Category: United States Attorneys General

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Two Miami-Area Men Sentenced For $1.8 Million Robbery Of Armored Truck

Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Diosme Fernandez Hano (44, Hialeah) to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison and Reinaldo Arrastia-Cardoso (48, Hialeah) to 10 years in federal prison for armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. A federal jury found Hano and Arrastia-Cardosowere guilty on October 31, 2017.

According to evidence presented at trial, on November 30, 2009, Hano and Arrastia-Cardoso committed an armed robbery of a Brink’s armored truck outside of the Fifth Third Bank on Daniels Parkway and Treeline Avenue in Fort Myers. Almost $1.8 million was stolen during the robbery. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffrey F. Michelland and Simon R. Eth.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Huntington drug dealer pleads guilty to federal heroin charge

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Cortez Quayveon Brown, 27, entered his guilty plea to distribution of heroin.

A confidential informant working with law enforcement called Brown on March 3, 2016, to arrange a drug deal for heroin. Brown later met the informant at his 7th Street apartment in Huntington, where he distributed approximately 5.5 grams of heroin in exchange for $1,500. Brown also provided the informant with additional heroin weighing approximately 10.4 grams.

Special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration seized nearly 8 grams of heroin and $5,500 in cash during the execution of a federal search warrant at Brown’s apartment on March 10, 2016. Special agents also discovered a loaded .380 semi-automatic handgun and a loaded .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the kitchen stove. Brown admitted to arranging additional controlled buys of heroin in which he used others to make the actual deliveries. The heroin recovered from all the controlled buys and the search was sent to the DEA Mid-Atlantic Laboratory, which confirmed that the substance was heroin with a total weight of 94.71 grams.

U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the Drug Enforcement Administration for their investigative efforts.

Brown faces up 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 7, 2018.

Assistant United States Attorney R. Gregory McVey is responsible for the prosecution. The plea hearing was held before United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.

This case is part of an ongoing effort led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to combat the illicit sale and misuse of prescription drugs and heroin. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, joined by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is committed to aggressively pursuing and shutting down pill trafficking, eliminating open air drug markets, and curtailing the spread of opiate painkillers and heroin in communities across the Southern District. 

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Financial advisor from Shaker Heights charged with embezzling $287,000 from client

A Shaker Heights man was charged in federal court with defrauding an investor out of more than $287,000, said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen D. Anthony and IRS Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Korner.

James M. Unger, 51, was charged via criminal information with two counts of wire fraud and five counts of filing false tax returns.

Unger worked as a securities broker and investment advisor who provided financial advice to clients. Between 2006 and 2014, Unger devised a scheme to defraud an investor identified in court documents as E.C., according to court documents.

E.C. executed a durable power of attorney in 2007, which gave Unger control of her financial affairs. A few months later, Unger convinced E.C. to invest in a high-risk international casino project based on Unger’s assurances that it was a safe, lucrative investment opportunity. Unger and others provided E.C. with promissory notes guaranteeing a 15 percent annual rate of return, according to court documents.

E.C. invested approximately $407,000 in the project between 2008 and 2009. By 2012, Unger had wired money from E.C.’s bank account, without her knowledge or consent, to another client. He converted her investment to stock in a new company and convinced E.C. to invest an additional $79,985, according to court documents.

In 2014, E.C. told Unger she wanted to liquidate her investment in the casino project. She believed her investment, including earnings, totaled approximately $1.9 million, but her total investment was actually lost, according to court documents.

Unger had actually embezzled funds from E.C.’s bank accounts to enrich himself and pay for his own personal expenses, including pay his daughter’s college expenses, according to court documents.

In total, Unger embezzled approximately $287,464 from E.C. He also failed to claim some of this income on his tax returns between 2011 and 2015, according to court documents.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after reviewing factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Patton and Alejandro A. Abreu following an investigation by the FBI and IRS – Criminal Investigations. 

 

An information is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Grand Rapids Man Indicted For Possession Of Stolen Mail, Credit Card Fraud, And Aggrivated IdentityI Theft

          GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — United States Attorney Andrew Birge announced today that Kahwahnas Nucumbhi Potts, age 38, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was arrested today on federal charges related to his possession of stolen mail, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. Potts remains in federal custody.

          According to the indictment, from at least March 2015 until April 2016, Potts possessed stolen mail belonging to various residents of Kent County, Michigan. Potts applied for numerous credit cards in the names of these residents and unlawfully used credit cards issued to these individuals. Potts carried out his criminal activities by knowingly transferring, possessing and using the means of identification of these individuals, including their names, social security account numbers, and dates of birth, when transacting business with various banks and other financial institutions.

