United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced that the United States has filed a Complaint-in-Intervention against the Cameron-Ehlen Group, Inc. d/b/a Precision Lens (“Precision Lens”) and Precision Lens’ owner PAUL EHLEN, and that DR. JITENDRA SWARUP has agreed to pay more than $2.9 million to resolve kickback allegations under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). 

The United States previously announced a $12 million settlement with Sightpath Medical, Inc. and TLC Vision Corporation (collectively “Sightpath”) and their former CEO, JAMES TIFFANY.

As part of the FCA Agreement and in exchange for a release of OIG’s permissive exclusion authority, DR. SWARUP has agreed to enter into a three-year integrity agreement with OIG.

“Federal health care beneficiaries should have confidence that the health care they receive is unaffected by kickbacks provided to their medical providers,” said United States Attorney Gregory Brooker. “Companies are not permitted to use expensive trips and other remuneration in order to persuade physicians to use products supplied by those companies, and physicians may not accept such remuneration in exchange for patient referrals.”

The United States’ Complaint against Precision Lens and EHLEN alleges that Precision Lens provided kickbacks to physicians in various forms, including travel and entertainment. The Complaint identifies multiple examples of trips, including luxury skiing vacations, and high-end fishing, golfing and hunting vacations.  For many of the trips, Precision Lens and EHLEN transported physicians to exclusive luxury vacation destinations on private jets.  Precision Lens and EHLEN also sold frequent flyer miles to their physician customers at a steep discount, enabling the physicians to take trips at well below fair market value. 

The Complaint-in-Intervention alleges that Precision Lens maintained a slush fund, also referred to internally at Precision Lens as a secret fund.  Precision Lens used money from the slush fund to finance trips with key physician customers and sales targets. 

In the settlement agreement with DR. SWARUP, the United States contends that from January 1, 2006, through January 1, 2015, DR. SWARUP received unlawful remuneration from Sightpath, Precision Lens and EHLEN, which resulted in the submission of false claims to the United States for ophthalmological products and services. Specifically, DR. SWARUP received various trips, including hunting and international fishing trips, which were used to induce, and attempt to induce, DR. SWARUP to use products and services distributed by these companies.  DR. SWARUP also received consulting agreements with Sightpath in excess of $100,000 per year, where the services were allegedly either not fully performed or not properly tracked, which resulted in remuneration in excess of fair market value.  

The $2.9 million settlement with DR. SWARUP resolves allegations filed in a civil lawsuit originally brought by a Relator, or whistleblower, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which allow private parties to bring suit on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. The government often relies on whistleblowers to bring fraud schemes to light that might otherwise go undetected. The whistleblower in this matter, Kipp Fesenmaier, will receive 19.5% of the amounts recovered in connection with the settlement agreement.

The claims resolved by these settlements are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability or wrongdoing.

The case was handled by the Civil Frauds Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota with assistance from the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy announced today that Jeffrey Mills, 47, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of obstruction of justice, was sentenced to 65 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

“Our entire adversarial system of justice is dependent upon the truthful testimony of witnesses in a court of law,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “However, when the greatest fear perceived by a witness is that such witness will face retaliation in the event that they provide truthful testimony, the entire system breaks down.  We cannot and will not allow that to happen. Truth is the voice of justice.  Hopefully, this prosecution and today’s sentencing sends a loud and clear message to the community that the men and women of my Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will do all that we can to protect the rule of law and to ensure that the truth is never silenced.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan A. Tokash, who handled the case, stated that on May 21, 2015, the defendant provided information to his parole officer, law enforcement officers and a prosecutor regarding two homicides and a robbery/kidnapping. Mills stated that he saw his cousin, Thamud Eldridge, run from the area where Sam Jones, Jr., aka Smokey, was murdered. The night Smokey was killed, Mills said that he was riding a bicycle on Bissell Avenue when he heard gunshots. The defendant then saw his cousin Eldridge run through the “cut” from Goodyear Avenue to Bissell Avenue, and get into a vehicle that was driven by Kevin Allen and depart the area. Mills also stated that he spoke with an individual who was also on Bissell Avenue and saw Eldridge toss a gun to the individual after the shooting and heard Eldridge ask that individual to “put that joint up,” meaning to hide the firearm. After the murder, the defendant said Eldridge left Buffalo and traveled to Atlanta, Georgia. After returning to Buffalo, Mills said Eldridge told him that he intended to rob Smokey and “everything went wrong,” meaning the defendant killed Smokey. The defendant also gave information about other criminal activity committed by Eldridge. At the conclusion of the interview, the prosecutor told the defendant that he would be called as a witness in the trial against his cousin Thamud Eldridge.

