Category: FBI

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Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced for Stealing Funds Which Resulted in Closing of Credit Union

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Pennsylvania Woman Sentenced for Stealing Funds Which Resulted in Closing of Credit Union

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Norma Gold, 57, of Eldred, PA, who was convicted of making false entries in federal credit union reports, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $179,939.21.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who handled the case, stated that Gold was an employee of the Olean Tile Employees Federal Credit Union (OTEFCU) for approximately 26 years between 1986 and December 2012. For a portion of her tenure, Gold served as office manager and was responsible for keeping accurate financial records on behalf of the Credit Union. 

Between December 2007 and December 2012, Gold embezzled funds and made false entries in OTEFCU’s general ledger and altered financial statements, making it appear that the OTEFCU’s account balances were larger than they actually were. Gold’s conduct caused substantial hardship to the OTEFCU and it was ultimately forced to close as a result of the theft. The OTEFCU suffered a total loss of $179,939.21. 

The 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 National Credit Union Administration; the U.S. Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Lewis Robinson; and the Olean Police Department, under the direction Chief Jeffrey Rowley.  

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Bridgeport Man Admits Robbing Five Connecticut Banks

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Bridgeport Man Admits Robbing Five Connecticut Banks

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRYCE ALEXANDER LAISTER, 25, formerly of Bridgeport, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to one count of armed bank robbery and admitted that he robbed a total of five Connecticut banks between November 2016 and June 2017.

According to court documents and statements made in court, LAISTER robbed the Webster Bank at 314 Merwin Avenue in Milford on November 30, 2016; the Key Bank at 133 East Main Street in Plainville on April 7, 2017; the Key Bank at 1328 Boston Post Road in Westbrook on May 5, 2017; the People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop at 898 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton on May 30, 2017, and the People’s United Bank located inside the Stop and Shop at 112 Amity Road in New Haven on June 10, 2017.

During the Shelton robbery, LAISTER brandished a pistol, and during the Plainville and Westbrook robberies, LAISTER threatened to kill or shoot bank employees if they did not comply with his demands.

LAISTER was located and arrested in Stratford on June 15, 2017, after he engaged in a two-hour standoff with local and federal law enforcement officers.  At the time of his arrest, LAISTER possessed a .380 caliber pistol and a magazine loaded with two bullets.  A subsequent search one of LAISTER’s vehicles revealed clothing he wore during the robbery on June 10, a makeup kit he used to disguise his features, and a Stop and Shop circular.

LAISTER is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello on May 17, 2018, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 25 years.  He has been detained since his arrest.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and the Milford, Plainville, Shelton, New Haven and Stratford Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony E. Kaplan.

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Elder Fraud

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Headline: Elder Fraud

Fraud schemes against the elderly also include a variety of mass mailing and telemarketing frauds such as lottery phone scams, romance scams, grandparent scams, IRS imposter schemes, and others. Many of these schemes are perpetrated by criminals outside the United States. All of the schemes have one goal: to trick and deceive senior citizens into turning over their hard-earned savings.

“These fraudsters view our seniors as prime targets,” Bowdich said. Many senior citizens have large nest eggs saved over decades. At the same time, they may not be technologically savvy. The scammers also know that elderly victims often don’t report being victimized either because they feel guilty or embarrassed, “or because they don’t even realize they are being scammed,” Bowdich explained.

Other agencies participating in today’s announcement included the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Trade Commission, which actively investigate elder fraud, and, like the FBI, offer educational material and other resources to senior citizens so they can become more aware of the threat.

“While criminals see the elderly as trusting people with money,” Bowdich explained, “we see them as national treasures. The elderly are the cornerstone of this country. Many of them sacrificed for their families … for their nation.” He added, “We understand how devastating a fraudulent scheme against elderly victims can be, not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and even physically.”

Sessions and others at the press conference—including a woman whose elderly grandmother committed suicide after losing her life savings to scammers—encouraged senior citizens and their caregivers to report elder fraud to the authorities so that these “despicable con artists” can be brought to justice. “I hope that no victim of fraud feels ashamed,” Sessions said. “This can happen to anyone.”