          Potts arraignment on these charges is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on February 1, 2018, in federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

          The charges for possession of stolen mail and unlawful use of social security account numbers carry a statutory penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment. The use of an unauthorized access device (credit card fraud) carries a statutory penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 2 years’ imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence that the court may impose. If convicted, Potts will also be ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

          The Grand Rapids Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, in conjunction with the Grand Rapids Police Department Metropolitan Fraud and Identity Theft Team, is handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald M. Stella is prosecuting the case.

          The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

END

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: United States Obtains $16.2 Million Judgment Against MRI Provider For Submitting False Claims

Wilmington, Del. –  David C. Weiss, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware entered judgment in the amount of $16,223,091.38 against Orthopaedic and Neuro Imaging LLC (ONI) for submitting false claims for Medicare reimbursement.  Under the terms of the judgment, ONI’s owner, Richard Pfarr, is jointly and severally liable for $6,125,947.13. 

 

ONI operates independent diagnostic testing facilities (IDTFs) in Delaware and Maryland.  The Court granted the United States’ request for default judgment on its complaint, which alleged that ONI and Pfarr knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare by administering contrast dye during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on patients without proper supervision by a physician. Contrast dye is a chemical that is injected intravenously into the body in order to make certain tissues more clearly visible on an MRI.

 

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware is committed to combatting health care fraud and protecting Medicare beneficiaries using all available remedies,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Weiss.  “This case exemplifies the utility of the False Claims Act to deter fraudulent conduct, protect patient safety, and save taxpayer dollars.” 

 

“The FBI, along with our partners, will work aggressively to combat healthcare fraud utilizing all tools available to the agencies charged with rooting out fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the FBI’s Baltimore Division.   “We will continue to work tirelessly to prevent these programs from becoming targets and fight fraud wherever we find it. Medical Providers who take shortcuts to enrich themselves in delivering patient care will be held accountable.”

 

The original lawsuit was filed by Robin White, a former employee of ONI.  The lawsuit was filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the United States for false claims for government funds, and to receive a share of any recovery. The False Claims Act permits the government to intervene in such a lawsuit, as was done in this case.  Under the terms of the Court’s judgment, Ms. White will receive an 18-percent share of the recovery.

 

The matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer L. Hall and Laura Hatcher handled the case on behalf of the United States.

 

The case is captioned United States ex rel. White v. Orthopaedic and Neuro Imaging LLC, No. 13-1109-RGA. 

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Two Servicemembers Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Have Sex with a Minor

In San Antonio today, Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Mark Antonio Pazmino, a 30–year-old former U.S. Army member assigned to Joint Base San Antonio—National Security Agency (JBSA-NSA), to 121 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for attempting to have sex with a minor announced United States Attorney John F. Bash.

 

On May 16, 2017, Pazmino pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.  According to court records, in 2016, Pazmino responded to a personal ad from an individual whom he believed was a 14-year-old female residing on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX (JBSA-Lackland).  Pazmino stated multiple times through the chat conversation, as well as a recorded telephone conversation, that he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the minor female.   Unbeknownst to Pazmino, the 14-year-old he was communicating with was actually an undercover agent with Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).  Federal agents arrested Pazmino on July 5, 2016, when he showed up at a pre-arranged meeting location on JBSA-Lackland.  He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

 

In a separate, but related matter, on January 24, 2018, Chief United States District Judge Orlando L. Garcia sentenced 28-year-old Mark Richard Hardin, an enlisted Navy member assigned to Joint Base San Antonio—Fort Sam Houston (JBSA-FSH), to 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.  On October 12, 2017, the former U.S. Navy medical technician at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor.  By pleading guilty, Hardin admitted that in February 2016, he began text messaging with an individual he believed was a 14-year-old female residing on JBSA-Lackland for the purposes of meeting and ultimately engaging in sexual intercourse with her.  Unbeknownst to Hardin, the 14-year-old was an undercover AFOSI agent.  On February 25, 2016, federal agents arrested Hardin on JBSA-Lackland.  He has remained in federal custody since his arrest.

 

AFOSI, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and FBI special agents conducted this investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wannarka prosecuted both defendants on behalf of the Government.

 

These cases were 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Former Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Found Guilty of 12 Tax Crimes

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CRAIG A. TAFFARO, age 70, of Harvey, a former Chief Deputy for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, was convicted of all charges alleged in a Superseding Indictment. TAFFARO was found guilty of six counts of tax evasion, five counts of filing a false tax return, and one count of failing to file a tax return.

 

The jury found that TAFFARO willfully attempted to evade tax due and owing by filing returns with false and exaggerated business expenses for tax years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, and by causing the filing of a false estimate of his tax liability for tax year 2014. The jury also found that TAFFARO willfully failed to file a tax return when required by law for tax year 2014.

