ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Wayne Shelby Simmons, 62, of Annapolis, Maryland, a former Fox News commentator who has falsely claimed he spent 27 years working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), pleaded guilty today to major fraud against the government, wire fraud, and a firearms offense.

“Wayne Simmons is a convicted felon with no military or intelligence experience,” said Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Simmons admitted he attempted to con his way into a position where he would have been called on to give real intelligence advice in a war zone.  His fraud cost the government money, could have put American lives at risk, and was an insult to the real men and women of the intelligence community who provide tireless service to this country.  This case is a prime example of this office’s ongoing commitment to vigorously prosecute government fraud and threats to national security.”

“Mr. Simmons lied about his criminal history and CIA employment in order to fraudulently obtain government contracts, and separately, defrauded a victim through a phony real estate investment deal,” said Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.  “With these criminal actions, Mr. Simmons abused the trust of others, both in and outside of government, for his own personal financial gain.  I commend the work of the talented FBI personnel and prosecutors who vigorously pursued this case and brought about today’s guilty plea.”

In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Simmons admitted he defrauded the government in 2008 when he obtained work as a team leader in the U.S. Army’s Human Terrain Systems program, and again in 2010 when he was deployed to Afghanistan as a senior intelligence advisor on the International Security Assistance Force’s Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team.  Simmons admitted making false statements about his financial and criminal history, and admitted that there are no records or any other evidence that he was ever employed by or worked with the CIA, or ever applied for or was granted a security clearance by that agency.  Simmons also admitted that in order to obtain the senior intelligence advisor position, he lied about work he had done a year earlier as a team leader on the Human Terrain Systems program.  Simmons admitted to making similar false statements in 2009 as well, in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain work with the State Department’s Worldwide Protective Service.

As to the wire fraud charge, Simmons admitted to defrauding an individual victim, identified as E.L., out of $125,000 in connection with a bogus real estate investment.  Simmons admitted to sending E.L. promised monthly disbursements to make it appear as if her funds had been invested as promised, and to repeatedly lying to her about the whereabouts of her money in order to perpetuate the fraud.  As Simmons admitted, he simply spent the funds on personal purposes and there was never any actual real estate investment project. 

As to the firearms charge, Simmons admitted that at the time he was arrested in this case, he was unlawfully in possession of two firearms, which he was prohibited from possessing on account of his prior felony convictions, including a prior Maryland felony conviction and two prior federal felony firearms convictions.

Simmons was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 14, 2015, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the major fraud against the government count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the felon-in-possession of a firearm count when sentenced on July 15.  The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis, III.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Nathanson and James L. Trump, along with the assistance of Senior Trial Attorney Robert E. Wallace of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1: 15-cr-293.

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Florence, South Carolina, returned Indictment(s) against the following:

Man Arrested on Francis Marion University Campus on Counterfeit Charges
Justin Daniels, age 20, of Florence, South Carolina was charged in a 2-count indictment with manufacturing counterfeit $100.00 Federal Reserve Notes, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §471 and possessing counterfeit $100.00 Federal Reserve Notes, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §472.  The maximum penalty Daniels could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.00.  The case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

Federal Corrections Officer Indicted on Bribery and Contraband Charges
Angela McLeod, age 44, of Dillon, South Carolina was charged in a 2-count indictment with bribery, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §201(b)(2)(C) and bringing contraband into a federal prison, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1791(a)(1).  The maximum penalty McLeod could receive is 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.00.  The case was investigated by agents of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Justice and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

Man Indicted for Possession of Child Pornography
Billy Loyd, age 45, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was charged in a 1-count indictment with possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §2252A(a)(5)(B).  The maximum penalty Loyd could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.00.  The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

Man Indicted for Possession of Child Pornography
Daniel Joe Wells, age 68, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was charged in a 1-count indictment with possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §2252A(a)(5)(B).  The maximum penalty Wells could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.00.  The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Custom Enforcement and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the filing of a criminal complaint and arrests of Yanique Chantel Coach (25, Orlando) and Dwayne Breary (31, Ft. Lauderdale) for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. 

According to the complaint, in October and November 2014, an 89-year-old woman in Virginia received phone calls from two individuals who claimed that she had won $3.5 million from the Mega Millions Sweepstakes.  One of the callers said he was associated with the Mega Millions Sweepstakes and the other purported to be an attorney.  The callers told the victim that her name had been entered into the lottery through a magazine subscription, but that she needed to pay fees and taxes before she could receive her winnings.  From October 31, 2014, through November 25, 2014, the victim complied with the directions from the Mega Millions Sweepstakes callers and mailed $282,600 in cash to various locations in Florida and Georgia. She concealed the money in magazines and cereal boxes.

