WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Keenan Gibson, 41, of Wilmington, was sentenced last week to more than 9 years in prison after a jury convicted Gibson of gun and drug charges in June 2019.

According to court documents, Gibson was charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Gibson’s charges arose from a search of a Wilmington apartment during which officers discovered more than 1,100 bags of heroin, along with marijuana and methamphetamine. Gibson was found hiding in the bathroom, with his phone in the bathtub and a gun under the sink. Evidence at trial included multiple text messages on Gibson’s phone that referenced selling heroin and other drugs. The jury convicted Gibson in under three hours.

U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, “This defendant decided to sell heroin in the middle of an opioid crisis and to use a firearm  in furtherance of his drug-trafficking activity  in a community plagued by gun violence.  Like others who engage in such conduct, he got caught and now will spend nearly a decade behind bars.”

“Any instance of criminals trafficking drugs creates opportunities for violence and puts communities at risk. This defendant increased that likelihood of violence by using a firearm to further his criminal activities,” said ATF Baltimore Field Division Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones. “ATF and our law enforcement partners in the Wilmington Police Department, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are focused on getting anyone who uses guns to commit crime off the street so Delaware neighborhoods can thrive.”

"This sentencing marks the culmination of an investigation into drug and weapon offenses - crimes that plague communities across the country and disturb the quality of life of our residents," said Wilmington Police Chief Robert J. Tracy. "The outcome also accentuates the strong partnership our agency has with our colleagues in the U.S. Attorney's Office and the ATF, and the shared commitment we have to making our community safer."

The case was investigated by the Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe and Christopher Howland prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 16-CR-46.

HOUSTON – A 67-year-old resident of Houston is set to appear in federal court on allegations of mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Alan H. Paull is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon today at 2:15 p.m.

The indictment, returned Aug. 12, charges Paull with four counts of mail fraud for his alleged role in a scheme to defraud investors in his lending business Paull & Partners Investments LLC. From approximately July 2014 through September 2015, Paull allegedly made false representations and concealed material facts from those who had provided funds to his lending enterprise.

The charges allege he failed to repay investors their principal when a property sold as he had represented to them. Instead, Paull continued to pay monthly interest to those investors leading them to believe the properties had not been sold, according to the charges.

If convicted of mail fraud, Paull faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas State Securities Board. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

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

PROVIDENCE – An Indian National appearing today before a U.S. District Court Judge in Providence, RI, admitted to participating in a “Tech Support” telemarketing scam based in India, in which call center operators falsely represented themselves to be associated with Microsoft Corporation, falsely represented to victims that malware or viruses had been detected on their computers, and offered supposed services to remove the malware.

During the scam, members of the conspiracy gained access to the victims’ online banking user names and passwords. Using that information, funds were taken from the victim accounts.

Abrar Anjum, 34, admitted to the court that he allowed members of the conspiracy to use bank accounts under his control in the United States to receive funds taken from victim accounts. Anjum admitted that in return for allowing members of the conspiracy to deposit fraudulently obtained funds into his bank accounts, he was allowed to keep a portion of the funds. He transferred the remaining funds to his co-conspirators in India.

According to court documents, the “Tech Support” scheme operated out of call centers in India.

Anjum was arrested by FBI agents on February 3, 2020, prior to his boarding a flight to India from JFK Airport, and was arraigned the next day in U.S. District Court in Providence.

Appearing today before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Anjum, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.

Anjum, who remains detained in federal custody, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 21, 2020.

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by statutory penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The FBI investigation is continuing.

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Tacoma -  A registered sex offender currently jailed in Skamania County pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  STEVEN LEE McBRIDE, 51, faces a mandatory minimum 15-years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on October 26, 2020.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend no more than 25-years in prison, and the defense will recommend no less than 18 years in prison.  Judge Settle is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence up to the maximum of 30 years in prison.

