Ocala, FL – David Shaw (36, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Shaw had been indicted on May 20, 2020.

According to court documents, on December 5, 2019, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop Shaw after he ran a stop sign on a stolen motorcycle. Shaw fled from the traffic stop before crashing the motorcycle and continuing to flee on foot. While giving chase, a deputy observed Shaw discard a loaded 9mm firearm and a backpack. The backpack contained more than 100 rounds of ammunition. 

Shaw has eight prior felony convictions, including burglary of a dwelling, introduction of contraband into a detention facility, trafficking in methamphetamine, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer. He is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie Boyer.

This is another case 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 Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with selling fentanyl.

John Mena, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2019, Mena pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.    

Mena sold approximately 13g of fentanyl in a transaction that an undercover agent witnessed. Mena was arrested in Lawrence on July 16, 2019, as part of a 10-week coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley called “Devil’s Highway.”  The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against a total of 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Brazier of Lelling’s Office prosecuted the case.

NEWARK, N.J. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey today announced an agreement with the Borough of Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, to resolve allegations that the Borough violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by denying zoning approval for an Orthodox Jewish congregation to construct a  worship center on its property. 

The proposed consent decree, which was filed today in the U.S. District Court of the District of New Jersey and must still be approved by the Court, would resolve a lawsuit filed by the United States against the borough, which alleged that the borough had prevented Valley Chabad, an Orthodox Jewish congregation that has worshipped in the borough for over 20 years, from constructing a new house of worship. A separate settlement agreement and proposed consent decree have resolved a related lawsuit filed by Valley Chabad against the borough.  

“RLUIPA protects the rights of every religious community to worship free of unlawful burdens,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, District of New Jersey, said. “As our office continues to vigorously protect the civil rights of the Jewish community and all religious communities in our District, we will use every tool at our disposal, including pursuing court-enforceable injunctive remedies. Through our actions today, we have taken steps to ensure that Valley Chabad and its members will no longer face unlawful barriers in their practice of religion.”

“For more than four centuries, religious people from all over the world have sought refuge here,” Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division said. “Often, these people did so to escape persecution by monarchs, dictators, and other despots. Then, when our ancestors established the United States of America, the Founders adopted the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and thereby enacted into law the right of all people to exercise religion. Two decades ago, the Congress extended these protections when it passed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. That law protects religious people and their institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. The United States is, and must always remain, committed to the right of all people to practice their faith and worship together. The United States Department of Justice will continue to fight against any unlawful deprivation of the right of all people to practice their faith. As our ancestors did four centuries ago, today, religious people often gather and worship with those who share their faith. Through this agreement, the Valley Chabad and its members will be able to build a house of worship and to exercise their right to practice their religion freely.”

The complaint alleged that Woodcliff Lake violated RLUIPA by imposing a substantial burden on Valley Chabad’s religious exercise when, on three occasions between 2006 and 2013, Valley Chabad attempted to purchase parcels of property in the borough in order to construct a house of worship and meeting center, called a Chabad house, large enough to meet its needs. In each instance, the borough purchased or re-zoned the parcels, preventing development of a Chabad house. The complaint also alleges that this conduct and the borough’s eventual denial of Valley Chabad’s application for zoning relief to expand on its current property burdened Valley Chabad’s ability to worship freely without furthering a compelling government interest. 

As part of the consent decree, the borough will permit Valley Chabad to construct a new Chabad house on its property. The resolution would also enjoin the borough from acting in a manner that violates RLUIPA and require the borough to establish a procedure for receiving and resolving RLUIPA complaints, train its employees on RLUIPA’s requirements, and submit regular reports to the United States and the court on its compliance. In the separate agreement that resolves the related private action, the borough agreed to pay Valley Chabad $1.5 million to resolve its claims for damages and attorney’s fees that arose from the borough’s conduct.  

RLUIPA is a federal law that protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative, which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship.

People who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Hotline at (855) 281-3339 or the Civil Rights Division Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (800) 896-7743, or through the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website.  More information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, may be found at http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Campion, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Unit, Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Millenky, of the Civil Rights Unit, Civil Division.

BOSTON –Two alleged computer hackers were indicted in the District of Massachusetts on charges of damaging multiple websites across the United States as retaliation for United States military action in January 2020 that killed Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.  

