BIRMINGHAM – The U.S. Attorney’s Office on Wednesday charged two sales representatives for a Haleyville, Ala.,-based compounding pharmacy for participating in a conspiracy to generate prescriptions and defraud health care insurers and prescription drug administrators out of tens of millions of dollars in 2015.

Acting U.S. Attorney Robert O. Posey, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David W. Archey, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge, Houston Division, Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson, Defense Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent in Charge John F. Khin, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced the charges as part of a nationwide Department of Justice Health Care Fraud Takedown.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, M.D., earlier today announced the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, involving 412 charged defendants across 41 federal districts, including 115 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving about $1.3 billion in false billings. Of those charged, more than 120 defendants, including doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s nationwide arrests. In addition, HHS has initiated suspension actions against 295 providers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

In the Northern District of Alabama, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed separate informations charging KELLEY NORRIS, also known as KELLEY NORRIS-HARTLEY, 41, of Tuscaloosa, and BRIDGET McCUNE, 41, of Destin, Fla., with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, wire fraud and mail fraud. McCune’s information also charges her with conspiring to solicit and receive kickbacks in return for referring prescriptions under Medicare and TRICARE, a U.S. Department of Defense health care program, and with money laundering for spending proceeds of the crimes. Both women face various counts of health care fraud for submitting fraudulent prescription reimbursement claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.

In conjunction with the charges, prosecutors also filed plea agreements with Norris and McCune.

“In this case, a pharmacy used a marketing scheme that increased sales of expensive medications without regard for patient need or medical necessity,” Posey said. “Schemes like this defraud Medicare and other health insurance systems by pushing unnecessary medications and driving up the costs of health care.”

Norris and McCune both worked for Northside Pharmacy, an Alabama company doing business as Global Compounding Pharmacy. Global’s compounding and shipping facility was in Haleyville. The pharmacy did its prescription processing, billing and customer service at its “call center” in Clearwater, Fla.

Global hired sales representatives, including Norris and McCune, who were located in various states and were responsible for generating prescriptions from physicians and other prescribers. To bill insurance providers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Medicare and TRICARE, for these prescriptions, Global contracted to enter the pharmacy networks of their third-party administrators, known as “pharmacy benefit managers” or “PBMs. These PBMs included Prime Therapeutics, Express Scripts Incorporated and CVS/Caremark.

The court documents describe a conspiracy at Global that centered on generating and billing PBMs for fraudulent, often high-reimbursement prescriptions. To generate prescriptions, Global hired sales representatives who were married or related to doctors and other prescribers. Global also encouraged sales representatives to volunteer at doctors’ offices where they would review patient files and push Global’s products to patients. Global executives also frequently instructed employees to obtain high-reimbursing prescriptions that Global would fill and bill for reimbursement. Each of the plea agreements describes a Global executive instructing sales representatives to obtain certain prescriptions and, shortly after, Norris and McCune obtained those prescriptions for themselves and their dependents.

When billing, Global engaged in various fraudulent practices, including splitting drug quantities to evade PBM billing safeguards and automatically refilling and billing for prescriptions regardless of patient need. Global routinely waived co-pays to encourage patients to accept unnecessary medications and refills.

As part of their plea agreements, Norris and McCune agree to forfeit money to the government as proceeds of illegal activity. Norris agrees to forfeit $287,698 and McCune $401,628.

Global paid the defendants a base salary plus a monthly commission for prescriptions that they obtained, according to court documents.

Norris worked out of Tuscaloosa as a sales representative for Global’s Alabama region from August 2014 to July 2016. She was closely related to an Alabama physician. That relative and a second physician, described in her plea agreement as a family friend, wrote a significant number of the prescriptions Norris obtained for Global to fill.

McCune began as a sales representative for Global’s Florida region in September 2014, working from Destin. Global promoted her to national field trainer in January 2015, but she also continued to function as a sales representative until she left the company in July 2016. McCune had a “close familial relationship” with a Florida physician, according to her plea agreement. “The overwhelming majority of prescriptions she obtained” were issued under her family member’s signature, her plea agreement states.

The charges against Norris and McCune follow charges brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in May against Global sales representative Robin Gary Lowry, 49, of Columbus, Miss. Lowry was charged with conspiracy to defraud BCBS of Alabama and Prime Therapeutics. She also faced three counts of health care fraud for submitting fraudulent claims for payment to BCBS of Alabama.

Lowry pleaded guilty to the charges in June. She is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 7.

FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, U.S. Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation investigated the cases, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chinelo Dike-Minor and Nicole Grosnoff are prosecuting.

          CONCORD, N.H.– Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Leslie Aberle, 33, of Salisbury, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.