According to records filed in the case, in 2007, McBRIDE was convicted in Idaho of molesting two children under the age of 16 and was required to register as a sex offender following a state prison term of up to 15-years. Upon release from prison, McBRIDE moved to a residence in Skamania County.  There he moved next door to a distant relative and befriended that neighbor’s child.  Between September 2017 and May 2019, McBRIDE made sexually explicit images of the child by hiding a camera in the bathroom, molesting the child while the child slept and ultimately by posing as a school friend of the child online to demand the child send sexually explicit images.  McBRIDE threatened to kill the child’s family if the child did not continue to provide the photos.

Law enforcement learned of the production of child pornography when investigators in Queensland, Australia became aware of McBRIDE providing sexually explicit images online in their jurisdiction.  An undercover officer contacted McBRIDE and got additional information about the identity of the victim from McBRIDE.  The Vancouver Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations moved quickly to alert the victim’s parent and arrest McBRIDE on June 7, 2019. 

McBRIDE is charged in Skamania County Superior Court for the hands-on molestation. Under the terms of the plea agreement his state and federal sentences will run concurrently.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department and the Queensland Australia Police.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angelica Williams.

BRUNSWICK, GA:  The former executive director of the Camden County Public Service Authority is going to federal prison for misappropriating funds intended for payment of employees’ federal payroll taxes.

Willliam Brunson, 53, of Kingsland, Ga., was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to one count of Tax Evasion, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Judge Wood also ordered Brunson to pay restitution of $677,768.40 and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Such blatant theft as the scheme perpetrated by William Brunson strains the already fragile trust in public service,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This investigation and the ensuing prison sentence should be a stark reminder to other public servants that they are accountable to the taxpayers they serve.”

According to court documents and testimony, Brunson was responsible for paying over to the Internal Revenue Service employment taxes on behalf of the Public Service Authority (PSA). Federal taxes were withheld from employees’ paychecks from 2014 to 2016, but Brunson failed to remit more than $677,000 that was due to the IRS. In addition to not filing his personal tax returns during that period, Brunson also used a Camden County PSA credit card and other funds for his personal use, including the purchase of antique cars and car parts.

Brunson was terminated from the PSA in May 2018 after an audit of PSA finances and an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

“It is our hope that holding Brunson accountable for his greed will help regain some of the public’s trust that was eroded by his actions,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “When public officials abuse their positions of trust by stealing from the taxpayers they serve, it is a priority for the FBI and our federal, state and local partners to root them out and bring them to justice.”

“Government officials should be held to a higher ethical standard and it was obvious that Brunson chose greed over doing the honest thing,” said James E. Dorsey, IRS Criminal Investigations, Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to put resources on these investigations in an effort to rebuild public trust in our government officials.”

 “This investigation and outcome shows that no one is above the law,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “Trust and accountability is of utmost importance when it comes to handling public funds. Public servants will be held accountable for their actions should that trust be violated.”

The case was investigated by the IRS, the FBI and the GBI, and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald today announced the guilty plea of ANNAMARIE GREEN, 60, to one count of disability fraud. GREEN, who was indicted on January 8, 2020, entered her guilty plea this afternoon before Judge Nancy E. Brasel in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

According to GREEN’s guilty plea and documents filed with the court, in October of 2014, GREEN applied for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which approved her application in August of 2015. On multiple occasions from August 2015 through 2018, GREEN intentionally failed to disclose her work activities to the SSA, because she knew these activities would impact her eligibility to receive SSA benefits. Specifically she failed to disclose that she engaged in substantial work activities for Select Home Care, Inc., a company which GREEN owned and operated. As a result, GREEN received at least $40,000 in social security disability benefits that she knew she was not entitled to receive. As part of the plea agreement, GREEN agreed to pay restitution of the benefits she wrongfully received.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp and Assistant United States Attorney Jordan L. Sing are prosecuting the case.

Defendant Information:

ANNAMARIE GREEN, 60

Zimmerman, Minn.

