PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Ten residents of Western Pennsylvania, a resident of Georgia, and a resident of South Carolina were charged by a federal grand jury in a 22-count indictment related to a years-long conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Arlinda Moriarty, Daynelle Dickens, Julie Wilson, Tamika Adams, Tony Brown, Terry Adams, Terra Dean, Tionne Street, Keith Scoggins and Larita Walls, all residing in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, along with Tia Collins, a resident of South Carolina, and Luis Columbie-Abrew, a resident of Georgia, are charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud. Moriarty, Dickens, Wilson and Tamika Adams are also charged with one count of concealing material facts in relation to a health care matter. In addition, Moriarty, Tamika Adams and Columbie-Abrew each are charged with multiple counts of aggravated identity theft.

According to the Indictment, between January 2011 and April 2017, home health care companies owned and operated by the conspirators received more than $87,000,000 in Medicaid payments. During that time, all 12 of the defendants, along with other individuals, participated in a wide-ranging criminal conspiracy to defraud the Pennsylvania Medicaid program which resulted in the payment of millions of dollars in illegal Medicaid payments. The Indictment sets forth dozens of fraudulent acts by the defendants, including making false claims for services that were never provided, creating fake employees, improperly using consumers’ personal identifying information, and falsifying documentation during state audits of the companies. In some instances, the Indictment alleges that the defendants were actually working at other jobs or living out of the area. In other instances, Medicaid claims were submitted for services for consumers who were actually hospitalized, incarcerated, or deceased.

"Home health care programs are critical to the ability of patients with serious physical limitations, especially the elderly, to receive the care they need while remaining independent. Those who provide home health care are expected to deliver services honestly," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "When criminals cheat and steal from these programs, they not only steal from the taxpayers, but they steal from the most vulnerable members of our community."

"Health care fraud diverts taxpayer dollars and lines the pockets of dishonest health care providers," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones. "The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate these cases and work with our state and federal partners to ensure those who commit Medicaid fraud are prosecuted."

"Ensuring the safety of Medicaid beneficiaries is of the upmost importance," said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Philadelphia. "We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all our fellow law enforcement partners, to aggressively investigate allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse in HHS programs."

"Criminals who commit Medicaid fraud are stealing tax dollars that cannot be put to use caring for vulnerable Pennsylvanians who need assistance," said Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. "That’s why my Medicaid Fraud Control section worked closely with U.S. Attorney Brady and other federal law enforcement partners on this investigation. We’ll investigate and prosecute health care fraud wherever we find it."

Tommy Coke, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Pittsburgh Division stated, "This investigation was an excellent example of partnership among the law enforcement agencies, working together to bring down a health care fraud conspiracy. I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted in bringing the individuals in this scheme to justice."

"This indictment is the byproduct of a joint investigative effort and is the first step toward holding these individuals accountable for their actions", said Guy Ficco, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. "The Agents of IRS-CI will continue working with our fellow law enforcement partners on these types of investigations by using our financial expertise to trace the flow of money."

In addition to the 12 defendants charged in the Indictment, four other defendants—Travis Moriarty, Tiffhany Covington, Brenda Lowry and Autumn Brown—have been charged in separate criminal Informations for their involvement in the conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

The conspiracy and health care fraud charges each carry a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The concealment of material facts in relation to a health care matter charge carries a maximum total sense of not more than five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to run consecutively with any sentence imposed on any other charge and a fine of no more than $250,000. 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 defendants.

An indictment is an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Assistant United States Attorneys Eric G. Olshan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Edward Song are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation of the defendants.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Reginald McBride, 41, of New York, New York, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. to 13 years and 4 months in jail and 5 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it, and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense.  The charges arose out of a June 26, 2016 shooting at the Walmart in Augusta, Maine.  The defendant was convicted of these charges on March 14, 2018 after a three-day jury trial.

The evidence at trial revealed that on June 26, 2016, the defendant drove a vehicle to the Augusta Walmart carrying over 40 grams of heroin and a 9-mm pistol. When the defendant got to the Walmart, he engaged in a firefight with another individual. After the shooting, the defendant fled in his vehicle. Officers located the defendant and recovered the heroin.  Officers later seized a loaded revolver, two more firearms, ammunition, a speed loader, and a scope from the vehicle.

Trial evidence revealed that the defendant used numerous aliases including “Kweasia McBride,” “Reggie McBride,” “Reginald Washington,” “Benjamin McBride,” “John Doe,” and “Sunny.”  The defendant had prior felony convictions from Virginia and New York under a combination of these aliases. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Augusta Police Department; the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory; and the Bangor and Hallowell Police Departments.

