Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire and Obstruction of Justice Charges

Shocking revelations unfold in a fraud case as Alexander Leszczynski attempts to orchestrate a sinister plot from jail.

Tampa, Florida - Alexander Leszczynski, a 24-year-old resident of North Redington Beach, has pleaded guilty to charges of murder-for-hire and obstruction of justice, according to an announcement by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg. Leszczynski, who controlled a fictitious corporate entity, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count. A sentencing date is yet to be determined.

Court documents reveal that on October 7, 2020, Leszczynski filed a warranty deed with the Pinellas County Clerk of Court, fraudulently attempting to transfer a property in Redington Shores, Florida, from its rightful owners (referred to as Victim 1 and Victim 2) to his fictitious company, Aura, Inc.

In April 2022, a grand jury in the Middle District of Florida indicted Leszczynski on multiple fraud charges, including those related to the property owned by Victim 1 and Victim 2, in the case of United States v. Alexander Leszczynski, 8:22-cr-155-MSS-SPF. Following his arraignment on May 17, 2022, Leszczynski was ordered to be detained, and his fraud trial was scheduled for October with United States District Judge Mary S. Scriven. Both Victim 1 and Victim 2 were set to testify against Leszczynski in the trial.

Startling developments unfolded in August 2022 when the FBI discovered that Leszczynski, while incarcerated at Pinellas County Jail, had been actively seeking a hitman to murder Victim 1 and Victim 2. During conversations with a confidential informant, Leszczynski disclosed that he had $45,000 hidden at his residence, which he intended to use as payment for the victims' deaths. Additionally, he stated that the charges against him would need to be dropped if the victims were eliminated. The confidential informant agreed to connect Leszczynski with a supposed hitman, who was an undercover agent.

On September 8 and 9, 2022, Leszczynski engaged in conversations with the undercover agent, divulging critical information such as the names, addresses, physical descriptions, and approximate ages of Victim 1 and Victim 2. He even provided details to help the undercover agent locate photographs of the victims online. During the discussions, Leszczynski negotiated a price and settled on paying $30,000, repeatedly affirming his desire for the victims' demise.

The investigation into this shocking case involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, with Assistant United States Attorneys Shauna S. Hale and Samantha J. Newman leading the prosecution.

The revelation of Leszczynski's murder-for-hire plot has sent shockwaves through the community and highlights the extent to which some individuals will go to evade justice. As the legal proceedings continue, authorities remain committed to ensuring that justice is served and the safety of the victims is protected.

Owner of Old Saybrook Physical Therapy Practice Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Federal Audit

The United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that Todd Roberts, 47, of Old Saybrook, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to one count of obstructing a federal audit.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Roberts is the owner and operator of Roberts Physical and Aquatic Therapy, located at 210 Main Street in Old Saybrook. On January 23, 2009, a Medicare contractor informed Roberts Physical and Aquatic Therapy that the contractor was performing an audit of the practice. Roberts instructed an employee to delay the audit by telling the contractor that medical records were stored at a nonexistent storage facility. Roberts then rented a storage unit at a local facility and used the delay to alter and augment patient records. Specifically, Roberts, and an employee at his direction, created and added patient progress notes when no notes had been created at the time of service. The notes made it appear as though Medicare beneficiaries had obtained direct, one-on-one service from a licensed physical therapist when, in fact, some of the services had been rendered by unlicensed auxiliary personnel.

Judge Underhill has scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2012, at which time Roberts faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This investigation was conducted by special agents from the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Sheldon and Auditor Susan Spiegel.

U.S. Attorney Fein encouraged individuals who suspect health care fraud to report it by calling the Health Care Fraud Task Force at 203-777-6311 or 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Former Chief Investment Officer of Stanford Financial Group Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Obstruction of Justice

WASHINGTON – Laura Pendergest-Holt, 39, the former chief investment officer of Houston-based Stanford Financial Group, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for her role in obstructing a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation into Stanford International Bank (SIB), the Antiguan offshore bank owned by convicted financier Robert Allen Stanford.

 Today’s sentence was announced by Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas; FBI Assistant Director Ronald T. Hosko of the Criminal Investigative Division; Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration Phyllis C. Borzi; Chief Postal Inspector Guy J. Cottrell from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Chief Richard Weber, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

 The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge David Hittner in the Southern District of Texas.  In addition to her prison term, Holt was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Judge Hittner noted that Holt did not have the ability to pay a fine. 

