LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced today that United States District Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings sentenced Johnnie B. Day, age 53, of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, to 37 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for multiple bank robberies. The Court ordered Day to pay restitution of $3,942.

The Court sentenced Day for four bank robberies committed from January, 2015 through November 2016.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, on November 21, 2016, Day entered BB&T bank, at 401 W. Main St., Louisville, Kentucky, waited in a teller line and presented a demand note reading, “GIVE ME THE MONEY. NO ALARMS. NO DYES.”  The teller handed him $264 in bank funds from her top drawer. A witness to the robbery followed Day outside the bank, where Day entered his vehicle; the witness wrote down the license plate number which led Louisville Metro Police Department detectives to the apartment Day rented in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Day was later arrested at the Public Library in Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

Day also admitted guilt for three other bank robberies. On November 19, 2016, Day entered the Fifth Third bank, 8003 Preston Highway, Louisville, Kentucky and handed the teller a demand note on a plain white envelope which stated, “GIVE ME THE MONEY. NO SILENT ALARMS. NO DYE PACKS.”  The teller handed Day $501.00 in bank funds. On November 7, 2016, Day entered the Stock Yards Bank, 5026 Mud Lane, Louisville, Kentucky and handed the teller a white envelope reading, “GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY. NO ALARMS. NO DYE PACKS. NICE AND EASY.”  The teller handed Day $1,288.00 in bank funds. On January 3, 2015, Day entered Your Community Bank, 11810 Interchange Drive, Louisville, Kentucky and handed the teller a note stating, “THIS IS A ROBBERY.  GIVE ME ALL YOUR BILLS. NO BAIT. SAY NOTHING AND NO ONE WILL GET HURT.”  Day received $1,809 in bank funds from this robbery. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ream, and investigated by Louisville Metro Police Department Robbery Unit.

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis joined the Department of Justice yesterday in announcing more than $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  Two tribes in the District of Idaho, the Nez Perce and the Shoshone-Bannock, were awarded grants totaling $1,852,857.

North Idaho’s Nez Perce Tribe will receive a $236,687 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse grant.  East Idaho’s Shoshone-Bannock Tribe will receive a $750,000 Justice Systems and Alcohol and Substance Abuse grant and an $865,900 Violence Against Women Tribal Governments Program grant.

“Providing these grants to our tribes in Idaho reinforces that my office and the Department of Justice are committed to protecting and providing victim services to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Bart Davis.  “These resources will help strengthen Idaho tribal communities for years to come.”

Nationwide, grants were awarded to 133 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CTAS), a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs.  Of the $113 million, just over $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, more than $35 million from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

In addition, the Department is in the process of allocating up to $133 million in a first-ever set aside program to serve victims of crime in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance.  Recipients will be announced in the near future.

“With these awards, we are doubling the amount of grant funding devoted to public safety programs and serving victims of crime in Native American communities,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio, who made the announcement during his remarks at the 26th Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  “There is an unacceptable level of violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  This increase in resources, together with our aggressive investigation and prosecution of crimes, shows how seriously Attorney General Sessions and the entire Department of Justice take these issues.  We are committed to reducing violent crime and improving public safety.”

The Four Corners Conference is facilitated annually by U.S. Attorneys from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah to provide a forum for discussion of justice-related topics with a large number of populous and diverse tribal nations located in the region.

CTAS awards cover nine purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs.  CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs.

Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

A listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: www.justice.gov/tribal/page/file/1095161/download.

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Etienne Allonce is scheduled to be arraigned today before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco at the federal courthouse in Central Islip on charges of health care fraud and conspiracy, for allegedly defrauding Medicare and Medicaid out of millions of dollars.  Allonce was expelled from Haiti to face the charges in the indictment pending here, and turned over to the custody of law enforcement agents.  Prior to his return to the United States, Allonce was placed on the Most Wanted list of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). 

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge, HHS-OIG, Office of Investigations, New York Region, announced the charges.

