Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Akhror Saidakhmetov, a citizen of Kazakhstan and resident of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II, to 15 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).   

Bridget M. Rohde, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Dana J. Boente, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.  

“Today, defendant Akhor Saidakhmetov was held accountable for attempting to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad on behalf of ISIS and his intention to kill law enforcement officers in the United States if unable to reach Syria,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rohde.  “We will continue to work closely with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York to disrupt those trying to support foreign terrorist organizations here or abroad and to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Saidakhmetov's plan was to become a battlefield soldier for ISIS, but should that not come to pass, he was prepared to bring the fight to our streets by attacking police officers and FBI agents in the U.S.,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney. “This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in confronting the modern-day terrorist threat. And while this is but one of the many successful investigations carried out by the FBI and our partners on the JTTF, there’s no doubt we have more work to do.”

“The defendant in this case pledged allegiance to ISIS, attempted to travel to Syria, and spoke of purchasing a gun to kill police officers and FBI agents,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “He’ll be removed from the United States upon completion of the 15-year sentence announced today. I want to thank the members of law enforcement and the court system for their work on this case. It’s representative of the shared responsibility we have to keep each other, our City, and our nation safe.”

According to previous court filings, beginning in August 2014, Saidakhmetov repeatedly expressed his radical pro-ISIS views and his desire to travel to Syria to fight on behalf of ISIS.  In September 2014, while watching videos of ISIS training camps in Syria, Saidakhmetov stated that he was going to travel to Syria to become a “Mujahid on the path of Allah.”  During the next several months, Saidakhmetov discussed with a co-conspirator their plans to travel to Syria to fight on behalf of ISIS and reached out to purported ISIS representatives for information on traveling to join ISIS. 

Saidakhmetov also stated that if he were unable to travel to Syria to join ISIS, he would attack law enforcement officers in the United States.  Specifically, he stated that he would purchase a handgun or machine gun and shoot police officers and FBI agents. 

On February 19, 2015, Saidakhmetov purchased a ticket to travel from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) in Queens, New York, to Istanbul, Turkey, departing on February 25, 2015.  While at JFK Airport awaiting his flight, Saidakhmetov received approximately $1,600 from a coconspirator to cover his expenses, including the purchase of a firearm after his arrival in Syria to join ISIS.  Saidakhmetov was arrested while attempting to board the flight to Turkey. 

Following completion of his sentence, Saidakhmetov will be removed from the United States.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security & Cybercrime Section.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Solomon, Douglas M. Pravda, Peter W. Baldwin and David K. Kessler of the Eastern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Steven Ward of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 

The Defendant:

AKHROR SAIDAKHMETOV
Age: 22
Residence: Brooklyn, New York

 E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 15 CR 95 (WFK)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Glen Allen man was arrested late yesterday in Kansas on charges of fraud, false statements, and identity theft.

According to allegations in the indictment, Vishal J. Patel, 30, used the personal identifying information of licensed physicians to pose as a doctor in online employment applications to medical staffing companies. Patel falsely claimed in such applications to be licensed to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To support this claim, Patel created and submitted false diplomas and certificates concerning his education, training, certifications, and licenses in which he included registration and licensing numbers belonging to various licensed physicians. To obtain access to their information, Patel posed as the physicians when contacting various oversight entities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration. Patel directed those entities to alter the physicians’ licensing records so that they appeared to be associated with Patel. He then directed these entities to mail him copies of the altered records. Through the scheme, Patel fraudulently induced various medical staffing companies to employ him as an independent contractor. Patel obtained employment through at least one company at a free clinic in Newport News, where he saw nearly two dozen patients before he was terminated due to the clinic’s inability to verify his credentials.

Patel has been charged with wire fraud, furnishing false information in a DEA record, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years, along with a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison, if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Karl C. Colder, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, and Michael C. Grinstead, Acting Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin C. Gratton and Brian J. Samuels are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-125.

