FRESNO, Calif. — A Porterville man was arrested today after a federal grand jury returned a five‑count indictment on July 9, charging him with mail fraud and introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to the indictment, Huu Tieu, 58, is the president and chief executive officer of Golden Sunrise Pharmaceutical Inc. and Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical Inc., both headquartered in Porterville. From at least April 25 to July 9, through his companies, Tieu marketed and sold a package of herbal mixtures dubbed the “Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care,” which he claimed treated COVID-19. In materials posted on the companies’ websites and Facebook pages and in emails to the media, Tieu made a series of false statements about the Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care, including:

• That one of the mixtures in the product, called “ImunStem,” was the first dietary supplement in the United States to be FDA approved as a prescription medicine to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and had specifically been approved to treat COVID‑19. In reality, the FDA has never approved any Golden Sunrise product for any intended use and, on at least two occasions, has told Tieu in writing that ImunStem is not FDA approved; and
• That ImunStem was designated as a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy (RMAT) under the 21^st Century Cures Act. In reality, the FDA never granted an RMAT designation to any Golden Sunrise product, denied Tieu’s request for an RMAT designation for ImunStem in 2017, and reiterated that denial to Tieu in writing in 2019.

According to the indictment, Tieu made these misrepresentations for the purpose of soliciting customers, both patients and health care professionals, to acquire Golden Sunrise products so that he could submit reimbursement claims to the patients’ insurers, including Medicare and Medi-Cal. Tieu dispensed his products to customers in the Porterville area and also shipped the products to other parts of California and the United States.

On May 8, an undercover investigator with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office met with Tieu in person, telling him her mother was 68 and very sick with COVID-19. The investigator asked Tieu if she should take her mother to the hospital. Tieu responded, “No. You cannot go in there,” and instead, encouraged her to use Golden Sunrise products.

“The FDA is actively monitoring the marketplace for fraudulent products claiming to treat COVID-19. Americans expect and deserve treatments that are safe, effective and meet appropriate standards, and the agency will continue to bring to justice those who place profits above the public health during this pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Lisa L. Malinowski, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. “We commend the efforts of our law enforcement partners in this investigation and today’s announcement should serve as a reminder that we will take appropriate action against those who jeopardize the health of Americans while taking advantage of a crisis.”

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the California Department of Health Care Services with assistance from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office and the California Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincente Tennerelli and Alexandre Dempsey are prosecuting the case.

If convicted, Tieu faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the mail fraud counts and three years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the misbranding counts. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Daren Lewis, 39, of Quincy, MA, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $10,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin G. Bish, who is handling the case, stated that on July 10, 2020, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Flagstaff, Arizona received an alert regarding a suspicious cargo shipment, originating in California and destined for Tonawanda, NY. The shipment was manifested as personal effects and the phone number provided by the shipper was not a working number.

HSI Buffalo, the Erie County Sheriff's Office, and the Niagara County Drug Task Force began investigating the shipment on July 13, 2020, after its arrival in Tonawanda. On that day, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) K-9 showed interest in the vent of the container, but did not make a final positive alert to the presence of controlled substances. However, an Erie County Sheriff's Office K-9 ran to the suspicious shipment container without command and indicated a positive alert to the presence of a narcotic odor near the same vent and area of the container at which the CBP K-9 showed interest.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on July 13, 2020, the defendant Daren Lewis arrived at an area cargo terminal in a U-Haul rental truck. After going inside the office, the defendant returned to the truck and backed the U-Haul up to the container holding the suspicious shipment. Lewis opened the locks on the container and positioned the doors of the U-Haul truck to obscure the area between the truck and the container before going into the container.

After a short time, he was observed in the cab of the truck and appeared to be using a telephone. After closing the doors on the back of the U-Haul truck and driving away from the cargo terminal, the defendant was stopped on Sheridan Drive in Tonawanda by Erie County Sheriff's Deputies. The defendant and the U-Haul truck were transported to an Erie County Sheriff's Office. A search warrant was executed on the U-Haul. Inside, investigators discovered two cardboard boxes containing shrink wrapped packages. One of the packages was opened and found to contain a bag of a white crystal substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine. The shipment contained a total of 59.5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. The estimated street value of the suspected methamphetamine is $2,700,000. Lewis was arrested. 