According to the indictment returned in 2007, Allonce and his wife, Helen Michel, were co-owners and operators of Medical Solutions Management, Inc. (MSM), a medical equipment company located in Hicksville, New York.  MSM provided durable medical equipment and supplies to nursing homes.  Between April 2003 and March 2007, Allonce and Michel allegedly submitted $10 million in false claims to Medicare and Medicaid seeking payment for medical supplies purportedly provided to patients at nursing homes, when those medical supplies had not been provided.  Allonce fled the United States hours before federal agents arrested Michel.  Michel was tried and convicted by a jury in August 2012 and she was sentenced in April 2013 to 12 years’ imprisonment and ordered to forfeit $1.3 million that had been seized by the government.  Michel served her sentence and was released from prison in December 2017.

“Today begins the process of holding Allonce responsible for his crimes, more than a decade after he was indicted for healthcare fraud and left the United States,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “The prosecution of Allonce demonstrates the resolve of this Office and our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who defraud vital benefit programs relied upon by millions of Americans.”

“Mr. Allonce allegedly thought he could escape his crimes by leaving the United States, and hiding as a fugitive for more than a decade, leaving his wife behind to answer for their defrauding American taxpayers,” stated Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “Regardless of the crime, be it healthcare fraud or bank robbery, if criminals break the law and are charged, they will be held accountable.”

 “We are committed to investigating those responsible for health care fraud, including this former HHS-OIG Most Wanted fugitive, who stole scarce taxpayer money intended to pay for legitimate patient care,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Lampert.  “The pursuit and arrest of Mr. Allonce is a reflection of our determination, and that of our law enforcement partners, to hold fraudsters accountable for their crimes no matter where they run or try to hide.”

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant Etienne Allonce is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly, Burton T. Ryan, Jr. and Madeline O’Connor.

The Defendant:

ETIENNE ALLONCE
Age:  55
Port au Prince, Haiti

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 07-889(JFB)

SOUTH BEND – Shed Woods, 38 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U. S. Attorney Kirsch.

Woods was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.

According to documents in the case, in November 2017, Woods possessed a firearm while having been convicted of four prior felonies.  Wood also has two misdemeanor convictions and eleven other contacts with the law. 

This case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank E. Schaffer.

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RALEIGH – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announces that MICHAEL DEXTER BRODIE was arrested today, September 20, 2018.

On September 6, 2018, a federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of North Carolina returned an indictment charging BRODIE with two counts of mailing bomb threat hoaxes, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(e).  As stated in open court during the initial appearance, the alleged conduct includes bomb threats received by government offices in the Raleigh area, resulting in multiple evacuations.  If convicted, BRODIE would face as to each charge a maximum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of up to three years supervised release following any term of imprisonment. 

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations.  The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Investigation of this case is being conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Raleigh Police Department, with assistance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, today announced that, on September 18, 2018, a federal grand jury in New Haven returned a five-count indictment charging JAMES LEBEL, 40, of no certain address, and MICHELLE BARBEAU, 51, of Brooklyn, Conn., with offenses related to the theft of U.S. Postal money orders.

LEBEL was arrested yesterday and is detained pending a hearing that is scheduled for September 26.  BARBEAU was arrested today and was released on a $100,000 bond.

As alleged in the indictment, BARBEAU was employed by the U.S. Postal Service at the Wauregan Post Office in Plainfield.  Between April and September 2017, LEBEL and BARBEAU conspired to take blank U.S. Postal money orders from the Wauregan Post Office and imprint them in various denominations.  LEBEL then cashed more than $60,000 in fraudulently imprinted postal money orders at other post offices.

The indictment charges LEBEL and BARBEAU with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  The indictment also charges LEBEL with four counts of wire fraud.  Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, after a 11-day jury trial, a jury found Oscar Martínez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Cali;” guilty of the murder of Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati-Casañas, a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez. Lieutenant Albarati was murdered on February 26, 2013.

