CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Danna J. Hern, 31, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 51 months incarceration for heroin distribution, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced. 

Hern pled guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Possess With the Intent to Deliver Heroin” in September 2016.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci M. Cook prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.  

Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided. 

PORTLAND, Ore. – On Wednesday, August, 30, 2017, Michael Leeper, 41, of Tigard, Oregon, pleaded guilty in United States District Court to intentionally accessing the Columbia Sportswear Company’s network without authorization in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030.

From May 2000 to February 2014, Leeper was employed by Columbia and eventually became the company’s Director of Technical Infrastructure in 2012. In March 2014, Leeper resigned from his position with Columbia and began working for an information technology vender. After leaving Columbia, Leeper remotely accessed the company’s network on a continuous basis, accessing and viewing commercially valuable and private information.

Leeper faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 7, 2017 before United States District Court Judge Robert E. Jones.

“As a result of the Columbia Sportswear Company’s cooperation and a thorough investigation by the FBI’s Oregon Cyber Task Force, we have secured an appropriate conviction” said Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon. “Unauthorized computer intrusion is a serious crime, and those that unlawfully gain sensitive or proprietary information must be held accountable for their illegal conduct.”

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Oregon Cyber Task Force and prosecuted by Scott E. Bradford, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

RALEIGH– The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, John Stuart Bruce, announced that in federal court, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever sentenced MATTHEW ASHLEY CUMMINGS, 26, of Hubert, NC to 144 months of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On May 22, 2017, CUMMINGS pled guilty to a four count indictment, consisting of two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and one count each of Possession of Stolen Firearms and Attempted Interference with Commerce by Robbery.

The evidence established that during the early hours of September 3, 2016, CUMMINGS and an accomplice burglarized the Pamlico County home of a man who owns a gun show business. CUMMINGS broke into two gun safes and stole, among other things, over two dozen guns and approximately $241,000. The evidence further established that on November 2, 2016,CUMMINGS attempted to rob a fictitious heroin dealer in Wilmington, North Carolina. In doing so, CUMMINGS directed a confidential informant to pick him up in a car and to drive to a location where CUMMINGS retrieved a firearm to be used in the robbery. Officers arrested CUMMINGS enroute to the purported target and recovered the firearm in CUMMINGS’ possession.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Police Department.Assistant United States Attorney Jake D. Pugh is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

BOSTON – A Mississippi man was charged today in federal court in Boston for sexually assaulting a minor during a cruise from Boston to Bermuda.

Adam Christopher Boyd, 30, of Bay Springs, Miss., was charged with one count of sexual abuse of a minor. He is currently in Bermuda, awaiting extradition to the United States.  

According to court documents, Boyd was a passenger on a seven-day cruise from Boston to Bermuda.  While the ship was docked in Bermuda, Boyd allegedly raped a minor passenger while the two were onboard the ship.  The child subsequently reported the rape to ship security, who notified Bermudian authorities.  In the course of the Bermuda Police Service’s initial investigation, they arrested Boyd and notified authorities in the United States.   

Sexual abuse of a minor carries a sentence of no greater than 15 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 Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today.  Valuable assistance was also provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bermuda Police Service, Massachusetts Port Authority and FBI Legat Bridgetown, Barbados, Sub Office Nassau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Weinreb’s Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and a member of the Major Crimes Unit, 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.

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

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - A grand jury returned an indictment here today charging the former controller of a company in Kechi with embezzling more than $175,000, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall said.

Richard H. Yurst, 64, Hutchinson, Kan., is charged with five counts of wire fraud. The crimes took place while Yurst was responsible for overseeing the financial operations of F&H Insulation Sales and Service, Inc. The indictment alleges he used company credit cards to make unauthorized purchases and he made unauthorized payments to his wife and son.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The FBI investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting.

OTHER INDICTMENTS

Jose Badilla, 33, Kansas City, Kan., is charged in a superseding indictment with two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, two counts of maintaining a residence in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in March and August 2017 in Wyandotte County, Kan.

The indictment alleges Badilla maintained residences in furtherance of drug trafficking in the 2800 block of North 51st Street and the 3500 block of Ohio Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine: Not less than 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $10 million on each count.

Possession with intent to distribute heroin: Not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million.

Unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking: Not less than five years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

Maintaining a drug involved premises: Up to 20 years and a fine up to $500,000 on each count.

Possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin: Not less than five years and not more than 40 years and a fine up to $5 million.

The Kansas Bureau of investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Angel D. Mora, 18, Kansas City, Kan., and Ramiro G. Whitney, 20, Kansas City, Kan., are charged with stealing pistols, rifles and shotguns from Little Joe’s Pawn and Gun in Kansas City, Kan.

If convicted, they face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting.

Robert M. Purinton, 69, formerly of Overland Park, Kan., is charged with three counts of filing false tax returns for 2010, 2011 and 2012 that failed to report some of his income.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each count. The Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leon Patton is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.

BOSTON - A Chinese national pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for defrauding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its administration of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

Xiaomeng Cheng, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper sentenced Cheng to time-served and ordered Cheng to be immediately removed from the United States to the People’s Republic of China.

In March 2016, Cheng registered to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, which is an exam required by American universities that participate in DHS’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program. On prior occasions, Cheng had failed to achieve a high enough score on the TOEFL exam to be admitted to one of the participating universities. When Cheng registered to take the exam again in March 2016, she provided her passport and exam registration information to a co-conspirator who used the materials to take the exam for Cheng. The co-conspirator scored high on the exam, and Cheng fraudulently submitted the co-conspirator’s test results as her own and was subsequently admitted into a university in the United States.  Once admitted, Cheng was issued DHS’s Form I-20, which made her eligible to receive an F-1 non-immigrant student visa to enter and remain in the United States for the duration of her studies.

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 Nicholas Soivilien of Weinreb’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrests of AGUSTIN ZAMORA-VEGA, a/k/a “Julio Cesar,” ORLANDO ALCANTARA, CINDY CARRILLO, SANTOS MINJAREZ, and JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ-SOLIS, all of whom conspired to distribute over 1,300 pounds of wax candles laced with methamphetamine.  The defendants were arrested overnight in New Jersey, and were presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As alleged, the defendants worked to distribute a massive quantities of methamphetamine, concealed in wax candles. As creative as these defendants were, allegedly hiding dangerous drugs in a common household item, law enforcement was on top of this newest scheme.”

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt said:  “DEA has seen drugs smuggled in numerous ways:  concealed in puppies, lollipops, furniture, and produce. But secreting a million dollars’ worth of methamphetamine in wax candles of various shapes is shocking.  This seizure signifies that drug trafficking organizations are determined to create a stronghold of meth users in the Northeast. Through the good work of SDNY, DEA, HSI and NYPD, this load of methamphetamine was seized before it even hit the streets, thwarting the organization's plans.”

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “These individuals allegedly possessed more than half a ton of wax candles that would be melted down and converted into crystal meth, eventually introducing more of these destructive synthetic drugs onto our streets.  Drug traffickers are always thinking of more creative ways to store and traffic their drugs. But the ever evolving way in which investigations are conducted and information is shared among law enforcement is key to identifying and prosecuting these criminals.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint[1]charging the five defendants:

In August 2017, law enforcement agents learned that ZAMORA-VEGA was seeking a facility in which he intended to store and convert a large quantity of methamphetamine into crystal form (“crystal meth”).  After that, on August 17, 2017, an undercover officer (the “UC”) drove with ZAMORA-VEGA to a warehouse in New Jersey (the “NJ Warehouse”) that the UC offered to ZAMORA-VEGA to use to store and convert methamphetamine to crystal meth.  ZAMORA-VEGA indicated that he was interested in using the NJ Warehouse for those purposes. 

In the days following August 17, 2017, ZAMORA-VEGA indicated to the UC that he was expecting a large shipment of methamphetamine to arrive in the New York area in the coming days, and that he intended to transport the methamphetamine to the NJ Warehouse where he would convert it to crystal meth.

On August 29, 2017, ZAMORA-VEGA told the UC that the methamphetamine had arrived at a facility on Long Island.  CARRILLO texted the UC the address of the Long Island facility so that the UC could meet ZAMORA-VEGA and CARRILLO there.  Ultimately, however, the UC agreed to meet ZAMORA-VEGA and CARRILLO at a hotel in New Jersey where ZAMORA-VEGA and CARRILLO had been staying (the “NJ Hotel”).