 In January 2009, the SEC sought testimony and documents related to SIB’s entire investment portfolio.  Although she was incapable of testifying about the vast majority of that portfolio, Holt nevertheless agreed to testify before the SEC.  In her guilty plea, Holt acknowledged that her eventual appearance and sworn testimony before the SEC was a stall tactic designed to frustrate the SEC’s efforts to obtain important information about SIB’s investment portfolio.  Holt admitted she took this action intentionally and corruptly, knowing that her testimony would impede the SEC’s investigation and help SIB continue operating.

 Holt was remanded into custody today.

 The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Houston Field Office, USPIS, IRS-CI and the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration.  The case against Holt is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Varnado of the Southern District of Texas, Deputy Chief Jeffrey Goldberg of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Fraud Section Trial Attorney Andrew Warren.  Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Costa of the Southern District of Texas and Fraud Section Deputy Chief William Stellmach were also involved in this case.

 The Justice Department thanks the SEC for their assistance and cooperation in this matter.

Former PHA Employee Sentenced to Prison for Extortion and Obstruction

PHILADELPHIA—Kerri Bizzell, 43, of Philadelphia, a former PHA employee, was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for extortion and the obstruction of a grand jury proceeding, announced Zane Dave Memeger. Bizzell was a manager of the PHA’s small repair and renovation contracts when she abused her position to extort kickbacks in return for the award of work. The indictment claims that over the period of about six months, Bizzell extorted and agreed to accept from two different contractors approximately $25,000. When she learned of the grand jury’s investigation into the extortion, she attempted to prevent one of the contractors from disclosing payments to her. Bizzell pleaded guilty May 4, 2011, to two counts of extortion and one count of obstruction.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg ordered Bizzell to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000.

The case was investigated by the FBI and by the HUD-Office of the Inspector General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Pamela Foa.

Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman Re-Sentenced on Bribery, Conspiracy, Fraud, and Obstruction of Justice Charges

WASHINGTON—Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman was re-sentenced today to serve 78 months in prison for his role in bribery, conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice charges involving former HealthSouth CEO Richard M. Scrushy, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin Sr. of the Middle District of Alabama.

At a hearing today in Montgomery, Alabama, in addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller ordered Siegelman to serve three years of supervised release and to pay a $50,000 fine. Siegelman was originally convicted by a federal jury in June 2006 of seven counts of an indictment, involving bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

In June 2007, Siegelman began serving a prison term on those convictions but was released on bond in March 2008, pending an appeal in which two honest services mail fraud counts were reversed. All five remaining counts were upheld in two opinions of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied further appellate review. The district court reviewed and denied all Siegelman’s various claims for a new trial prior to his re-sentencing today.

Siegelman stands convicted of bribery, conspiracy, and honest services mail fraud arising from a scheme in which Scrushy paid $500,000 to control a seat on the state regulatory board governing HealthSouth. Siegelman further stands convicted of obstruction of justice arising from a federal investigation of an alleged pay-to-play scheme with Alabama businessman Clayton “Lanny” Young.

“The outcome of this case reflects the unflagging commitment of the Department of Justice to hold public officials accountable for corruption,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section is determined to continue to vigorously pursue bribery cases involving federal, state, and local officials.”

“Today’s sentence is another welcomed step toward closure to a dark chapter in Alabama politics. Six years after the trial jury rendered its verdict, and the appellate courts reviewed the evidence, former Governor Don Siegelman remains convicted for the serious felonious crimes he committed while serving as governor of Alabama. The verdict, the appellate review, and the sentence have energized my faith in our legal system and renewed my commitment to prosecute politicians who commit bribery, honest services mail fraud, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. I am very proud of the courage displayed by everyone who assisted in the prosecution of this very significant and important case,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Franklin.

The case is currently being prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Louis V. Franklin Sr., a senior career prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office; and Richard C. Pilger, Director of the Election Crimes Branch of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

District Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Violate Campaign Laws and to Obstruct Justice in a Federal Investigation

Activities Began as Early as 2001 and Involved a Number of Elections, Including the 2010 Mayoral Contest in the District of Columbia

WASHINGTON—Eugenia C. Harris, the owner of two businesses in the District of Columbia, pled guilty today to conspiring to disguise the source of campaign contributions in federal and local elections, including the 2010 District of Columbia mayoral campaign.

