LOS ANGELES– A Monterey Park man was taken into custody late this morning on federal smuggling charges stemming from the seizure of a package that contained three king cobras hidden in potato chip canisters.

          Rodrigo Franco, 34, was arrested this morning by special agents with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Office of Law Enforcement after he was named in a criminal complaint filed on July 21.

          Franco, who is charged with one count of illegally importing merchandise into the United States, is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court.

          According to the affidavit in support of the complaint, United States Customs and Border Protection on March 2 inspected a package sent from Hong Kong and discovered three live king cobra snakes – a protected and highly venomous reptile – each of which was approximately two-feet long. In addition to the three snakes, the parcel being sent through the United States Postal Service contained three albino Chinese soft-shelled turtles.

          On the same date, Franco also mailed six protected turtles – desert box turtles, three-toed box turtles and ornate box turtles – from the United States to Hong Kong, but that shipment also was intercepted by the USFWS.

          Because of the danger associated with the cobras, the snakes were seized from the package that had come from Hong Kong. The United States Postal Inspection Service made a controlled delivery of the soft-shelled turtles to Franco’s residence. Immediately after the package was delivered, agents with the USFWS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at the residence.

          While executing the search warrant, agents found the package that originated in Hong Kong in the children’s bedroom, in which, they also discovered a tank containing a live baby Morelet’s crocodile and tanks containing alligator snapping turtles, a common snapping turtle, and five diamond back terrapins – all of which are protected species, according to the affidavit.

          During a subsequent interview with authorities, Franco admitted that he had previously received 20 king cobras in two prior shipments – but he said all of those snakes had died in transit.

          During the ensuing investigation, authorities obtained evidence from Franco’s phone that revealed messages in which Franco and an individual in Asia discussed shipping turtles and snakes between the United States and Asia. According to the complaint, the messages indicate that Franco had previously received live cobras from his contact in Asia and was going to give five of the snakes to a relative of his contact.

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

          The smuggling charge alleged in the complaint carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

          The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Erik M. Silber of the Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section.

COEUR D’ALENE– Thurlo Eugene Clark, 72, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was sentenced today in federal court in Coeur d’Alene to 60 months in prison for possession of sexually explicit images of minors, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael Gonzalez announced. Senior U.S. District Court Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered a ten-year term of supervised release following Clark’s release from prison.

According to the plea agreement, Clark admitted that on May 6, 2016, law enforcement officers contacted him because officers received information that Clark tried to send child pornography via the internet. Clark admitted to law enforcement that he knowingly possessed child pornography which he had received byemail. With Clark’s consent, law enforcement officers recovered various computer equipment that contained child pornography. At the time law enforcement contacted Clark, he possessed some 21,000 images of child pornography.

The case was investigated by the FBI and theIdaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervision for possession of over 7,915 images and videos of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre for the District of Nevada.

James Karman Ryan, 49, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2017, to one count of possession of child pornography.

According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 14, 2014, during the execution of a search warrant by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Ryan barricaded himself in his room and began to delete files on his computer. He eventually surrendered and admitted that he was attempting to delete child pornography from his computer as the SWAT team was making entry into his house. After a forensic examination of his computer, hard drives, and other storage devices, over 7,915 images and videos were found to contain child pornography. Of the 7,915 images and videos, approximately 4,687 images and videos were deemed to be child sexual abuse.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Coumou and Lisa Cartier-Giroux.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals, federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood and for information about internet safety education, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

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MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A Charles Town, West Virginia man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a heroin distribution charge, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.

Ryan Jackson, age 39, is charged with one count of “Distribution of Heroin.” Jackson allegedly distributed a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in Jefferson County in October 2016.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, is investigating. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – An El Salvador man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a reentry of a removed alien charge, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.

Jose Angel Gabriel Palma-Erazo, age 31, was indicted on one count of “Reentry of Removed Alien.” Palma-Erazo, having previously been removed from Texas, allegedly was found in Berkeley County in June 2017 without consent.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
 

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A physician with a pain management clinic in McMechen, West Virginia, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling on June 6, 2017 on health care fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud charges, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.

Dr. Roland F. Chalifoux, Jr., age 57, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, was indicted on eleven counts of “Health Care Fraud for Travel Dates,” seven counts of “Mail Fraud,” four counts of “Wire Fraud,” and four counts of “Health Care Fraud.” The crimes are alleged to have occurred from 2008 to June 2017 in Marshall County and elsewhere in the Northern District of West Virginia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the West Virginia Insurance Fraud Investigation Unit are investigating. 