On January 6, 2016, the defendant met with the prosecutor and two law enforcement for pretrial preparation at which time he again recounted hearing gunshots and seeing his cousin Eldridge run through the “cut” from Goodyear Avenue to Bissell Avenue the night Smokey was killed.  At the conclusion of the pretrial preparation, the prosecutor once again told Mills he would be called as a trial witness.

On February 3, 2016, the prosecution called the defendant as a witness in United States v. Eldridge, et al. As U.S. Marshals Service deputies escorted Mills into the courtroom, the defendant walked by his cousin Eldridge and winked his eye at Eldridge and then sat on the witness stand. Mills refused to be sworn and told the Court that, “it wasn’t going to happen.”  The Judge cautioned the defendant about criminal contempt and Mills was assigned counsel. 

The following day, on February 4, 2016, the defendant took the stand again and agreed to take the oath. The prosecutor questioned Mills regarding the murder of Smokey but the defendant stated he could not remember. When confronted with information he previously gave, Mills testified falsely and feigned memory loss by repeatedly stating that he said he did not recall, did not remember and that he had no recollection of that day. The defendant willfully answered questions this way to impede the due administration of justice. 

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin P. Lyons; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ashan Benedict; and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Acting Commissioner Anthony J. Annucci.

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that CHRISTOPHER HAMLETT, also known as “Cadi” and “Cadillac Black,” 24, of Hartford, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with sex trafficking of a minor.

HAMLETT appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez in Hartford.  He is detained pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for February 15.

As alleged in court documents, between August and November 2017, HAMLETT coerced a minor victim to engage in prostitution at Hartford area hotels.  In an interview with law enforcement, the victim stated that, in the beginning, HAMLETT gave the victim a percentage of the money she earned through prostitution.  After that, she stated, “he took all of my money” and, if she complained, he said “It’s business.  I have things that cost money.  Just do as you’re told or I can make you disappear.  No one is going to look for you.”

It is further alleged that HAMLETT advertised the victim’s prostitution services on online websites, including Backpage.com.

If convicted of the charge of sex trafficking of a minor, HAMLETT faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment.

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

This matter is being investigated by the Hartford Police Department, through the Connecticut Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by AUSAs Sarala V. Nagala and Nancy V. Gifford.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              ContactELIZABETH MORSE

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

Greenbelt, Maryland – Mehlek Dawveed, age 51, of Olney, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud stemming from the filing of fraudulent tax returns, in which he received one fraudulent refund of more than $970,000.

The guilty plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; and Special Agent in Charge Kimberly Lappin of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

 According to his plea agreement, from 2011 through 2014 Dawveed filed fraudulent Income Tax Returns for 2010 and 2011 that resulted in him receiving a refund in the amount of $977,558. Upon receipt of the funds, Dawveed wired the money from a bank in Kansas City, Missouri to his account in Maryland.

Using part of the fraudulently obtained funds, Dawveed paid the remaining $83,837 balance on the mortgage for his residence in Olney, Maryland and deposited a $250,000 check into a bank account controlled by Dawveed’s wife. Dawveed wrote several other checks into accounts controlled by him or close associates and wrote checks to various individuals and family members and for his own personal expenses.

On February 18, 2012, Dawveed filed a fraudulent Income Tax Return for 2011 in which he requested a refund in the amount of $1,324,961. This falsely requested refund was not issued. On February 27, 2012, Dawveed then filed a 2010 Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, where he changed his taxable interest income from $1,486,902 to $0 and stated: “we now beckon you to accept our humblest apology for the ‘Unintentional Errors’ made during our 1040 filing for Tax Year 2010 for they were not done with ‘Malicious Intent.’”  The form falsely stated:  “In ‘Good Faith’ we submitted a Payment of $5,000,000 Million Dollars to the IRS on January 31, 2012 in hopes of settling the remaining ‘Debt’ from our 1040 Tax Filing for Year 2010.”  No such $5,000,000 payment was ever made.

As part of the plea agreement, the Court will enter a forfeiture order for the fraudulently received funds as well as his Olney residence, which he paid off with the fraudulent tax refund money.

Dawveed faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2018 at 2 p.m.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the IRS for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Kelly O. Hayes and Sean R. Delaney who are prosecuting the case.