Harris, 75, of Washington, D.C., also admitted taking part in steps to conceal the illegal activities. Among other things, she admitted filing an amended tax return in December 2011 as part of an effort to conceal her businesses’ involvement in funding hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign-related expenditures for the 2010 mayoral campaign. In addition, she admitted to causing others to destroy a large volume of records from her businesses because they could have revealed the extent of her involvement in the mayoral election.

The guilty plea, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen, Jr.; Ronald T. Hosko, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division; and Rick A. Raven, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

Harris pled guilty to three charges: one count of conspiring to violate federal campaign finance law and to obstruct justice; one count of engaging in fraud and making false statements; and one count of conspiring to violate District of Columbia campaign finance law. She appeared before the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. No sentencing date was set. As part of her plea agreement, Harris agreed to cooperate in a continuing investigation.

The federal conspiracy charge carries up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 (or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense), and other penalties. The fraud/false statements charge carries up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and other penalties. The District of Columbia conspiracy charge carries up to six months of imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000. Under federal sentencing guidelines, the parties have agreed that the applicable range for the offenses is 30 to 37 months in prison and a fine between $6,000 and $60,000. In addition, Harris has agreed to make restitution to the IRS for taxes, interest, and penalties owed by herself and her businesses.

“Today’s guilty plea reveals a decade-long scheme to circumvent federal and D.C. laws designed to prevent money from corrupting our elections,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “It also confirms what many have feared: the 2010 election for D.C. mayor was tainted by the infusion of massive sums of corporate money that were illegally concealed from voters. This conviction begins to dismantle a conspiracy which for too long subverted our federal and local electoral system.”

“Today, Ms. Harris took responsibility for her role in a scheme designed to evade campaign finance laws by hiding the true source of money provided to political candidates,” said Special Agent in Charge Hosko. “Such illegal activity interferes with the fair electoral process on which our representative democracy is based. Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to work to ensure that all those who participate in corrupt schemes are held accountable for their actions.”

“The license to run a business is not a license to engage in fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Raven. “The defendant’s misconduct of improperly deducting expenditures on her 2010 business income tax return was purely fraudulent. IRS-Criminal Investigation uses their investigative and financial expertise to detect and hold accountable individuals who carry out these types of fraudulent schemes.”

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Framework of the Scheme:

According to a statement of offense signed by the government as well as the defendant, Harris owned and controlled two businesses: Belle International Inc. and Details International Inc. both located in an office building in Washington, D.C.

The statement of offense describes Harris’s friendship and professional relationship with a person identified as “Co-Conspirator #1,” who was the sole owner of “Company A” and the majority owner of “Company B.”

According to the statement of offense, starting as early as 2001, and continuing until at least December 2010, Harris, Co-Conspirator #1, and others knowingly violated federal and D.C. campaign finance laws.

The Federal Election Campaign Act establishes limits on the amounts that individuals can contribute to individual and multi-candidate political action committees. It also prohibits a person from making a political contribution in the name of another person. The act bars a person from reimbursing a donor who has already given to a candidate. In addition, the law bans corporations from contributing money to candidates for federal public office.

The District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform Act and Conflict of Interest Act similarly regulates financial activity intended to influence the election of candidates for District of Columbia office.

According to the statement of offense, Harris and Co-Conspirator #1, aware of the finance limits, circumvented them by funneling personal and corporate money to friends, family members, and employees to make unlawful political contributions in various elections. Co- Conspirator #1 promised to reimburse Harris for Harris’ own personal and corporate contributions as well as those that Harris obtained from others. Harris, in turn, promised others from whom she obtained contributions that their contributions would be reimbursed.

2010 Mayoral Campaign:

The statement of offense describes actions taken to channel contributions to the campaign of Candidate A, who was among those running for mayor in the District of Columbia in 2010.

For example, Harris, Belle International, and Details International each contributed $2,000 to Candidate A. Harris, at the direction of Co-Conspirator #1, also obtained contributions to Candidate A from family members, employees, and friends. Co-Conspirator #1 reimbursed Harris for the total $44,000 in campaign contributions, and Harris repaid the family members, employees, and friends.

In addition, Harris and Co-Conspirator #1, along with others, agreed to secretly fund other efforts to support the election of Candidate A. They did not report these expenditures to the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics’ Office of Campaign Finance, which administers and enforces laws pertaining to campaign finance.