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

LAREDO, Texas – A convicted heroin smuggler who was also the leader of an alien smuggling operation has been ordered to federal prison along with several members of his organization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez along with Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Acting Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Joel Martinez from the Laredo Sector Border Patrol. Mariano De La Cruz, 32, aka “Rayo” and “El Pelon,” of Laredo, pleaded guilty April 13, 2016, to two different indictments charging him with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and the alien smuggling conspiracy, respectively.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered him to serve a combined sentence of 206 months in federal prison. Also sentenced today were David Cuevas, 25, and Sara Rodriguez, 40, both of Laredo, and Juan Gerardo Rodriguez-Mantos, 34, an undocumented alien from Mexico living in Laredo who was the brother of Rodriguez. They had also pleaded guilty for their respective roles in the alien smuggling conspiracy. Cuevas received a sentence of 60 months in prison, while Rodriguez was ordered to serve 84 months. In sentencing Rodriguez-Mantos, the court considered the fact that he had sexually assaulted some of the victims. He received a 252-month-term of imprisonment for the alien smuggling conspiracy and for being an illegal alien in the United States after deportation. De La Cruz and Cuevas will also serve five years on supervised release following completion of their sentences, while Rodriguez was ordered to serve a three-year-term. Not a U.S. citizen, Rodriguez-Mantos is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison.

“HSI is dedicated to working closely with all of our law enforcement partners to effectively in identify, arrest and prosecute individuals involved in exploiting people,” said Folden. "Criminals who illegally smuggle people into and throughout the country place personal profit ahead of public safety. For this reason, HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to dismantle human smuggling organizations.”

“I commend the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security representing the Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor Laredo Area Team who worked tirelessly to dismantle this organization,”said Joel Martinez. “Their joint efforts represents our commitment in disrupting and dismantling criminal organizations in South Texas.”

In addition to arranging for the shipment of almost two kilograms of heroin from Laredo to Rhode Island, De La Cruz led a multi-city organization that transported at least 140 undocumented aliens from Laredo and Hebbronville to San Antonio and other locations over a one-year-period from late 2014 until his arrest in late 2015. Cuevas was De La Cruz’s second in command. In that role, he relayed messages to and from De La Cruz, who was running the organization from prison. Rodriguez operated stash houses in Laredo for De La Cruz and also transported aliens to the brush where smugglers would then guide them around Border Patrol checkpoints.

Rodriguez-Mantos assisted his sister in running the stash houses, maintained order among the aliens and was a part-time foot guide. During that time, he sexually-assaulted some of the undocumented female aliens and brutalized other aliens who refused to comply with his orders. At times, he demonstrated his authority with a baseball bat and threatened them with a rifle that he claimed was a “BB” gun.

Cuevas was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. De La Cruz and the others have been and will remain in custody.

Three others who also pleaded to the alien smuggling conspiracy were sentenced previously to terms ranging from 24-36 months in prison.

In the drug conspiracy, Juan Contreras, 29, of La Vernia, received a 60-month-term of imprisonment for physically transporting the heroin to Rhode Island.

HSI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez prosecuted the case.

BIRMINGHAM –A woman who falsely claimed to be a naturopathic doctor pleaded guilty today in federal court to defrauding patients at a Hoover clinic in 2015, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Robert Posey and U.S. Postal Inspector Frank Dyer.

ISABEL KESARI GERVAIS, 60, using the alias, Dr. Rose Starr, defrauded patients at the Euro Med Klinic by lying about more than her name. She lied about her credentials, her experience and her license to practice medicine, according to her guilty plea. Gervais pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala to one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, one count of aggravated identity theft and one count of making false statements. She also agreed to forfeit $108,146 as proceeds of illegal activity. Gervais is scheduled for sentencing in November.

As part of Gervais’ plea agreement, she acknowledged that over the last 15 years she operated multiple clinics in Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas and Kansas using her current name and various aliases that often employed different spellings of the name Debra Lynn Goodman. The clinics included Sagewood Medical Clinic in Montgomery, the Chiron Clinic in Marietta, Ga., and DRI Enterprises in Atlanta. At all the clinics, Gervais falsely represented herself as a licensed doctor with extensive experience and various degrees who used naturopathic medicine to cure people of various illnesses, including cancer.

