Category: United States Attorneys General

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: California Man Sentenced On Methamphetamine Charge

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Lawrence Neubert, 46, of Spring Valley, CA, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 120 months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Higgins, who handled the case, stated that on September 4, 2014, and October 2, 2014, the defendant shipped packages, containing more than 220 grams of methamphetamine, from California to Buffalo. Surveillance video from September 4, 2014, showed Neubert preparing the package and paying for its shipment in cash. In exchange for sending the packages, Neubert received $3500 in USPS money orders.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division. 

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Woman Charged With Smuggling Cash Across The Border

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Liliya Dzyuba, 42, of North York, Ontario, Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bulk cash smuggling. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 25, 2018, Customs and Border Protection officers encountered the defendant at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry coming into the United States from Canada. Dzyuba indicated that she was coming to Buffalo and staying for a few days to go shopping at the Eastern Hills Mall. When asked how much money she was traveling with, the defendant responded “$5,000.00.” Dzyuba was given a Customs Declaration form and checked “no” when asked if she was carrying “currency or monetary instruments over $10,000 U.S. or Foreign equivalent.” The defendant declared a total of $5,000 and signed the form.

However, during subsequent searches, officers discovered that Dzyuba was carrying $37,000.00 in U.S. Currency around her waist and hidden in her pants. She also had a list of names and money wire transfer locations in the Buffalo, NY area.

The defendant made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and bail was set at $5,000 cash. The government requested that Judge McCarthy stay his release order. The release order was stayed and another appearance is scheduled for February 1, 2018, at 11:00 a.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. 

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Canadian Man Suspected Of Transporting Drugs Across The Border Arrested On Marijuana Charge

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Alexander Maizels, 48, of Ontario, Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years and a $5,000,000. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, a federal investigation was initiated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) Buffalo Border Enforcement Security Team (BEST) into the activities of the defendant and multiple co-conspirators contracted to transport controlled substances between the United States and Canada for transnational criminal organization.

The investigation was based in part on Maizels’ arrest in April 2015 by the Illinois State Police for being in possession of over 100 kilograms of marijuana. On April 7, 2015, the defendant entered the United States at the Buffalo, NY port of entry operating a commercial tractor trailer. On April 8, 2015, Maizels’ made a delivery in Patterson, NJ. Later that day, the defendant arrived in Liverpool, NY, at a warehouse that had been identified by law enforcement officers as a warehouse utilized by individuals based in Canada who were suspected of transporting controlled substances. On April 9, 2015, the defendant traveled to a business in Elk Grove Village, IL. HSI Buffalo provided information to HSI Chicago and the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State Police searched the tractor trailer and found 30 brown boxes which contained 235 heat-sealed bundles of a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana. The Illinois State Police estimated the street value of the seized marijuana was more than $900,000. 

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Buffalo Man Indicted On Heroin And Fentanyl Charges

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jawayne Watkins, 29, of Buffalo, NY, with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin, and possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that according to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, in July 2017, an undercover officer made a $1,500 controlled purchase of heroin from the defendant. On November 9, 2017, the defendant made a second sale, this time a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.

Watkins was on New York State parole and living in a halfway house at the time of his arrest in November 2017. The defendant will be arraigned on the indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy on February 2, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard.    

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Florida Man Sentenced In Penny Stock Scheme

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

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that James Palladino, 54, of Delray Beach, Florida, who was convicted of conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny to six months in prison and ordered to forfeit $175,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that between February and June of 2011, the defendant and other co-conspirators, participated in a scheme to acquire, manipulate, and trade publicly available stocks of companies with low stock prices (known as “penny stocks”). During the scheme, the defendant and others, directed co-conspirators to issue newsletters containing fictitious and misleading information regarding a targeted stock, which was done in an effort to manipulate the length and intensity of the penny stock promotion scheme. During the scheme, Palladino and others utilized personal brokerage accounts and bank and brokerage accounts in the names of entities they owned and controlled, to fund, trade, and manipulate the price of penny stocks.

During the scheme, the defendant and others made payments totaling $175,000 for the fraudulent stock promotions knowing that the funds used to make the payments constituted criminally derived proceeds from wire fraud activities.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Special Agents of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of James D. Robnett, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Office.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Weare Man Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Drug Trafficking

          CONCORD, N.H. – Kenneth Bailey, 53, of Weare, New Hampshire was sentenced in federal court to serve 18 months in prison for drug trafficking, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.  

          According to court documents and statements made in court, on five occasions in 2013 and once in 2014, a cooperating individual purchased methamphetamine or a combination of cocaine and methamphetamine from Bailey at his residence.       

