Baltimore, Maryland – Roger Taylor, a/k/a Milk, age 28, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to the federal charges of conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as Trained To Go (TTG), and to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.  Taylor, a fugitive since July 2017, was arrested on June 30, 2019.  The racketeering activities to which Taylor pleaded guilty are: narcotics distribution and robberies of other individuals, including rival drug dealers and gang members in TTG territory.  

In a related case, on January 31, 2020, John Lewis Harrison, a/k/a Binky, age 29 and Taurus Tillman, age 30, a/k/a Tosh, both of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the federal charge of assaulting employees of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) while they were detained and being transported to and from the courtroom during their trial. 

The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes; Postal Inspector in Charge Peter R. Rendina of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; Anne Arundel County Police Chief Tim Altomare; and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby.

“Roger Taylor and his fellow gang members brought violence and misery to West Baltimore, in the form of murders, armed robberies, and drug dealing.  After his capture as a fugitive from justice, Taylor will now likely spend over a decade in federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur.  “Criminals who are terrorizing our neighborhoods should be deterred by the reality of years spent in a federal prison far from home—where there is no parole.  Ever.”

According to his plea agreement, Taylor was associated with a drug trafficking organization that operated in the Sandtown neighborhood of West Baltimore.  As part of the conspiracy, each defendant agreed that a conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity.  Taylor was self-identified member of a group, known as the “Young Go Getters” (YGG), which assisted members and associates of the criminal enterprise in their activities.  As of 2014, the organization became known as “Trained To Go” or “TTG.”   

As detailed in his plea agreement, Taylor, who referred to himself as YGG Milk, along with other members of YGG, provided support to TTG in the form of money, drugs, and other assistance.  For example, on January 22, 2016, law enforcement learned that two members of TTG were looking for several individuals that had robbed a member of TTG of a small quantity of narcotics.  The two members of TTG were spotted by law enforcement driving in the area of the 2500 block of West Lafayette Avenue in west Baltimore.  In an effort to escape the police, the occupants of the car fled after crashing into a snow bank.  Investigation revealed the car had been provided to them by Taylor.

On August 10, 2015, Postal Inspectors interdicted four packages addressed to a fictitious addressee in Windsor Mill, Maryland.  Because the address was also a false address, the packages could not be delivered.  Taylor, in an effort to obtain the packages, contacted the post office and requested the packages be re-delivered to a different address in Windsor Mill.  Additional investigation revealed that the four packages contained 9.9 kilograms of cocaine.

During the course of the conspiracy, the quantity of cocaine within the scope of Taylor’s agreement with his co-conspirators and reasonably foreseeable as to Taylor was equivalent to between 15 and 50 kilograms of cocaine.

Taylor and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Taylor will be sentenced to between 11 and 14 years in federal prison.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2020. 

The leader of the gang, Montana Barronette, a/k/a Tana, and Tanner, age 23, and his brother, Terrell Sivells, a/k/a Rell, age 27, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to life in prison on February 15 and April 26, 2019, respectively.  Co-defendants Brandon Wilson, a/k/a Ali, age 24, and Taurus Tillman, a/k/a Tash, age 30, both of Baltimore, were each sentenced to 25 years in prison on March 1 and May 21, 2019, respectively.  Two other co-defendants, John Harrison, a/k/a Binkie, age 28, and Linton Broughton, a/k/a Marty, age 25, both from Baltimore, were sentenced to life in prison and to 30 years in prison, respectively, on March 15, 2019.  Three other TTG members previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between five and 25 years in prison.

As detailed in the plea agreements of Harrison and Tillman, from September 17, 2018 through October 31, 2018, a criminal trial was held in U.S. District Court in Baltimore, in the matter of United States v. Barronette, et al.  Harrison and Tillman were both defendants in the case and were detained before and during the trial.  During the trial, members of the U.S. Marshals Service were responsible for transporting the defendants, including Harrison and Tillman, to and from the courtroom.

Harrison and Tillman admitted that on September 21, 2018, they assaulted two Deputy U.S. Marshals and a U.S. District Court Security Officer as they were being escorted from the courtroom during a break in the trial.