          According to documents that were filed in court, on October 16, 2015, Aberle drove Mark Ross and Eve Tarmey to Lawrence, Massachusetts, in order to obtain a quantity of heroin. Ross obtained the drugs from a source in Lawrence while Aberle and Tarmey waited in Aberle’s car. After Ross acquired the drugs, the three returned to the Riviera Motel. Ross and Jazzmyn Rood also used a portion of the drugs and Ross provided a portion to Tarmey. The following morning, Tarmey was found dead in the motel room. The New Hampshire Medical Examiner later found that Ms. Tarmey died of acute fentanyl intoxication.

          “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to combat the distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Fentanyl and other opioids are responsible for the deaths of far too many citizens of the Granite State. We will continue to work each day with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who are distributing these drugs in New Hampshire.”

          “Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl and heroin are causing overdose deaths across the Granite State in record numbers, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes these poisons in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”

          A sentencing hearing is set for August 22, 2017. Under the terms of a plea agreement, both parties are recommending a sentence of 60 months in prison.

          The case was investigated by the Rochester Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.

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HAMMOND- Acting United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson announced today that a federal grand jury returned a ten -count indictment against Fort Wayne physician Dr. James E. Ranochak and two Fort Wayne area pharmacists, Brent A. Losier and Charles N. Ringger.

The indictment charges Ranochak, Losier and Ringger with conspiring to illegally distribute and dispense controlled substances (Methadone, Hydrocodone and Testosterone) outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purpose. The three defendants also face eight separate counts of distributing and dispensing controlled substances to specific patients outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purpose. Finally, all three defendants are charged in a health care fraud conspiracy aimed at defrauding the Indiana Medicaid program through the submission of thousands of dollars in fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary drugs and non-emergency supplies of controlled drugs issued to patients without the patients actually being seen by a physician.

The United States Attorney's Office emphasized that an Indictment is merely an allegation and that all persons charged are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and Drug Administration, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane L. Berkowitz.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has returned separate indictments charging two central Ohio health care companies and the people who own them with health care fraud. One company allegedly billed government insurance programs for unnecessary medical procedures and the other is accused of billing government insurance programs for pain and scar creams that recipients said they never requested or wanted.

The two Ohio cases are part of a nationwide health care fraud takedown announced today by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region; the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Office; Angela Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation Cincinnati; Timothy J. Plancon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); and Steven W. Schierholt, Executive Director of the Ohio Board of Pharmacy announced the indictments today as part of a nationwide crackdown on fraudulent health care providers.

One indictment alleges that Salim Dahdah who owns and operates the Ohio Institute of Cardiac Care (OICC) in Springfield, and his wife Cindy Dahdah who owns Accubil, a company that handles the billing for OICC, received more than $2 million from Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary nuclear stress tests and medically unnecessary coronary interventions such as pacemaker insertion and stent procedures. The indictment charges them with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud, crimes punishable by up to ten years in prison, and health care false statements a crime which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The grand jury also indicted Darrell Bryant and Gifty Kusi, a husband and wife who own and manage Health & Wellness Pharmacy in Dublin. Kusi and Dr. Jornel Rivera owned and operated Health & Wellness Medical Center, also in Dublin. The indictment alleges that they fraudulently received more than $3 million from the Ohio Department of Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) through multiple schemes including billing for compound creams that were not provided or not requested by patients, billing for counseling services that were not provided or billing for group counseling sessions as individual counseling services. The indictment charges all three defendants with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud.

“Health care fraud creates victims out of patients, providers, and taxpayers,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “It’s a crime that breaks the bonds of trust between doctor and patient, and between government and the people, just for the sake of personal greed.”

“The charges announced today should send a strong message to criminals that theft from vital health care programs will not be tolerated”, said SAC Pugh of HHS Office of Inspector General. “The OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to protect tax payer dollars that are intended to aid our most vulnerable citizens.”

“Both of these cases are egregious,” said Attorney General DeWine. “In the OICC case, the investigation found that patients underwent dangerous and completely unnecessary medical procedures, and in the Health and Wellness Pharmacy case, the investigation found that people who legitimately needed drug treatment and counseling weren’t getting it – even though the company charged for it. In the midst of the opioid epidemic in Ohio, it is critical that healthcare providers are rendering services that are meant to help Ohioans struggling with addiction.”

“Some of the charges described include medically unnecessary procedures performed which could cause patient harm. This is the most egregious form of health care fraud”, said SAC Byers of the FBI, adding that “Health care fraud contributes to rising health care costs for everyone.”