“While we often speak of the potentially deadly consequences of heroin and fentanyl use, methamphetamine can be just as dangerous, just as addictive, and in the end, just as deadly,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “The coordinated efforts by Homeland Security and our partners in local law enforcement have resulted in one of the largest seizures of methamphetamine ever in the Western District of New York and prevented this massive batch of poison from reaching our streets and wreaking havoc in our community.”

“Drug trafficking organizations clearly have the false perception that they can act with impunity during the current crisis,” said Kevin Kelly, HSI Buffalo Special Agent-in-Charge. “This arrest and significant seizure sends an unequivocal message that we will continue to hold criminals accountable.”  

The defendant will make an initial appearance on July 15, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer.

The criminal complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; and the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Niagara County Acting Sheriff Michael Filicetti.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.                               

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ALBANY, NEW YORK – Saul McDuffie, age 33, of Albany, pled guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith; Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Eric Hawkins of the Albany Police Department. 

In pleading guilty, McDuffie admitted to possessing a loaded Taurus handgun, which he placed on the tire of a car parked on North Swan Street in Albany, on October 28, 2019.  McDuffie has multiple prior felony convictions, including two convictions for drug offenses, for which he was sentenced to a total of over six years in prison, and a burglary conviction, for which he was sentenced to two to six years in prison. 

At sentencing, McDuffie faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.   A defendant’s 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 Albany Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cyrus P.W. Rieck and Rachel L. Williams. 

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jervonne Harris, age 41, of Hampton, Virginia, was sentenced today to serve 35 months in prison for conspiring to distribute marijuana and money laundering, announced United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Kevin Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

As part of his previous guilty plea, Harris admitted that between May 2017 and August 2017 he received bulk quantities of marijuana from a source of supply on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation in New York State. Harris sold the marijuana he received to customers in Virginia, and sent the proceeds from those sales back to his source of supply by courier and wire transfer. As part of his guilty plea, Harris admitted to distributing about 57 kilograms of marijuana.

In addition to his term of imprisonment, the court also sentenced Harris to six years of supervised release and ordered him to pay a money judgment in the amount of $250,800.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Oswego County Drug Task Force, comprised of Special Agents of HSI, members of the City of Oswego Police Department, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, Investigators from the Oswego County District Attorney’s Office, the SUNY Oswego Police Department and Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe.

RALEIGH, N.C. – A Henderson man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison for drug conspiracy and distribution offenses.

According to court documents, Steven Lamar Cooke, 38, managed a drug distribution conspiracy in 2017 that distributed heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl in the Henderson community. The drug-trafficking organization distributed primarily from a trailer on Brown Hills Road where customers sometimes had to wait in line for their turn to purchase drugs from Cooke or his associates. Cooke also pled guilty to personally distributing a quantity of heroin during the conspiracy time frame. Cooke had a history of other drug distribution-related offenses at the state level.

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Brown prosecuted the case.

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. 2:19-CR-2-D.

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The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

SHERMAN, Texas – A 40-year-old Honey Grove, Texas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for tax fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.                

          Kristi Michelle Finney, also known as Kristi Michelle Fry, pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2019 to five counts of tax fraud.  On July 2, 2020, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant sentenced Finney to 33 months in federal prison.  Finney was also ordered to pay restitution of $359,733 to the Internal Revenue Service.

          According to information presented in court, from 2013 to 2018, Finney offered tax services from her home, where she would complete and file tax returns for others at a fee of around $200.  An IRS investigation linked 147 suspicious tax returns to Finney, many of which contained false employment, income, and expense information.  Specifically, Finney would claim large financial losses for businesses that never existed, resulting in a larger tax refund for her clients than they would otherwise be entitled to.  Finney would then divert portions of the fraudulent tax refund to herself by placing the refunds on prepaid debit cards.  Finney concealed her involvement by falsely claiming that the fraudulent returns were personally prepared by her clients, rather than her.  The IRS was ultimately able to identify Finney as the filer of these returns through internet protocol addresses and email addresses associated with the electronic returns, as well as through witness interviews.

