Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a criminal Complaint charging PATRICK MURACA with wire fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud investors in purported medical and pharmaceutical companies owned and controlled by MURACA. MURACA was arrested this morning in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and is expected to be presented in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, later today.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Patrick Muraca promised investors their money would be used to expand his businesses, but as alleged, he instead used those funds to line his pockets. Thanks to the investigative work of the FBI, Muraca must now answer for his fraud.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said: “The prevalence of fraud in today’s society is simply troubling. Misappropriating investor funds for one’s own indulgences will never be taken lightly, and fraud of any kind will be thoroughly investigated.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

MURACA, the former President of Nuclea Biotechnologies, Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in August 2016, founded two new businesses in 2016: NanoMolecularDX LLC (“NanoMolecular”) and MetaboRx LLC (“Metabo”). In sworn testimony during a deposition conducted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in April 2017, MURACA stated that NanoMolecular’s primary business is to develop medical diagnostic tests and that Metabo is a pharmaceutical company.

From at least in or about May 2016 up to and including in or about June 2017, MURACA solicited and received a total of more than approximately $1 million from investors by making false and misleading representations that the investors’ money would be used to expand the business of NanoMolecular and Metabo. MURACA then misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of these investors’ funds and used the misappropriated money for personal expenses. For example, MURACA spent tens of thousands of dollars of investor funds on rent, utilities, and food distributor expenses related to the operation of a restaurant owned by his fiancée. In addition, MURACA wrote approximately $176,000 in checks to himself from the bank accounts associated with NanoMolecular and Metabo, and he used investor funds to make purchases of hundreds of dollars each at a cigar store, an online ticket retailer, and a tattoo and piercing establishment, among other businesses.

* * *

MURACA, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, is charged in the Complaint with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the FBI in this case, and thanked the SEC, which has filed civil charges in a separate action.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney David Abramowicz is in charge of the prosecution.

The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

     PHOENIX – Yesterday, Ashley Attson, 23, of Chinle, Ariz., an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David C. Campbell to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for killing her 17-month-old daughter.

     Attson previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The facts showed that she put her child in a stroller, pushed her into the desert, and left the child for four days and nights.  Over the next few days, she met friends for ice cream and posted pictures of herself on Facebook. When she returned, the child was dead. Two days after finding her deceased child, Attson returned for the body, put it into a trash bag, and buried it in an animal hole. The child was born with methamphetamine in her system and had been in the custody of tribal social services throughout most of her life. Attson regained custody of her child approximately two months before the homicide.

     When announcing the 20-year sentence, Judge Campbell said that this was an “intentional, cold-hearted, horrendous killing of an innocent child.”

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Navajo Nation Department of Law Enforcement. The prosecution was handled by Sharon K. Sexton and Christine Keller, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08234-DGC-PCT

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-069_Attson

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

McALLEN, Texas – A United States citizen who had been residing in Mexico has been ordered to prison for importing methamphetamine into the country from Mexico, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Dina Maria Palacios, 37, pleaded guilty April 4, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez took into consideration Palacios’ conduct as well as the fact that she had her 16-year-old daughter with her during the crime. She was ordered to serve 87 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that methamphetamine is one of the worst drugs that destroys people and the high purity level involved in this case made it even more toxic.

At the time of her guilty plea, Palacios admitted that on Jan. 6, 2017, she had driven a vehicle from Mexico into the United States through the Pharr port of entry, knowing the vehicle contained a controlled substance. Upon inspection, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered methamphetamine hidden within the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Agents seized 23 packages weighing approximately 25 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Palacios has been in custody without bond since her arrest where she will remain 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 Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.

     PHOENIX– Yesterday, Reed O’Brien Thomas, Jr., 27, from Dennehotso, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow to 13 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Thomas had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer.

     The investigation revealed that on August 17, 2016, Navajo Nation police officers responded to a domestic dispute on the Navajo Indian Reservation. Thomas fought with the officers, and during the struggle, one of the officers sustained a broken finger. Thomas is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. The officers at the time were delegated authority to enforce federal law.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-16-08219-PCT-GMS

RELEASE NUMBER: 2017-070_Thomas

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

WILKES-BARRE- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Joseph Marcoux, age 25, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 31, 2017, by United States Magistrate Court Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. to a three-month prison term, followed by three months of home confinement and one year of supervised release for possession of drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from a traffic stop in December 2016, at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area in Bushkill.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Marcoux pleaded guilty on February 16, 2017, to misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, fictitious plates, and driving while operating privileges are suspended. Several other violations were dismissed pursuant to the plea agreement. Magistrate Judge Saporito also ordered Marcoux to pay fines, assessments, fees, and restitution for a door Marcoux damaged while in a holding cell, totaling $1,516.

