SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Israel Covarrubias, 29, of Woodland, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and carrying a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in 2017, Covarrubias and others sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant working for law enforcement. In 2018, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Covarrubias’s residence in Woodland. Covarrubias fled out the back door of the residence with a loaded Glock pistol and a pound of cocaine as law enforcement officers were entering the front door of the residence.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, the Woodland Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

FRESNO, Calif. — Alfredo Garcia Jr., 27, of Fresno, was sentenced today to 10 years and eight months in prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between Dec. 1, 2020 and Jan. 26, 2021, Garcia, who was an inmate at the Fresno County Jail, conspired with another inmate and others outside of jail to smuggle methamphetamine and heroin into the jail for distribution among inmates. The plot was discovered when law enforcement agents reviewed recorded jail calls and learned about the attempted smuggling set to occur on Jan. 26. On that date, law enforcement officers intercepted an individual attempting to deliver athletic shoes to the jail for an inmate. The shoes were searched, and hidden compartments were found inside the shoes containing the illicit narcotics.

This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno Police Department, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Robbie Soto, 26, of Fresno, charging him with unlawfully possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Sept. 22, 2021, Soto was a passenger in a car that officers attempted to stop for a traffic violation. Soto fled from the car and led officers on a chase. Law enforcement officers eventually caught up to him, arrested him, and recovered two loaded firearms, one of which was equipped with a loaded high-capacity magazine. Soto has been convicted of felonies two times, in Fresno County in 2016 and in federal court in 2018.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case.

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

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

AUSTIN – An Austin man pleaded guilty today to participating in the robbery of a gas station convenience store, which resulted in the shooting of an employee of the business.

According to court documents, on October 7, 2020, at approximately 11 p.m., Deon Ross, 36, along with co-defendant Lavante Carter, 19, of Austin, attempted to rob a Shell gas station on Interstate Highway 35 in Austin.  Both Carter and Ross carried firearms and displayed them to two store employees who were working that night.  After demanding money Ross shot one of the employees.

Ross pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by threats or violence and one count of discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2021 and faces up to 20 years in prison on the robbery charge and 10 years to life for the firearm charge.  

On October 19, 2021, Carter pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by threats or violence and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Carter is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21, 2021. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the robbery charge and 7 years to life for the firearm charge.  

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs; and Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon made the announcement.

The FBI and the Austin Police Department are investigating the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel Cohen and Keith Henneke are prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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Seattle – Twelve tribal communities and various sexual assault and domestic violence treatment providers have been awarded DOJ grants totaling more than $6 million to support services to victims.  The funding is from DOJ Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Office of Violence against Women (OVW).

“As we observe Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it is important to highlight the good work being done to assist victims of violence, sexual assault, and child abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “These funds are targeted at culturally appropriate services for communities that for too long have been ignored and marginalized.”

The Washington State Native American Coalition against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault was awarded $341,347 to increase awareness and enhance response to sexual assault and domestic violence in tribal communities.  Individual tribes also received funding aimed at victim services including:

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe - $354,375

Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation - $372,817

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe - $354,375

Hoh Tribe - $354,375

Muckleshoot Indian Tribe -$422,695

Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians - $354,375

Puyallup Tribe of Indians -$693,278

Lummi Nation - $422,695

Suquamish Tribe - $422,695

Nisqually Indian Tribe - $412,733

The Tulalip Tribes received a $421,267 grant specifically for services to child victims of sexual assault and abuse.

Harborview Medical Center received $499,999 in funding under the Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program to develop services in rural areas.  The Rural Program funds projects that implement, expand, and establish cooperative efforts among law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim service providers, and other related parties to investigate and prosecute incidents of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking; provide treatment, advocacy, counseling, legal assistance, or other victim services to victims in rural communities; or develop or strengthen programs addressing sexual assault, such as Sexual Assault Response Teams.

API CHAYA received $300,000 in funding under the Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program.  The funding is to support culturally specific community-based organizations in addressing the critical needs of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking victims in a manner that affirms a victim’s culture.

Detailed information on use of the grant money is available from the recipient or via web resources here: https://www.justice.gov/grants

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Sarah Nicole Kelley, 40, of Coolidge, Arizona, was found guilty by a federal jury of 24 counts of wire fraud and 8 counts of money laundering. The case was tried before U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi. Kelley is currently out of custody until her sentencing date, which is scheduled for February 3, 2022.