Tillman was immediately sentenced to one year in federal prison, consecutive to the 25 years he is already serving for the racketeering conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake has scheduled sentencing for Harrison on April 29, 2020.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, which includes FBI special agents and task force officers from the Baltimore, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County Police Departments.  FBI Baltimore Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force is responsible for identifying and targeting the most violent gangs in the Baltimore metropolitan area, to address gang violence and the associated homicides in Baltimore.  The vision of the program is to use federal racketeering statutes to disrupt and dismantle significant violent criminal threats and criminal enterprises affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens and our communities.      

This case was further assisted by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).  NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.  NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.  For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.  

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 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 and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski commended the FBI, the Baltimore Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the ATF, the DEA, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City for their work in these investigations.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Romano, Daniel C. Gardner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Hanley formerly of the Justice Department’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.

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Baltimore, Maryland – Chad Arrington, a/k/a “Chad Focus,” age 32, of Randallstown, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to a federal wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme to use a company credit card to make over $4.1 million in unauthorized purchases.  

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to his plea agreement, Arrington was employed by Company 1 as a Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) Specialist from approximately 2011 to August 2018.  As an SEO Specialist, Arrington was responsible for promoting and marketing Company 1’s products and services online.  Company 1 assigned Arrington an American Express company credit card (the “credit card”) after Arrington signed an agreement in which he agreed to use the credit card only for business expenses related to Company 1.

Arrington admitted that from at least January 2015 through August 2018, Arrington and four co-conspirators used the credit card for fraudulent purchases, including to promote his hip-hop artist alter-ego, Chad Focus and Focus Music Entertainment and to make unauthorized purchases that benefitted them each personally. The co-conspirators were from Owings Mills, Maryland; York, Pennsylvania; Alexandria, Virginia; and Sarasota, Florida, respectively.  According to the plea agreement, Arrington used the credit card to make over $1.5 million in unauthorized purchases from entities and accounts controlled by Co-Conspirator 2 and Co-Conspirator 3, and then Co-Conspirator 2 and Co-Conspirator 3, in turn, kicked back hundreds of thousands of dollars to Arrington by funneling cash payments to Arrington and to accounts controlled by Arrington. 

For example, Arrington admitted that he used the credit card to purchase sound equipment, studio kits, instruments, and music technology, which he then used to create an artist alter-ego “Chad Focus,” and produce a number of hip-hop songs through the company he formed, Focus Music Entertainment LLC.  Arrington then used the credit card to make additional unauthorized purchases: from online streaming platforms that offered services for artists to pay to have the platforms artificially increase Arrington’s song play counts on other music platforms; to purchase “likes,” “followers,” “tags,” and “views” across social media and viewing platforms; to purchase services from a company that promoted mixtape videos and singles, his image, and music; and to make unauthorized payments to multiple billboard companies to display images of Arrington and his website throughout the United States and to promote Chad Focus and Focus Music Entertainment LLC.  From January 2015 through August 2018, Arrington charged the credit card over $300,000 for unauthorized international and national travel expenses, hotels, airfares, night life and other miscellaneous expenses for himself and for Co-Conspirators 1 and 2.  In addition, Arrington made over $100,000 in unauthorized purchases of clothing and accessories, including hats that displayed his artist name “Focus,” and other apparel, which he provided to his associates free of charge.  Arrington also admitted that he utilized the credit card to make more than $275,000 in purchases related to a bike-sharing business, including electric bikes, hover boards, and scooters.  Arrington also admitted that he used the credit card for concert tickets, various unauthorized international and national travel expenses, including hotels, airfare, restaurant bills, luxury vehicle rentals, and nightlife expenses, and for travel expenses and airline tickets for the benefit of Co-Conspirators 1 and 2.

In order to conceal the scheme, Arrington asked Co-Conspirator 1 and Co-Conspirator 4 to use computer software to make false entries on the credit card billing statements in order to conceal the recipient of the payments from Arrington’s supervisor and Company 1.  In addition, Arrington forged the signature of his supervisor on his credit card billing statements to make it appear as though he had received approval for certain purchases when, in fact, he had not.  Arrington then sent those false payment authorizations to other employees who relied on the authorizations to ultimately pay off the outstanding balance of the credit card. 

As detailed in his plea agreement, Arrington will be required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victim’s losses, $4,142,435.31.

Arrington faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy.  U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has scheduled sentencing for May 14, 2020 at 3:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek E. Hines and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.