To report elder fraud to the FBI, visit your local FBI office, call 1-800-CALL FBI (225-5324), or file a complaint online at the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.

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Altoona Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Altoona Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Altoona, Pa. has been sentenced today in federal court to 84 months in prison, followed by 10 years’ supervised release, and was ordered to register as a convicted sex offender within three days of this sentence, on his conviction of possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Trenton Stehley, 20, of Altoona, Pa.

According to information presented to the court, on August 11, 2015, Stehley knowingly possessed videos and images in individual computer graphic files which were produced using minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The computer graphic files were shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines, prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Altoona Police Department for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Stehley.

This case was brought as 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 better 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.justice.gov/psc.

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Judge Sentences Johnstown Heroin Dealer to Nine Years in Prison

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Judge Sentences Johnstown Heroin Dealer to Nine Years in Prison

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court in Johnstown to 108 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on her conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Ava Blackwell, 25, of Johnstown, Pa.

According to information presented to the court, from Aug. 25, 2016, through Sept. 14, 2016, Blackwell conspired with a co-defendant to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute less than 100 grams of heroin.

Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Mr. Brady commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Blackwell.

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Nineteen-Year-Old Man Accused of Sending Threats to South Burlington High School Students and Faculty Sentenced to Five Year Probationary Term

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Nineteen-Year-Old Man Accused of Sending Threats to South Burlington High School Students and Faculty Sentenced to Five Year Probationary Term

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Josiah Leach, 19, of South Burlington, Vermont, appeared today before the Honorable Geoffrey W. Crawford for sentencing. Leach previously pled guilty to sending threats in interstate commerce that terrorized students and faculty at South Burlington High School in April 2017. Leach, who was first arrested on April 21, 2017, has been in custody for a total of approximately three months and ten days since the initial charges were filed.

Following argument from both parties and a statement by Leach, Chief Judge Crawford imposed a sentence of five years of probation. Judge Crawford commented on the seriousness of the harm caused by Leach’s threats, but noted that Leach also possessed the capacity to redirect his life in a more positive direction.

Under the terms of his release, Leach is forbidden from having any contact with the individuals he listed on a “kill list” at the time of the offense. He is also required to engage in mental health and substance abuse treatment as needed, and will be prohibited from coming within 500 feet of the South Burlington High School complex. Leach’s computer use will be subject to monitoring by the United States Probation Office and he will be required to meet with Judge Crawford every six months.  As a convicted felon, Leach is prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. If Leach violates any condition of his release, he will be subject to resentencing on the underlying offense, exposing him to a term of up to five years of incarceration.

U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan thanked the FBI, the South Burlington Police, and the Vermont State Police for their rapid, collaborative response in April 2017, their efficient identification of Leach as the perpetrator, and their continuous support throughout the investigation. Nolan also recognized David Young, Superintendent of South Burlington Schools, and Pat Burke, Principal of South Burlington High School, for their leadership during and in the aftermath of Leach’s crime.  She stated, “no child or employee should ever have to fear for their safety, especially not in an educational setting.  Law enforcement at all levels will continue to work together to prioritize combatting violent crime and bringing swift justice to those who would strike terror in our educational institutions.  Children are our future, and law enforcement agencies will continue to collaborate with each other and our community leaders to protect them and their schools.” 

Leach was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Elizabeth Quinn. AUSAs Michael Drescher and Eugenia A. P. Cowles represented the United States.

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Sober Home Fraud

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Headline: Sober Home Fraud

Chatman would not have been able to commit this fraud without doctors signing off that they had reviewed the samples. So he hired some—including Dr. Joaquin Mendez, who worked in skilled nursing and had no background in addiction treatment—to rubber stamp the results.

“Through records, we were able to see that Dr. Mendez ‘reviewed’ 100 tests in a one-hour period. He clearly wasn’t looking at them. He was just going through and clicking to process these tests,” Gerrity said.

