction Trades Council and 10 Other Union Officials Plead Guilty to Accepting Bribes and Illegal PaymentsRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Raymond A. Tierney, District Attorney for Suffolk County, announced today that 11 former union officials — JAMES CAHILL, former President of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, CHRISTOPHER KRAFT, PATRICK HILL, MATTHEW NORTON, WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN, KEVIN MCCARRON, JEREMY SHEERAN, a/k/a “Max,” ANDREW MCKEON, ROBERT EGAN, SCOTT ROCHE, and ARTHUR GIPSON — have pled guilty to charges stemming from their acceptance of bribes and illegal cash payments from a construction contractor (“Employer-1”) from in or about October 2018 to in or about October 2020 while the defendants were serving as union officers. MCCARRON and EGAN pled guilty earlier today before United States District Judge Colleen McMahon to violating the Taft-Hartley Act, and the remaining defendants previously pled guilty either to honest services fraud conspiracy or to violating the Taft-Hartley Act. Each defendant has or will be sentenced by Judge McMahon in Manhattan federal court.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The defendants exploited their union positions and hard-working union members to feed their own greed. They accepted bribes to corruptly favor non-union employers and influence the construction trade in New York. The convictions in this case reflect our continuing commitment to root out corruption and bring to justice those who abuse positions of power out of personal greed. I thank the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this case.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said: “These convictions highlight a shocking level of corruption among powerful labor officials in New York State. Through their greed and self-dealing, these defendants betrayed the hard-working members of their respective unions, and undermined the protections meant to be afforded by organized labor. While their members were performing difficult work at job sites throughout the region, these defendants sold out their membership by accepting bribes and cash payments in restaurant bathrooms. My Office will continue to uncover and prosecute corruption of all kinds, including that committed by union officials. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for partnering with my Office on these cases, and for bringing these prosecutions to a successful conclusion."
According to the allegations in the Indictment, statements made in court, and court filings:
JAMES CAHILL was the President of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council (the “NYS Trades Council”), which represents over 200,000 unionized construction workers, a member of the Executive Council for the New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (the “NYS AFL-CIO”), and formerly a union representative of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada (the “UA”). During the charged conspiracy, CAHILL accepted approximately $44,500 in bribes from Employer-1, and as part of his guilty plea, CAHILL acknowledged having previously accepted at least approximately $100,000 of additional bribes from Employer-1 in connection with CAHILL’s union positions.
KRAFT, HILL, NORTON, WANGERMAN, MCCARRON, SHEERAN, and MCKEON were Business Agents, EGAN was the Secretary-Treasurer, and ROCHE was the Business Agent At Large of the Local 638 of the UA (“Local 638”). GIPSON was a Business Agent of the Local Union 200 of the UA (“Local 200”). Each of these defendants accepted thousands and, in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars of cash bribes from Employer-1, a contractor who had projects and potential projects within the jurisdiction of Local 638 and Local 200.
All 11 defendants accepted cash from Employer-1 — usually stuffed in envelopes that Employer-1 handed off inside the restrooms of restaurants. During the meetings at which the payments were made, Employer-1 repeatedly requested favorable action from Local 638 and/or Local 200 including the following: (1) that the relevant union would support Employer-1’s bids on various projects, (2) that the union would consider signing Employer-1 to labor agreements that Employer-1 regarded to be favorable (including agreements that would pay union workers lower rates than their experience merited), and (3) that the union would permit Employer-1 to falsely claim to developers that Employer-1 employed union workers. JAMES CAHILL was the leader of the conspiracy and introduced Employer-1 to many of the other defendants, while advising Employer-1 that Employer-1 could reap the benefits of being associated with the unions without actually signing union agreements or employing union workers.
Employer-1 contracted to work on — or would bid on — projects that could have otherwise employed union workers belonging to Local 638 and/or Local 200. At the time Employer-1 was bribing the defendants, Employer-1’s business employed workers who were not members of Local 638 and/or Local 200 but would have been eligible for membership.
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A chart containing the names, offenses of conviction, maximum penalties for the defendants, and sentencing dates for each is set forth below. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents and investigators within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit and the Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank J. Balsamello, Marguerite Colson, Danielle Sassoon, Jason Swergold, and Jun Xiang, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura de Oliveira, are in charge of the prosecution.
Defendant
Offense of Conviction
Max. Penalty
Date of Sentencing
JAMES CAHILL
Honest Services Fraud Conspiracy
20 years in prison
March 7, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
CHRISTOPHER KRAFT
Honest Services Fraud Conspiracy
20 years in prison
December 12, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.
PATRICK HILL
Honest Services Fraud Conspiracy
20 years in prison
December 19, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
MATTHEW NORTON
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Felony)
Five years in prison
December 13, 2022, at 11:00 a.m.
WILLIAM BRIAN WANGERMAN
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Felony)
Five years in prison
January 30, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
KEVIN MCCARRON
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Misdemeanor)
12 months
in prison
March 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.
JEREMY SHEERAN
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Felony)
Five years in prison
January 13, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.
ANDREW MCKEON
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Felony)
Five years in prison
January 18, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.
ROBERT EGAN
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Felony)
Five years in prison
March 14, 2023, at 12:00p.m.
SCOTT ROCHE
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Misdemeanor)
12 months
in prison
Sentenced on December 6, 2022, to two years’ probation and $10,000 fine
ARTHUR GIPSON
Taft-Hartley Act Violation (Felony)
Five years in prison
March 9, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
Former Mobile Phone Store Owner Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Illegally Unlock CellphonesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former owner of a T-Mobile retail store in Eagle Rock was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for his multimillion-dollar scheme in which he stole T-Mobile employee credentials and illegally accessed the company’s internal computer systems to illicitly “unlock” and “unblock” cellphones.
Argishti Khudaverdyan, 44, of Burbank, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson, who also ordered him to pay $28,473,535 in restitution.
Khudaverdyan ran a multi-year scheme that illegally unlocked and unblocked cellphones, which generated tens of millions of dollars in criminal proceeds. During this time, most cellphone companies – including T-Mobile – “locked” their customers’ phones so they could be used only on the company’s network until the customers’ phone and service contracts had been fulfilled. If customers wanted to switch to a different carrier, their phones had to be “unlocked.” Carriers also “blocked” cellphones to protect consumers in the case of lost or stolen cellphones.
From August 2014 to June 2019, Khudaverdyan fraudulently unlocked and unblocked cellphones on T-Mobile’s network, as well as the networks of Sprint, AT&T, and other carriers. Removing the unlock allowed the phones to be sold on the black market and enabled T-Mobile customers to stop using T-Mobile’s services and thereby deprive T-Mobile of revenue generated from customers’ service contracts and equipment installment plans.
Khudaverdyan advertised his fraudulent unlocking services through brokers, email solicitations and websites. He falsely claimed the fraudulent unlocks that he provided were “official” T-Mobile unlocks.
From January 2017 through June 2017, Khudaverdyan and a former business partner were also co-owners of Top Tier Solutions Inc., a T-Mobile store in Eagle Rock Plaza. However, after T-Mobile terminated Khudaverdyan’s contract in June 2017 based on his suspicious computer behavior and association with unauthorized unlocking of cellphones, Khudaverdyan continued his fraud.
To gain unauthorized access to T-Mobile’s protected internal computers, Khudaverdyan obtained T-Mobile employees’ credentials through various dishonest means, including sending phishing emails that appeared to be legitimate T-Mobile correspondence, and socially engineering the T-Mobile IT Help Desk. Khudaverdyan used the fraudulent emails to trick T-Mobile employees to log in with their employee credentials so he could harvest the employees’ information and fraudulently unlock the phones.
In total, Khudaverdyan and others compromised and stole more than 50 different T-Mobile employees’ credentials from employees across the United States, and they unlocked and unblocked hundreds of thousands of cellphones during the years of the scheme.
Khudaverdyan obtained more than $25 million for these criminal activities. He used these illegal proceeds to pay for, among other things, real estate in Burbank and Northridge.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued that Khudaverdyan was “a sophisticated fraudster with no remorse for his crimes. He personally caused millions of dollars in losses to wireless carriers while furthering the trafficking of lost and stolen cell phones.”
At the conclusion of a four-day trial, a federal jury on August 1 found Khudaverdyan of 14 felonies: one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, two counts of accessing a computer to defraud and obtain value, one count of intentionally accessing a computer without authorization to obtain information, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, five counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Alen Gharehbagloo, 43, of La Cañada Flintridge, a co-defendant and a former co-owner of Top Tier Solutions Inc., pleaded guilty on July 5 to three felonies: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, accessing a protected computer with intent to defraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 13, 2023.
The United States Secret Service’s Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF) and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The CFTF includes representatives of the United States Secret Service, the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa E. Feldman and Andrew M. Roach of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section prosecuted this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan, Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section, is handling the asset forfeiture portion of this case.
Former Mail Carrier and Co-Schemer Who Lived on His Mail Delivery Route Each Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Prison for COVID FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former United States Postal Service mail carrier was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for scheming to steal more than $250,000 in unemployment insurance (UI) funds by making false claims of COVID-related job losses and for stealing UI debit cards intended for other people on his mail route.
Stephen Glover, 33, of Palmdale, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered him to pay $151,698 in restitution.
Glover pleaded guilty on July 11 to one count of mail fraud and one count of theft of mail matter by an officer or employee.
Judge Anderson today also sentenced Glover’s co-schemer, Travis McKenzie, 26, of Valencia, to 41 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $448,228 in restitution. McKenzie, who lived on Glover’s mail route, pleaded guilty on July 13 to a three-count information charging him with mail fraud, mail theft and identity theft.