          This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.

           BEAUMONT, Texas – A 59-year-old Kemah, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox today.

           Jimmy James Mamoth, Jr., pleaded guilty to attempted bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield on July 13, 2020.  

           According to information presented in court, on Sep. 27, 2019, a witness observed Mamoth approach the entrance to the Texas First Bank in Hull, Texas, wearing a dark hooded jacket, gloves, a Halloween-style mask on his face, and carrying a duffle bag.  The witness honked his vehicle’s horn to draw attention to Mamoth, who subsequently fled into the nearby woods.  Law enforcement was able to locate and arrest Mamoth, and from him recovered an Airsoft-style replica gun meant to resemble a Beretta 9mm pistol.  Mamoth was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 9, 2019.

           As part of his plea agreement, Mamoth admitted his participation in a string of other robberies and attempted robberies, specifically, the robbery of the Arbor 8 movie theater in Austin, Texas, on March 17, 2019; an attempted robbery of the Benchmark Bank in West Lake Hills, Texas, on June 4, 2019; the robbery of the Broadway Bank in Wimberley, Texas, on June 19, 2019; and the robbery of the First National Bank of Hughes Springs in Kilgore, Texas, on June 28, 2019.  Mamoth further agreed to pay restitution for the above crimes.

           This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Austin Police Department, the West Lake Hills Police Department, the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and is prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Rapp and Rachel Grove.

BOSTON – A California couple pleaded guilty today to conspiracy charges in connection with agreeing to pay $250,000 to secure the fraudulent admission of their daughter to the University of Southern California (USC) as a purported athletic recruit.

Diane Blake, 55, and Todd Blake, 54, both of Ross, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and honest services wire and mail fraud. Todd Blake also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Nov. 17, 2020.

Beginning in 2017, the Blakes conspired with William “Rick” Singer and others to facilitate their daughter’s admission to USC as a purported athletic recruit. Specifically, Singer had an athletic profile of their daughter created and sent to the USC athletic admissions committee, allegedly through co-conspirator Donna Heinel, then a USC athletics administrator. As a result, their daughter was allocated an athlete admission spot even though she was not actually recruited and did not play on the USC women’s volleyball team. The Blakes paid $50,000 to USC women’s athletics and $200,000 to Singer’s non-profit charity, The Key Worldwide Foundation, as a quid pro quo for the admission spot. The Blakes concealed this deal from USC personnel.

Under the terms of Diane Blake’s plea agreement, the parties have agreed to a sentence, subject to the Court’s approval, of six weeks in prison, a $125,000 fine and two years of supervised release with 100 hours of community service. Under the terms of Todd Blake’s plea agreement, the parties have agreed to a sentence, subject to the Court’s approval, of four months in prison, a $125,000 fine and two years of supervised release with 100 hours of community service. 

Diane and Todd Blake are the 27^th and 28^th parents to plead guilty in the college admissions case.   

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

The charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Karin M. Bell and Stephen E. Frank of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announces a plea in the murders of 8 veterans

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A former nursing assistant pled guilty today in federal court here to murder and assault charges in the deaths of eight veterans at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Clarksburg, West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Reta Mays, 46, of Harrison County, West Virginia, pled guilty today to seven counts of second degree murder in the deaths of veterans Robert Edge, Sr., Robert Kozul, Archie Edgell, George Shaw, W.A.H., Felix McDermott, and Raymond Golden. She pled guilty to one count of assault with Intent to commit murder” involving the death of veteran R.R.P.