Today’s nationwide enforcement action is the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, involving 412 charged defendants across 41 federal districts, including 115 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $1.3 billion in false billings. Of those charged, over 120 defendants, including doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS has initiated suspension actions against 295 providers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the HHS-OIG, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth Affeldt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Maritsa Flaherty, who are representing the United States in this case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

RICHMOND, Va. – As part of the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action in Department of Justice History, a Richmond woman has been charged with healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making a false statement to federal agents.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D., announced today the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, involving 412 charged defendants across 41 federal districts, including 115 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $1.3 billion in false billings. Of those charged, over 120 defendants, including doctors, were charged for their roles in prescribing and distributing opioids and other dangerous narcotics. Thirty state Medicaid Fraud Control Units also participated in today’s arrests. In addition, HHS has initiated suspension actions against 295 providers, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

Chermeca Harris, 36, was arrested on Tuesday and the indictment was unsealed. Harris, a Medicaid beneficiary, would misrepresent her health condition to health care providers, such as hospitals and ambulance services, in order to obtain health care benefits. Specifically, she would falsely represent that she was suffering from sickle cell anemia and was having a sickle cell crisis in order to obtain pain killing drugs, such as dilaudid, which she wanted to receive intravenously through the neck. In fact, doctors tested Harris in January 2016, and determined she did not have sickle cell anemia. The hospitals involved were Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Chippenham, Bon Secours St. Mary’s, Memorial Regional, John Randolph Medical Center, and Henrico Doctor’s.

According to the indictment, it was a further part of the scheme that Harris also falsely represented her identity. On some occasions she used the name of M.M., and on other occasions she used the name of R.J.; both Medicaid recipients. She also falsely stated to investigating federal agents that her name was M.M. and that she had sickle cell anemia.

Harris has been charged with eight counts of healthcare fraud on the Medicaid program, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of making a false statement to federal agents. She faces a mandatory minimum of four years in prison and a maximum penalty of 89 years in prison, if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Nick DiGiulio, Special Agent in Charge, Philadelphia Regional Office of Inspector General of Department of Health and Human Services, made the announcement after the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Maguire is prosecuting the case.

The charges announced today aggressively target schemes billing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families) for medically unnecessary prescription drugs and compounded medications that often were never even purchased and/or distributed to beneficiaries. The charges also involve individuals contributing to the opioid epidemic, with a particular focus on medical professionals involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics, a particular focus for the Department. According to the CDC, approximately 91 Americans die every day of an opioid related overdose.

Today’s enforcement actions were led and coordinated by the Criminal Division, Fraud Section’s Health Care Fraud Unit in conjunction with its Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF) partners, a partnership between the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the FBI and HHS-OIG. In addition, the operation includes the participation of the DEA, DCIS, and State Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations are part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. The Medicare Fraud Strike Force operates in nine locations nationwide. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force has charged over 3500 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for over $12.5 billion.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:17-cr-77.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

CINCINNATI– A federal grand jury has charged Brian D. Jones, 38, of Vevay, Indiana with defrauding investors in his livestock brokerage business.

Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and Angela L. Byers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Field Office, announced the indictment which was unsealed today.

The indictment alleges that Jones operated a business buying bull calves from dairy farms in Wisconsin and selling them to cattle ranches in Texas and Missouri. He began soliciting investors in 2015, promising sizable returns for the investments.

Rather than invest the funds, the indictment alleges, Jones used the funds for his personal benefit such as gambling at casinos. The indictment also alleges that Jones used the investment funds to pay “returns” back to earlier investors as if the funds had actually generated income through investment in his business. By the end of 2015, the indictment says, Jones had squandered funds from the cattle purchasers and was in debt with his suppliers and purchasers. Investigators are still calculating the number of investors and the amount of money involved in the alleged fraud.

“The indictment alleges that Jones fabricated bank documents to show that he had sizable business deposits that would soon be ‘released’ by the bank,” U.S. Attorney Glassman said. “He also allegedly sent checks to investors including some in the Southern District of Ohio for investment returns, only to have the checks bounce due to insufficient funds in his account.”

Jones faces four counts of wire fraud, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he’s convicted. The indictment also charges him with four counts of money laundering. Three are punishable by up to ten years in prison. One money laundering charges carries a potential sentence of 20 years in prison. Two additional counts seek forfeiture of all property and proceeds of any crimes of which Jones is convicted.

FBI agents arrested Jones in southern Indiana today. Jones appeared U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman for an initial appearance and to schedule further court dates.

U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by the FBI, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Timothy S. Mangan, who is prosecuting the case.

An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

            WASHINGTON - Eugene Burns, 25, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and related weapons offenses for killing a man in a Southeast Washington apartment, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced today.

            Burns was found guilty by a jury on July 12, 2017, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Hiram E. Puig-Lugo scheduled sentencing for Sept. 29, 2017. Burns faces a potential sentence of life in prison for the crimes.