On January 28, 2015 a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six count indictment charging nine individuals for the murder of Lieutenant Albarati. Defendants Ángel D. Ramos-Cruz, a.k.a. “Api;” Miguel Díaz-Rivera, a.k.a. “Bolo;” Juan Quiñones-Meléndez, a.k.a. “El Manco;” Orlando Mojica-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Yogui;” Jayson Rodríguez-González, a.k.a. “Gonzo;” and Alexander Rosario de León, a.k.a. “Coquí;” are awaiting trial. Defendants Carlos Rosado-Rosado, a.k.a. “Cano;” and Jancarlos Velázquez-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Jan,” pleaded guilty on August 13, 2018.

During trial, the government proved that during the period of time prior to Albarati’s murder, Oscar Martínez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Cali;” was incarcerated at the MDC facility pending sentencing in another federal drug case. Martínez-Hernández would consistently use cell phones and had other contraband in his possession while in the facility. Martínez-Hernández and other inmates were angered that Lieutenant Albarati, a member of BOP’s Special Investigations Section, was consistently searching for contraband in the facility and challenged the leadership of the inmate population, including Oscar Martínez-Hernández. The government proved that Martínez-Hernández and these other inmates made a plan to pay individuals in the free community to murder Lt. Albarati as he went home from work.

At trial, witnesses testified that Martínez-Hernández watched from his cell on the evening of February 26, 2013 as Lt. Albarati left in his white Veloster and signaled to other inmates who were communicating with the hired gunman using a contraband cell phone. The gunman waited on the shoulder of Highway 22 near the Buchanan toll. The gunman stalked Lt. Albarati’s vehicle and eventually gunned down Lt. Albarati as he drove home. The gunmen used four .40 caliber fully automatic Glock pistols to commit the murder.

Evidence showed that Oscar Martínez-Hernández had agreed to contribute money for the murder and assisted with signaling to other inmates when Lt. Albarati left work. The jury found the defendant guilty of all six counts including the murder of a federal officer, murder for hire, conspiracy, and related firearms offenses.

“Throughout his law enforcement career, Lieutenant Albarati’s service was exemplary, selfless and courageous,” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “With this conviction we take another step towards our goal of holding those who carried out this reprehensible and senseless murder accountable for their actions. The Department of Justice will continue to honor Lieutenant Albarati’s legacy as a public servant, his dedication to safeguard the community, and his integrity.”

The murder of government employees and officials is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life. Murder for hire is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for any terms of years or for life. Use of a firearm resulting in death is also punishable by a maximum term of life.

The case was investigated by the FBI with the collaboration of the U.S.s Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, DEA, ATF, the United States Marshals Service, ICE-HSI, the Puerto Rico Police Department, the San Juan Municipal Police, and other law enforcement agencies that covered hundreds of leads developed as a result of the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas W. Cannon and Max Pérez-Bouret.

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Portland, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Steven Talbot, 32, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Jon D. Levy to ten years in prison and eight years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.  He pleaded guilty on March 23, 2018.

Court records reveal that on December 4, 2017, Talbot transported 80 grams of fentanyl from Massachusetts to Maine for distribution to a person working with law enforcement.  Law enforcement agents arrested Talbot and seized the fentanyl upon his arrival at the meeting location. 

Talbot faced an enhanced penalty based upon a prior felony conviction for drug trafficking.   

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Maine State Police, and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Strategy to Combat the Opioid Epidemic.  

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Kyle Mueller, age 24, of Thurmont, Maryland, to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for malicious use of explosive materials in connection with the detonation of a pipe bomb on a Thurmont Police Department vehicle.  The sentence was imposed on September 19, 2018.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; and Chief Gregory L. Eyler of the Thurmont Police Department.

“Kyle Mueller admitted constructing a pipe bomb that not only damaged a police vehicle, but caused bomb fragments to be blown into an officer’s residence,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Today’s sentence sends the message that this type of violent attack on law enforcement cannot and will not be tolerated.”

