Couple Who Falsely Claimed to be Farmers Sentenced in $1.1 Million COVID-Relief Fraud

 A Florida couple was sentenced to prison today for their participation in a scheme to file four fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $1.1 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Latoya Stanley, 38, and Johnny Philus, 33, both of Miami, were sentenced today to 18 and 30 months in prison, respectively. They each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on March 8. As set forth in court documents, in Stanley’s PPP application, she claimed to employ 18 individuals from her company, Dream Gurl Beauty Supply LLC. Philus, meanwhile, stated that he employed 29 individuals at his company, Elegance Auto Boutique LLC. In actuality, Stanley and Philus did not employ anyone at their respective companies. 

According to court documents, in her EIDL application, Stanley claimed to generate over $800,000 in income and to employ five individuals from a farm based in the yard of her Miami home. In his EIDL application, Philus claimed to generate $400,000 in income and to employ 10 individuals from a farm located in the yard of a small residential home. But, in reality, Stanley and Philus employed no one and the farms did not exist.

As they admitted in their plea agreements, Stanley and Philus worked together to effectuate the fraud and ultimately received over $1 million in funds from the fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications before their schemes were uncovered.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio “Tony” Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) J. Russell George; Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the SBA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG); and Inspector in Charge Joseph Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Miami Division made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the SBA-OIG, USPIS, and TIGTA.

Trial Attorney Louis Manzo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. 

The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used as the same purpose as the PPP funds.   

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

6 Defendants Charged With Laundering Millions Of Dollars In Proceeds Derived From Romance Scams

 The Defendants Used Shell Companies to Launder Over $3.5 Million in Funds from Victims of Romance Fraud Schemes

Audrey Strauss, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Patrick J. Freaney, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), and Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging ABUCHI SHEDRACH FELIX, NADINE JAZMINE WADE, OLUWATOMIWA AKINTOLA, GREGORY OCHIAGHA, HABIBA FAGGE, and OLANREWAYU AJIBOLA with conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with their involvement in laundering millions of dollars in proceeds derived from romance fraud schemes. 

FELIX, AKINTOLA, and AJIBOLA were arrested last night at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey.  OCHIAGHA was arrested earlier today in the Bronx.  WADE and FAGGE are currently fugitives.  FELIX, AKINTOLA, AJIBOLA, and OCHIAGHA will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, the conspirators preyed on the emotions of their numerous online romance fraud victims to fleece the victims out of millions of dollars.  Thanks to the Secret Service and IRS Criminal, the defendants have dates in court to face federal charges.”

USSS Deputy Special Agent-in-Charge Patrick J. Freaney said:  “Cyber enabled romance schemes continue to harm innocent and unsuspecting people, and the U.S. Secret Service remains committed to investigating those who perpetuate these acts.  In this instance, the conspirators allegedly utilized online aliases and created shell companies in furtherance of their scheme to defraud.  Through a collaborative investigative effort by the Secret Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the New York City Police Department Financial Crimes Task Force, the accused will answer the charges brought against them in the Southern District of New York.  For further information on ways to better avoid romance scams, please visit www.secretservice.gov/romancescams.” 

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said:  “The arrests of the alleged perpetrators of this $3.5 million scheme deal a death blow to the vast criminal activity in which the defendants were allegedly engaged.  IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to aggressively pursue those who profit from illegal activity and ensure they are brought to justice.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint:[1]

Using online aliases, the defendants’ co-conspirators contacted victims on various dating sites, and convinced those victims, under false pretenses, to transfer funds to the defendants and others.  One online alias used in the schemes frequently employed the names “Diego Francisco,” “Richard Francisco,” or “Tom Francisco” (the “Francisco Alias”).  The conspirators used online photos of a male model when providing victims with photos of the Francisco Alias.  After engaging in conversation with the victims via phone, text, and email, the conspirators, posing as the Francisco Alias, would ask victims for money.  The reason offered for why the Francisco Alias needed money could vary.  In one version of the scheme, the Francisco Alias was supposedly an architect who had traveled to Dubai and needed funds in order to receive several million dollars in payment.  In another version of the scheme, the Francisco Alias supposedly worked on an oil rig and needed funds to repair the rig.  The Francisco Alias would then instruct the victims to transfer funds to bank accounts controlled by the defendants.  The means of transfer varied.  For example, in some cases, the Francisco Alias instructed victims to obtain cashier’s checks or money orders made payable to one of the defendants’ companies and then either mail the check to the conspirators – at addresses that included one in the Bronx – or to deposit the cashier’s check directly into a bank account held in the name of one of the defendants’ companies.  The Francisco Alias would instruct the victims to send him photographs of any cashier’s checks and any mailing labels.

Each of the defendants created a shell company and opened bank accounts in the name of his or her respective shell company (the “Shell Company Accounts”).  The Shell Company Accounts received funds from victims of the romance fraud scheme described above and rapidly depleted those funds through cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and the purchase of vehicles, among other means.  The Shell Company Accounts received over $4.5 million between in or about 2018 and 2020, over $3.5 million of which came from victims of the romance fraud scheme.

*                *                *

ABUCHI SHEDRACH FELIX, 29, of Newark, New Jersey, NADINE JAZMINE WADE, 28, of the Bronx, New York, OLUWATOMIWA AKINTOLA, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, GREGORY OCHIAGHA, 55, of the Bronx, New York, HABIBA FAGGE, 24, of Towson, Maryland, and OLANREWAYU AJIBOLA, 36, of Newark, New Jersey, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of  18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of USSS and IRS-CI.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Micah F. Fergenson and Matthew J. King are in charge of the prosecution.

 

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[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Operation River Fork Defendant Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Crack Cocaine

 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Woonsocket man, one of eighteen individuals arrested during a ten-month Project Safe Neighborhoods drugs and firearms investigation in Woonsocket, Providence, and Cranston in 2020, that resulted in the recovery of six loaded firearms and more than a kilo of crack cocaine, pleaded guilty today to a charge of distributing crack cocaine.