            According to the government’s evidence, Burns had been in a drug-related dispute with the victim, Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III, of Woodland Hills, Calif., and began planning to kill him. On Nov. 14, 2015, Mr. Osuchukwu flew into the Washington, D.C. area. That day, Burns lured Mr. Osuchukwu to Burns’s mother’s apartment in the 2900 block of Second Street SE. He confronted Mr. Osuchukwu and shot and killed him before fleeing the scene.

            The next day, the defendant, along with two relatives, returned to the apartment and Burns supposedly “discovered” that his best friend had been killed. After a call to 911, Mr. Osuchuwku, 24, was found on the living room floor with multiple gunshot wounds. An investigation led to Burns’s arrest in December 2015, and he has been in custody ever since.

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of the detectives, officers, and mobile crime technicians who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Washington Division, the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman; Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Lashone Samuels; Diana Lim, David Foster; M. Laverne Perry, Tanya Via and Debra Cannon, all of the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling, William Henderson, and Aneela Bhatia; Forensic Operations/Program Specialist Benjamin Kagan-Guthrie; Computer Forensics Criminal Investigator John Marsh, and Law Clerk Alexandra Maher.

            Finally, U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Willoughby, Jr. and Kevin Flynn, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Kansas City, Mo., men have been indicted, in separate cases, as part of a nationwide enforcement action related to the distribution of opioids and other dangerous narcotics.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price, M.D., announced earlier today the largest ever health care fraud enforcement action by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, involving 412 charged defendants across 41 federal districts. Many of the defendants included in today’s national announcement are medical professionals, including doctors and nurses. In the two local cases, however, the defendants are not medical professionals but are charged with conduct related to the possession and distribution of controlled substances.

USA v. Toombs

William E. Toombs, Jr., also known as “Zorro” or “Big Z,” 59, of Kansas City, was charged in a 10-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 29, 2017. That indictment was unsealed and made public upon Toombs’s arrest and initial court appearance on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

The federal indictment charges Toombs with nine counts of possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute. On June 19, 2015, Toombs allegedly possessed crack cocaine, Oxycodone, Morphine, Hydrocodone, Codeine, Alprazolam and Diazepam with the intent to distribute. On April 25, 2016, Toombs allegedly possessed heroin with the intent to distribute. On May 4, 2016, Toombs allegedly possessed Oxycodone, Methadone, Hydrocodone and Alprazolam with the intent to distribute.

Toombs is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Toombs, who has a prior felony conviction, allegedly possessed a Taurus .45 Long Colt/410 gauge revolver on June 19, 2015.

USA v. Cunningham

Josef Cunningham, Jr., also known as Carl Thomas, 31, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a six-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on June 29, 2017.

The federal indictment charges Cunningham with one count of possessing Oxycodone between April 25 and June 10, 2015, with the intent to distribute. Cunningham is also charged with five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. Cunningham allegedly obtained Oxycodone and Codeine using fraudulent prescriptions.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. They were investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Charleston man was sentenced today to six years and three months in prison for a gun charge and assaulting a federal officer, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Taurean Amadeus Johnson, 30, previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and assaulting a federal officer after a court appearance.

Johnson admitted that on January 16, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence and on a vehicle parked in front of his residence. Officers found a Lorcin L380 semiautomatic pistol in the vehicle. Johnson admitted that the gun belonged to him. Johnson also admitted in a statement to law enforcement that he acquired at least two other handguns, which were also recovered. Johnson was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of convictions in Cabell County Circuit Court in 2009 for first degree robbery, transporting a controlled substance into the state, and delivery of crack.

Johnson further admitted to assaulting a federal officer. On January 17, 2017, Johnson appeared before the United States Magistrate Judge in Charleston for an initial appearance. When the hearing ended, Johnson became combative leaving the courtroom. Johnson admitted that while being placed in a holding cell, he began choking a deputy of the United States Marshals Service by pulling on his neck tie. The Marshals Service regained control of Johnson through physical restraint.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is in charge of the prosecution. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in leading a marriage fraud conspiracy.

Delmar Dixon, 49, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to three years in federal prison without parole.

Dixon pleaded guilty on March 8, 2017, to leading a conspiracy to assist African nationals in circumventing immigration laws by arranging fraudulent marriages. Dixon also pleaded guilty to falsely swearing in an immigration matter.

Dixon admitted that he arranged 30 to 40 fraudulent marriages, including his own. Dixon charged the African nationals $1,000 upfront for his services, which included providing them U.S. citizen spouses. The African nationals were additionally required to pay $500 to the spouse at the time of the wedding, and an additional $500 immediately after completion of the wedding. They were required to pay their spouses $250 each month after the weddings until the immigration process was complete. The African nationals were coached by Dixon on how to make their marriages appear legitimate.

In addition to arranging fraudulent marriages, Dixon engaged in a fraudulent marriage himself. Dixon obtained a marriage license on March 19, 2008, and married a Kenyan national who had entered the United States as a B2 nonimmigrant visitor but overstayed her visa.

