SAN JOSE – Cuong Cao “Calvin” Dang was sentenced to 90 months in prison for his role in a scheme to sell products stolen from Cisco Systems by its employees, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch, and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Batdorf.  The sentence was handed down today in San Jose by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, U.S. District Judge, following the entry of two guilty plea agreements.  In the first plea agreement, Dang admitted to running a business that bought and sold merchandise stolen from Cisco.  In the second plea agreement, Dang admitted to blackmailing a person by threatening to tell the government about the person’s involvement with the fraud scheme.   

According to the plea agreement, Dang, 47, of San Jose, Calif., owned and operated Network Genesis, based in San Jose, from approximately January 2006 until January 23, 2013. Dang admitted to having a small network of Cisco employees who delivered stolen Cisco merchandise to Network Genesis for resale to customers both in and outside California. Dang admitted that, to cover his tracks, he changed the serial numbers on the stolen merchandise and created fraudulent “test sheets” to give to customers. (A test sheet shows the diagnostic information, including the serial number, for a particular part.)  Dang also admitted using nominees to launder the illicit proceeds, enabling him to obtain large amounts of cash without having the money go through bank accounts associated with him or his businesses. 

On October 30, 2013, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment in which Dang and seven other defendants were charged with various offenses related to Dang’s scheme. For his part, Dang was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; six substantive mail fraud counts, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341; two counts of engaging in financial transactions (money laundering) using criminally derived proceeds, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957; and six counts of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1)(A)(i) and (a)(1)(B)(i). 

On December 11, 2015, Dang entered into the first of two plea agreements.  In this plea agreement, Dang pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of money laundering of criminally derived proceeds. Dang admitted that Network Genesis’s business was “overwhelmingly that of buying and selling merchandise stolen from Cisco” by its employees. Dang also admitted that from January 2006 until Network Genesis was raided by federal law enforcement officers in January 2013, sales revenues totaled approximately $37,000,000.  Despite entering into this plea agreement and admitting this criminal conduct, Dang did not cease all of his criminal activity.

As part of his original plea agreement, Dang participated in interviews with agents for the government to provide detailed information about all of his Network Genesis activities.  Dang promised to provide details of financial transactions in which he participated and government agents specifically asked Dang about the details of any other instances of potentially unlawful financial transactions in which he may have participated.  Instead of providing all such details, Dang and his wife renewed contact with an individual with whom Dang had engaged in financial transactions in the past and blackmailed the individual.  Specifically, Dang and his wife demanded that the individual pay $350,000 in exchange for not telling the government about the transactions. With Dang’s agreement, Dang’s wife told the individual that if Dang and his wife were not paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, Dang would “leave [the] name on the list” and tell the government about the individual. Over time, the individual paid approximately $270,000 to Dang and his wife in exchange for Dang’s silence.

On March 9, 2017, a grand jury indicted Dang and charged him with obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1510; contempt, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 401(3); and blackmail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 873.  Dang pleaded guilty to all three charges yesterday.  His wife, Ly Thi Be Le, was also charged in the same indictment with obstruction of justice and blackmail. She pleaded guilty to the blackmail charge.  Le’s sentencing is scheduled for December 11, 2017. 

Dang’s co-defendants include Loc Xuan Hoang, Thuy Nguyen, Long Pham, Emily Le, David Huynh, and Edwin Lin. Judge Davila has sentenced Loc Xuan Hoang to 14 months’ imprisonment, Thuy Nguyen to 15 months’ imprisonment, Long Pham to 12 months and 1 day in prison, and Edwin Lin to time served.  Sentencings for Emily Le and David Huynh, are scheduled to take place in 2018.  

In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila also sentenced Dang to serve a three-year period of supervised release.  The amount of restitution to the blackmail victim will be determined at the December 11, 2017, sentencing hearing. Judge Davila ordered Dang to begin serving his sentence immediately.  

Assistant United States Attorney Amie Rooney is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Elise Etter and Lakisha Holliman. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the Santa Clara Regional Enforcement Allied Computer Team (R.E.A.C.T.) Task Force. 
 

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California entered judgment against fugitive defendant Candelaria Dagandan Vazquez and her surety Candelaria Antoinette Sapp in the amount of $50,000, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch.  The Honorable Susan Illston, U.S. District Judge entered the judgment after the defendant failed to appear for court proceedings.