Behzad Mohammadzadeh (a/k/a “Mrb3hz4d”), believed to be approximately 19 years old and a national of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Marwan Abusrour (a/k/a “Mrwn007”), believed to be approximately 25 years old and a stateless national of the Palestinian Authority, were charged in an indictment unsealed today on one count of conspiring to commit intentional damage to a protected computer and one count of intentionally damaging a protected computer.  The defendants are believed to be living in Iran and the Palestinian Authority and are wanted by United States authorities. 

“Foreign hackers are a persistent commercial and national security threat to the United States,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Working with our law enforcement partners worldwide, we will aggressively pursue, prosecute and apprehend those who use the internet to attack American interests.”

“The hackers victimized innocent third parties in a campaign to retaliate for the military action that killed Soleimani, a man behind countless acts of terror against Americans and others that the Iranian regime opposed,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Their misguided, illegal actions in support of a rogue, destabilizing regime will come back to haunt them, as they are now fugitives from justice.”

“These hackers are accused of orchestrating a brazen cyber-assault that defaced scores of websites across the country as a way of protesting and retaliating against the United States for killing the leader of a foreign terrorist organization. Now, they are wanted by the FBI and are no longer free to travel outside Iran or Palestine without risk of arrest,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s indictment should send a powerful message that we will not hesitate to go after anyone who commits malicious cyber intrusions against innocent Americans in order to cause chaos, fear, and economic harm.”

According to the indictment, Mohammadzadeh has publicly claimed to have personally defaced more than 1,100 websites around the world with pro-Iranian and pro-hacker messages, which he began in 2018 and continues through the present day. Abusrour is a self-described spammer (sender of unsolicited emails for profit), carder (illicit trader in stolen credit cards) and black hat hacker (a hacker who violates computer security for personal gain or maliciousness) who has publicly claimed to have defaced at least 337 websites around the world, which he began no later than June 6, 2016, and continued through at least July 2020.

The defendants allegedly started working together on or about Dec. 26, 2019, when Abusrour began providing Mahammadzadeh with access to compromised websites. On or about Jan. 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a statement that the United States military had “taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.” The statement explained that the “strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans” and described briefly General Soleimani’s past actions and future plans. The United States’ responsibility for General Soleimani’s death was widely publicized.

Following this statement, and in retaliation for it, Mohammadzadeh allegedly transmitted computer code to approximately 51 websites hosted in the United States, and defaced those websites by replacing their content with pictures of the late General Soleimani against a background of the Iranian flag along with the message, in English, “Down with America,” and other text. Some of the websites defaced were hosted on computers owned by a company with corporate headquarters in Massachusetts. No later than Jan. 7, 2020, Abusrour provided Mohammadzadeh with access to at least seven websites, which they defaced with a similar image and text. The defendants took credit online for their website defacements.

The charge of conspiring to commit intentional damage to a protected computer provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greatest. The charge of intentionally damaging a protected computer provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greatest. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Lelling, NSD Assistant Attorney General Demers and Boston FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott L. Garland, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s National Security Unit, is prosecuting this case with the assistance of Cyber Counsel Ali Ahmad of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Kerry Charlotin, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In January 2020, Charlotin pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

On May 1, 2019, officers were in the area of Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan due to resident complaints of drug dealing and public drinking. When Charlotin, who was seen by the officers wearing a black backpack, observed the police presence, he ran. As the officers pursued him the black backpack was thrown into the air and landed on the roof of a building. Charlotin, no longer wearing the backpack, continued running from the officers; he was eventually found hiding in a fenced in area in a backyard. When officers recovered the black backpack, they found, among other things, a loaded Glock 26, 9mm caliber Lugar semi-automatic pistol containing nine rounds of ammunition, one of those rounds was in the chamber.

Based on prior felony convictions, Charlotin is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition under federal law.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William G. Gross made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of Lelling’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