Bradley Dewalt, 29, admitted to the court that on February 27, 2020, at the direction of another person, already the subject of a Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force investigation termed “Operation River Fork,” he contacted an individual seeking to arrange for the purchase of crack cocaine. Dewalt and that person met later that day in Bellingham, MA, where Dewalt sold the individual an ounce of crack cocaine for $1,150.

Dewalt, previously convicted on assault, drug trafficking, and firearm charges, and charged in this matter on October 6, 2020, by way of a federal criminal complaint, appeared today before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy and pleaded guilty to distribution of crack cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 17, 2020.

Anthony Medeiros, 30, of  Woonsocket, the person that arranged for the contact between Dewalt and the person seeking to purchase crack cocaine, pleaded guilty in federal court on May 6, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and three counts of distribution of cocaine base. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2021.

Dewalt's and Medeiros’s guilty pleas are announced by Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.

These cases are being 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.

The Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, United States Marshals Service, Central Falls Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Providence Police Department, West Warwick Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and Rhode Island State Police.

William Kelly Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges Related to The Jay Peak EB-5 AnC Vermont Project in Northeast Vermont

 The United States Attorney’s Office announced that today William Kelly, 72, of Weston, Florida, pleaded guilty before Chief Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford in United States District Court in Rutland to two felony charges in connection with his involvement in the Jay Peak Biomedical Research Park EB-5 investment project, also called the AnC Vermont project. 

Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiring with co-defendants Ariel Quiros, Jong Weon (Alex) Choi, and William Stenger in a multi-year wire fraud scheme to defraud immigrant investors seeking green cards through the EB-5 program.  He also pleaded guilty to concealing material facts in a matter within the jurisdiction of a federal agency, namely United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which oversaw the EB-5 program. 

According to court records and proceedings, the AnC Vermont project was designed to raise $110 million from 220 immigrant investors in order to construct and operate a biotechnology facility in Newport, Vermont.  EB-5 immigrant investors could qualify for permanent resident status (commonly known as a green card) by investing $500,000 in a commercial enterprise approved by the Vermont EB-5 Regional Center (VRC), which had the authority to approve and monitor EB-5 projects in Vermont, and by USCIS.  In order to obtain a green card, each investor needed to demonstrate to USCIS that his or her investment had created, or would soon create, ten jobs.  From 2012 to 2016, approximately 169 investors invested approximately $85 million in the AnC Vermont project, in addition to paying approximately $8 million in “administrative fees.” 

During the plea hearing, Kelly admitted that he and his co-conspirators misled AnC Vermont investors about how investor funds would be used, about how many jobs would be created by the project, and about the timeline for this job creation.  For example, Kelly and others knew that it was necessary to demonstrate a plan to create at least 2,200 jobs in order to obtain USCIS approval of the AnC Vermont project, and that USCIS approval and business revenues were both important to investors.  The jobs report for the project was directly based on hiring and financial projections generated by Kelly, Choi, and Stenger to justify the job creation number required for EB-5 approval.  Kelly knew that no one had assessed whether the purported financial projections in the project’s business plan were reasonable.  The job creation projections relied on three lines of business: clean room rentals, sales of stem cell products, and sales of artificial organs.  Between 2012 and 2016, Kelly and his co-conspirators maintained the jobs numbers in spite of the fact that no one associated with the AnC Vermont project was making progress toward identifying customers for clean room rentals, acquiring commercially viable stem cell products, or developing the potential artificial organs.

During today’s hearing, Kelly also admitted that between March 2013 and October 2014, he helped Quiros and Stenger pay over $47 million in AnC Vermont investor money to Jay Construction Management, a Quiros-controlled entity that was designated as a pass-through corporation for approximately $52 million that was supposedly to be paid to AnC Biopharm, a company created and controlled by Choi in part to conceal Choi’s legal and financial problems.  During this period, Kelly knew that Quiros forwarded less than $6 million from JCM to AnC Biopharm.  Kelly knew that Quiros used approximately $21 million of the AnC Vermont investor funds sent to JCM to pay off a Raymond James loan that was used for expenses unrelated to the AnC Vermont project.  In addition to the wire fraud conspiracy charge, Kelly admitted helping conceal from the VRC that Quiros had used the $21 million in AnC Vermont investor funds for purposes unrelated to the AnC Vermont project.

In the plea agreement, Kelly agreed to cooperate in the government’s ongoing matters.  The plea agreement caps Kelly’s jail sentence at 36 months, so long as he abides by the terms of the agreement.  The government agreed that it would not recommend a fine or forfeiture, but instead focus on seeking a restitution order for victims.  The government requested that the Court delay Kelly’s sentencing pending his ongoing cooperation.

Co-defendant Quiros pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and concealment charges in August 2020 and currently awaits sentencing.  Co-defendant Stenger has entered a not guilty plea to the pending charges, which are only allegations.  Stenger is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  The Court has scheduled his trial for October 2021.  Co-defendant Choi remains at large.  

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan Ophardt expressed his gratitude for the outstanding investigative assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation Divisions of the Internal Revenue Service, the Food and Drug Administration, and for the assistance of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section and Office of International Affairs.  The prosecutors handling the case are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Cate and Paul Van de Graaf and Trial Attorney Jessee Alexander-Hoeppner, from the Department of Justice Criminal Division.  William Kelly is represented by Robert Goldstein, Esq. and Mary Kehoe, Esq.  Ariel Quiros is represented by Neil Taylor, Esq. and Robert Katims, Esq.  William Stenger is represented by Brooks MacArthur, Esq. and David Williams, Esq.

Employee of Autism Services Agency Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud and Identity Theft Offenses

 Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JESSICA STUART, 38, of Fairfield, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to health care fraud and identity theft offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart was employed by Helping Hands Academy, LLC, in Bridgeport, which provided applied behavior analysis services to children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).   Helping Hands Academy enrolled as a participating provider in the Connecticut Medicaid Program (“Medicaid”) in approximately September 2018.

Medicaid requires that ASD treatment services be provided under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), a graduate-level certification in behavior analysis.  BCBAs are also required to be credentialed in writing by the state.  Stuart does not have a college degree, was not a BCBA or licensed medical practitioner, and did not have any formal training in applied behavior analysis for ASD.  Between approximately May 2019 and September 2020, Helping Hands Academy paid Stuart at least $143,0000 and submitted to Medicaid numerous fraudulent claims for applied behavioral analysis services that Stuart performed but was not qualified to provide.  Stuart used the name of an individual without the individual’s knowledge or authorization so that Stuart could impersonate a BCBA when she knew she was not a BCBA.