From August 2020 to June 2021, while he was employed at the United States Post Office in Valencia, Glover schemed to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 -related unemployment benefits. Glover’s co-schemers applied for unemployment benefits using false statements and sometimes using stolen identities. Based upon the fraudulent claims, EDD mailed out debit cards to addresses listed on the applications.
The fraudulent UI claims were federally funded through programs authorized by Congress in response to the pandemic, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Lost Wage Assistance programs.
Glover abused his position as a mail carrier by providing co-schemers with addresses on his mail route, which his co-schemers then used as mailing addresses on the fraudulent EDD applications. After EDD mailed debit cards to those addresses, Glover intercepted and stole that mail.
Glover also stole legitimate EDD debit cards intended for recipients on his mail route. Glover used the EDD debit cards in other people’s names to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash from ATMs. He also activated the debit cards in other people’s names by calling EDD and using PINs he had discovered from stolen EDD mail. During a search of his girlfriend’s residence in June 2021, law enforcement found 37 pieces of mail from EDD address to 15 different individuals.
The total intended loss related to Glover’s mail fraud scheme is $270,698.
McKenzie admitted in his plea agreement that law enforcement found more than 150 pieces of mail from EDD addressed to more than 50 different names, as well as mail from the Virginia Employment Commission, at his residence. McKenzie used cash withdrawn from ATMs using EDD debit cards to purchase items from luxury retailers including Louis Vuitton and Prada handbags from luxury retailers Nieman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The intended loss applicable to McKenzie’s participation in the mail fraud scheme is approximately $577,522. McKenzie further admitted to possessing 317 pieces of stolen mail.
The United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General; the California Employment Development Department, Investigation Division; and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Charles E. Pell of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted these cases.
Anyone with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Former Gold River Resident Charged with Defrauding Clients of Surrogacy AgenciesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Darryl Lynn Kauffman, 74, of Las Vegas, was arrested today in Los Angeles, after being charged in a scheme to defraud intended-parent clients of surrogacy agencies in Placerville and San Francisco, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
On Nov. 3, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Kauffman with 17 counts of wire fraud. The indictment was unsealed today following his arrest.
According to court documents, Kauffman, who was a CPA, held himself out as an escrow agent who specialized in providing escrow services to surrogacy agencies and their clients, the intended parents. California law requires that intended parents using the services of a surrogacy agency use escrow services and a licensed escrow agent for the payment of medical expenses and other fees to surrogate mothers. Kauffman provided escrow contracts to the intended parents through the agencies that listed him as an escrow agent. Kauffman, who was not a licensed agent, also advertised that his specialty was in providing escrow services for surrogacy cases.
According to the indictment, beginning in 2015 and continuing until March 2018, Kauffman defrauded clients from two surrogacy agencies. Intended parents in the United States, Asia, and Europe wired money to Kauffman believing he was an escrow agent and was segregating their funds into individual accounts. In fact, the intended parents were wiring money directly into Kauffman’s business bank accounts where it was co-mingled with funds from other intended parents’ and Kauffman’s other business ventures. Kauffman eventually stopped paying surrogacy fees and expenses as required by the escrow contract and converted the intended parents’ money to his own personal use. Kauffman sent false account statements to the intended parents that listed remaining funds in their escrow accounts when, in fact he had already spent their money. Kauffman ultimately defrauded the intended parents of more than $900,000.
This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the California Department of Consumer Affairs – Division of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Kauffman faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Coast Guard Employee Sentenced in Test-Fixing CaseRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that former United States Coast Guard employee BEVERLY MCCRARY was sentenced on December 8, 2022 for engaging in a bribery scheme at a Coast Guard exam center. United States District Court Judge Barry W. Ashe sentenced MCCRARY, age 64, to 54 months’ imprisonment for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. MCCRARY was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following her prison term and to pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
MCCRARY had been employed as a credentialing specialist at a Mandeville, Louisiana Coast Guard exam center known as REC (Regional Exam Center) New Orleans. REC New Orleans administered examinations that merchant mariners were legally required to pass in order to obtain licenses to serve in various positions on vessels. The examinations tested mariners’ knowledge and training to safely operate under the authority of the licenses.
MCCRARY and two other Coast Guard employees, Dorothy Smith and Eldridge Johnson, participated in a scheme to sell mariners false passing exam scores. In October 2022, Judge Ashe sentenced Smith and Johnson prison terms of 60 months and 72 months respectively.
During her guilty plea, MCCRARY admitted that her role in the scheme was as an intermediary for Smith, who entered the false scores. MCCRARY would gather mariners’ money and information about the desired licenses and then provide the information and a portion of the money to Smith. MCCRARY participated in the scheme both during her employment at REC New Orleans and also following her 2015 retirement.
MCCRARY almost always required upfront cash payments, but on occasion would accept non-monetary things of value. For example, from one mariner, MCCRARY accepted a cooler of shrimp in exchange for arranging false test scores.
To make it less likely that the scheme would be discovered, MCCRARY instructed mariners: to not contact the exam center regarding their license applications; to not work on vessels during the days they were supposed to be testing; and to use code words when discussing the scheme on the telephone.
MCCRARY recruited some of the mariners while she was on duty at REC New Orleans. For example, when mariners came to the exam center to address matters related to their license applications, MCCRARY would strike up conversations with them and proceed to solicit them to engage in the scheme.
MCCRARY also developed her own network of intermediaries beneath her in the scheme. These included Alexis Bell, Micheal Wooten, and Sharron Robinson, who all pleaded guilty to conspiracy and who collectively admitted to having MCCRARY arrange false scores for a total of 31 mariners, including themselves. Earlier this year, Bell was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment and Wooten and Robinson were each sentenced to 54 months imprisonment. In December 2021, another intermediary, who operated under Bell in the scheme, Alonzo Williams, received a 40-month sentence for his conspiracy conviction.
In addition to the defendants mentioned above, 32 mariners were charged with, and pleaded guilty to, the felony offense of unlawful receipt of a mariner license. Some of these defendants were charged in MCCRARY’s case while others were charged in a separate case assigned to United States District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon.
MCCRARY admitted that she engaged in the scheme from before April 2012 until May 2019 and that she caused more than 50 mariners to receive false passing scores, with some mariners obtaining false scores on multiple occasions. Each falsely-reported examination resulted in the issuance of an unearned license. The wide range of fraudulently obtained licenses for which MCCRARY was responsible included the Master Unlimited Oceans endorsement, which authorizes the holder to serve as the captain of vessels of any tonnage in any waters, as well as licenses for other high-level positions such as Chief Mate and Chief Engineer.
“Former Coast Guard exam center employee Beverly McCrary risked public safety for financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Evans. “Today’s sentencing holds her accountable for her egregious breach of trust.”
“The Coast Guard Investigative Service is firmly committed to protecting the integrity of the Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialing system and will vigorously investigate and seek prosecution of any individuals suspected of defrauding the system” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Jeanfreau, CGIS Gulf Region. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates the tireless efforts of the Coast Guard and Department of Justice to hold those accountable who commit fraud for personal gain.”
U.S. Attorney Evans commended the work of the Coast Guard Investigative Service Gulf Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chandra Menon was in charge of the prosecution.
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Former California Correctional Officer Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Helping Cover up Civil Rights Violation Regarding Assault on Inmate at CSP-SacramentoRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ashley Aurich, 33, of Sacramento, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay $7,500 in fines for submitting a false report to try and cover up a criminal civil rights violation for the on‑duty assault of an inmate, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, Aurich was a correctional officer at California State Prison, Sacramento (CSP-Sacramento). On Sept. 15, 2016, while escorting an inmate, Aurich watched her partner, Arturo Pacheco, grab the inmate’s legs and pull them out from under him. The inmate, whose hands were handcuffed behind his back, fell forward onto the concrete floor, breaking his jaw and several teeth, and suffering other injuries. That inmate was transported to UC Davis Medical Center where he received treatment for his injuries. Approximately two days later, the inmate suffered a pulmonary embolism and died. While the inmate was receiving treatment, Aurich, Pacheco, and other correctional officers began falsifying reports to cover up the incident.
On Oct. 17, 2022, Arturo Pacheco was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison for criminal civil rights violations.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the cooperation of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Internal Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Anderson and Rosanne L. Rust prosecuted the case.
Former Butte County Man Sentenced for Theft of FEMA Benefits in Connection with Paradise Camp FireRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Andrew Keffer, 46, previously of Chico, was sentenced today to one month in prison to be followed by 150 days of home detention for theft of FEMA benefits issued in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Following the 2018 Camp and Carr Fires, FEMA assistance was available to individuals who, as a result of the fires, had emergency needs for food, shelter, and personal items. To qualify for certain benefits, an individual’s primary residence—the place where the individual resided at the time of the fire—had to have been destroyed or damaged by the fire, among other eligibility criteria.
According to court documents, FEMA issued Keffer two checks totaling $4,481.85, based on his application for FEMA benefits that falsely claimed Keffer’s primary residence had been destroyed in the Camp Fire. Keffer cashed the two checks knowing he was not a victim of the Camp Fire and was not entitled to the money. This case came to the attention of federal law enforcement through a tip from a member of the public.
This case was the result of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley D. Weger prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) to investigate, prosecute, and deter fraud in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region. Its mission has expanded to include suspected fraud from any natural or manmade disaster. More than 20 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which allows the center to act as a centralized clearinghouse of information related to disaster relief fraud. Report disaster fraud by contacting the NCDF Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm.
Florida Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Shipping Himself over 18 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Jason Ryan Hardy (40, Tarpon Springs) to 10 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Hardy pleaded guilty on January 11, 2022.