NEWARK, N.J. – Seven members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, are among those who were honored by the Department of Justice’s 36^th Annual Director’s Awards this year, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Agarwal received a Director’s Award for Superior Performance in the Criminal Division. AUSA Agarwal led the investigation and prosecution of seven Paterson, New Jersey, police officers for crimes including the brutal assault of a suicidal hospital patient; the distribution and sale of narcotics; unlawful vehicle stops, searches, and seizures; unlawful use of force; and the theft and extortion of money and property from Paterson residents. His work, which was described in the local press as “a story of the justice system working,” is an example of the important role that the Department of Justice continues to play in maintaining public trust in our local police departments and in ensuring that every community receives the commitment to public safety to which it is entitled.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Campion, Chief of the office’s Civil Rights Unit, and Kelly Horan Florio, a member of that unit, each received a Director’s Award for Superior Performance in the Civil Division, for their productive and successful affirmative civil enforcement practice. Collaborating with DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and other Department of Justice colleagues, they zealously pursue and obtain justice on behalf of those who have been deprived of their civil rights. Among other causes, they have fought for the rights of military personnel under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, the disabled and mobility-impaired under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the imprisoned under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, victims of discrimination under the Civil Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act, and persons of faith under the Religious Land Use Institutionalized Persons Act. As recognized experts in civil rights, they are frequent speakers at events across New Jersey, educating the public about civil rights and the Department's notable civil rights initiatives, including the Department's Initiative to Combat Sexual Harassment in Housing, Place of Worship Initiative and the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative.  

A team comprised of nine attorneys and eLitigation professionals from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) were honored for their cooperative effort in overhauling the eLitigation practices and protocols for the District of New Jersey. The award recipients from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jason DeJesus, Sergey Gluzberg, Richard Jones, and AUSA Daniel Shapiro, formulated the Office’s standalone eLitigation Unit; improved the eLitigation competencies of paralegals; developed and automated a common folder structure for civil and criminal cases; instituted an electronic system for the generation and tracking of grand jury subpoenas; and adopted workflows for the intake, processing, review, and production of data. They were honored together with Susan Cooke, John Haried, Tonia Jones, Tammy Reno, and Virginia Vance from EOUSA, who provided exemplary support throughout the restructuring.

“Every day, the men and women who work in our office do their jobs with an extraordinary level of skill and professionalism,” U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, District of New Jersey, said. “That our work was recognized in three separate areas this year – criminal, civil and administrative – speaks to that dedication throughout every aspect of our work. I am particularly pleased that the Department this year recognized our office’s enduring commitment to protecting Americans’ civil rights through both affirmative civil enforcement and criminal investigation and prosecution. I congratulate all of the recipients on their achievements and am proud to call myself their colleague.”

The traditional ceremony held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building had to be cancelled this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.

BOSTON – A former member of the Boston-based Devon Street Kings Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges. The defendant admitted to shooting in the direction of another Latin Kings member in June 2019.

Juan Figueroa, a/k/a “King Pun,” 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Dec. 9, 2020. Figueroa was arrested and charged in December 2019, at which time he was a member of the Devon Street Kings, a Boston-based Chapter of the Latin Kings, and had formerly been a member of the New Bedford Chapter.

The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf.

Figueroa admitted to participating in a June 2019 shooting in which he shot in the direction of a Latin Kings member who was in bad standing with the gang. Figueroa further admitted to creating numerous songs and accompanying music videos that served as compelling propaganda for the gang. Producing music under the name, “The Almighty King Pun,” Figueroa’s songs and music videos depicted the gang members brandishing firearms, boasting about their proclivity for violence and describing the scope of their successful drug distribution operations. The music videos featured groups of Latin Kings members wearing gang colors, clothing and symbols, and throwing up gang signs. The lyrics of these music videos taunted and threatened rival gang members.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Figueroa is the twelfth defendant to plead guilty in the case.

The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Boston Police Commissioner William Gross; and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

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

BOSTON – A former member of the Connecticut Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (“Latin Kings”) leadership body, known as the “Crown Council,” pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy charges.

Hector Vega, a/k/a “King Demon,” 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Dec. 22, 2020. Vega was arrested and charged in December 2019, at which time he was a member of the Crown Council for the Latin Kings in Connecticut.

The Latin Kings are a violent gang comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the criminal organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and is motivated by a desire to further its influence and to protect its turf from rival gangs.

Evidence developed during the investigation included recordings of Vega presiding over a Latin Kings “trial” against two Massachusetts members who had violated rules of the gang. Regional leadership of the Latin Kings chose Vega and the Connecticut Crown Council as the judges for the trial in order for the hearing to be unbiased. After hearing evidence from members and finding the two members guilty of violating Latin Kings rules, Vega and the Crown Council ordered the beatings of both members, which were captured on recording. Vega participated in the assault of one of the members.

In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. Vega is the thirteenth defendant to plead guilty in the case.