Bangor, Maine:  United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Derrius Smalls, 20, of Rochester, New York was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine to three years in prison and a three year term of supervised release, including a six month term of community confinement, following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.

According to court records, on March 9, 2017, Smalls ran from a vehicle carrying 550 bags of heroin and 399 bags of crack cocaine when the vehicle he was in was stopped by state and federal agents in Scarborough, Maine. Smalls managed to hide the drugs and avoid arrest that night.  Smalls was transporting the drugs for Darrell “Coast” Newton and intended to deliver them to an individual in Maine.  The following day, a Scarborough Police Department K-9 located the drugs. 

Smalls was subsequently indicted together with Newton and fourteen other defendants from Rochester, New York and Central Maine.  All defendants have entered pleas of guilty.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance provided by the Scarborough Police Department and the Maine State Police.

Jackson, Miss. – Reginald Henderson, 26, of Jackson, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge David C. Bramlette III to serve a total of 150 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for armed carjacking and brandishing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Christopher Freeze, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Mississippi.

On February 5, 2017, Jackson Police officers responded to an armed carjacking that occurred on Grafton Street in Jackson, Mississippi. Upon arrival, the victim told officers that she had been carjacked at gunpoint of her 2016 Chevrolet Equinox while in the driveway of her home. JPD Officers identified the stolen vehicle in transit on I-55 South in Jackson with a male subject driving the vehicle. Officers pursued the vehicle until the driver wrecked near Terry Road and I-20 East in Jackson. Henderson was identified as the driver and placed under arrest. A .45 caliber handgun was located in the vehicle at the time Henderson was arrested. Henderson was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of arrest and is also a previously convicted felon.

"I applaud the men and women of the Jackson Police Department for responding so quickly to this carjacking and apprehending this violent criminal before he could harm someone else. I also commend the FBI for assisting in the investigation and our prosecutors for seeing that justice is done. This is another great example of Project EJECT making our citizens safer by taking violent criminals off our streets and delivering justice to victims," said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Mayberry.

This case is part of Project EJECT, an initiative by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi under the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). EJECT is a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to fighting and reducing violent crime in Jackson through prosecution, prevention, re-entry and awareness. EJECT stands for"Empower Jackson

Expel Crime Together." PSN is 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. Former 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.

Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore today sentenced Equanzick Howell a/k/a “Pookie,” “Big Pook,” and “Pook Pook” (31, Tampa) to 11 years and 2 months in federal prison for theft of government property and aggravated identity theft. Howell had pleaded guilty on August 16, 2018.

According to court documents, between 2011 and 2018, Howell, who was a senior member of the Manche Boy Mafia or “MBM” gang, committed tax fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft in the Tampa Bay area. Between March and June 2013, Howell filed 12 fraudulent tax returns, including one in his own name, and directed that the refunds be loaded onto his H&R Block card. All of the returns, except for Howell’s own return, were filed using identities stolen from individuals who were deceased, elderly, and/or severely mentally disabled. Howell used the H&R Block account to make ATM withdrawals and purchases from Tampa-area retailers and restaurants, including a $2,500 payment to a cosmetic surgery center where Howell’s girlfriend received a cosmetic procedure. 

For the 2012, 2013, and 2014 tax years, Howell and those working with him made false claims to the IRS for tax refunds to which they were not entitled in the amount of a least $976,000 and, as a result, received approximately $140,000 in fraudulently obtained tax refunds.

Investigators also learned that, starting in early 2015, members of MBM, including Howell, began purchasing stolen credit and debit card account numbers online from various websites, many of which use bitcoin as their currency. Once the members of this conspiracy purchased the stolen account numbers, they or someone working with them created counterfeit credit cards. The conspirators typically used the counterfeit credit cards to purchase gift cards and electronics, which they kept or later sold for cash. Howell also used counterfeit credit cards to obtain gift cards, which were used to purchase firearms and ammunition. To date, investigators have determined that Howell was responsible for approximately $1.1 million in intended or attempted purchases with counterfeit credit cards and stolen account information.

“The sentencing of Equanzick Howell represents the tireless efforts of dedicated IRS Special Agents, in coordination with the FBI and Tampa Police Department, to eradicate the scourge of stolen identity related tax fraud,” stated Special Agent in Charge Mary Hammond of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Howell and his gang heaped untold nightmarish anxiety on their victims, which surely any of us would feel upon learning we had become the target of an identity thief. We are firmly committed to teaming up with our law enforcement partners to pursue any individual and dismantle any organization brazen enough to attempt this heinous crime.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mandy Riedel. 

NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit today affirmed five of seven convictions each for a former top official of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PA) and a former member of then-Gov. Christopher J. Christie’s senior staff for their roles in a scheme to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, by misusing PA resources to cause traffic problems in the borough, Mark Coyne, Attorney for the United States, announced.