“In today’s plea agreement, the defendant has admitted to actions that ended the lives of several military veterans who served our country honorably.  Our investigation never lost sight of each of these lives and the sacrifices these men made for their country.  The investigative work and the time it took to do it was always done with an eye towards honoring these men. Though we can’t bring these men back because of her evil acts, we hope the conclusion of the investigation and guilty plea helps ease the pain of the victims’ families,” said Powell.  “I want to thank the incredible work by the FBI, the VA-OIG, the West Virginia State Police, the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and our prosecution team.  I also want to especially thank Attorney General Barr, and the families of the victims who never wavered in their support of this investigation.  We look forward to the conclusion of this matter at the sentencing, where we will be seeking the maximum penalty.”

Mays was employed as a nursing assistant at the VAMC, working the night shift during the same period of time veterans in her care died of hypoglycemia while being treated at the hospital. Nursing assistants at the VAMC are not qualified or authorized to administer any medication to patients, including insulin. Mays admitted to administering insulin to several patients with the intent to cause their deaths.

“These cases are tragic and heart breaking,” said Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “I thank the VA OIG agents and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served and that the victims’ families have some measure of closure. They are in our thoughts and prayers as we work with VA to help prevent anything like this from ever happening again.”

“When you break the trust you’re given as a medical professional and break the law, there are consequences,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman. “This was a lengthy and thorough investigation with hundreds of interviews, extensive medical and administrative records to review and forensic testing that needed to be done. These eight Veterans deserved respect and honor. They served our country and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. They didn’t deserve to die at the hands of a nursing assistant who intentionally inflicted pain on them and their families. I commend the work of my agents and our law enforcement partners with the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.” 

Mays faces up to life in prison for each count of second-degree murder.  Mays faces up to 20 years in prison for assault with intent to commit murder.” 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. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Brandon S. Flower are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated. The West Virginia State Police and the Greater Harrison Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, assisted.

U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.

View the announcement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvGG23_mZQg

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Nelson Israel Alfaro (49, Miami) to 14 months in federal prison for conspiring to defraud the United States, obstruction of justice, and making false statements to federal law enforcement officers. The court also ordered Alfaro to forfeit $117,500 to the United States, the proceeds of his related crimes.

Alfaro had pleaded guilty on December 13, 2019.

According to court documents, Alfaro was an attorney who represented criminal defendants in Florida federal and state courts, including the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. From early 2017 to August 2019, Alfaro and his former client, Gilberto De Los Rios, concocted a scheme to charge an already-sentenced federal defendant tens of thousands of dollars for information that they then falsely and fraudulently presented to the United States as the defendant’s “cooperation” and “substantial assistance,” in order to trigger a sentence reduction for the defendant.

To achieve this sentence reduction, Alfaro concocted a plan to purchase information that would be of interest to law enforcement, which the federal defendant could falsely claim as his own cooperation. Alfaro planned to charge the federal defendant $50,000 as Alfaro’s personal fee for this effort, and an additional $30,000 to pay for the information that would earn the federal defendant substantial assistance credit. Alfaro’s scheme required him to enlist the aid of another person known to him, but unknown to the federal defendant—De Los Rios, whom Alfaro had represented regarding Florida state criminal charges in 2010-2011.

Over time, Alfaro’s plan transformed into a plot to earn the federal defendant substantial assistance credit by paying De Los Rios to cooperate on behalf of the federal defendant. In doing so, Alfaro fabricated a story about the relationship between De Los Rios and the federal defendant, about which he repeatedly lied and provided false and fraudulent information to federal law enforcement agents.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Josephine W. Thomas.

U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that a four-count indictment was unsealed in the Northern District of Ohio charging six men with conspiracy to engage in sexual exploitation of children, sexual exploitation of children, conspiracy to receive visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and conspiracy to access with intent to view child pornography.

Named in the indictment are David Pece, age 30, of Highland Heights, Ohio; Myron Brown, age 59, of Columbia, South Carolina; Mark Delacruz, age 31, of Temple City, California; Steven Foster, age 45, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Richard Avery, age 52, of Safford, Arizona and Ethan Shives, age 30, of Big Pool, Maryland.

According to the indictment, from November 2015 through March 2016, the defendants worked together in a group, and with others, to convince minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct online. Allegedly, this conduct was often preformed via webcam so that the defendants could record and view the material.