The RICO conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard and Mark Grady of Lelling’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

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

          LOS ANGELES– Members of an FBI-led task force this morning arrested 18 individuals named in a series of federal indictments that allege narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses, including the illegal sale of five AR-15-style “ghost guns.”

          Operation “Black Phoenix” resulted in seven indictments that were issued earlier this year by a federal grand jury. The indictments charge a total of 25 defendants, 18 of whom were arrested this morning, and four of whom were already in custody. Authorities continue their attempts to arrest the remaining three defendants.

          During the course of the investigation, authorities seized approximately 28 pounds of methamphetamine, about a quarter-pound of cocaine and crack cocaine, and 16 firearms. Six of the indictments allege at least one transaction involving pound-quantities of methamphetamine. One of the indictments alleges a series of methamphetamine sales that include two one-pound deals and four two-pound transactions.

          Two indictments allege illegal gun sales. Defendants Dau Quay Duong, 53, of Ontario, and Christopher Nguyen, 47, also of Ontario, are charged with illegal firearm sales for allegedly selling a total of five ghost guns, specifically five AR-15-type rifles with no make, model or serial number. In another indictment, defendant Jonathan Domingo Go, 47, of Torrance, is charged will illegally selling three firearms – two .40-caliber pistols and 5.56-caliber assault pistol that is described as a ghost gun with no manufacturing mark and no serial number.

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

          The indictments carry a variety of charges, including conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute narcotics and substantive narcotics trafficking offenses such as distribution of methamphetamine. If they are convicted, most of the defendants will face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in federal prison, and some will face decades in federal prison because of their extensive criminal histories.

          The cases announced today are the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the Monterey Park Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.

          These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn T. Andrews of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury returned a Third Superseding Indictment on September 15, 2020, which charged Sean Fiore, 36, of Burlington, Vermont, with murder for hire, conspiracy to kidnap and murder a person overseas, and five child pornography offenses.  A second person was charged with Fiore in the Third Superseding Indictment, but the identifying information about that person is currently under seal by order of the court.  Fiore will be arraigned on the indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy on a date to be scheduled in the future. 

According to court records and proceedings, a search warrant was executed at Fiore’s residence on May 17, 2019, as part of a coordinated operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force where multiple residences were searched for child pornography.  Fiore was arrested on that date.  On the day of his arrest, Fiore was about to graduate from the University of Vermont with a degree as a nurse practitioner.  On May 20, 2019, Magistrate Judge Conroy ordered Fiore released on conditions.  On May 24, 2019, the grand jury returned a single-count indictment against Fiore that charged him with possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B).  On August 22, 2019, the grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment that added a single count of receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2).  On May 21, 2020, Magistrate Judge Conroy ordered Fiore detained pending trial after finding he violated the terms and conditions of his pretrial release.  On August 13, 2020, the grand jury returned a Second Superseding Indictment, which added a single count of use of a facility of interstate and/or foreign commerce (cell phone and Internet) with the intent that a murder be committed for money (murder for hire), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1958(a).

Today, September 15, 2020, the grand jury returned a Third Superseding Indictment, which added four counts.  The first, conspiracy to kidnap and murder an individual in another country, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 956, alleges that while Fiore was in Vermont, he requested that a person in another country (Codefendant #1) make a video for him that depicted the beating, torture, and killing of a kidnapped adult male.  According to the grand jury, Fiore and Codefendant #1 communicated using email and social media regarding Fiore’s specifications for the video.  Fiore sent approximately $4,000 to Codefendant #1 for the making of the video.  On April 8, 2019, Fiore received a link from an email used by Codefendant #1 that accessed a video which depicted the torture and apparent killing of an adult male who was restrained and tied to a bed.  The charged conduct in this count is related to the previously brought murder for hire count.

The Third Superseding Indictment also added three child pornography counts.  Two counts charged that Fiore and Codefendant #1 produced and attempted to produce, and conspired to produce, a video file depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §  2251.  The final count alleged that Fiore and Codefendant #1 received and attempted to receive, and aided and abetted the receipt, of video files that depicted a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2), 2.

U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan emphasized that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  If convicted, Fiore’s sentence will be determined by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines, the sentencing factors set forth at 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and the impact, if any, of any mandatory minimum prison terms applicable to any count of conviction. 

U.S. Attorney Nolan makes this announcement with Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbit of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Michael Shea, acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Boston.  U.S. Attorney Nolan commended the efforts of the Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and is grateful for the expertise contributed to the prosecution by the Department of Justice (DOJ) Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, and DOJ Office of International Affairs.