After the learning about the large withdrawals of money, the victim’s family contacted the FBI.  On March 6, 2015, the victim was instructed by the callers to send $150,000 to an apartment in Orlando.  On March 19, 2015, FBI agents conducted a controlled delivery of a UPS package, appearing to be from the victim, to the apartment.  Agents had determined the apartment belonged to Coach. During surveillance, Breary signed for the package, using an alias, and accepted it.  Agents then executed a search warrant and recovered the package from Coach’s bedroom.           

Further investigation revealed that Coach and Breary had accepted the previously sent packages by signing a fake name.  An individual from Jamaica then travelled to Florida to retrieve the cash. Coach and Breary were paid for their part in the scheme by that individual, who then returned to Jamaica with the victim’s money.  

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.                  

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James D. Mandolfo.

ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez, Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, City Councilor Diane Gibson, and Ryan P. Cangiolosi, Chief Strategic Advisor for UNM’s Health Sciences Center, will join DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean R. Waite at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at a DEA Drug Take Back collection site in Albuquerque, N.M., to discuss the impact of DEA’s National Take Back Initiative on New Mexico’s opioid epidemic.  This media opportunity is part of the prevention and education component of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative.

WHO:            

U.S. Attorney Damon P. Martinez

Asst. Special Agent in Charge Sean R. Waite, DEA Albuquerque District Office

Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, District 3

City Councilor Diane Gibson, District 7

Ryan P. Cangiolosi, Chief Strategic Advisor, Office of Strategy and Engagement at the UNM Health Sciences Center

WHEN:         

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2016

12:00 p.m., noon 

WHERE:      

DEA Drug Take Back Collection Site

Walgreens

8400 Montgomery NE

Albuquerque, NM 87111

OPEN PRESS

The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic that has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico.  Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities.  Working in partnership with Bernalillo County, DEA, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC) and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components:  (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at http://www.HopeInitiativeNM.org.

     PHOENIX – On April 18, 2016, Jerome Remijo Reano, 21, of  Whiteriver, Arizona, a member of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton to 336 months in federal prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. Reano had previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual abuse.

     The investigation revealed Reano had sexually abused two minors, and the abuse occurred on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation where the victims were also member/eligible.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Anthony W. Church, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-15-08073-PCT-SRB   

RELEASE NUMBER:   2016-036_ Reano

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

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

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Robert R. Teter, 30, and Jonathan J. Ross, 30, both of Elkins, West Virginia, pled guilty in federal court in Clarksburg today to fraudulently using counterfeit money to obtain authentic currency and other goods, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Teter and Ross repeatedly exchanged counterfeit money in order to obtain authentic United States currency, debit cards, and merchandise in Harrison County, West Virginia in late 2014.

Both men pled guilty today to one count of “Uttering Counterfeit Obligations or Securities – Aiding and Abetting.” They each face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Montoro prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The United States Secret Service, the Clarksburg, West Virginia Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi.

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jeremy Colby Vickerson, 27, of Canton, Michigan, pled guilty in federal court in Clarksburg today to oxycodone trafficking, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced.

Vickerson sold oxycodone in July 2015 near a video arcade facility in Harrison County, West Virginia. He pled guilty today to one count of “Distribution of Oxycodone within 100 feet of a Video Arcade Facility.” He faces between one and forty years in prison and a fine of up to $4,000,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Adkins prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department Street Crimes and Drug Unit and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Department investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.

DALLAS— Edric Norvell Robinson, Sr., 45, of Dallas, pleaded guilty this week, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney, to one count of sex trafficking of children as charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas in September 2015, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Robinson, who remains in federal custody, faces a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.  Sentencing is set for August 10, 2016, before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade.

According to documents filed in his case, from approximately April 7, 2014, through August 19, 2014, Robinson knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored and transported a minor female, whom he caused to engage in a commercial sex act.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the Project Safe Childhood (PSC) initiative.  PSC is a department initiative launched in May 2006 that aims to combat the proliferation of technology-
facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, tribal and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  Since FY 2011, the Department of Justice has filed 20,260 PSC cases against 19,111 defendants.  These cases include prosecutions of child sex trafficking; sexual abuse of a minor or ward; child pornography offenses; obscene visual representation of the sexual abuse of children; selling or buying of children; and many more statutes.  To learn more about PSC’s work, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Texas Department of Public Safety, both members of the North Texas Anti-Trafficking Taskforce (NTATT), investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cara Foos Pierce is in charge of the prosecution.