Co-defendant Traci R. Porter, 45, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to two years in federal prison without parole. Co-defendant Tierra Ofield, 24, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison without parole. Co-defendants Kakeland Barnes, 37, Shakeisha Harrison, 37, and Stephanie Harris, 22, all of Kansas City, Mo., have pleaded guilty to their roles in the marriage fraud conspiracy and await sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Moore. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Fraud Detection and National Security.

PROVIDENCE – A North Carolina resident arrested by Rhode Island State Police on June 20, 2017, following a traffic stop which resulted in the seizure of a cache of loaded, high-powered firearms, camouflage equipment, night-vision goggles, and 443 grams of suspected methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, with street names of Molly and Ecstasy) was charged today by way of a federal criminal complaint in U.S. District Court in Providence with firearms and drug trafficking charges.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, announced today the filing of a federal criminal complaint charging Anthony Moniz Thompson, 39, of Charlotte, NC, with being a felon in possession of firearms, possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of MDMA, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to an affidavit filed with the court in support of the criminal complaint, during the traffic stop it is alleged that Thompson, the only person in the vehicle, denied having firearms or illicit drugs in the vehicle, and denied having been previously convicted of a crime. During a check of the driver’s license and car registration provided by Thompson, and a criminal history check, the trooper learned that in fact Thompson has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions in federal and state courts in North Carolina on firearms and drug trafficking charges.

According to the affidavit, after agreeing to exit the vehicle and while being questioned by a trooper outside of the rear of the vehicle, it is alleged that Thompson shoved a trooper into a travel lane of the highway, and then he ran into the highway and began running in a travel lane opposite the direction of oncoming traffic. After ignoring verbal warnings to stop and repeated warnings of the possible use of a Taser, the trooper discharged his Taser causing Thompson to fall to the ground where he was placed under arrest.

According to the affidavit, it is alleged that searches of the vehicle at the scene of the traffic stop and later at the State Police barracks troopers discovered and seized eight high-powered pistols, a revolver, two AR-15-style assault rifles, numerous high-capacity rifle and pistol magazines, boxes of ammunition, military-issued smoke grenades, holsters, camouflage gear and masks, night vision goggles and a Taser. It is alleged that troopers also seized approximately 443 grams of MDMA.

Thompson, who is presently being held in state custody on firearms, drug, assault and resisting arrest charges, will make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court at a later date.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico thank the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General for their assistance with this matter.

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

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a former Aurora, Mo., business owner has been indicted by a federal grand jury today for fraud schemes by which he stole more than $26 million, as well as money laundering and other charges.

Russell Grundy, 48, of Hilton Head Island, S. Carolina, formerly of Aurora, was charged in a 30-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Grundy was arrested today.

Grundy was the owner of several companies that focused on advanced technologies, ranging from software development to computer security to addressing the software and hardware technological needs of its clientele. Grundy’s companies included Innovative Objects, LLC, PILR Technology, LLC, Choice Technologies, LLC, Wyerless, LLC, and Audio Input, LLC.

Land O’Lakes/Nutra Blend Fraud Scheme

Grundy (through his company Innovative Objects) was contracted by Land O’Lakes, Inc., and its subsidiary, Nutra Blend, LLC, from January 2004 to Sept. 27, 2015, to create propriety software to inventory, track, and coordinate the disbursement of products. Grundy also contracted with Land O’Lakes and Nutra Blend to provide equipment and technical support for the use, upkeep and maintenance of the software.

The indictment alleges that Grundy falsely told Land O’Lakes and Nutra Blend that third party software programs were built into that proprietary software and were essential to the successful operation of the software. Grundy allegedly claimed that some of the payments made to Innovative Objects were remitted to third party license holders. In reality, the indictment says, there were no third party licensee fees; instead, Grundy kept those payments for his personal or unrelated expenses.

The indictment charges Grundy with six counts of wire fraud related to a series of payments from August 2013 to April 2015, totaling $862,856.

Miami Nations Enterprise Fraud Scheme

Grundy engaged Miami Nations Enterprise in negotiations to provide financial assistance in the form of loans, and for Miami Nations Enterprise to purchase a controlling interest in all of Grundy’s technology-based companies.

According to the indictment, Grundy falsely told Miami Nations Enterprise that his companies had been awarded a $3.5 million contract from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., to develop and provide information technology services. Grundy allegedly presented numerous e-mails, invoices, conditional award letters and other documents to support his false claims. From May 19, 2014, to June 24, 2015, Miami Nations Enterprise loaned Grundy the money to cover the costs associated with software and hardware purchases and training necessary to obtain the $3.5 million Wal-Mart contract.