Convicted:

• Title II Disability Fraud, 1 count

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TOPEKA, KAN. – A Kansas man was charged in a federal indictment unsealed today with growing thousands of poppy plants at his home in Clay County in an effort to manufacture heroin, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Matthew Pfeiffer, 43, Morganville, Kan., is charged with one count of attempting to manufacture opium, one count of manufacturing thebaine (a constituent of opium) and one count of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking.

The indictment alleges that the investigation began when the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Riley County Police Department received information that Pfeiffer was growing poppies and planning to manufacture heroin. On June 4, 2020, law enforcement officers served a search warrant at Pfeiffer’s home in Morganville, where they seized more than 4,000 poppy plants. The poppies were identified as Papaver somniferum, a plant from which opium is derived.

“Opium poppies are an unfamiliar sight in Kansas,” McAllister said, “and we want to keep it that way. It is unlawful to grow poppies for the purpose of producing opiates.”

“The cultivation of poppy plants, for the purpose of making opium paste for heroin production is extremely rare in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. Callahan, head of the St. Louis Division, which covers Kansas. “The DEA along with our law enforcement partners, thwarted this attempt to produce heroin, and we will continue to stand in the way of violators who seek to harm our communities. This case should serve as an example and a warning that the DEA is as committed to preventing further harm caused by the opioid crisis in rural America, as we are in major cities.”

If convicted, Pfeiffer could face a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $1 million on the charges of attempting to manufacture controlled substances, and up to four years and a fine up to $250,000 on the telephone count.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Riley County Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Department and the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily W. Allen (619) 546-9738; W. Mark Conover (619) 546-6763; and Phillip L.B. Halpern (619) 546-6964

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY– August 24, 2020

SAN DIEGO – Because of her quick admission of guilt and her substantial assistance in the corruption case against her husband, Margaret E. Hunter was sentenced in federal court today to eight months of punitive home detention to be served as part of three years of probation.

The sentencing of Hunter, wife of former Congressman Duncan D. Hunter, concludes the long-running scandal in which the couple used almost $250,000 in campaign funds as their personal bank account and spent lavishly for items as inconsequential as fast food, movie tickets and sneakers; as trivial as video games, Lego sets and Playdoh; as mundane as groceries, dog food, and utilities; and as self-indulgent as luxury hotels, overseas vacations, and plane tickets for themselves, their family members, and their pet rabbits, Eggburt and Cadbury.

U.S. District Judge Thomas Whelan noted Margaret Hunter’s “remarkable cooperation” in handing down the unusual sentence. For the home detention portion of the sentence, he restricted all movement outside the home except for employment, education, religious services, mental health and substance abuse counseling, and court proceedings. He banned her from seeking employment with fiduciary responsibility.

“Margaret Hunter promptly accepted responsibility for her role in this campaign finance fraud,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney David Leshner, chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Her sentence reflects her lesser culpability relative to her husband, the important part she played in securing her husband’s guilty plea, and her role in reinforcing the bedrock principle underlying our democracy that the politicians who write our laws do not stand above them.” Leshner praised prosecutors Phil Halpern, Emily Allen and Mark Conover as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their tireless pursuit of justice in this case.

“Public corruption is a mission priority for the FBI,” said Omer Meisel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “We are dedicated to focusing our efforts, resources and expertise to these complex and sensitive investigations because public officials who use their position for private gain undermine the integrity of government and erode the public’s trust in the very framework of our democracy. Today's sentencing marks the end of a four-year FBI investigation which resulted in felony convictions of former Congressman Duncan Hunter and his wife, Margaret Hunter, for lying and stealing from Hunters’ constituents and undermining the public's trust.”