According to court documents, Hardy flew to California to coordinate the delivery of methamphetamine from California to Florida. On June 19, 2020, package delivery employees in California reported receiving a suspicious package. Despite being shipped from California, the sender’s address and the return address on the package were both based out of Florida. The sender’s address was later confirmed to be Hardy’s and Hardy was listed as the person to return the package to if the package could not be delivered. Law enforcement officers searched the package and discovered that it contained more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine. On June 22, 2020, Hardy called to inquire about the status of the package. He identified himself by his first name and provided his true phone number and e-mail address.
“This criminal was stopped from smuggling large amounts of deadly drugs into our communities,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “HSI special agents, working with our partners from the Tarpon Springs Police Department and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, prevented large amounts of methamphetamine from entering our neighborhoods and have certainly saved lives.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tarpon Springs Police Department, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
Federal Jury Finds St. Paul Man Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL, Minn. – A federal jury convicted a St. Paul man of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger.
Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright, Hugo Escudero, 45, was convicted on December 9, 2022, of one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on September 22, 2021, Escudero was arrested in the parking lot of a Home Depot in St. Louis Park while attempting to sell one kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of cocaine for $38,000. Law enforcement also recovered approximately 13.5 kilograms (30 lbs.) of cocaine at two properties belonging to Escudero.
This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Metro Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan H. Nelson and Matthew D. Forbes.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Mandeville Man for Violation of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on December 8, 2022 MAURICE BUTLER, age 34, resident of St. Tammany Parish, was charged in a one-count indictment for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).
If convicted, BUTLER faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Kennedy.
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Fayetteville Man Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Fayetteville man was sentenced on December 9,2022, to 188 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, In October of 2021 detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF) received information that Kacey Derell Jones, age 45, was distributing methamphetamine in the Northwest Arkansas area. Detectives learned that JONES was a parolee with a warrantless search waiver on file.
On October 17, 2021, detectives conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Jones.
On October 19, 2021, detectives received information that Jones was in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine at his Fayetteville residence. Detectives observed Jones driving his vehicle and requested a Fayetteville Patrol Officer to initiate a traffic stop and to place Jones under arrest for the October 17th controlled purchase.
Jones was arrested and then transported back to his residence where a search was conducted. The search resulted in detectives locating a .40 caliber handgun, as well as four individually packaged bags of methamphetamine with an approximate weight of 115 grams. The drugs were subsequently sent to the Homeland Security Investigations Crime Laboratory where they tested positive for methamphetamine.
Jones later admitted to detectives that the drugs and firearm seized belonged to him.
U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement.
The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris 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.
Farmington Man Involved in Son's Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to Prison for Distributing CrackRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEVIN JONES, SR., 58, of Farmington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine. Judge Thompson also ordered Jones to serve 200 hours of community service while on supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2017, members of the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and Bridgeport Police Department began investigating individuals who were distributing narcotics in and around Bridgeport. The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Kevin Jones Sr.’s son, Kevin Jones II, headed a Bridgeport-based drug trafficking network. Jones Sr. regular received distribution quantities of crack cocaine from his son and sold the drug to his own customer base.
The investigation resulted in federal charges against Jones Sr., Jones II, and 17 other defendants, and the seizure of narcotics, eight firearms, and more than $360,000 in cash.
Jones Sr. was arrested on November 6, 2018. On March 4, 2020, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances.
Jones Sr., who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 27.
Jones II, also known as “Ox” and “Scott,” of Bridgeport, has pleaded guilty and is detained while awaiting sentencing.
This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Department, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Connecticut State Police, and the Stratford, Norwalk, Seymour and Trumbull Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Patrick J. Doherty 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.
Fargo, Nd, Man Convictied of Kidnapping and Attempted Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on December 9, 2022, following a three-day trial, a jury returned guilty verdicts against Sharmake Mohamed Abdullahi, age 31 of Fargo, ND, for Kidnapping and Attempted Witness Tampering.
On October 19, 2021, Sharmake Mohamed Abdullahi kidnapped an adult female at gunpoint as she was driving in Fargo, North Dakota. Abdullahi forced the victim to drive him to a bank in Moorhead, Minnesota where he forced the victim to try to take money out of an ATM. The victim was able to escape and take refuge in a Gate City Bank.
Abdullahi was convicted of attempted witness tampering for his efforts to influence and tamper with the victim’s testimony."
U.S. District Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, presided over the trial. Sentencing date has been scheduled for March 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
"The FBI stands with it's state and local partners across North Dakota and Minnesota in fighting violent crime. These partnerships continue to allow us to successfully investigate and bring prosecutions such as the case against Mr. Abdullahi," said Acting SAC Jamie E. Rohrbaugh.
"The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping Americans safe, and these verdicts are a product of the focus on reducing gun-related violent crime," Schneider said. "I congratulate federal law enforcement and Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lee for successfully ensuring that justice was served in this case."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fargo and Moorhead Police Departments prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Lee and Trial Attorney Marihug Cedeño.
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Dunedin Woman Charged with Scheme to Distribute Unapproved New Drugs and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marina Sievert (57, Dunedin) with mail fraud, introduction into interstate commerce of an unapproved new drug, and monetary transactions in criminally derived property. If convicted, Sievert faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each mail fraud count (2 counts), three years in federal prison for each count of introduction into interstate commerce of an unapproved new drug (2 counts), and 10 years in federal prison for each money laundering count (2 counts). The indictment also notifies Sievert that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of at least $1.5 million, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment, beginning in July 2019, and continuing through April 2022, Sievert owned and operated Beauty Forever Florida Inc. (“BFF”), a Florida corporation that she used to order, purchase, import, receive, and distribute unapproved and misbranded drugs and medical devices. For instance, Sievert distributed Innotox, Medytox, and Meditoxin, which contained botulinum toxin type A, a highly potent toxin that could cause the disease botulism. Sievert acquired these products from a Korean pharmaceutical company that did not have the required approvals of the Food and Drug Administration for distribution in the United States. Sievert made fraudulent representations on her BFF website to her customers, such as false and misleading claims that BFF’s products were “FDA approved,” had “cleared customs,” and had “guaranteed authenticity.” Sievert collected online orders from the BFF website and used the United States Postal Service and private and commercial interstate carriers to acquire the unapproved new drugs from foreign pharmaceutical retailers. She then distributed the unapproved new drugs across the United States via the mail. Sievert used the proceeds of her illegal scheme, in part, to make two monetary transactions, each in amounts greater than $10,000, for the purchase of a vehicle and for her own personal enrichment.
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 United States Food and Drug Administration — Office of Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
Dublin man sentenced to 20 years in prison for producing & possessing child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Dublin, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court here to 240 months in prison for sexually exploiting two minors and possessing child pornography of at least three more.
Timothy W. Wright, 50, was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release following his term of incarceration.
Wright installed a hidden camera in the bathroom of his home, using that hidden camera to record and produce pornographic content of two minors. To save videos or images of the minors from the hidden camera to his phone, Wright would record the video feed live as it was happening and save the images and photos to his phone. Investigators discovered approximately 27 videos and 152 images from the hidden camera of the minor victims on Wright’s phone.
In addition, Wright admitted he paid three additional minor victims at least $300 on numerous occasions in exchange for those minors lying nude on Wright’s bed while Wright engaged in sex acts or acts of masturbation with the minors. The defendant also paid money for nude images and videos from these three minors, media content that was also recovered on Wright’s phone.
“Exploiting minors does irreparable harm to the victims and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Wright’s abuse was especially perverse, and children in Central Ohio are safer with him incarcerated for 20 years.”
Wright was arrested in September 2021 and pleaded guilty in June 2022 to producing and possessing child pornography.
U.S. Attorney Parker announced the sentence imposed on Dec. 9 by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
The case was primarily investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance and cooperation of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which operates under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and, Columbus Division of Police, Dublin Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Unit, Delaware County Drug Task Force, and the United States Marshals Service.
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Driver in Armed Robbery of Madera Pharmacy Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Michael Erin Vandeventer, 23, of Sparks, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by robbery, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, on April 19, 2020, Vandeventer and others robbed a CVS Pharmacy in Madera. The additional suspects, one armed with a handgun, entered the pharmacy and breached the barrier to enter the employee-only area. Using the firearm as intimidation, the robbers then demanded controlled substances — “oxy,” “promethazine,” and others — and after obtaining them, fled to a getaway car, operated by Vandeventer. A search of Vandeventer’s phone revealed conversations and web searches showing knowledge of and preparation for the robbery.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Madera Police Department, the Fresno Police Department, and the Reno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.
Vandeventer is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba. Vandeventer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
District Man Sentenced to Three Year Prison Term for Attempted Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
Defendant attempted to assault man with a firearm during argument inside a McDonald’s
WASHINGTON – Charles Epps, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Thursday, December 8, 2022, to 36 months in prison for a shooting inside a McDonald’s restaurant in September, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Epps pleaded guilty, in October 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, Epps was in an argument with another male in McDonald’s, located on 14th Street NW, in the late evening hours of September 3, 2022, when he retrieved a firearm from his waistband and held it at his side during the argument. A struggle over the firearm ensued during which the firearm discharged, injuring a restaurant patron. The shooting victim was later transported to the hospital for treatment of the injury. Epps was on supervised release at the time of the incident for attempted robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington and Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy.
Finally, they commend the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Keefer who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Des Moines Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
Des Moines, IA – An Iowa man was sentenced today to a total of 45 years in prison for conspiring to produce child pornography and child exploitation.