“For years this defendant lied about her credentials and took advantage of desperately ill people,” Posey said. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service did great work in uncovering this fraud and finding the evidence to make this case.”

Gervais had no legitimate medical degrees or training, but she had operated the clinics in Alabama and Georgia, as well as in Fayetteville and Springdale, Ark., and Leawood, Kan. Because of her fraudulent activity, she was investigated by the Alabama and Arkansas medical boards, was prosecuted by Arkansas state authorities and faced civil monetary claims and actions, according to her guilty plea. To avoid legal action and detection, she had abandoned rental properties, changed locations, changed business names and adopted aliases.

Gervais opened the Euro Med Klinic in Hoover in 2015 as Dr. Starr, claiming she had years of experience and was licensed to practice medicine in Alabama and throughout the world. She promised patients, including cancer sufferers, at the Hoover clinic that she could provide various medical services, including DNA tests that she did not have the technology to conduct, according to her plea. Gervais ran some tests on patients, prescribed various substances and, through her misrepresentations about licensure and qualifications, fraudulently induced patients to pay her thousands of dollars, according to her plea.

Gervais misappropriated the identity of one patient at the Hoover clinic in order to charge the patient’s credit card without consent, according to her plea. She also misappropriated the identity of another individual and used it fraudulently to set up a post office box.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud affecting a financial institution is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Aggravated identity fraud carries a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. The maximum penalty for making a false statement is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Barnes is prosecuting.

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SAVANNAH, GA: Yesterday, following a two-day trial before U. S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, a federal jury convicted Savannah resident Maynard Sanders, 33, of 15 counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and aiding and abetting theft by a bank employee. Sanders’ convictions came on the heels of a one-day trial before Senior U. S. District Court Judge William T. Moore, Jr. during which a different federal jury found Sanders guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to the evidence presented at the trials, Sanders befriended two former Wells Fargo bank tellers in late 2015, and convinced both of them to help him obtain and use other people’s identities in order to steal cash from Wells Fargo bank accounts. Text messages recovered from Sanders’ cell phone revealed that Sanders intentionally targeted elderly customers, including an 86-year-old widow who testified against Sanders at the July trial. Between December 2015 and February 2016, Sanders caused his accomplices to withdraw thousands of dollars from compromised accounts and to provide him with most or all of the embezzled funds. Both accomplices have pled guilty to federal charges and are awaiting sentence.

When Sanders was arrested on federal fraud charges, he was in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Due to his previous convictions for theft, fraud, and unlawful possession of a firearm dating back to 2002, Sanders was prohibited under federal law from possessing guns or ammunition.

On the firearms charge, Sanders faces a term of imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. Additionally, Sanders may be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud and aiding and abetting theft by a bank employee. Sanders’ commission of aggravated identity theft will add between 2 and 10 years of imprisonment onto his total sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.

Acting United States Attorney James D. Durham stated, “For over a decade, Maynard Sanders preyed upon the hardworking citizens of this community and embraced deception and manipulation as his stock-in-trade. Despite several stints in prison, he continued to hatch fraudulent schemes, and he persisted in carrying weapons that he had no right to possess. This United States Attorney’s Office will ensure that Sanders and other career criminals like him will be held accountable for their misdeeds.”

“Technology has forever changed the way we do business, making every day financial transactions a prime target for fraud,” said U. S. Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Glen Kessler. “Customers are always urged to monitor their bank accounts and credit cards closely for fraudulent transactions and to use automated banking alerts available at most financial institutions. The Secret Service, in conjunction with its many law enforcement partners, continues to successfully combat these crimes by adapting our investigative methodologies and educating the public.”

The charges against Sanders and his accomplices resulted from a Secret Service investigation. That investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are expected. Various law enforcement agencies, including ATF, U. S. Marshals Service, Savannah State University Police Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Armstrong State University Police Department Cyber Forensics Division, and the Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force, provided assistance.

Assistant United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the United States. For additional information, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office at (912) 201-2522.

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Enrique Garcia Burgos, age 45, of Myrtle Beach, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after a pre-sentence report is prepared by U.S. Probation.

This case was part of an extensive investigation conducted by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) into the sale of heroin and other illegal drugs in the Horry County, South Carolina, area. Burgos was identified as a possible heroin distributor during the investigation. Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on June 26, 2016, agents conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Burgos and occupied by a coconspirator. Agents believed that Burgos and the coconspirator were returning from Atlanta with a quantity of illegal narcotics. During a search of the vehicle, agents found over 1 kilogram of heroin and approximately 500 grams of cocaine and located a loaded firearm.