In recommending punitive home detention, federal prosecutors contrasted Margaret Hunter’s case with that of her husband – who received an 11-month custodial sentence. They noted that rather than admit guilt and resign his seat in April 2016 when his conduct was originally questioned, Duncan Hunter initially sought to deny the misconduct, and then to blame his wife for his own misdeeds. After the latter tactic garnered almost universal condemnation, Duncan Hunter then began his relentless and unceasing attacks on the justice system in general, and the Department of Justice and the FBI in particular.

By contrast, government prosecutors noted that Margaret Hunter admitted her guilt early, quickly entered a guilty plea, and cooperated with the United States in its investigation into her husband’s criminal conduct.  According to the government’s sentencing memo, in doing so, she “did much to establish that the rule of law triumphed over dangerous tropes that the Department of Justice was falsely targeting political figures.” 

The sentencing recommendation also accounted for the fact that Margaret Hunter’s substantial cooperation came at a great cost to herself and her family. The prosecution observed that her decision to cooperate against her husband (the father of her three children) was a wrenching and difficult one, which effectively pitted herself against the rest of the extended Hunter family. The personal cost of this decision resulted in severe psychological and emotional consequences, including a fractured marriage, intense public scrutiny, and the arduous of task of rebuilding her life as a single mother in a hostile family environment.

Finally, the United States remarked in its sentencing memo that the individual most responsible for the instant offense was undeniably Duncan Hunter. Although Margaret Hunter admitted that she played an active and very substantial role in the theft of campaign funds, she did so only with the concurrence, encouragement, and support of the then-Congressman.  Apart from Duncan Hunter’s own theft of campaign funds, it remains uncontested that—time and time again, over many years—he placed his wife in a position to steal campaign funds with full knowledge that she would use those funds to support a lifestyle that their family otherwise could not afford. As early as December 2009, he directed his campaign treasurer to get his wife a campaign credit card, even though at the time she had absolutely no official role with the campaign. And, after receiving multiple warnings from multiple sources that his wife was stealing campaign funds, Hunter allowed her illegal conduct to escalate.

DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 18cr3677-W                          

Margaret E. Hunter                                         Age: 45                       La Mesa, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGE

Conspiracy to Steal Campaign Funds – Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 371

Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine

AGENCY

Federal Bureau of Investigation

DAYTON – Garry Weatherbie, 65, of Franklin, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography after being convicted of prior sex offenses.

According to court documents, on Feb. 6, 2019, Weatherbie possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse on his tablet.

At the time, Weatherbie was on parole after being released from the Chillicothe Correctional Institution, where he served an eight-year sentence for pandering sexual material involving a minor. Weatherbie was previously convicted in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.

A federal complaint affidavit details that investigators took Weatherbie into custody in February 2019 on allegations of sexual assault. While searching the defendant’s residence, they discovered the child pornography on his tablet.

Weatherbie pleaded guilty to the federal charge in February 2020.

“This case is a reminder that possessing child pornography is not a victimless crime,” U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers said. “Even if you do not create the child pornography, you can face significant time in federal prison.”

“Today’s significant sentencing removes from the community a repeat child predator, who shockingly continued his predatory behavior while on parole for similar crimes,” said Vance Callender, HSI special agent in charge for Michigan and Ohio. “There is no place in our society for those who prey on children. HSI and its partners will continue to aggressively target those who exploit children.”

David M. DeVillers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Vance Callender, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Franklin, Ohio Police Chief Russ Whitman announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Hunt is representing the United States in this case.

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INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today that U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt sentenced Christina Short, 43, of Speedway, Indiana, to 27 months in federal prison for perpetrating a six-year scheme to steal over $450,000 from the charitable foundation where she worked.

“Those who donate to charitable causes should feel secure in knowing their funds will go where they intended,” said Minkler. “And those who choose to steal should likewise know that they will be caught, prosecuted, and held accountable in court.”

Short’s now-former employer was Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA), a national women’s college fraternity headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. ZTA has thousands of student members across approximately 170 colleges throughout the country, as well as approximately 200,000 living alumni members.