William E. Baroni Jr., 46, and Bridget Anne Kelly, 46 — formerly the deputy executive director of the Port Authority and the deputy chief of staff for legislative and intergovernmental affairs in the Governor’s office, respectively — were each convicted on Nov. 4, 2016, of conspiring to misuse, and actually misusing, property of an organization receiving federal benefits; conspiring to commit, and actually committing, wire fraud; conspiring to injure and oppress certain individuals’ civil rights, and acting under color of law to deprive certain individuals of their civil rights. Baroni was sentenced to 24 months in prison and Kelly was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

In a unanimous, precedential opinion by Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Anthony J. Scirica Sr., the court upheld all but the civil rights counts of conviction and remanded the case to U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton for resentencing.

All of the charges relate to the defendants’ scheme to manufacture traffic problems in Fort Lee by, without public warning, reducing from three to one the number of local access lanes to the upper level of the George Washington Bridge and the toll booths servicing those lanes. This was done to punish Mayor Mark Sokolich for not endorsing then-Gov. Christie’s re-election bid. The evidence at trial showed that Fort Lee suffered hours of gridlock on four successive days during the first week of the school year because of the scheme.

The Court of Appeals found sufficient evidence of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, rejecting the defendants’ argument that Baroni had unilateral authority to control traffic patterns at “the world’s busiest motor vehicle bridge.” The court found that he lacked such authority and that he and Kelly had deprived the PA of property by devoting PA resources to a sham traffic study. The court said the United States “has an especially significant interest in protecting the Port Authority’s . . . operational integrity” against fraud.

The court concluded that the defendants intentionally misapplied PA property and conspired to do so. The court held that the applicable statue covers more than just bribery and theft, and that Baroni’s and Kelly’s “conduct in this case falls squarely within the statute’s purpose.

The court rejected the defendants’ argument that the United States was improperly using federal criminal statutes to police state and local officials in the conduct of their official duties. “Congress has a uniquely significant interest in safeguarding the Port Authority, an interstate agency created by its consent,” the court said. The court confirmed that the defendants’ motive in defrauding the Port Authority was “not a required element of any of the charged offenses.

The court also held, however, that the constitutional right of intrastate travel on public roadways was not sufficiently developed nationwide to warrant prosecution under the federal civil rights statutes. The court therefore reversed and vacated Baroni’s and Kelly’s convictions for criminal civil rights violations.

The government is represented in the appeals by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney Bruce P. Keller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee M. Cortes Jr., David W. Feder and Vikas Khanna represented the United States at trial. The case is being overseen by Attorney for the United States Mark Coyne, Chief of the Appeals Division, because of the recusals of U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Katie Bessette, age 30, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to time served (2 days in jail) for conspiring to distribute cocaine.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and James N. Hendricks, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

As part of her June 27, 2018 guilty plea, Bessette admitted that on December 3, 2017, she distributed approximately 527 grams of cocaine to a co-conspirator at a shopping center in Albany County.   

Senior United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe also imposed a 3-year term of supervised release.  

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss.

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury today returned a superseding indictment yesterday adding seven additional charges against Shawn Christy, age 27, of McAdoo, who was previously indicted for threatening to harm President Trump and others.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the superseding indictment charges Christy with interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, two counts of interstate transportation of a stolen firearm, two counts of interstate transportation of a firearm while under a felony information, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm as a fugitive.

The superseding indictment also contains the four threat offenses that were charged in the original indictment, including the threat against President Trump.

The superseding indictment alleges that Christy committed the new offenses between July 25, 2018 and August 20, 2018.

The threat to President Trump is being investigated by United States Secret Service, and the other charges are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Butler Township Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for each of the unlawful possession of firearms offenses and the interstate transportation of stolen firearms offenses is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the interstate transportation of stolen vehicle offense is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for the interstate transportation of firearms while under a felony information is five years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for each threat offense is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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PITTSBURGH, PA – An individual from El Salvador, present in the country illegally, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegally re-entering the United States after removal, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The one-count indictment, returned on Nov. 27, named Jose Roberto Ordonez-Ramos, 25, formerly of El Salvador, as sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, Ordonez-Ramos, an alien who was previously removed from the United States on May 3, 2018 and February 9, 2018, was again found in the United States in Allegheny County on October 26, 2018.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two 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.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations 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.

PITTBURGH , PA - One resident of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The two-count Indictment, returned on Nov. 27, named Quinyahta Rochelle, 32, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, Rochelle participated in a scheme to defraud Chase Bank by purchasing online credit card account information stolen from Chase customers, using that information to pay for goods and services, and making counterfeit credit cards for others.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 32 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,250,000, 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.

Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Secret Service 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.

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Dontray Johnson, a/k/a “Gambino,” “Bino,” and “Tray,” age 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, on November 27, 2018, to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for racketeering and drug conspiracies related to his participation in the gang activities of the Murdaland Mafia Piru (MMP), a subset of the Bloods gang.  As part of his gang activities, Johnson admitted committing two murders, and to conspiring to distribute controlled substances. 

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; Interim Commissioner Gary Tuggle of the Baltimore Police Department; Chief Terrence B. Sheridan of the Baltimore County Police Department; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

“Federal authorities worked with the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments and State’s Attorney’s Offices to dismantle a criminal organization that dealt drugs and despair in Northwest Baltimore and Baltimore County,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “This sentence demonstrates that we are committed to removing from our communities the violent gang members that terrorize them.”

“Dontray Johnson supported The Murdaland Mafia Piru gang through murder, acts of violence, and by pushing drugs onto the streets of Baltimore,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Cekada. “He and this gang willfully wreaked havoc on the community and have irreparably damaged the families of their victims. We are glad to see justice served today.

According to Johnson’s plea agreement and court documents, MMP, also known as the “Mob” or “Mobsters,” is a violent subset of the Bloods gang that operates in Maryland and elsewhere.  MMP was modeled after the Italian Mafia, and was organized hierarchically, with “the Don” at the top and various “Bosses,” “Underbosses,” “Capos,” “Lieutenants,” and “Mobsters” underneath.  For many years, MMP has controlled the drug trade in large swaths of Northwest Baltimore City and neighboring Baltimore County, including Forest Park, Windsor Mill, Gwynn Oak, Howard Park, Woodlawn, and Walbrook Junction.  The gang’s drug shop in the 5200 block of Windsor Mill Road was particularly lucrative due to its close proximity to Interstate 70, and it frequently attracted drug customers driving from Western Maryland and neighboring states.  MMP’s members enriched themselves through drug trafficking and other criminal activities, and using violence and threats of violence to intimidate or retaliate against witnesses, protect the gang’s territories, enforce debts, and eliminate rivals.

Johnson admits that he was a member of MMP and participated in the gang’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activities, including murder, extortion, robbery, witness tampering and retaliation, money laundering, and drug distribution.

Specifically, Johnson admits that on November 22, 2012, he murdered MMP member Antoine Ellis, a/k/a Poopy, in the 200 block of North Forest Park Avenue, because he had shown disloyalty to MMP.  Earlier that day, Johnson had posted a comment to his Facebook account saying “198 n risen,” a reference to that year’s murder tally in Baltimore City.  On September 29, 2015, Johnson murdered MMP member Brian Johnson, a/k/a Nutty B, because he refused to pay gang dues that Johnson was collecting for an MMP member.

As detailed in his plea agreement, on November 1, 2013, Johnson was featured in two rap videos that were posted to a social media website.  The first video, “Boy You Lying,” was posted to enhance the gang’s status, intimidate rivals, and discourage anyone from selling drugs in MMP territory without paying its members.  The second video, “Str8 Mobbin,” was posted to assert the gang’s dominance over its drug territories.  It features Johnson with other MMP members, as well as footage of various MMP drug locations.  Johnson brandishes a firearm in the video.

On July 31, 2015, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Johnson’s residence in Owings Mills and recovered 28 grams of heroin, 70 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, a bulletproof vest, $1,480 in cash, and an “owe sheet” with a tally of drug debts owed by MMP members and associates.

Finally, Johnson admits that he conspired with other MMP members to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and 280 grams of crack cocaine, and that he knew that during the conspiracy between one and three kilograms of heroin and between 280 and 840 grams of crack cocaine would be distributed.

In addition to Johnson, eighteen of twenty-six defendants have pleaded guilty in the case.  Trial is scheduled for the remaining members on March 18, 2019.

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.  The U.S. Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its 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 praised the ATF, the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Offices for their work in the investigation and prosecution.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christina Hoffman and Lauren E. Perry, who are prosecuting the case.

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SOUTH BEND - Blake Robison, age 27, of Warsaw, Indiana, was sentenced before South Bend District Court Judge Robert L. Miller, Jr. for transporting child pornography in interstate commerce, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch.    

Robison was sentenced to 91 months in prison with 5 years of supervised release after his prison term. 

According to documents in this case, in 2017, using a home computer, Robison uploaded two videos into his Dropbox account.  The videos contained sexually explicit conduct by a minor.  Robison also possessed over twenty thousand images of child pornography and over 400 videos.  Some of the images depicted bestiality and sadistic images, and still others depicted prepubescent children, or children under the age of twelve.  Robison obtained some of the images from the dark web and he used cloud storage to hide his collection of images. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police.  The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Maciejczyk.

