DAYTON – Rasu Taylor, 45, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 70 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Clark County Sheriff Deborah K. Burchett announced the sentence handed down on September 30 by U.S. District Judge Thomas M Rose.

According to court documents, in September 2018, while Taylor was on parole, a Clark County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop of Taylor’s vehicle in the parking lot of a Motel 6 in Springfield. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy noticed an open container of alcohol in the console and Taylor attempting to hide a firearm.

A search of the vehicle revealed a pistol with a full magazine, marijuana, scales and nearly $2,000 in cash.

A subsequent search of the motel room Taylor had been living in for 19 days revealed marijuana, fentanyl, body armor, a Glock pistol with two magazines and more than $2,600 in cash.

Taylor had been previously convicted of felonies, including possession of drugs in Montgomery County and felonious assault in Clark County.

Taylor pleaded guilty on September 9 to illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense. Federal law prohibits anyone who has been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition.

This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Amy M. Smith, who is representing the United States in this case. 

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than four kilograms of methamphetamine in Greene County, Mo.

Loueadry Earl John Powell Jr., 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On April 8, 2019, Powell pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from March 22 to June 22, 2017, and to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

The investigation began when a federal postal inspector in Los Angeles, California, identified two suspicious parcels addressed to separate Springfield addresses on June 19, 2017. A federal postal inspector and Springfield police officers conducted a controlled delivery of one of those parcels. Although the parcel was not addressed to him by name, Powell was contacted at the residence of the address and accepted the package.

A controlled delivery of the second package was attempted, but the residence appeared to be unoccupied and no one answered the door.

Each of the parcels contained 2,234.2 grams of methamphetamine with a purity level ranging from 95 to 100 percent.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nhan D. Nguyen. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

POCATELLO – James Clifford Goodwin, III, 46, of Downey, Idaho, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 120 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for possessing sexually explicit images of minors, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.  Goodwin was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye. Goodwin pleaded guilty on January 16, 2019.

According to court records, law enforcement agents searched Goodwin’s Downey residence in October 2017. Agents discovered that Goodwin had cell phones and other electronic storage devices. During a forensic search of Goodwin’s phones, agents found 33 images of child pornography. At Goodwin’s change of plea hearing, he admitted to knowingly possessing the images. At the time of the search, Goodwin was on supervised release for a federal felony conviction for possessing child pornography. The terms of his supervised release prohibited him from possessing any electronic storage devices or cell phones.

At sentencing, Judge Nye ordered Goodwin to forfeit the phones used in the commission of the offense. As a result of his conviction, Goodwin will be required to register as a sex offender.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls, and was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found William Tosca (35, Kissimmee) guilty of failing to register and update a registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 16, 2019.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, in January 2013, Tosca was convicted by a jury in Massachusetts of a qualifying sex offense. While incarcerated in Massachusetts, the state’s sex offender registry board notified Tosca of his need to register as a sex offender. In October 2015, after being informed of his need to update his registration, Tosca failed to register in Massachusetts. In October 2016, he then moved to Florida and again failed to update his registration.

SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. The Adam Walsh Act also provides for the use of federal law enforcement resources, including the United States Marshals Service, to assist state and local authorities in locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service, the Osceola County Sherriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean P. Shecter.

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

MIAMI – An Irish national who was extradited to the United States in August pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for his role in trafficking a libation cup made from the horn of a protected rhinoceros.

After entering his guilty plea today in Miami, U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez sentenced Sheridan to a term of 14 months in prison and two years of supervised release.

On Aug. 29, 2019, Richard Sheridan, 50, an Irish national from Cottenham, Cambridge, United Kingdom, was arraigned in federal court in Miami, Florida, on a May 15, 2014, indictment that charged Sheridan and Michael Hegarty, also an Irish national, with conspiracy to traffic in a libation cup made from the horn of protected rhinoceros.  In addition to the conspiracy, the indictment charged Sheridan with smuggling a libation cup made from the horn of protected rhinoceros out of the United States.  According to the indictment and a Joint Factual Statement signed by the parties, in 2012, Sheridan and Hegarty purchased a rhinoceros horn libation cup from an auction house in Rockingham, North Carolina, and then smuggled the cup out of the United States.