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U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JOHN F. KELLY III, age 57, of Metairie, was charged today in a one-count Bill of Information with wire fraud.

According to court documents, from 2011 through 2014, KELLY operated a tax sale investment business with investor monies. During this time period, KELLY defrauded his investors by diverting their investment funds for his personal use and benefit. As part of the scheme to defraud, KELLY used investor monies to pay off personal loans and to purchase real estate properties in New Orleans that he titled in separate corporate entities he controlled.

The maximum penalty for wire fraud is twenty years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to the victim.  The maximum penalty for failing to pay over taxes is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. 

U.S. Attorney Polite reiterated that the Bill of Information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations Division, in investigating this matter.  Assistant United States Attorneys, Richard R. Pickens, II, Andre J. Lagarde, and Hayden M. Brockett are in charge of the prosecution.

BOSTON – Three men who operated two Boston-area fried chicken restaurants have been charged with conspiring to file false tax returns as part of a long-running scheme to avoid paying payroll and income taxes.  

Hazart Khan, 56, of Middletown, NY, and Khurshed Iqbal, 56, whose whereabouts are unknown, were charged in an indictment unsealed today with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and 13 counts of willful failure to account for and pay taxes.   Adalat Khan, 46, of Chelsea, Mass., was charged in an Information with one count of conspiracy and two counts of making and subscribing false tax returns. 

According to court documents, the defendants used a variety of means to avoid paying payroll and income taxes owed by their restaurant, Crown Fried Chicken, which has locations on Warren Street in Boston and Broadway in Chelsea.  As part of the conspiracy, Adalat Khan managed both restaurants and Hazart Khan and Iqbal took steps to conceal their ownership interests.  Adalat Khan, at the direction of Hazart Khan and Iqbal, allegedly provided tax preparers with false information about the restaurants’ payroll and income.  Federal law requires that employers withhold payroll taxes and pay it to the IRS.  As part of the scheme, the defendants falsely reported the number of employees, some of whom were undocumented workers, and wages paid to the IRS.  They also allegedly paid employees under the table and filed income tax returns that falsely described their sales, total income, compensation of officers, salaries and wages, and taxable income.

The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution.  The charge of failure to account for a pay taxes provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, the costs of prosecution and restitution.  The charge of subscribing a false tax return provides for a sentence of no greater than three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, the costs of prosecution and restitution.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement today.  The case was investigated with the cooperation of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John A. Capin and Eric P. Christofferson of Ortiz’s Criminal Division.

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

SHREVEPORT – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley and Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator partnered to hold roundtable discussions, a tour and other events for National Reentry Week.

The program, called Project A.C.E. (Addressing, Connecting and Educating), featured U.S. Attorney’s Office staff, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office staff and others discussing ways to reduce recidivism in our communities. The event started Wednesday with a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Courthouse on Fannin Street where U.S. Attorney Office staff, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office staff, public officials, law enforcement, attorneys, prison staff and others joined to talk about how to better assist those who reenter society after completing their prison terms. There were more than 15 agencies with 40-plus representatives present. They shared their successes as well as hardships with reentry. The hope is that offering more and improved tailor-made training, counseling, medical and mental treatment, and other assistance to those incarcerated will reduce the chances that prosecuted individuals will end up back in prison.  The event also featured a tour of the Caddo Parish Work Release-Reentry Facility Thursday on Forum Drive so that visitors could see work already being conducted.

As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to strengthening the criminal justice system, the Department of Justice designated April 24 to 30, 2016, as National Reentry Week. Each year more than 600,000 citizens return to neighborhoods after serving time in federal and state prisons.  Another 11.4 million individuals cycle through local jails.  Nearly one in three Americans of working age have had some sort of encounter with the criminal justice system — mostly for relatively minor, non-violent offenses and sometimes from decades in the past.  The long-term impact of a criminal record prevents many people from obtaining employment, housing, higher education and credit — and these barriers affect returning individuals even if they have turned their lives around and are unlikely to reoffend.

The Department of Justice outlined principles in the “Roadmap to Reentry” through work with the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, which has been working since its creation five years ago to reduce recidivism and improve employment, education, housing, health and child welfare outcomes.