Medicaid suffered a loss of $369,439.96 as a result of Stuart’s conduct.

Stuart pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of using false identification in connection with health care fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.  Judge Meyer scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2021.

Stuart is released pending sentencing.

On April 28, 2021, Nicole Balkas, the owner of Helping Hands Academy, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud.  She awaits sentencing.

This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle acknowledged the valuable cooperation of the Connecticut Department of Social Services in the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.

People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.

Jury Convicts Virginia Man for Role in Armed Robbery

 RICHMOND, Va. – Last Friday, a federal jury in Richmond convicted Ronnell Kareem Levon Johnson, 27, of Norfolk, for his role in robbing a Sprint Store in Colonial Heights in January 2019.

“As the evidence at trial demonstrated, the defendant and his co-conspirator participated in an armed robbery in which they restrained and frightened the victims,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Thanks to the thorough investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners and the trial team, the defendant has been held accountable for his role in jeopardizing the safety of our community members.”

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on the afternoon of January 7, 2019, Johnson and his co-conspirator, T.R., traveled from the Norfolk area to Colonial Heights to commit a violent armed robbery of a Sprint Store. During the robbery, T.R. brandished a loaded .40 caliber Ruger semi-automatic pistol and forced two employees into a back room of the store, where he let Johnson in through the back entrance. Johnson entered the store and started gathering Sprint Store merchandise into a bag.

Johnson and T.R. then held the two employees hostage in the back room, and attempted to tie up both employees while they completed the robbery. Due to a time-delay lock on the store’s safe, the defendants had to wait approximately twenty minutes for the safe to open. During that time, two separate customers entered the front of the store. T.R. let one of the employees assist each customer, along with a warning that the employee would be killed if he tried to alert anyone about the crime. The employee followed those instructions and the final customer left without incident. Minutes after the second customer departed, the time-delay lock on the safe opened, allowing Johnson and T.R. to steal dozens of cellular telephones and other store merchandise valued at approximately $25,000.

During a court-authorized search of T.R.’s residence, officers recovered the loaded .40 caliber Ruger semi-automatic pistol used in the robbery, various stolen Sprint Store items, and other evidence. T.R. later pleaded guilty for his role in the armed robbery, as well as additional charges. Using toll records and cellular tower data, law enforcement later identified Johnson as T.R.’s co-conspirator in the armed robbery based on Johnson’s travel to and from the Colonial Heights Sprint Store on January 7, 2019, along with other evidence.

The jury convicted Johnson on one count of robbery affecting commerce. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on August 13. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Washington Field Division; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; and Colonel Jeffrey W. Faries, Chief of Colonial Heights Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth R. Simon, Jr. and Michael Gill are prosecuting the case.

This case is being 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.

California man sentenced to prison for in-flight assault

             ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alton James Johnson, 43, of Yuba City, California, was sentenced on May 26 in federal court to six months in prison for assaulting two flight attendants while he was a passenger. Johnson pleaded guilty on Jan. 12.

            According to the plea agreement, on Dec. 23, 2019, during a flight from San Diego, CA, to Albuquerque, Johnson repeatedly touched a female flight attendant up and down the backs of her legs. After she told him to stop, Johnson then grabbed the flight attendant by the buttocks. When a second flight attendant stepped in and asked Johnson not to touch any flight attendants, Johnson forcefully grabbed the second flight attendant by the arm. Johnson admitting to being under the influence of alcohol but conceded that he was in control of his actions when he committed the assaults.

            The FBI investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case.

Jefferson Parish Westbank Man Sentenced for Distribution of Heroin

 NEW ORLEANS –  U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that BRYAN JOSEPH, age 46, was sentenced on a one-count superseding bill of information for distributing heroin in Jefferson Parish. United States District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced JOSEPH to serve 240 months in federal prison.  JOSEPH was placed on 3 years of supervised release and ordered to pay a mandatory $100.00 special assessment cost.

According to court documents, on October 14, 2018, deputies with Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a McDonald’s restaurant located in Harvey, Louisiana.  When deputies arrived, they were advised that an unresponsive male was found in a bathroom stall.  Deputies found an uncapped needle, needle cap, bent spoon and corner of a cellophane bag near the body.  Detectives reviewed the store’s video surveillance and saw the victim arrive to the restaurant on a bicycle and enter the bathroom.  The victim never exited the bathroom.  Subsequently, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation who then assisted with the investigation.  Through the investigation, agents determined that JOSEPH sold the victim a quantity of heroin prior to the victim’s death. Jefferson Parish Forensic Center conducted an autopsy, which concluded that the victim died as a result of the toxic effects of heroin and fentanyl.

After agents identified JOSEPH as a suspect in the victim’s death, they successfully purchased heroin from JOSEPH on October 23, 2018 and October 25, 2018.  On October 31, 2018, agents executed a search warrant at JOSEPH’s residence and located approximately 68.8 grams of heroin, approximately 156 grams of marijuana, digital scales and sandwich bags.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gang Task Force, and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Nolan D. Paige was in charge of the prosecution.              

Carnegie Man Pleads Guilty to Throwing Concrete Pieces and a Pipe at Pittsburgh Police during May 30, 2020 Pittsburgh Protest

 PITTSBURGH - A resident of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a charge of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

Andrew Augustyniak-Duncan, 25, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on May 30, 2020, Augustyniak-Duncan knowingly and willfully threw projectiles, including pieces of concrete and a pipe, at several Pittsburgh police officers, causing the obstruction, impediment and interference of law enforcement officers engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties.

Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for Oct. 13, 2021. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Judge Schwab continued the defendant’s detention pending sentencing,

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

Randolph County man sentenced for meth distribution

 ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Matthew Logan Lipscomb, of Kerens, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 76 months of incarceration for drug charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Lipscomb, 30, pled guilty to one count of “Distribution of Methamphetamine” in November 2019. Lipscomb admitted to selling methamphetamine, also known as “crystal meth” and “ice,” for $650 in April 2019 in Randolph County.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen D. Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force investigated. 