According to court documents, Shane William Butler, age 47, of Des Moines, produced child pornography on at least three occasions in 2021 when he sexually abused a minor victim while his codefendant and wife, Ashley Marie Butler, age 33, of Des Moines, videorecorded the abuse. Videos of the sexual abuse of the minor victim and child pornography were located on Shane Butler and Ashley Butler’s cell phones.
Chief United States District Court Judge Stephanie Marie Rose imposed a 30-year sentence on the conspiracy count and a 15-year sentence on the production count, to be served consecutively, for a total sentence of 45 years. Butler was also ordered to serve a total of 10 years of supervised release upon release from custody. In addition, Butler was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution as well as a $200 fine to the Crime Victim’s Assistance Fund.
Codefendant Ashley Butler is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2022.
U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Des Moines Police Department, the Polk County Attorney’s Office, the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuted the case.
Defendant Convicted of Arson Sentenced to Five Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A 23-year-old man who set three fires inside a Woonsocket mill-type building after breaking into the structure in April 2019, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Jacob E. Lahousse previously admitted to a federal judge that he gained access to the building by climbing a ladder and entering the rear of the structure, and then set fires to the inside of a desktop computer on the basement level; to a piece(s) of fabric on the basement level; and to a loveseat in a first-floor office.
After receiving a fire alarm activation from the building, Woonsocket firefighters discovered smoke in the building and that water was flowing from sprinkler heads. They extinguished a small fire inside a desktop computer and smoldering papers on a desk. Investigators also observed evidence of forced entry, smashed computers, ransacked offices, and an attempted forced entry into a safe.
In the office that sustained fire damage a handwritten note was posted on the wall that stated, “[i]n case you decided 2 call the feds I got pics of the fam.” On the desk next to the note was an empty picture frame that previously contained a family photo.
Video surveillance shows Lahousse walking around the inside of building which, at the time, housed at least two business, collecting various items and placing them into bags. Two hours after entering the building, Lahousse is seen on surveillance video destroying several video surveillance cameras.
Lahousse pleaded on September 12, 2022, to a charge of arson. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to sixty months of incarceration in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Additionally, the court ordered Lahousse to pay $333,333 in restitution for damages caused by his criminal actions.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.
The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Woonsocket Police Department; and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office.
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Convicted Felon Indicted for False Statements on Federal Loan ApplicationRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on December 6, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert J. Solberg (age: 38), of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with fraudulently misleading the U.S. Small Business Administration on a loan application by falsely stating that he was not at that time under indictment and had not been convicted of a felony. The indictment alleges that when Solberg submitted the application on August 4, 2020, he was then under indictment on federal charges and had pleaded guilty to a count of conspiracy to commit odometer tampering in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He was awaiting sentencing at the time he filed the loan application.
Because Solberg is alleged to have committed a new felony offense while subject to a pretrial release order in a pending criminal case, he faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine if convicted. Further, any sentence imposed in this matter must run consecutive to the sentence he received in the odometer tampering case.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel R. Humble and Julie F. Stewart.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt
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For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov
414-297-1700
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Columbus man admits to firearms chargeRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Quintae L. Stubbs, of Columbus, Ohio, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced.
Stubbs, 31, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Stubbs, a person prohibited from having firearms because of prior convictions, admitted to having a 9mm pistol in July 2022 in Ohio County.
Stubbs faces up to 15 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton J. Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Wheeling Police Department investigated.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.
Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Columbia, SOUTH CAROLINA —Paul Burton, 27, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on February 15, 2022, Burton posted a live video on social media at a Columbia gas station. In the video, he bragged about successfully robbing a rival gang member, who was still at the gas station, of a gold chain. During the video, Burton threatened the rival gang member with a firearm inside of the gas station. Later that same day, the City of Columbia Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a car Burton was driving. Because the car smelled of marijuana, police officers searched the car and found a loaded pistol.
On February 16, 2022, members of the Midlands Gang Task Force interviewed Burton and he and admitted to being in possession of the same pistol found in the car during the traffic stop. Burton is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon his prior convictions for Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana.
Burton faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and 3 years of supervision to follow any prison term. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Burton after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
Cedar Rapids Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Buying Gun for BoyfriendRead the Press Release
A Cedar Rapids woman who purchased a gun for her boyfriend and purchased at least four other guns was sentenced today to nearly three years in federal prison.
Lisa Marie Good, age 42, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a July 7, 2022 guilty plea to making false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
Information disclosed at sentencing and at her plea hearing showed that between November 2020 and August 2021, Good purchased at least five firearms from businesses in the Cedar Rapids area. During at least one purchase, Good lied on the ATF Form 4473 and represented that the firearm was for her when in fact the firearm she was buying the gun for her boyfriend. Good’s boyfriend was a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Good knew this at the time she purchased the gun for him. Another firearm that Good purchased during this time was recovered from another individual, also a felon. Officers searched Good’s residence and located a firearm, over 90 ecstasy pills, cash, and a digital scale. Good admitted that she not only used the ecstasy pills, but also sold them. To date, officers have not recovered two of the firearms Good purchased.
Good was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Good was sentenced to 34 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Good will have to pay $100 to the special assessment fund.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 22-CR-11.
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Camden County Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Selling Phony PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A former employee of a Mount Holly, New Jersey, medical practice was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for selling fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.
Jose Colon, 37, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to an information charging him with distribution of controlled substances. Judge O’Hearn imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Colon, who is not a medical provider, used the identities of doctors with whom he worked to make and sell fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, including Oxycodone, Adderall, Percocet, and Xanax. Colon sometimes met his customers in person with a prescription pad to sell the fraudulent prescriptions for cash. He also submitted fraudulent prescriptions electronically to pharmacies in exchange for electronic payments from his customers. Colon advised his customers on how to fill the fraudulent prescriptions, including instructing them to wait until the medical practice was closed so that Colon would be able to answer any phone calls from the pharmacies questioning the validity of the fraudulent prescriptions.
In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Colon to three years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the FBI Newark Health Care Fraud Task Force, whose members include the Galloway Township and Middle Township Police Departments, and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, for their assistance.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.
Cabell County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud CrimesRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tiffani Meeks, 38, of Barboursville, pleaded guilty today to three counts of wire fraud, after defrauding a Cabell County business while its bookkeeper.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from August 1, 2019, through March 9, 2021, Meeks was the company’s bookkeeper and had duties that included paying bills, monitoring credit and bank statements, maintaining accurate accounting records, and providing those records to the company’s owners upon request. Meeks pleaded guilty to using company credit cards not issued to her to make three unauthorized personal online purchases totaling $7,329.39 between February 19, 2020, and November 3, 2020. Those purchases included $3,179.99 for an inflatable bouncy house.
Meeks further admitted that her unauthorized personal online purchases with company credit cards totaled at least $121,841.60 between February 12, 2020, and June 18, 2021. Meeks made at least $6,862.83 of the unauthorized online purchases after she was fired by the company on March 9, 2021. To hide her fraud, Meeks had the unauthorized purchases shipped to her residence, mislabeled them as legitimate payments in company records, and withheld pages listing them before providing those records to the owners.
Meeks is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $750,000.00 fine. Meeks agreed to pay restitution. Of the $121,841.60 in authorized purchases, $12,151.15 has been credited back to the company leaving an outstanding balance of at least $109.690.45.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Office.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-119.
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California Man Charged with Smuggling Marijuana Onboard United Airlines Flight to St. ThomasRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Victor Hugo Ruiz, age 32, of California, appeared before Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for his initial appearing hearing after being charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana arrested on December 11, 2022, at the Cyril E. King Airport.
According to court documents, Ruiz arrived in St. Thomas on United Airlines flight #1443 from Dulles International Airport in Virginia with forty-one vacuum sealed packages containing a green leafy substance in his checked suitcases. After Ruiz confirmed to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers that the suitcases were indeed his, the officers field tested the green leafy substance which yielded a positive reaction for the presence of marijuana and weighed approximately 14 kilograms.
The Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Bronx Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Fatal Shooting of A Bystander at A Father’s Day BarbecueRead the Press Release
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RALPH BERRY was sentenced today to life in prison for the June 2000 fatal shooting of innocent bystander Caprice Jones in the Bronx, New York. Jones was left paralyzed from the shooting and died from his injuries 10 years later, in November 2010. BERRY was convicted following a jury trial on September 30, 2021, before then-U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan. Judge Nathan, now a U.S. Circuit Judge sitting by designation in Manhattan federal court, imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Ralph Berry callously ordered the shooting of a rival drug dealer that resulted in the senseless murder of Caprice Jones. Jones was simply enjoying a Father’s Day barbecue when his life was changed forever. As a result of Berry’s actions, Jones was left paralyzed and ultimately died from his injuries 10 years later. Berry has now been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.”
According to the Indictment and evidence presented at trial:
In the summer of 2000, BERRY was the head of a violent drug crew that operated in the McKinley Housing Development in the Bronx. On June 21, 2000, BERRY ordered one of his subordinates to shoot a rival drug dealer with whom BERRY had been feuding over drug territory. That subordinate followed BERRY’s order and fired multiple shots into a Father’s Day barbecue being held on the McKinley Houses basketball courts. Caprice Jones, an innocent bystander who was not involved in the drug dispute, was struck in the spine by one of the bullets. The gunshot injury Jones sustained that day left him paralyzed from the waist down and ultimately caused his death ten years later, in November 2010, at the age of 42.
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In addition to the prison term, BERRY, 55, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years’ supervised release and a $200 mandatory special assessment.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, Adam S. Hobson, and Jacob R. Fiddelman are in charge of the prosecution.