National Reentry Week events were planned in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  United States Attorney’s Offices alone are hosting more than 200 events, and U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities are holding more than 370 events.

For more information see the additional resources below:

President’s Weekly Address: REENTRY

National Reentry Week Webpage

REPORT: Roadmap to Reentry

INFOGRAPHIC: Roadmap to Reentry

FACT SHEET: BOP Reentry

FACT SHEET: Federal Interagency Reentry Council

FACT SHEET: Fair Chance Business Pledge

REPORT: CEA Report

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that BRIDGET MARIE MILES, age 47, of New Orleans, was sentenced yesterday after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Superseding Bill of Information for Misprision of a Felony, Hobbs Act robbery.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced MILES to serve 21 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release.

According to court documents, MILES conspired with and gave information to members of a local New Orleans gang led by GREGORY DENSON.   DENSON used the information provided by MILES to commit home invasion robberies of drug dealers in an effort to make money and/or obtain illegal drugs for later retail sale.  Members of this gang also conspired to use, possess and discharge firearms to further their drug trafficking activity, and commit acts of violence against other drug dealers to obtain drugs and drug proceeds.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department led Multi-Agency Gang Unit in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael M. Simpson and Michael E. McMahon were in charge of the prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that JARED HARRIS, age 26, of Riverdale, Georgia, was sentenced yesterday after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Superseding Bill of Information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to use five or more fraudulent identification documents.

U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon sentenced HARRIS to serve 21 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  Additionally, HARRIS was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,170 to the victim, Wal-Mart Corporation.

According to court documents, HARRIS, together with another Georgia man, co-conspirator TERRELL WASHINGTON, drove through several states in possession of multiple stolen U.S. Treasury checks, fraudulent forms of identification, and proceeds of their illegal check cashing scheme.  The pair was ultimately caught in a Kenner Wal-Mart after a cashier identified HARRIS and WASHINGTON, as the individuals who had first attempted to use fake IDs to cash a stolen U.S. Treasury check.  WASHINGTON’s trial is scheduled for June 13, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Secret Service in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson was in charge of the prosecution.

CHICAGO — A Joliet man was charged with arson today for allegedly causing a fire that destroyed his employer’s furniture distribution center in west suburban Woodridge.

RUBEN ANTONIO OCHOA CRUZ, a high lift operator in the warehouse, used a Bic lighter to spark the fire on April 21, 2016, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  He set the fire after meeting with his supervisors regarding an issue with his attendance at work, according to the complaint.  Approximately 65 employees were working at the warehouse at the time of the fire, and all of them escaped safely. 

The complaint charges Cruz, 20, with one count of arson.  He made an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez and was ordered held in federal custody.  A detention hearing was scheduled for May 4, 2016, at 11:00 a.m.

According to the complaint, firefighters from approximately 30 departments worked for seven hours to extinguish the blaze, which caused millions of dollars in damage.  The distribution center was burned to the ground, the complaint states.  No firefighters were injured.

The arson charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years.

The complaint was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Jeffery Magee, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of ATF.  The officials praised the bravery of the firefighters who worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze.

The Woodridge Police Department, Lemont Police Department and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal provided substantial assistance in the investigation.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. 

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty Wright.

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Joseph Carlton Meek, 21, of Lexington, South Carolina, plead guilty to an Indictment charging him with Misprision of a Felony (in violation of 18 U.S.C. §4) and Making a False Statement (in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1001).  Meek entered the guilty plea as a result of his actions following the June 17, 2015, attack on parishioners of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Meek faces a maximum of three years on the Misprision count and five years on the False-Statement count.  United States District Judge Richard Gergel presided over the hearing and will sentence Meek at a later date.

This guilty plea is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, City of Charleston Police Department, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jay N. Richardson and Nathan Williams are prosecuting the case. 

(MINNEAPOLIS) – Federal and local officials today in Minneapolis hosted a prescription drug take back event as part of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Minnesotans disposed of more than 5,000 pounds of unwanted medication at the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in Downtown Minneapolis. On hand to participate in the take back event were federal and local officials and local advocates.

Today in Minneapolis, Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House was joined by DEA Special Agent in Charge Dennis A. Wichern, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, elected officials and a representative of the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy.

“Take back events, along with year-round safe disposal programs, are an important part of our efforts to decrease prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths because we know the majority of people who misuse prescription drugs obtain them from family or friends,” said Michael Botticelli, Director of National Drug Control Policy.