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

Guadalajara Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Approximately 21 Kilograms of Methamphetamine

 DEL RIO – U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced 40-year-old Ramon Antonio Yanez-Gonzalez, aka “Junior,” of Guadalajara, Mexico to 235 months in federal prison today for distributing about 21 kilograms of methamphetamine and money laundering.

On July 31, 2018, Yanez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  According to court documents, from January 2011 to April 2015, the defendant conspired with others to smuggle methamphetamine into the Eagle Pass area from Mexico and distribute it to San Antonio, Austin and Dallas.  On December 12, 2019, Yanez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments that was transferred from the Northern District of Texas.  By pleading guilty to that charge, Yanez-Gonzalez admitted that he laundered proceeds from drug sales in December 2012.

During this investigation, authorities seized approximately 17 kilograms of methamphetamine attributable to Yanez-Gonzalez and his organization.

U.S Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas, Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah of the Northern District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Office made today’s announcement.

Yanez-Gonzalez has remained in federal custody since his arrest on August 28, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The DEA together with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation named “Operation Guatemala Freeze.”  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sydni Connell, Sarah Spears and Amy Hail prosecuted this case with assistance from Northern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal.

Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Crimes

 CHARLESTON, W.Va. –  Shaun Price, 41, of Parkersburg pleaded guilty today to federal drug and gun crimes.

According to court documents, on December 7, 2020 an officer with the South Charleston Police Department attempted a traffic stop on Price’s vehicle in Cross Lanes.  Price fled and led law enforcement in a high speed pursuit.  The pursuit began in Cross Lanes and ended in South Charleston where officers were able to stop Price’s vehicle by using spike-strips.  Officers recovered approximately 7.85 grams of  meth and a loaded 9mm Taurus PT111 handgun from the vehicle. Price admitted that he intended to sell the methamphetamine and that he possessed the firearm to protect his drugs and money.

Price pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison when sentenced on September 2, 2021.

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the South Charleston Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Nick Miller is handling the prosecution.  Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.

Plantation Man Who Used Child Pornography to Find “Sexual Nirvana” Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison

 Miami, Florida – A Plantation man convicted of possessing over 5,000 electronic images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children was sentenced today to 121 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II, who sits in Ft. Lauderdale.

Tyler Washington, 26, used a social networking application to communicate with others who shared his interest in child pornography. Washington provided access to his collection of child sexual abuse material to users who agreed to send him videos of themselves masturbating to Washington’s collection. During one chat session that involved masturbating to a child sex abuse video, Washington claimed that the activity was “sexual nirvana” for him. On March 25, 2021, Washington pled guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material.

Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the sentence.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Fort Lauderdale investigated the case with assistance from the Broward Sheriff’s Office, Plantation Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, all of which are members of the South Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay Alexander prosecuted the case. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Highland Park Police Detective Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl-laced Heroin

 A Detective with the Highland Park Police Department and her co-conspirator  were charged in a criminal complaint with distributing and conspiring to distribute fentanyl-laced heroin, Acting United States Attorney Saima S. Mohsin announced today.

Mohsin was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Tiffany Lipkovitch, 45, of Detroit, and Amber Bellamy, 38, of Detroit, stand charged with distribution and conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Lipkovitch is a detective with the Highland Park Police Department, where she has been a police officer since 2011. According to the complaint, federal agents recorded numerous calls and meetings between Lipkovitch and a confidential source about a drug transaction. Lipkovitch gave the source “samples” or “pictures” of the drugs that were available from her associate, Bellamy, explaining that one was “$80 a gram” and the others were $100 per gram. When Lipkovitch asked what they were diluting or “cuttin” the drugs with, the confidential source responded that people used “fentanyl.” This did not surprise Lipkovitch, who explained that Bellamy was getting “a package of fentanyl . . . from overseas.” Lipkovitch eventually introduced the confidential source to Bellamy, who sold the source 45 grams of a fentanyl / heroin mixture. The confidential source later met with Lipkovitch, who was on duty and in her police uniform, about the transaction, and gave her $300 for facilitating the drug deal.

Acting United States Attorney Mohsin stated, “These charges affirm our office’s commitment to hold all individuals accountable for the distribution of dangerous drugs like heroin and fentanyl.”  And, “While the vast majority of our police officers work honorably and faithfully to protect and serve the citizens of this region, our office continues to prosecute those corrupt officers who put their own greed above the public good and abuse their position violate the law.”

Highland Park Mayor Hubert Yopp stated, “We do not condone this type of activity. The citizens of Highland Park have expectations, as they should, that law enforcement officers obey the laws they swore to enforce. Like anyone else in the community, if a person violates the law they should be brought to justice.”

DEA Detroit Special Agent in Charge Keith Martin stated, “While the vast majority of law enforcement officers are honest and hardworking, this officer chose to push a deadly drug onto our streets in exchange for personal profit. We are committed to working with our partners to ensure these individuals are rooted out and brought to justice.”

"The arrests this morning by state and federal agents are an example of the law enforcement community's joint effort in prosecuting police officers that abuse their authority and abandon their oath to serve and protect our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters, Detroit Division of the FBI. "Today shows the commitment of law enforcement to root out police corruption and abuse of authority within its ranks. The officer's betrayal of her sworn duty should not diminish the exemplary work conducted every day by the men and women in law enforcement. This case is an example of the importance the criminal justice system places on prosecuting its own who have abused their positions of trust in dereliction of duty."

The South Oakland Narcotics Intelligence Consortium (SONIC) task force assisted in the investigation. SONIC is a task force of local police departments. The Michigan State Police will continue to provide resources to multi-agency task forces consisting of federal and local partners” stated Michigan State Police F/Lt. Michael Shaw, Second District Public Information Officer. “While any criminal activity is detrimental to our communities, it is far worse when the alleged suspect is a police officer.”

Upon conviction for a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 or 846, Lipkovitch and Bellmany face a maximum of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.   

A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.

The case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force, in collaboration with the SONIC task force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Cares.