          Bailey pleaded guilty to six counts of distributing controlled substances on October 25, 2017.  In addition to his prison sentence, the defendant was fined $1,000 and will be on supervised release for three years.

          “The law enforcement community is united in the effort to stop the distribution of dangerous drugs in New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We will continue to identify and prosecute drug traffickers in order to protect the safety of our community.” 

           “Mr. Bailey will now pay the price for distributing dangerous drugs that pose a serious threat to our community,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to do everything we can to crack down on illegal drug distributors and the violence that is associated with them.”

          This matter was investigated by the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which is comprised of the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, and the Police Departments of Hudson, Manchester, and Nashua.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.

          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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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Pineville man sentenced to 30 months in prison for cashing counterfeit checks

ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Pineville man was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in prison for counterfeiting and cashing checks.

Deshan Spivey, 31, of Pineville, La., who is originally from Ruston, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell to one count of making and possessing counterfeit securities of political subdivisions of the State of Louisiana. He was also sentenced to two years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $28,410 restitution. According to the October 30, 2017 guilty plea, Spivey used counterfeit checks that he manufactured to draw funds from the Rapides Parish School Board and Natchitoches Parish School Board in November 2015 and January 2017. Spivey cashed the checks at various retail outlets in the central Louisiana area.

 The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Earl M. Campbell is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Beaumont man sentenced to 10 years in prison for kidnapping girls after theft in Sulphur

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Beaumont man was sentenced Tuesday to 120 months in prison for kidnapping two girls after stealing the truck they were in.

Henry Dwight Moore, 23, of Beaumont, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey on one count of kidnapping. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release. According to the October 11, 2017 guilty plea, Moore drove a black truck into a Lowe’s parking lot in Sulphur, La., on December 13, 2015. He stole a customer’s purse who had walked away from it to return a shopping cart.  A bystander saw Moore take the purse, and the bystander jumped into the back of Moore’s truck as he drove away. The truck’s engine died at one point, and the bystander attempted to confront him.  Moore got the engine started again and sped off, leaving the bystander in the truck bed. Eventually Moore stopped and the bystander got out. Moore then continued westbound on Interstate 10 in the rain. He lost control and struck the side of a Toyota Tundra truck.  After the accident, Moore’s truck died again, and he and the Tundra pulled over to the side of the road.  After the Tundra owner exited the truck and walked to the passenger side to inspect the damage, Moore jumped into the driver’s seat and drove off.  Inside the Tundra truck were the owner’s daughters ages 5 and 7.  Moore told the girls he was going to drop them off at a police station but instead abandoned the car and the girls on the side of the road in Orange, Texas. The oldest girl located her father’s cell phone and called 911 for help.

The FBI conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamilla A. Bynog prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Jennings man sentenced to 18 months in prison for posting nude photos online of female victim

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Jennings man was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison for posting nude photos online and threatening to post more photos of a female victim.

Christopher Redeaux, 21, of Jennings, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey for one count of interstate transmission of an extortionate communication.  He was also sentenced to one year of supervised release.  According to the October 11, 2018 guilty plea, Redeaux obtained nude pictures of a woman and threatened to publish them on the internet if the woman did not provide more photos.  Redeaux posted some of the photos to Facebook using a fictitious account and sent a friend request to the victim and her friends.  Redeaux harassed the victim through an online account and telephone calls.  The victim filed a complaint with McNeese State University Police on December 2, 2015, and Redeaux was arrested on several state charges including cyberstalking, sexual battery and cyberbullying. Redeaux’s cell phone was searched and a folder containing the nude photos of the victim were found.

The FBI, McNeese State University Police and the Greater Houston Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamilla A. Bynog and T. Forrest Phillips prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Ragley woman collects more than $75,000 of deceased mother-in-law’s VA benefits

LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that a Ragley woman pleaded guilty last week to taking more than $75,000 of her deceased mother-in-law’s benefits.

Vanneta Hudspeth, 57, of Ragley, La., pleaded guilty January 25 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Kay to one count of theft of government funds. According to the guilty plea, Hudspeth continued to receive her deceased mother-in-law’s Veterans Affairs benefits from March 2010 to June 2015 that she was not entitled to. Hudspeth made false statements on the mail-in questionnaire in 2014, stating that her mother-in-law was still living and entitled to receive benefits.  Hudspeth collected $75,477.90 in VA benefits after her mother-in-law’s death in March 2010.

Hudspeth faces 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The court set sentencing for April 17, 2018.

Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moore is prosecuting the case.