Barbara A. Masterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, and Mona Sahaf, Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, are handling the prosecution of Fiore.  Maryanne E. Kampmann of Stetler, Allen, Kampmann & Sussman, PLLC, represents Fiore. 

U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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.

SAN FRANCISCO – Complaints were unsealed in federal court today charging 15 individuals with trafficking drugs and firearms in connection with the Sureños street gang, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson, ATF Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman, FBI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair, DEA Special Agent in Charge Danny Comeaux, and Concord Police Chief Mark Bustillos. 

According to affidavits filed in connection with the complaints, multiple individuals affiliated with the Sureños street gang are alleged to have conspired to sell methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and firearms.  According to the complaint, the alleged sales occurred across Contra Costa County, but primarily in Concord, with numerous transactions occurring in a shopping center parking lot at 1500 Monument Boulevard.  According to the complaint, Sureño gang members claimed control over this shopping center, referring to it as “The Block” or “The Box,” and described it to undercover officers as a kind of “one-stop shop” for guns and drugs. 

“Today’s charges explode the myth of the non-violent drug dealer,” said U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson.  “Drugs are expensive.  Drugs are dangerous.  Where we find drugs, we almost always find guns.  What is particularly appalling about today’s charges is that the defendants did not even bother to hide the guns or drugs.  Rather, the defendants allegedly peddled their products in broad daylight in public spaces.”

“Throughout this investigation, ATF has worked side by side with our partners to fulfill ATF’s mission of protecting the public by investigating the criminal misuse and trafficking of firearms in the Contra Costa county area,” said Special Agent in Charge Patrick Gorman, San Francisco Field Division, ATF.  “In April 2019, ATF began working with the Concord Police Department and then with other agencies to address problematic gang activity that was occurring within Contra Costa county. Law enforcement partnerships create an unwavering unified front against violent crime and this collaborative effort between local and federal agencies is evidence of our shared focus. ATF remains committed to working hard and doing our part to make this region a safer place as our pledge to protect the public is one ATF takes very seriously.”

“This operation exemplifies the dedication of the FBI and our task force partners to disrupt dangerous gang activity and remove the threat of criminals who endanger our neighborhoods,” said FBI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Craig Fair.  “We are committed to improving the quality of life in our Bay Area communities and ensuring the safety of our citizens.”

“Nobody wins in a community where street gang activity exists. It threatens public safety and the security of our neighborhoods,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux. “These indictments send the message that law enforcement at all levels will work as one to pursue and prosecute criminal gangs and their associates.”

“We are thankful for our close working relationship with our federal partners,” said Concord Police Chief Mark Bustillos. “Violent crime does not stop at a city’s border, and our relationship with our federal partners allows us to bring those who use violence and intimidation in Concord to justice.”          

Of the fifteen defendants charged federally, eight were taken into custody on September 10, 2020.  Three additional defendants are due to be transferred from state to federal custody, while two more will stay in state custody as of today.  The whereabouts of the remaining two federal defendants are unknown.  The following chart summarizes the charges, custodial status, and next court dates for of each of the 15 federal defendants:

A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted of a drug conspiracy in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B)(viii) and 846, the defendants face a sentence of at least 5 and up to 40 years in prison, along with at least 4 years and up to life on supervised release, up to a $5 million fine, forfeiture, and denial of federal benefits.  If convicted of a drug conspiracy in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) and 846, the defendants face a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, along with at least 4 years and up to life on supervised release, up to a $5 million fine, forfeiture, and denial of federal benefits.  If convicted of possession of an unregistered firearm, the defendants face a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with up to 3 years of supervised release, a $10,000 fine, and forfeiture.  If convicted of conspiring to deal firearms without a license, the defendants fae up to 5 years in prison, along with up to 3 years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and forfeiture.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. 

The case is being prosecuted by the Oakland branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.  The prosecution is the result of a 2-year investigation led by the ATF and the Concord Police Department, along with the DEA and the FBI, as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. 

          LOS ANGELES– A Koreatown man was sentenced today to 210 months in federal prison for posing online as a teenager and targeting girls for sexual exploitation.

          Francisco Sanchez, 31, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee. Sanchez pleaded guilty on May 20 to two counts of production of child pornography.