On June 21, 2016, a federal grand jury indicted Vazquez, 39, of Richmond, Calif., for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846.  The complaint authorizing Vazquez’s arrest by federal authorities alleges that Vazquez and her co-defendant Kia Zolfaghari manufactured and sold counterfeit oxycodone pills online that were laced with fentanyl, a powerful opiate.  Following her arrest, Vazquez was released on a pretrial bond of $50,000 co-signed by her daughter, Sapp, guaranteeing Vazquez’s appearance.

Vazquez absconded from her residence in Richmond, where she was required to reside, in April 2017, and failed to appear at her scheduled status conference on May 19, 2017.  A warrant has been issued for her arrest.  She remains a fugitive.  

The federal court therefore entered judgment on the bond against both Vazquez and her surety, Sapp, in the amount of $50,000.  The entry of judgment essentially means the entire amount is due and payable immediately to the United States government.  Further, pursuant to the terms of the bond, if the amount remains unpaid, the government retains the right to place liens on property owned by Sapp and to garnish Sapp’s wages to satisfy the judgment.

At the hearing on the government’s motion to enter judgment on the bond, which was held on August 25, 2017, the federal court observed that it retains the power to set aside some or all of the judgment against Sapp if Vazquez turns herself in or is arrested.

Vazquez’s co-defendant Kia Zolfaghari fled in April 2017 as well, and failed to appear at a hearing scheduled for a change of his plea.  A warrant has issued for his arrest, and he remains a fugitive.  The government’s motion to enter judgment on Zolfaghari’s bond against both Zolfaghari and his surety Behrooz Zolfaghari is scheduled to be heard on October 27, 2017.  
 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip L.B. Halpern (619) 546-6964, Mark W. Pletcher (619) 546-9714, Helen Hong (619) 546-6990, Billy Joe McLain (619) 546-6762

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY– August 31, 2017

SAN DIEGO – Political consultant Ravneet Singh, former CEO of ElectionMall Technologies, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for his role in funneling more than $600,000 in illegal foreign campaign contributions from Mexican citizen Jose Susumo Azano Matsura to candidates in the 2012 San Diego mayoral election.

U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Anello ordered the defendant to report to prison on October 12, 2017, to begin serving his sentence.

In September 2016, after six weeks of trial and five days of deliberations, a federal jury in San Diego returned guilty verdicts against Singh, Azano and Azano’s son, Edward Susumo, who were convicted of felony counts associated with a series of illegal campaign contributions by Azano to the campaigns of Bonnie Dumanis and Bob Filner.

“American elections are not for sale,” said Executive U.S. Attorney Blair Perez. “We will not allow our sacred electoral process to be compromised. This prison sentence underscores an important message: Anyone who tries to manipulate the American electorate will pay a high price.”

“Public corruption undermines the strength and confidence in our system of government which is why these cases are a top criminal priority for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Eric S. Birnbaum. “Today’s sentence stands as a stark condemnation of Azano’s and Singh’s willful efforts to undermine the fundamental principles of our representative democracy. The American people can count on the FBI to continue to bring these complex, sensitive, and important cases to justice.”

“Using a series of complex financial transactions, Mr. Singh conspired to funnel illegal money to influence the outcome of San Diego political races,” stated Special Agent in Charge R. Damon Rowe of IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to the fight against campaign finance crimes. This case exemplifies the strong impact we are making in this arena working in cooperation with our law enforcement partners.”

According to evidence presented at trial, Azano, Singh, and others conspired to inject hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind consulting services to the Bonnie Dumanis and Bob Filner campaigns, despite the fact that Azano’s foreign national status made such contributions illegal. To conceal his connection to these contributions, Azano arranged with his son Edward Hester and others to funnel this illegal foreign money through corporate and third person “straw donor” contributions. The conspirators, moreover, arranged for at least $267,000 worth of Singh’s in-kind consulting services to be secretly funneled to the campaigns.

In return for his political contributions, Azano sought to buy political influence. For example, he wanted support for his vision of Miami West – a San Diego waterfront development project with a yacht marina, a branded five-star hotel, and luxury bayside condominiums that promised Azano millions in profit. In other instances, Azano wanted access, like the ability to call on influential political figures or obtain letters of reference to secure his son’s admission to the University of San Diego.

Ultimately, with Azano’s help, Filner won the election, though he was forced to resign shortly thereafter.

For his part, Singh used his specialized skills and knowledge to facilitate the crimes. Evidence at trial demonstrated that Singh used code names for the Dumanis and Filner work that Azano paid for but never for any other domestic candidate for office; harshly reprimanded employees for using those code names in emails; and on one particularly candid occasion, referenced the “legal ramifications” of discussing these topics. Singh further concealed the payments from Azano by structuring the wires from a Mexican company, Broadlink, controlled by Azano, which had nothing to do with electoral politics, to company Singh controlled, not Election Mall, but eSolutions, which primarily developed software from India.