Ms. Drake stated the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000. 

The case was investigated by DEA-Florence and the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU). Assistant United States Attorney Chris Taylor of the Florence office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that James Coppers McKee, Jr., age 45, of Myrtle Beach, pled guilty in federal court in Florence to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that DEA-Florence and the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) were investigating a methamphetamine distribution organization in the Horry County, South Carolina, area. As part of that investigation, agents learned that McKee was a possible methamphetamine distributor. In 2014 and 2015, agents made three controlled buys of methamphetamine from McKee. McKee was also identified as being in possession of multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine during the conspiracy period. 

Ms. Drake stated the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000. 

The case was investigated by DEA-Florence, South Carolina, and the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU). Assistant United States Attorney Chris Taylor of the Florence office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Jaquan Latrel Samuel, a/k/a “Trey,” a/k/a “Trap,” age 30, of Hartsville, pled guilty in federal court in Florence to Robbery of United States Government Property and Use of and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence.  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on March 29, 2017, Samuel robbed a person having lawful charge, custody, and control of $400.00 belonging to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) by use of a firearm.  During the hearing, agents presented evidence that Samuel pointed a firearm at the victim in order to force the victim to give up the cash. 

Ms. Drake stated that the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The case was investigated by the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, the Hartsville Police Department, and the ATF.   Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Hummel of the Florence office and J.D. Rowell of the Columbia office are prosecuting the case.

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Joon H. Kim, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced charges against WANDY TEJADA for the June 11, 2016, murder of Jessica White, who was killed by a stray bullet while watching her children play in the playground of the John Adams Houses in the Bronx, New York. TEJADA, who was previously arrested, was charged in an Indictment returned yesterday by a federal grand jury. The case is assigned to Chief U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon.

STIVEN SIRI-REYNOSO was previously arrested and indicted for his role in the murder of Ms. White.

Manhattan Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Our office has been committed to finding and prosecuting those involved in the senseless murder of Jessica White, who was killed while watching her children on a playground in the Bronx. Today’s indictment will not return Ms. White to her family, but we hope it provides some solace to know that the men who allegedly took her life will be held to account.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “This case clearly shows that the violence of street gangs affects innocent bystanders, not only those directly involved. While simply watching her children, a mother lost her life to selfish, careless violence. The alleged actions of these gang members demonstrate blatant disregard for the lives of the members of their communities. Eradicating street gangs remains among the top priorities of the New York Office, as we will not tolerate the destructive impact that they have on our residents.”

NYPD Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill said: "Our commitment to investigating crime—particularly a homicide as senseless as Jessica White—is unwavering. We will continue to pursue those who commit homicides, as senseless as the one alleged, with relentless focus."

According to the allegations in the Indictment^[1] and statements made in court proceedings:

June 11, 2016, Jessica White was struck and killed by a stray bullet while sitting on a bench watching her three children play on a playground at the John Adams Houses where she lived. SIRI-REYNOSO, a member of the “Dominicans Don’t Play” or “DDP” street gang, was engaged in an ongoing gang dispute between the DDPs and the rival “Trinitarios” street gang involving among other things, SIRI-REYNOSO’s drug sales near the John Adams Houses. On the night of June 11, 2016, Trinitarios members tried to attack SIRI-REYNOSO. In retaliation, SIRI-REYNOSO sent TEJADA to shoot at the Trinitarios. One of the bullets fired by TEJADA struck and killed Jessica White.

* * *

SIRI-REYNOSO, 24, and TEJADA, 17, both of the Bronx, are charged in an Indictment with one count of murder through the use of a firearm in connection with a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting the same. SIRI-REYNOSO faces a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment, and TEJADA faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Skinner is in charge of the prosecution.

The charge contained in the Indictment is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that Rigaud Colin (49, Apopka) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making a false claim to the United States. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to court documents, Colin was the owner and operator of Rigaud Investment Group, Inc., a tax preparation business in Orange County. Using his business, he executed a scheme to defraud the IRS by preparing and filing false and fraudulent income tax returns for residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands who were not eligible to receive tax refunds from the IRS. Specifically, Colin included false and fraudulent addresses and education tax credit claims in tax returns that he electronically filed with the IRS on behalf of the Virgin Islands residents. As a result of Colin’s scheme, the IRS sustained a loss of $1,393,097.