“This dedicated officer was targeted at his home, a place he should have been able to feel safe after returning from a day of serving and protecting his community,” said Special Agent in Charge Cekada. “This case should make it clear to anyone with violent intentions against police officers: ATF, our state and local partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are united in our efforts to end this vicious cycle of attacks on law enforcement officers.”

According to Mueller’s plea agreement, on August 3, 2016, a pipe bomb was detonated on the hood of a Thurmont Police Department vehicle that was parked in front of an officer’s residence.  The explosion caused significant damage to the police vehicle.  Pieces of the device also entered the residence through the front picture window, traveling through the curtains and into an interior wall.  Parts of the device were recovered, including a piece of galvanized pipe, end caps, and explosive filler powder.  Finishing nails were taped to the exterior of the galvanized pipe.

Investigation revealed that between July 20 and August 1, 2016, Mueller purchased black powder at a firearms store in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania; a roll of cannon fuse from an online company; and pipe and end caps at a store in Pennsylvania.  All of these items, which were utilized to construct the explosive, were purchased using a credit/debit card used by and in the name of Mueller.  The last four digits of the credit/debit card matched those on a fast food receipt that was found on the street where the explosion occurred a few days prior to the detonation.

Mueller was arrested on August 5, 2016, waived his rights, and agreed to be interviewed by law enforcement agents.  During the interview, Mueller admitted to purchasing black powder, pipe, and end caps and to constructing the destructive device.  Mueller also admitted that he was in the area of the explosion at the time that the destructive device was detonated. A residence used by Mueller was searched on August 5, 2016, and law enforcement recovered metal shavings, various drill bit sets, grey adhesive tape, and 2.5 inch nails similar to those used to construct the explosive device detonated on August 3, 2016.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF and the Thurmont Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Sippel, Jr., who prosecuted the case.

     ARIZONA – The District of Arizona’s First Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange joined the Department of Justice today in announcing more than $113 million in grant awards to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  The tribes in Arizona receiving grants that were announced today are Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Hualapai Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Havasupai Tribe, White Mountain Apache Tribe, and Yavapai-Apache Nation.  The link below shows estimated award amounts.

     “These awards to nine Arizona tribes demonstrate our continued support and commitment to improving public safety in Indian Country,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange.  “These resources will help our tribal partners to combat violent crimes and domestic abuse, which predominantly target women and children, as well as to provide expanded services for the victims of these crimes.”

     Nationwide, grants were awarded to 133 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and other tribal designees through the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation (CSTAS), a streamlined application for tribal-specific grant programs. Of the $113 million, just over $53 million comes from the Office of Justice Programs, more than $35 million from the Office on Violence Against Women, and more than $24.7 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.

     In addition, the Department is in the process of allocating up to $133 million in a first-ever set aside program to serve victims of crime in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  The awards are intended to help tribes develop, expand and improve services to victims of crime by providing funding, programming and technical assistance.  Recipients will be announced in the near future. 

     “With these awards, we are doubling the amount of grant funding devoted to public safety programs and serving victims of crime in Native American communities,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Jesse Panuccio, who made the announcement during his remarks at the 26th Annual Four Corners Indian Country Conference in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  “There is an unacceptable level of violent crime and domestic abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  This increase in resources, together with our aggressive investigation and prosecution of crimes, shows how seriously Attorney General Sessions and the entire Department of Justice take these issues.  We are committed to reducing violent crime and improving public safety.”

     The Four Corners Conference is facilitated annually by U.S. Attorneys from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah to provide a forum for discussion of justice-related topics with a large number of populous and diverse tribal nations located in the region.

     CTAS awards cover nine purpose areas: public safety and community policing; justice systems planning; alcohol and substance abuse; corrections and correctional alternatives; children’s justice act partnerships; services for victims of crime; violence against women; juvenile justice; and tribal youth programs.   CTAS funding helps tribes develop and strengthen their justice systems’ response to crime, while expanding services to meet their communities’ public safety needs.

     Today’s announcement is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

     A specific listing of today’s announced CTAS awards is available at: www.justice.gov/tribal/page/file/1095161/download.