In addition to the jury’s guilty verdicts against Azano, Singh, and Hester, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on several charges brought against San Diego lobbyist Marco Polo Cortes, and acquitted Cortes on several charges of falsifying campaign donation records. The jury also acquitted Hester on several charges related to the falsification of campaign donation records, and could not reach a verdict on several other charges. Finally, the jury could not reach a verdict on a firearm charge against Azano.

Retrial on a firearm charge against Azano is set to begin September 5, 2017. Azano is, thereafter, scheduled to be sentenced on October 23, 2017, followed by Edward Hester on November 6, 2017. The retrial of Marco Polo Cortes is scheduled for December 5, 2017.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip L.B. Halpern, Mark W. Pletcher, Helen Hong, and Billy Joe McLain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case.

DEFENDANTS                             Case Number:14cr0388-MMA

Ravneet Singh                                Age: 45                   Naperville, IL

Jose Susumo Azano Matsura         Age: 52                   Guadalajara, Mexico

Edward Susumo Azano Hester      Age: 25                   San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CONVICTIONS

Count 1: Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States – Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 371.

Maximum Penalties: Up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine

Defendants Azano, Singh and Hester

Count 3: Donation and Contribution by a Foreign National Aggregating $25,000 or more – Title 2, U.S.C., Secs. 437g (d) (1) (A) (i) and 441e (A) (1).

Maximum Penalties: Up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine

Defendants Azano, Singh and Hester

Count 4: Contribution in the Name of Another Aggregating $25,000 or more – Title 2, U.S.C., Secs. 437g(d) (1) (A) (i) and 441f.

Maximum Penalties: Up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine

Defendant Azano

Counts 5-37: Falsification of Records – Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1519.

Maximum Penalties: Up to 20 years in prison per count and $250,000 fine per count.

Defendant Azano on all counts; Singh guilty on counts 32 and 37

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation

San Diego Police Department

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

HONOLULU – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging two individuals with tax crimes including concealing income and assets, obstructing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from assessing and collecting taxes, and filing false tax returns, announced Acting United States Attorney Elliot Enoki and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division.

The indictment charges Wagdy A. Guirguis, the owner of various engineering firms, and Michael H. Higa, his accountant, with conspiring to defraud the IRS. The indictment further charges Guirguis with filing false corporate tax returns, failing to file a corporate tax return, evading his individual income tax liabilities, corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the IRS, and tampering with a grand jury witness. Higa is also charged with aiding and assisting in the filing of false corporate and individual tax returns.

According to the indictment, Guirguis owned and operated GMP Associates Inc. and several other businesses (GMP) that provided engineering services. Higa, a certified public accountant, allegedly served as the controller of the GMP entities and prepared individual tax returns for Guirguis as well as corporate tax returns for some of the GMP entities.

The indictment charges that, beginning in 2005, Guirguis and Higa conspired to defraud the IRS by impeding its ability to assess Guirguis’s and GMP’s income tax liabilities and obstructing its ability to collect GMP’s unpaid employment taxes. According to the indictment, the IRS assessed approximately $812,000 in GMP’s unpaid employment taxes against Guirguis personally. The indictment alleges that the IRS attempted to collect the unpaid employment taxes – filing notices of federal tax liens, levying bank accounts and serving notices of levy to third parties who owed money to Guirguis. To thwart the IRS’s collection activity, Guirguis and Higa allegedly transferred funds from GMP to a nominee entity that Guirguis secretly controlled through Higa. The indictment further alleges that Guirguis fraudulently transferred ownership of a luxury condominium to his wife and used the nominee entity to divert approximately $1.5 million for his and his wife’s personal benefit. After an IRS revenue officer questioned the condominium transfer, Guirguis and Higa allegedly instructed a bookkeeper to alter the books and records of the nominee entity to conceal that he had diverted funds for his personal benefit.

The indictment further charges that Guirguis did not report more than $3 million of GMP’s gross receipts and filed false individual tax returns that did not report approximately $465,000 of the income he diverted through the nominee entity. He is also charged with attempting to tamper with a witness during the course of the grand jury’s investigation and corruptly endeavoring to obstruct and impede the IRS, by among other things, making false statements to an IRS revenue officer and special agents.