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NEWARK, N.J. – An indictment returned by a federal grand jury was unsealed today in Newark, charging Faramarz Shahi Savandi, 34, and Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri, 27, both of Iran, in a 34-month-long international computer hacking and extortion scheme involving the deployment of sophisticated ransomware, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito for the District of New Jersey, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Executive Assistant Director Amy S. Hess of the FBI announced.

The six-count indictment alleges that Savandi and Mansouri, acting from inside Iran, authored malware, known as “SamSam Ransomware,” capable of forcibly encrypting data on the computers of victims. According to the indictment, beginning in December 2015, Savandi and Mansouri would then allegedly access the computers of victim entities without authorization through security vulnerabilities, and install and execute the SamSam Ransomware on the computers, resulting in the encryption of data on the victims’ computers. These more than 200 victims included hospitals, municipalities, and public institutions, according to the indictment, including the City of Atlanta, Georgia; the City of Newark, New Jersey; the Port of San Diego, California; the Colorado Department of Transportation; the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and six health care-related entities: Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, California; Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kansas; Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, more commonly known as LabCorp, headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina; MedStar Health, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland; Nebraska Orthopedic Hospital now known as OrthoNebraska Hospital, in Omaha, Nebraska and Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

According to the indictment, Savandi and Mansouri would then extort victim entities by demanding a ransom paid in the virtual currency Bitcoin in exchange for decryption keys for the encrypted data, collecting ransom payments from victim entities that paid the ransom, and exchanging the Bitcoin proceeds into Iranian rial using Iran-based Bitcoin exchangers. The indictment alleges that, as a result of their conduct, Savandi and Mansouri have collected over $6 million USD in ransom payments to date, and caused over $30 million USD in losses to victims.

“The defendants in this case developed and deployed the SamSam Ransomware in order to hold public and private entities hostage and then extort money from them,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “As the indictment in this case details, they started with a business in Mercer County and then moved on to major public entities, like the City of Newark, and healthcare providers, like the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles and the Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita – cravenly taking advantage of the fact that these victims depend on their computer networks to serve the public, the sick, and the injured without interruption. The charges announced today show that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey will continue to act to disrupt such criminal acts, and identify those who are responsible for them, no matter where in the world they may seek to hide.”

“The Iranian defendants allegedly used hacking and malware to cause more than $30 million in losses to more than 200 victims,” Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein said. “According to the indictment, the hackers infiltrated computer systems in 10 states and Canada and then demanded payment. The criminal activity harmed state agencies, city governments, hospitals, and countless innocent victims.”

“The allegations in the indictment unsealed today—the first of its kind—outline an Iran-based international computer hacking and extortion scheme that engaged in 21st-century digital blackmail,” Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski said. “These defendants allegedly used ransomware to infect the computer networks of municipalities, hospitals, and other key public institutions, locking out the computer owners, and then demanded millions of dollars in payments from them. As today’s charges demonstrate, the Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue cybercriminals who harm American citizens, businesses, and institutions, regardless of where those criminals may reside.”

“This indictment demonstrates the FBI’s continuous commitment to unmasking malicious actors behind the world’s most egregious cyberattacks,” said Executive Assistant Director Hess. “By calling out those who threaten American systems, we expose criminals who hide behind their computer and launch attacks that threaten our public safety and national security. The actions highlighted today, which represent a continuing trend of cyber criminal activity emanating from Iran, were particularly threatening, as they targeted public safety institutions, including U.S. hospital systems and governmental entities. The FBI, with the assistance of our private sector and U.S. government partners, are sending a strong message that we will work together to investigate and hold all criminals accountable.”

Savandi and Mansouri are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity in connection with computers, two substantive counts of intentional damage to a protected computer and two substantive counts of transmitting a demand in relation to damaging a protected computer.

According to the indictment, Savandi and Mansouri created the first version of the SamSam Ransomware in December 2015, and created further refined versions in June and October 2017. In addition to employing Iran-based Bitcoin exchangers, the indictment alleges that the defendants also utilized overseas computer infrastructure to commit their attacks. Savandi and Mansouri would also use sophisticated online reconnaissance techniques (such as scanning for computer network vulnerabilities) and conduct online research in order to select and target potential victims, according to the indictment. According to the indictment, the defendants would also disguise their attacks to appear like legitimate network activity.