Bristol Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession, Absconding from SupervisionRead the Press Release
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that XAVIER CRUZ, 28, of Bristol, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet B. Atterton in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 5, 2020, law enforcement found a backpack containing a loaded Smith and Wesson semiautomatic handgun in a parking lot in a residential area of Bristol. Investigators determined that Cruz had possessed the firearm before discarding it, and subsequent laboratory testing confirmed the presence of Cruz’s DNA on the gun.
Prior to September 2020, Cruz sustained felony convictions in state court for controlled substance offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
On May 11, 2021, Cruz pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
On July 21, 2021, Cruz, who was released on a $100,000 bond, removed his ankle monitor and absconded. Cruz surrendered to law enforcement on April 12, 2022, shortly after the government moved to forfeit his bond, which was co-signed by his mother.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bristol Police Department, with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Levens and Margaret Donovan.
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.
Brandon Nurse Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Drug Distribution and Acquiring Controlled Substances by FraudRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jacquelyn DeVito (40, Brandon) has pleaded guilty to 10 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and 1 count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud. DeVito faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each unlawful drug distribution count and up to 4 years in federal prison for acquiring a controlled substance by fraud. DeVito has also agreed to forfeit and relinquish her Florida advanced practice registered nurse (“APRN”) license and her registered nurse (“RN”) license and not to reapply for a DEA registration number.
According to the plea agreement, between March 2020 and June 2022,
DeVito worked as an ARNP and RN at an urgent care medical office where she introduced herself to patients and offered to provide separate home health services through her privately-owned company, Bee Home Medical LLC. By signing up these patients, she acquired their names and dates of birth for the purpose of using the information to prescribe oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, without their knowledge or consent (collectively “Victim Patients”). DeVito issued prescriptions for oxycodone in the names of the Victim Patients to local retail pharmacies for the pharmacists to dispense the controlled substances. When the prescriptions were filled and ready to be picked up, DeVito went to the pharmacies and acquired the controlled substances by misrepresenting and deceiving the pharmacists by telling them she was the Victim Patients’ caregiver and was picking up the controlled substances on their behalf. During the Drug Enforcement Administration’s investigation, several Victim Patients were identified who had no knowledge DeVito issued the prescriptions in their names and confirmed that there was no legitimate need for them to receive oxycodone medication. DeVito prescribed and acquired more than 2,900 oxycodone pills.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration—Tampa District Office and the Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit was created by the Department of Justice to help combat the devastating opioid crisis. The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit focuses specifically on opioid-related health care fraud, using data to identify and prosecute individuals contributing to the prescription opioid epidemic. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
Bradenton Woman Pleads Guilty to Providing False Information When Purchasing Seven FirearmsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Cheyenne McIntosh (26, Bradenton) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement on an ATF form. McIntosh faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and has agreed to forfeit seven firearms. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, on August 18, 2021, Jamaican authorities recovered a firearm that had been used in a homicide. On September 13, 2021, the Jamaican authorities requested that law enforcement in the United States trace the origin of the firearm. The trace revealed that McIntosh had purchased the firearm on March 16, 2021, 155 days prior to the homicide. Officers conducted additional research and discovered that McIntosh had purchased several additional firearms.
Law enforcement officers attempted to locate McIntosh using the address she had provided on the ATF Form 4473 when she purchased the firearm that was later used in the homicide, but they were unsuccessful. Officers eventually learned that McIntosh had not resided at the address for more than a year. Officers eventually made contact with McIntosh on September 14, 2021. McIntosh confirmed that she had not lived at the address she listed on the ATF Form 4473 since January 2021. She also told the officers that she had purchased additional firearms on September 9, 2021. McIntosh stated that she buys firearms and sells them. She stated that she had sold 25 firearms since March 2021, and that she does not keep track of who she sells them to or conduct background checks. McIntosh stated that she would no longer provide the incorrect address when purchasing firearms.
On September 20, 2021, agents learned that McIntosh had purchased seven firearms on September 13, 2021, and would be picking them up that day. Agents also learned that McIntosh had provided the same incorrect address on the ATF 4473 Form when she purchased the firearms. When McIntosh picked the firearms up from the store, she certified that the address on the 4473 ATF form was correct. Agents approached McIntosh as she left the store. McIntosh confirmed that she had provided a false address on the ATF form.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlie D. Connally.
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.
Boyd County Man Sentenced to Life for Violent KidnappingRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – A Catlettsburg, Ky., man, Jonathan Lee Smithers, 41, was sentenced to life in federal prison on Monday, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, following his conviction for kidnapping.
In his guilty plea agreement, Smithers admitted that, on May 1, 2022, he physically abused a victim with whom he had been in a romantic relationship. Then, under threat of force and using a firearm, he made the victim accompany him to a store, where he brandished the weapon, assaulted her with the weapon, and confined her inside the vehicle. Smithers then drove her to the Flatwoods area. After again confining her inside the vehicle, Smithers stopped the vehicle and forced her to exit. Thereafter, still armed, he forced her to accompany him on foot, requiring her to climb fences, trespass on private property, and navigate random routes around the area for several hours. She was eventually able to escape and hide from Smithers, and law enforcement found her collapsed at a gas station.
After the victim’s escape, Smithers remained in the area on foot. Local law enforcement responded and Smithers was spotted coming out of the woods. When approached by law enforcement, Smithers shot the responding officer in the throat. The wounded officer survived life-threatening injuries.
“Not only did he use a firearm to abduct, terrify, and assault someone he was in a relationship with, he shot and seriously wounded a law enforcement officer responding to the scene,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Fortunately, through the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners, he must now pay the costs of his astonishing conduct. Protecting our communities from violence is one of our highest priorities and we assume this sentence will serve as an example of the considerable consequences that can face those who engage in such stark acts of violence.”
“Today’s sentence ensures that an incredibly violent offender has been removed from the streets and will no longer be a threat to society. Mr. Smithers not only tragically kidnapped his trusted partner and led her on a series of terrorizing demands, but he then seriously wounded a local police officer,” said Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office. “FBI Louisville is grateful to our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their dedication to keeping our communities safe and will continue to work tirelessly to protect our citizens from violent criminals.”
United States Attorney Shier; Special Agent in Charge Cohen; Colonel Phillip Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department; and Chief David Smith, Flatwoods Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, KSP, Ashland Police Department, and Flatwoods Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth.
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Boyd County Man Sentenced to 108 Months for Fentanyl Trafficking and Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
ASHLAND, Ky. – An Ashland man, Thomas Bentley, 38, was sentenced on Friday to 108 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of more of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to his plea agreement, on March 18, 2022, law enforcement responded to trespassing call from a store in Cannonsburg, Ky., and when they arrived at the scene, they found Bentley, in his car in the parking lot. Bentley was found with 53.8 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, drug paraphernalia, $2,826 in cash, and a loaded firearm. Bentley admitted that he had previously been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Bentley had been convicted of possession of heroin, in February 2021. Bentley pleaded guilty to the current charge in August 2022.
Under federal law, Bentley must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. He will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years after his release from prison.
Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Bobby Jack Woods, Boyd County Sherriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Boyd County Sherriff’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.
This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
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Boston Man Sentenced to More Than Nine Years in Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing methamphetamine.
Daniel Lennon, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 118 months in prison and five years of supervised release. On June 30, 2022, Lennon pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In January and February 2021, investigators conducted three undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Lennon. On Jan. 13, 2021, Lennon delivered approximately 28 grams of 95% pure methamphetamine; on Jan. 19, 2021, Lennon delivered approximately 112 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine; and on Feb. 4, 2021, Lennon delivered approximately 110 grams of 87% pure methamphetamine.
When investigators searched the hotel room where Lennon was staying, they located myriad drugs and drug distribution paraphernalia, including nearly 400 grams of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, over 500 grams of methamphetamine, over 40 grams of cocaine and approximately $16,740 in cash.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. The Boston Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren A. Graber of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Beverly Hills Father and Son Sentenced to Prison for Scheming to Defraud COVID-Relief Programs Designed to Help BusinessesRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Beverly Hills father and son were sentenced today to federal prison terms for defrauding government programs designed to help businesses survive the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramiro Da Rosa Mendes, 61, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Percy Anderson, who also ordered him to pay $2,228,302 in restitution.
In a separate case, Judge Anderson today sentenced Ammon Jose de Pina Mendes, 27, Ramiro’s son, to 21 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $222,225 in restitution.
Ramiro and Ammon Mendes each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in September 2022.
From April 2020 to August 2020, Ramiro Mendes schemed to fraudulently obtain federal disaster relief funds distributed through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs that were intended to help businesses during the pandemic.
Ramiro Mendes claimed to own numerous fake businesses purportedly based in Beverly Hills, including One Wilshire Enterprises, Professional Music Services, and MB Property Management Group LLC. These companies were fake businesses that did not exist prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not have any operations or employees.
He also claimed to be the owner of fake real estate services companies, including Ramiro Mendes Real Estate Services, Real Estate Services, and Real Estate Invesst-ments, also located in Beverly Hills and Massachusetts, as well as other businesses registered in Wyoming.
Ramiro Mendes submitted 19 applications for PPP and EIDL loans that contained false and fraudulent information, including the purported existence of payroll expenses, phony tax forms, and the operational status of the businesses.
For example, on June 24, 2020, Ramiro Mendes submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application to a Florida-based bank, seeking a loan of $975,100. The loan application falsely stated that One Wilshire Enterprises employed 18 people, had an average monthly payroll of $390,040, and, according to a false tax form, earned $4,810,149 in revenue in 2019. Based on this false information, the bank approved and funded a PPP loan in the amount of $793,300. The loan amount was wired into a bank account Mendes controlled.