          Sanchez used websites and computer applications to “meet” minor girls. From 2014 to September 2016, Sanchez used the pseudonym “Eddie Nash” to pose as a teenage boy and develop online romantic relationships with his victims so that he could obtain sexually explicit images and videos from them.

          In some cases, Sanchez convinced his victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video chats, which allowed him to take pornographic screen shots of the minors. In other cases, Sanchez threatened to commit suicide to coerce the victims into sending him pictures or videos.

          After obtaining sexually explicit images from the girls, Sanchez threatened to publish or otherwise expose the victims if they did not send additional images or videos.

          While Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts – related to victims who were 13 and 14 – he admitted in his plea agreement that he victimized another five teenage girls.

          Sanchez further admitted that he cyberstalked two victims – which included threatening to make one girl “internet famous” by publishing child pornography depicting her – and that he distributed child pornography on a peer-to-peer file-sharing network.

          “(Sanchez) victimized real children – manipulated and exploited them for his sexual pleasure – with total disregard for the consequences and effects upon them,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum.

          After he is released from federal prison, Sanchez will be required to register as a sex offender and must serve a lifetime period of supervised release.

          The FBI and the Los Angeles Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated this matter.

          This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julia S. Choe of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, and Damaris Diaz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section.

BOSTON – A law enforcement officer from Texas was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for sexual exploitation of a minor and cyberstalking charges.

Pasquale T. Salas, 26, a/k/a Gino, a former deputy sheriff with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 220 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In May 2020, Salas pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of cyberstalking.

“The defendant was an online predator disguised in a law enforcement uniform,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “He used the internet to gain the trust of vulnerable children and then turned around and exploited their innocence and played on their fears. This sentence is a warning to others, but it is also intended to stop this defendant, for the long term, from further victimizing children. We will always prioritize, and aggressively pursue, cases involving online predators.”

“Child predators often wear many disturbing disguises in our communities, and Pasquale Salas is no exception. As a deputy sheriff, he betrayed his oath and abused the trust that was placed in him. Instead of protecting children, he exploited children for his own sexual gratification. He is both a danger and a disgrace, and now, thanks to the courage of the victims who came forward in this case, and the hard work of our law enforcement partners, he’s been taken off the street so he can no longer harm anyone else," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

Salas met the victim through an online video game website in 2014, when the minor was 12 years old. Salas and the girl communicated on a private chat room and then moved those communications to various other platforms, including text messaging, Skype and Snapchat. Salas repeatedly solicited the minor to transmit sexually explicit images and videos of herself. 

Beginning as early as 2016, Salas intimidated the victim into maintaining contact with him and sending additional sexually explicit material by threatening that he would send the minor’s sexually explicit images and videos to her family and her friends. In May 2019, when the victim attempted to terminate contact with Salas, he repeatedly sent threatening communications to the victim, using web-based applications to disguise the source of the communications.

At the time of his arrest, Salas’ smartphone was seized by investigators and found to contain at least one video, sent via social media, of the minor performing sexually explicit acts that Salas had coerced her to perform.

Salas admitted to contacting a second Massachusetts minor through the same website. From the time the victim was 12 until the time she was 16, Salas coerced her into remaining in contact with him and solicited sexually explicit images from her. Salas forced her to disclose her social media credentials so that he could track her activities and view her photographs. Salas sent pictures of himself inside a police car and with a gun and told the victim that he had law enforcement friends in Massachusetts who would follow her and that no one would believe her if she reported what he had done. Salas was in contact with the victim until the time of his arrest.

U.S. Attorney Lelling and Boston FBI SAC Bonavolonta made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Police Departments in Worcester County; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Houston Field Office; the Matagorda (Texas) County Sheriff’s Office; and the Worcester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto from Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

SHREVEPORT, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Kelvin Broadway, 26, of Shreveport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Broadway was sentenced to 57 months (4 years, 9 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Broadway pleaded guilty to the charge on April 24, 2020.

On January 6, 2019, Shreveport Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in which Broadway was a front-seat passenger. Law enforcement officers found two loaded handguns inside a shopping bag that Broadway had possessed between his feet. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.

Broadway has prior felony convictions in Caddo Parish, Louisiana, for felony theft (2011), possession of a controlled substance (2012), and illegally carrying of weapons while in possession of a controlled substance (2013).

The ATF and Shreveport Police Department conducted the investigation and Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Shannon and Tennille Gilreath 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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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.