When the UC arrived at the NJ Hotel, he met with ZAMORA-VEGA, CARRILLO, ALCANTARA, MINJAREZ, and GONZALEZ-SOLIS.  While at the NJ Hotel, ZAMORA-VEGA showed the UC that the boxes contained a large quantity of what appeared to be wax candles (the “Meth Candles”).  ZAMORA-VEGA indicated that the candles actually contained methamphetamine, which could be melted and converted to crystal meth.  Thereafter, all of the defendants travelled from the NJ Hotel to the NJ Warehouse.

Once at the NJ Warehouse, ZAMORA-VEGA, CARRILLO, ALCANTARA, MINJAREZ, GONZALEZ-SOLIS all engaged in a discussion with the UC about the fact that the NJ Warehouse would be used to convert the Meth Candles to crystal meth.  The defendants continued to discuss with the UC topics such as how they intended to begin converting the Meth Candles to crystal meth; that they would stay in the NJ Warehouse until the process was completed; that they would need additional equipment; and that they expected it would take them from August 29, 2017, until September 2, 2017, to complete the process of converting the Meth Candles to crystal meth.  ALCANTARA stated that two fans, one on each side of the NJ Warehouse, would need to be uncovered before they began converting the Meth Candles to crystal meth.  In response, GONZALEZ-SOLIS stated that only one fan needed to be uncovered, since they would only be converting the Meth Candles to crystal meth in that area of the NJ Warehouse.

Thereafter, MINJAREZ indicated that he would purchase the necessary supplies.  At that point, CARRILLO provided a credit card to MINJAREZ and told MINJAREZ to charge to the credit card all items purchased to convert the Meth Candles to crystal meth.  MINJAREZ left the NJ Warehouse.  Shortly thereafter, ZAMORA-VEGA, ALCANTARA, MINJAREZ, GONZALEZ-SOLIS and the UC unloaded the boxes containing the Meth Candles.  ZAMORA-VEGA, CARRILLO, ALCANTARA, and GONZALEZ-SOLIS were subsequently placed under arrest.  MINJAREZ was arrested later at the NJ Hotel.

Agents with the DEA, HSI, and NYPD recovered from the NJ Warehouse approximately 27 cardboard boxes each containing a large number of candles, with an aggregate weight in excess of 1,300 pounds.  A field test of one of the Meth Candles revealed that the Meth Candle contained a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

*                *                *

AGUSTIN ZAMORA-VEGA, a/k/a “Julio Cesar,” 30, ORLANDO ALCANTARA, 33, CINDY CARRILLO, 27, SANTOS MINJAREZ, 26, and JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ-SOLIS, 28, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams and more of mixtures and substances containing methamphetamine.  This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.  The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised DEA, HSI, and the NYPD for their outstanding work on the investigation.  He added that the investigation is continuing.  

This matter is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Rebold and Danielle Sassoon are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

DAVENPORT, IA - On August 30, 2017, Romance Desuave Armstrong, 29, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 84 months in prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. Armstrong will serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. 

On April 20, 2017, Armstrong pleaded guilty to the offense and admitted that on October 16, 2016, he possessed a Ruger P95 9mm semi-automatic handgun while inside his vehicle in his Davenport driveway. Armstrong was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple felony convictions from Scott County, Iowa. The charge resulted from an investigation initiated when Davenport Police responded to a call of Armstrong suffering a gunshot wound at his residence and to a call of a walk-in patient suffering a gunshot wound at Genesis Medical Center.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Davenport Police Department conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

-END-

Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.

            WASHINGTON – A fishing vessel company that operated in and around American Samoa was convicted and sentenced today for maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oil and garbage, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips. The company, Yuh Fa Fishery (Vanuatu) Co. Ltd., owned the Fishing Vessel (“F/V”) Yuh Fa No. 201, the vessel that was responsible for the pollution.

            Yuh Fa Fishery (Vanuatu) Co. Ltd., admitted that its engineers failed to document the illegal dumping of oily bilge water into the waters of the South Pacific Ocean without the use of required pollution prevention equipment. The Chief Engineer onboard the F/V Yuh Fa No. 201 acknowledged that there had been discharge of oil to the sea that caused a visible sheen upon the water and that he did not log this discharge in the vessel’s Oil Record Book, as required by law. The company also admitted that its engineers made several modifications using flexible hoses to the vessel’s piping system, which allowed oily bilge water and oil sludge to be discharged directly overboard.