Ramiro Mendes stole the COVID-relief loans and misused the proceeds for his own personal benefit, including the purchase of cryptocurrency. He further admitted that the intended loss in this case was approximately $6,708,963 and the actual loss was at least approximately $2,228,302.
Ammon Mendes admitted he used information from fake businesses to fraudulently obtain $225,225 in PPP and EIDL loans.
Another son of Ramiro Mendes – Mateus Pina Mendes, 33, of downtown Los Angeles – also previously pleaded guilty in September to wire fraud and admitted fraudulently obtaining $143,283 in PPP and EIDL loans. Mateus Mendes is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2023.
This matter was investigated by the FBI; the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of the Inspector General; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General; the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration – Office of the Inspector General; IRS Criminal Investigation; and the Small Business Administration – Office of the Inspector General.
Assistant United States Attorney Scott Paetty of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Jennifer Bilinkas of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section are prosecuting this case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Bay Area Man Pleads Guilty to Central Valley-Based Marijuana Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Tan Minh Vo, 50, of San Jose, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana that was shipped from Fresno and intended for distribution in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
According to court documents, in November 2018, Vo and co-defendants Patrick Maldonado, 46, of Madera; Elias Zambrano Jr., 43, of Fresno; Tien Van Phan, 58, of Milpitas; Halen Frazier, 36, of Kingsville, Missouri; and David Agustus McGowan, of Kansas City, Missouri, coordinated the shipment of nearly 500 pounds of marijuana to Frazier in Kansas City. The first shipment was seized from Frazier during a traffic stop after Phan, Vo’s courier, delivered 92 pounds of marijuana to him in two suitcases at a hotel in Kansas City.
Later, agents intercepted calls between Vo, Maldonado, Zambrano, and Frazier in which they discussed the shipment of another load of marijuana to Frazier in Kansas City. That load was intercepted by Arizona troopers after stopping McGowan for nonfunctioning tail lights on his truck. During a search of the trailer, troopers found 384 pounds of marijuana and $1,629 in cash in a hidden compartment.
Following these seizures, agents executed search warrants at Vo’s residence and place of business in San Jose, as well as Maldonado’s residence in Madera and Zambrano’s residence in Fresno. At Vo’s residence, agents found $24,700 and another $20,000 in cash on Vo’s person, which represented proceeds derived from drug trafficking. At his place of business, FIND-BUY-ITEMS, agents found 70 pounds of marijuana and indoor marijuana cultivation equipment. At Maldonado’s residence, agents found 4 kilograms of cocaine, 20 pounds of packaged marijuana, a firearm, and over $45,000 in cash. At Zambrano’s residence, agents found two loaded firearms, more marijuana, and an electronic money counter.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force consisting of agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sheriff’s Offices of Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties, the Fresno Police Department, the Arizona Department of Health, and the Kansas City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
Vo is scheduled for sentencing on March 13, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Ana de Alba. Vo faces a mandatory minimum statutory penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Maldonado, Zambrano, and Frazier previously pleaded guilty to the drug trafficking conspiracy. Maldonado was sentenced to seven years in prison. Both Zambrano and Frazier were sentenced to two years and three months in prison. McGowan is scheduled for a status conference in federal court in Fresno on January 23, 2023. As to him, the charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Baltimore Businessman Sentenced to Prison for Employment Tax CrimesRead the Press Release
A Maryland man was sentenced today to three years in prison for not paying over employment taxes to the IRS on behalf of his company’s employees.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jonas Purisch, of Baltimore, operated two employee staffing companies, Titan Staffing Network, Inc and Titan Services, LLC. Both companies provided workers for third-party manufacturing businesses in Maryland. As the owner and operator of the two companies, Purisch was responsible for withholding and paying over to the IRS employment taxes on behalf of their employees. Between March 2018 and March 2021, Purisch withheld but did not pay to the IRS more than $2 million in such taxes.
In April 2013, Purisch was convicted in the District of Maryland of filing a false individual income tax return and willful failure to file a tax return. He was sentenced to three months in prison for those offenses
In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett ordered Purisch to serve three years of supervised release and to pay approximately $3.4 million in restitution to the United States.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Michael C. Vasiliadis of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.
Atlantic County Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Health Care Fraud Conspiracy Targeting State Health Benefits ProgramsRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County man was sentenced today to 37 months for his role in defrauding New Jersey state and local health benefits programs and other insurers by submitting fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary prescriptions, Attorney for the United State Vikas Khanna announced.
Brian Pugh, 45, of Absecon, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiring to defraud a health care benefits program. Judge Kugler imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court.
According to documents in this matter and statements made in court:
Pugh was part of a criminal conspiracy in which state and local government employees were recruited and compensated to receive medically unnecessary compound prescription medications. Pugh and his conspirators defrauded New Jersey health benefits programs and other insurers of more than $50 million. Pugh directly caused the pharmacy benefits administrator to pay more than $1.4 million for medically unnecessary compound prescription medications for individuals he recruited into the scheme, and he received more than $430,000 in the conspiracy.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kugler sentenced Pugh to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of more than $1.4 million and forfeiture of $437,604.
Attorney for the United States Khanna credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina O. Hud, Acting Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit; R. David Walk Jr., Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Unit; and Desiree L. Grace, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta Issues Statement on 2021 FBI Hate Crimes in the United States StatisticsRead the Press Release
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta issued the following statement on the FBI’s announcement of the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) 2021 Hate Crimes Statistics:
“The Justice Department is committed to prioritizing prevention, investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. The FBI’s 2021 Hate Crimes Statistics are a reminder of the need to continue our vigorous efforts to address this pervasive issue in America. The Justice Department continues to work with the nation’s law enforcement agencies to increase the reporting of hate crime statistics to the FBI to ensure we have the data to help accurately identify and prevent hate crimes. No one in this country should be forced to live their life in fear of being attacked because of what they look like, whom they love, or where they worship. The department will continue to use all of the tools and resources at our disposal to stand up to bias-motivated violence in our communities.”
This is the first year the annual hate crimes statistics are reported entirely through NIBRS. Compared to the previous crime data collection system, NIBRS collects significantly more detailed data for each individual criminal incident. Since 2016, the Justice Department has worked with law enforcement agencies to assist in their transition to reporting crime data through NIBRS, including allocating over $120 million in grants to support agencies’ transition.
As a result of the shift to NIBRS-only data collection, law enforcement agency participation in submitting all crime statistics, including hate crimes, fell significantly from 2020 to 2021. Law enforcement agencies that did not transition to reporting crime data through NIBRS were not able to submit hate crime statistics to the FBI. Several of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies, as well as some states, did not make the transition to NIBRS in time to submit data prior to the reporting deadline, and are not included in the 2021 reported totals. As more agencies transition to the NIBRS data collection with continued support from the Justice Department, hate crime statistics in coming years will provide a richer and more complete picture of hate crimes nationwide.
Since January 2021, the Justice Department has taken a number of other actions in response to a rise in hate crimes and hate incidents. Some of these actions include:
- Aggressively investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. The department has charged more than 60 defendants in over 55 different cases and secured more than 55 convictions of defendants;
- Designating a Deputy Associate Attorney General as the Justice Department’s first-ever Anti-Hate Crimes Resources Coordinator;
- Designating the chief of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division to serve in a role of facilitating the expedited review of hate crimes;
- Designating an inaugural Language Access Coordinator to improve knowledge, use and expansion of the Department of Justice’s language resources;
- Announcing that over the next year, all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will host a United Against Hate program to help improve the reporting of hate crimes by teaching community members how to identify, report and help prevent hate crimes, and to provide an opportunity for trust-building between law enforcement and communities;
- Elevating civil rights violations and hate crimes enforcement for prioritization among the FBI’s 56 field offices;
- Designating at least one Assistant U.S. Attorney as a Civil Rights Coordinator in every U.S. Attorneys’ Office;
- Facilitating FBI-hosted regional conferences across the country with state and local law enforcement agencies regarding federal civil rights and hate crimes laws to encourage reporting, strengthen relationships between law enforcement and local civil rights organizations, and build trust within the diverse communities they serve;
- Launching an FBI-led National Anti-Hate Crimes Campaign involving all 56 FBI field offices to encourage reporting. The campaign includes outdoor advertising, billboards and radio streaming in addition to social media;
- Revitalizing the Community Relations Service by, among other things, facilitating nearly a dozen Protecting Places of Worship forums to provide interfaith communities with resources and information on securing their places of worship, and to help faith leaders build relationships with law enforcement;
- Adding information to the department’s website on reporting hate crimes in 24 languages, including 18 of the most frequently spoken AAPI languages in the United States;
- Awarding close to $12 million in grant funding through programs to state and local partners to investigate and prosecute hate crimes and assist hate crime victims, including through the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program to support state, local and Tribal law enforcement and prosecution agencies in their efforts to investigate and prosecute hate crimes, and in their outreach to and education of the public, victims and others on hate crimes; and
- With the Department of Education, issuing facts sheets addressing harassment and discrimination in school, including harassment based on COVID-19 related issues, harassment of LGBTQI+ students, and discrimination based on national origin and immigration status.
More information about the department’s response to hate crimes is available at https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes. For more information on the department’s actions to combat hate crimes, click here.
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Stolen Revolver That Was Capable of Firing Shotgun ShellsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Davion Rivers (27, Bradenton) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Rivers to forfeit the firearm, which was traceable to the offense. A federal jury had found Rivers guilty on July 11, 2022.