If convicted, Guirguis and Higa each face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for engaging in the conspiracy. Guirguis also faces a statutory maximum prison sentence of five years for each of the tax evasion counts, three years for each of the false returns counts, three years for the corrupt endeavor count, one year for the failure-to-file count, and 20 years for the witness tampering count. Higa also faces a statutory maximum prison sentence of three years for each of the aiding and assisting counts. In addition, Guirguis and Higa each face a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

An indictment is a mere accusation, and not evidence of guilt.. Individuals charged in indictments are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting U.S. Attorney Enoki and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg thanked special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Senior Litigation Counsel John E. Sullivan and Trial Attorney Anahi Cortada of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca A. Perlmutter, who are prosecuting the case.

ActingU.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announces the return of an Indictment charging five Brazilian citizens with crimes related to a bank card skimming ring that was uncovered earlier this month.

The Indictment names Joao Freire Da Silva Neto, age 33, Andre Lion Goncalves Pereira, age 28, Herik Lucian Enedino Dos Santos, age 31, Fernando Finatto Minguzzi, age 21, andRubens Eleuterio de Almeida Junior, age 28. All of the defendants are Brazilian nationals.

According to the Indictment, Joao Freire Da Silva Neto, Andre Lion Goncalves Pereira, Herik Lucian Enedino Dos Santos,and Fernando Finatto Minguzzi were arrested by members of the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force on August 3, 2017, at a hotel in the Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans. They were found in possession of re-encoded credit cards, embossers, encoders, ATM skimmers, false identification, and other contraband. In the course of this investigation, U.S. Secret Service agents learned that de Almeida was mailing skimmers, pinhole cameras, and other tools for credit card fraud from Oklahoma City to the four New Orleans-based members of this conspiracy. de Almeida was arrested in Midwest City, Oklahoma, in possession of counterfeit credit cards, blank credit cards, an ATM skimmer, pinhole cameras, memory cards, an embosser, and other items used to create counterfeit credit cards.

The Indictment charges all five defendants with conspiracy to use counterfeit access devices and to possess fifteen or more counterfeit access devices, which carries a penalty of up to five years of imprisonment. It also charges all five defendants with conspiracy to possess and traffic in device-making equipment, which carries a penalty of up to seven and a half years in prison.

The Indictment further charges Joao Freire Da Silva Neto, Andre Lion Goncalves Pereira, Herik Lucian Enedino Dos Santos,and Fernando Finatto Minguzzi with one count of possession of fifteen or more counterfeit access devices, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. Those four defendants are also charged with possession and trafficking in device-making equipment, which carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison.

In addition to the penalties listed above, each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release up to three years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the agencies that contributed to this Indictment, which represents a coordinated effort of federal and state law enforcement authorities within the Louisiana Financial Crimes Task Force. The Task Force includes representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department, and the New Orleans Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Evans thanked the U.S. Secret Service Oklahoma City Field Office and the Midwest City, OK Police Department for their assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Payne is in charge of the prosecution.

BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted a Hoover man on fraud charges connected to a scheme to create “synthetic identities” to obtain and use multiple fraudulent credit cards around the Birmingham metro area, announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and U.S. Postal Inspector Frank Dyer.

An indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges JERICHO ANTONIO PARKER, 26, with 21 wire fraud counts and one count of using unauthorized access devices as part of the wire fraud between June 1, 2016, and Aug. 30, 2016.

According to the indictment, Parker worked with other people, whom the document does not identify, to carry out the scheme to create numerous synthetic identities by combining fictitious names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers and then using those identities to apply for Discover credit cards.

Discover approved many of the applications and sent credit cards to Birmingham through the U.S. Postal Service. Parker received and activated cards and then used them in Jefferson, Shelby and St. Clair counties to get cash at ATMs or to make or attempt to make purchases, according to the indictment.

The 21 wire fraud counts represent occasions when Parker used the fraudulent Discover cards to get $300 cash advances from ATMs inside drug stores in Moody, Homewood, Birmingham and Hoover, or when he used or attempted to use the cards to make purchases, according to the indictment.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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

An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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GREENSBORO, N.C. – A Durham resident was sentenced on August 30, 2017, for money laundering, announced Sandra J. Hairston, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina.

DAGLISH OMARI OSORO, 30, of Durham, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on May 1, 2017, to one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving funds derived from the filing of a fraudulent tax return in the name of a third party. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder to 17 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release. OSORO was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $184,445.00.