“April 30 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” said Dennis A. Wichern, DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division. “This year will be the eleventh DEA sponsored event to join with the community to empty our medicine cabinets of unwanted, unneeded, expired medications. Misused medications can cause great harm. Safely disposing of these prescription drugs will save lives. Preventing one pill from being used for the wrong reasons is the starting point for a safer, healthier Minnesota.”

“Opioid abuse is a public health and law enforcement problem in Minnesota,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “Events like today’s DEA drug take back help to prevent abuse and addiction by providing a free opportunity for the disposal of unused and unwanted medicines.”

“The tragic consequences of opioid addiction have been devastating across Minnesota and nationwide,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. “I urge all residents to help the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office raise awareness about reducing the risk of painkiller abuse. Clean out your medicine cabinet and routinely dispose of unwanted painkillers and medications by bringing them to a disposal box at a Sheriff’s Office facility.”

“These efforts to remove unused prescriptions from our medicine cabinets will save lives,” said Senator Chris Eaton. “If you have a prescription of any kind, keep it locked up where guests and family can't access it. We have had too many deaths from opioids in Minnesota and in the country. This simple step can make a huge difference.”

“National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, and similar events throughout the year, are very important to help get dangerous drugs out of our homes and workplaces and to shine a spotlight on the huge problems we are seeing around prescription drug addiction and overdoses,” said Nick Motu, Vice President of the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy.

Last September, Americans turned in 350 tons (over 702,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 10 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,750 tons—of pills. 

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States, eclipsing deaths from motor vehicle crashes or firearms. The removal from homes of unwanted prescription pills that can be abused, stolen or resold is an easy way to help fight the epidemic of substance abuse and addiction. That is why local communities are also establishing ongoing drug take back programs.

Investigators Recover and Return Over $1 million to Victims

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN—U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Miles, Jr. announced today that Barbara Jean Kelsey of Elkhart, Indiana was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff to a total of 78 months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and substantive money laundering crimes. Kelsey pled no contest to the charges on November 13, 2015.

          U.S. Attorney Miles stated: “Financial fraud is a crime of greed and opportunity. When a person uses fraud to decimate another individual’s financial security, they deserve to face a significant prison term.”

          Kelsey was an employee of the financial services firm Fabian & Associates, LLC located in Kalamazoo. Along with Joseph Stephen Fabian, the principal of Fabian & Associates, Kelsey defrauded more than 30 clients of the firm causing losses of over $3.8 million between 2007 and 2010. Fabian and Kelsey used a variety of ruses to induce clients and prospective clients to withdraw money from their existing retirement accounts, investment accounts, bank accounts, and other sources to place into investment products that the firm recommended. But Fabian fabricated many of the investment products that were recommended. Or, when the recommendation was for a legitimate investment, Fabian and Kelsey failed to deposit the money on their clients’ behalf. Kelsey assisted Fabian by creating shell corporations and opening bank accounts to divert client monies intended for investment. She represented herself to clients as a Certified Public Accountant even though she had no more than a high school education. She moved client monies between various accounts without any regard for accounting. Investigators traced nearly $1 million to Kelsey’s personal bank accounts, which Kelsey spent on herself, including the purchase of a house.

          Judge Neff labeled Kelsey’s crimes as “egregious,” “immoral,” and “unconscionable.” Many of Fabian’s and Kelsey’s victims were of retirement age or near-retirement age and also included individuals and families looking for safe investment opportunities to provide income to support special-needs children or to deal with health problems and attendant medical expenses.

          Fabian is currently serving a 92 month prison sentence issued by Judge Neff in 2012. Since that time, the United States has recovered through forfeiture proceedings over $1 million and applied the recoveries to victim restitution.

          “Ms. Kelsey portrayed herself as a competent, trustworthy accountant, and she was neither,” said David P. Gelios, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Detroit Division. “She preyed upon individuals that were taking steps to financially secure their families’ futures. Rather than grow their investments, Kelsey misappropriated funds provided to Fabian & Associates, LLC for her own personal use, and irreparably damaged the financial futures of the victims in this case. Today, Ms. Kelsey is being held to account for her crimes.”

          The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel S. Fauson and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Kalamazoo Resident Agency.

END

          CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE–United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice announced that Sergio Yeremi Martinez-Mejia, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty to falsely claiming that he was assigned a social security number that was in fact assigned to another person. 