The indictment states that the defendants conspired together online with the intent to lure their minor victims into one or more chatroom-based websites. Once the minors visited these chatroom-based websites, the defendants and others would entice the victims to engage in sexually explicit acts, which they would then record.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by agents with the Detroit Division of the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Sullivan and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Gaughan Andrachik.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA– Three Alachua County men, each with multiple prior felony convictions, were sentenced in late June, 2020, to federal prison terms ranging from 5 to 17 years followed by supervised release for firearm and drug offenses. United States Attorney Lawrence Keefe for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentences. 

These federal convictions result from the joint efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that form the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative (GVI).  The Gainesville GVI was established in April, 2019, by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida in an effort to stem the escalating gun violence in Gainesville and the surrounding area.  As GVI partners, the State Attorney’s Office for the Eight Judicial Circuit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the Alachua Police Department, the University of Florida Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections share this commitment to protecting public safety.   

“The Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative gets results. There is still more work to be done, but I am confident that we will continue to remove violent felons from the streets and make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “My staff and I remain committed to supporting our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and I applaud the dedicated professionals who brought these men to justice.”

Darris Orr, (33), of Gainesville, Florida, received concurrent federal prison sentences of 10 and 17 years on June 29, 2020, after pleading guilty on January 28, 2020, to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Eutylone (a synthetic cathinone, more commonly known as “bath salts”), and Marijuana. During a traffic stop on May 14, 2019, officers of the Gainesville Police Department searched a vehicle Orr was a passenger in and discovered a loaded 9 millimeter (9mm) pistol in the glove box. Orr admitted owning the gun and was arrested for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He was indicted on August 6, 2019. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a follow-up investigation and a federal warrant was issued for Orr’s arrest. When Orr was later apprehended on September 5, 2019, he was in possession of 77 grams of Eutylone (more commonly known as “bath salts”), approximately 150 pills containing Methamphetamine, and approximately half a pound of Marijuana. Orr had prior felony convictions including drug possession with the intent to sell, felony battery, burglary, and victim/witness tampering.

"This is a result of excellent cooperation between local and federal authorities to address gun violence on the streets of Gainesville," said Chief Tony Jones of the Gainesville Police Department.

Curtis Lee Woods Jr., (29), also of Gainesville, was sentenced on June 30, 2020, after pleading guilty on January 28, 2020, to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. On July 29, 2019, Woods ran from Alachua County Sheriff’s Office warrant investigators as they attempted to apprehend him on an outstanding arrest warrant for Attempted Murder. As investigators caught up with Woods, they saw him throw something over the 15 foot wall that boxed him in.  Once Woods was in custody, sheriff’s deputies located and recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from the other side of the wall. Forensics experts from the sheriff’s office recovered Woods’ fingerprint from the slide of the pistol. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a follow-up investigation. Woods had prior felony convictions including aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and false imprisonment.

“I applaud the hard work of everyone involved in the successful completion of this case,” said Alachua County Sheriff, Sadie Darnell. “Make no mistake, violent crime involving guns and drugs will not be tolerated in our community. We will continue to work with all our partners to make sure that those who choose to resort to violence with firearms are dealt with accordingly.”

Fermon Green III, (39), of Hawthorne, Florida, was sentenced on June 30, 2020, after pleading guilty on March 3, 2020, to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison. On September 28, 2019, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a female who said Green threatened her with a firearm inside her own home, and that he was still on the porch outside her residence. When deputies arrived and questioned him, Green denied he had a firearm but a search revealed that he was in possession of a 9mm pistol that had previously been reported stolen. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted a follow-up investigation. Green had prior felony convictions including child abuse, battery on a law enforcement officer, felony battery, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“Our law enforcement partnerships play such a vital role in fighting violent crime and protecting the public,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Daryl McCrary, “This sentencing is another example that working jointly with our partners is making our communities safer.”

Assistant United States Attorney Chris Elsey prosecuted the cases, which were investigated by the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, all member agencies of the Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative.