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John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS NIEVES-FELICIANO, 41, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug and firearm offenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2019, agents with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (“DRS”) arrived at Broad Street Liquors, located at 1949 Broad Street in Hartford, to conduct a routine permit/cigarette inspection.  When they entered, Nieves-Feliciano, an employee of the store, was standing behind the counter.  Nieves-Feliciano immediately concealed items, struggled with DRS agents, and eventually fled the store.

The DRS agents then contacted Hartford Police and a court-authorized search of the store revealed a loaded Kel-Tec, Model P11, 9mm semiautomatic pistol, approximately 45 grams of cocaine packaged for distribution and a quantity of marijuana packaged for distribution, all of which was located on or behind the store’s counter.  A second 9mm pistol, a box of ammunition, approximately 112 grams of cocaine, approximately $13,000 in cash, and personal items and documents belonging to Nieves-Felciano, were located in the basement of the store.

The search of the store also revealed several cigarette packs that had fraudulent tax stamps.

Nieves-Felciano’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics, firearm, assault and robbery offenses.

It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

Nieves-Feliciano has been detained since May 15, 2019, when he was arrested on a federal criminal complaint.  On October 21, 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Gang Task Force, which includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.  The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services provided valuable assistance to the investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Leaming.

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 neighborhoods safer for everyone.

GREAT FALLS—A Havre man convicted of domestic assault after breaking his girlfriend’s nose during an argument on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

James John Russell McConnell, 44, pleaded guilty in September to domestic assault by habitual offender.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and ordered the 54-month sentence be served consecutively to a seven month sentence imposed in a revocation after McConnell violated conditions while on supervised release for a previous conviction.

The prosecution said in court records that McConnell, who has three previous convictions for domestic assault, assaulted his girlfriend on June 23, 2018 in Hays by bear-hugging her to where it was painful and hard to breathe. He also verbally threatened her. The victim was treated for a broken nose at the Northern Montana Hospital.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette Stewart prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Fort Belknap law enforcement and the FBI.

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            WASHINGTON- United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Timothy J. Shea, and Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Lamont Ruffin, of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), announced that Kyle Piunti, 31, of Arizona, pled guilty on Friday, January 31, 2020, to Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers or Employees, before United States District Court Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell.

            Chief Judge Howell will sentence Piunti, on April 10, 2020. At sentencing, Piunti faces a term of incarceration and up to three years of supervised release for the charge. The Court ordered that Piunti be held without bond pending his sentencing.

            According to the government’s evidence, on August 21, 2019, at approximately 7:40 p.m., an on-duty Court Security Officer, who is designated a federal officer, observed the defendant inside of a USMS vehicle located inside the restricted parking lot of the United States District Court. The Court Security Officer told the defendant to get out of the vehicle and the restricted parking lot area. The defendant became aggressive, and began to assault the Court Security Officer.  During the assault, the defendant pushed the Officer to the ground; the Officer was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment for a severe ankle injury which subsequently required surgical treatment to repair the damage caused by the defendant.  The defendant ran from the restricted area before he was ultimately apprehended several blocks away.

        In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Shea and Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Ruffin commended the work of those who investigated the case from the U.S. Marshals Service. They expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialist Teesha Tobias, Rommel Pachoca, and Legal Assistant Kate Abrey. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole who investigated and prosecuted the case.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Four defendants were sentenced to federal prison on drug charges by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers today, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.

“Four drug traffickers were sentenced to federal prison today for peddling poisons,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “The underlying charges involved distribution of black tar heroin, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana.  Yes, marijuana.  My office enforces all federal drug laws.  If we find you selling illegal drugs in my district, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Mathew Byrd, 32, of Barboursville, was sentenced to 106 months in prison for selling heroin and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Byrd was also ordered to forfeit a 2016 Cadillac Escalade, $10,000 in U.S. Currency, and various personal property. Byrd previously admitted that on January 31, 2019, he sold seven grams of black tar heroin to a confidential informant.  He also admitted to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The Violent Crime Drug Task Force West and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor handled the prosecution.

Tequan Montek Pratt, 24, was sentenced to 34 months in prison for distribution of marijuana.   Pratt admitted that on March 30, 2018 and April 9, 2018, he sold a pound of marijuana to a confidential informant at a duplex in Nitro, Putnam County, West Virginia.  Pratt also admitted that he and his associates were trafficking the marijuana from cities throughout California for several months.  Estimated conservatively, Pratt admitted to trafficking at least 20 kilograms of marijuana from California.  Pratt also possessed multiple firearms at another house in Putnam County.  The Violent Crime and Drug Task Force West and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe and former Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman handled the prosecution. 

Abdullah Myles, 25, of Michigan, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute heroin.  Myles previously admitted that on February 7, 2019, officers with the Huntington Police Department executed a search warrant at a residence Myles was living in at 825 21^st Street in Huntington.  Officers recovered 13 grams of heroin from the room Myles was living in.  The Huntington Police Department conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution. 

Maechelle Relf, 27, of Huntington, was sentenced to seven months in prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl.  Relf previously admitted that between December 2018 and May 2019 she conspired with other individuals to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Huntington, West Virginia.  Relf admitted that she would travel to Detroit, Michigan to obtain heroin for George Lockhart for him to sell in Huntington.  Her charges were the result of Operation Free Market, a long-term drug investigation in the Huntington area.  The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Violent Crime and the Drug Task Force West conducted the investigation.   Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie S. Taylor handled the prosecution.

Follow us on Twitter:SDWVNewsand USAttyStuart
 

 
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BECKLEY, W.Va. – A South Carolina physician pled guilty to a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. William Earley, D.O., 63, pled guilty to distributing oxycodone without a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional medical practice and beyond the bounds of medical practice.

“Earley is the latest drug dealer in a lab coat to plead guilty to charges brought by my office,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “In fact, six medical providers have pled guilty to date as a result of the investigation into HOPE Clinic’s prescribing practices.”

Earley admitted that he worked at the Charleston HOPE Clinic, which held itself out as specializing in the treatment of chronic pain through opioid pain medication. However, Earley admitted to having no formal training in the treatment of chronic pain patients but stated he was reassured by other HOPE Clinic physicians and by a staffing company that the HOPE Clinic was set up to provide appropriate treatment to patients suffering from chronic pain. While working at the HOPE Clinic, Earley admitted that it became apparent to him that some of the patients were not being properly evaluated prior to the doctors writing them prescriptions for opioids. Earley admitted that the patients’ files were poorly kept and often had little relevant medical information in them. Many of the patients came to the HOPE Clinic from out of state and most patients paid in cash.

On April 24, 2014, Earley admitted to prescribing patient D.J.B. 120 Percocet 10mg/325mg pills and 60 Oxycodone 10 mg pills. Earley admitted that a review of D.J.B.’s medical chart showed that by April 24, 2014, he had four failed drug tests and had reported his medication stolen. Despite these red flags, Earley did not do a physical examination of D.J.B., or address any of his failed drug screens with him, and he did not discuss the possibility of addiction or diversion with him on April 24, 2014, before issuing him two short-acting oxycodone prescriptions. Earley admitted that the prescriptions he issued to D.J.B. were not for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional medical practice and were beyond the bounds of medical practice.

Earley faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on May 11, 2020.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police, the Kentucky State Police, the Beckley Police Department, the Virginia State Police, the Charleston Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

United States District Judge Frank Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Monica D. Coleman and Steven I. Loew are handling the prosecution.

Follow us on Twitter:SDWVNewsand USAttyStuart

 
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United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of WILLIAM KYLE SUTOR III, 37, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. SUTOR, who was charged by felony Information on December 30, 2019, entered his plea today before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. SUTOR will be sentenced at a later date.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald stated, “This defendant, a personal injury attorney, participated in an all too common healthcare fraud scheme involving a network of chiropractors and runners. The #1 goal of the scheme was to steal money from insurance providers, resulting in higher premiums for Minnesota consumers. This is unacceptable. I applaud the diligent investigators and prosecutor who continue to pursue these cases.”

“As demand for health benefits goes up, so do the losses from health care fraud like this,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge, Jill Sanborn. “Our special agents in partnership with Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau used every tool we have to dissect this scheme and stop this defendant before he could do more damage,” Sanborn said.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between 2015 and 2016, SUTOR, a licensed personal injury attorney, engaged in a scheme to defraud providers of automobile insurance policies. SUTOR began working with chiropractors and patient recruiters, referred to as “runners.” As part of the scheme, the chiropractor would pay the runner a fee, typically between $1,000 and $1,500, for every individual that the runner brought to the chiropractor’s clinic to become a patient. In addition, SUTOR would pay the runner a fee, typically $300, for every individual that became a client of SUTOR’s. SUTOR, the chiropractors, and the runners took steps to conceal their scheme, including making kickback payments in cash or by checks written out to appear that they were payments for legitimate legal services.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. MacLaughlin is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

WILLIAM KYLE SUTOR III, 37

Minnetonka, Minn.

Convicted:

• Conspiracy to commit health care fraud, 1 count

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

          LOS ANGELES– The former chairman of the board for the Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist, of Los Angeles pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges that he stole more than $11 million in church money via bank accounts for phony companies and tried to cover his tracks by impersonating a real estate developer.

          Charles Thomas Sebesta, 55, of Huntington Beach, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution and one count of bank fraud. He has been in federal custody since his arrest in August 2019.

          According to his plea agreement and other court documents, Sebesta was hired in 2001 as the church’s facilities manager and joined the church in 2005, ultimately serving as its local chairman. In this capacity, he had control over the church’s financial assets and operations, including some of its bank accounts.

          From at least August 2006 through December 2016, Sebesta caused the church to make checks and other payments to fictitious companies for which he had opened bank accounts that he controlled, as well as to bank accounts he held in his own name and in the names of his family members and a female companion. To further conceal these payments, Sebesta forged a church member’s signature on numerous checks drawn against the church’s bank accounts.

          In the fall of 2008, Sebesta oversaw the sale of church property in Hollywood for approximately $12.8 million. He admitted that he siphoned a significant majority of the proceeds for his personal use, including purchasing a home with more than $2 million in cashier’s checks drawn from church bank accounts. The checks were falsely recorded in church records as “donations” and environmental remediation payments to a fictitious “Sky Blue Environmental” company.

          In 2009 and 2010, Sebesta wired $1.86 million and $309,622 in church money to be credited to his own personal tax accounts in order to generate overpayment refunds to himself from the U.S. Treasury and the California Franchise Tax Board, respectively.

          To conceal his crimes, Sebesta impersonated a real estate developer by creating an email account in the executive’s name. Posing as the developer, Sebesta sent emails to church members in which he fraudulently represented that the real estate developer was making donations to the church, including making rent payments for the church’s new location, and held Sebesta in high esteem.

          Sebesta also admitted to defrauding another former employer – a private high school in Los Angeles County – out of $34,032.

          He also embezzled $36,282, which had been donated to the church by the estate of a donor.

          In total, Sebesta stole at least $11,438,213 of church assets, according to court documents.

          United States District Judge Stephen V. Wilson has scheduled a May 18 sentencing hearing, at which time Sebesta will face a statutory maximum penalty of 60 years in federal prison.

          The United States Secret Service investigated this matter.

          This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Valerie L. Makarewicz of the Major Frauds Section.

Daniel Davis, 44, a former major at Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP) in Angola, Louisiana, was found guilty by a jury yesterday in federal court for his participation in the beating of an inmate who was handcuffed, shackled, and not resisting and for failing to intervene to stop his subordinates from participating in the same beating. In a previous trial in January 2018, Davis was convicted of conspiring with other officers to cover up the beating by devising a false cover story, submitting false reports documenting that cover story, tampering with witnesses, and lying under oath. Davis was also previously convicted of this beating in November 2018, but was granted a new trial based on juror misconduct.

Four other officers—former LSP Captains James Savoy, John Sanders, and Scotty Kennedy, and former Sergeant Willie Thomas—have all previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the beating and cover up.  At Davis’s trial, Captains Sanders and Kennedy testified for the government and described the abuse and the extensive cover up.

After hearing testimony over the course of three days, the jury convicted Davis of willfully depriving the inmate of his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. The evidence showed that Davis initiated the beating by yanking the inmate’s leg chains, causing the inmate to fall face-first onto the concrete breezeway. At that point, Davis and the other officers punched, kicked, and stomped on the inmate, leaving the inmate with a dislocated shoulder, a hematoma, a collapsed lung, and broken ribs. 