RELEASE NUMBER:             2018-122_ Public Safety Awards (IC)

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

CHICAGO — The owner of two recycling businesses illegally landfilled potentially hazardous electronic waste as part of a scheme to re-sell the materials and avoid paying income taxes, according to his guilty plea in federal court in Chicago.

BRIAN BRUNDAGE owned Intercon Solutions Inc. and EnviroGreen Processing LLC, which purported to recycle electronic waste on behalf of corporate and governmental clients.  Brundage represented to the clients that the materials would be disassembled and recycled in an environmentally sound manner.  In reality, from 2005 to 2016, Brundage caused thousands of tons of e-waste and other potentially hazardous materials to be landfilled, stockpiled, or re-sold at a profit to companies who shipped the materials overseas, according to a plea agreement filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Brundage admitted evading $743,984 in federal taxes by concealing the income he earned from re-selling the e-waste and from paying himself funds that he falsely recorded as Intercon business expenses.  Brundage spent the purported expenses for his own personal benefit, including wages for a nanny and housekeeper, jewelry purchases, and payments to the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., the plea agreement states.

Brundage, 46, of Dyer, Ind., pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of wire fraud, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and one count of tax evasion, which is punishable by up to five years.  U.S. District Judge Joan Humphrey Lefkow set sentencing for Feb. 27, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.

The guilty plea was announced by John C. Kocoras, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Brad Ostendorf, Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago; Gabriel L. Grchan, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division; James M. Gibbons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; and Carol Fortine Ochoa, Inspector General of the U.S. General Services Administration.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J.B. Franzblau and Kelly Greening of the Northern District of Illinois, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Crissy Pellegrin of the EPA.

According to the plea agreement, Brundage caused employees of Chicago Heights-based Intercon and Gary, Ind.-based EnviroGreen to sell some of the e-waste and other materials to vendors whom Brundage knew would ship the materials overseas.  Some of the materials contained Cathode Ray Tubes, which are glass video display components of computer and television monitors, and which contain potentially hazardous amounts of lead.  Brundage admitted causing multiple tons of CRT glass and other potentially hazardous materials to be destroyed in environmentally unsafe ways and later landfilled.

PITTSBURGH, Pa – A resident of Donora, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a narcotics charge, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Renee Kinder, age 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine before United States District Judge Mark Hornak.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from March 2017 to December 2017, Brandon Thomas, a mid-level distributor in the Lightfoot/Mendoza Drug Trafficking Organization, would receive large quantities of cocaine from Jamie Lightfoot, Jr. before redistributing the cocaine to Kinder and other co-conspirators. Kinder’s role in the conspiracy was to travel Brandon Thomas’ home in Donora, PA on multiple occasions to purchase cocaine. After purchasing the cocaine from Brandon Thomas, Kinder would then redistribute it to other co-conspirators.

Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for January 22, 2019. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 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 record, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation - The Monongahela Valley Residential Agency and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the South Strabane Police Department, the Elizabeth Borough Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department and the Perryopolis Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the guilty plea in this case

LEXINGTON, Ky.– Jeffrey W. Harney, 53, of Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge David L. Bunning, for receipt of child pornography. Harney was also order to pay $18,964.93 in restitution to the victims in this case.

Harney pled guilty in March 2018 and admitted that he used computer equipment to download child pornography from the internet.  Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on his residence and located approximately 3,640 images (including 1,199 videos) of child pornography on Harney’s computer equipment.  

Under federal law, Harney must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence; and upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office for 15 years.  He will also have to register as a sex offender. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Mike Christman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, jointly made the announcement.  The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Tony Bracke.

HAMMOND – Vondell Henry Jr., 21 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph VanBokkelen on his plea of guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

Henry was sentenced to 105 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. 

According to documents in the case, on August 1, 2017, Henry and three others, including his co-defendant Deshalone Davis, robbed a wireless cell phone store located at Ridge Road and Calumet Avenue in Munster, Indiana. Two of the robbers brandished guns during the robbery, which took place around 5:00pm when customers and employees were inside the store. Henry drove the vehicle to the store, remained in the vehicle while the others went inside, and acted as the getaway driver.