Worcester Investment Advisor Charged with Fraud

 BOSTON – A Worcester-based investment advisor was charged yesterday in federal court in Boston with defrauding his clients by stealing their funds and using them for various purposes, including to pay purported returns to other defrauded investors. 

James Couture, 42, of Sutton, was charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Couture will make an initial appearance in federal court at a later date.

As alleged in charging documents, from approximately 2009 to 2020, Couture misappropriated approximately $2.8 million from his clients by transferring funds out of his clients’ accounts for investment in fictitious funds and using the money for other purposes, including to purchase a client list from another investment advisor. Couture also allegedly used client money to pay fake investment returns to other clients he had defrauded. For example, in or about June 2016, Couture allegedly liquidated one client’s variable annuities to fund withdrawals by another client. It is also alleged that in December 2019 and January 2020, Couture sold one client’s mutual funds and raided a 401(k) plan he managed to fund withdrawals by another client, whose assets Couture purported were held in a mutual fund account, when in fact neither the funds nor the account actually existed.

The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil and Sara Miron Bloom of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

Wilkinsburg Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl

 PITTSBURGH - A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to two years (24 months) in prison and four years of supervised release for violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentenced on Pressley Calhoun III., age 58.

Calhoun III, was sentenced based on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl.

Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Monroeville Police Department, the Attorney General’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Maryland Office, and the Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Calhoun.

This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Florida Woman Arrested for Assault on Law Enforcement During Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

 Defendant Shouted at Officers and Used Flagpole to Assault Police Sergeant

WASHINGTON — Today, a Florida woman was arrested for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, which disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

Audrey Ann Southard-Rumsey, 52, of Spring Hill,, is charged with federal offenses that include assault on a federal officer or employee; engaging in an act of physical violence in the grounds or any Capitol building; and obstruction of justice, among other charges. Southard-Rumsey made her initial appearance in the Middle District of Florida on June 2.

According to court documents, Southard-Rumsey entered the Capitol building through the east Rotunda door at approximately 2:26 p.m. on Jan. 6. She walked to the statuary hall connector area, stopped and stood in front of a U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) sergeant and several other USCP officers standing behind him. Southard-Rumsey was captured on video yelling, “Tell Pelosi we are coming for that b****,” and “There’s a hundred thousand of us, what’s it going to be?”

At some point during her interaction with the police sergeant, Southard-Rumsey obtained a flagpole which she held in her hands and pressed against the sergeant’s chest. As alleged, Southard-Rumsey started pushing the sergeant, causing him to fall backward into the first set of doors leading to the House floor. As a result, the doors flew open and the sergeant struck the back of his head on the base of the marble Lafayette statue.

The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the FBI’s Tampa Field Office. 

In the first 120 days after Jan. 6, approximately 440 individuals have been arrested on charges related to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, including over 125 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.  

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

The charges contained in any criminal complaint or indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Three Charged in $2M Investment Fraud Scheme

 PITTSBURGH, PA – One Ohio resident and two Pennsylvania men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The six-count Indictment, returned on May 25 and unsealed today, named Kevin Carney, 59, of Euclid, OH 44123, Jonathan Freeze, 62, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, and Robert Irey, 59, of Clarksville, PA 15322, as defendants.

According to the Indictment, the defendants offered victims an opportunity to loan funds to their company, Alternative Energy Holdings, LLC, on a short-term basis and at a high rate of return. The defendants falsely represented that the funds would be used for expenses associated with building a plant that would be capable of turning certain types of waste into energy. The defendants, however, used the majority of the funds for their own personal use and enjoyment. Approximately 22 victims lent approximately $2,017,228.44 to the defendants, but only $63,000 was repaid. The repayments, however, were made using other victims’ loan proceeds.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years in prison for each count, a fine of $250,000 for each count or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. A Magistrate Judge granted the government's request for $50,000 unsecured bond for each defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Wallingford Man Charged with Trafficking Oxycodone and Cocaine

 Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging CHRISTOPHER M. LISCIO, 38, of Wallingford, with oxycodone and cocaine trafficking offenses.

As alleged in court documents, between February and April 2020, Liscio sold 2,000 30mg oxycodone pills.  It is alleged that this narcotics trafficking activity occurred while Liscio was released on bond after he was arrested in February 2020 on state charges related to the alleged sexual assault of a minor.

Liscio was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 26, 2021.  On that date, a search of his Wallingford residence revealed approximately 500 grams of cocaine, oxycodone pills and more than $20,000 in cash.  He has been detained since his arrest.

The indictment charges Liscio with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Wallingford Police Department.  The Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury and Watertown Police Departments.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda S. Oakes.

Madera Man Pleads Guilty to Poly-Drug Conspiracy

 FRESNO, Calif. — Patrick Maldonado, 46, of Madera, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in November 2018, Maldonado coordinated with Tan Minh Vo, 48, of San Jose, to send two shipments of marijuana to Halen Frazier, 34, of Kingsville, Missouri. The first shipment was seized from Frazier during a traffic stop after Tien Van Phan, 56, of Milpitas, delivered 92 pounds of marijuana to him in two suitcases at a hotel in Kansas City.

Later, agents intercepted calls between Maldonado, co-defendant Elias Zambrano Jr., 41, of Fresno, and Frazier in which they discussed the shipment of 384 pounds of marijuana to Frazier in Kansas City. Maldonado and Zambrano had packed the load in the trailer of a truck driven by co-defendant David McGowan, of Kansas City. Arizona State Troopers discovered the marijuana and $1,629 in cash after a traffic stop.

Following these seizures, agents executed a search warrant at Maldonado’s residence in Madera and found more than 3 kilograms of cocaine, 20 pounds of marijuana, a handgun, and approximately $45,281 in cash. In pleading guilty, Maldonado also agreed to the forfeiture of the firearm and cash.

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 Tulare, Kings, and Fresno County Sheriff’s Offices, 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.

Maldonado is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 23. He faces a minimum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years in prison, along with a $5 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.

Frazier and Phan previously entered guilty pleas to the drug conspiracy and were sentenced to two years and three months and three and one half years in prison, respectively. Zambrano recently entered a guilty plea and is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 16.