The evidence at trial showed that Kelley defrauded a family friend out of the friend’s entire $185,000 in savings. Kelley, a former real estate agent, convinced the victim to invest in a real estate project and send additional money for a short-term loan. Instead of using the money as promised, Kelley used all of the victim’s savings to pay off her own debts and then strung the victim along for months with a series of lies and excuses about how the money was spent and when the victim would get it back. Other evidence showed that Kelley defrauded another family friend out of $647,000 just a few years earlier using similar tactics.

A conviction for wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin Noel, James R. Knapp, and M. Bridget Minder, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:                   CR-19-1143-PHX-JJT
RELEASE NUMBER:           2021-072_Kelley

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

EUGENE, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment today charging an Oregon restauranteur with tax evasion and hiding cash from his businesses.

Meeraali Shaik, a Corvallis, Oregon resident and the owner of Evergreen Indian Cuisine, has been charged with one count of tax evasion.

According to court documents, Shaik owned and operated Evergreen Indian Cuisine locations in Eugene and Corvallis. From before 2013 and continuing until 2017, Shaik is alleged to have willfully attempted to evade the assessment of personal income taxes by, among other illegal acts, providing his tax preparer with incomplete bank and income records and false information regarding the cash receipts of his restaurants. Shaik used a portion of the underreported cash receipts to pay mortgage payments on properties in Eugene, Corvallis, and Chandler, Arizona and made wire transfers to a bank account in India.

Shaik will make his initial appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on November 2, 2021. During his first appearance, Shaik will be arraigned, and a jury trial date will be set.

If convicted, Shaik faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a $100,000 fine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Scott Erik Asphaug of the District of Oregon made the announcement.

This case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation with assistance from the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

HONOLULU – Paul Henri Marie Harleman, 34, of Honolulu, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on six counts of wire fraud and seven counts of money laundering. He was arrested on April 23, 2021, and previously charged by criminal complaint. Upon motion of the government, Harleman has been detained pending trial since his arrest.

Judith A. Philips, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, announced that the indictment alleges that while Harleman was working as a contract bookkeeper, he devised two fraud schemes to obtain money from three of his clients. In the first scheme, from July 2018 to May 2020, Harleman allegedly formed a limited liability company with a name nearly identical to the name of a significant vendor to one of his clients, and then charged the client’s credit card for more than $146,000 in fraudulent invoices. In the second scheme, from September 2019 to his arrest, Harleman allegedly transferred more than $1,064,000 in a series of payments disguised as payroll from two of his clients to Harleman’s limited liability company. According to the indictment, Harleman moved money fraudulently obtained from his three clients from his personal checking account to a personal investment account, resulting in the money laundering charges.

"This office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out and prosecute fraud and other economic crimes perpetrated against local businesses, non-profit entities, and individuals," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Philips.

"Today’s indictment shows IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to act when those in our communities are being taken advantage of and stolen from," said Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. "We will continue to be vigilant in protecting the public against fraud and theft."

"Financial crimes are a top priority for HSI, particularly when hardworking people and small businesses are the victims," said John F. Tobon, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations. "Our agents will continue to investigate and seek out the perpetrators of these kinds of illegal and complex financial schemes."

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations of the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Craig S. Nolan is prosecuting the case.

A federal grand jury recently returned a three-count indictment charging Lestreonia Renee Rodrigue, age 26, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, with mail fraud and wire fraud.  Rodrigue appeared for her arraignment today and pled not guilty to the pending charges. 

According to the indictment, between July 2020 and June 2021, Rodrigue submitted claims for unemployment benefits in her name and in the names of other individuals in multiple states, including California, among others.  Rodrigue also submitted claims for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) benefits in the names of fictitious businesses and based on fictitious business profits and losses. 

Further, Rodrigue obtained names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers of others, and submitted fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits in their names, with and without their knowledge or consent.  Rodrigue used social media to obtain as many people’s identifying information as possible to file as many unemployment claims as possible.  Upon submitting the claims and receiving the funds, she either gave a cut of the funds to the people or kept all the funds for herself.  Through her scheme, Rodrigue obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars in prepaid debit cards in the mail.  