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Turab Lookman, 68, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was sentenced on Sept. 11 to five years of probation and a $75,000 fine for providing a false statement to the Department of Energy.  Lookman is not allowed to leave New Mexico for the term of his probation.

            On June 6, 2018, Lookman, then an employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, falsely denied to a counterintelligence officer that he had been recruited or applied for a job with the Thousand Talents Program, established by the Chinese government to recruit individuals with access to or knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property.  Lookman pleaded guilty to the charge in January.

            The FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Kraehe and Jon Stanford prosecuted the case.

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Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang today sentenced Marquis Von Clemons, age 38, of Langley Park, Maryland, to 92 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bank robbery.  Judge Chuang also entered an order requiring Clemons to forfeit and to pay restitution in the amount of $5,080.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Interim Chief Hector Velez of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

According to Clemons’ plea agreement, on February 13, 2019, Clemons entered a bank in Hyattsville, approached the teller and passed the teller a note stating, “I have a gun, do not say anything.”  Fearing for her safety, the teller gave Clemons cash from the teller drawer.  Clemons then fled the bank with the money and note.  Surveillance cameras captured a masked Clemons in the bank, as well as his flight from the bank, during which Clemons discarded his mask and some of the distinctive clothes worn during the robbery.  Law enforcement recovered the clothing a short time later.

One week later, on February 19, 2019, Clemons entered the same bank wearing a mask and gloves.  The bank security guard, who was hired after the February 13^th robbery, confronted Clemons and ordered him to remove the mask.  When Clemons did not remove his mask and instead attempted to reach into his pockets, the security guard, believing that Clemons was about to rob the bank, detained Clemons until law enforcement arrived.  When officers arrived at the bank, they searched Clemons and found a note in his pocket stating that he had a gun and demanding money.  When law enforcement questioned him, Clemons provided a fake name and social security number.  Law enforcement subsequently confirmed his true identity through his fingerprints.

A search warrant was subsequently executed at Clemons’ residence and law enforcement recovered the distinctive hat and shoes worn during the robbery on February 13^th.  In addition, law enforcement subsequently recovered Clemons’ DNA from the clothing Clemons discarded during his flight from the February 13^th bank robbery, as well as the distinctive hat and shoes recovered from Clemons’ residence.

Less than seven months before the robbery Clemons had been released from prison after serving a four year sentence for robbing the same bank.

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur praised the FBI and the Prince George’s Police Department for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rajeev R. Raghavan and Dana J. Brusca, who prosecuted the case.

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NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man and associate of the street gang known as the “Famous Boyz” was sentenced today to 98 months in prison for conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.  

Jonathan Garcia, a/k/a “Bebo,” 36, previously pleaded guilty via videoconference before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo to an information charging him with conspiring to distribute 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Judge Arleo imposed the sentence today by videoconference.     

Saeed Dawes, a/k/a “Nasty,” 22, of Newark, was sentenced on Aug. 12, 2020, via videoconference by Judge Arleo to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Dawes previously pleaded guilty before Judge Arleo to an information charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.

Jonathan Hernandez, 25, of Newark, pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2020, before Judge Arleo in Newark federal court to a superseding information charging him with one count of conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute crack cocaine.   

In October 2018, Garcia, Hernandez, and Dawes, along with 13 other members of a violent drug trafficking conspiracy operating in Newark, were charged by criminal complaint after a lengthy wiretap investigation with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and heroin.  Shaka McKinney and Jahid Vauters, a/k/a “K,” a/k/a “KO,” also were charged with firearms possession offenses. To date, 14 of the defendants have pleaded guilty to drug and/or firearm charges and seven await sentencing. 

On Feb. 25, 2019, a grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging three of the defendants, Patricio Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, and Garcia, with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of crack cocaine for their alleged participation in supplying the “Famous Boyz” with cocaine.  On Sept. 30, 2019, a grand jury returned a 21-count superseding indictment against defendants Patricio Hernandez, Jonathan Hernandez, Garcia, Javon Holmes, a/k/a “J-Dot”, and John Mosley, a/k/a “Breezy,” a/k/a “Brazy.” The charges in the superseding indictment remain pending against the remaining defendants. 

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

The defendants are members and associates of the Famous Boyz – a subset of the Brick City Brim set of the Bloods street gang – which dealt significant quantities of heroin and crack-cocaine, primarily around the area of South 18th Street and 15th Avenue, in Newark.  The gang often referred to this area as the “8 Block,” “18th,” or simply by reference to the number “8”. 