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

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JUAN THOMPSON was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel to 60 months in prison for cyberstalking and making hoax bomb threats as part of THOMPSON’s campaign to harass and intimidate a particular woman (“Victim-1”).  Over a period of months in 2016 and 2017, THOMPSON, among other things, communicated at least 12 threats to Jewish Community Centers (“JCCs”) and other Victim Organizations in Victim-1’s name and his own name and made false allegations about Victim-1 to Victim-1’s employer.  THOMPSON was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) on March 3, 2017, and pled guilty before Judge Castel on June 13, 2017.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “Today, Juan Thompson was held to account and justly punished for his efforts to harass an ex-girlfriend by sending disturbing and dangerous hoax threats to Jewish Community Centers and other organizations across the country in her name.  Thompson’s harassment and threats caused severe distress to both his victim and to Jewish communities around the country.  We thank our partners at the FBI for their excellent work on this important case.”

According to the Complaint, the Information, and statements made at sentencing:

In July 2016, THOMPSON began a months-long campaign of harassment targeting Victim-1 after Victim-1 ended their relationship.  THOMPSON’s conduct culminated with a series of hoax threats, including hoax bomb threats, targeting JCCs, organizations that provide service to and on behalf of the Jewish community, schools, and police departments.

THOMPSON started his campaign of harassment of Victim-1 in 2016.  In July of that year, an email was sent to Victim-1’s employer, which made false allegations about Victim-1, including that she had broken the law, using an internet protocol (“IP”) address that THOMPSON had previously used to access his social media account.  On October 15, 2016, an IP address that traced back to THOMPSON’s residence was used to falsely report that Victim-1 possessed child pornography.  When confronted by law enforcement on November 22, 2016, THOMPSON claimed that his email account had been hacked a few weeks earlier. 

THOMPSON also made at least 12 hoax threats targeting JCCs.  For instance, on February 21, 2017, the Anti-Defamation League (“ADL”) received an emailed threat at their midtown Manhattan office that indicated that “[Victim-1’s name and birthdate] is behind the bomb threats against jews. She lives in nyc and is making more bomb threats tomorrow.”  The next day, the ADL received a phone call claiming that explosive material had been placed in the ADL’s midtown Manhattan office. 

Some of THOMPSON’s threats were made in his own name, as part of an apparent effort to claim that Victim-1 was trying to frame THOMPSON for a crime.  For instance, on or about February 7, 2017, a JCC in Manhattan received an emailed bomb threat from an anonymous email account, which stated: “Juan Thompson [THOMPSON’s birthday] put two bombs in the office of the Jewish center today.  He wants to create Jewish newtown tomorrow.”  The email’s use of the phrase “Jewish newtown” appeared to refer to a December 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in which a gunman murdered 26 victims.

In February 2017, a Twitter account used by THOMPSON (the “Thompson Twitter Account”) was used to accuse Victim-1 of responsibility for the JCC Threats and claim that Victim-1 was trying to frame THOMPSON for her crimes.  For instance, on February 24, 2017, the Thompson Twitter Account posted: “[s]he [Victim-1], though I can’t prove it, even sent a bomb threat in my name to a Jewish center, which was odd given her antisemitic statements.  I got a visit from the FBI.  So now I’m battling the racist FBI and this vile, evil, racist white woman.”  On February 26, 2017, the Thompson Twitter Account posted: “The hatred of Jews goes across all demos.  Ask NYC’s [Victim-1’s employer].  They employ a filthy anti-Semite in [Victim-1].  These ppl are evil.”

*                      *                     *

In addition to the prison term, THOMPSON, 32, of St. Louis, Missouri, was sentenced to  three years of supervised release.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, and thanked the United States Secret Service, New York City Police Department, and Saint Louis Police Department for their ongoing investigative assistance. 

The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism & International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Warren and Andrew DeFilippis are in charge of the prosecution.

BOSTON – A Randolph man was indicted today in federal court in Boston on charges relating to the distribution of fentanyl on Cape Cod.

Jorge Barros a/k/a “Joey,” 24, was charged with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute. 

According to court documents, in September 2017, investigators identified Barros as a fentanyl distributor on Cape Cod. A cooperating defendant then made a series of recorded calls to Barros arranging for a fentanyl delivery. On Nov. 13, 2017, Barros attempted to deliver approximately 40 grams of fentanyl to the cooperator; however, before Barros could do so, he was arrested in Harwich, at which time law enforcement seized approximately 38 grams of fentanyl from him. 