Charges are pending against McGowan and Vo, who are scheduled for a status conference on July 28. As to these defendants, the charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Manchester Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Fentanyl Trafficking

             CONCORD - Adam W. Gagnon, 43, of Manchester, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 30, 2020, Manchester police detectives received information that Gagnon would be travelling to Lawrence, Massachusetts in an Uber to pick up a significant quantity of fentanyl for distribution. There were several outstanding warrants for Gagnon’s arrest. Detectives observed Gagnon travel to Lawrence in an Uber, enter a building for approximately 10 minutes and get into another Uber to head northbound. Detectives stopped the vehicle, arrested Gagnon on the warrants, and observed a cellophane wrapped package at Gagnon’s feet. The Uber driver consented to a search of the vehicle and the package was seized. A lab later confirmed the package contained over 480 grams of fentanyl.

           Gagnon previously pleaded guilty on February 17, 2021.

           “Fentanyl has caused horrific damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Those who seek to profit from the sale of this deadly substance are poisoning our citizens and will be held accountable for their conduct. This defendant was trafficking a very substantial quantity of fentanyl. Thanks to the hard work of the Manchester Police Department, he is now out of business and behind bars.”

           This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

           This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.

Lee County Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images Using The Internet

 Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Kyle William O’Brien (28, Estero) to 7 years in federal prison for using the internet to distribute images depicting the sexual abuse of children. O’Brien was also sentenced to a lifetime term of supervised release and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

O’Brien had pleaded guilty on December 26, 2019.

According to court documents, an individual that O’Brien had met through an online dating application (app) contacted the FBI after O’Brien had sent her images depicting the sexual abuse of children. The woman reported that after she had met O’Brien online on the dating app, the two met in person on February 1, 2019. During their visit, the woman saw O’Brien looking at and swiping through images on his cellphone that depicted the sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Later, O’Brien sent the woman an online message using the dating app to invite her to watch a child exploitation video on his television. O’Brien continued to send the woman messages, he also sent her child sex abuse images. 

On April 25, 2019, FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at O’Brien’s home and seized his cellphone. During an interview with law enforcement, O’Brien admitted sending child exploitation materials to the woman from his cellphone. A subsequent forensic examination of O’Brien’s cellphone revealed that the device had been used to search for images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children and also contained more than 100 hyperlinks to websites that hosted such materials.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava

Daytona Beach Drug Conspirators Sentenced To Federal Prison For Distributing Cocaine, Heroin, And Fentanyl

 Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger today sentenced Matthew Zachariah Humphrey (26, Daytona Beach) to 11 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of that offense. Humphrey’s co-conspirator, Janee Reve Najee Kelly (32, Daytona Beach) was sentenced to 8 years and 1 month in federal prison for the same charges.

Humphrey and Kelly had pleaded guilty on February 11, 2021, and December 8, 2020, respectively. 

According to court documents, Humphrey, Kelly, and others worked together to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Daytona Beach area. On June 17, 2020, both Kelly and Humphrey were arrested in Daytona Beach. At the time of their arrests, Humphrey possessed cocaine, fentanyl, and a stolen, loaded firearm. Kelly possessed fentanyl and a firearm as well. Collectively, the two individuals possessed more than 88 grams of fentanyl. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

St. Croix Resident Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Over 22 Kilos of Cocaine Through the Cyril E. King Airport

 St. Thomas, USVI –District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis, sentenced Jakwaan Sweeny, Jr., 22, of St. Croix, to 72 months incarceration for trafficking cocaine yesterday, United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced.

According to court records, on September 24, 2018, Sweeney provided his co-conspirator with a travel bag containing 22.78 kilos of cocaine and an airline ticket to Atlanta. On the day of travel, Sweeney’s co-conspirator entered the Cyril E. King Airport and checked the bag for the flight. During a routine screening, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered the cocaine located in the luggage. Sweeney’s co-conspirator entered a guilty plea to the federal cocaine conspiracy charge in 2018.

In addition to 72 months incarceration, Judge Lewis also sentenced Sweeney to five years supervised release, imposed a $1,500 fine, and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and CBP. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard E. Potter and is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.

Laplace Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

 NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that RICHARD GRAY, age 60, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on May 27, 2021 to an Indictment. In Count One, GRAY pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture or substance containing a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride. In Count Six, GRAY pled guilty to knowingly and intentionally using a telephone in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of the violation in Count One.

The Honorable District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon will sentence GRAY on September 23, 2021. GRAY faces a maximum sentence of up to twenty years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release not less than three years, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00, as it relates to Counts One. For Count Six, GRAY faces a maximum sentence of four years imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to one year, and a mandatory assessment fee of $100.00.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bayonle Osundare is prosecuting the matter.

 

Gettysburg Man Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Witness Tampering By Murder

 HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Willie Tyler, age 69, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to life in prison by Chief Judge John E. Jones III for witness tampering by murder and witness tampering by intimidation. He was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on June 4^th, 2021, to commence serving his sentence.

According to Acting United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Tyler participated in the brutal murder of a law enforcement confidential informant from the Carlisle area.  The victim was scheduled to testify in Cumberland County Court against David Tyler, the brother of the defendant, on the day of her murder.  Willie Tyler planned to murder the victim, along with four other individuals, who were convicted for their role in the murder in previous federal and state court proceedings.

Tyler was first tried in state court in 1994, and acquitted of the murder.  The case was then adopted for federal prosecution, and Tyler was convicted after a federal jury trial in 1996. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned Tyler’s conviction, and he was convicted again following a re-trial in 2000.  In 2013, the Third Circuit overturned the 2000 conviction in light of a change in the law and remanded the case to the district court for a new trial.  Tyler was then tried and convicted for the third time in July 2017.  The jury returned its verdict after only two hours of deliberation following a four-day trial.

In February 2018, the district court vacated the jury’s verdict, concluding that there was insufficient evidence to support the convictions.  The government appealed, and in April 2020, the Third Circuit reversed the district court’s decision and remanded with instructions to reinstate the jury’s verdict and proceed to sentencing.  Tyler then petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review the Third Circuit’s decision but the Court denied his petition on May 17^th, 2021.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and the Pennsylvania State Police with cooperation from the Carlisle Police Department.  The case was previously prosecuted by former Assistant United States Attorneys Gordon A. Zubrod and Chelsea Schinnour and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph J. Terz.  Assistant United States Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli handled the most recent appeal and sentencing.