Short worked for over 16 years as the financial coordinator for the ZTA Foundation, which is ZTA’s 501(c) (3) charitable organization. ZTA Foundation raises money for scholarships and educational opportunities for ZTA students and alumni, as well as for breast cancer awareness. As financial coordinator, she was responsible for receiving donations in the mail, depositing them in the Foundation’s bank account, and ensuring that the donations are accounted for in the Foundation’s financial ledgers.

For over six years, beginning in 2012 and continuing until she was terminated in November 2018, Short perpetrated a scheme to steal donations and deposit them into her own personal bank accounts. In all, she stole 816 donations on nearly 500 separate occasions for a total of $450,874.48. She used the money she stole primarily for personal expenses, such as restaurants, clothing, youth sports, and vacations.

Her embezzlement went undetected for so long because of the sophisticated steps she took to conceal it. First, she focused on money orders or other donations that would not cause the donor to be alerted if the donation was deposited in her bank account—in other words, she avoided stealing personal checks.

Second, when she washed and altered the “pay to” line on the money orders, she used over 14 different variations of her name or her maiden name, such as “Kristina M Short,” “Christina Aranjo Short,” and “Christy Short,” in an effort to disguise her scheme from her bank.

Third, she made sure to record all donations in ZTA Foundation’s donation database software, including the ones she stole. As a result, she ensured that donors received confirmation and assurance that their donations were received, such as “thank you” cards and tax receipts.  Donors would even see their name in annual ZTA publications, even though Short had pocketed their donations.

Finally, at the same time, she manually manipulated donation reports to hide the amounts she stole and ensure that the reports matched the ZTA Foundation’s bank records, so neither the Foundation nor their outside accountants would detect her thefts.

Ultimately, a bank examiner noticed a suspicious-looking deposit and contacted ZTA, who confronted Short. She admitted to stealing only that check and was terminated. ZTA immediately notified and cooperated fully with the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Carmel Police Department, who investigated and uncovered the full scope of Short’s six-year scheme.

Members of ZTA’s executive staff were present for Short’s sentencing and submitted remarks to the Court regarding the sense of personal betrayal that Short, a 16-year employee and one-time friend of many at ZTA, had caused.

“Embezzlement is a crime that diverts funds from their intended use and causes harm to businesses and individuals. This sentence clearly shows that if you choose to commit this type of crime, you will be held accountable for your actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Keenan, FBI Indianapolis. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and investigate those who unlawfully enrich themselves at the expense of others.”

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Linder, who prosecuted the case, the Court ordered Short to repay the entire amount she stole, and that after sentencing, she made an initial payment of approximately $30,000. Short will also serve three years of supervised release after her 27-month prison sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges. This prosecution demonstrates the Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting complex, long-running fraud schemes. (See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan 5.1)

          LOS ANGELES– A former controller for a Burbank-based commercial printing company was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for embezzling $2.8 million from his employer and failing to report the stolen funds as income to the IRS.

          Sean Edin Talaee, 63, of Glendale, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also ordered him to pay $2,933,585 in restitution. Talaee

          pleaded guilty in May 2019 to one count of mail fraud and one count of subscribing to a false income tax return.

          From October 2015 to June 2018, Talaee worked as the controller overseeing the accounting and tax payments of Printograph, Inc., a commercial printing company that does business as GotPrint.com. During this time period, Printograph made a series of periodic estimated tax payments based on the company’s expected gross income, deductions, and credits for each year. Talaee enabled these estimated tax payments by bringing company checks to Printograph’s president and sole owner – who had signing authority for the company’s bank account – for her signature prior to their submission to the IRS.

          On at least eight separate occasions, Talaee obtained company checks from Printograph’s president but instead inserted his own taxpayer information when filling out the IRS voucher forms that accompanied the estimated tax payments. By using his own information – and not the company’s – Talaee was able to claim the estimated tax payments for himself and caused the IRS to credit the payments to his own personal account, thereby embezzling the funds from Printograph and effectively laundering the embezzled proceeds through the IRS.