The charges provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe made the announcement today. The investigation was led by the DEA Cape Cod Resident Office and the Massachusetts State Police - Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Brewster, Harwich, Sandwich, Mashpee, Chatham, Yarmouth, and Barnstable Police Departments and the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen of Weinreb’s Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

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

Ft. Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Brown Laster, Jr. (37, Tampa), Jerry Browdy (44, Riverview, FL), and Wesley Petiphar (30, Davenport) each to life in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. The Court also ordered Browdy to forfeit $106,060 and Petiphar to forfeit $22,400, which are traceable to the proceeds of the offense. As part of their sentences, the Court imposed a fine of $1 million for Laster and $500,000 each for Browdy and Petiphar.

A federal jury found the individuals guilty on July 28, 2017. 

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Laster, Browdy, and Petiphar were part of a conspiracy to ship kilograms of methamphetamine from Sacramento, California to various hotels in Florida and Georgia via Federal Express.

The evidence showed that, throughout 2015, the men had sent approximately 40 packages of methamphetamine through the mail per week. The packages were delivered to co-conspirators who had been recruited to wait at the hotels for the packages of methamphetamine to arrive. The packages were then delivered to local drug traffickers. In addition, witness testimony revealed that the men enforced the conspiracy through violence, including one incident where a cooperating witness had a gun placed in his mouth with such force that the gun knocked out some of his front teeth.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia), the Placer County Sheriff’s Office (California), the Lakeland Police Department, and the Miami-Dade Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Baeza and Mike Leeman.

MONROE, La. –Acting U.S.Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that two Monroe women were sentenced Monday for a scheme to issue new titles for stolen automobiles.

Ashley Owens, 31, of Monroe, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. to 76 months in prison on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and three years’ supervised release.  Felicia Simpson, 40, of Monroe, La., was sentenced to five years’ probation on one count of misprision of felony, and Quinetta Grant, 45, of Suwanee, Ga., will be sentenced at a later date.  According to the guilty pleas, from November 2014 to June 2015, the defendants illegally provided new titles to customers who possessed stolen automobiles.  Owens would receive the titles from Grant and then deliver them to Simpson who worked for a private title processing business in Monroe.  Altogether, 104 fraudulent titles were processed involving high-end late model luxury vehicles including Mercedes, BMW, Bentley and Lamborghini.

The FBI, Louisiana State Police, Miami Dade Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia and the Monroe Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell prosecuted the case.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow today ordered William R. Jones, 68, of Geneseo, Ill., to serve eight months in federal prison for theft of government funds and making false statements about his military service to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Jones was also ordered to pay a fine of $40,000 and to pay restitution in the amount of $71,472 to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Jones was ordered to remain on supervised release for a term of three years following his release from prison.

Jones had entered pleas of guilty on Aug. 22, 2017, to the offenses. During court hearings and according to court documents, the government established that Jones entered service in the armed forces of the United States in 1971 via the Air National Guard. Thereafter, Jones served in various Reserve or National Guard components. Jones retired from the military in 2002 as a Lieutenant Colonel. At no time did Jones ever serve in the Southeast Asia or Republic of Vietnam (RVN) theater of combat operations or in any other theater of combat operations.

In 2003, after retirement, Jones sought disability benefits, based on claims in statements to the VA that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder attendant to combat service in the RVN. Jones falsely claimed that he had been a Special Operations air crewman on an AC-130 Spectre gunship and was shot down and wounded. Jones claimed that he had been awarded a Bronze Star Medal with V for Valor and a Purple Heart for RVN service. The VA denied the claims after checking Jones’ military service records and determining that he was never in RVN.

Jones, however, continued to press for claims for disability based on combat service, submitting a false DD-214 to the VA and causing the American Legion and public officials to petition or write the VA in support of the defendant based on Jones’s false representations. As a result of his false representations, Jones received $71,472 from the VA for combat-related disability.