“For our critically endangered wildlife, every case that serves to deter their illegal poaching and trafficking in their artifacts is important to the global effort to preserve these iconic specimens for our children and the generations to come,” said U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida. “Only through the continued, collective efforts of the international community will the goal of preserving species under threat of extinction be realized.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida commends the agencies and investigators on both sides of the Atlantic who worked together to make this result a reality.”

“Sheridan conspired to profit from the demise of one of the world’s most endangered species,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “We will continue to work with our international partners to fight the trade in protected and endangered species, and organized criminal enterprises associated with it.”

“Combating transnational organized crime that involves the trafficking of some of the worlds’ most endangered species continues to be of the highest priority,” said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.  “This investigation is one more example of the accomplishments that can be achieved when investigators around the globe share information and collectively pursue those who attempt to profit from the illegal trade of wildlife.  It was that type of cooperation between Service special agents and London Metropolitan Police that resulted in today’s sentencing. ” 

Following his extradition to the United States from Belgium, Hegarty pleaded guilty to conspiring with Sheridan to traffic in the libation cup.  In November 2017, Hegarty was sentenced in federal court in Miami to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case.  Southern District of Florida Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Watts-FitzGerald and Trial Attorney Gary N. Donner of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

St. Thomas, USVI – United States Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert announced today that charges have been filed against two men for attempting to smuggle approximately $287,000 into St. Thomas by boat. Arioc Diaz Melendez and Juan Carlos Diaz Melendez were arrested at 2:00 a.m. Monday morning and made their initial appearances in federal court on Monday afternoon in St. Thomas.

According to court documents, early Monday morning CBP Marine Unit agents identified a boat traveling without navigational lights north of Savana Island. CBP agents pulled their vessel alongside the 24-foot yola-type vessel that was operating without lights. CBP agents activated their police blue lights and discharged a flare, in an effort to convince the other vessel to yield. When CBP agents attempted to initiate a stop, the other vessel did not yield but instead increased speed. The CBP agents shot one round into one of the engines of the other vessel at which point the vessel decreased speed and stopped. The passenger threw a duffel bag overboard. The bag was recovered by CBP agents and later found to contain roughly $287,000 in U.S. currency. After CBP agents disabled one of the boat’s motor, they boarded the vessel, and apprehended the two defendants. The agents also recovered a Glock firearm.

This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Juan Albino.

United States Attorney Shappert reminds the public that a complaint is merely a formal charging document, and it is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Nathan Parker, of Martins Ferry, Ohio, was indicted today on a fentanyl distribution charge, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Parker, age 39, was indicted on one count of “Distribution of Fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a Protected Location.” Parker is accused of selling fentanyl near Madison Elementary School in July 2019 in Ohio County.

Smith faces at least one year and up to 40 years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000,000.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen L. Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.

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

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Elijah Jeremiah Smith, an inmate at FCI Hazleton, was indicted today for allegedly assaulting a correctional officer while being housed at FCI Gilmer, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Smith, age 23, was indicted on one count of “Assault of a Correctional Officer Resulting in Bodily Injury.” Smith is accused of assaulting a correctional officer employed by the Bureau of Prisons at FCI Gilmer in Gilmer County in September 2019.

Smith faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon S. Flower is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Prisons investigated.

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

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Stanley Patrick Weber, age 70, of Spearfish, South Dakota, was found guilty by a federal jury of 5 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and 3 counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor following a week-long  jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Aggravated Sexual Abuse carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum of 30 years up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sexual abuse of a minor carries a penalty of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of 5 years up to lifetime supervised release, and a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count. Restitution may also be ordered.

Evidence at trial established that Weber, while employed as a pediatrician with the Indian Health Services at Pine Ridge, sexually abused minors between 1999 and 2011.

“This defendant is the worst kind of sexual predator: a person placed in a position of trust – a pediatrician – who abused that position to rape and sexually assault the children entrusted to his care,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons.  “I want to commend the courage and bravery of the men who came forward to testify about what happened to them as boys.  I know that the jury’s unanimous verdict has brought them some measure of justice.  I hope that it will bring them some measure of peace.  Let us never forget that with the justice granted by these convictions comes an obligation shared by us all.  We must resolve to do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this can ever happen again to any of our children in any of our communities.”

Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah B. Collins and Eric Kelderman prosecuted and tried the case.  A sentencing date is set for February 10, 2020.  Weber was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Max Paul Levine, of Bronx, New York, was indicted today for interstate transport of a minor for sex, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Levine, also known as “James Connely” and “Noxx Nocten,” age 34, was indicted on one count of “Transportation of a Minor Across State Lines for Sexual Purposes.” Levine is accused of transporting a 15-yer-old West Virginia girl from her Harrison County home to his residence in Bronx, New York to engage in sexual activity in June 2019. 

Levine faces at least 10 years and up to life incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

This case is prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bridgeport Police Department investigated.

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

Gary Allen Patterson pleaded guilty on Feb. 2, 2019, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Sep. 30, 2019.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced that it filed a complaint yesterday in federal court in the Northern District of Mississippi against Coahoma County, Mississippi (Coahoma County), to protect the employment rights of an Army Reservist, Staff Sergeant First Class (SSG) Jason Sims Sr.  

According to the complaint, SSG Sims was employed with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office from 2014 to 2018 during which time he also performed military service by teaching leadership courses at the United States Army Installation at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  The complaint alleges that he was fired because of this military service obligation, in violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).  The lawsuit seeks reinstatement of SSG Sims to his employment with the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office and the recovery of back wages and other benefits of employment that Sims lost as a result of his termination. 

“Our Nation has made a commitment to protect the civilian jobs of its servicemembers while they serve our Country,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “Federal law frees members of the armed forces from the stress associated with the fear they will be fired because they were called to military service.”

“The legal rights of the members of our Armed Forces, who routinely make personal sacrifices to protect our nation, must be respected,” said U.S. Attorney William C. Lamar of the Northern District of Mississippi. “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting those rights, so that these brave men and women can return from their service to their civilian jobs with the full benefits to which they are entitled.”

USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to retain their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations, and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA.  Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.justice.gov/crt-military/employment-rights-userra and www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra.

This case stems from a referral by the U.S. Department of Labor, at SSG Sims’ request, after an investigation by the DOL’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Benedict and Stuart Davis in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi and Brian McEntire in the Employment Litigation Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Dale Robert Barnhart, of Alma, West Virginia, was indicted today on firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Barnhart, age 56, was indicted on two counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Barnhart, who is prohibited from having a firearm because of prior convictions, is accused of having two shotguns, a rifle, a .380 derringer, and multiple rounds of ammunition in August 2019 in Tyler County.

Barnhart faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated.

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

NEWARK, N.J. – A City of Paterson police officer today admitted conspiring with other officers to violate the civil rights of individuals in Paterson, using unreasonable and excessive force, and filing a false police report to conceal his criminal activity, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Police Officer Daniel Pent, 32, of Paterson, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging him with conspiracy to violate individuals’ civil rights, using unreasonable and excessive force in violation of individuals’ civil rights, and filing a false police report.

According to documents filed in this and other cases and statements made in court:

Pent, along with Paterson police officers Eudy Ramos, Jonathan Bustios, Matthew Torres, Frank Toledo, and others, stopped and searched motor vehicles, without any justification, and stole cash and other items from the occupants. Pent and the other officers also stopped and searched individuals on the streets of Paterson, and illegally took their money. Pent and other officers arrested individuals in Paterson, seized cash from those individuals during the arrests, and split the cash proceeds among themselves. They covered up their criminal activity by filing false police reports. Pent admitted to the following illegal conduct:

• On Feb. 1, 2017, Pent and Ramos stopped and searched a vehicle in Paterson. They stole approximately $10,000 from the passenger of the vehicle and split it between themselves. Ramos and Pent then submitted an incident report to the Paterson Police Department in which they intentionally omitted any mention of the $10,000 theft.

• On May 27, 2016, Pent and Ramos arrested an individual, stole several hundred dollars in cash from the individual, and filled out a false currency seizure report that under-reported the amount of money the individual actually possessed. Pent and Ramos then applied a forged signature of the individual to the report to make it appear as though the individual had seen and agreed to the amount on the report.