In March 2021, Rodrigue also devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by filing false and fraudulent applications for PPP funds.  In furtherance of the scheme, on or about March 6, 2021, she submitted false and misleading PPP applications in the business name of “Lestreonia Rodrigue” seeking PPP funds.  Rodrigue submitted a forged bank statement, false tax documents, and made misrepresentations in her PPP applications. 

Throughout the course of the fraudulent schemes, Rodrigue caused $20,833.00 to be deposited into her bank account, to which she was not entitled.  Additionally, Rodrigue caused over $500,000 in prepaid debit cards to be mailed to her addresses, to which she and others were not entitled.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Edward H. Warner and Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth White who also serves as Deputy Criminal Chief. 

NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury.  The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea. 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Location information is available from the DEA, along with items that cannot be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This October’s event is DEA’s 21^st nationwide event since its inception 11 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in nearly 839,543 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 5,060 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 from its state and local law enforcement partners. DEA and its partners have collected nearly 6,770 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative in 2010.

The DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries. Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and deaths caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. To support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances.

To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow CDC COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives address the vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses because of these drugs. Synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, are the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. For information on DEA’s “Take Back” in Spanishclick here, or for more information on the “Get Smart About Drugs” publication, click for English or Spanish.

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information, visit DEA’s year-round collection site locator. Participating in the next DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, October 23, simply means cleaning out your medicine cabinet or anywhere you keep unused, unwanted, or expired medications and dropping them off at your nearest collection site. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 23rd Take Back day event, go to DEA Drug Take Back event or by calling 800-882-9539.

The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: English or Spanish.  
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            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shilo Aaron Oldrock, 28, of Fargo, North Dakota, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, made an initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 15 on a charge of murder in Indian Country. Oldrock has waived a preliminary and detention hearing and will remain in custody pending trial.

            According to a criminal complaint, on Oct. 10, Oldrock allegedly murdered John Doe at a residence in McKinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Oldrock allegedly attacked John Doe with an axe, decapitating him. Oldrock allegedly burned John Doe’s head in a wood stove, then fled the crime scene.

            A complaint is only an allegation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Oldrock faces up to life in prison if convicted of the charged offense.

            The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, and the Gallup Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Dennis Sryniawski, 48, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was sentenced on October 20, 2021 by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher to twelve months and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. Sryniawski must also pay a $10,000.00 fine.

A jury convicted Sryniawski of cyberstalking in June 2021, after a three-day jury trial.  This was the first cyberstalking conviction in the District of Nebraska.  The federal cyberstalking statute prohibits using an electronic communication service to engage in a course of conduct with the intent to harass, intimidate or cause substantial emotional distress to a person or immediate family members, where the conduct did cause, attempt to cause or reasonably would be expected to cause such persons to experience substantial emotional distress. 

The evidence presented at trial showed that Sryniawski sent six emails on two different days in 2018 to a candidate for the Nebraska Legislature.  The emails were sent from two different accounts.  One email was sent under Sryniawski’s name, but the others were sent under phony names.  Sryniawski had previously been married to the candidate’s wife.  The initial email contained personal details about the candidate’s wife and accusations concerning the candidate’s stepdaughter, and a later email included explicit photos purportedly of each.  The emails asked the candidate to withdraw from the race and conveyed the message that, if he did not, the personal details and explicit photos of his wife and stepdaughter would be released.   

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the La Vista Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Jan W. Sharp announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 15 unsealed Indictments charging 17 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

*          Jenone Gregg Allen, age 45, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender after traveling in interstate commerce on or about January, 2018 and continuing to on or about October 12, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Guadalupe Ayala-Armienta, age 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 25, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

*          Ryan Arrants, age 41, of Alliance, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Arrants with distribution of methamphetamine on or about April 20, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on or about April 20, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment consecutive to Count I, a $250,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment

Count III charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 9, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Fred H. Bienka, age 82, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud beginning on or about 2016 and continuing to on or about April 13, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Jose Chavez-Ruiz, age 29, is charged with illegal reentry after deportation on or about June 7, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

*          Alfredo Escobar, age 39, is charged in a four-count Indictment. Count I charges Escobar with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about April 3, 2020 and continuing to on or about June 11, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about August 3, 2020.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $8,000,000 fine, an eight-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count III charges the defendant with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about June 1, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count IV charges the defendant with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) on or about June 11, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Kirk Tildon Foster, age 52, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender after traveling in interstate commerce on or about May 2021 and continuing to on or about August 30, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Edward Lawrence Hays, age 56, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor beginning from on or about June 24, 2021 and continuing to on or about October 13, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment, and $5,000 in additional special assessments.