According to court documents, on August 10, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to a call for service after Rivers viciously attacked a minor, breaking the minor’s jaw. The officers encountered Rivers shortly after meeting with the minor. During the encounter, Rivers yelled at the officers and pushed one of them. An officer saw that Rivers had a firearm in his pocket after the push. The officer tased Rivers and recovered the firearm. The firearm was a Taurus Judge, a revolver that can fire shotgun shells, and which had five spent shell casings in the chamber. The firearm had also previously been reported stolen. Officers later secured a search warrant for Rivers’s phone and found that it contained a text message thread where Rivers had negotiated and agreed to buy the firearm.
As a previously convicted felon, Rivers is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. At time of this offense, Rivers was on federal supervised release for distributing narcotics. He had been released from custody in July 2020.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bradenton Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie D. Connally and David W.A. Chee.
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.
Alamdar S. Hamdani to serve as SDTX United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has sworn in Alamdar S. Hamdani as the 24th presidentially-appointed U.S. Attorney (USA) for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). He began his duties immediately. As the USA for the SDTX, Hamdani is the chief law enforcement officer responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in the seventh largest district in the nation.
He is the first Asian American to hold such office in the SDTX.
Hamdani took the oath of office at 10 a.m. today before an audience including Judge Crane’s staff, federal court personnel, federal public defender and Assistant U.S. Attorneys and staff. Calling it an honor to administer the oath to Hamdani, Judge Crane mentioned the sacrifices of public service and that serving as USA commands respect. He further explained the shared responsibility of moving cases through the process and working together to ensure people are fairly and efficiently treated in our justice system.
Jennifer B. Lowery, who had served as the acting, then court-appointed USA since the departure of former USA Ryan K. Patrick, commented on Hamdani’s background and how the office is happy to have him. She noted that Hamdani said he was “excited to get started.”
Hamdani thanked the previous leadership and described wanting to carry on the traditions he had learned. He spoke of former USA Don DeGabrielle, who spoke at his AUSA orientation almost 15 years ago, and how he taught him about the high standards expected of a federal prosecutor.
Hamdani also spoke of the last eight years as an AUSA with the SDTX as a “dream come true.” He explained that just to represent the United States is one of the greatest things of his career. He told the audience of how he came to this country as an immigrant from England almost 40 years ago and cited the beauty of being a part of this great country.
In swearing in Hamdani today, Judge Crane noted the job would not be an easy one, stating that the SDTX is a large district which carried a tremendous responsibility. He thanked Hamdani for traveling to the McAllen office for the oath and that he was looking forward to working with him.
Information about a possible media availability will be provided at a later date.
President Biden nominated Hamdani to serve as USA for this district Nov. 14, upon the recommendation of U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. The full Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment Dec. 6.
Hamdani has been with the Department of Justice since 2008. Most recently, he has been an AUSA with the SDTX, primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of national security and official corruption crimes. From 2010 to 2014, Hamdani served in the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, holding the position of deputy chief from 2012 to 2014. Prior to that, he was an AUSA in the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Prior to his government service, Hamdani was a partner at the law firm of Hamdani & Simon LLP in Texas from 2005 to 2008 where he litigated corporate disputes and civil rights matters. In 2003, he helped form the South Asian Bar Association of North America, holding various leadership positions in the organization, including president from 2007 to 2008. From 2001 to 2005, Hamdani was an associate attorney in the Houston office of the law firm Winstead P.C.
During his tenure as an AUSA with the SDTX, Hamdani was also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center.
Hamdani received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1999 and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993.
The SDTX, 7th largest in terms of personnel, typically prosecutes more cases against more defendants than most other USAOs nationwide, representing 43 counties and nine million people and covering 44,000 square miles. This district currently comprises seven U.S. District Court divisions with federal district courts in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo. The U.S. Attorney's office, headquartered in Houston, has branch offices in all seven divisions.
2 men charged federally with placing credit card skimmers on area gas pumpsRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Two Cuban nationals were brought into federal custody today for allegedly placing skimmers on gas pumps in Loveland, Ohio, to steal credit card data.
Yasmany Ulacia Garcia, 34, and Luis Ernesto Vigil Ochoa, 29, were arrested by police officers on Dec. 8 in Dayton. Their case was unsealed today.
According to the criminal complaint filed against them, the two placed credit card skimmers at gas pumps in Loveland, Ohio, on multiple occasions in April 2022.
It is alleged Garcia and Ochoa then stole credit card information via the skimmers and used that information to purchase gift cards at area stores.
For example, surveillance video in April 2022 shows the two defendants spending a significant amount of time at self-checkout registers purchasing gift cards and other merchandise at the Home Depot stores in Mason, Hamilton, Lebanon, West Chester, Beechmont and Milford, Ohio, and Cold Spring, Kentucky. Similar video surveillance shows Garcia and Ochoa allegedly using stolen credit card information to purchase gift cards at the Target in Mason, Ohio.
Garcia and Ochoa were fugitives for approximately seven months before they returned to the Southern District of Ohio and were encountered by law enforcement last week.
Agents learned Garcia and Ochoa were staying at a hotel on Miller Lane in Dayton, Ohio, and followed the defendants to four Home Depot stores and two Target stores in the greater Dayton area.
Agents discovered multiple gift cards and a fraudulent American Express card in their vehicle. During a subsequent search of the hotel room being used by Garcia and Ochoa, agents discovered a magnetic strip reader/writer and an illicit skimming device.
According to records from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, both Garcia and Ochoa were ordered removed from the United States in 2019.
Knowingly possessing a skimmer device with the intent to defraud is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the charges. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case, and it was investigated by the United States Secret Service, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office and Loveland Police Department.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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10 December 2022
Watertown Father and Son Found Guilty of Lottery Scam and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A father and son were convicted by a federal jury yesterday in connection with a “ten-percenting” scheme in which they cashed winning Massachusetts state lottery tickets on behalf of the ticket holders to avoid taxes and receive tax refunds.
Ali Jaafar, 63, and Yousef Jaafar, 29, both of Watertown, were convicted of one count of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count each of filing a false tax return. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for April 11, 2023 and April 13, 2023 for Ali Jaafar and Yousef Jaafar, respectively. Mohamed Jaafar, another of Ali Jaafar’s sons, who was also involved in the scheme, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service on Nov. 4, 2022 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2023.
“By defrauding the Massachusetts Lottery and the Internal Revenue Service, the Jaafars cheated the system and took millions of hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars. This guilty verdict shows that elaborate money laundering schemes and tax frauds will be rooted out and prosecuted,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.
The defendants conspired with others to purchase winning lottery tickets at a cash discount from gamblers all over Massachusetts, often using convenience store owners to facilitate the transactions. This scheme—referred to as “ten-percenting” because the ticket purchasers typically keep between 10-20 percent of each ticket’s value—allows the real gamblers to avoid reporting the winnings on their tax returns. The defendants and co-conspirators then presented the winning tickets to the Massachusetts Lottery Commission as their own and collected the full value of the tickets. The defendants also reported the ticket winnings as their own on their income tax returns and claimed fake gambling losses to offset the claimed winnings, thereby avoiding federal income taxes and receiving tax refunds.
Between 2011 and 2020, the defendants and their co-conspirators cashed more than 14,000 lottery tickets and claimed more than $20,000,000 in Massachusetts lottery winnings. Based upon their submitted lottery claims, in 2019, Ali Jaafar was the top individual lottery ticket casher for Massachusetts. Mohamed Jaafar was the third highest individual ticket casher and Yousef Jaafar was the fourth highest individual ticket casher. In total, the three family members received more than $1,200,000 in tax refunds by claiming other peoples’ lottery tickets as their own and then offsetting those winnings with fake gambling losses on their tax returns.
The charge of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of filing false tax returns provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year 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 other statutory factors.U.S. Attorney Rollins and Joleen Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Kristen A. Kearney of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.
Syracuse Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Michael Griswold, age 36, of Syracuse, was indicted yesterday for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, law enforcement agents from DEA and Syracuse Police Department executed a search warrant at Griswold’s home on November 9, 2022. During their search, they located a large bag containing what was later determined to be over 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Griswold has been in custody since his arrest on November 9, 2022, and will be arraigned at a later date. The charge filed against Griswold carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 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.
This case is being investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Syracuse Police Department, and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone.
Schenectady Woman Pleads Guilty to Heroin ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Frances Myers, age 55, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to possessing and intending to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarantino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
Myers admitted that in August 2021, she drove to New York City to pick up narcotics that were intended for sale in the Capital Region. On her return trip, she was stopped on Interstate 87 and found to be in possession of more than 100 grams of heroin.
Myers pled guilty before United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20, 2023. Myers faces a minimum of 5 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, and a term of 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.
This case was investigated by the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark.
Mauritanian Terrorist Indicted for the Death of U.S. National in Deadly Mali Hotel Attack and with Providing Material Support to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al-MurabitounRead the Press Release
Fawaz Ould Ahmed Ould Ahemeid, a Mauritanian national also known as “Ibrahim Idress” and “Ibrahim Dix,” was arraigned today in federal court in Brooklyn on a six-count indictment charging him with multiple terrorism offenses, including his roles in the March 7, 2015 attack on the La Terrasse restaurant in Bamako, Mali, in which five people were killed; the August 7, 2015 attack on the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, Mali, in which 13 individuals – including five United Nations workers – were killed; and the November 20, 2015 attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, in which 20 victims were killed, including U.S. citizen Anita Ashok Datar. The defendant, who was transferred to U.S. custody in Mali, arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, on December 9, 2022. United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho ordered the defendant detained pending trial.