On Oct. 31, 2013, Jones caused the American Legion to submit to the VA on his behalf a new claim with supporting documents that included a copy of an article from the Geneseo, Ill.,  newspaper. The article was based on false information provided by Jones about his purported combat service, including copies of several false certificates for combat awards, a false certificate from MACV SOG (Vietnam Special Operations Group) attesting to Jones’s purported SOG service, a false certificate representing that “Staff Sergeant Jones” had received an Enlisted Aircrew badge in November 1971, and a letter dated 2008 from then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama stating that the defendant was a RVN veteran.

In addition, on July 16, 2013, Jones submitted to the office of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin a “Privacy Act Release” form that contained false information indicating that Jones had served in combat in Vietnam in 1972; that Jones had been assigned to Special Operations in Vietnam; and, that Jones was shot down in enemy territory but rescued by U.S. Marines three weeks later. In fact, as Jones well knew, he never served in Vietnam; was never assigned to Special Operations in Vietnam, and, was never shot down and rescued by U.S. Marines. As a result of these false statements to Senator Durbin, the Senator conveyed the false statements to the VA in support of the defendant’s claim for disability benefits.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Allegro.  The charges resulted from an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Yesterday in federal court, United States District Judge Ann D. Montgomery issued an order approving a final distribution of payments to victims of FRANK E. VENNES, JR., and dissolving the Liquidating Trusteeship established to administer the Asset Distribution Plan.

“Although nothing can erase entirely the years of financial hardship and emotional stress caused by this massive fraud scheme, we hope that through the Liquidating Trustee’s administration of the Asset Distribution Plan victims have experienced some measure of relief and closure,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gregory Brooker.

Gary Hansen, the Liquidating Trustee, noted the many complexities in liquidating the VENNES assets, which included multiple business entities; office buildings, apartment buildings, and other real estate; an extensive art and rare coin collection; and many other assets spread across the country. “This has been a long and challenging process. We appreciate Judge Montgomery’s practical and flexible approach, which permitted us to resolve issues creatively and without substantial litigation or undue administrative expense. Many of those who placed their trust in Frank Vennes lost much or all of their life savings. We have not been able to make them whole, but have worked hard to provide the maximum possible recovery from the available assets,” said Hansen.

On October 18, 2013, VENNES was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraudulently raising money from individuals and through hedge funds for investment in Petters Company, Inc. (“PCI”). VENNES was a long-time associate of Thomas J. Petters, the Minnesota businessman who was convicted in 2009 of orchestrating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme. In January 2011, the Court issued an order approving an Asset Distribution Plan that provided for the distribution of cash or assets to the victims and creditors of the Vennes Defendants¹, in connection to the Petters Ponzi scheme. After the final distribution, the total value of assets and cash distributed to victims and creditors through the Liquidating Trustee will total approximately $20 million.

This case was handled by the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.

The case is captioned United States of America v. Frank E. Vennes, Jr., et al. Case No. 8-cv-5348 (ADM/TNL).

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

PRESS RELEASE

Indianapolis B United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of an Indianapolis man for his role in an elaborate scheme to defraud local business.  James D. Victery, 58, Indianapolis, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Michael Reagan after being found guilty in a jury trial in September of this year.  At trial, victory was found guilty of two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.

“Mr. Victery’s greed cost local businesses and the government nearly $600,000 in losses,” said Minkler.  “Let’s call white collar crime, what it really is; stealing, and those who do will be held accountable for their actions.”

Victery represented himself as a person who was in the business of providing a variety of services to contractors who were considering bidding on government jobs.  Those services included acting as an escrow agent, providing bonds, and loans, through a company called TEAM (Tripartite Escrow Agreement Management).  The victim-business was a factoring agent that agreed to pay contractors’ invoices before the government was ready to pay, giving the contractors’ prompt access to money to fund their construction projects.  Victery purported to his victim-business that he would serve as an escrow agent, holding in trust the money exchanged between the victim-business and the contractors.  Victery provided written agreements and emails memorializing the arrangement.

Victery submitted invoices to the victim-business for work that was never performed by the contractors.  The evidence at trial revealed Victery had misrepresented himself to the contractors as a provider of bonds, and to the victim-business as an escrow agent.  The victim-business paid almost $600,000 to Victery on the fraudulent invoices, and Victery squandered the money on personal business interests and debt in a few months’ time.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

“This sentence highlights the partnership of the FBI and IRS and our mission to dedicate investigative resources to rooting out such corrupt business practices and hold people accountable for their financial fraud,” said W. Jay Abbott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division.  “These criminals are motivated by greed and a desire to see how much they can get away with without care or concern for the consequences and it won’t be tolerated.”

Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation stated, “IRS-CI does not tolerate corrupt business practices that put taxpayers’ dollars at risk.  This investigation compliments the many other IRS-CI successes of 2017, announced last week in the IRS-CI Annual Report.  We are committed to identifying and stopping financial frauds.”

According to Cindy Cho and Winfield Ong who prosecuted this case for the government, Victery must make restitution of $404,000 and serve three years supervised released release after his sentence.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges.  This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with the District’s law enforcement agencies to detect and prosecute matters involving complex fraud schemes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan  Section 5.1.

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Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow announces that a federal jury has found Alfonzo Lee Churchwell, a/k/a Boo Boo (30, Bradenton), guilty of possessing with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Churchwell was indicted on October 3, 2017.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, two days after Churchwell, who had no source of legitimate income, was released from a prior 10-year prison sentence, he posted photographs of himself with large amounts of cash. Text messages sent from his phone advertised various controlled substances for sale. At the time of his arrest, he had fentanyl in his pocket.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Natalie Hirt Adams.

A federal grand jury in Benton, Illinois, has charged a Franklin County, Illinois, resident with methamphetamine related offenses. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Donald S. Boyce, announced the charges today. Carl L. Darnell was charged in a nine-count indictment with possessing pseudoephedrine pills intending that they be used to manufacture methamphetamine. If convicted, Darnell faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine as to each count. Darnell appeared in Court and was ordered held without bond after the Court advised him of his rights and at the completion of a detention hearing.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

The investigation in this case was conducted by, the Illinois State Police, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, the Sesser, Illinois, Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff=s Office, the Energy, Illinois Police Department, the West Frankfort, Illinois, Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RYAN STONE, 30, of Plainfield, pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of production of child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between March 30 and April 1, 2017, STONE took sexually explicit photographs and video of a six-year-old girl.

STONE is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on March 21, 2018, at which time he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.

STONE has been in state custody since April 19 when he was arrested for criminal trespass in the first degree and criminal violation of a restraining order.

This matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Plainfield Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

WILMINGTON, Del. – John B. Alwood pled guilty to one count of accessing with intent to view child pornography depicting a prepubescent child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, announced Acting U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss of the District of Delaware.

Alwood, 54, of Lewes, Delaware, pled guilty before Chief Judge Leonard P. Stark of the U.S. District Court of Delaware on December 18, 2017. According to statements made in court at the hearing, Homeland Security Investigations identified Alwood as accessing an online video conferencing application in order to gain sexual gratification by viewing child pornography with other men.

Alwood is being detained until sentencing where he faces a sentencing range of 37 to 46 months in prison. Alwood also faces a term of supervised release following imprisonment and will be required to register as a sex offender in any jurisdiction in which he lives, works, or attends school.

“Homeland Security Investigations will leave no stone unturned to find those who commit the terrible crime of being in possession and viewing child pornography,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims of these horrendous crimes, and my sincere appreciation goes out to those men and women who relentlessly investigate and prosecute these cases.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Robinson of the District of Delaware prosecuted the case.

PHILADELPHIA – Yesterday a federal jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts against four men from Philadelphia, Basil Bey, 28, Reginald White, 31, Tyrik Upchurch, 30, and Amin Wadley, 26, in connection with their participation in a large heroin and crack cocaine distribution group.  Bey, White, Upchurch, and Wadley were each convicted of one count of conspiracy and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Bey and White were also each convicted of one count of distributing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a playground.

As presented at trial, from at least April 2015 through December 2016, Bey was the leader of a narcotics distribution group that sold heroin and crack cocaine nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week to customers in South Philadelphia. The group, which included White, Upchurch, and Wadley as members, sold its customers narcotics by use of a cellular telephone, which would result in the delivery of narcotics by vehicle. Members of the group worked shifts in order to serve their narcotics customers day or night. Bey, Upchurch, and Wadley also maintained residences around Philadelphia in order to store and package the narcotics for distribution.  Due to the dedicated efforts of law enforcement in this case, approximately thirty-five controlled purchases of heroin and/or crack were made from this drug group—all captured on video.  Law enforcement also lawfully obtained a wiretap that captured some of the group’s activities on its telephone. 