United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced the sentencing of three defendants for their involvement in a years-long, multi-million dollar heath care fraud and tax conspiracy. THURLEE BELFREY, 52, ROYLEE BELFREY, 52, and LANORE BELFREY, 43, each entered guilty pleas on September 14, 2017, and were sentenced yesterday before Senior U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery in Minneapolis, Minn.

“For more than a decade, these three defendants each played a role in a scheme that garnered millions in illicit profits by cheating government health care programs that were funded by honest taxpayers and intended for the needy,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Lewis. “The sentences handed down are appropriate and just consequences.”

“Employers have a responsibility to their employees to withhold the proper amount of taxes and pay those taxes over to the IRS,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Hubbard Burgess, Saint Paul Field Office. “Because of employers like Thurlee Belfrey and Roylee Belfrey not complying with the tax laws, failing to turn over their employee’s withheld taxes results in a loss of tax revenue to the United States government but more importantly, it affects the loss of future social security or Medicare benefits for their employees.”

According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, brothers THURLEE and ROYLEE BELFREY ran multiple health care businesses that received funds from the Medicaid and Medicare programs funded by the federal government and the State of Minnesota. In 2003, following an investigation by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office into Royal Health Care, a business they started together in the 1990s, THURLEE BELFREY was convicted of felony theft by false representation. Based on his conviction, in 2004 the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) excluded THURLEE BELFREY indefinitely from participating in state and federal health care programs, with no right to seek reinstatement for up to 20 years.

Despite this, and as he admitted in his guilty plea, THURLEE BELFREY conspired with his wife LANORE BELFREY to incorporate a new health care company, Model Health Care (Model), to continue the business operations and conceal THURLEE BELFREY’S involvement therein. To do this, and part of the scheme, LANORE BELFREY was named the owner of Model and intentionally failed to disclose THURLEE BELFREY’S involvement in managing the business. Despite being excluded, THURLEE BELFREY continued to manage Model. Government payment records show Model received more than $18,000,000 from Medicaid that would not have been paid but for the fraudulent misrepresentations made about THURLEE BELFREY’S lack of involvement in the businesses. According to the investigation, THURLEE and LANORE BELFREY received millions of dollars from Model during the scheme.

While THURLEE BELFREY ran Model, ROYLEE BELFREY operated several health care businesses as well. According to the defendants’ guilty pleas, between 2007 and 2013, THURLEE and ROYLEE BELFREY deducted and collected money from their employees’ wages, ostensibly for the payment of federal payroll taxes and Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes. However, they intentionally failed to pay the withheld taxes over to the IRS over the course of many years and, instead, used the money for other purposes, including attempts to develop a reality show based on their lives, high-end housing, a Caribbean cruise, luxury retail purchases, and thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals. In total, THURLEE and ROYLEE BELFREY admitted deducting and unlawfully using for their own benefit more than $3,960,000 in withheld taxes between 2007 and 2014.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Lewis and David Maria prosecuted the case.

Defendant Information:

THURLEE BELFREY, 52

Saint Paul, Minn.

Convicted:

• Conspiracy to defraud the United States, 1 count
• Failure truthfully to account for and pay over withheld taxes, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 96 months in prison
• Three years of supervised release
• $8,944,036.82 in restitution

ROYLEE BELFREY, 52

Saint Paul, Minn.

Convicted:

• Failure truthfully to account for and pay over withheld taxes, 2 counts

Sentenced:

• 60 months in prison
• Three years of supervised release
• $4,592,593.74 in restitution

LANORE BELFREY, 43

Minnetonka, Minn.

Convicted:

• Conspiracy to defraud the United States, 1 count

Sentenced:

• 15 months in prison
• Two years of supervised release
• $402,158.00 in restitution

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BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for trafficking heroin, fentanyl and cocaine.

Luis Jose Mejia Arias, 24, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to 16 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Mejia Arias will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In August 2017, Mejia Arias pleaded guilty to eight counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and fentanyl.

On eight occasions between September 2015 and May 2016, Mejia Arias distributed heroin, cocaine and/or fentanyl to an undercover officer in Waltham.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miranda Hooker and Susan Winkler of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           ContactELIZABETH MORSE

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

Greenbelt, Maryland –United States District Judge George J. Hazel sentenced Andrew Dean Bailey, age 32, of Germantown, Maryland, today to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

The sentence was announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning; Special Agent in Charge Karl C. Colder of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Field Division; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department; and Chief Mark P. Sroka of the Gaithersburg Police Department.