Mosley was a primary source of narcotics for the Famous Boyz and often directed the gang’s drug operations. Mosley and other members of the Famous Boyz shared narcotics, customers, and firearms with one another in furtherance of their narcotics-trafficking activities, and they used juveniles to distribute narcotics and stash firearms. Patricio Hernandez and Jonathan Hernandez were among the main suppliers of crack cocaine to Mosley, while Vauters supplied Mosley with heroin. Heroin sold by Famous Boyz members, including Dawes, Karen Armstrong and Eugene Williams, contained a fentanyl analogue, which is an extremely dangerous and highly-addictive substance. 

Members of the Famous Boyz also used social media to promote the gang’s criminal activities, including by advertising their narcotics-trafficking activities and proceeds and by threatening both rival gang members and any individuals who consider cooperating with law enforcement. Those members who sold narcotics also enriched themselves by committing other crimes, including robberies. Law enforcement, acting on information obtained from a wiretap, arrested West while he was attempting to commit a robbery. After law enforcement seized a .40 caliber firearm from the scene, Mosley was overheard complaining to Holmes, “so all the ratchets gone” and “damn we just lost all the straps,” referring to the Famous Boyz losing their firearms.

In addition to the prison term, Garcia was sentenced to four years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark, and members of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, with the investigation leading to the charges and convictions.

He also thanked the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Susan A. Gibson, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, the N.J. State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, the Belleville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Minichini, and the Livingston Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gary Marshuetz for their assistance.

This case is being conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and is part of the Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) in Newark. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. The VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety to combat violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA New Jersey Division, the U.S. Marshals, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Board of Parole, Union County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, N.J. Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department. 

The government is represented by Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division Mary E. Toscano and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angelica M. Sinopole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.

The charges and allegations against the remaining defendants are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

NEWARK, N.J. – The president of a now-defunct New Jersey-based marble and granite wholesaler today admitted his role in orchestrating and carrying out a scheme to defraud a bank in connection with a $17 million secured line of credit, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Rajendra Kankariya, 61, of Tenafly, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution.

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

From March 2016 through March 2018, Kankariya, the president and part owner of Lotus Exim International Inc. (LEI), conspired with other LEI employees to obtain from the victim bank a $17 million line of credit by fraudulent means. The victim bank extended LEI the line of credit, believing it to have been secured in part by LEI’s accounts receivable. In reality, Kankariya and his conspirators had fabricated or inflated many of the accounts receivable, ultimately leading to LEI defaulting on the line of credit.

In order to conceal the lack of sufficient collateral, LEI employees, with the knowledge and approval of Kankariya, created fake email addresses on behalf of LEI’s customers so they could pose as those customers and answer the victim bank’s and outside auditor’s inquiries about the accounts receivable. The scheme involved numerous fraudulent accounts receivable where the outstanding balances were either inflated or entirely fabricated. The scheme caused the victim bank losses of approximately $17 million.

The count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution to which Kankariya pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1 million. Kankariya is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 18, 2021.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sammi Malek of the U.S. Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.

BOSTON – A Hingham man who was previously convicted of money laundering pleaded guilty today in connection with a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.

Yannick A. Minang, 27, pleaded guilty five counts of wire fraud, one count of unlawful monetary transactions and one count of money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Sarris scheduled sentencing for Dec. 16, 2020.

In September 2019, Minang was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to his role in a separate business email compromise (BEC) scheme.

Minang conspired with others to open numerous bank accounts in Massachusetts in the name of sham companies, as part of an apparent BEC scheme. A BEC scheme is a sophisticated scam often targeting businesses involved in wire transfer payments. The fraud is carried out by compromising and/or “spoofing” legitimate business email accounts through social engineering or computer intrusion techniques to cause employees of the victim company (or other individuals involved in legitimate business transactions) to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the scammers.

Through the use of fraudulent invoices and spoofed email accounts, Minang conspired to trick the victims of the scheme into wiring hundreds of thousands of dollars to bank accounts under his control. Minang and his co-conspirators then transferred funds from the accounts to others located overseas.

The charge of wire fraud provides 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 grain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross grain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering conspiracy 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 amount involved in the transaction, 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 and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney William B. Brady of Lelling’s Criminal Division and Jordi de Llano, Deputy Chief of Lelling’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, are prosecuting the case.