            The company further admitted that between June 2013 and June 2016, senior engineers regularly failed to accurately record the transfer and disposal of oil waste in the vessel’s Oil Record Book. The vessel’s captains also failed to properly maintain a Garbage Record Book, and Yuh Fa Fishery (Vanuatu) Co. Ltd., was unable to accurately account for the storing, sorting, and disposal of garbage during the vessel’s extended fishing trips. The Coast Guard relies on such records to determine whether vessels are illegally dumping oil and garbage at sea. As a result, tons of oil sludge, waste oil, oily bilge water, and garbage produced by the vessel remain unaccounted for.

            The company pleaded guilty to two felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, 33 U.S.C. § 1908(a), for failing to accurately maintain an Oil Record Book and a Garbage Record Book. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the company will pay a total fine of $2.5 million, which includes a community service payment of $625,000 for use in the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Yuh Fa Fishery (Vanuatu) Co. Ltd., will also serve a five-year period of probation.

            The case against Yuh Fa Fishery (Vanuatu) Co. Ltd., was investigated by U.S. Coast Guard personnel in American Samoa and Honolulu, Hawaii. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick W. Yette of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.

BOSTON - A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Juan Manuel Tejeda-Serrano, 30, a/k/a Jose R. Narvaez-Arroyo, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including cocaine, before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani. Tejeda-Serrano previously pleaded guilty to a separate federal charge of illegally re-entering the country after having been deported.  Sentencing for today’s plea will occur after Tejeda-Serrano is sentenced on Nov. 16, 2017, for his immigration offense.

In February 2017, Tejeda-Serrano and 12 others were charged in an indictment with conspiring to distribute heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.  The charge stemmed from a six-month wiretap investigation into the drug activities of Jose Antonio Lugo-Guerrero, who was allegedly operating a trafficking organization first in New Bedford, and later in Boston.  On Jan. 3, 2017, Tejeda-Serrano arranged for Lugo-Guerrero to obtain a kilogram of cocaine. And on Jan. 5, 2017, Lugo-Guerrero ordered another two kilograms of cocaine from Tejeda-Serrano, which he attempted to steal, but was unsuccessful.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Tejeda-Serrano is also subject to deportation after serving any sentence that is imposed.  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 Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

DAVENPORT, IA – On August 30, 2017, Paris Hollingshed, 37, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 120 months in prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. Hollingshed will serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Hollingshed was found guilty of this charge after a three-day jury trial on March 3, 2017.

In August of 2015, officers received information that Hollingshed, a felon, was in possession of guns and selling drugs. Officers executed a search warrant at Hollingshed’s residence and found a loaded Taurus 38 caliber handgun, along with evidence of drug trafficking, on August 20, 2015.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Davenport Police Department conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

-END-

Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.

SHREVEPORT, La. –Acting U.S.Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a former Homer Police officer pleaded guilty to his role in a vehicle fraud theft and insurance scheme.

Donald W. Malray, 52, of Homer, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Hornsby to one count of mail fraud conspiracy. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. According to the guilty plea, Malray and another individual planned a scheme to fake a vehicle and trailer theft, and then file an insurance claim to collect the money on the value of the property. On August 4, 2015, Malray and the other individual transferred the ATV and trailer to Malray’s possession after they met in Ruston, La. Malray then instructed the other individual to call the Homer Police Department and report the ATF and trailer stolen. The insurance company paid the individual in the conspiracy with Malray approximately $13,000 on September 8, 2015. Law enforcement agents recovered the ATF and trailer on January 31, 2017 in Ruston, La.

Malray faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set a sentencing date of December 6, 2017.