According to his plea agreement, on March 23, 2017, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Bailey’s residence in Germantown, Maryland, where they located a firearm, ammunition, narcotics, narcotics paraphernalia, and cash.  Among other things, officers seized a loaded .40 caliber handgun, additional .40 caliber rounds of Winchester ammunition, and approximately 96 grams of cocaine, 3 grams of alprazolam, and 1 gram of morphine pills.  Officers also seized $15,900 in drug-trafficking proceeds.

Bailey admitted that he intended to sell the cocaine found in his apartment, and that he possessed that loaded .40 caliber handgun in order to protect his drugs and drug-trafficking proceeds.

Prior to March 23, 2017, Bailey had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment (and his civil rights had not been restored), which prohibited him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.

Judge Hazel ordered the forfeiture of the $15,900, the handgun and the ammunition.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning praised the DEA, Montgomery County Police and Gaithersburg Police for their work in the investigation.  Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Packard and Timothy Hagan who prosecuted the case.

PITTSBURGH – A privately owned for-profit hospice company and its owner and Chief Executive Officer agreed to pay the United States $1,240,000 to resolve allegations that the company had fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for hospice services for patients who were ineligible for hospice, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The settlement resolves allegations in two whistleblower lawsuits filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania against Horizons Hospice, LLC and its owner and Chief Executive Officer John C. Rezk ("Defendants"). The settled claims contend that from June 27, 2007 to August 1, 2012, Defendants submitted or caused to be submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for patients who did not qualify for hospice because they did not have a life expectancy prognosis of six months or less. Typically, federal health care programs only pay for hospice care when patients have terminal illnesses with a life expectancy of less than six months. The settled claims also contend that Defendants falsified records to support the false claims. Horizons Hospice, LLC later changed its name to 365 Hospice, LLC. The alleged fraud occurred while the company operated as Horizons Hospice.

"Medicaid and Medicare are programs intended to provide care and assistance to the most vulnerable members of our communities, including seniors," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "Those who seek to defraud these programs will be vigorously pursued by my office. This settlement is another step forward in that fight."

This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul E. Skirtich and Rachael L. Mamula handled the investigation that led to this settlement on behalf of the United States.

The cases are captioned United States ex rel. Thomas v. Horizons Hospice LLC (No. 12-cv-315) and United States ex rel. Mizak, et al. v. Horizons Hospice LLC, et al., (No. 13-cv-1688).

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

PITTSBURGH - A resident of North Versailles, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to conspiring to distribute narcotics, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Dawndre Bivins, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, between March and August 2017, to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Bivins was responsible for the distribution of 1.9 kilograms of cocaine and 40 grams of fentanyl, which he purchased from his codefendant, Skyler Carter, in the Clairton, Pennsylvania area. He is the fourth of 21 defendants charged to enter a plea of guilty.

Judge Arthur J. Schwab scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2018, at 10 a.m. Bivins has a prior felony drug conviction, and as such, he is subject to enhanced penalties. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of not more than $2 million, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Bivins remains incarcerated pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the multi-agency investigation of this case, which also included the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 19 months’ imprisonment, followed by six months’ community confinement and lifetime supervised release on his conviction for failure to update his registration in accordance with the Sex Offender Notification Act (SORNA), United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Kenneth Patrick Jeffries, 34, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, Jeffries, who had previously been convicted of receiving child pornography, a conviction that required him to register as a sex offender, violated the provisions of SORNA when he failed to properly update his registration in January and February 2017, to reflect his current residential address. Contrary to the conditions of his supervised release, he had been living with his girlfriend, also a previously convicted felon, and her minor children.

Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Jeffries.

PITTSBURGH – Henry T. Little-Proctor a/k/a "Bundles", of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison as a result of his conviction on multiple charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Little-Proctor, age 27, previously pleaded guilty to five counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon.

The court was advised that Little-Proctor conspired to distribute and possessed with intent to distribute both heroin and the even more potent synthetic opiate fentanyl, from late 2015 through July 20, 2016. Specifically, the federal investigation revealed that Little-Proctor was involved with a fentanyl sale on July 13, 2016, and a heroin sale on July 18, 2016. DEA then executed a federal search warrant on July 20, 2016 at a residence utilized by Little-Proctor. There, federal agents located Full Metal Jacketed ammunition for a .223 Rem caliber assault-style rifle and .22 caliber ammunition, as well as 25 "bundles" (250 stamp bags) of heroin. A receipt for the purchase of the .223 Rem caliber ammunition from Gander Mountain was located in the residence and showed that it was purchased on May 14, 2016, along with two extended length magazines for a AR-15 assault-style rifle and a $100 tactical light. The firearms themselves have yet to be located.