“The Constitution and its Bill of Rights protect all people in our nation from unlawful abuse by the government, and the Department of Justice will continue to prosecute officers who willfully violate the Constitution by abusing their power over those in custody,” said Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “This officer violated his oath and the law, and the Department of Justice will not tolerate this kind of criminal misconduct by correctional officers.”

U.S. Attorney Brandon Fremin stated, “Corrections officers are charged with the duty of protecting the public, not abusing those who have been lawfully incarcerated.  This district contains several penal institutions, and this should serve as a warning to those who would abuse their power that federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies will relentlessly pursue those who violate the public trust.  I commend all of the agencies responsible for this conviction, and want to thank them for their partnership in this important matter.”

“Correctional officers have an obligation to protect inmates serving their sentences as ordered by the court,” said Bryan A. Vorndran, FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge. “Daniel Davis abused his authority by inflicting physical harm upon an inmate that was restrained and non-combative.  His actions are a disgrace to all correctional officers who serve ethically and continue to maintain high moral standards throughout our correctional facilities. I commend the men and women of the FBI’s Baton Rouge Resident Agency Office, Louisiana Office of the State Inspector General, and the Department of Justice Civil Rights trial attorneys for their commitment to uphold the constitution and protect all Americans.”

“This is a just verdict,” said Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street. “We cannot and will not tolerate the abuse of the considerable power afforded corrections officers. Whenever it does occur, it is critical to hold offenders criminally accountable in order to protect the integrity of the system. The jury did exactly that with Mr. Davis, and it was worth the time and effort to obtain this result. Thanks again to our federal partners at the FBI and DOJ.”

No date has been set for Davis’s sentencing. He faces a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment on the conspiracy and perjury counts, 10 years of imprisonment on the excessive force count, and 20 years of imprisonment on each of the remaining obstruction counts.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Baton Rouge Resident Agency Office and the Louisiana Office of the State Inspector General.  It was prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Zachary Dembo and Anita Channapti of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.  Trial Attorney Christopher J. Perras of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick A. Menner Jr., of the Middle District of Louisiana also assisted in the case.

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Juan David Moreno, of Miramar, Florida, has admitted to wire fraud and identity theft through use of a computer, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Moreno, age 33, pled guilty today to one count of “Wire Fraud” and one count of “Aggravated Identity Theft.” Moreno admitted to fraudulently accessing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) eAuthentication online taxpayer system, which has servers located in Berkeley County, from January 2015 to February 2017.  Through his scheme to defraud, Moreno obtained personal identifying information of taxpayers without their knowledge to access the online taxpayer system to obtain income tax transcripts for those taxpayers.  Moreno then filed tax returns and directed tax refunds in the amount of at least $86,525 be deposited in an account in Florida without the taxpayers’ knowledge.

Moreno faces up to 20 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for the wire fraud count, and two years incarceration for the aggravated identity theft 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn M. Adkins is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Cybercrime Investigations Division investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Benjamin Campbell, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to five years probation for possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Campbell, age 21, pled guilty to one count of “Possession of Child Pornography” in April 2019. Campbell admitted to having child pornography in his possession between February 2017 and May 2018 in Berkeley County.

Campbell 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 Kimberley D. Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated.

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/.

Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.

BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with receiving and laundering approximately $1.4 million fraudulently obtained from a Korean company.

Chukwuemeka Eze, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 51 months in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $862,823 in restitution. In November 2019, Eze pleaded guilty to bank fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. Eze was arrested in June 2019 and has been held in federal custody since that time.

Eze admitted that he used a victim’s name, date of birth and Social Security number without permission to open bank accounts in the victim’s name and in the name of a fictitious Massachusetts corporation that Eze created, Levistronix GMB Ltd. Eze selected the name for Levistronix because of its similarity to Levitronix GmbH, an actual Swiss company. In May and June 2018, others involved in the scheme sent fake Levitronix invoices totaling approximately $1.4 million to a Korean company that was a Levitronix customer. The fake invoices directed the company to send the $1.4 million to Eze’s deceptively-named Massachusetts bank account.