On Aug. 24, 2014, Miami Nations Enterprise paid an additional amount to purchase a 70 percent interest in Grundy’s companies.

Officials with Miami Nations Enterprise later discovered that neither Grundy nor any of his companies had been awarded any contract with Wal-Mart, and determined that the e-mails, conditional contract award, invoices and bank deposits Grundy had used to support his claims were fraudulently created.

The indictment charges Grundy with 10 counts of wire fraud related to a series of payments from May 19, 2014, to April 12, 2015, totaling $5,990,000.

Additional Charges

In addition to the wire fraud schemes, the indictment charges Grundy with four counts of making a false statement on a loan application. Grundy applied for three loans from UMB Bank on Oct. 17, 2014, totaling $11,390,800. Grundy applied for a $1,850,000 loan from the People’s Bank of Seneca on Aug. 27, 2015. Grundy allegedly made material false statements in each of those loan applications.

Grundy is also charged with 10 counts of money laundering.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Grundy to forfeit to the government any property obtained as a result of the alleged wire fraud violations, including a money judgment of at least $26,060,000.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Carney and Casey Clark. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.

NEWARK, N.J. – A former high-ranking employee of the Newark Watershed Conservation and Development Corp. (NWCDC) was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for accepting $956,948 in kickback payments for his and the former executive director’s assistance in awarding work to contractors, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Donald Bernard Sr., 69, of West Orange, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Jose Linares to Counts 9 and 10 of a 20-count indictment returned in December 2014, charging him with the use of interstate facilities to promote and facilitate bribery in violation of the Travel Act, and Count 1 of an information that charges him with making and subscribing a false personal tax return for the 2009 tax year. Judge Linares imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in these and other cases and statements made in court:

Bernard served as a consultant to the NWCDC (from 2008 to January 2010) and then as a salaried employee (from January 2010 to March 2013). From 2008 to March 2013, Bernard was part of a corrupt arrangement with former NWCDC Executive Director Linda Watkins Brashear to solicit $956,948 in cash kickbacks from certain NWCDC contractors in exchange for providing them work and other assistance. Bernard and Brashear facilitated NWCDC payments to contractors to fund cash kickbacks to themselves, knowing payments were inflated above the amount of any work performed. They knew that in numerous instances no work at all had been performed. Bernard and Brashear used their email accounts to facilitate this scheme.

Two contractors from whom Bernard and Brashear obtained substantial cash kickbacks were Jim P. Enterprises and New Beginnings Environmental Services, both companies hired to perform landscaping, snow removal, clean-up and sign-posting services, which were affiliated with Bernard but purportedly operated by James Porter. Bernard admitted receiving $409,823 in bribes and kickbacks from Porter’s companies, funded by inflated and fraudulently obtained payments from the NWCDC, during the period January 2008 to December 2012. Bernard also admitted receiving approximately $85,000 from Essex Home Improvements, a contracting company operated by DeRosa, during the period January 2008 to March 2013, which he received either directly or indirectly through companies Bernard controlled.

Bernard also admitted filing a U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, for tax year 2009, which did not include approximately $314,000 in unreported income he received in kickbacks.

A co-defendant, Giacomo “Jack” DeRosa, 60, of Clinton Township, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty to laundering a portion of $85,000 he provided to Bernard from January 2008 to August 2012 in connection with roofing work that Bernard facilitated for DeRosa with the NWCDC. DeRosa was sentenced on Oct. 25, 2016, to six months in prison.

Brashear pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2015, to devising a scheme to defraud the NWCDC as well as filing a false tax return by failing to report substantial income she received in connection with the kickback scheme. She is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 11, 2017. Among the approximately $1 million in kickbacks that Brashear admitted receiving were approximately $260,000 from Porter and $27,000 from DeRosa. Porter pleaded guilty in January 2015 to conspiracy to defraud the NWCDC of honest services, money and property through the use of interstate wire transmissions, as well as tax evasion for his role in the kickback scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 20, 2017.

DeRosa admitted that from January 2008 to August 2012 he provided Bernard with a stream of payments totaling approximately $85,000 for Bernard’s action and assistance in procuring NWCDC roofing work for DeRosa’s company. DeRosa provided these payments to Bernard either directly, or to Bernard’s consulting firm, or to a Newark-based civic organization run by Bernard, the African American Heritage Parade Committee. DeRosa also admitted to laundering $20,000 of the money by having it paid to Bernard indirectly through intermediaries in order to disguise DeRosa or Essex Home Improvements as the source of the funds. Two intermediaries DeRosa admitted to using to launder funds provided to Bernard included a subcontractor doing work for DeRosa’s company and Porter.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Linares sentenced Bernard to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher; IRS – Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen; and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Newark office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi, as well as criminal investigators of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for the investigation leading to today’s guilty pleas. Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick also thanked the N.J. Office of the State Comptroller, under the direction of Acting State Comptroller Philip James Degnan, for its assistance in the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacques Pierre and Senior Litigation Counsel Leslie Schwartz of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division.