The case was investigated by the National Park Service and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean A. Camoni.

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ALBUQUERQUE – Yesterday afternoon, Robert O. Moore, 68, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced in federal court for his bank fraud conviction. Moore was sentenced to a 27-month term of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Moore also was ordered to pay $150,535.10 in restitution to the victim of his criminal conduct.

On April 26, 2016, a federal grand jury filed an indictment charging Moore, a licensed real estate broker, with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to the indictment, between April 2014 and Sept. 2014, Moore perpetuated a scheme to defraud a loan and finance business that was involved in real estate closings and settlement out of more than $150,000, and facilitated the scheme by using the identification of another person.

On Nov. 10, 2016, Moore entered a guilty plea to a felony information charging him with bank fraud. In entering the guilty plea, Moore admitted fraudulently transferring the ownership of a house that he was leasing to himself by presenting fraudulent documents to a financial institution so that he could obtain a mortgage against the house. Moore admitted that he used the name of an actual person as the notary public on the warranty deed without authorization.

The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Jon Ganjei.

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jesus Santos, age 37, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Santos admitted to conspiring with others to obtain and distribute between 400 and 700 grams of heroin (which equals approximately between 16,000 and 28,000 retail bags of heroin) in the Schuylkill-Luzerne County areas of Pennsylvania, during 2012 through 2016. Santos admitted to being a sub-distributor of heroin for Rhashean Strange, a/k/a “Chicago,” who headed-up the conspiracy. Strange previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Eleven people have been charged in the case. Eight have entered guilty pleas.

Judge Munley scheduled sentencing for September 5, 2017.

Santos was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2016, as a result of an investigation by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, investigators from the Pennsylvania State Police, and Shenandoah Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law is 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. There is also a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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A Philadelphia man was sentenced to eight months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States and to aiding and abetting the filing of false claims for tax refunds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Louis D. Lappen for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division

According to documents filed with the court, Shamback Francois, 28, engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain income tax refunds through the filing of false tax returns using stolen personal identifying information. At least one of Francois’s co-conspirators electronically filed the returns, which directed that the fraudulently claimed refunds be deposited into a bank account in the name of Shamback Tax Services. Francois did not have a tax preparation service, but had opened up the account in order to facilitate the crime. Francois withdrew funds from this account to pay his co-conspirators. He admitted to causing a loss of $425,841.14.

In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Judge John R. Padova of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ordered Francois to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $425,841.14 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Acting U.S. Attorney Lappen and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Ignall and Trial Attorney Eric B. Powers of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting the case.

Portland, Maine: Acting United States Attorney Richard W. Murphy announced that Mickey Gilley, 34 of West Bath, Maine, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to distributing heroin and fentanyl.

According to court records, on September 20, 2016, Gilley obtained heroin mixed with fentanyl from a Portland supplier. Later that day, Gilley distributed some of the mixture to a person in West Bath who consumed it and died as a result.

Gilley faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine and up to life on supervised release.

This case results from an investigation conducted by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Sagadahoc and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Offices, the Maine State Police and the Maine Attorney General’s Office.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                                at (410) 209-4885

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell sentenced Glenn R. Fischer, age 70, of Ellicott City, Maryland, to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft arising from a scheme to defraud businesses seeking insurance. Fischer admitted that he fraudulently collected more than $4.4 million in insurance premiums, which he did not remit to an insurance company, causing losses in that amount to the victims who thought they were insured.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According his plea agreement, from 2002 to about 2014, Fischer was a partner at TriArc Financial Services, Inc. (TriArc Services), which provided automotive and mortgage insurance products, including residual value insurance. Residual Value Insurance (“RVI”) helped companies leasing vehicles to consumers to manage the risk from decreases in the value of the vehicle during the term of an auto lease. RVI typically provided for payments to the owner of a leased vehicle if the value of the vehicle at the end of the lease was less than a certain amount specified in the terms of the insurance coverage when the lease began. In the early 2000s, RVI policies were widely issued by insurance companies and TriArc Services generated substantial revenue for the company and its partners, including Fischer, who served as insurance brokers for RVI products. In 2008 and 2009, in conjunction with the financial recession and changes in consumers’ desires for used automobiles, many insureds suffered substantial losses under RVI insurance policies.