The DEA and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James G. Cowles Jr. is prosecuting the case.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for a gun crime, announced United States Attorney Carol Casto. Tyrese Antonio McMillon, 32, previously pleaded guilty to a single-count indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

McMillon admitted that he possessed a Lorcin .380 pistol that was used in a shooting in a 19th Street apartment in Parkersburg on May 27, 2016. McMillon was prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law because of a 2006 felony conviction in Cabell County Circuit Court for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. At the sentencing hearing, the Court found that McMillon shot a heroin dealer from Pittsburgh in the head and robbed him of heroin and a firearm. The Court further found that Parkersburg Police located the stolen heroin and firearm in a hotel room, and that McMillon possessed the key to the hotel room along with some of the heroin when he was arrested during the traffic stop of a taxi in which he was riding. Analysis by the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed that the Lorcin .380 was the weapon used to shoot the heroin dealer and that gunshot residue was found on McMillon’s clothing.

The Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks 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.

• Follow us on Twitter:SDWVNews  

          WASHINGTON - Nationally representative studies conclude that nearly 10 percent of older Americans have experienced some form of financial exploitation or fraud in the past year, with some experts asserting that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse. With 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, the population of Americans who likely will be exposed to elder fraud and abuse is growing significantly.

          The financial loss to older Americans is estimated in the billions of dollars, without accounting for costs to family members and society. Many older victims of fraud or financial exploitation also experience a diminished quality of life and increased mortality.

          The Department of Justice is making assertive efforts to interrupt the scourge of financial exploitation and fraud against older Americans. As part of these efforts, the Department is funding the National White Collar Crime Center (https://www.nw3c.org/) to enhance the ability of state and local law enforcement to respond effectively to complex elder fraud cases.

          In announcing those efforts, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said:

          “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting all Americans from fraud and exploitation. Few things are more despicable than defrauding vulnerable persons. We have to do a better job of addressing this problem. This training will equip our partners in state and local law enforcement to ensure that our seniors receive justice and the criminals who defraud them receive consequences. I applaud the communities chosen for this training and look forward to seeing their results.”

          Through carefully crafted programs, the National White Collar Crime Center will provide training in eight selected communities, with up to 100 law enforcement officers per community, on Financial Crimes against Seniors. This training, developed by the National White Collar Crime Center, will reach up to 800 law enforcement officers, who in turn will share what they have learned with their fellow officers.

          The eight communities selected for this highly sought after training are:

1. Wilmington, Delaware (Delaware Department of Justice)

2. Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota (Minnesota Chiefs Association & Minnesota Sheriff’s Association)

3. Denmark, Tennessee (Madison County Sheriff’s Office)
4. Topeka, Kansas (State of Kansas Office of Attorney General)
5. Hidalgo County, Texas (Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office)
6. Columbia, South Carolina (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED))
7. Ada, Oklahoma (Council of Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET))
8. King County, Washington (King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office)

          In addition, the Department of Justice, through its Elder Justice Initiative, is working on multiple other fronts to protect older Americans from financial exploitation and fraud, as well as other forms of elder abuse.

          The Department continues to prosecute aggressively mass mailing fraud schemes, such as lottery and sweepstakes scams, many of which are international in nature and target seniors. The Department also launched 10 regional Elder Justice Task Forces across the country to enhance the ability of federal, state, and local authorities to work together to combat elder financial fraud and to pursue those nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their Medicare and Medicaid residents (https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/task-forces).

          The Department also actively supports state and local efforts to prevent and combat elder abuse by:

• Helping older victims and their families by connecting them to available resources, assistance, and information on its Elder Justice Website (https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/victims-families-caregivers);

• Advancing understanding of elder abuse through projects like the Elder Abuse Prevention Demonstration Project (www.justice.gov/elderjustice/pr/national-institute-justice-awards-funding-study-elder-abuse);

• Raising public awareness of elder abuse and financial exploitation through the Elder Justice website, webinars, and public meetings (https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/outreach); and

• Enhancing state and local efforts to combat and prevent elder abuse through the development and dissemination of training materials and resources for prosecutors, law enforcement, civil legal aid workers, victim specialists, and clinicians.