          During the course of the scheme, Talaee embezzled $2.8 million from his employer and falsely claimed estimated tax payments in that amount for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. These estimated tax payments allowed Talaee to receive a total of $2,778,994 in fraudulent tax refunds for these years, court papers state. Talaee failed to report the embezzled money as income for these tax years, causing a total tax loss of $740,085.

          “(Talaee) embezzled a significant amount of money from Printograph and exposed the company – and its owner personally – to potential tax liability stemming from his theft of the company’s tax payments,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. “He did so repeatedly over the course of two years for his own personal gain.”

          IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated this matter.

          This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander C.K. Wyman of the Major Frauds Section.

BOSTON – A Melrose man has been indicted in connection with his role in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme. 

Alan Neal Scott, 68, was indicted on four counts of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft. Scott was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in July 2020.

According to the charging documents, over the course of the last six years, Scott submitted numerous fraudulent unemployment insurance claims with the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Scott submitted these claims using his own identity as well as the identities of various individuals, including some who were not eligible for unemployment benefits as they were incarcerated at the time of the claims and could not have been employed as reported. Moreover, the fraudulent claims all reported prior employment at a non-operational Massachusetts-based business also associated with Scott. As a result of these fraudulent claims, it is alleged that the DUA sent unemployment benefits funds to several addresses connected to Scott and that the funds were deposited into accounts he controlled. The indictment also alleges that Scott submitted fraudulent pandemic unemployment insurance claims in the names of others.

The charges of mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 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 aggravated identity theft charges provide for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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; Michael Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigation, New York Regional Office; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Tonya Perkins, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Unemployment Assistance, Program Integrity Unit also provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Miron Bloom of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. 

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.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Marquis Moss, 31, of Shreveport, was sentenced today for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Moss to 115 months (9 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Moss previously pleaded guilty on February 3, 2020. According to evidence introduced in court, after 9-1-1 dispatchers received a hang-up call on February 22, 2019, Shreveport Police officers were dispatched to Fullerton Street in Shreveport where the call originated. When officers arrived, they found Moss outside in the neighborhood armed with a pistol and ammunition.

Moss was previously convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile (2013) and attempted distribution of a false CDS. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.

The ATF and the Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary J. Mudrick prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.

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LONDON, Ky. — A Corbin, Ky., man was convicted Friday, by a federal jury sitting in London, of armed methamphetamine trafficking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

After two hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted Helton of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of that conspiracy, possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm by convicted felon.  The jury acquitted Helton of possessing a firearm found at his mother’s residence.  

The evidence at trial established that, on June 9, 2019, deputies with the Knox and Laurel County Sheriff’s Offices searched the residence that Helton shared with his wife, Anita, seizing over 300 grams of crystal methamphetamine and four firearms, including three that were loaded.  Helton then directed his wife to go to his mother’s residence, to get money to bond him out of jail.  When law enforcement searched that residence, they found over $8,000 secreted in a closet.  A search of a child’s playhouse on the property revealed over 800 grams of additional crystal methamphetamine and another firearm.  The Kentucky State Police had previously made a controlled purchase of methamphetamine that was arranged with Helton but delivered by his wife. 

Anita Helton previously pled guilty to conspiring with Helton to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of that offense. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 17, 2020.

Helton is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2021. He faces a statutory minimum of 20 years in prison.  Under federal law, Helton must serve 85 percent of his sentence.  Helton’s minimum sentence was enhanced as a result of a previous felony conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Department; and Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Department, jointly announced the verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.           

This case is also 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. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – An Ohio woman was sentenced to federal prison for her role in a drug trafficking ring, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Danielle Seagraves, 43, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

“An Ohio woman and 33 grams of meth. This investigation removed a large amount of meth from Jackson County,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “We always have and we always will hold drug dealers accountable.”