The indictment charges the defendant with the murder of Ms. Datar; the unlawful use of firearms in connection with a crime of violence causing the death of Ms. Datar; conspiracy to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organizations al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (“AQIM”) and al-Murabitoun; provision and attempted provision of material support to AQIM and al-Murabitoun; and unlawful use of explosives.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrest and charges.
“Today, we have made clear that the United States is steadfast in our commitment to bring to justice those who commit barbaric acts of terrorism targeting innocent victims including, as in this case, an American aid worker who was killed more than 4,000 miles from her home in Maryland,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As a result of our work with our law enforcement partners here and abroad, the defendant now faces justice in a U.S. courtroom for the carnage that was carried out allegedly at his direction.”
Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the government of Mali for their continued support and assistance throughout this investigation, as well as to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and United States Department of State.
“Ahemeid planned and executed deadly attacks targeting westerners, including Americans, and will now be brought to justice,” stated Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “Let this be a reminder to any who would use violence against our people: no matter how far you run or how long you hide, we will not relent in our efforts to hold you accountable.”
“The defendant's alleged actions — inhumanely plotting and carrying out ruthless terrorist attacks — were not forgotten and will not be forgiven. The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and our law enforcement partners are resolute in our determination to ensure those willing to commit heinous acts of terrorism face the consequences of their actions as we seek justice for the victims of the attacks,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.
“International terrorism remains a grave threat to safety and freedom around the world,” stated NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “This indictment details the defendant’s callous disregard for human life, and it reinforces the NYPD’s unwavering commitment to bringing terrorists and all those who support them to justice. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Justice Department’s National Security Division, the FBI’s New York Field Office, and everyone else who worked on this critical, wide-ranging case.”
La Terrasse Restaurant Attack
As alleged in the indictment, the previously filed criminal complaint and other publicly filed documents, Ahemeid joined AQIM in or around 2007. Subsequently, Ahemeid planned and committed at least three major terrorist attacks against Western targets in Mali. On March 7, 2015, Ahemeid, armed with two AK-47 assault rifles, a pistol, and grenades, committed an attack on the La Terrasse restaurant in Bamako, Mali, killing five people. That same day, al-Murabitoun issued a public statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Hotel Byblos Attack
Following the La Terrasse attack, Ahemeid helped plan and carry out the August 7, 2015 attack on the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, Mali. During this attack, a gunman armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and wearing a suicide vest entered the Hotel Byblos and opened fire. The attack caused the deaths of 13 victims, including five United Nations workers. The gunman was killed in the attack. Al-Murabitoun subsequently issued a public statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Radisson Blu Hotel Attack
Ahemeid, along with others, planned and oversaw the November 20, 2015 terrorist attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali. On the morning of November 20, 2015, two men attacked the Radisson Blu, a hotel frequented by Western visitors. The attackers, wearing Western clothing and armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, moved from floor to floor of the hotel, shooting innocent victims as they progressed. Security forces responded to the scene and both attackers were ultimately killed. The attack resulted in the deaths of 20 victims, including U.S. citizen Anita Ashok Datar. Datar, a guest at the Radisson Blu, was shot multiple times and died at the scene as a result of the gunshot wounds. Datar was a 41-year-old public health expert from Takoma Park, Maryland, who was in Mali working for an international development firm assisting the United States Agency for International Development. In addition to the 20 deaths, the attack also wounded at least seven people. Following the attack, AQIM issued a public statement claiming responsibility for the attacks on behalf of AQIM and al-Murabitoun, stating “Two heroes infiltrating the Radisson Hotel in Mali, may God accept them. #Al-Qa’ida_in_West_Africa #Ansar_al_din #Al_Murabitun,” along with photographs of the terrorists who committed the murders.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Algor and Michael T. Keilty are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Stephanie Sweeten of the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
The Defendant:
Fawaz Ould Ahmed Ould Ahemeid
Age: 44
MauritaniaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-502 (BMC)
Mauritanian Terrorist Charged with Death of American Citizen and with Providing Material Support to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Al-MurabitounRead the Press Release
Fawaz Ould Ahmed Ould Ahemeid, aka Ibrahim Idress, aka Ibrahim Dix, 44, of Mauritania, was arraigned earlier today in federal court in the Eastern District of New York on a six-count indictment charging him with multiple terrorism offenses, including for his roles in the March 7, 2015 attack on the La Terrasse restaurant in Bamako, Mali, in which five people were killed; the Aug. 7, 2015 attack on the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, Mali, in which 13 individuals – including five United Nations workers – were killed; and the Nov. 20, 2015 attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, in which 20 victims were killed, including U.S. citizen Anita Ashok Datar. The defendant, who was transferred to U.S. custody in Mali, arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York, on Dec. 9, 2022, and appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James R. Cho, who entered a permanent order of detention pending trial.
“Ahemeid planned and executed deadly attacks targeting westerners, including Americans, and will now be brought to justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Let this be a reminder to any who would use violence against our people: no matter how far you run or how long you hide, we will not relent in our efforts to hold you accountable.”
“Today, we have once again made clear that we are, and will remain, steadfast in our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners here and abroad to bring to justice those who commit violent acts of terrorism targeting innocent American civilians, wherever they may be found,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York.
"Bringing Ahemeid to the United States to face the charges against him is an important step in achieving justice for those harmed by acts of terrorism, including the American citizen killed in the Radisson Blu Hotel attack," said Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. "The FBI will not be deterred by the passage of time or geographical distance as we work with our partners to hold those who commit acts of terrorism accountable."
As detailed in the indictment, the previously filed criminal complaint and other publicly filed documents, Ahemeid joined AQIM in or around 2007. Subsequently, Ahemeid planned and committed at least three significant terrorist attacks against Western targets in Mali. On March 7, 2015, Ahemeid, armed with two AK-47 assault rifles, a pistol, and grenades, committed an attack on the La Terrasse restaurant in Bamako, Mali, killing five people. That same day, al-Murabitoun issued a public statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Following the La Terrasse attack, Ahemeid helped plan and execute the Aug. 7, 2015 attack on the Hotel Byblos in Sevare, Mali, including by conducting surveillance of the hotel prior to the attack. During this attack, a lone gunman armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and equipped with a suicide vest entered the Hotel Byblos and opened fire. The attack resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals, including five United Nations workers. The gunman was killed in the attack. Al-Murabitoun subsequently issued a public statement claiming responsibility for the attack.
Finally, Ahemeid, along with others, planned and oversaw the Nov. 20, 2015 terrorist attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali. Beginning in the morning of Nov. 20, 2015, two men attacked the Radisson Blu, a hotel frequented by Western visitors. The attackers, wearing Western clothing and armed with AK-47 assault rifles and hand grenades, moved from floor to floor of the hotel, shooting innocent victims as they progressed. Security forces responded to the scene and both attackers were ultimately killed.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 20 victims, including U.S. citizen Anita Ashok Datar. Datar, a guest at the Radisson Blu, was shot multiple times and died at the scene as a result of the gunshot wounds. Datar was a 41-year-old public health expert from Takoma Park, Maryland, who was in Mali working for an international development firm assisting the United States Agency for International Development. In addition to the 20 deaths, the attack also wounded at least seven people.
Following the attack, AQIM issued a public statement claiming responsibility for the attacks on behalf of AQIM and al-Murabitoun, stating “Two heroes infiltrating the Radisson Hotel in Mali, may God accept them. #Al-Qa’ida_in_West_Africa #Ansar_al_din #Al_Murabitun.” The tweet included photographs of the two attackers holding AK-47s and each attacker’s nom de guerre.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Algor and Michael Keilty is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Katie Sweeten of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The indictment charges the defendant with (1) the murder of Anita Ashok Datar; (2) the unlawful use of firearms in connection with a crime of violence; (3) causing the death of Anita Ashok Datar through the use of a firearm; (4) conspiracy to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organizations al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and al-Murabitoun; (5) provision and attempted provision of material support to AQIM and al-Murabitoun; and (6) unlawful use of explosives. If convicted, he faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Government of Mali provided continued support and assistance throughout this investigation, as did the Joint Terrorism Task Force and U.S. Department of State.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Massachusetts Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Macko, age 23, of North Adams, Massachusetts, was arrested today and charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor.
The announcement was made by 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).
The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The criminal complaint alleges that between November 16, 2022 and December 9, 2022, Macko exchanged text messages with another person in Albany. In these messages, Macko expressed interest in engaging in sexual conduct with an 11-year-old child. Macko and the other person discussed plans in which Macko would meet the other person at a prearranged location in order to engage in sexual acts with the child. On December 9, 2022, Macko left his home to meet the presumed child in North Adams, where he was encountered by law enforcement and arrested. Macko is also charged with transferring pornographic images to a person he believed to be 11 years old.
Macko appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, who ordered Macko detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Tuesday, December 13.
The charges filed against Macko carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum sentence of life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 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.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark.
This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice/gov/psc/.
Jefferson County Man Pleads Guilty to Mailing Threatening LettersRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jesse Bartlett, age 46, of LaFargeville, New York, pled guilty today to mailing threatening letters.
The announcement was made by 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).
Bartlett admitted that, using the alias of the “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” and from about April 2021 to May 2022, he mailed threatening communications to media outlets, government offices, houses of worship, and private businesses throughout New York, as well as in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Vermont, and the District of Columbia. In the letters, which he signed as the “Chinese Zodiac Killer,” Bartlett wrote that he killed people, ate their flesh, and that he intended to kill more people, including an unnamed bus driver. Bartlett was arrested on May 19, 2022, and has been in custody since that date.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 13, 2022 before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. Bartlett faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. 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.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with assistance from the New York State Police and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping.