PITTSBURGH – A married couple from Butler County, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty to federal fraud and tax charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Stephanie J. Roskovski, 50, of Butler, PA, pleaded guilty on May 27, 2020, to one count of mail fraud and one count of filing a false income tax return. Scott A. Roskovski, 51, also of Butler, PA, pleaded guilty today to one count of filing a false income tax return and one count of submitting a false loan application to a bank. Both defendants entered guilty pleas before United States District Court Judge William S. Stickman IV.

"The Roskovskis’ crimes truly shock the conscience," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "Both were in positions critical to the health and safety of their community, as COO of Butler Health System and a Butler County Detective investigating financial crimes. Instead of $1.3 million being available to Butler hospital for patient care, the Roskovskis used the embezzled money for their own personal spending spree, with lavish vacations, home renovations and even a 70-acre motocross business. Once trusted employees, today they are convicted felons. We will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to steal and defraud."

"When the defendants used their positions of trust to steal from a healthcare provider and financial institutions to selfishly enhance their lifestyle and to fund the operation of a family business while utilizing the U.S. Mail to facilitate this fraud; the Postal Inspection Service and their law enforcement partners will devote the resources necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and bring them to justice," said Acting Inspector in Charge James Giehl.

"All income is taxable, including money that someone embezzles from their employer", said Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation. "These are serious violations and the Special Agents of IRS-CI will investigate and pursue charges against anyone committing these types of crimes."

"The FBI takes our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud for personal gain very seriously," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Christman. "Fraud and dishonesty undermine the integrity of our health care system and cost taxpayers money. This couple thought they would live a lavish lifestyle with other people’s money. It’s even more concerning that a now former law enforcement detective, sworn to uphold the law, perpetrated the very crimes he was also investigating."

According to information provided to the court, from April 2011 through December 2017, Stephanie Roskovski, while serving as the Chief Operating Officer for Butler Health System (BHS), embezzled in excess of $1.3 million from her employer. She used her corporate credit card to make personal purchases that she disguised as business expenses, submitted falsified reimbursement requests claiming purchases she made on a personal credit card were for business, and obtained hundreds of merchant gift cards worth more than $350,000, falsely claiming they were for distribution to "focus groups" or physicians, and which she used for purely personal purposes.

During that time, Stephanie’s husband, Scott Roskovski, was employed as a detective with the Butler County District Attorney’s Office. Ironically, he investigated financial crimes including theft and fraud. The defendants spent most of the stolen funds on lavish vacations, renovations to their home, and the purchase and operation of a motocross track, "Switchback MX LLC", located in Butler County. The defendants failed to report the fraud proceeds as income on their annual income tax returns jointly filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Additionally, after the couple lost their respective jobs, the defendants submitted a materially false loan application to S&T Bank to refinance the Switchback business and to purchase a bulldozer. S&T Bank extended two loans, the first for $1,128,227, and the second for $55,384, based upon the false information.

The court was advised that the total loss resulting from the mail fraud scheme perpetrated against BHS is approximately $1,331,884, and the total tax loss to the IRS is approximately $397,342.

Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for Stephanie Roskovski for October 5, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. and for Scott Roskovski for October 6, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. As to the mail fraud conviction, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain. As to the filing of a false statement on a loan application conviction, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain. As to the filing of a false income tax return conviction, the law provides for a maximum of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross pecuniary gain. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Houston man has entered a guilty plea in Corpus Christi federal court to money laundering through wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Mohamad Sylla admitted he conspired with Jose Luis Briseno, 41, Tynan, and David Contreras, 42, Paso Robles, California, to get a Houston oil production company to issue paychecks for work Contreras never completed and while he was not even employed there.

From Jan. 1 to Sept. 11, 2015, Briseno and Sylla were employed at the company as the service coordinator and South Texas region manager, respectively. The two men conspired to approve timesheets for Contreras even though he was no  longer employed there. Briseno and Sylla ensured the timesheets were approved and payments issued. Once Contreras received the funds, he would split the paycheck with Briseno and Sylla.

As a result, Contreras, Briseno and Sylla falsely obtained funds totaling approximately $40,383.91.

Briseno and Contreras have also pleaded for their roles in the scheme.

U.S. District Judge David Morales will impose Sylla’s sentencing Aug. 31. At that time, Sylla faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $500,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate is prosecuting the case. 

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Four residents of Alachua, Florida, have been arrested on federal criminal
complaints alleging an armed, drug-trafficking conspiracy. The criminal complaints were announced
by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

The defendants arrested are:

●    Lorenza Aaron Durr, Jr., 29, Alachua, Florida;
●    Elboric Quadarius Robinson, 29, Alachua, Florida;
●    Morris Robinson, 55, Alachua, Florida; and
●    Roddrae Antonio Williams, 28, Alachua, Florida

The charged defendants face penalties of up to life imprisonment and fines of up to $5,000,000.

The complaints and arrests resulted from an extensive investigation by the FBI Jacksonville Violent
Gang Safe Streets Task Force with support from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force
(OCDETF). This joint federal, state, and local cooperative targeted the “4K” drug trafficking
organization that allegedly conspired to distribute various controlled substances including
cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. During the operation, over 80 agents,
officers, and other law enforcement personnel successfully made arrests and executed 5 search
warrants on properties allegedly involved in drug trafficking.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement
Administration, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the University of Florida Police Department,
the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff's
Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States
Attorney James A. McCain.

The OCDETF approach to combating drug trafficking is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and
dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug

trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to
disrupt and dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize its assets.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of federal
criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a
fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable
doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that
serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access
public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern
District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

GREENVILLE, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Dasean Clifton Moore, 34, attempted to pull a loaded .25 caliber handgun on Onslow County Sheriff’s detectives while they were serving him with warrants for drug-related crimes.  After a prolonged struggle over the handgun, the Onslow County detectives were able to disarm and arrest Moore.  Moore is a high-ranking member of the United Blood Nation street gang in the Jacksonville area.     

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parris prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website.  Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-cr-00174-BO-1

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Yang Sui, age 42, of Niskayuna, New York, pled guilty today to stealing trade secrets belonging to the General Electric Company.

The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers; United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

As part of his guilty plea, Sui admitted that between 2015 and 2017, he stole multiple electronic files pertaining to the research, design, and manufacture of silicon carbide MOSFETs (metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors).  Silicon carbide MOSFETs are used in a variety of GE’s parts and products, including aviation equipment and wind turbines.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino will sentence Sui on September 22, 2020.  Sui faces up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 or up to twice the value of the pecuniary gain to him from the crime, and up to 3 years of supervised release.  A sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. 

This case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss and National Security Division Trial Attorney Matthew Chang. 

ATLANTA – Charles E. Taylor has been sentenced to federal prison for hacking his former Atlanta-based employer and sabotaging their internal communications network, causing more than $800,000 in damage.

“Taylor deliberately sabotaged the computer network he had been entrusted to protect because he was upset with his former employer,” said U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak. “Corporate insiders like Taylor cause significant losses through hacking activity each year, and companies must remain vigilant against insider threats to their network security.”

“Taylor used sabotage to betray the trust placed in him by his employer, causing extreme hardship for the company and his fellow employees,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “No amount of subterfuge will protect cyber criminals from being unmasked, arrested and prosecuted by FBI investigators and federal prosecutors.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In 2013, Taylor, a resident of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was hired as a systems administrator for a lumber and building materials wholesaler. In early 2018, a large Atlanta-based building products distributor acquired the company. Taylor kept his job as a senior systems engineer after the merger, but he was unhappy with the newly combined company and resigned in July 2018.

A month after his departure, Taylor conducted a multi-stage sabotage campaign targeting the company’s network. Using information he gained in his employment, Taylor logged into the network remotely without authorization and used encryption methods to hide his network connections. In mid-August 2018, Taylor changed passwords for network routers located at dozens of company warehouses. Company employees were unable to access the routers, and the company replaced them shortly thereafter at a cost of roughly $100,000.

Days later, Taylor issued a shutdown command for a central command server on the company’s network, crippling internal communications at the company. As the company worked to restore its network over a two-day period, employees at several of its branches were forced to take customer orders by hand and field incoming orders using their personal cell phones. In total, the server sabotage cost the company over $700,000 dollars in lost profits and remediation costs.

Charles E. Taylor, 60, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release - one year of which will be served on home detention - and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $834,510. Taylor was convicted of computer fraud on February 19, 2020, after he pleaded guilty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan P. Kitchens, Deputy Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Former Macomb Township Trustee and Macomb County official Dino Bucci, 60, of Macomb Township pleaded guilty today to extortion and theft conspiracies, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced. 

According to the plea agreement, for over two decades, Bucci, at the direction of his then boss, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco, extorted builders and contractors  to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of tickets to Marrocco’s fundraisers.  Marrocco directed Bucci to communicate to the builders and contractors that if they did not purchase a sufficient amount of fundraising tickets, they would suffer severe economic consequences.  Those consequences included holding up required permits that would financially damage the extortion victims. For over twenty years, Bucci served as Marrocco’s deputy in the Macomb County’s Public Works Department. In addition to his employment as Marrocco’s deputy, Bucci served as an elected Trustee of Macomb Township for over ten years. 

The plea agreement also includes Bucci’s admission to a theft scheme by which Bucci, with the help of contractor Chris Sorrentino, stole $96,000 from Macomb Township when Bucci directed Sorrentino to overcharge for paving work at Township properties.  Sorrentino then kicked back tens of thousands of dollars in cash to Bucci. The plea agreement requires Bucci to fully reimburse Macomb Township for the money he stole. Under the plea agreement, Bucci faces a sentence of between 108 to 120 months in federal prison on the two conspiracy charges. 

Schneider was joined in the announcement by Steven D’Antuono, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Sarah L. Kull, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigations.

United States Attorney Schneider said: “Bucci’s guilty pleas today represent a significant milestone in our sweeping corruption investigation in Macomb County. The lengthy prison sentence he faces should be an unambiguous warning to all public officials who consider committing corrupt acts that they will be caught and punished severely.”

"Bucci’s guilty plea further exposes a decades-long pattern of corruption and illegal activity within Macomb County’s elected government,” said Steven M. D’Antuono, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The citizens of Macomb County deserve better, and they should rest assured the FBI stands firm with our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue any elected official who chooses personal gain over the public good.”

 "Today’s plea demonstrates our collective efforts to enforce the law and ensure public trust.  The sizeable amount of the kickbacks Bucci received represents the degree to which he was cheating the public," said Sarah Kull, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. "It is unacceptable to help yourself to public funds, but if you do IRS-Criminal Investigation will be there to seek justice on behalf of the citizens of Macomb County."

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Michael Bullotta and Steven Cares.

SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on May 28, 2020, Roberto Sanchez, age 42, formerly of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for conspiring to distribute heroin and cocaine.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute heroin and crack cocaine in Pennsylvania from approximately 2013 through March 2015.  Sanchez admitted to trafficking in excess of five kilograms of cocaine and 10 kilograms of heroin, the latter of which is the equivalent of approximately 400,000 potentially fatal doses of heroin.

Sanchez was originally scheduled for sentencing in August 2017, but failed to appear.  He remained a fugitive until his apprehension, in New York, in March 2019, and has remained in custody since.  The United States seized and forfeited over $54,000 from Sanchez.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip J. Caraballo and Sean A. Camoni prosecuted the case.

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 the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case also was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

# # #

HELENA—A Great Falls man was sentenced to 21 years and eight months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release today after he admitted to taking sexually explicit photographs of a minor, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Virgil Allen Wolfe, 54, pleaded guilty in May 2019 to sexual exploitation of a child.

Senior U.S. District Judge Charles Lovell presided.

The prosecution said in court records that law enforcement had received a report that Wolfe used a camera to take photographs of the victim in the nude and then uploaded them to his computer. The victim was younger than 12 years of age.

Law enforcement with Homeland Security Investigations and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Wolfe’s residence in June 2017 and seized computers, a phone and a digital camera. A forensic analysis of the devices found child pornography images on a computer and on a memory card inside the camera. The images were taken in 2008 and 2009.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office.

XXX

ST. GEORGE, UT – Frank Gene Powell, age 51, of Hurricane, Utah, the lead defendant in a significant federal elder fraud case targeting an 80-year-old widow in Washington, Utah, will serve 10 years in federal prison and pay $273,849.20 in restitution to the victim of the fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge David Nuffer imposed the sentence Thursday morning in St. George.

Powell pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, two counts of destruction of records in a federal investigation, concealment of a document or object in an attempt to impair the object’s integrity or availability for use in an official proceeding, and tampering with a witness.

Powell, who is in custody, will also forfeit two vehicles and be on supervised release for three years following his release from federal prison.

Powell was on state parole at the time of his federal crimes after serving nearly 30 years in state prison for murder.  While he was in prison, he received a 1-to-15 year sentence for sexually assaulting an inmate.

As a part of his plea agreement, Frank Powell admitted that from around March 2019 and continuing until about Feb. 6, 2020, he conspired with others to devise a fraud scheme with the specific intent to obtain money or property by means of fraudulent representations or promises.  He agreed with his codefendants to engage in a scheme to defraud the victim by soliciting money and assets in exchange for false promises to perform work for the victim. He also admitted he engaged in a fake romantic relationship with the victim as a part of his scheme to defraud her.

He admitted that he purchased a 2019 GMC Sierra using money he received as a part of his scheme to defraud the victim.  Using money derived from criminal conduct is money laundering.  Several of the counts he pleaded guilty to relate to efforts he took to impede and obstruct the investigation of the case, including concealing cellular phones and money.

Powell also pleaded guilty to witness tampering admitting that in November 2019, he attempted to stop the victim from communicating with law enforcement officers investigating the case. Through written correspondence and phone calls, Powell and his codefendant, Faye Renteria, age 42, of Hurricane, made misleading statements and attempted to get the victim to assist them in avoiding prosecution.

“Powell is a career criminal who has fended off decades of rehabilitative attempts in the Utah state criminal justice system.  He’s a convicted murderer and sexual predator, who has now turned his criminal efforts to elder fraud while on state parole,” U.S. Attorney for Utah John W. Huber said today. “With these guilty pleas, he stands convicted of unconscionable crimes against a senior member of the St. George community.  A 10-year sentence is very appropriate in this case and will help ensure that Utah will not fall victim to his crimes again.”           

"This crime is especially heinous because Frank Powell not only deceived and defrauded the victim, he made it a family affair," said Special Agent in Charge Paul Haertel of the Salt Lake City FBI.  "As a society, we should be looking out for the elderly, not exploiting them.  Crimes like this will be aggressively investigated, and we encourage the public to immediately report any fraud to law enforcement or the FBI."

Eight defendants were charged in a 10-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in January. The indictment alleged the defendants, who have family relationships, conspired to obtain money and assets from the victim in exchange for false promises to perform work on her property.

The indictment alleges that starting around March 2019 through October 2019, several of the defendants began soliciting payments from the victim by offering to perform routine repairs and odd jobs on her property. The victim created a list of requested repairs, such as painting the exterior of the house, resurfacing the driveway, doing yard work, hammering protruding nails on the roof, fixing a door handle on a car, removing grease spots on the driveway, and installing carpet on an outdoor deck.  To further advance the scheme, Frank Powell engaged in romance fraud by enticing the victim to enter into a romantic relationship. He used the romantic relationship to manipulate the victim into giving him money and assets.

According to the indictment, most of the jobs they promised to do were never completed or the quality of work was extremely poor and fell well below any expectation of professionally done work. The victim paid the defendants at least $273,849.20, both indirectly and directly, for this work.

The indictment included one count of wire fraud conspiracy, five counts of money laundering conspiracy – spending, two counts of destruction or concealment of records and tangible objects in a federal investigation, one count of concealment of a document or object, and one count of tampering with a witness or victim.

Frank Powell’s mother and codefendant, Gloria Jean Powell, age 74, of St. George, was sentenced to time served on May 1, 2020, after pleading guilty to one count of concealment of a document or object, admitting she concealed or attempted to conceal U.S. currency with the intent to impair an FBI investigation.  She admitted she aided and abetted her son, Frank Powell, and her daughter, Angela McDuffie, age 53, of Lehi, in the conduct.  She also agreed to forfeit a 2010 Toyota Venza as a part of the resolution of her case.

Sentencing is set for July 15, 2020, for Renteria, who pleaded guilty May 7, 2020, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, two counts of destruction of records or tangible objects designed to impede the FBI’s investigation in the case, and witness tampering.   Among other things, she admitted she engaged in misleading conduct involving the victim in the case in an attempt to prevent or delay her from communicating with law enforcement regarding the commission of a federal crime.

Renteria faces sentences of up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, up to 10 years for each count of money laundering, up to 20 years for each count of destruction of records or tangible objects in a federal investigation, and up to 10 years for the witness tampering conviction.  Renteria is in custody.

Bubby Mern Shepherd, age 58, of Lodi, California, and Rocky James Powell Mott, age 40, of Hurricane, also have entered guilty pleas.  Shepherd pleaded guilty last week to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Mott pleaded guilty Wednesday to the same count.  Plea agreements for Shepherd and Mott, who are both in custody, include a stipulated sentence of 21 months in prison for the conviction.  The sentence is subject to the approval of the court.

Cases are pending against McDuffie, Terrence Quincy Powell, age 24, of St. George, and Martell Taz Powell, age 25, of Cedar City.  A Sept. 22, 2020, trial date is set in the case.

Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year.  Together with federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness.  This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Utah are prosecuting the case.  The FBI is investigating the case. Agents with Utah Adult Probation and Parole have made signification contributions to the investigation.

HAMMOND- Kyle Jackson, 34, was charged in a criminal complaint with making materially false statements in connection with the purchase of firearms from a firearms dealer, announced U.S. Attorney Kirsch. 

The affidavit attached to the criminal complaint alleges that on November 23, 2019, Jackson made a false statement about his current residence address while purchasing a firearm at a federally licensed firearms dealer in Schererville, Indiana, stating on an ATF Form 4473 that he lived at one residence in Gary, Indiana, when in fact he lived at a different Gary location.  On January 2, 2020, this firearm was recovered by law enforcement in Chicago, Illinois.  On May 22, 2020, Jackson made another false statement about his residence address in purchasing three additional firearms from this firearms dealer, and law enforcement made contact with Jackson directly after he purchased these firearms.     

“My office is working closely with the ATF to identify individuals making false statements when buying firearms to prevent these illegal purchases,” said U.S. Attorney Kirsch.  “We will continue to use all tools and charges available to us to prevent firearms from ending up in the wrong hands.”

The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that a criminal complaint is merely an allegation and that all persons are presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in court.

If convicted, any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the judge after a consideration of federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.            

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Opioids kill hundreds of Iowans every year.  These dangerous drugs wreak havoc on lives and communities.  Unfortunately, all too often, the use of an opioid such as heroin ends with an overdose because people do not know what they have or how dangerous it is.       

On June 1, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa will sentence Jarel Williams for his role in trafficking heroin.  He will be the 22nd defendant sentenced over the last 20 months for their roles in distributing this dangerous drug.  These prosecutions were the result of Operation Blue Devils, an investigation conducted by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Following the sentencing, the United States Attorney will issue a press release regarding the investigation and prosecutions.  Additionally, United States Attorney Peter Deegan, CRPD Chief of Police Wayne Jerman, CRPD Lieutenant Bob Collins (commander of the narcotics unit), CRPD Officer Lindsay Powers (assigned to the Eastern Iowa Heroin Initiative), and DEA Resident Agent-in-Charge Russ Coulter will all be available for interviews regarding the investigation and prosecutions.     

Event Details

When:           June 1, 2020

Where:         Cedar Rapids Federal Courthouse (United States Attorney’s Office), 111 7^th Ave. SE

Time:            Sentencing Hearing scheduled for 11:00 a.m.  Interview availability after the conclusion of the sentencing hearing.

Please contact Tony Morfitt at tony.morfitt@usdoj.gov or 319-363-6333 to schedule interviews.

Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of six indictments and one arrest pursuant to a criminal complaint charging 13 individuals for their roles in six fatal opioid overdoses. The indictments also notify the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit any assets that are alleged to be traceable proceeds of the offense. The indictments were returned on May 20 and 27, 2020. The arrest pursuant to the criminal complaint took place on March 30, 2020.        

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.          

The cases against Collins (Indictment 1), Lebarron et al (Indictment 3), Rice (Criminal Complaint), and Riley (Indictment 6) were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Secret Service, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, the Pinellas Park Police Department, and the St. Petersburg Police Department as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.

The cases against Fleer (Indictment 2), Lynch et al (Indictment 4), and Reed (Indictment 5) were investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Middle District of Florida’s anti-opioid strategy to combat opioid trafficking and abuse.

All cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Diego Novaes.

SAVANNAH, GA:  A Georgia man has been charged with attempting to sell 50 million non-existent facemasks to a foreign government.

Paul Penn, together with others, is accused of attempting to defraud a foreign government in connection with an attempted sale of 50 million 3M Model 1860 Respirator Masks, which he and his associates did not actually possess, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Penn, through his company, Spectrum Global Holdings, LLC, agreed to act as a middleman in exchange for a cut of the $317 million sales price. The negotiated sales price for these masks was more than 500 percent higher than the previous normal market value for N-95 masks. Penn falsely represented that the N-95 Masks were owned by a group in which he was associated. Based on representations from Penn and others, the buyer, a foreign government, wired the funds to complete the purchase, which was disrupted by the U.S. Secret Service just before the transaction could be completed. The defendant was charged by way of an Information, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Using a worldwide pandemic as an opportunity to take advantage of those searching for badly needed personal protective equipment is reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our office, together with our colleagues at the COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force and our law enforcement partners, will aggressively seek out any fraudsters who exploit this crisis as a way to make a quick buck.”

“This case should serve as a strong deterrent to those considering exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to enrich themselves through fraud.  The nation’s citizens, businesses and our international partners are counting on the U.S. Secret Service and its federal law enforcement and private sector partners to safeguard it and maintain the public trust,” said Resident Agent in Charge Glen M. Kessler of the Secret Service Savannah Office. “Tackling the threat of cyber-enabled COVID-19 scams requires an immediate response to safeguard our nation during these unprecedented times.”

Criminal informations contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Attorney General William P. Barr created the COVID-19 Hoarding and Price Gouging Task Force, led by Craig Carpenito, United States Attorney for District of New Jersey, who is coordinating efforts with the Antitrust Division and U.S. Attorneys across the country wherever illegal activity involving protective personal equipment occurs.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services has issued a Notice designating categories of health and medical supplies that must not be hoarded or sold for exorbitant prices. 

Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or go to justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.

U.S. Attorney Christine acclaimed the hard work of the investigatory team, led by the U.S. Secret Service, for disrupting the scheme.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Patrick J. Schwedler are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

Geoffrey S. Berman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSEPH OLIVIERI, a physician who practiced in Manhattan, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for participating in a scheme to illegally distribute oxycodone and other controlled substances.  OLIVIERI previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, who also imposed today’s sentence.  Matthew Brady, OLIVIERI’s co-defendant, was previously sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in the same scheme.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Joseph Olivieri hid behind his medical license to sell addictive, dangerous narcotics.  In doing so, he violated his oath to practice medicine for the sole purpose of improving his patients’ health, and put peoples’ lives at risk to line his own pockets.  He now will serve time in prison for his crimes.”

According to the Superseding Indictment, public court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:

OLIVIERI, a physician who practiced in New York, New York, participated in a five-year-long scheme to illegally distribute oxycodone and other controlled substances.  OLIVIERI was one of the top 15 prescribers of opioids in New York State during much of the scheme.  He prescribed over 250,000 pills of controlled substances, including highly addictive opioids such as oxycodone, oxymorphone, and morphine sulfate, to individuals he knew did not have a legitimate medical need for them.  OLIVIERI was paid in cash for these prescriptions, often by other individuals, including co-defendant Brady, who arranged with OLIVIERI for individuals posing as “patients” to obtain the prescriptions from OLIVIERI, and then collected the pills for their unlawful re-sale.  OLIVIERI deposited more than $1 million in cash into his bank accounts during the scheme.

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OLIVIERI, 73, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose.  In addition to the prison term, OLIVIERI was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $500,000.

Brady, 35, of Staten Island, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances.  In addition to the prison term, Brady was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $100,000.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara La Morte, Robert B. Sobelman, and Daniel C. Richenthal are in charge of the prosecution.

MISSOULA—A Utah woman who had nearly two pounds of methamphetamine hidden on her body when arrested near Butte was sentenced today to four years in prison and five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

Ebony Cherelle Tafoya, 31, of Midvale, Utah, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.

The prosecution said in court documents that on Sept. 6, 2019, Tafoya was arrested outside of Butte. Law enforcement officers conducted a pat down search of Tafoya and found 520 grams, which is about 1.1 pounds, of meth in a belly band. Another 333 grams, or about three-quarters of a pound, was found hidden in Tafoya's bra and chest area at the Butte-Silver Bow Detention Center. The amount of meth seized was the equivalent of about 7,248 doses. Tafoya previously had distributed large quantities of meth to a confidential source in August 2019.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Bartleson prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Russell Country Drug Task Force, the Montana Southwest Drug Task Force, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Montana Department of Corrections.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a U.S. Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, violent crime in Montana increased by 36% from 2013 to 2018. Through PSN, federal, tribal, state and local law enforcement partners in Montana focus on violent crime driven by methamphetamine trafficking, armed robbers, firearms offenses and violent offenders with outstanding warrants.

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Greeneville, Tenn. – On May 26, 2020, Anthony Dwayne Sensabaugh, 33, currently of Rogersville, was sentenced by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.  

Sensabaugh pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Sensabaugh was sentenced to 180 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

In 2017, the Third Judicial District’s Drug Task Force (DTF) made controlled purchases of methamphetamine and heroin from Sensabaugh.  As a result, the DTF and Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Sensabaugh’s residence.  During the authorized search, law enforcement officers were able to recover 17.93 grams of heroin, 14.12 grams of a cocaine-base substance, 14.83 grams of cocaine, 52.24 grams of methamphetamine, 33.36 grams of marijuana, and a loaded .25 caliber pistol.

On February 4, 2019, deputies of the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office arrested Sensabaugh for another offense.  During an interview, Sensabaugh admitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents and Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office that he frequently made purchases of methamphetamine in actual quantities of four to eight ounces weekly prior to the search warrant executed back in 2017.

“Our office fully supports our law enforcement partners’ investigative efforts to address the resurgence of heroin and other drugs within our region.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute individuals involved in the illegal drug and weapon activities that continue to plague our state,” said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey.

“Utilizing two of the DOJ’s national strategies to prevent crime, Project Guardian and Project Safe Neighborhood, this joint collaboration between local, state, and federal partners helped to ensure there is one less gun on the streets that can be used to perpetuate criminal activity.  This focused investigation and future investigations like it will have a lasting impact within our community,” ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Frank Haera stated.

“This is a great example of local and federal law enforcement agencies working closely to eradicate dangerous drug dealers out of our communities.  The drug dealer’s residence was located across the street from a middle school, which jeopardized the safety and well-being of school staff and its students,” said Sheriff Ronnie Lawson of the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office.                                       

The criminal indictment resulted from an investigation by the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, the Third Judicial District’s Drug Task Force, and ATF.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Martin represented the United States in court.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws.  It provides more options to prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crime face tough sentences.  PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community faces.

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information, please visit this site: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.  

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HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA – John William Hooser III, a Middlebrook, Va., man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg to 60 months in federal prison. United States Attorney Thomas T. Cullen and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jesse Fong made the announcement today

In October 2019, Hooser, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance illegally in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, from May 2018 to August 2018, Hooser conspired with others to traffic methamphetamine from a source of supply in Oklahoma into the Western District of Virginia. Hooser has admitted to participating in transactions totaling approximately 658 grams of methamphetamine during the life of the drug distribution conspiracy.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department, Augusta County Sheriff’s Department, and the Staunton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jeb Terrien prosecuted the case for the United States.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – United States Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger today hosted a virtual law enforcement roundtable aimed at combatting human trafficking in Northern Virginia.

“Human trafficking is modern day slavery,” said Terwilliger. “As someone who personally investigated and prosecuted these cases earlier in my career, there is no more just prosecution than holding accountable those who would sell, sexually and physically exploit, and ultimately discard a human being.”

The roundtable included law enforcement partners from the U.S. Attorney’s Office; FBI; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service.

Morris Parker, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Major Crimes Unit at EDVA, led the discussion of EDVA’s strategic plan on human trafficking, which primarily focuses on: 1) The identification of human trafficking victims; 2) Identification and prosecution of human traffickers; and, 3) Improving intelligence, information sharing, and coordination amongst law enforcement to ensure that we are rescuing victims, disrupting trafficking schemes, and holding traffickers accountable as quickly as possible.

The discussion of the strategic plan was followed by a presentation on trends in human trafficking investigations led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen C. Cain, EDVA’s Human Trafficking Coordinator and Chair of the Law Enforcement Committee for the Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force. A leading expert, Cain was honored in 2019 with the Top Prosecutor Award by Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation for her work in combatting human trafficking.

Specific trends in human trafficking that were discussed included: Law enforcement focus on repeat runaways who are particularly vulnerable and susceptible to human trafficking; targeting of runaway girls by MS-13, and multiple reports to law enforcement of MS-13 sex trafficking young girls and beating them with baseball bats; law enforcement focus on the demand side of human trafficking on the internet, including law enforcement undercover operations involving the advertising of sex with minor victims.

The day concluded with a presentation by Cain and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza Ty, EDVA’s Border Security Coordinator, on some of the challenges of forced labor investigations including; identification of particular industries that are susceptible to labor trafficking, such as farming and service-related industries; educating law enforcement to recognize forced labor indicators; victims are often foreign nationals in the country on a work visa, and traffickers have control of the victim’s passport, and use it to control the victim.

Combatting human trafficking, primarily juvenile sex trafficking, has been a priority for EDVA for the last decade. Terwilliger, in his previous capacity as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, was part of an original human trafficking group that specifically targeted and dismantled MS-13 juvenile sex trafficking conspiracies. He also served as an adjunct professor at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs where he taught an advanced course on human trafficking. Terwilliger currently serves as a member of the Law Enforcement Advisory Committee for the world renowned National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). This prior experience has informed Terwilliger and EDVA’s continued prioritization of combatting human trafficking in EDVA.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced today to 264 months’ imprisonment for robbing an AT&T store and illegally possessing a firearm.

According to court documents, Robert Kevin Boddie, 46, was named in a three-count Indictment filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina on November 20, 2019.  The Indictment charged Hobbs Act Robbery, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence on April 15, 2019. On February 11, 2020, the defendant pled guilty to the Indictment pursuant to a plea agreement.

On April 15, 2019, the Raleigh Police Department (RPD), was dispatched to an armed robbery that occurred at the AT&T store located at 4551 New Bern Avenue in Raleigh.  Upon arrival, officers spoke with an employee who advised that the suspect, later identified as Boddie, entered the store and inquired about an iPhone.  According to the employee, Boddie then brandished a firearm and forced him to go to the rear storage room at gunpoint.  The employee placed eight iPhones (ranging in price from $749.99 to $1,099.99), an Alcatel Tetra (valued at $49.99), and a GPS tracker (valued at $480.00) from the safe into a plastic bag and gave it to Boddie.  The employee advised that Boddie then fled the store.  RPD reviewed the surveillance video from the store and were able to clearly see Boddie as the suspect.

RPD officers responded to the area of the AT&T store and began searching for Boddie with the use of the GPS tracker that was taken.  An officer traveling on Buffalo Road in Raleigh observed a vehicle swerve from traffic, cross a double yellow line, and then run a red light.  Once the officer reached the vehicle, both doors were open, and no one was in the vehicle.  The stolen cell phones and GPS unit were recovered from the vehicle.  Additionally, a loaded firearm with 12 rounds of ammunition wrapped in a shirt was located between the vehicle and guardrail on the side of the road. The officer heard someone running in the wooded area parallel to the road and gave chase.  The officer gave commands to Boddie to stop. Boddie was then arrested.  Officers established that the firearm located next to the vehicle was the same one used in the robbery.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Smith  prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-CR-462-BO.