To carry out their scheme, the indictment alleges that the defendants also employed the use of Tor, a computer network designed to facilitate anonymous communication over the internet. According to the indictment, the defendants maximized the damage caused to victims by launching attacks outside regular business hours, when a victim would find it more difficult to mitigate the attack, and by encrypting backups of the victims’ computers. This was intended to—and often did—cripple the regular business operations of the victims, according to the indictment. The most recent ransomware attack against a victim alleged in the indictment took place on Sept. 25, 2018.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Newark Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Cybercrimes Unit Justin S. Herring of the District of New Jersey and Senior Counsel William A. Hall Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. The Department thanks its law enforcement colleagues at the National Crime Agency (UK), West Yorkshire Police (UK), Calgary Police Service (Canada), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Significant assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.

Victims are encouraged to contact their local FBI field office and file a complaint online with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 staff reviews complaints, looking for patterns or other indicators of significant criminal activity, and refers investigative packages of complaints to the appropriate law enforcement authorities in a particular city or region. The FBI provides a variety of resources relating to ransomware through the IC3, which can be reached at www.ic3.gov. For more information on ransomware prevention, visit: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2016/160915.aspx

Charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Charleston, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Gena Randolph, 44, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was sentenced to over 9 years in federal prison for executing a health care fraud scheme over the course of almost five years.

Randolph’s sentence comes after a four-day trial in July prosecuted jointly by the United States Attorney’s Office and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.  A federal jury convicted Randolph of executing a health care fraud scheme totaling almost $2 million.  Randolph was convicted of one count of Health Care Fraud, one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, and three counts of Making False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters. 

According to evidence presented at trial, Randolph was excluded from Medicare and Medicaid after her 2012 conviction for Filing False Claims with the South Carolina Medicaid Program.  As an excluded person, she was prohibited from working for any provider to perform services paid for, in whole or in part, by Medicare and Medicaid. 

From 2012 to 2017, Randolph disguised her ownership and control over Palmetto Speech and Language Associates and Per Diem Healthcare Services, both of which were submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid.  As part of the health care fraud scheme, Randolph submitted claims both for speech therapy services that were provided by other speech therapists and for services that were never rendered at all.  The jury was also presented with evidence showing that Randolph submitted claims for services to beneficiaries who were dead.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel presided over the trial and sentenced Randolph to 111 months in federal prison.  There is no parole in the federal system, and her prison sentence will be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision.  Randolph was also ordered to pay $580,937.44 in restitution.

“This case should serve as a warning sign to health care providers tempted try to take advantage of the size of our health care system, hoping that false and fraudulent claims will go unnoticed among the thousands of claims processed every day,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon.  “When providers like Ms. Randolph break the rules, American taxpayers are forced to bear the cost.  Her sentence will help recover that cost and discourage fraudulent billing by other providers in the future.  We applaud the vigilant employees who spotted Ms. Randolph’s fraud and were brave enough to report it to law enforcement, as well as the hard work of our partners at the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services.” 

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson stated, “This wasn’t just fraud, it was an attack on the people of the state because she took taxpayers’ money that was meant for health care after having already been convicted of a previous fraud.  I’m thankful that the hard work by our Medicaid Provider Fraud Unit, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Health and Human Services paid off in restitution and a long prison sentence.”

The case was investigated by Special Investigator Chris Radcliff of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and Special Agent Chris Lott with the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.  The case was prosecuted by Nancy Cote, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Austin and Sean Kittrell of the Charleston office.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman announced that more than 100 previous felony offenders possessing firearms have been charged so-far this year as one part of the ongoing Project Safe Neighborhoods effort to tackle violent crime in Metro Louisville.

The indictments returned were a result of the ongoing partnership between federal prosecutors and their counterparts from the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office who work hand-in-hand with the Louisville Metro Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).  The combined effort is a key component of the Department of Justice’s PSN initiative - which targets the area’s most violent offenders.”  This round of indictments brings the total number of defendants charged under the initiative in 2018 to 105.  Overall, compared to fiscal year (FY) 2017, the total number of federal firearms cases filed in FY 2018 rose to 152, representing an increase of 60 percent. 

“With over seventy homicides and two hundred fifty shootings in Louisville this year, we’re not there yet.  This is, however, another deposit on our promise that federal, state, and local law enforcement will work as one to take violent offenders and their guns off the streets of our city,” stated U.S. Attorney Russell M. Coleman. “More to come.”

“ATF is committed to our on-going partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to reduce gun violence,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Stuart Lowrey of the Louisville Field Division.  “During the past year, ATF investigated illegal sources of crime guns and those who illegally possessed and/or used guns to commit violent crimes in the Louisville Metro area.  We will continue to aggressively pursue ‘traffickers and trigger pullers’ with every resource and technique available.  In this way, ATF’s support of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods is making our communities safer for everyone.”