When Eze received the money, he withdrew cash, and spent tens of thousands of dollars on retail purchases, including Apple laptops and Zales’ jewelry. He also purchased $700,000 in bank checks payable to other fictitious companies that he controlled, which he deposited into bank accounts in those companies’ names. Eze in turn made cash withdrawals, retail purchases and wire transfers from those bank accounts, all to conceal the fact that the money was the proceeds of the fraud scheme. In doing so, Eze spent or disbursed more than $862,000 of the Korean company’s money. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto of Lelling’s Cybercrime Unit prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – The 24-year-old man who allegedly shot two people in December 2019 is expected to appear in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Matthew Anthony Williams is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan today at 2 p.m. 

The Houston grand jury returned the indictment Jan. 30. Williams is charged with assaulting a federal employee with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence Dec. 28, 2019. 

If convicted, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison for assaulting a federal employee. He also faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life for discharging the firearm during the assault which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. He could also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Houston Police Department and sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery Counties. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.   

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm.

Carl D. Edwards, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, Feb. 3, to nine years and two months in federal prison without parole. Edwards was remanded to custody at the conclusion of yesterday’s sentencing hearing.

Edwards was convicted in a bench trial on June 17, 2019, of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Edwards was in possession of a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber handgun on Feb. 24, 2018. Kansas City police officers were dispatched that afternoon in response to a 9-1-1 call reporting a man high on PCP trying to get into a residence. Officers found Edwards lying in the driveway. The loaded handgun was tucked in his waistband.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Edwards has prior felony convictions for armed bank robbery, assault on a law enforcement officer, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Edwards has an extensive history of violent activity going back 20 years, including misdemeanor convictions for disturbing the peace, multiple assaults, multiple inflictions of injury, and harassment.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Jolly. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Project Safe Neighborhoods
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 Missouri. 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. Project Safe Neighborhoods is an evidence-based program that identifies the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develops comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, Project Safe Neighborhoods focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Memphis, TN – Quinton Yates, 50, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and for Possession of an Unregistered Shotgun with a Barrel Less Than 18 Inches. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on August 23, 2018, detectives from the Memphis Police Department, Organized Crime Unit (OCU) were conducting a drug investigation on Young Street. While detectives were standing outside of their vehicles, Quinton Yates exited a residence and began firing shots at them. Detectives leapt into their vehicles to clear the line of fire. As one of the detectives returned fire, Yates retreated inside the house. A SWAT team set up a barricade/perimeter around the house and a standoff ensued.

Several hours later, Yates and three other individuals who were in the home surrendered. Law enforcement recovered three firearms, including an assault rifle, a sawed-off barrel shotgun and a .22 long rifle caliber revolver. Yates admitted to opening fire on the detectives from the residence but stated he did not know they were police officers. He also stated the three individuals at his home had nothing to do with the shooting.

Yates is a convicted felon, having prior convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, and carjacking, and was still on parole at the time of this shooting incident. As a result of these previous violent felony convictions, Yates was determined to be an armed career criminal under the federal sentencing guidelines, and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months.

On February 3, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla, sentenced Yates to 188 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to community, as seen in this case. Yates was an armed career criminal who continued to possess and use multiple firearms while on parole for violent felonies. This sentence is just punishment for such a brazen attack on police, and will incapacitate him from committing additional gun violence for a significant period of time, making us all safer. Gun Crime is Max Time."

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit (OCU), Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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PROVIDENCE – A Providence man admitted on Monday to participating in a conspiracy to defraud area banks by depositing bogus checks and then, working with others, to quickly withdraw the funds before banks discovered that the checks were fraudulent.

Edmilson Rodrigues, 21, of Providence, admitted that he participated in a scheme to duplicate “real checks” provided to members of the conspiracy by insiders at local law firms, social services agencies, and local colleges.

According to information presented to the court, the bogus checks were deposited by Rodriques and others into actual bank accounts at bank branch offices in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. As part of the scheme, Rodriques and others quickly withdrew the funds, at times using stolen bank account and personal identifying information, before the bank determined that the deposited checks were bogus.

 According to court documents, an investigation by Providence Police Detectives, the United States Secret Service, and the FBI determined that on at least eighteen occasions between May 2013 and February 2019, members of the conspiracy deposited bogus checks and withdrew funds, defrauding banks of well over $100,000. Rodrigues acknowledged that he joined the conspiracy in June 2017, depositing bogus checks and then either withdrawing the funds or having others do so at his direction.