Federal law prohibits a person convicted of a prior felony offense from possessing either a firearm or ammunition and the Court was advised that Little-Proctor had been convicted of multiple crimes, including two prior convictions for heroin dealing.

The defendant specifically admitted to selling the fentanyl that caused the July 2016 death of a young woman.

Judge Cathy Bissoon sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison, followed by six years of supervision by the United States Probation Office and restitution to the victim’s family, after considering the defendant’s criminal, family, educational and work histories.

Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt, of the Violent Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Special Agents and Task Force Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and law enforcement officers from the Duquesne Police Department, Homestead Police Department, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Little-Proctor.

United States Attorney Brady noted that the investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal, state, and local agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Matthew Hinton, 28, most recently of Orwell, Vermont, has been sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss to 84 months of imprisonment for an armed robbery of the Maplefields convenience store in Fair Haven, which occurred on September 30, 2015. The defendant previously pled guilty to this robbery, as well as possessing a stolen firearm, which he stole during a burglary in Orwell, Vermont, a couple days prior to the robbery.

Judge Reiss also sentenced Hinton to three years of supervised release, which will follow his prison sentence. Finally, Judge Reiss ordered Hinton to pay $2,150 in restitution to the Orwell burglary victims and $200 in restitution to Maplefields.

According to the facts stipulated to by Hinton, on September 28, 2015, Hinton burglarized a home on Daigneault Hill Road in Orwell, Vermont and stole, among other items, a Ruger .357 caliber revolver. On September 30, 2015, at about 2:30 A.M., the defendant entered the Maplefields convenience store in Fair Haven, Vermont and pointed the Ruger revolver at the store clerk in a threatening manner and demanded that she open the cash register drawer, which she did. The defendant then took $80 of cash from the cash register. The defendant ordered the store clerk to hand him two cartons of cigarettes from behind the counter and she complied. The defendant then told her to get on the floor and stay down on the floor or there would be problems. According to court records, the store clerk still suffers from PTSD from the armed robbery.

Hinton was initially arrested on September 30, 2015 on state charges. The state charges against him include charges brought by the Addison County State’s Attorney for three other burglaries in the Orwell and Shoreham area committed by Hinton on September 28, 2015. Hinton recently pled guilty to these charges and was sentenced to 4-10 years of incarceration. In addition, Hinton has a pending state charge for escape from custody (furlough) in Rutland County brought by the Rutland County State’s Attorney.

Hinton will not receive credit on the federal sentence for the prior time he has spent in state custody, which has been continuous since September 30, 2015. In other words, Hinton did not start receiving credit for his 84-month federal sentence until February 6, 2018, the day of his federal sentencing. At that point, his federal sentence and state sentences will run concurrently.

U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Project Safe Neighborhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who violate federal gun laws. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood and Project Safe Vermont, please visit: www.psn.gov.prb

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Fair Haven Police Department, and the Vermont State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Perella. Hinton is represented by David McColgin of the Federal Public Defender’s Office.

            SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, announced that Laurence Cadogan, age 33, of Stroudsburg, pleaded guilty today to charges of heroin trafficking and unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion.

            According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Cadogan, admitted to possessing with intent to distribute between 60 grams and 80 grams of heroin and unlawfully possessing two firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The crimes allegedly occurred on October 26, 2016, in Tannersville. Police and federal agents seized more than 3000 bags of heroin and two firearms during the investigation. Cadogan also agreed to forfeit the two firearms seized by agent.

            Judge Mannion ordered a pre-sentence investigation to be completed. Sentencing will be scheduled after the submission of a pre-sentence report to the court.

            Cadogan was indicted by a grand jury in February 2017.

            The charges against the Cadogan resulted from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Stroud Area Regional Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting the case.  

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

            This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

            The maximum penalty under federal law for the gun offense is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. That charge also carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison. The maximum penalty under federal law for the drug offense is 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

# # #

            WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that a federal grand jury in Williamsport indicted a prisoner at the Federal Correctional Institute Allenwood (FCI Allenwood) on the charge of possessing a weapon in prison.  

            According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, Lavon Caldwell, age 36, was found in possession of two improvised shanks during a search conducted on March 7, 2017.   