“Our community continues to be better protected by the cooperative efforts between the United States Attorney’s Office and the Jefferson County Office of Commonwealth’s Attorney,” stated Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine. “Prosecutors between our offices determine which jurisdiction can impose the maximum penalty. They work together to target those individuals who have illegally used or sold firearms in Jefferson County, threatening the safety of our citizens.”

One defendant charged this year, Elijah Eubanks, 20, of Louisville, Kentucky, had already been charged with attempted murder by the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney’s office for shooting at a police officer who approached his vehicle; he faces an additional federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

Another defendant, Jamar Garrison, 33, of Louisville, Kentucky, was convicted July 27, 2018 in United States District Court on charges of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.  Mr. Garrison had been released on bond for state drug trafficking charges for the last two years when he was arrested after being found in possession of a loaded semiautomatic handgun, a mixture of heroin and fentanyl packaged for sale, several thousand dollars cash, and assorted other narcotics. The follow up investigation revealed that while released on bond on multiple pending felony drug indictments in Jefferson Circuit Court, Garrison had been using vehicles rented in the names of third parties in order to transport and traffic in heroin all over Louisville.

The latest round of indictments charges Ashlyn Marcum, 28, of Louisville, Kentucky, who was previously convicted in with assault of the 4^th degree domestic violence twice in 2014, and again in 2018, with being a felon in possession of 37 firearms.

Joshua Bolin, 41, of Louisville, Kentucky, who was previously convicted of sexual abuse in the first degree in 2003, was also charged in the latest indictments with two counts of being a felon in possession of 27 firearms.

Defendants charged this year have previously been found guilty of numerous crimes including: burglary, facilitation to murder, manslaughter, cultivating marijuana with intent, narcotics trafficking, manufacturing methamphetamine, assault 4^th degree domestic violence, sexual abuse in the first degree, second degree escape, fleeing/evading police, wanton endangerment, among other charges.

If convicted at trial, the maximum sentence for unlawfully possessing a firearm is no more than ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.  If that firearm is possessed or used in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a defendant faces a mandatory minimum five years in prison in addition to the sentence received for the underlying charges, and could receive up to life in prison.  Some of the 105 defendants qualify as Armed Career Criminals, facing a mandatory 15 year sentence, or repeat drug traffickers, facing a mandatory 20 years sentence and, in some cases, a mandatory life sentence.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joe Ansari, Mike Bennett, Ann Marie Blaylock, Robert Bonar, Nute Bonner, Bryan Calhoun, Terry Cushing, Tom Dyke, Larry Fentress, Marisa Ford, Alicia Gomez, Amanda Gregory, Lettricea Jefferson-Webb, Joshua Judd, Corrine Keel, Jo Lawless, Jessica Malloy, Erin McKenzie, Spencer McKiness, Randy Ream, Mac Shannon, Amy Sullivan, Christopher Tieke, David Weiser, Stephanie Zimdahl and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Ebert Haegele and Elizabeth Jones Brown with stalwart assistance from Laura Stinson, Western District of Kentucky Grand Jury Coordinator.  The cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Louisville Metro Police Department, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and with significant collaboration with the Jefferson Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, and local law enforcement to specifically identify criminals responsible for significant violent crime in the Western District of Kentucky.  A centerpiece of this effort is Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Today’s indictments are part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative in the Western District of Kentucky.

The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

LONDON, Ky. — Edwin Willis, 44, of Corbin, Kentucky, was sentenced to 300 months (25 years) in federal prison, by United States District Judge Robert E. Wier, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking offense.  Willis has three prior felony drug convictions and, as a result, qualified for career offender status and an enhanced sentence under federal law.

Willis pled guilty to the charges against him in March of 2018.  Willis is the final defendant to be sentenced in an interstate drug conspiracy led by Marti Payne, through which pound levels of methamphetamine were imported from Georgia to Whitley and Laurel County, Kentucky between April of 2017 and August of 2017.  The conspiracy concluded on August 1, 2017, when law enforcement arrested Payne and Willis.  Willis’s arrest followed a chase during which firearms were discarded from the vehicle.  A subsequent search of that vehicle revealed that Willis was in possession of over 200 grams of methamphetamine.  The investigation confirmed Willis, armed with a firearm, had traveled with Payne to Georgia to obtain methamphetamine.  

Eleven others who participated in the conspiracy to obtain and distribute methamphetamine have previously pled guilty and were sentenced, including Marti Payne (160 months), Whitney Wright (93 months), Brandon Huff (118 months), Courtney Stacy (120 months), Jamieson Taylor Wayne Minton (92 months), Ethan Powers (93 months), Jamie Peters (124 months), David Russell (68 months), Christopher Jonas (160 months), Kenneth Buchanan (125 months), and Ladonna Ping (65 months).  Under federal law, the defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences; and upon their release, they will be under the supervision of the United States Probation Office.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Stuart Lowrey, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge for the Louisville Field Division; and Richard Sanders, Kentucky State Police Commissioner, jointly made the announcement.  The Laurel County Sherriff’s Office and the Williamsburg Police Department also assisted in the investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.