McKees Rocks Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Fire to Pittsburgh Police Vehicle and Interfering with Law Enforcement during Civil Unrest

 PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Allegheny County, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiring to set fire to property of an organization that receives federal funding and unlawful interference with a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

Da’Jon Lengyel, 23, of McKees Rocks, PA 15136 pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that West attended a protest march held on May 30, 2020, in the downtown Pittsburgh area. The march was related primarily to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The march in Pittsburgh began at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Liberty Avenue in the downtown area, and eventually finished at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Centre Avenue near the intersection with Washington Place above the PPG Paints Arena. At that time, many of the participants were agitated, and one of them began vandalizing a marked Pittsburgh Bureau of Police vehicle (Unit 3212) on Centre Avenue. The crowd was thereby incited to join in vandalizing and destroying that vehicle, and eventually set fire to that vehicle. Lengyel and West climbed onto Unit 3212, and then jumped up and down on the roof of the vehicle. West also sat on the roof and attempted to kick out a window of Unit 3212. Shortly thereafter, Lengyel and West, along with two white males who have not yet been identified (WM1 and WM2) began efforts to set fire to Unit 3212. WM1 attempted to open the hood to the engine compartment but had difficulty with it. He was then joined by WM2 and West. As they were doing this, another vocal member of the crowd, who used a megaphone throughout the destruction of Unit 3212, announced to the crowd that "they are going to light the vehicle." Finally, West was able to disengage the hood’s locking mechanism. The hood of Unit 3212 was lifted, thereby exposing the engine compartment. At that point, WM1 lit a small flame with a lighter and then tossed that lighter inside the engine compartment. However, WM1’s attempt failed, and the engine compartment did not catch fire. A few minutes later, West, Lengyel, WM1 and WM2 placed pieces of cardboard and crumpled paper into Unit 3212’s passenger compartment. WM2 then leaned into the backseat area and ignited the combustible materials that had been placed there. After the fire got going, both Lengyel and WM2 continued to add more paper products to the fire, which eventually spread throughout Unit 3212 and destroyed it.

Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for October 12, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a total

sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the defendant is being detained.

Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Da'Jon Lengyel.

Trial Attorney (Corporate/Financial Litigation)

 Civil Division (CIV)

Commercial Litigation Branch, Corporate/Financial Litigation

Attorney

Washington, DC 20530

United States

DE-11133070-21-VJ

About the Office: 

The Civil Division's Corporate/Financial Litigation Section of the Commercial Litigation Branch handles complex commercial litigation matters, most of which involve large sums of money and/or issues of national significance. The Section's cases, which are both affirmative and defensive, are litigated in bankruptcy, district and appellate courts throughout the United States.

Our office places a high value on diversity of experiences and perspectives and encourages applications from all qualified individuals from all ethnic and racial backgrounds, veterans, LGBT individuals, and persons with disabilities.

Job Description: 

The Corporate/Financial Litigation Section seeks experienced attorneys to represent the United States in a broad range of complex litigation matters. Attorneys in the Section have a varied practice that includes both affirmative and defensive litigation in the United States bankruptcy district and appellate courts. The practice encompasses but, is not limited to, bankruptcy, contract disputes, government loan and grant programs, and a variety of other matters involving the recovery of money for the United States.

Qualifications: 

Applicants must be a graduate from a full course of study in a School of Law accredited by the American Bar Association and be a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction), have at least two years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-13 level; have at least three years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-14 level; and four years of post J.D. experience to qualify at the GS-15 level (other factors are taken into consideration as well, such as litigation experience, relevance of experience to our practice area, etc.). You must also be a U.S. citizen.

An exceptional background and judicial clerkship experience are highly desirable. Applicants should have a strong background in litigation, as well as excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. Excellent writing skills and good judgment are critical.

Experience handling Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases or complex commercial litigation matters is preferred. Familiarity with complex financing arrangements and restructuring distressed debt scenarios is a plus.

Salary: 

$103,690.00 - $172,500.00

Travel: 

Occasional Travel is required for this position.

Application Process: 

To apply for this position, you must submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample (not more than 15 pages in length). If you are claiming veterans preference, you must also submit your DD-214, and/or other documentation that you may have.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their materials by email to: CorpFin.vacancies@usdoj.gov.

Please use "Trial Attorney, Corporate/Financial Lit" as your subject line. 

You must submit your application so that it will be RECEIVED by 11:59 pm Eastern Daylight Time on the closing date of the announcement.

No telephone calls, please.

Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.

Application Deadline: 

Friday, June 18, 2021

Relocation Expenses: 

Relocation expenses are not authorized.

Number of Positions: 

3

Updated June 1, 2021

*         *         *

Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity:  The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.  Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of color, race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability (physical or mental), age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected genetic information, pregnancy, status as a parent, or any other nonmerit-based factor.  The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement.

Reasonable Accommodations:  This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency.  Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities:  The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements.  Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority.  Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs.   

Suitability and Citizenship:  It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment.  Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans:  There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that his  or her retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that he/she was transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

 

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This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.

Two Indicted, Third Person Sought in Schemes to Defraud Rhode Island Banks

 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two Providence men indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday were arraigned today while a third person is being sought for allegedly leading schemes to create and deposit nearly a quarter of a million dollars in counterfeit business and personal checks, and quickly withdrawing the funds before banks determined that the checks were created using stolen personal identifying and bank account information.

It is alleged in the indictments that Terrance Richardson, aka Teebobe Juheard, 29, and Richard Koboi, aka Sunnyboy Taylor, 26, obtained stolen checks and stolen banking information of actual businesses and individuals they used to create fraudulent checks. It is alleged that the two men recruited and paid individuals with actual bank accounts to allow the counterfeit checks to be deposited into their accounts. It is alleged that as part of the scheme, once the counterfeit checks were deposited and prior to banks discovering that the checks were counterfeit, Richardson and Koboi made rapid withdrawals of cash, made cash transfers, and made debit card purchases.