          Check the Law Enforcement Webpage (https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/law-enforcement-1) periodically for these and other materials as they become available. More information about the Department of Justice’s elder justice efforts can be found on its Elder Justice Website at https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

PITTSBURGH – A former Pittsburgh resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating the federal robbery laws, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The one-count indictment named Joseph Abbinanti, age 49 as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, on June 29, 2017, Abbinanti robbed the PNC Bank, located at 236 Shiloh Street, Pittsburgh, PA, of $2,420.00.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Lanni is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

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

PITTSBURGH – An Allegheny County resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of theft of government money, Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The one-count indictment named Kevin Roehlig, 56, of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, between November 2003 and August 2016, Roehlig converted to his own use the Social Security Title II, Old Age, Survivor’s Disability Insurance benefits of his mother, Carolyn Roehlig, who died in and around October 2003, knowing he was not entitled to said benefits. The stolen funds totaled $124,514.00.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Charles A. Eberle is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

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

DAVENPORT, IA – On August 30, 2017, Daniel James Lusk, 26, formerly of Burlington, Iowa, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to 60 months in prison for felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel. Lusk will serve three years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund. 

On October 24, 2016, Lusk was arrested in Burlington in possession of two handguns. Lusk was arrested after burglarizing a private residence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Burlington Police Department, and Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

-END-

Learn more about this release by calling Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov.

PITTSBURGH - A citizen of Guatemala has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of reentry of removed alien, Acting States Attorney Soo C. Song announced today.

The one-count indictment named Alex Grajea-Navarro, 26, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, the Grajea-Navarro, who was previously removed from the United States on August 13, 2010, September 23, 2011, and February 10, 2016, was found in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 27, 2017, without having applied for or received permission to reenter the United States from the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of two years in prison, one year supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/ Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

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

Boston – A 16-year veteran officer of the Lawrence Police Department agreed to plead guilty today in connection with attempting to use his position as a police officer to extort cocaine from a drug trafficker.

John R. Desantis Jr., 45, of Methuen, agreed to plead guilty today to one count of extortion and attempted extortion under color of official right and through the use of threatened force and fear. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV deferred acceptance of the plea until the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2017.

Desantis had been purchasing small amounts of cocaine once or twice a week from a drug trafficker for 10-12 months without identifying himself as a police officer. On May 16, 2016, during a drug transaction at his home, Desantis displayed his gun and badge, seized the cocaine and threatened to arrest the drug trafficker if he did not continue to supply him with drugs. Desantis thereafter continued to communicate with the drug trafficker through text messages, telling him, “you will not be arrested at all if you do as I tell you to.”

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. If the court accepts the plea, Desantis will be sentenced to no less than 12 months and no greater than 18 months in prison. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Lawrence Police Chief James X. Fitzpatrick made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina Barclay of Weinreb’s Public Corruption Unit is prosecuting the case.

BOSTON – A Captain with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office was arrested and charged today in connection with helping Carlos Rafael, the owner of one of the largest commercial fishing businesses in the U.S., smuggle the profits of his illegal overfishing scheme to Portugal.

James Melo, 45, of North Dartmouth, Mass., was charged with one count each of bulk cash smuggling, structuring and conspiracy. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond following his appearance in federal court in Boston late this afternoon.

In May 2015, federal agents began an undercover operation targeting Carlos Rafael, the owner of one of the largest commercial fishing businesses in the U.S. In the fall of 2015, undercover agents, posing as potential buyers of Rafael’s business, met with Rafael to negotiate buying his fishing business. Rafael told the agents that he hid the cash proceeds of his illegal fishing sales, in part, by smuggling the money to Portugal. Rafael said that he sometimes took the money himself, but also used the services of others, and referred to knowing several members of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, including Melo, whom he described as, “the captain at the prison.”

On Nov. 10, 2015, agents conducting surveillance as Logan Airport saw Melo and Rafael arrive in a white car, marked as belonging to the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, for a flight to Portugal. Melo completed TSA screening without incident, but Rafael was found in possession of $27,000, for which he completed a financial affidavit. Several other acquaintances of Rafael and Melo were also on the flight and, allegedly coordinated by Melo, helped Rafael smuggle an additional $50,000 in cash to Portugal. It is further alleged that before the flight, Melo distributed envelopes of cash to these acquaintances, each of whom took an envelope on the flight and returned it to Melo or Rafael after landing in Portugal. Two days later, on Nov. 13, 2015, Portuguese bank records indicate that $76,000 in U.S. currency was deposited into a Banif Bank account in Rafael’s name.

The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bulk cash smuggling provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of structuring carries a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Gregory K. Null, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Philadelphia Field Office; and Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling of Weinreb’s Economic Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

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.