            The charges stem from an investigation by officers at FCI Allenwood and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. FiggsGanter is prosecuting the case.

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

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

          The defendant is facing a maximum of five years of incarceration and a $250,000 fine.   Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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             CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Maria Miguelina Lara Lara, a/k/a Maribel Santiago-Ramos, a/k/a La Cuna, a/k/a Miguelina, 33, of the Dominican Republic was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.

            Documents filed with the court established that Lara Lara participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) between October 2015 and October 2016 during which time she delivered drugs to customers of the DTO on a daily basis.  The Lawrence-based organization distributed heroin to customers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

           The defendant pleaded guilty on July 24, 2017, to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, heroin. 

           The investigation and prosecution of Lara Lara was part of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) effort to address heroin distribution in New Hampshire.  In addition to Lara Lara’s prosecution, Alberto Guerrero Marte, 38, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, his brother Toribio Guerrero Marte was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Allison DeJesus, 19, was sentenced to five years of probation, Jonaly DeJesus, 22, was sentenced to time served and five years of supervised release, Allan Raymond Pimentel, 21, was sentenced to 57 months in prison, and Jose De la Altagracia Pimental Lara a/k/a Luis Colon, 26, was sentenced to 63 months in prison.  Michell DeJesus, 34, Santo Rodolfo Garcia Mendez, 33, Wilkin Andres Beltre Arias, 39, and Edward Garcia, 31, are all awaiting sentencing.    In a related case, Mark Gagnon, 54, of Candia, was sentenced to 48 months.

           “Members of the law enforcement community are working together to stop the flow of heroin and other deadly drugs into New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “While we strongly support access to treatment for those suffering from addiction, those who profit from the distribution of these substances will be prosecuted aggressively.”

           "The state of New Hampshire is faced with a fentanyl and heroin crisis unlike ever before," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  "Those suffering from fentanyl and heroin addiction need treatment and recovery, but those that distribute and profit from spreading this misery need to be held accountable.  This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal partners and our strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney's Office."

           “This case is a great example of how close cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement can successfully complement the overall fight against the devastating opioid epidemic which has tragically destroyed so many lives nationwide and throughout our region,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Shea, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

           This matter was investigated by the DEA; HSI; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Donald Feith.

            This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.  

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NEWARK, N.J. – A man and woman from Hazleton, Pennsylvania, were charged today with conspiring to distribute heroin pills that were made to look like 30-milligram tablets of oxycodone, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Francisco Perez, 31, and Nadia Moronta Pena, 33, are charged by criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin. The defendants appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court. Perez was detained. Pena was released on $150,000 unsecured bond.

According to the complaint:

During the course of an investigation into the illegal manufacturing and distribution of opioids and other narcotics in New Jersey, an undercover law enforcement agent received information that Perez was illegally distributing oxycodone.

On Jan. 23, 2018, Perez allegedly met the undercover agent in Paterson, New Jersey, and sold the undercover agent approximately 1,000 pills that were similar in size, shape, color, and physical markings to 30-milligram oxycodone tablets manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. However, when the pills were tested in a lab, they were found to contain a mixture of Tramadol, a Schedule IV synthetic opioid, and heroin.

On Feb. 7, 2018, the undercover agent again met with Perez in Paterson, this time to purchase up to 40,000 pills. During the meeting, Perez motioned to Pena, who brought over a white bag containing thousands of pills for the undercover agent to examine before the deal. Perez and Pena were then arrested at the scene, and law enforcement agents recovered more than 20,000 additional pills that were similar in appearance to the heroin pills that Perez sold the undercover agent on Jan. 23, 2018.

Around the time Perez and Pena were arrested, law enforcement officers conducted a search of their residence in Pennsylvania. They recovered numerous other pills, approximately one kilogram of a powdery substance believed to be heroin, pill-press materials, and a box containing several bottles of liquid labeled “Fentanyl.” A firearm was recovered from inside a compartment in the wall of the residence.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents with the DEA, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Valerie A. Nickerson in Newark, as well as the DEA Scranton Resident Office, the Hazleton Police Department, and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation leading to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Wangenheim of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Defense Counsel:
Perez: John Yauch Esq.
Pena: Paulette Pitt Esq.

BOSTON – A Holyoke man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to dealing cocaine.

Raul Ramos, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2018. 