Among other things, Harris and Co-Conspirator #1 secretly funneled money that would be used for campaign materials, consultants, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Co-Conspirator #1 caused Company B to issue checks and wire payments to Belle International, one of Harris’s companies, so that she could use her business to pay for campaign expenses. The statement of offense lists five such checks, issued between July and September 2010, that totaled $653,800 later used for services and materials to elect Candidate A. These materials included many items bearing logos, graphics, and designs identical to those used by the campaign.

In order to conceal the various activities and account for them on the books of Co- Conspirator #1’s businesses, Co-Conspirator #1 directed Harris to submit invoices to the companies for the amounts needed for the reimbursements and campaign expenses.

Obstruction of Justice:

In her guilty plea, Harris admitted that she and Co-Conspirator #1 took steps to impede federal officials from obtaining information concerning their involvement in conduit campaign contributions, unreported political expenditures, and other activities. She admitted that she did so while knowing that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI were conducting a criminal investigation into allegations involving the 2010 mayoral campaign.

Harris filed amended tax returns, for example, in December 2011, as part of an effort to conceal the involvement of Co-Conspirator #1 in funding hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign-related expenditures through Belle International to Candidate A, in violation of District of Columbia law.

In addition, she caused others to shred and destroy a large volume of paper records maintained by her businesses. She also caused others to destroy stored electronic records from her businesses because they could have revealed what took place in the mayoral election.

Finally, at the direction of Co-Conspirator #1, Harris made arrangements in early 2012 to travel to Brazil for three months in order to evade federal investigators. Efforts were made toward renting a house in Brazil before the trip was cancelled.

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In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Special Agent in Charge Hosko, and Special Agent in Charge Raven commended the work of those who investigated the case for the FBI and IRS-CI. They also expressed appreciation for the work done by those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Chubin Epstein and Lionel Andre; Criminal Investigators Matthew Kutz, Mark Crawford, and Melissa Matthews; Legal Assistants Krishawn Graham and Nicole Wattelet; and Paralegal Specialist Shanna Hays.

Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Haray, Mary Chris Dobbie, and Loyaan Egal, who are investigating and prosecuting this matter.

Veteran D.C. Defense Attorney Charles F. Daum and Two Investigators Found Guilty of Obstruction of Justice Charges

WASHINGTON—Veteran District of Columbia defense attorney Charles F. Daum, 66, of Arnold, Maryland, was found guilty today of one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, three counts of obstruction of justice, and two counts of subornation of perjury, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Chief Cathy L. Lanier of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department; and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.

Daum’s co-defendants, private investigators Daaiyah Pasha, 62, of Washington, D.C., and Iman Pasha, 32, of Springfield, Virginia, were also found guilty today on one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.

After a six-week bench trial, Senior U.S District Judge Gladys Kessler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued her verdict today. Daum was acquitted on one charge of witness tampering.

The charges resulted from Daum’s representation of Delante White, who was indicted in March 2008 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia on federal drug trafficking charges following the execution of a search warrant on February 23, 2008.

“In his zeal to defend his client, Mr. Daum betrayed his profession and obstructed justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “He and his co-conspirators fabricated evidence to submit in his client’s criminal trial, and he further suborned perjury from two defense witnesses. It’s astounding that a lawyer could commit these crimes, which undermine the integrity of our criminal justice system. The court found Mr. Daum guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he now faces prison time as a result.”

Judge Kessler found beyond a reasonable doubt that Daum, after entering his notice of appearance in the White case, devised a plan to obtain and produce false evidence designed to convince the jury that the drugs seized by the police on February 23, 2008, did not belong to White. Daum enlisted the help of Daaiyah and Iman Pasha, whom Daum had hired as investigators, and others to help carry out his scheme. Following Daum’s directions, the co-conspirators obtained duplicates of several items that were seized as evidence during the execution of the search warrant, including a digital scale, a razor blade, plates, an Adidas shoe box, and a pair of Gucci boots. Once those items were obtained, Daaiyah and Iman Pasha made arrangements to take staged photographs of another individual depicted with the items, while apparently “cutting” “rock cocaine” in order to make it appear as though the seized drugs actually belonged to the other individual. Daum later submitted the staged photographs, as well as other fabricated items, as evidence during White’s criminal trial.

Judge Kessler also found that Daum solicited and presented the perjured testimony of two witnesses to further obstruct and impede the administration of justice.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy charge. Daum faces an additional maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of obstruction. Daum also faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge of subornation of perjury. Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Donnell Turner, Darrin L. McCullough and Tritia Yuen of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. The case was investigated by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department; the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.