Fischer admitted that from 2009 until 2014, he persuaded victim businesses to purchase RVI insurance coverage, which Fischer knew did not exist, so that Fischer could use a substantial portion of the victims’ insurance premiums for his personal benefit. Specifically, in the summer of 2009, Fischer created a Nevada corporation called TriArc Marketing Solutions (TriArc Solutions) and opened bank accounts for TriArc Solutions. During the course of the scheme, Fischer caused prospective insureds to believe that he that he was authorized to issue RVI policies on behalf of TriArc Services, a multinational property and casualty insurance company specializing in coverage for small to medium sized businesses, and one of that business’ subsidiaries. Fischer also concealed the creation and use of TriArc Solutions from his partners at TriArc Services.

Fischer created and sent false insurance coverage documents, fraudulent emails, premium invoices, lists of covered vehicles, and other documents to victim companies, causing them to falsely believe that they had purchased RVI insurance through Fischer. Fischer used the identity of an employee of a multinational property and casualty insurance company in furtherance of the fraud, including his name, title and purported signature on the declaration pages of the fake insurance policies. Fischer concealed from the employee and the company that Fischer was pretending to issue RVI insurance policies on behalf of the company.

Fischer collected more than $4.4 million in RVI insurance premiums from the victims, which he deposited into the TriArc Solutions bank accounts. Fischer and his relatives used the proceeds of the insurance premium payments for their personal benefit.

Fischer also admitted that he failed to report a significant portion of the money he obtained from the fraud on his annual tax returns for the 2009 through 2014 calendar years. The total income Fischer received, but did not report to the IRS for these tax years exceeded $3.3 million, which generated a substantial tax loss to the United States.

As part of his plea agreement, Fischer will be required to forfeit all property constituting, derived from, or traceable to the proceeds of the fraud, in the amount of $4.4 million. In addition, Fischer was ordered to pay $3,823,529.00 in restitution.

Today’s sentence is part of the efforts undertaken in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it’s the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI for its work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and David Metcalf, who prosecuted the case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                ContactELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                         at (410) 209-4855

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced John S. Mattingly, age 71, of Charlotte Hall, Maryland, to 3 years supervised release that includes 18 months of home confinement for bank fraud in connection with a scheme to steal funds from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, while he was the pastor. Judge Chasanow also ordered Mattingly to pay $400,000 in restitution, which Mattingly paid prior to the sentencing hearing.

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron, and St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney Richard Fritz.

According to his plea agreement, Mattingly was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest in 1972 and was the pastor of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (St. Francis), in Leonardtown, Maryland, from 1994 until September 1, 2010, when he resigned. While serving as a parish priest, Mattingly was paid a salary and stipend by St. Francis.

From September 2006 through September 2010, Mattingly fraudulently deposited checks from parishioners made payable to St. Francis and to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which were intended by the St. Francis parishioners to be charitable donations, into a bank account he controlled. In order to conceal the scheme, Mattingly falsely represented that that the checks he deposited into his bank account would be used for charitable purposes and/or church maintenance and renovations. Mattingly did not use the charitable contributions from the St. Francis parishioners for their intended purposes, but instead transferred the fraudulently obtained funds from his bank account to his personal individual retirement account. He also wrote unauthorized checks from the St. Francis bank accountpayable to himself and deposited those checks into his personal individual retirement account.

Mattingly fraudulently deposited more than 500 checks, totaling at least $400,000, written by more than 135 parishioners and made payable to St. Francis or the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and not to Mattingly.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, and St. Mary’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan E. Foreman, who prosecuted the case.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Donald Burton, 51, of Vallejo, pleaded guilty today for his part in a bribery scheme involving city contracts, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Burton was previously employed in the Public Works Engineering Division of the City of Vallejo as the landscape manager. In that position, Burton regularly contracted with local landscape companies to provide services for Vallejo. The City of Vallejo received substantial federal funding, including over $500,000 in Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In the Spring of 2017, Burton solicited a bribe from the owner of a company that provides maintenance services, requesting a 10 percent kickback in exchange for steering contracts to that company. The business owner complained to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and assisted in the investigation by meeting with Burton in an undercover capacity. During those meetings, Burton directed that additional days of work be added to contracted jobs so that Burton and the owner could divide up the profit. Burton stated that the excess amount in the contracts would generally add up to $5,000, and that Burton would take $2,000.

According to the plea agreement, the business owner provided the written contracts that inflated the number of days required to do a job from 10 days to 15, and Burton approved and signed the contracts. On June 7, 2017, the business owner met with Burton and gave him the $2,000 bribe payment. Burton was arrested after taking the payment.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared C. Dolan is prosecuting the case.

Burton is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on November 7, 2017. Burton faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

BOSTON – A Worcester grocery store and its owners – who were warned on five occasions by federal inspectors about food safety violations – have entered into a consent decree with the government that enjoins them from violating food safety laws.