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. The PSN program was reinvigorated 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.

COVINGTON, Ky. — Richard Crawford, Jr., 54, of Cincinnati, was sentenced Tuesday, to 18 years in federal prison for Distribution and Possession of Cocaine in Boone County, Kentucky.  Crawford was sentenced by United States District Judge David Bunning.

Crawford was convicted in August 2018, following a three-day jury trial.  According to evidence at trial, Crawford sold an ounce of cocaine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement, on June 27, 2017 in Florence, Kentucky.  Two days later, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Crawford’s apartment in Florence, Kentucky, finding more than 400 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, evidence of drug paraphernalia, and cash used by the confidential informant to purchase cocaine.  Crawford has an extensive criminal history, including three prior convictions for trafficking in cocaine.  Based on these prior convictions, Crawford qualified as a “career offender” under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, subjecting him to an increased sentence.               

Under federal law, Crawford 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 six years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Wade T. Napier, Jennifer K. Weinhold, and Tony Bracke.

            WASHINGTON – Lonniel Peterson Jr., 28, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to escaping from a halfway house in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Robert Turner, United States Marshal for the District of Columbia.   Peterson pled guilty to the escape charge in October 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced on Nov. 27, 2018, by the Honorable Timothy J. Kelly. Following his prison term, he will be placed on two years of supervised release.

            Peterson was among two defendant to be sentenced this week as a result of ongoing efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to arrest violent offenders who escape from halfway houses. In the other case, a federal judge sentenced Daquan Jackson, 22, of Washington, D.C., to a 33-month prison term for a similar escape.

            In 2017, the U.S. Marshals Service requested the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the investigation, prosecution, and disposition of an increased number of escape cases. The escapees were under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and were afforded an opportunity to complete the final portion of their sentences at halfway houses to assist in their reentry to the community. To date, the effort has led to 23 felony convictions of defendants who failed to report or absconded from the Hope Village Halfway House in Southeast Washington.

            According to court documents, Peterson was at Hope Village serving the remainder of a five-year sentence from a 2013 conviction in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for assault to intent to kill. He began serving that sentence at the Federal Correctional Facility-Schuylkill in Minersville, Pa. On April 4, 2017, he was furloughed to serve the remainder of his sentence at Hope Village. On June 20, 2017, he left Hope Village without authorization and never returned.

            Peterson was re-arrested on June 13, 2018 by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). According to court filings, Peterson was arrested with 29 blue bags containing suspected crack cocaine and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. He still faces firearms and narcotics charges in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia stemming from that arrest.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Marshal Turner commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosen, who prosecuted the matter with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin L. Rosenberg of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.

Danville, VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury sitting in the Western District of Virginia in Charlottesville has indicted a North Carolina man on a federal charge of violating a protective order. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Lee of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement today.

Carl Ray Kennedy, 51, of Randleman, N.C., was charged today in a federal indictment with one count of traveling in interstate commerce from North Carolina to Virginia with the intent to engage in conduct that would violate a Family Abuse protective order issued in May 2018 by the Pittsylvania County, Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.

“As today’s indictment indicates, the Department of Justice will use all available tools to prosecute individuals who travel in interstate commerce in violation of state protective orders,” U.S. Attorney Cullen stated today.  “We are grateful for the hard work and diligence of the FBI, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, and the Danville Police Department in resolving this dangerous situation and bringing the defendant to justice.” 

According to the indictment, on June 3, 2018, Kennedy traveled from North Carolina to Virginia with the intent to engage in conduct that would violate a protective order in place since May 2018. The protective order prohibited all contact and communication (except for limited email contact) between the defendant and victim. Kennedy subsequently engaged in personal and physical contact and communication with the victim and, during the offense, used a dangerous weapon.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Virginia State Police, the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Danville Police Department, the Randolph County, N.C. Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.  Assistant United States Attorney Nancy S. Healey will prosecute the case for the United States. 

A Grand Jury Indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

PITTSBURGH, PA- A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to seven years and 10 months in prison, followed by six years’ supervised release, on his conviction of conspiring to distribute narcotics, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Kevin Jackson, 35.

According to information presented to the court at the time he entered a guilty plea, Jackson purchased one or more grams of heroin on a daily basis from his codefendant, Skyler Carter, for further distribution in the Clairton area. Jackson and 20 other individuals were charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy, and he was held personally responsible for the distribution of between 100 and 400 grams of heroin.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.