Seagraves previously admitted that on April 18, 2017, she had in her possession approximately 33 grams of methamphetamine that she intended to sell to individuals in and around Ripley. Before she could complete any drug transaction, officers with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested Seagraves and seized the methamphetamine.

The Jackson County Bureau of Investigation, comprised of deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and officers with the Ravenswood and Ripley Police Departments, worked closely with the West Virginia State Police, the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to conduct the investigation. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott handled the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:19-cr-00104.

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          SANTA ANA, California– A private security employee at an Orange County retirement community was arrested today on a criminal complaint alleging he pretended to be a federal agent.

          Donovan Pham Nguyen, 34, of Riverside, is charged with one count of false impersonation of a federal officer or employee, according to a criminal complaint unsealed today. He is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.

          According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Nguyen for years pretended to be a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and used the false title to obtain things of value. Nguyen never worked for HSI, although he previously was a privately contracted security guard at a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) facility. He left that job in 2015 after an internal investigation was launched resulting from allegations that he printed fake HSI identification documents, the affidavit states.

          In May 2019, while employed for a private security company at a retirement community in Orange County, Nguyen allegedly claimed his false title to agents with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) preparing to execute an arrest warrant.

          In June 2020, Nguyen discussed a potential criminal investigation with members of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office after an introduction from a mutual friend. At the meeting, Nguyen again purported to be an HSI employee, according to the affidavit. Following the meeting, Nguyen informed the District Attorney’s Office that, after discussing the matter with his supervisor, HSI could not assist the district attorney in the investigation.

          Nguyen allegedly used a false DHS identification to purchase firearms, which allowed him to avoid taking and paying for certain firearm safety courses required by California law. He also used his purported duties as an HSI special agent to excuse his frequent absences from work at a private security firm.

          His coworkers at the private security firm reported seeing an HSI badge, a DHS plaque, and various tactical gear, including a ballistic shield, inside of Nguyen’s office. They also reported that Nguyen’s personal vehicle had been equipped with red and blue lights and a siren, the affidavit states. Nguyen also handed out HSI memorabilia, mugs and coins to people at that office.

          Nguyen’s LinkedIn social media profile posted his current employment as “Department of Homeland Security Agent,” indicating he was employed with DHS since June 2008. Nguyen also appeared in a YouTube video that purports to be an interview of him as a long-time HSI special agent discussing immigration policies, according to the affidavit.

          A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

          If convicted, Nguyen would face a statutory maximum sentence of three years in federal prison.

          Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility investigated this matter. These DHS agencies received assistance from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Orange Police Department.

          This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John A. Balla and Jerry C. Yang of the Riverside Branch Office.

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Beckley man was sentenced to federal prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating between California and Raleigh County, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Christopher Redden, 31, of Beckley, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine and for being an unlawful user in possession of a firearm. 

“Operation Shutdown Corner took down 17 drug traffickers who were spreading their poisons across southern West Virginia,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “One by one they are being sent to prison for their crimes.”

Redden previously admitted that between January 2019 and September 17, 2019, he participated in the DTO by working with others to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in the Southern District of West Virginia. During this time period, Redden admitted to obtaining approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine a month and a quantity of heroin that he intended to redistribute. Redden admitted that at times he was fronted the drugs, or given drugs without paying for them, and then sold the drugs for profit to pay back the supplier. Other times he admitted to paying for the drugs up front. Additionally, Redden admitted that on September 18, 2019, when he was arrested, he was in possession of a Taurus, model G2C, 9mm semi-automatic pistol that he had received as payment for methamphetamine. He also admitted that at the time he possessed the firearm he knew he was an unlawful user of controlled substances and therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms. 

Operation Shutdown Corner was a joint investigative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, the Beckley Police Department and the West Virginia State Police. 

United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess handled the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00312 and Case No. 5:19-cr-00237.