*          Craig A. Hoffman, age 45, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a four-count Indictment.  Count I charges Hoffman with tax evasion from on or about June 11, 2011 continuing to on or about September 22, 2017.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Counts II through IV charge the defendant with failure to pay over withholding and FICA taxes on or about March 31, 2016 and continuing to on or about June 30, 2016.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          George A. Liakos, age 62, of Bayard, Nebraska, is charged in a five-count Indictment.  Counts I through IV charges Liakos with bank fraud from on or about June 2, 2017 continuing to on or about November 26, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count V charges the defendant with false statements on or about February 9, 2018.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Tommy L. Meyer, age 42, is charged with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about May 19, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, a ten-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  There is also an allegation to forfeit United States currency seized on or about May 19, 2021.

*          Matthew W. Miller, age 35, of Weeping Water, Nebraska, is charged with felon in possession of ammunition on or about August 10, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

*          Nathan R. Rogers, age 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Rogers with production of child pornography between on or about October 11, 2020 and continuing to on or about February 20, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $55,000 additional special assessment.  Count II charges the defendant with receipt of child pornography between on or about October 11, 2020 and continuing to on or about February 20, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $40,000 additional special assessment.   

*          Matt Tibbels, age 58, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment.  Count I charges Tibbels with receipt of child pornography between on or about August 31, 2020 and continuing to on or about October 4, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $40,000 additional special assessment   Count II charges the defendant with possession of child pornography on or about October 5, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a life term of supervised release, a $100 special assessment, and a $22,000 additional special assessment.   

*          Dustin C. Vogel, age 35, Jonathan W. Miller, age 29, and Haley M. Coffman, age 24, all of Omaha, are charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Vogel, Miller, and Coffman with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) beginning at a time unknown and continuing to on or about October 6, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Count II charges Miller with assaulting, resisting, or impeding an officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon on or about October 6, 2021.  The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. 

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA– Michael Jarcord, 52, of Tallahassee, Florida, was sentenced to 180 months federal prison for coercing or enticing a minor to engage in prostitution. The sentence was announced today by Jason Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Jarcord’s sentence was the result of a federal jury returning a guilty verdict on June 29, 2021, finding Jarcord guilty on the sole count of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in prostitution.

“This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through concerted efforts like Operation Stolen Innocence we will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who prey upon our children.”

“We are grateful to see justice prevail for the victim in this case,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. Jarcord’s sentencing is a testament to the judicial systems’ tireless efforts to hold accountable those who break the law and reiterate to the community that human trafficking will not be tolerated.”

“Another child predator is now behind bars thanks to the law enforcement partnership between HSI and the Tallahassee Police Department,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs.

Jarcord’s prison sentence will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions. 

The conviction was the result of a collaborative investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations as part of Operation Stolen Innocence, a multi-agency coordinated effort by the United States Marshals Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the State Attorney, Second Judicial Circuit to combat human trafficking in the Tallahassee area. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Spaven prosecuted the case.

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

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Davenport, Iowa, man, Douglas Speer, 31, of West 49^th Street, was sentenced to eleven years in federal prison, to be followed by fifteen years of supervised release, on October 20, 2021, for traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity and attempting to entice two underage girls to engage in sexual activity.

According to court documents, in November 2020, Speer arranged to pay for sex with individuals he believed to be two girls, ages fifteen and eleven. After traveling from Iowa to Illinois to meet with the intended victims, Speer was arrested by federal agents and local law enforcement officers.

Speer was subsequently charged in an indictment with two counts of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. In June 2021, Speer pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity.

At Speer’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow stated that the applicable penalties, including the statutory minimum of ten years in prison, were severe but necessary given that such laws serve to protect the most vulnerable within the community from “predators” like Speer. The judge further commented on the need for a sentence such as this to deter others from attempting similar crimes.  

The statutory penalty for each count of attempted enticement of a minor is a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment. The penalty for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity is up to 30 years in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000.

This case was investigated as part of an operation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, with the assistance of the Rock Island Police Department, the Macomb Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the East Moline Police Department, the Galesburg Police Department, the Davenport Police Department, and the Knox County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyssa Raya and Ryan Bintz represented the government in the prosecution.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.  