Binh An Market LLC, a Worcester grocery store, and its owners, Hiep N. Ho and Dominic V. Ngo, have entered into a consent decree that permanently enjoins them from violating the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act and the Egg Products Inspection Act. The government alleged that the defendants purchased and sold meat, poultry and egg products that were not inspected by the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and that they failed to maintain appropriate business records concerning their purchases of these products. The proposed consent decree has been filed with the court and is awaiting judicial approval.

“Selling uninspected meat, poultry and eggs risks significant harm to consumers,” said Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb. “This resolution is designed to prevent this business from further jeopardizing the well-being of its customers.”

“The Food Safety and Inspection Service is dedicated to protecting the public health by ensuring that meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome and accurately labeled,” said Paul Kiecker, Acting Administrator for Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The United States Attorney’s Office filed its complaint after a series of USDA inspections of Binh An Market showed that the defendants were selling uninspected meat, poultry, and egg products and did not maintain records reflecting their purchases of the products. Since February 2013, the USDA has issued five Notices of Warning to the defendants for violations of the USDA food inspection laws. Under the consent decree, USDA investigators will have broad access to Binh An Market’s premises to inspect inventory and records, and defendants will face significant monetary penalties for any further violations.

Acting U.S. Attorney Weinreb and Acting Administrator Kiecker made the announcement today. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of Weinreb’s Civil Division.

LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for importing and possessing with the intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Manual Alfredo Mancillas, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty April 4, 2017, to conspiracy to import, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession with intent to distribute and importing methamphetamine.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo handed Mancillas a total sentence of 84 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

In January 2017, Mancillas travelled from his home in Seattle to San Antonio. He then boarded a bus bound for Mexico, where he took possession of a small pick-up truck that had crystal methamphetamine hidden in the vehicle’s oil pan.

On Jan. 19, 2017, Mancillas applied for entry into the United States from Mexico at the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge in Laredo. At that time, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered the crystal methamphetamine, which had a weight of four kilograms.

Mancillas 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 conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Giselle S. Guerra prosecuted the case.

NEWARK, N.J. - A Jersey City, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for stealing more than $250,000 from the Jersey City Child Development Centers Inc. (JCCDC), an organization that provided early childhood development services and education to under-privileged children, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

Robert E. Mays, 40, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

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

Mayswas the executive director of JCCDC from Sept. 2013 to May 2014. Mays admitted that he stole more than $250,000 from JCCDC by unilaterally increasing his annual salary from $96,500 to $155,000 after being employed by JCCDC for only two months. He also admitted that he created false board of director’s minutes to give the impression JCCDC authorized the salary increase.

In addition, Mays admitted he withdrew funds from a JCCDC bank account to pay for unauthorized personal expenses, including a 2007 Maserati Quattroporte and a fur coat worth thousands of dollars.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Mays to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution of $257,418.20.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, and special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert, with the investigation. He also thanked the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Esther Suarez, for its assistance.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Division and Sarah Devlin of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Unit in Newark.

Defense counsel: Alexander W. Booth Jr., Union City, New Jersey

A Highland Heights man pleaded guilty to selling furanyl fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a Cleveland teen, said Acting U.S. Attorney David A. Sierleja and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.

Alec J. Steinberger, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct 31. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he faces a likely sentence of 12 years in prison.

Steinberger pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance the resulted in death, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug offense.

“We continue to go after drug dealers who sell opioids that kill our children, friends and neighbors,” Sierleja said. “Aggressive prosecution, combined with increased treatment, prevention and changes in prescribing practices are key to turning the tide on the heroin and opioid epidemic.”

“Investigators of the Heroin Death Investigation Team are trained to investigate heroin overdose cases and link the victims back to the dealers,” said Cleveland Division of Police Chief Calvin D. Williams. “It is through the combined efforts of law enforcement, at the local, state and federal levels, and prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office that these indictments are secured and convictions are won. It is the hope that these examples will deter others from continuing this deadly cycle.”

Beginning on Jan. 30, 2016, Steinberger received Alprazolam (also known as Xanax) and furanyl fentanyl for distribution. Furanyl fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid. These drugs came to Steinberger through the mail, according to the indictment.

On Feb. 23, 2016, Steinberger texted an associated: “I just got a pack bro.” He then informed several people that he had drugs for sale, including a man identified in the indictment only as L.H.

Steinberger texted L.H. repeatedly the next day. Messages included: “bro I did it last night any my pupils got so small they disappeared and then I was nodding for 18 hrs,” “Bro this is uncut from the road” and “this is uncut from china,” according to the indictment.