According to court documents and proceedings, OSORO orchestrated a scheme using others to have eleven (11) to fourteen (14) false individual income tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service requesting tax refunds be deposited into a Wachovia/Wells Fargo bank account in the name of OSORO and other members of the conspiracy. Of these false tax returns, only one passed the inspection of the IRS so that a tax refund in the amount of $184,495.00 was authorized and wired to the Wachovia/Wells Fargo bank account on November 18, 2011. OSORO contacted his co-conspirators to inform them of the deposit and they then began to withdraw the funds from ATM’s, in-person branch withdrawals in the amounts of $25,000.00 to $48,000.00 and transfers to other accounts. By December 2011, at least $100,000.00 of the tax refund was withdrawn before the bank accounts were closed for fraud and thereby freezing the remaining balance.

This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by AUSA Frank Chut and SAUSA Kennedy Gates.

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Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that a federal jury today found former Florida House of Representatives member Dwayne L. Taylor (49, Daytona Beach) guilty of nine counts of wire fraud. Taylor faces a maximum penalty of 20years in federal prison for each count. His sentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2017.

According to evidence presented at trial, during Taylor’s 2012 and 2014 reelection campaigns, he falsely reported thousands of dollars of expenditures to the State of Florida in order to conceal his misappropriation of over $60,000 in campaign funds through a series of unreported cash withdrawals, checks written to himself, and checks written to petty cash, in violation of Florida law. Taylor then used the misappropriated funds for personal expenditures unrelated to his re-election campaigns.

According to Florida law, all campaign contributions and expenditures must be reported to the State of Florida, and neither a candidate nor the spouse of a candidate may use funds deposited in a campaign account to defray normal living expenses for the candidate or the candidate’s family, other than expenses actually incurred for transportation, meals, and lodging during travel in the course of the campaign.

“These types of crimes erode the public trust in our elected officials,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow. “This conviction sends a clear message that such acts will not be tolerated and that we will hold anyone who breaks the law accountable for their actions.”

“It is disappointing that an elected official would exploit the generosity of his constituents to advance his personal lifestyle,” said Charles P. Spencer, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Corrupt public officials undermine the integrity of our government and violate the public’s trust, which is why combating public corruption remains the FBI’s top criminal priority."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Roger B. Handberg and Embry J. Kidd.

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Richard Herman Roach, III, age 28, of Camden, was sentenced in federal court after earlier pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, of Columbia, sentenced Roach to a total of 63 months imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. The sentence consists of 51 months imprisonment on the firearm charge and 12 months imprisonment, to be served consecutively, on a revocation of Roach’s 2010 federal drug conviction.

Evidence presented in court hearing established that at approximately 2:35 am on July 2, 2016, a deputy with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department tried to stop a speeding vehicle on Highway 34. The vehicle failed to stop and a chase ensued with speeds up to 100 mph. After the driver lost control trying to make a turn and the vehicle ended up in a ditch, the deputy approached and noticed Roach, the driver and sole occupant, reaching underneath the seat. After removing Roach from the vehicle, the deputy found a loaded Ruger .45 caliber pistol in the front area of the vehicle and a small bag of marijuana in Roach’s front pants pocket. Roach was arrested on state charges. While in transport to the detention center, Roach escaped from deputies, but was apprehended shortly thereafter by a K-9 tracking team.

Roach is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 5 grams or more of crack cocaine and a prior state conviction for forgery. At the time of the July 2016, incident, Roach was on federal supervised release after previously serving a 60 months’ imprisonment sentence on the drug charge. Roach was released from federal prison in February 2015 and in November 2015, his federal supervised release was revoked and he was sent back to federal prison. He was released again from federal prison in May 2016, two months prior to this incident.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

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SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Franklin Tejeda, age 36, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 31, 2017, to 87 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for his role in an international pill distribution conspiracy.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, Tejeda was responsible for importing into the United States and distributing hundreds of thousands of Schedule II and IV drugs, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, Percocet, Tramadol, Diazepam, Xanex, and other prescription medications.

Tejeda previously pleaded guilty to regularly orchestrating the delivery of parcels of Schedule II and IV pills from suppliers in India and the Dominican Republic to co-conspirators’ residences in Hazleton, and distributing the drugs to customers. The illegal conduct occurred between November 2014 and March 2016. Agents and police seized more than one hundred thousand Schedule II and IV pills and tablets from Tejeda’s residence in March 2016.

Judge Mannion also ordered Tejeda to serve three years on supervised release following his prison sentence.