Basil Bey and Amin Wadley each face a mandatory minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment, with a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and other penalties.  Tyrik Upchurch and Reginald White each face a mandatory minimum of 20 years’ imprisonment, with a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and other penalties.  U.S. District Court Judge Gerald McHugh has not yet scheduled sentencing hearings for the four men. 

Five other coconspirators of Bey, White, Upchurch, and Wadley have already pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Jerome Lyles, 33, of Philadelphia, was also indicted* as part of this narcotics distribution group, and a reward is being offered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for information that leads to his arrest.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Bologna and Kevin Jayne.

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

NEWARK, N.J. – A Paterson, New Jersey, man today admitted robbing a TD Bank in Paterson in June 2017 and an Investors Bank in Clifton, New Jersey, in July 2017, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

James M. Chestnut, 62, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to an information charging him with two counts of bank robbery.

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

On June 30, 2017, Chestnut entered a TD Bank in Paterson and handed a teller a note stating “Put 100s and 50s in the envelope. No dye pack.”

On July 5, 2017, Chestnut entered an Investors Bank in Clifton and approached a teller, this time brandishing what appeared to be a firearm. He told the teller to “Open your drawer. Give me your money. All the 100s. Don’t call the cops or I’ll shoot you.”

During the plea, Chestnut also admitted attempting to rob a Chase Bank in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, on July 3, 2017.

Both bank robbery counts carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2018.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Director Jerry Speziale; the Saddle Brook Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Kugler; the Clifton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Centurione; and the Passaic Police Department, under the direction of Chief Luis A. Guzman, for their assistance.

In addition, the investigation was aided by the FBI Violent Crime Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement personnel from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Roxbury Police Department, the Paterson Police Department, and the N.J. State Police.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine K. Lou of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.

Defense counsel: Patrick McMahon Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark 

Used skimming machines in gas pumps to steal credit card numbers and identities

PRESS RELEASE

EVANSVILLE- United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced today the sentencing of two Louisville area residents for their role in an elaborate scheme to steal innocent victims’ identity and make and use fraudulent credit cards. Roberto Moner, 30, Louisville, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess counterfeit or unauthorized access devices, possession of counterfeited or unauthorized access devices, conspiracy to produce, use, and traffic in one or more counterfeit access devices, possession of device-making equipment, and aggravated identity theft.  In November 2017, Moner’s co-defendant, Adianez Herrera, 45, Louisville, was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment by Judge Young for the same charges.

“Identity theft is one of the faster growing crimes in the United States,” said Minkler. “We will not let advances in technology fall into the hands of criminals to take advantage of law-abiding citizens. Those who prey on citizens and steal their identity will be held accountable.”  

In December 2015, the Jasper Indiana Police Department received information that a victim had her credit card information compromised.  Law enforcement later learned that Moner installed card-skimming machines at gas stations in the Jasper Indiana vicinity.  Using the skimming devices, he was able to obtain information from the credit card and download the information onto other stolen or counterfeit cards to make illegal purchases. 

Moner and Herrera used the counterfeit and stolen cards to make purchases worth thousands of dollars in the Jasper area for items such as gift cards, cartons of cigarettes, and other personal items.  The investigation revealed that hundreds of individuals had their credit card information stolen.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, FBI and Jasper Indiana Police Department

     “The success in this case demonstrates the investigative capabilities of the United States Secret Service and the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners” said Paul Dvorak, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office.  “Our developed partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as private sector stakeholders, enables us to focus our resources to uncover, investigate and prevent these crimes more effectively.”

“The crime of identity theft and the scams associated with it have become more sophisticated and pervasive.  These individuals thought they could target a small community and there wouldn’t be the resources to catch them,” said W. Jay Abbott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Division.  “The FBI, along with our federal and local partners, is dedicated to stopping these perpetrators and educating the public on ways they can ensure they don’t fall victim to these schemes.”