This case was investigated by the FBI GRIT Task Force in conjunction with Munster, Gary, and Griffith Police Departments and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Chang.

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HAMMOND – David Larson, 35 years old, of Shelby, Indiana, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen to 87 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to knowingly possessing pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.

According to documents in the case, from 2012 through 2017, Larson purchased a total of 120 grams of pseudoephedrine, with the purchases occurring on 58 separate occasions at 10 different pharmacies in 4 different counties, with Larson knowing the psuedoephedrine would be used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine. 

This case was investigated by the DEA, Indiana State Police, Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, and Newton County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Dean R. Lanter.

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SOUTH BEND – Terron Taylor, 23 years old, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jon E DeGuilio after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, announced U. S. Attorney Kirsch.

Taylor was sentenced to 168 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Kirsch said, “Drug dealers target areas of cities and towns for drug distribution.  We are targeting them.  As we catch them, we will seek lengthy penalties for spreading poison on our streets.  This case is a prime example of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working together to combat the drug epidemic.”

According to documents in the case, from March 2017 up to and including October 2017, Taylor conspired with a group of other dealers to distribute over 1 kilogram of heroin to drug customers on the streets of South Bend.  Customers would call a drug phone and order heroin.  Whichever dealer had the phone at the time would arrange to meet with the customer and complete the heroin sale.  The business model was efficient: transactions were quick and without hassle.  All of the heroin was pre-packaged in ½ gram quantities.  The price remained uniform regardless of which dealer showed up to sell.  Investigators conducted numerous controlled purchases by calling the drug phone and ordering heroin.  Investigators met with and identified different dealers, most of which were from Chicago.  On four occasions in September 2017, Taylor was involved in selling heroin to the investigators.  Taylor has a lengthy criminal history that qualifies him as a career offender under the guidelines.    

This case was investigated by the ATF and DEA with assistance from several local law enforcement agencies including the Elkhart Police Department, Indiana State Police, the St. Joseph County Drug Investigations Unit and the St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.    This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joel R. Gabrielse and Molly E. Donnelly.

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CHICAGO — An employee of a restaurant-reservation company used fake names and email addresses to create hundreds of fraudulent restaurant bookings through a competitor’s system, according to a criminal charge filed today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago.

STEVEN ADDISON worked as an Enterprise Operations Specialist in the Chicago office of a San Francisco-based company that provides an online reservation system for restaurants.  From November 2017 until February 2018, Addison booked more than 300 fraudulent reservations at Chicago restaurants that use Reserve, a competing reservation service, according to a criminal information filed in federal court in Chicago.  Many of the bogus reservations were made on busy days, including New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day, when Addison knew restaurants would suffer financial losses when no diners showed up to claim the reservation, the information states.  Addison’s scheme intended to demonstrate to Chicago restaurants that Reserve had an inferior reservation system, the charge alleges.

The information charges Addison, 30, of Chicago, with one count of wire fraud.  Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled.

The charge was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sunil R. Harjani represents the government.

According to the information, Addison began his scheme after discovering that Reserve’s software did not prevent reservations from users who entered a fake email address or a fake phone number.  Addison made reservations using names such as “Hans Gruber,” “Richard Ashcroft” and “Jimmy Smits,” bogus email addresses such as “billygala@hotmai.com,” and fake phone numbers such as “199-999-99999,” the information states.

Addison made the reservations on his own accord and did not personally profit from the scheme, the information states.

The public is reminded that an information is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

BOSTON – David Brunell, 56, of Webster, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to one count of theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 13, 2018.

Between June 2000 and June 2017, the Social Security Administration deposited approximately $234,000 in retirement benefits intended for Brunell’s father into a bank account controlled by Brunell after Brunell’s father had died. Brunell used the funds for various personal expenditures, such as mortgage payments.

Brunell faces a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

A Guatemalan man who used false identification documents to obtain a job was sentenced today to more than two months in federal prison.