Chatman and his associates defrauded insurance companies of an estimated $24 million between 2013 and 2016. Chatman and his wife, Laura, lived a luxurious life thanks to their fraud proceeds, living in a $1 million home and driving high-end cars.

Yet the toll on the sober home residents was even worse than the financial crime.

Some of the more than 2,000 residents who lived in Chatman’s facilities died of overdoses. He also forced some of the women into prostitution, giving the addicted women drugs and then withholding those drugs if they would not comply. He told the women the prostitution would pay their “rent” to live at his sober homes, and sometimes the prostitution would even occur within the homes.

Last year, Chatman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud, money laundering, and sex trafficking and was sentenced to 27 and a half years in prison. Laura Chatman pleaded guilty to making false statements and received a three-year prison term, while Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced to four years.

The FBI’s victim specialists played a critical role in this case by assisting the human trafficking victims with resources, as well as helping patients get legitimate drug treatment.

“It’s incredibly rewarding that we were able to get someone like Chatman off the streets, and the lengthy sentence really sends a message,” Gerrity said. “We’ve met the mothers and fathers of the patients who came here thinking their sons and daughters would get clean. This is an incredibly important issue, and by investigating these types of cases, we’re doing our part in addressing the national drug epidemic.”

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JANE DOE – YEMASSEE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News

Headline: JANE DOE – YEMASSEE, SOUTH CAROLINA

Yemasse, South Carolina
May 24, 1995

Images

Description

Age 28 to 35 years old
Hair Naturally dark brown, but dyed red
Eyes Brown
Height 5’3″
Weight 118 pounds
Sex Female
Scars and Marks Scar on neck from thyroid surgery; hysterectomy scar on abdomen; double-pierced ears.

Details:

On May 24, 1995, the body of a deceased female was recovered from a ditch along Cotton Hall Road in Yemassee, South Carolina. She was recovered wearing only a pair of white underwear. The victim had been murdered prior to being transported and dumped along the roadside.

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Authorities in San Antonio Arrest Three Men in ATM Bank Robbery

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: Authorities in San Antonio Arrest Three Men in ATM Bank Robbery

In San Antonio last night, authorities arrested three men for their alleged involvement in the robbery of an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) at a San Antonio bank, announced United States Attorney John F. Bash, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

A criminal complaint and supporting affidavit filed in federal court this morning charges Randall Andres Bell Jr., 24, Terry Coddel Bradford, 19, and Robert Herman Smith, 44, with Bank Robbery. The charges allege that the trio forcibly robbed a San Antonio bank’s ATM machine, while it was being serviced by an ATM technician. The three men allegedly fled the bank in a vehicle and were then apprehended by officers with the San Antonio Police Department. Cash robbed from the ATM was allegedly recovered in the subjects’ vehicle.

Defendants had their initial appearances today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer. They remain in federal custody pending their detention hearings. The detention hearing for Smith is scheduled for February 22, 2018, at 3 p.m. The detention hearings for Bell and Bradford are scheduled for February 28, 2018 at 10 a.m. in U.S. Magistrate Court in San Antonio. Upon conviction of the charges, the three men face up to 20 years in federal prison.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI and San Antonio Police Department, with assistance from Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wannarka is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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FBI Seeks Information on 2005 Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Headline: FBI Seeks Information on 2005 Disappearance of Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr.

The FBI, Burlington County (New Jersey) Prosecutor’s Office, and Philadelphia Police Department Homicide Division are seeking the public’s assistance, as they continue to investigate the disappearance, 13 years ago today, of Danielle (Ottobre) Imbo and Richard Petrone, Jr.

Imbo and Petrone were last seen in the late evening hours of Saturday, February 19, 2005, leaving a bar on Philadelphia’s South Street, headed for Petrone’s black 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck. An extensive investigation to date has generated some promising leads, however, neither the couple nor Petrone’s vehicle have ever been located.

The Imbo-Petrone investigation remains open and active, and there is a $50,000 reward for information on Danielle and Richard’s whereabouts or for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for their disappearance. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to call the Philadelphia Citizens Crime Commission tip line at 215-546-TIPS (215-546-8477).