Columbia, South Carolina------United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Gregory S. Boone, age 47, of Lancaster, South Carolina, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for willful failure to pay over taxes, in violation of Title 26, United States Code Section 7202.

According to information presented during his guilty plea, Boone owned both the Lancaster Pharmacy and the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy in Rock Hill. While the owner, Boone withheld federal income taxes from his employees’ wages and kept the money for himself. In addition, facts presented during the hearing showed that Boone had failed to pay his income taxes since the year 2000. Based on IRS calculations, Boone failed to pay over $350,000 in federal income taxes.

The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Charlotte Field Office Criminal Division working cooperatively with the IRS Civil Enforcement Division and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office.

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CAMDEN, N.J. – Two Atlantic County, New Jersey, men were each given multi-year prison sentences for their participation in a nearly three-year conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced today.

John Wellman, 41, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 130 months in prison. Ronald Douglas Byrd, 51, of Pleasantville, New Jersey, was sentenced July 11, 2017 to 96 months in prison. Both defendants previously pleaded guilty to Count One of an indictment charging them with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. U.S. District Judge Jerome B. Simandle imposed both sentences in Camden federal court.

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

From February 2012 through Dec. 10, 2014, Byrd, Wellman and others engaged in a drug trafficking conspiracy through which Byrd distributed more than one kilogram of crack cocaine and Wellman distributed more than 280 grams of crack cocaine. Members of the conspiracy used Byrd’s Pleasantville residence and at least two other residences in Pleasantville and Absecon, New Jersey – including one that was rented by Wellman – to store and package cocaine and crack cocaine.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Simandle sentenced both defendants to five years of supervised release.

The U.S Attorney’s Office charged a total of 12 individuals for their participation in this drug trafficking conspiracy. All of those charged, with the exception of one defendant who remains a fugitive, have been convicted of their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy or related charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark; the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Carl J. Kotowski; the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Diane M. Ruberton; and the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Police Chief Henry White, with the investigation leading to these convictions.

He also thanked the N.J. State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Homeland Security Investigation (HSI); U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventnor, Northfield and Millville police departments for their assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana Vondra Carrig and Howard Wiener of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.

Defense counsel:

Byrd: Michael Huff Esq., Philadelphia

Wellman: John F. Renner Esq., Marlton, New Jersey

BOSTON – Four individuals were charged yesterday in federal court in Boston for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic counterfeit steroids, including testosterone and trenbolone, to bodybuilders.

Tyler Bauman, a/k/a “musclehead 320,” 32, of Shrewsbury, and Philip Goodwin, 36, of Lynn, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to traffic counterfeit drugs, one count of trafficking counterfeit drugs, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

Kathryn Green, a/k/a Katie Green, a/k/a Katy Green, 30, of Shrewsbury, and Brian Petzke, 49, of Saugus, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

All four defendants were previously arrested and charged by complaint on April 12, 2017, along with two other co-defendants, Robert Medeiros and Melissa Sclafani.Medeiros pleaded guilty in June and will be sentenced on Sept. 21, 2017.

According to court documents, from approximately May 2015 until April 12, 2017, the conspirators manufactured steroid products - made from raw materials purchased overseas - in Goodwin’s home, and marketed them as “Onyx” steroids using “Onyx” labels that were also ordered from overseas suppliers. Onyx, now owned by Amgen Inc., is a legitimate pharmaceutical company that does not manufacture steroids. 

The defendants allegedly sold the steroids to customers across the United States using email and social media platforms, collected payment through money remitters, such as Western Union and MoneyGram, and used false identifications and multiple remitter locations to pick up the proceeds.  Some of the defendants laundered proceeds from the steroid sales through Wicked Tan LLC, a tanning business located in Beverly, which they owned and operated specifically to launder the proceeds of the steroid operation.     

The charges of conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit drugs and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss of the conspiracy. The charge of possession of a controlled substance provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss of the conspiracy. The charge of trafficking in counterfeit drugs provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or loss of the conspiracy. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Jeffrey Ebersole, Special Agent in Charge of the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, New York Field Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Harman Burkart and David J. D’Addio of Weinreb’s Cybercrime Unit are prosecuting the case. 

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old Houston man has been sentenced in Laredo federal court to a 94-month-term of imprisonment for attempting to import 17 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Octavio Gomez-Solis pleaded guilty March 6, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed the sentence which will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the defendant’s criminal history and stated that a lengthy prison sentence was needed to deter such conduct.