While on official duty, Pent also routinely used unreasonable and excessive force in his encounters with individuals in Paterson, causing them bodily harm, including:

• Pent and other officers routinely delivered a “running tax” to individuals they arrested. If an individual ran from them, Pent and others would “tax” the individual by striking the individual multiple times, causing bodily injury.

• On Jan. 20, 2015, Pent and Ramos received a call regarding loud music coming from a vehicle on Doremus Avenue in Paterson. Pent and Ramos approached the individual in the vehicle, removed him from the vehicle and punched and kicked him. The individual suffered injuries, including eye injuries, as a result of Pent’s and Ramos’ excessive force.

The conspiracy to violate civil rights and the deprivation of civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The false records count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The maximum fine for each count is $250,000. Pent's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2020.

Bustios pleaded guilty in December 2018 to conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights and to extortion under color of official right. He is awaiting sentencing. Torres pleaded guilty in May 2019 to conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights and to filing a false police report. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2019. Toledo pleaded guilty in July 2019 to conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights, to using unreasonable and excessive force against individuals in Paterson, and to filing a false police report. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2019. Ramos pleaded guilty on Sept. 9, 2019, to conspiring to deprive individuals of their civil rights, to using unreasonable and excessive force against individuals in Paterson, and to filing a false police report. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Troy Oswald, and the Paterson Police Department Office of Internal Affairs, for their assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.

Defense counsel: Michael Calabro Esq., Newark

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – October 1, 2019 – Nicole C. Walker, 40, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court to three years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee.  LaToya Chambers, 43, of Nashville, Tennessee, also charged in this case, was sentenced in August to 30 months in prison.  Both pleaded guilty earlier this year.  U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson also ordered the defendants to pay $84,416.00 in restitution.

Chambers, a former teller at NGH Credit Union, (now Cornerstone Financial Credit Union) and Walker were indicted on December 19, 2018, after an investigation determined that Chambers had used her position to obtain personal identifying information of credit union customers.  During their plea hearings, Chambers and Walker admitted that from March 2018 through July 2018, Chambers shared the personal information that she had obtained with Walker, who used the identities to make fraudulent withdrawals from the victims’ credit union accounts without their knowledge. Chambers and Walker divided the proceeds of many of the fraudulent transactions between themselves. Several of the credit union customers were elderly and had accumulated assets.  According to court records, the financial institutions involved in these transactions lost over $80,000.   Walker also used some of the stolen identities to conduct other personal transactions outside of the credit union.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher C. Sabis.  This case is supported by the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates the Department’s activities combatting elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.  This case is a product of the Elder Justice Task Force of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.  For more information about the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative and the Elder Justice Task Force, see https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/ and https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/elder-justice-task-force .

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KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A federal jury Monday found a Kansas woman guilty of taking part in a scheme to swindle homeowners facing foreclosure with false promises to help them save their homes, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Sara Cordry, 69, Overland Park, Kan., was convicted on one count of conspiracy, one count of mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud.

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Cordry conspired with co-defendants to take money from victims by fraudulently promising to:

• Lower their interest rates.
• Lower their monthly payments.
• Help them obtain loan modifications.
•  

Investigators identified more than 500 victims in 24 states who suffered a total loss of more than $1 million due to the scheme.

Co-defendants include:

• Tyler Korn, 30, St. Ann, Mo., who was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison.
• Ruby Price, 74, Bonner Springs, Kan., who is awaiting sentencing.
• Amjad Daud, 35, Lutz, Fla., who failed to appear at court hearings. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

Cordry’s sentencing is set for Jan. 9, 2020. She could face up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on each count.

McAllister commended the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - Office of Inspector General, the Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Emilie Burdette and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble for their work on the case.

PITTSBURGH - One resident of Florida and another resident of New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of conspiring to distribute kilograms of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute kilograms of cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Danny Jackson, age 33, of Pine Hill, NJ pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and a second charge of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine before Senior United States District Judge Donetta W. Ambrose.