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Cross Lanes woman was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for a drug crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Brandi Martin, 35, was sentenced to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.

“Deadly - six pounds of 96% pure meth,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. “Thanks to the great work of our law enforcement partners, the package was intercepted before Martin had a chance to distribute it. Meth-related overdose deaths have been on the rise in our communities.”   

On January 25, 2018, law enforcement intercepted a package of approximately six pounds of methamphetamine headed for Martin’s address. On January 26, 2018, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Martin’s residence. Officers executed the warrant and found Martin as she was attempting to flush 19 grams of cocaine, 73 grams of methamphetamine and heroin. These drugs were recovered from the toilet and were sent away for forensic analysis. The drugs were confirmed for their substance and purity. The methamphetamine in the toilet proved to be 96% pure. The six pounds of methamphetamine also was 96% pure. Martin ultimately admitted that she intended to distribute the methamphetamine she was attempting to flush. Two handguns also were recovered from her residence. 

Martin has a previous federal felony conviction for the distribution of cocaine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) conducted the investigation as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney L. Alexander Hamner is handling the prosecution.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice. Established in 1982, OCDETF is the keystone of the Attorney General’s strategy to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics throughout the United States using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. OCDETF agents and prosecutors nationwide handle complex investigations and prosecutions of the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States. OCDETF facilitates joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 19-CR-00209.

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Jonathan Singletary, a/k/a Freeze, 38, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to obstructing an official proceeding. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin G. Bish, Charles J. Volkert, Jr., and Meghan A. Tokash, who are handling the case, stated that in January 2010, the defendant informed his New York State parole officer that he had information concerning the murder of Jabril Harper, which occurred on December 16, 2009, and the robbery of Morris Singer, which occurred on January 4, 2010.

On January 11, 2010, Singletary provided a signed, sworn statement to the Buffalo Police Department. In the statement, the defendant said that Rodshaun Black came to his house on December 23, 2009, and told him that he and Ernest Green had robbed and killed Jabril Harper in Roosevelt Park after the victim began fighting them. Singletary also told the detectives that Black admitted the murder of Jabril Harper was part of a $10,000 contract killing. The defendant shared these details once again on December 6, 2011, while testifying before a federal grand jury.

On October 25, 2017, representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI met with Singletary to prepare Singletary for testimony in the trial of Rodshaun Green and Ernest Black. An Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) reviewed the January 11, 2010, sworn statement the defendant made to the Buffalo Police Detectives and the defendant’s sworn grand jury testimony from December 6, 2011. Singletary expressed reluctance to testify and did not want to read his prior Buffalo Police statement or his grand jury testimony, so the AUSA read it to the defendant and Singletary agreed that both his Buffalo Police statement and his grand jury testimony were true and accurate.

On November 29, 2017, representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI again met with the defendant prior to his trial testimony scheduled for that day. Singletary again expressed reluctance to testify, but agreed to do so. The defendant told the government representatives that he had a problem testifying in front of Rodshaun Black’s mother because he had known her for a long time. Singletary then refused to review his grand jury testimony from December 6, 2011, and the statement he gave to Buffalo Police detectives on January 11, 2010, but said he was not worried because everything he had said previously was true.

On November 29, 2017, the prosecution called Singletary as a witness in United States v. Rodshaun Black and Ernest Green, et al., an official criminal trial proceeding in United States District Court for the Western District of New York. The defendant was sworn and then testified falsely and evasively. Specifically, Singletary: denied ever speaking to Rodshaun Black about the Jabril Harper murder; denied knowing Rodshaun Black’s mother; denied discussing his relationship with Rodshaun Black’s mother with an FBI agent and an AUSA earlier that day in preparation for his trial testimony; denied that he learned about Jabril Harper’s murder directly from Rodshaun Black; and testified that his prior statement to the Buffalo Police Department consisted of information he was told to say by the detectives who interviewed him.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci. 

Sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2020, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

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