Tejeda was charged in a criminal information filed by the United States Attorney’s Office in April 2016. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Hazleton Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa prosecuted 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 to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

# # #

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Alvin Jamal Bobo, age 36, of Spartanburg, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation prepares a pre-sentence report. Bobo, based on prior felony convictions, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He faces a statutory, mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on July 16, 2016, members of the Spartanburg City Police Department (SPD) initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Alvin Jamal Bobo. After detecting the odor of marijuana, SPD searched the vehicle, recovering a Tupperware container under the driver’s seat containing 30 grams of marijuana, a digital scale in the driver’s door, a box of clear baggies, and a Sig Saur .22 caliber pistol from behind the passenger front seat.  As SPD was removing and securing the firearm, Bobo claimed it.  Pursuant to Bobo’s arrest, SPD also located a small amount of marijuana in his left shoe.

The Spartanburg Police Department and ATF investigated the case. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Wells, serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the US Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.

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SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Gilbert Concepcion, age 40, of Reading, Pennsylvania, was indicted on August 8, 2017, by a federal grand jury for crystal methamphetamine trafficking. The case was unsealed on August 31, 2017, following Concepcion’s apprehension.

According to United States Attorney Bruce D. Brandler, the indictment charges Concepcion with conspiring to distribute and possessing with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine between December 1, 2014 and August 26, 2015. The indictment also charges Concepcion with distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine on May 26, 2015 and on July 15, 2015.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Assistant United States Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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 penalties under federal law for the charges are life imprisonment. The charge for conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine carries a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment. 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.

# # #

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Tikita Foster, age 31, of Spartanburg, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville to a single-count indictment charging violations of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm and ammunition after sustaining a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. United States District Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation prepares a pre-sentence report. Foster has prior prohibiting convictions to include a conviction for domestic violence, and therefore, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on May 13, 2016, officers with the Spartanburg Police Department (SPD) were dispatched to a Farley Street residence in reference to a fight outside involving weapons.  Upon arrival, SPD made contact with Tikita Foster and another individual who were outside the residence arguing.  When asked by SPD if either had any weapons on them, Foster stated that he had a weapon.  SPD then recovered a loaded Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol from Foster.  Foster later told SPD that the firearm belonged to his girlfriend but that he had it because someone was trying to fight his cousin. 

The Spartanburg Police Department and ATF investigated the case. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Wells, serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.

             
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Following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno, a jury convicted a former Broward County resident of access device fraud and identity theft.

Benjamin G. Greenberg, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Brian Swain, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service (USSS), made the announcement.

Halima Ouedraogo, 36, most recently of Kirkland, Washington, was convicted of one count of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(2), one count of possession of fifteen or more unauthorized access devices, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(3), and ten counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). Ouedraogo faces up to ten years in prison for each access device fraud charge, and a possible mandatory two year term in prison for each of the ten aggravated identity theft charges. Sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Moreno.

The evidence at trial established that on August 4, 2015, the defendant Ouedraogo checked into a Fort Lauderdale hotel using the credit card account number and other personal information of someone who did not know the defendant, and did not authorize her to possess or use it. Ouedraogo stayed at the hotel for three weeks, where she ordered several meals, movies, and other incidentals, running up an overall tab of more than $5,000.

When management inquired into the bill after charges on the stolen card began to be declined, the defendant left without paying and checked in to another nearby hotel, again using another victim’s name, credit card account number, and other personal information. She was located and arrested later that morning. In her possession were several hundred names, dates of birth, social security numbers, bank account numbers, driver’s licenses, checkbooks, tax documents, bank cards, vehicle registrations, student identifications and additional personal information belonging to other people, none of whom authorized Ouedraogo to have or use it.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI, USSS and the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne P. McNamara and Frederic Shadley

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.

John Roberts, 27, of Clarksville, Tenn., was found guilty today by a federal jury of conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property, 10 counts of wire fraud and two counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith of the Middle District of Tennessee.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all counts, after a four-day trial in U.S. District Court. Roberts is the final defendant convicted in the conspiracy, after an indictment issued in October 2016 charged six U.S. Army soldiers and two civilian eBay sellers with various crimes.

Visiting U.S. District Judge Roger H. Lawson, Jr., of the Middle District of Georgia, remanded Roberts to the custody of the U.S. Marshal following the verdict.

According to the proof at trial, Roberts conspired with the soldiers, who stole U.S. Army equipment, often after hours, from the U.S. Army installation at Fort Campbell. Roberts then purchased the equipment from the soldiers, often times in dark parking lots and by cash only transactions. Roberts knew that some of the soldiers had financial problems or serious drug addictions. Roberts then resold this military grade equipment via eBay.

The U.S. Army equipment listed for sale on eBay included sniper telescopes and other sniper rifle accessories, parts for the M249 machine gun (including barrel assemblies, trigger groups, rail adapter kits, magazine buttstocks, mounts, and heat shields), sights for the M203 grenade launcher, “red dot” sights for the M2 rifle and M4 assault rifle, flight helmets, communications headsets, and medical supplies. Certain equipment sold on eBay was advertised as “Army Special Forces,” “USGI” (U.S. Government Issued), and “New in Package.”