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, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - Gainesville Gun Violence Initiative

Internet

"Lee Weber led a hero’s life and he died a hero’s death.  He was a guardian in the highest and truest sense.  He devoted his life to protecting his family, protecting his community, and protecting his country.  Our nation and our state owe him an incalculable debt of gratitude.  The men and women of the United States Department of Justice stand shoulder to shoulder with Wendy, their beautiful children, and our entire law enforcement family, as we honor the life of Lee Weber and mourn this tragic loss."

BOSTON – A California woman was sentenced today in connection with paying $9,000 to have an individual take online classes for her son, in order to earn credits to facilitate his graduation from Georgetown University.

Karen Littlefair, 57, of Newport Beach, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to five weeks in prison, two years of supervised release which includes 300 hours of community service, and a fine of $209,000. In January 2020, Littlefair pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Littlefair agreed with William “Rick” Singer and others to pay approximately $9,000 to have an employee of Singer’s for-profit college counseling business, The Edge College & Career Network (“The Key”), take online classes in place of Littlefair’s son and submit those fraudulently earned credits to Georgetown to facilitate his graduation. The Key employee allegedly completed four classes for Littlefair’s son at Georgetown and elsewhere, and in exchange, Littlefair paid Singer’s company approximately $9,000. Littlefair’s son graduated from Georgetown, using the credits earned by the Key employee, in May 2018. 

Singer previously pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government’s investigation.

Case information, including the status of each defendant, charging documents and plea agreements are available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/investigations-college-admissions-and-testing-bribery-scheme.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric S. Rosen, Justin D. O’Connell, Leslie A. Wright, Kristen A. Kearney, Karin M. Bell and Stephen E. Frank of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the court documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed not guilty unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

A four-person cabal has been charged with plotting a hit on a DEA task force officer, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox.

A federal grand jury indicted Manual Garcia Gomez, 22, Jorge Humberto Velazco Larios, 27, Eva Denisse Gomez Garcia, 38, and Alicia Yuritzi Juarez Martinez, 31, for conspiracy to use interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire.

Mr. Gomez and Mr. Larios have been arrested and will make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver this afternoon at 2 p.m. Ms. Garcia and Ms. Martinez remain fugitives and are believed to be in Mexico.

“The Justice Department will not stand for retaliatory violence against officers and agents,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “These defendants were plotting to murder a federal task force officer – a man who routinely risks his life to combat the scourge of drugs in our community. We are grateful to our partners at the DEA and FBI who worked tirelessly to keep the officer safe and help bring his would-be killers to justice.”

According to the indictment, unsealed today, Mr. Gomez – who was behind bars at Johnson County Jail on a methamphetamine charge – allegedly told another individual at the jail he wanted to “off” the DEA agent assigned to his case. He set the budget at $20,000: $5,000 up front and $15,000 following the hit.

In a subsequent phone call with an individual outside the jail, Mr. Gomez confirmed he wanted the agent murdered.

Mr. Gomez then called his girlfriend, Ms. Martinez, and his sister, Ms. Garcia, to arrange for delivery of the murder-for-hire fee. He advised them that the co-defendant in his drug case, Mr. Larios, would also contribute to the up-front payment.

Meanwhile, Mr. Larios, also behind bars, called an unindicted co-conspirator and asked him to deliver money to a workshop “so we can take care of something.”

On June 11, the unindicted co-conspirator, referred to in court documents by the nickname “Roberto,” made a $3,000 “down payment” for the murder of the agent. Five days later, he made an additional $2,000 payment on behalf of Mr. Gomez and Mr. Larios.

Mr. Gomez once again called his contact outside the jail. He described the DEA agent he wanted killed, then instructed the individual to call Ms. Martinez and Ms. Garcia, who he said had documents that could help the hit man figure out the name of the target. Mr. Gomez said the women were “badasses” who “know everything that is going on.”

Shortly thereafter, Ms. Garcia received a photo of DEA task force officer “T.H.” via the messaging app, WhatsApp. The following day, she flashed the image during a jailhouse video call with Mr. Gomez.  