On Dec. 20, 2016, Gomez-Solis arrived at the Lincoln-Juarez Bridge and applied for admittance to the United States. At that time, a K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics and Gomez-Solis was referred to secondary inspection. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents then discovered 12 bundles concealed within the radiator of the vehicle. The bundles of methamphetamine weighed a total of 17.52 kilograms.

Gomez-Solis admitted he knew he was transporting something “illegal,” but was not sure what type of drug it was.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and CBP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa prosecuted the case.

Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that two Nebraska men were indicted on July 12, 2017 for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Allen McCray, 19, and Victor Linton, 23, both of Omaha, Nebraska, were charged in a seven count indictment. The indictment alleges that beginning on or about April 12, 2017 and continuing through and including April 21, 2017, McCray and Linton conspired and did commit a series of four armed robberies of MotoMart, Circle K, and Casey’s General Store on April 15, 2017 and Prime Sole on April 19, 2017 within the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment also alleges that a firearm was brandished or discharged at each of these robberies.

The conspiracy and robbery offenses carry up to a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. Brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years to life imprisonment, to be followed by five years supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. For a second or subsequent conviction under this section, the minimum sentence is not less than 25 years of imprisonment up to life imprisonment. Discharging a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years to life imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. For a second or subsequent conviction under this section, the minimum sentence is not less than 25 years of imprisonment up to life imprisonment.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maryville Police Department, the O’Fallon Police Department, the Troy Police Department, the Effingham Police Department, Illinois State Police, Missouri State Highway Patrol and multiple law enforcement agencies in Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, and Indiana.

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ANTHONY REDDICK, a/k/a “Ant Flocka,” pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to his involvement in the “Young Gunnaz” or “YGz” gang by participating in the murder of Moises Lora, 16, during which REDDICK and several other YGz gang members stomped Lora to death in a courtyard in the Melrose housing projects in the Bronx on April 16, 2012.  REDDICK is scheduled to be sentenced later this year by United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, before whom REDDICK pled guilty.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Moises Lora was only 16 years old when Anthony Reddick and his fellow gang members brutally stomped Lora to death in a vicious attack.  Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement, Reddick has now admitted his role in this brutal murder. Although we cannot bring Lora back, we hope that his family will find some small measure of solace in today’s guilty plea.”

According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during REDDICK’s guilty plea and other court proceedings in this case:

REDDICK was a member of the Bronx-based street gang known as the YGz.  From 2005 to 2016, members and associates of the YGz enriched themselves by committing robberies and by selling drugs, such as crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, and committing acts of violence, including the murder of rival gang members, rival drug traffickers, and innocent bystanders. 

As part of his involvement in the YGz gang, REDDICK and several other YGz gang members murdered Lora, a member of a rival gang, on April 16, 2012, in the South Bronx.  Specifically, on the date of the murder, a group of YGz members, including REDDICK, got drunk, and began arguing among themselves about who had done the most for the YGz.  This group of YGz members went to the territory of a rival gang in the Melrose housing projects to settle their dispute.  Upon arriving at the Melrose projects, REDDICK and other members of the YGz saw Lora and attacked him.  During the attack, Lora’s skull was fractured in several places.  REDDICK and the group left Lora to die.  Following the stomping, REDDICK and several of his confederates bragged to fellow YGz members about what they had done.

* * *

REDDICK, 22, of the Bronx, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  REDDICK is the third defendant in United States v. Kareem Lanier, et al., 15 Cr. 537 (VEC), to plead guilty to participating in the stomping murder of Lora. 

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York City Police Department in the investigation of this case.  He also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for their support in this case.

This case is being handled by this Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Samson Enzer, Gina M. Castellano, and Andrew C. Adams are in charge of the prosecution.

BOSTON – A Boylston man was indicted today on child pornography charges.

Randy Alan Chaplis, 33, was indicted on one count of distributing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Chaplis was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on March 16, 2017, and has been detained since his arrest. 

According to court documents, on Feb. 9, 2017, Chaplis sent two emails to an undercover law enforcement officer that included dozens of images of child pornography, including prepubescent girls engaged in sex acts with adult men. In other email communications with the undercover officer, Chaplis stated that he likes three-to-10 year olds, and that he has “fun” with his girlfriend’s five-year-old daughter when her mother is not home. Chaplis emailed graphic descriptions of the sexual acts he purportedly performed on his girlfriend’s child starting when the child was two-years-old. He asked whether the undercover officer intended to have sexual intercourse with the undercover officer’s infant daughter once she turned three or four.  The complaint also alleges that Chaplis bragged to another internet user about having sexual intercourse with a four-year-old girl. 

On March 15, 2017, federal agents executed a search warrant at Chaplis’ residence and seized an external hard drive and a desktop computer that included multiple images of child pornography.

The charging statutes provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting 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 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/.          

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