Appearing on Monday before U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith, Edmilson Rodrigues pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and three counts of bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements, Jr., Craig A. Marech, Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence Office of the United States Secret Service, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.

Rodrigues is scheduled to be sentenced on May 8, 2020.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William J. Ferland.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury sitting in Corpus Christi has convicted a 45-year-old Houston man for transporting an undocumented Chinese national, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick today.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Torrie Franklin following a one-day trial.

On Nov. 12, 2019, Franklin drove a blue four-door sedan into the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint located near Falfurrias. Upon his arrival, authorities conducted a routine inspection, at which time a K-9 alerted to the trunk of the vehicle. There, they found an undocumented Chinese national.

At the time of his arrest, Franklin told authorities he had encountered the man at a gas station. Franklin claimed the Chinese national asked for a ride to Houston, despite not knowing any English. He also said the man asked to ride in the trunk as opposed to inside the vehicle.

At trial, the jury heard from the Chinese national who said that Franklin was the person who placed him inside the trunk. They also heard excerpts of Franklin’s phone calls in which he admitted his role in the offense.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Franklin was merely a good Samaritan just providing a ride. They did not believe his claims and ultimately found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 7. At that time, Franklin faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

Franklin will remain in custody pending sentencing.

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neel Kapur and Barbara DePena are prosecuting the case.

PITTSBURGH – A former resident of Verona, PA, has been sentenced to federal prison on federal narcotics charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Chace Johnson, age 21, formerly of Harvest Drive, previously pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug involved premises before Chief U.S. District Court Judge Mark R. Hornak. Yesterday, Judge Hornak sentenced Johnson to a term of 23 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

According to information presented to the court in August and September of 2017, Johnson guarded the drug house on Harvest Drive in Verona, PA run by Jamie Lightfoot, Jr. and other co-conspirators. In furtherance of this, Johnson guarded large sums of money used in the drug trafficking and also acquired drug packaging material to be used in re-packaging and distribution for the drugs coming into the house.

On November 5, 2017, an FBI and Pennsylvania State Police Task Force executed a search warrant at the Harvest Drive location. The search netted 52 kilograms of cocaine and heroin, 85 pounds of marijuana, illegal steroids, three firearms, and nearly a million dollars in cash.

Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy M. Lanni and Shaun Sweeney are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police, with assistance from the South Strabane Police Department, the Elizabeth Borough Police Department, the Penn Hills Police Department and the Perryopolis Police Department, conducted the investigation that led to the Indictment in this case.

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.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of WILLIAM KYLE SUTOR III, 37, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. SUTOR, who was charged by felony Information on December 30, 2019, entered his plea today before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota. SUTOR will be sentenced at a later date.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald stated, “This defendant, a personal injury attorney, participated in an all too common healthcare fraud scheme involving a network of chiropractors and runners. The #1 goal of the scheme was to steal money from insurance providers, resulting in higher premiums for Minnesota consumers. This is unacceptable. I applaud the diligent investigators and prosecutor who continue to pursue these cases.”

“The conduct perpetrated by Mr. Sutor makes it harder for the legitimate lawyers and health care providers to help Minnesotans who really are injured,” said Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley. “The agents at the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau will continue to investigate individuals who think they are above the law.”

“As demand for health benefits goes up, so do the losses from health care fraud like this,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge, Jill Sanborn. “Our special agents in partnership with Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau used every tool we have to dissect this scheme and stop this defendant before he could do more damage,” Sanborn said.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, between 2015 and 2016, SUTOR, a licensed personal injury attorney, engaged in a scheme to defraud providers of automobile insurance policies. SUTOR began working with chiropractors and patient recruiters, referred to as “runners.” As part of the scheme, the chiropractor would pay the runner a fee, typically between $1,000 and $1,500, for every individual that the runner brought to the chiropractor’s clinic to become a patient. In addition, SUTOR would pay the runner a fee, typically $300, for every individual that became a client of SUTOR’s. SUTOR, the chiropractors, and the runners took steps to conceal their scheme, including making kickback payments in cash or by checks written out to appear that they were payments for legitimate legal services.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. MacLaughlin is prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

WILLIAM KYLE SUTOR III, 37

Minnetonka, Minn.

Convicted:

• Conspiracy to commit health care fraud, 1 count

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600