According to Assistant United States Attorney Kyle Sawa who prosecuted this case for the government, Moner and Herrera must each serve three years of supervised release after their sentences and make restitution to the known victims in the case.

In October 2017, United States Attorney Josh J. Minkler announced a Strategic Plan designed to shape and strengthen the District’s response to its most significant public safety challenges.  This prosecution demonstrates the office’s firm commitment to utilize and partner with the District’s law enforcement agencies to detect fraud and identity theft schemes. See United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana Strategic Plan  Section 4.5.

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BOSTON – Nicholas Rovinski was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Nicholas Alexander Rovinski, a/k/a Nuh Amriki, a/k/a Nuh Andalusi, 27, of Warwick, R.I., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release. In September 2016, Rovinski pleaded guilty to conspiring with David Daoud Wright, 28, and Usaamah Abdullah Rahim (now deceased) to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) - a designated foreign terrorist organization -  and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. 

Wright was sentenced yesterday to 28 years in prison after being convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.

In December 2014, Rovinski began talking with Wright about their mutual desire to support ISIS and how they could provide assistance to that terrorist organization.  By April 2015, Rovinski, Wright, and Rahim had agreed to commit attacks and kill people inside the United States – acts which they believed would support ISIS’s objectives.  Their attack plans included the beheading of a New York woman whom ISIS had identified to its supporters for murder through a “fatwah” or religious decree.  In May 2015, Junaid Hussain, an ISIS recruiter in Syria, had directly communicated instructions to Rahim regarding the murder of the intended New York victim, in which the three men each agreed to play a critical role. 

During the early morning hours of June 2, 2015, Rahim sought Wright’s guidance and advice, as Rahim could not wait until July 4, 2015, as originally planned, to go after their target, and instead wanted to go operational that day.  Rahim mentioned the possibility of going after an “easier” target -- the “boys in blue” in Massachusetts.  In response, Wright instructed and directed Rahim to “pursue martyrdom” and attack the police officers.  Less than two hours after this call, Rahim was shot and killed after he lunged towards law enforcement officers with a large fighting knife.      

On June 11, 2015, Rovinski was arrested for conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, but his arrest did not deter his commitment to ISIS. Even after being arrested, Rovinski sought to continue the attacks he had planned with Wright and Rahim, writing letters to Wright from prison discussing ways to take down the United States government and decapitate non-believers.   

Pursuant to a cooperation agreement with the government, Rovinski testified against his co-defendant Wright at his trial.  In addition, as the government told the court, Rovinski was a follower in this ISIS attack plan, while Wright was the mastermind. 

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Dana J. Boente, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today.  This investigation was conducted by the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Rhode Island Joint Terrorism Task Force with assistance from the Boston Police Department, Boston Regional Intelligence Center, Massachusetts State Police, Commonwealth Fusion Center, Everett Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Rhode Island State Police, Warwick (R.I.) Police Department, Rhode Island Fusion Center, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Stephanie Siegmann of Weinreb’s National Security Unit and Trial Attorney Gregory R. Gonzalez of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Special Agent-in-Charge Eileen Neff of the Northeast Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”), announced the arrest of JOSEFINA SALAS, an employee of the U.S. Postal Service for over eighteen years, on charges of mail theft.  SALAS was presented yesterday in Manhattan federal court before the Honorable Sarah Netburn.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “During the holiday season when the spirit of giving abounds, Josefina Salas, a postal employee, was allegedly interested only in taking and stealing. Salas allegedly used her access to U.S. mail to steal valuable items from people who trusted their mail would be delivered safely. We thank the U.S. Postal Service for their work to halt postal theft and insure the integrity of the mail.” 

Special Agent-in-Charge of USPS-OIG Eileen Neff said:  “If an employee of the Postal Service abuses their position and the public’s trust, as alleged in this matter, OIG agents thoroughly and vigorously investigate to resolve the situation.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint sworn out in Manhattan federal court:[1]

Over the course of approximately a year, SALAS, who was employed as an elevator operator at the USPS Processing and Distribution Center (“PDC”) located at 341 Ninth Avenue in New York, New York, stole various items from the United States mail, including cash, gift cards, jewelry, clothing, and a phone.  SALAS was previously captured on video using a box-cutter to open mail packages and then stealing the contents of those packages.  SALAS was arrested yesterday at the end of her shift at the PDC. 