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Searle.

Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that Gary Paul Moorman (34, Cincinnati, Ohio) has pleaded guilty to interstate prostitution. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Moorman will be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum penalty for this offense.

According to court documents, Moorman systematically and violently abused multiple victims to induce them, against their will, into prostitution for his own financial gain. He also induced the victims to travel between Florida, Ohio, and elsewhere to engage in sexual acts. In furtherance of his criminal activity, Moorman took provocative photos of the victims to post prostitution ads on the Internet. After the victims provided these services, Moorman demanded and took all of the proceeds.

This case was investigated by the FBI - Tampa Division (Pinellas Resident Agency), with support from the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office and the Cincinnati Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacie B. Harris and Kristen A. Fiore.

ALEXANDRIA, La. –Acting U.S.Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Eunice man was sentenced last week to nine months in prison for entering a Eunice bank and taking more than $5,000 from two teller stations.

Randall Scott Courville, 42, of Eunice, La., was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell on one count of bank theft. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $5,290 restitution. According to the April 19, 2017 guilty plea, Courville entered a bank on North Second Street in Eunice on January 20, 2017 wearing a surgical mask, hooded sweatshirt and gloves. He walked up to a teller’s station, reached across the counter into the teller’s drawer and removed money. He then moved to another teller’s station and removed money from that teller’s drawer as well. He left the bank with $5,290.

The FBI and Eunice Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph T. Mickel prosecuted the case.

HARRISBURG- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tammie Sensenig, age 46, of Denver, Pennsylvania was sentenced July 25, 2017, by United States District Court Judge William C. Caldwell to serve 46 months’ imprisonment for health care fraud.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, as a result of prior convictions relating to Medicaid fraud, Sensenig was excluded from providing healthcare to Medicaid beneficiaries. In order to obtain a position as a behavioral health consultant, Sensenig made false representations, including a forged background check, in order to hide her ineligible status. As a result, Medicaid paid approximately $84,500 for her services.

“We are pleased that Sensenig will be spending over three and a half years in prison”, said Nick DiGiulio, Special Agent in Charge of the Inspector General’s Office for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “And we will continue to do whatever it takes to keep criminals out of our health care system and to return stolen funds to our benefit programs.”

The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Medical Fraud Control Section and United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Schinnour prosecuted the case.

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Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Tuesday afternoon, a federal jury in East St. Louis found Bernard L. Cherry, 31, of East St. Louis, Illinois, guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence at trial showed that on December 13, 2016, an East St. Louis officer responding to a 911 call about a suspicious vehicle encountered Cherry in the yard of an abandoned house. A .40 caliber pistol was on the ground at Cherry’s feet. Cherry attempted to flee from the officer but was eventually apprehended. During a statement to police, he admitted to having the gun in his hand.

At the time of his arrest Cherry was on supervised release in two separate federal cases after convictions for felon in possession of a firearm. Cherry also had prior state convictions in both Illinois and Missouri for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated vehicular hijacking. Cherry faces a maximum of ten years in prison. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 17, 2017, in front of the Honorable David R. Herndon.

The investigation into this crime was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the East St. Louis Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Hoell and Derek Wiseman.

Donald S. Boyce, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that Ronnie Parente, Jr., 35, was sentenced Tuesday, July 25, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to 144 months in federal prison, ten years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $5,100 in special assessments for possession of child pornography. Parente, Jr., will also have to register as a sex offender. Parente, Jr. had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography in the Circuit Court of Madison County in 2004.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

The investigation was conducted by the Granite City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.

SHREVEPORT, La. –Acting U.S.Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that an Indian national was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison for illegally selling silencers and planning to smuggle more.

Mohit Chauhan, 31, of Pitampura, New Delhi, India, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of dealing firearms without a license. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release. According to the April 20, 2017 guilty plea, Chauhan was contacted by someone wishing to buy silencers. Chauhan discussed by email and phone calls manufacturing silencers for the potential client, and importing more silencers and parts by labeling them as “auto parts” to evade U.S. Customs. They set up a meeting, Chauhan arrived in Shreveport on December 1, 2016 to meet the buyer and brought silencer parts with him. He traveled to a Bossier City, La., restaurant to discuss the sale details with the buyer. Agents recorded the meeting. Chauhan did not have a license to deal or conduct a business involving silencers and parts as required by law, and the silencers and parts had traveled in foreign commerce.

The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. prosecuted the case.