On Nov. 8, 2016, Ramos distributed 27.712 grams of cocaine in exchange for $1,300. The charges are a result of a federal, state, and local law enforcement investigation into drug trafficking in Springfield and Holyoke.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years of supervised release, and a fine of $2 million dollars. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri; and Holyoke Police Chief James M. Neiswanger made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Jordan Roybal, 26, an enrolled member of the San Ildefonso Pueblo who resides in Santa Fe, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 30 months in prison for assaulting a federal officer.  Roybal will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.

Roybal was arrested on March 3, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a federal officer.  According to the criminal complaint, Roybal was arrested on tribal charges on Nov. 21, 2016, after he assaulted a law enforcement officer of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).  Roybal committed the assault on San Ildefonso Pueblo in Santa Fe County, N.M., by resisting arrest and challenging the officer to fight.  During the assault, Roybal bit the officer on the wrist.  The officer also sustained skinned knees, a scrape on his left hand, swelling of his right knee and soreness to his left wrist as the result of the assault. 

Roybal was subsequently charged in a two-count indictment on March 28, 2017, with assaulting a federal officer on Nov. 21, 2016 in Santa Fe County, and assaulting a federal officer on Jan. 26, 2017, in Rio Arriba County, N.M.

On July 18, 2017, Roybal pled guilty to Count 1 of the indictment charging him with assaulting a federal officer.  In entering the guilty plea, Roybal admitted that on Nov. 21, 2016, he assaulted a BIA officer while the officer was attempting to arrest him on tribal offenses by lying about his identity, cursing at the officer, resisting arrest, throwing his elbow into the officer, biting the officer, and verbally threatening the officer.

This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the FBI and the Northern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas prosecuted the case.

RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico man was sentenced today to eight years in prison and 10 years of supervised release for receiving images of child sexual abuse.

According to court documents, Charles Tiffit Ellis, Jr., 37, responded to an ad placed on Craigslist by an undercover officer, which read in part, “Looking to meet other taboo Dads/moms to chat n more….” Ellis communicated with the undercover via Kik Messenger and after confirming that they were on the same page regarding the term “taboo,” Ellis sent the undercover officer links to his Dropbox account for several child pornography videos involving prepubescent children. Ellis also sent the undercover a video of someone Ellis claimed was a 14-year-old girl he met online and filmed performing oral sex on him. A search warrant on Ellis’s home yielded corroborating evidence on his phone.

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Adam S. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Members of FBI Richmond’s Child Exploitation Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian R. Hood prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources” for more information about Internet safety education.

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. 3:17-cr-108.

Memphis, TN – Twenty-five members and associates of an armed drug trafficking organization, Major Stackz Entertainment, have been indicted for conspiring to distribute large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana throughout West Tennessee. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictment today.

On January 10, 2018, a federal grand jury returned the indictment, which remained sealed until the defendants’ arrest. On Wednesday, February 7, 2018, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies participated in an early morning round up. This investigation was conducted in conjunction with prosecutors in Memphis as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which seeks to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.

Members and associates of Major Stackz used firearms to protect their supply of drugs, supply routes, profits and distribution territory from competing drug trafficking organizations. The members and associates are from different, traditional street gangs, including the Young Mob, Vice Lords, Gangster Disciples, Kitchen Crip, and Bloods that have joined together to make money through criminal activity.

Symbolism played a large role in Major Stack culture. The primary symbol with which the gang associated was the acronym "MSE" for "Major Stackz Entertainment." Shirts and social media posts containing words like "MSE,""Major Stack," or "Stackz," were also known as gang identifiers.

Major Stackz started in and primarily operated out of the East Memphis area near the intersection of Kerr and Pillow Street in an area known to the locals as "DHG" or "Dope, hoes and guns." This area is located in the Western District of Tennessee.

The eighteen defendants listed are currently in custody:

Jarvis Cooper, a/k/a/ "J-Bo""J-Bizzle," 31, Memphis, Tennessee

Terence Harper, a/k/a/ "Red," 44, Memphis, Tennessee

Jackie Arnold, a/k/a "Jackie Red," 47, Memphis, Tennessee

Joseph Newberry, 40, Memphis, Tennessee

Pamela Perkins, 28, Memphis, Tennessee

Anthony Jones, a/k/a "Squirt," 24, Memphis, Tennessee

Calvin Myers, a/k/a "CJ," 20, Memphis, Tennessee

Antonio Worles, a/k/a "Joe," 19, Memphis, Tennessee

Sandreka Wright, 34, Memphis, Tennessee

Delbert Harrison, a/k/a "Clay," 30, Henning, Tennessee

Sanitory Campbell, a/k/a "Toe," 43, Memphis, Tennessee

Antwan Miles, a/k/a "Twan," 20, Memphis, Tennessee

Darnell Ward, a/k/a "D," 37, Memphis, Tennessee

Amanda Harrison, 35, Henning, Tennessee

Alberto Chavoya, 34, Memphis, Tennessee

Daryl Mason, a/k/a/ "D," 28, Memphis, Tennessee

Tim Scotto, 53, Cordova, Tennessee

Sergio Lopez, 34, Compton, California

Count 1 charges Jarvis Cooper; Terence Harper; Jackie Arnold; Pamela Perkins; Joseph Newberry; Anthony Jones; Calvin Myers; Antonio Worles; Darnell Ward; Antwan Miles; Sandreka Wright; Amanda Harrison; and Sanitory Campbell with knowingly possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes; knowingly using and carrying firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes.

Count 2 charges Jarvis Cooper; Terence Harper; Darnell Ward; Joseph Newberry; Anthony Jones; Calvin Myers; Antonio Worles; Antwan Miles; Amanda Harrison; Sandreka Wright; Delbert Harrison; Alberto Chavoya; Daryl Mason; Tim Scott; Sergio Lopez and Sanitory Campbell with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 3 charges Terence Harper; Darnell Ward; Sergio Lopez; Sanitory Campbell and others with the intent to distribute over one kilogram of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance.

Count 4 charges Terence Harper; and Jackie Arnold with the intent to distribute over 5 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 5 charges Terence Harper, Jackie Arnold and Sanitory Campbell with the intent to distribute over 50 kilograms of marijuana.

Count 6 is redacted at this time as the defendant is not in custody.

Count 7 is redacted at this time as the defendant is not in custody.

Count 8 charges Darnell Ward with knowingly possessing in and affecting interstate commerce a firearm, Taurus Millennium 9mm pistol.

Count 9 charges Terence Harper with knowingly possessing in and affecting interstate commerce a firearm, Ruger SR9C 9mm pistol and a Beretta PX4 Storm .45-caliber pistol.

Count 10 charges Jackie Arnold with knowingly possessing in and affect interstate commerce a firearm, FNS .40 caliber pistol.

Count 11 is redacted at this time as the defendant is not in custody.

Count 12 charges Jarvis Cooper; Antonio Worles; Joseph Newberry and Antwan Miles and others with knowingly and intentionally carrying a firearm, that is: a .380 caliber pistol, during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; conspiracy to possess with the intent to manufacture and distribute a controlled substance.

Count 13 charges Darnell Ward with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of and in relation to a drug trafficking crime with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Count 14 charges Terrence Harper and Jackie Arnold with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Count 15 charges Terrence Harper with intentionally possessing a firearm, Beretta PX4 Storm .45 caliber pistol, which had transported in interstate commerce.

Count 16 charges Jarvis Cooper with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 17 charges Jarvis Cooper with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 18 charges Jarvis Cooper with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 19 charges Jarvis Cooper with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 20 charges Jarvis Cooper; Darnell Ward; Calvin Myers and Anthony Jones with intent to distribute and distribution ofa mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 21 charges Jarvis Cooper; Darnell Ward; Calvin Myers and Anthony Jones with knowingly possessing a firearm in furtherance of and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 22 charges Sandreka Wright and Darnell Ward with the intent to promote the carrying on of specified unlawful activity that is knowing that the property involved in the financial transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, in violation of Title 18.

Currently 7 defendants indicted remain at large and are not listed in this release.

The United States also seeks criminal forfeiture of $1,000,000 in U.S. currency, both jointly and severally from Jarvis Cooper; Pamela Perkins; Terence Harper; Jackie Arnold; Darnell Ward; Joseph Newberry; Antwan Miles; Amanda Harrison; Anthony Jones; Calvin Myers; Antonio Worles; Sandreka Wright; Delbert Harrison; Alberto Chavoya; Sanitory Campbell; Daryl Mason; Tim Scott and Sergio Lopez.

During this investigation, agents seized approximately $90,000 in U.S. currency, 40 pounds of methamphetamine, two kilograms of heroin, four kilograms of cocaine, 11 ounces of crack cocaine, over 150 pounds of marijuana and 22 firearms. If convicted, the defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years imprisonment up to life.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Memphis Police Department, Multi Agency Gang Unit and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty.

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