          On March 24, 2015, Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified that the defendant was suspected of being a foreign national illegally in the United States.  On March 23, 2015, the defendant told the Portsmouth Police Department that he was a Puerto Rican U.S. citizen and provided the police a certain social security number that he claimed was his.

          On March 24, 2015, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Officer interviewed Martinez-Mejia.  The defendant claimed that he was born in Puerto Rico and provided the officer with a social security number not in fact assigned to Martinez-Mejia.

          The Deportation Officer submitted the defendant’s fingerprints to the Department of Homeland Security and to the FBI.  Each agency returned a match for the defendant, Sergio Yeremi Martinez-Mejia, who had, on July 11, 2011, been ordered deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic.  Records of the U.S. Social Security Administration revealed that neither of the numbers the defendant claimed were assigned to him actually had been assigned to him.

          Martinez-Mejia will be sentenced at 11:30 AM on August 9, 2016, and will be deported after serving his sentence.

          The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Portsmouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfred Rubega is prosecuting this case.

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WASHINGTON – On Saturday, a jury in New Orleans convicted the owner of a health care company for her role in a $3.2 million Medicare fraud scheme operating in and around New Orleans. 

Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite of the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey S. Sallet of the FBI’s New Orleans Division and Special Agent in Charge CJ Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)’s Dallas Regional Office made the announcement.

Tracy Richardson Brown, 46, of New Orleans, was convicted of 18 counts after a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge Stanwood R. Duval Jr. of the Eastern District of Louisiana.  Brown was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, nine counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay illegal kickbacks and seven counts of paying illegal kickbacks.  Brown’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2016. 

Evidence introduced at trial showed that Brown owned and operated Psalms 23 DME LLC (Psalms) and caused Psalms to bill Medicare for durable medical equipment and orthotics that were not needed and/or were not provided.  Brown paid patient recruiters for the names and Medicare numbers of Medicare recipients in and around New Orleans and then used these Medicare numbers to bill Medicare, claiming that Psalms provided them power wheelchairs, accessories and orthotics.  Trial evidence showed that a vast majority of these patients did not need and often did not receive, or even want, the equipment.  Evidence also revealed that Brown engaged in “upcoding,” billing Medicare as if she provided these patients with high-cost back and knee braces, when she in fact provided them much cheaper versions of these braces.  Brown caused Psalms to bill Medicare for more than $3.2 million in claims, a large number of which were fraudulent.  Medicare paid Psalms approximately $1.9 million on these claims.

This case was investigated by the FBI and HHS-OIG and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrice Sullivan of the Eastern District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney William Kanellis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, now operating in nine cities across the country, has charged nearly 2,300 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $7 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, is taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers. 

To learn more about the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), go to www.stopmedicarefraud.gov.

ALBANY, NEW YORK – United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced today that his office’s Civil Division conducted a review of polling locations in Albany and Onondaga Counties to determine whether the polling places comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

"The right to vote is one of the most valuable rights protected by our Constitution, but that right is meaningless if there are physical barriers that prevent people from casting their ballot," said U.S. Attorney Hartunian. "Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities is a major focus of my office’s civil rights work, and my office will continue to vigorously ensure compliance with the ADA in the Northern District of New York."

The U.S. Attorney’s Office selected locations for review to ensure that they are accessible to the large numbers of residents who are expected to vote at these polling locations during the Presidential primary election. In a study following the previous Presidential election, the Government Accountability Office found that only 27% of polling places had no potential impediments to access by people with disabilities, meaning 73% of polling locations contained architectural barriers to voting. This initiative is being conducted in accordance with the Department of Justice’s statutory responsibility to review compliance with federal law and not in response to any specific complaint against any of the polling locations.

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by the owners and operators of places of public accommodation, including polling locations, and protects the right to participate in state and local government programs and services. The U.S. Attorney’s Office periodically undertakes ADA compliance reviews to ensure equal access for people with disabilities.

As part of its ADA compliance review, attorneys, architects, and staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice surveyed 35 polling places in Albany and Onondaga Counties. If these site visits revealed that a particular polling location is not in compliance with the ADA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will notify the appropriate state and local official of the violation and will provide a timeframe to correct the issue(s). The goal is to ensure that all polling locations are fully compliant in time for the Presidential election on Nov. 8, 2016.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages affected citizens to report ADA violations at polling locations. Complaints concerning locations in the Northern District of New York may be submitted via the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Hotline at (518) 618-1619 or by completing the U.S. Attorney’s written civil rights complaint form, which may be found at www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/contact-us/Civil%20Rights.