Melvin Caguach-Samol, age 21, a citizen of Guatemala illegally present in the United States and living in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 9, 2018, guilty plea to one count of unlawful use of identification documents.

At the guilty plea, Caguach-Samol admitted he used a fraudulent Social Security card and a fraudulent permanent resident card, also known as a “green card,” when he completed an employment form on May 10, 2018, at a business in Independence, Iowa.  The Social Security number and the Alien Registration number on the “green card” were issued to other persons.  Caguach-Samol also used the same fraudulent Social Security card and “green card” when applying for work in Garnavillo, Iowa, in April 2016.

Caguach-Samol was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand.  Caguach-Samol was sentenced to 72 days’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.        Caguach-Samol is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 18-CR-2035-LTS.  Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that MARK CINA, a former comptroller of two Poughkeepsie companies, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for mail fraud and tax evasion.  CINA pled guilty on April 11, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel, who imposed today’s sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Mark Cina embezzled millions of dollars to line his pockets at the great expense and suffering of his trusting employer, a Hudson Valley entrepreneur and small businessman.  Theft like the defendant’s is intolerable, and today’s sentencing shows that an employee’s choice to engage in such a crime is a choice to go to prison.”

As set forth in the Complaint and Information in the case, other court filings, and during court proceedings:

During all times relevant to the case, two manufacturing companies were in operation, with plants located in the Town of Poughkeepsie (“Company-1” and “Company-2,” collectively the “Companies”).  Company-1 designed and manufactured solar energy products such as solar-powered roof shingles.  Company-1’s work included, for example, a solar-powered ring of lights encircling the top of MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey.  Company-2 fabricated molded plastic.

The Companies were founded by an entrepreneur (“Victim-1”).  Victim-1 was the primary investor in, and owner of, the Companies. 

In 2008, Victim-1 hired CINA as a part-time bookkeeper for Company-1.  In 2010, CINA became employed full-time for the Companies as comptroller.  In his position, CINA was responsible for the day-to-day financial operations of the Companies.  CINA had authority to sign checks for the Companies and to carry and use the Companies’ credit cards and ATM cards.  CINA remained so employed until August 2015, when he was terminated.

In September 2015, Victim-1 appeared at a New York State Police barracks in Dutchess County.  Victim-1 reported, in part and substance, that a former employee of the Companies had stolen company funds.  Thereafter, the New York State Police commenced an investigation, which federal law enforcement officers later joined.  As summarized in the Complaint, the investigation yielded voluminous evidence showing that CINA had defrauded Victim-1, via the Companies, of millions of dollars over the course of at least seven years.  CINA did so by, among other things, using the Companies’ funds for himself to gamble, pay his rent, drive rental cars, dine out, get his car washed, bail out an arrestee, and, in one instance, pay a phone charge for an inmate’s call.

According to, among other things, business and financial records obtained during the criminal investigation, and a forensic report prepared by an accounting firm, CINA made the following disbursements of the Companies’ funds, from 2009 through 2015, which were not authorized, and which had no apparent or recorded business purpose:

• Payments to a mini-mart (approximately $457,000)
• Payments to a gas station (approximately $180,000)
• Payment of CINA’s rent (approximately $25,000)
• Payment of CINA’s personal credit card bills (approximately $125,000)
• Checks payable to CINA (non-payroll) (approximately $599,000)
• Checks payable to cash (approximately $282,000)
• Cash withdrawals (approximately $825,000)
• Additional unauthorized charges (including charges to pharmacies, medical and dental facilities, a rental car company, a car wash facility, an inmate phone service, and for purported loans from family members of CINA)

*                *                *

In addition to the prison term, CINA, 56, of Poughkeepsie, New York, ordered to pay restitution in the total amount $3,385,665 and forfeiture in the total amount $2,548,820.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the New York State Police, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Office’s Special Agents.  He also thanked the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance. 

The case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Martin and Benjamin Allee are in charge of the prosecution.