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SALAS, 66, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of mail theft by a U.S. Postal Service employee, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the USPS-OIG.

If you believe you were a victim of this crime, including a victim entitled to restitution, and you wish to provide information to law enforcement and/or receive notice of future developments in the case or additional information, please contact Wendy Olsen-Clancy, the Victim Witness Coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, at (866) 874-8900, or Wendy.Olsen@usdoj.gov. For additional information, go to: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/victimwitness.html. The USPS OIG Hotline can be reached by phone 888-USPS-OIG and online at www.uspsoig.gov. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Samuel S. Adelsberg is in charge of the prosecution.

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

 John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on November 30, 2017, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a six-count indictment charging ISAIAH HALLIDAY, 18, of Hartford, with robbery and firearm offenses stemming from a scheme that victimized several individuals who sought to purchase items over mobile classifieds web apps.

HALLIDAY has been detained since his arrest on November 17.  He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah A. L. Merriam in New Haven, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, and was ordered detained.

According to court documents and statements made in court, between September and November 2017, more than a dozen robberies have occurred in Hartford during which individuals lured would-be customers with real or nonexistent items posted to mobile classifieds web apps, such as Offer Up, Letgo and Craigslist, through the use of a fake account.  Upon arrival, the customers were robbed of money and cell phones.  In all of the robberies, assailants brandished what victims described to be a firearm.

It is alleged that on November 11, 2017, Hartford Police officers responded to a location on Blue Hills Avenue in response to a report of a male suffering from a gunshot wound.  Upon arrival, the victim stated that he had traveled to Mansfield Street in Hartford to meet with an individual he contacted on Offer Up to purchase an iPhone.  When he arrived, an individual, who was subsequently identified as HALLIDAY, approached the front passenger door of his vehicle and pointed a black handgun at him.  After the victim attempted to drive away, HALLIDAY fired one round at him, striking him in the right forearm.

 The indictment charges HALLIDAY with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, for robberies that occurred on September 19 and October 16; one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery and one count of use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, for the robbery that occurred on November 11 describe above;one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery for another attempted robbery on November 11, and one count of attempt to interfere with commerce by robbery on November 17.

Each of the robbery offenses carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and the firearm offenses carries a consecutive term of imprisonment of at least 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

U.S. Attorney Durham stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Hartford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.

Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Michael Ruiz, age 53, and James Mondell, age 55, both of Greenville, South Carolina, were sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr.  Ruiz was sentenced to a term of incarceration of 160 months to be followed by 3 years of Supervised Release.  He was additionally ordered to pay $54,894.00 in restitution.  Mondell was sentenced to a term of incarceration of 40 months to be followed by 3 years of Supervised Release.  He was additionally ordered to pay $3,000.00 in restitution.

Both defendants entered pleas of guilty on September 20, 2017.  The facts, presented at the guilty plea hearing by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens, established that Ruiz devised a scheme in which he pretended to be an Immigration Official and offered to take care of illegal aliens’ immigration problems in exchange for a fee.  A number of aliens agreed to pay Ruiz such fees for his services.  Ruiz did absolutely nothing for these aliens, however, he demanded more and more money ultimately threatening to have them deported if he did not receive further payments.  Additionally, Ruiz told one alien that he could have his family in Guatemala enter the United States and gain legal status in exchange for a fee.  This led to numerous international telephone calls which are the basis for the wire fraud charges.  Mondell played a lesser role in the offense.  Ruiz would have Mondell with him when he met with the aliens and due to Mondell’s size his presence alone served to intimidate the victims.  Additionally, Mondell was involved in handling the payments which were often in the form of money orders which Mondell would cash for Ruiz. 

United States Attorney Drake further stated that in addition each defendant received a further term of incarceration due to the fact that their offenses had been committed while they were already on Supervised Release for other crimes.  Ruiz received 24 months to be served consecutively to the 160 months referenced above.  Mondell received 27 months to be served consecutively to the 40 months referenced above.

This case was investigated by agents of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney David Stephens, of the Greenville office, prosecuted the case.

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