“Yes, that’s him,” Mr. Gomez told Ms. Garcia, smiling.

“Drug trafficking is inherently violent and traffickers will stop at nothing to protect their profits and their lifestyle,” said Eduardo A. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division.  “DEA agents and task force officers constantly put themselves in harm’s way to ensure these individuals are brought to justice. We appreciate our federal partners’ swift efforts to bring accountability to their nefarious intentions.”   

"The Dallas Violent Crime Task Force is dedicated to protecting our citizens. This includes ensuring the safety of our law enforcement partners," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno. "The defendants wanted to harm a DEA task force officer and that is unacceptable. Fortunately, we were able to prevent a dangerous act from occurring and successfully apprehend a group of violent criminals."

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, these defendants face up to 10 years in federal prison. (Had the hit been carried out as planned, they would have faced a possible death sentence or life imprisonment.)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Violent Crime Task Force, conducted the investigation in close collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administrations’ Dallas Field Division. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, and U.S. Customs & Border Protection assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is handling the prosecution. 

Ocala, FL – Curtis Duncan (30, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Duncan had been indicted on May 20, 2020.

According to court documents, on March 30, 2020, City of Ocala police officers responded to a disturbance at an apartment complex, where a victim told the officers that Duncan had pointed a gun at her during an argument over a cellphone. The victim described the firearm and the vehicle that Duncan had been driving when he left the scene. A short time later, officers stopped Duncan in the same vehicle and recovered a loaded .380 caliber handgun from a bag that Duncan had strapped around his torso.

Duncan has prior state felony convictions including home invasion robbery, and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie Boyer.

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 and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

Ocala, FL – Malcolm Straughter (35, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Straughter was indicted on May 20, 2020.

According to court documents, on March 19, 2020, a City of Ocala police officer stopped Straughter in his vehicle for a traffic infraction. After the officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from within the vehicle, a search revealed six bags of marijuana and a loaded 9mm firearm under Straughter’s seat. The firearm had an obliterated serial number and was later confirmed as stolen.

Straughter has prior state felony convictions for possession of a short-barreled shotgun, possession of cocaine, and robbery with a firearm and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie Boyer.

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 and enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes. For more information on Project Guardian visit www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

WICHITA, KAN. – A Wichita man who caught law enforcement’s attention when he was shot pleaded guilty today to growing hallucinogenic mushrooms, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Corey A. Logan, 35, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing a controlled substance. In his plea, Logan admitted that in March 2018 police were dispatched to his home in the 1900 block of East Maywood. Logan reported being shot by an unknown assailant. Police found a mushroom growing operation in a bedroom of his home.

Sentencing is set for Oct. 2. He could face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison. McAllister commended the Wichita Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.

BOSTON – A Winchester man was indicted yesterday in connection with allegedly filing fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $13 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for COVID-19 relief through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

Elijah Majak Buoi, 38, was indicted on four counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution. Buoi was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2020.

According to the indictment, Buoi is the president and CEO of an information technology services company, Sosuda Tech, LLC. Between April 2020 and June 2020, Buoi allegedly submitted fraudulent applications for over $13 million in PPP loans through SBA-approved lenders. In these applications, Buoi misrepresented the number of employees and payroll expenses and falsely certified that the United States was the primary residence for his employees. Buoi also allegedly submitted falsified documentation in support of his applications for PPP funds. The indictment further alleges that Buoi ultimately received over $2 million in PPP funds.

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small-businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. PPP loan proceeds must be used by businesses on payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses. 

The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The charge of making a false statement to a financial institution provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Inspector General Mark Bialek of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General; Kevin Kupperbusch, Special Agent in Charge of the Small Business Association, Office of Inspector General, Eastern Regional Office; and Inspector General Jay N. Lerner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Officer of Inspector General made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Queenin and Carol Head of Lelling’s Office and Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

Massachusetts residents with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 should contact (add our hotline/email). Information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (BCDF) hotline by phone (1-866-720-5721) or via an online reporting form available at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.