It is alleged in an indictment that between April 27, 2020, and March 3, 2021, Richardson executed schemes to deposit and withdraw funds represented by at least eleven counterfeit checks for between $2,824 and $60,322.

It is alleged in a separate indictment that between January 23, 2020, and March 3, 2021, Koboi executed schemes to deposit and withdraw funds represented by seven counterfeit checks for between $2,896.43 and $9,637.02.

Additionally, it is alleged that Koboi, previously convicted and sentenced on felony charges of breaking and entering and domestic violence, purchased, possessed and later sold a 9mm pistol.

On Friday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Koboi with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, seven counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and felon in possession of a firearm. The grand jury returned a separate indictment charging Richardson with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, eleven counts of bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

As part of this investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FBI, a third individual, Patrick Johnson, 36, previously of Providence, has been charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with wire fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Johnson whose whereabouts are unknown.

It is alleged in court documents that in addition to participating in bank fraud schemes with Koboi and Richardson, Johnson mailed counterfeit Home Equity Line of Credit checks throughout the country from Post Offices in and around Providence.

A federal indictment and criminal complaint are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The charges brought against Terrance Richardson, Richard Koboi, and Patrick Johnson are announced by Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin.

Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Marijuana Conspiracy

 Davenport, Iowa – A Davenport man, Cory Lamar Carter, age 33, was sentenced Thursday, May 27, 2021, by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to five years in prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Marijuana. Following his prison term Carter was ordered to serve four years of supervised release.

According to court documents, Carter was involved in multiple instances of marijuana trafficking between the summer of 2018 and the fall of 2019. As a part of this investigation, the United States Postal Inspector intercepted multiple packages destined for Carter’s residence, which contained pounds of marijuana. Carter has a prior federal conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. On January 28, 2021, Carter pleaded guilty to the charge.

Acting United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Davenport Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspector were involved in the investigation of this matter. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

Parma Man Charged with Stealing $80,000 in Federal Income and Employment Assistance Benefits

 Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that a 52-count federal indictment was unsealed today charging Fouad Saeed Abdulkadir, 42, of Parma, Ohio, with devising and enacting a scheme to defraud the State of Ohio and steal public funds.

The Defendant is charged with various counts of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft of public money.

According to the indictment, from on or about November 22, 2016, to on or about December 7, 2018, the Defendant is accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud the state of Ohio by submitting fraudulent applications and receiving funding for employment and income assistance while gainfully employed.

The indictment states that the Defendant was employed as Chairman of the Board and a Resident Scholar at a religious center located in Parma, Ohio.  As part of his employment, the Defendant was paid a yearly salary, provided health insurance and received performance and seniority-based bonuses and incentives.

According to the indictment, around October of 2016, the Defendant submitted a fraudulent application for participation in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Ohio Works First (OWF) program by falsely listing his income as “0” in order to qualify for employment and income assistance.  The OWF program is a federally funded initiative.

From November 22, 2016, to on or about December 7, 2018, the indictment alleges that the Defendant filed monthly ODJFS OWF program forms claiming that he worked in a volunteer capacity for the religious center.  It is alleged that on every form submitted to the program, the Defendant listed fictitious volunteer work hours while receiving payment for these hours from the religious center.  It is also alleged that on each of these forms, the Defendant used a forged or fraudulent signature of a person he claimed to be his volunteer supervisor.

As a result of these fraudulent submissions, the indictment alleges that the Defendant illicitly obtained more than $15,000 in federal funds through the OWF program.

In addition, the indictment alleges that from on or about July 2016, through on or about July 2019, the Defendant fraudulently applied for and received approximately $41,559.24 in Medicaid benefits and approximately $23,599 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted, the Defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to this case, including the Defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the Defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

This investigation was conducted by the FBI, CBP and Parma Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Duncan T. Brown.  

Two Detained, Three Kilos of Fentanyl Pills Seized

 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Two men have been ordered detained in federal custody following a Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force investigation into the trafficking of fentanyl pills that resulted in the seizure of more than three kilograms of fentanyl pills.

According to court documents, in April and May, an individual assisting DEA task force agents arranged for two deliveries of large quantities of fentanyl pills. On April 29, the individual arranged for the delivery of 1000 fentanyl pills for $5,000. The pills were delivered in the parking lot of a Pawtucket restaurant by one of two men who arrived in a car bearing Massachusetts license plates. Shortly after the delivery, the pills were seized by task force agents while other agents followed the vehicle to apartment complexes in Lawrence, MA.

On May 24, the same individual arranged to purchase 25,000 fentanyl pills for $125,000. Two days later, as the delivery of the pills was allegedly in progress inside a passenger van in the parking lot of a Dorchester, MA, restaurant, Rhode Island DEA task force agents moved in and seized from two men inside the van a large plastic garbage bag containing 3.4 kilograms of fentanyl pills. The pills were packaged in numerous clear plastic bags.

The investigation determined that the two men inside the van in Dorchester, Roberto Anibal Nieves Zayas, aka Jose Diaz, 35, of Naguabo, Puerto Rico, and Mervin Roberto Cabral Roche, 46, of Soltero, Dominican Republic, are the same men that allegedly delivered the 1,000 fentanyl pills a month earlier in Pawtucket.

Nieves Zayas and Cabral Roche appeared in U.S. District Court in Providence on Friday and were ordered detained in federal custody on a federal criminal complaint charging them with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus.

A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey P. Veroni.

The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General; Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; the East Providence, Central Falls, Coventry, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments; and Amtrak Police Department.

An inmate at FCI Hazelton indicted on assault and weapons charges

 WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Mark Justin Daniels, an inmate at Federal Corrections Institute Hazelton in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia, was indicted today on assault and weapons charges, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.

Daniels, 35, was indicted on one count of “Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm” and one count of “Possession of a Prohibited Object (Weapon).” Daniels is accused of using a combination lock in a sock to assault another inmate in January 2021 in Preston County.  

Daniels faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250 ,000 for the assault charge and faces up to five years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the weapons charge. 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 Christopher L. Bauer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Prisons investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.