 

TAFFARO faces maximum terms of imprisonment of five years for each count of tax evasion, three years for each count of filing a false return, and one year for failure to file a tax return. Sentencing is set for April 4, 2018, before U.S. District Court Judge Martin L.C. Feldman.

 

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Chandra Menon, Tracey Knight, and David Sinkman are in charge of the prosecution.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Former Member of Westminster Planning Commission Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison for Accepting $15,000 Bribe

          SANTA ANA, California – A former member of the Planning Commission for the City of Westminster was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison for taking a $15,000 bribe to help a person obtain a liquor license.

          Dave Vo, 43, of Westminster, was sentenced by United States District Judge James V. Selna.

          Following a three-day jury trial, Vo was convicted in September of one count of bribery.

          Vo, who is an attorney, served as a Planning Commissioner in the Orange County city from early 2009 through early 2013. By virtue of his position, he had influence over the issuance of conditional use permits.

          In 2011, Vo solicited a $15,000 bribe from a confidential informant. The informant reported to the FBI that Vo had solicited a bribe in relation to the issuance of a liquor license. During August 2011, over the course of four meetings, Vo received cash payments that totaled $15,000 in exchange for pushing the liquor license permit through the city’s approval process.

          During the trial, the jury heard audio recordings of Vo soliciting the bribe – at one point telling the informant to “stay quiet” and “don’t even mention what’s going on” – and then saw video recordings of the payments being made.

          “To line his pockets, [Vo] made a calculated decision to help a bribe payer at the expense of law-abiding members of the community who sought conditional use permits and liquor licenses through legitimate channels,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court. “In so doing, [Vo] sold his influence on the Planning Commission, giving (as he called it) ‘inside’ access for ‘under the table’ money. That conduct reflects a profound breach of the public’s trust.”

          The case against Vo was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

          The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel H. Ahn of the Santa Ana Branch Office.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Kenai Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that a Kenai man was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for possessing images of child pornography.

Phillip Miller, 27, of Kenai, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess, to serve six years in prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.  Miller previously pleaded guilty on Sept. 25, 2017, to possession of child pornography – access with intent to view.

According to court documents, on May 18, 2016, Miller became the subject of a federal investigation after law enforcement officials received images depicting child sexual exploitation, which were shared by Miller using the Bittorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing network.  A search warrant was executed on Miller’s Kenai residence, where law enforcement had seized Miller’s computer.  Located on Miller’s computer were approximately 36 images depicting the sexual exploitation of children under 12 involving bestiality, sadism, and bondage.  The investigation also revealed that Miller had used search terms to find images of child sexual exploitation to access and view, and that those search terms included the phrase “Toddlercon Incest” among others.  

Miller was previously adjudicated in 2005 for the sexual abuse of several children.  At sentencing in this matter, Judge Burgess noted the seriousness of the images in this case and of his prior conduct.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case in cooperation with state and local agencies comprising the Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.

This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice ongoing Project Safe Child (PSC) initiative.  In May 2006, DOJ launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, identify and rescue victims and to educate the public about safe Internet use, thereby reducing the risk that children might fall prey to online sexual predators.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov or call the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Another Guilty in Fort Hood Soldier Alien Smuggling Case

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 51-year old who had been illegally residing in Houston has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented aliens and illegal re-entry after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Victoriano Zamora-Jasso aka “Tata,” made an appearance today in federal court today on the eve of jury selection.

In early 2014, Zamora-Jasso began supplying aliens to Arnold Gracia, 47, from Harlingen. Gracia would then make arrangements with others to transport the aliens through the immigration checkpoint at Sarita. Gracia recruited Brandon Troy Robbins, 23, of San Antonio, Eric Alexander Rodriguez, 24, of Odem, Texas, Christopher David Wix, 23, of Abilene, and Yashira Perez-Morales, 27, from Watertown, New York – all then active duty soldiers stationed at Ft. Hood – to transport and deliver the aliens further north.

The conspiracy continued from approximately March to September of 2014. The soldiers would conceal the aliens under their military gear and made many successful trips during the course of the conspiracy. 

Zamora-Jasso was indicted in 2016 and arrested after a traffic stop in Conroe in July 2017. Today, he admitted his involvement in the conspiracy and to being a previously convicted alien who returned after deportation in 2013.

Gracia and all the soldiers were previously sentenced in 2015 and 2016 with Gracia receiving a 73-month sentence while Robbins, Rodriguez, Wix and Perez-Morales received sentences of 20, 12 months, 12 months and a day and five years probation, respectively.  

Sentencing for Zamora-Jasso is scheduled for May 9, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera. At that time, he faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigation conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Angel Castro are prosecuting the case.