Further proof at trial established that Roberts illegally exported certain restricted U.S. Army equipment, including night vision helmet mounts and that Roberts sold U.S. Army equipment to eBay customers around the world, including customers in Russia, China, Thailand, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, India, Germany, and Mexico.

Six co-defendant’s have previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing:

• On December 21, 2016, former U.S. Army Specialist Dustin Nelson, 23 of Northville, New York pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property;

   

• On February 8, 2016, former U.S. Army Specialist Kyle Heade, 30, formerly of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property;

   

• On March 30, 2016, former U.S. Army Sergeant Michael Barlow, 30, of Clarksville, Tenn., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property and theft of government property.

   

• On April 6, 2017, Cory Wilson, 43, of Gonzalez, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property, wire fraud, and violating the Arms Export Control Act.

   

• On April 26, 2017, Jonathan Wolford, 29, of Clarksville, Tenn., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property.

   

• On April 26, 2017, Alexander Hollibaugh, formerly of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal and sell U.S. Army property.

Roberts will be scheduled for sentencing later this year. All defendants face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the conspiracy charge. Roberts and Wilson face up to 20 years for each count of wire fraud and violating the Arms Export Control Act. In addition, Barlow faces up to 10 years in prison on the theft charge. The defendants also face forfeiture of the proceeds of their crimes.

Acting U.S Attorney Jack Smith commended the work of the agents with Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, who investigated this case and Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas J. Jaworski and Courtney L. Coker, who prosecuted the case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MIGUEL TERRAZAS-ORDONEZ, age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced today after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Indictment charging him with illegal reentry of a removed alien.

Acting U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.

PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA– Kenneth James Hill, 69, of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty on June 15, 2017, to attempted enticement of a minor for sex and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The sentence was announced by Christopher P. Canova, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

In September 2016, Hill responded to an online Craigslist advertisement in which an undercover detective posed as a mother, “Ashley,” of a 14-year-old daughter, “Nikki.” Hill asked sexual questions about “Nikki” and acknowledged her age. He also communicated with “Nikki” online via the undercover detective, described sexual acts he intended to perform on “Nikki,” and arranged to travel two hours to meet “Nikki” in person for the purpose of having sex. Several days later, Hill arrived at the hotel where he believed “Nikki” was staying and was arrested.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Panama City Police Department, and the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher J. Thielemann.

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

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Herbert Daniel Fitch, age 48, of Simpsonville, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville to a single-count indictment charging violations of felon in possession of a firearms and ammunition and possession of firearms and ammunition after sustaining a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. United States District Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation prepares a pre-sentence report. Fitch has prior prohibiting convictions to include three prior convictions for domestic violence, and therefore, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison and remains in custody.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on July 28, 2016, members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) responded to a 911 call from the Caroline Inn and Suites where sounds of a woman screaming as well as a possible gunshot sound were captured.  Upon their arrival, SCSO found the disturbance to be coming from Room 212 where they encountered Herbert Fitch with a gun in his waistband.  As SCSO heard additional commotion from inside Room 212, Fitch fled. SCSO quickly located Fitch attempting to leave the hotel in a vehicle.  After Fitch disregarded SCSO’s commands for him to stop the vehicle, SCSO used stop sticks to deflate Fitch’s tires.  Fitch remained uncooperative though until he eventually surrendered to law enforcement.  SCSO recovered two rounds of 9mm ammunition and a knife from the vehicle.  Fitch was also out on bond when this conduct occurred for another pending criminal domestic violence arrest from 2015.

The prosecution of Fitch’s case in federal court is a direct result of “Home Front,” a focused deterrence-based initiative to combat domestic violence led by 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette.  The initiative launched in December of 2016 and has the full support and partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This case and others are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells, who is a 7th Circuit Assistant Solicitor specially designated by the United States Attorney’s Office to handle cases from the Seventh Circuit. Modelled after a program started in High Point, North Carolina, members of the Home Front task force began earlier this fall, meeting with representatives from every police department in Spartanburg county as well as the Sheriff’s Office.  The Spartanburg County State Probation office and victim’s advocate stalwart, SAFE Homes, also serve as critical partners in this effort.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, domestic violence is a community crime problem that costs the United States over $5.8 billion every year. It is a major drain on law enforcement resources as domestic violence generates a high volume of calls and repeated calls to the same location. Domestic violence homicides make up 40–50 percent of all murders of women in the United States. Women who have experienced a history of domestic violence report more health problems than other women and they have a greater risk for substance abuse, unemployment, alcoholism, and suicide attempts. Research shows that the repeat domestic violence offender tends to have a significant criminal history that includes a wide range of both domestic violence and non-domestic violence offenses. Most of these offenders are readily identified as they are known to the criminal justice system. The Home Front initiative exposes the repeat domestic violence offender to sanctions because of his pattern of criminal behavior.