O’Fallon, Ill. – An O’Fallon, Illinois, bookkeeper was sentenced to 4 years in prison for 
defrauding one  of  her  clients  out  of  more  than  $1,000,000.  The  sentencing  hearing  was  
conducted  on Thursday, October 21, 2021, in U.S. District Court in Benton, Illinois.
“While our work on violent crimes often garners larger headlines, the public should be remined that 
financial crimes remain a clear federal priority,” said Steven D.  Weinhoeft, United States 
Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. He continued, “Financial criminals like Dvorak 
cause great harm and must be held accountable.”

“For years, Dvorak bilked her employer’s accounts, choosing greed over trust,” said FBI Special 
Agent in Charge David Nanz.   “No matter how simple or sophisticated the fraud scheme, the FBI 
won’t hesitate to bring all available resources to bear to hold criminals accountable and seek 
justice for victims.”

Kathleen M. Dvorak, 61, conducted a large, multi-year fraud scheme, against one of her clients. 
From  2012  through  2019,  Dvorak  defrauded  the  victim  out  more  than  $1,000,000.  Evidence 
presented in court established that Dvorak took this money from her client in two primary ways:
(1) by writing large checks, payable to herself, that were drawn on the victim’s bank account; and
(2) by taking large amounts of cash back for herself when she deposited checks payable to the 
victim into his bank accounts. Dvorak concealed her fraud from the victim by making false entries 
into his Quickbooks accounting program.

In addition to the four-year prison sentence, the court also ordered Dvorak to pay $1,495,072.74 to 
 her  victim.  The  court  further  sentenced  Dvorak  to  serve  three  years  of  supervised  
release following  her  release  from  prison.  As  a  condition  of  her  supervised  release,  
the  court  ordered Dvorak to participa e in treatment for gambling addiction and to not 
participate in any further gambling activities.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, Fairview
Heights Resident Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Verseman prosecuted the case.

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw hosted a town hall meeting this week to discuss the Asian Community Safety Initiative, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations; and the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. The event was held in-person and virtually from the PCDC office in Center City, Philadelphia. The Executive Director of PCDC, John Chin, moderated the event.

Speakers at the meeting included Assistant United States Attorneys, FBI Agents, and ATF Agents who work together to investigate and prosecute at the federal level hate crimes and violent crimes directed at the Asian community. Representatives from the Philadelphia Police Department spoke about how the department works with federal law enforcement when investigations are pursued at the federal level, and officers of Asian descent introduced themselves and re-affirmed their commitment to serving the community of which they are a part. The audience was given examples of crimes that are prosecuted under local and federal statutes, information about how to report crimes to the appropriate authorities, and resources to get more information including contact information for the presenting agencies. Finally, a representative from PCHR discussed incidents which might not be criminal in nature, but are nevertheless upsetting to recipients and which may be addressed through services offered by the commission.

Following the presentations, speakers took questions from the audience (both virtual and in-person). Questions ranged from how to overcome language barriers, to how to ensure cultural competency, to how the Department could leverage future technologies to assist with crime reporting by the community.

“Our goal is to stop crimes before the occur, and tonight’s meeting is an important step toward achieving that goal,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “I want to thank the members of the community in attendance who have come here to engage with law enforcement and work together towards positive change and a safer city. It will require effort from everyone to achieve this goal.”

“Acts of violence and hate against our AAPI community members are entirely unacceptable, and our department remains committed to working with our law enforcement and community partners to address these serious concerns,” said Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. “Earlier this year, the PPD surveyed members of the Patrol and Detective Bureaus in order to identify Police Officers, Supervisors and Detectives that are interested in participating in a program of AAPI Community Outreach to be conducted jointly by the PPD and the U.S Attorney's Office. Numerous Police Officers, Sergeants, and investigators of AAPI descent are participating in this program that is being guided by our Deputy Commissioner of Investigations, Ben Naish. We look forward to this new partnership.”

“It’s crucial for us to listen to members of the community, to hear their fears and concerns about hate incidents and violent crime,” said Bradley S. Benavides, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “We also want to answer people’s questions, and let them know how the FBI and our partners are working on their behalf. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community.”

“ATF remains dedicated to investigating violent firearm-related crimes throughout the Philadelphia region,” said Matthew Varisco, Special Agent in charge of ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division.  “Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of our communities.”