Moussa Jabateh, age 32, a citizen of Liberia who was residing in Miami, FL, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Jabateh also consented to his removal from the United States after serving his prison sentence here.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that from October 2017 through July 2018, Jackson, Jabateh, and their co-conspirators conspired to distribute between 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine in the Western District of Pennsylvania. Jabateh obtained the supply of cocaine, and Jackson physically transported kilograms of cocaine via bus from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh roughly twice a month for the nine-month period. In connection with this investigation, the United States seized nearly $8,000,000 in cash and other assets; 42 kilograms of cocaine; 12 kilograms of fentanyl; three kilograms of heroin; and 121 grams of oxycodone.

Senior Judge Ambrose scheduled sentencing for both defendants on March 24, 2020 at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.  For Jackson the law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $10,000,00, or both.  For Jabateh, the law provides for a total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of $5,000,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendants.

Pending sentencing, the court continued the detention of both defendants.

Assistant United States Attorneys Tonya Sulia Goodman and Mark V. Gurzo are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Wilkinsburg Police Department, and the Allegheny County Adult Probation Office, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jackson and Jabateh.

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man today admitted conspiring to launder the proceeds of narcotics activity, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Bobbie L. Henderson III, 36, of Edgewater, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From 2017 through May 23, 2019, Henderson conspired with others to launder the proceeds of narcotics distribution, with the intent to promote the distribution of narcotics. Henderson further admitted possessing more than $850,000 in furtherance of this conspiracy. These funds were seized by law enforcement during the course of the investigation.

Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2020.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, with the investigation. Today’s guilty plea is the result of an investigation by the New York Strike Force, a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA). The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

The Strike Force is housed at the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, the U. S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, the Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Defense counsel: Scott E. Leemon Esq., New York

U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro the of the FBI’s Miami Field Office announced that Matthew Tassin, 37, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was sentenced to prison last week on federal child pornography charges.

Tassin previously pled guilty to distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2), and possession of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(4)(B) (Case No. 19cr80064).  On September 26, 2019, U.S. District Rodolfo A. Ruiz, II, sentenced Tassin to 20 years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release.  Tassin was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victims.              

According to court records, Tassin engaged in conversations in the social media application “Kik” with other individuals to obtain and share images and videos of child pornography.  Those images and videos included pre-pubescent children engaged in forced sexual acts.  

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

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI in this matter.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Schiller.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Columbus— Leaders from several of west Georgia’s largest companies discussed the most pressing cybersecurity threats facing businesses at a roundtable meeting held in Columbus, Georgia on Friday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia (USAO MDGA) and the Columbus Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) organized a joint Cybersecurity Roundtable, a half-day event on September 27, 2019 featuring presentations from law enforcement agencies that fight cybercrimes as well as opportunities for key leaders within these organizations to speak frankly about the threats they face. This was the first IAA Columbus Chapter Cybersecurity Roundtable, and the largest attendance ever at an IAA Columbus Chapter meeting.

“Cybercrime is on the rise in the United States and in the Middle District of Georgia. Our office is committed to working with our business community and law enforcement to identify, arrest and prosecute cybercriminals, wherever they are. The first step in fighting cybercrime is to educate businesses, individuals and law enforcement on the landscape of threats, how to prevent an incident and how to best respond to threats,” said Charlie Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “I want to thank the Columbus Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors and the Columbus business community for their support in this important conference. Working together, we can better protect our citizens and businesses from cybercrime."

“The IIA Columbus Chapter was proud to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to present the Cybersecurity Roundtable in Columbus. As evidenced by our record attendance of over 100 people, cybersecurity is a key risk to businesses in Columbus and important topic of interest to the IIA Columbus Chapter,” said Matt Jones, President, IIA Columbus Chapter. “The IIA Columbus Chapter would like to thank U.S. Attorney Peeler and his office for all of their hard work in preparation for the conference and for providing the subject matter experts for the cybersecurity conference.”

Industry experts and business leaders joined law enforcement experts from the FBI, Secret Service, Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Georgia Cyber Crime Center (G3C), and the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section at the Cybersecurity Roundtable. Questions can be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603 or Melissa Hodges, Public Affairs Director (Contractor), United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 765-2362.