According to the 2015 Violence Policy Center “When Men Murder Women” report, South Carolina led the nation in rates of women murdered by men. Sixty-six percent (66%) of the victims were killed with a firearm and ninety-six percent (96%) of women murdered were killed by someone they knew. In Spartanburg County during the 2015 calendar year, SAFE Homes serviced 6726 victims of domestic violence. In the same time frame, the Spartanburg Police Department charged 907 domestic violence cases and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office charged 1068 domestic violence cases. There were fourteen (14) domestic related deaths in Spartanburg County in 2015.

Solicitor Barnette has had enough.  “Domestic violence is violence, period.  It continues to plague our community--so costly and harmful to families and children, persisting year after year.  It is time for these offenders to get our best shot—our best efforts.  That is Home Front.”

United States Attorney Beth Drake agrees.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) welcome the opportunity to partner with Solicitor Barnette and state law enforcement, and to use federal gun laws to pull violent offenders who are abusing their families and loved ones out of the community.  The goal is simple – stop the abuse, or swift and sure, the full force of a coordinated law enforcement effort will come to bear to stop you from abusing.  Home Front takes the burden of addressing abusers from the victims and shifts it to us – a very engaged group of local, state, and federal law enforcement.”

The Spartanburg Police Department and ATF investigated the Fitch case. Seventh Circuit Assistant Solicitor Jennifer Wells, serving as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting the case.

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FORT WORTH— Twenty-eight defendants in the North Texas area have been charged in a federal criminal complaint, partially unsealed today, with felony offenses stemming from their role in a methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin conspiracy that operated in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Twenty-five defendants were arrested yesterday in an operation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and made appearances in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton. Three defendants are fugitives.

The complaint charges each of the following defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance:

   Efrain Rangel Arias, aka “Pollo,” 43

   Alcadio Caballero De La Torre, aka “Coochi,” 35

   Jennifer Louann Cherry, 40

   Jose Soto-Silva, aka “Feo,” 30

   Luis Soto-Silva, aka “Pecas” and “Tucan,” 29

   Fernando Obregon, aka “Pri,” 23

   Isidro Molina, aka “Chileno,” 23

   Encarnacion Hurtado-Cruz, aka “Pancho,” 55

   Alejandro Hernandez, aka “Alejandro Rodriguez,” 19

   Juan Martinez-Fiscal, 27

   Efrain Sifuentes, 25

   Adan Barrientos, 20

   Luis Varela, 21

   Edgar Graciano, aka “Firulais,” 24

   Israel Enriquez, 25

   Maelena Rodriguez, aka “China”

   Daniel Marentes, 26

   Gloria Jaimes, 53

   Miguel Robles, 35

   Eduardo Grimaldo, aka “Lalo,” 29

   Daton Degnide, 30

   Mounib Shalash, 38

   Gerson Ortiz-Barrera, 21

   Richard Moilna, 25

   Alexis Hernandez-Escobar, 36

A criminal complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offense charged and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge. A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The government has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment. The maximum statutory penalty for the offenses as charged is 40 years in federal prison and a $5,000,000 fine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation with assistance from DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Arlington Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Sherriff’s Clean Air Task Force, Grand Prairie Police Department, Denton County Sherriff’s Office, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Office of Inspector General, the Texas Department of Public Safety, ICE ERO, and Tarrant County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith is in charge of the prosecution.

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On August 25, 2017, a Hollywood, Florida resident was convicted by a Southern District of Florida jury of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

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), and Dexter M. Williams, Chief, Miramar Police Department, made the announcement.

Frantz Felix, Jr., 23, of Hollywood, was convicted at trial of one count of use of one or more unauthorized access devices to obtain anything of value aggregating $1,000 or more, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(a)(2), and one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). He faces a statutory maximum penalty of 12 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams.

The evidence at trial established that between September 20, 2012 and September 24, 2012, Felix used a fraudulent credit card to obtain more than $5,000 in merchandise from vendors in Miami-Dade County.

Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of ICE-HSI and the Miramar Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yeney Hernandez and Joshua Rothstein.

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