Steinberger then repeatedly texted L.H. if he knew anyone that could cut or dilute the drugs and repackage it for sale. Steinberger texted: “We gonna chill tmr” “and go to the hood and give samples” and “try and find out how to cut and re rock,” according to the indictment.

Shortly after midnight on Feb. 25, Steinberger texted L.H.: “Find me customers and tell them you’re the plug and I’ll get it to you and then sell it and cut u in a tiny bit and throw u a free (Klonopin) and dope,” according to the indictment.

On Feb. 25, L.H. fatally overdosed on furanyl fentanyl he bought from Steinberger, according to the indictment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Cronin following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Cleveland Division of Police.

WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas men pleaded guilty Monday to taking part in a scheme to steal mail from Wichita mailboxes using a counterfeit mailbox master key, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Shalan D. Hiatt, 38, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of mail theft and one count of possession of a counterfeit mailbox master key. Jason A. Farner, 33, Leavenworth, Kan., pleaded guilty to two counts of mail theft.

In their pleas, they admitted they were members of a group of people in Wichita who stole mail containing checks and forms of identification by using stolen and counterfeited mailbox keys. They obtained checks and forged checks that they passed, or attempted to pass, at Wichita banks.

Hiatt admitted to using a counterfeit mailbox key to steal money orders from a mailbox at Pawnee and Elizabeth streets. The victim mailed money orders to pay for rent and other bills.

Farner admitted obtaining money orders mailed at a collection box at 2510 S. Elizabeth. He wrote his name over the payee’s name in order to cash the money orders.

Sentencing for both defendants is set for Oct. 19. Hiatt faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on the mail theft count and up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on the other count. Farner faces up to five years and a fine up to $250,000 on both counts.

Beall commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Wichita Police Department, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. for their work on the case.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A Kansas City man was sentenced Monday to more than five years in federal prison for bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Terry Lovelady, 58, Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 70 months. Lovelady pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. He admitted that on Aug. 24, 2016, he robbed the Central Bank of the Midwest at 4801 Town Center Drive in Leawood and fled in a getaway car driven by a co-defendant. The robbers led police on a high-speed chase, running red lights and cutting off other drivers. Eventually, the getaway car jumped a curb, rolled down a hill and came to a stop in a parking lot at St. Joseph Medical Center in Missouri. The robbers fled the car on foot and were soon arrested.

Co-defendant Chad English, 43, Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced in May to 52 months.

Beall commended the FBI, the Leawood Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton for their work on the case.

Abingdon, VIRGINIA – A former nurse, who previously pled guilty to tampering with a consumer product, was sentenced today in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Abingdon, Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle announced.

Christina Lovern Calloway, 40, of Radford, Virginia, was sentenced today to imprisonment for a term of 48 months. Calloway previously pled guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product.

Calloway, while working as a nurse in a nursing home, diverted liquid morphine intended for patients to her own use. The defendant, on more than one occasion, took some of the liquid morphine from a bottle and used it herself. She then used tap water to refill the bottle in an attempt to hide her crime. The diluted morphine was then administered to patients.

Assistant United States Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. The case was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations and the Virginia State Police.

A Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy was sentenced today to a total of 60 months in prison by United States District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks after previously admitting to the Court that he had provided personally identifying information to another individual who used that information in an identity theft scheme.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Mark Selby, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Sean Scheller, Chief, Town of Lantana Police Department, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Ric Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, made the announcement.

On March 23, 2017, Frantz Felisma, 42, of Boynton Beach, a deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, initially pled guilty to access device fraud in connection with the identity theft scheme, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(2) and aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1) (Case No. 17-CR-80008). However, following his plea hearing Felisma moved to withdraw his guilty plea and the matter was set for trial. On June 29, 2017, in advance of the trial date, Felisma re-affirmed his guilt by pleading to the initial charges of conviction. Judge Middlebrooks sentenced Felisma to 36 months in prison for access device fraud and a consecutive term of 24 months in prison for aggravated identity theft. Following his release from incarceration, Felisma will be on supervised release for three years. Felisma was also ordered to pay $175,000 in restitution.

According to the court record, over the span of approximately eighteen months, Deputy Felisma used his police department issued laptop computer to access a law enforcement database in order to obtain personally identifying information (PII) belonging to numerous individuals. Felisma sold this information to his co-conspirator, who then used the identities of at least 15 of these victims to set up credit card and bank accounts, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in the names of the victims. Felisma’s criminal conduct caused between $150,000 and $250,000 in financial losses.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI, the Lantana Police Department, IRS-CI and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Jorgensen and Rinku Tribuiani.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.