“We have been working tirelessly since the beginning of the pandemic to address anti-Asian hate and bias, and we see this event as a critical step in educating our communities about the importance of reporting hate incidents. In addition, this event functions to build trust between law enforcement and the AAPI communities--trust that is crucial to build and maintain in order to keep our communities safe,” said Albert Randy Duque, Deputy Director, PCHR.

“The coming together of community and law enforcement is a critical tool to abating violence, especially against Asian American communities,” said John Chin, Executive Director, PCDC. “As a community-based organization, PCDC has been helping victims, leading advocacy, and championing equitable resources to overcome language and cultural barriers. This meeting was a step in the right direction, and we appreciate the Department of Justice and Philadelphia Police Department's commitment to addressing hate crimes and violence against Asian American communities.”

Video of the town hall meeting and slides from the presentation are available on PCDC’s website: https://chinatown-pcdc.org/asian-community-safety-initiative/.

PEORIA, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned indictments on October 19, 2021, against the following individuals:

Alante Malik Jackson, 22, of Peoria, Illinois, was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. The offense occurred September 20, 2021, in Peoria County. The Peoria Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Jackson remains in federal custody.

John W. Beck, 54 – currently in federal custody on two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, and one count of armed bank robbery  and was charged with attempted escape in September 2021 from the Livingston County Jail in Pontiac, Illinois. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, investigated the case.

Monica Renee Wright, 38, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was charged in a superseding indictment with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, and at least 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The offense occurred during or about June 2016 and continued through about March 2017. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Wright has been released on bond.

Daniel Allee, 42, of Vinton, Iowa, was charged with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The indictment alleges that Allee traveled interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a person he believed to be under the age of 18 on or about October 6, 2021. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Office, investigated the case, and Allee was arrested in Moline, Illinois, on that same date. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois will schedule a date for the appearance of the defendants.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Gordonsville, Virginia man pleaded guilty today to federal Hobbs Act robbery charges in connection to a series of armed robberies that took place at commercial businesses in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and Stafford County.

According to court documents, Dominique Dejone Thurston, 23, committed a series of armed Hobbs Act robberies at commercial businesses in Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and Stafford County. These robberies included the Oak Hill Market in Albemarle County, the 7-Eleven on Ivy Road in the City of Charlottesville, a BP gas station convenience store in the City of Charlottesville, the 7-Eleven on Greenbrier Drive in Albemarle County, a Kangaroo Gas station in Albemarle County, a 7 Day Junior Store in the City of Charlottesville, and the 7-Eleven on Boulderview Road in Albemarle County. During each robbery, Thurston brandished a firearm while pointing it at a store employee and demanding cash. 

“This case serves as a perfect example of when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together to help address violent crime.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting the most violent offenders in our communities,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.

“This investigation is a great example of law enforcement collaboration at its best. ATF is proud to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, and the Stafford County Police Department in addressing violent offenders and those that illegally possess firearms,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson said. “The ATF Washington Field Division will continue to stand alongside our partners to ensure our communities are protected against people that commit acts of violence.”

Thurston pleaded guilty today to seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing and possessing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31, 2022. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Albemarle County Police Department, the City of Charlottesville Police Department, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Charlottesville, and the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.   

Assistant United States Attorney Ronald M. Huber and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nina-Alice Antony with the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney for the City of Charlottesville are prosecuting the case for the United States.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA– Aquiles Alexander Delaosa, 37, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been sentenced to 288 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and transferring obscene material to a person under 16.  The sentence, which was handed down following the defendant’s guilty plea in June, was announced by Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

“There is no greater charge than the protection of our children,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable and should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in such heinous conduct.”

For over eight years – between July 26, 2012, and January 27, 2021 – Delaosa knowingly and intentionally used, induced, and enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. During this time, he also received and distributed material containing child pornography. Delaosa also transferred, by means of interstate commerce, obscene matter to an individual who had not attained the age of 16 years.

“Protecting our innocent children is one of the most important missions we have,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Micah McCombs. “Thanks to HSI special agents and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, this predator is being held accountable for his crimes. The Defendant’s 24-year prison sentence will be followed by supervised release for the rest of his life.” 

Delaosa’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to all sex offender conditions. Additionally, Delaosa was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine, a $35,000 assessment pursuant to the Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018 (“AVAA”), and restitution to the victims. 

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case.

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