Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Christopher Carreras, 38, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 17, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for traveling with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor and possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Carreras to 168 months’ imprisonment for each count.  The sentences will run concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Carreras’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. District Judge Buescher ordered Carreras to pay $3,000 in restitution.

Carreras began online chatting with the minor victim who was based in Texas. On February 26, 2022, Carreras traveled from Nebraska to Texas to meet up with the minor victim. After meeting face-to-face in a shopping mall, Carreras handed the minor victim his hotel room key. The minor victim used the key to enter his hotel room where the two engaged in sexual activity. Carreras traveled to meet up with the minor victim on other occasions in 2022. The minor victim ultimately reported what happened. The FBI obtained and executed a search warrant for Carreras’s residence in Nebraska on October 6, 2022, where electronic devices were seized.

Law enforcement review of the devices revealed records of online chat messages between Carreras, the minor victim, and at least one other apparent minor female. Through the chats, the minor victim communicated that they were about to turn 16 years old. Additionally, the review of the devices located known child pornography video files and images.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Vincent J. Palermo, 50, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Richard Gonzalez, 55, of Papillion, Nebraska, were sentenced on January 16, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Palermo to 18 months’ imprisonment and Gonzalez to 18 months’ imprisonment. Additionally, Palermo was sentenced to a consecutive 9-month term of imprisonment for a violation of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. After Palermo’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. After Gonzalez’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Senior Judge Gerrard ordered Palermo to pay $10,292.28 in restitution and Gonzalez $66,749.35 in restitution.

From January 2018 to April 1, 2023, Palermo, while an Omaha City Councilman, received personal and financial benefits to include airfare, luxury hotel accommodations, travel arrangements, and other items of value in exchange for official actions.  These benefits were intended to influence Vincet Palermo’s actions as an Omaha City Councilman to benefit the Police Athletics for Community Engagement (PACE) and the Latino Peace Officers Association (LPOA). During this time, co-defendant Gonzalez was the Executive Director of PACE and a member of LPOA. Palermo failed to disclose to the City Counsel the private benefits that he was receiving while taking official acts for the benefit of LPOA and PACE.

From 2017 to April 1, 2023, Gonzalez conspired to defraud donors of the LPOA, the LPOA Board, and PACE for his own personal benefit.  Gonzalez, a retired Omaha Police Department Captain, without having full LPOA Board authority, conducted financial transactions for his personal benefit using LPOA funds.  LPOA funds were misused by Gonzalez for trips, meals, and gambling. Gonzalez also misused LPOA funds to purchase trips for friends and co-defendant Palermo, which included a trip to Las Vegas.

After Tuesday’s sentencings, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, “Both former city councilman Vinny Palermo and former police officer Richard Gonzalez were entrusted to represent our communities’ interest, but instead chose to betray that trust through their abuse of public office for personal gain. The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate, pursue, and hold accountable those who violate their oath of office to enrich themselves. Public corruption is a top criminal investigative priority for the FBI, and we encourage everyone in our community to continue to come forward and report abuses of public office.”

Co-defendant Johnny Palermo’s change of plea hearing is scheduled for January 18, 2024, in Lincoln. Co-defendant Jack Olson’s trial is scheduled for April 10, 2024, before Senior Judge Gerrard in Lincoln. Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

BOSTON – A leader of a Lowell-based gang, One Family Clique (OFC), was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiring with fellow OFC gang members to traffic wholesale quantities of cocaine, and to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds through casinos in Canada.

Virak Prum, a/k/a “Polo,” a/k/a “Capo,” a/k/a “Lips,” 37, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 96 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2023, Prum pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of money laundering conspiracy. 

In August 2018, an investigation began into OFC in response to a dramatic spike in shootings and gang violence in Lowell. OFC is an alliance between several gangs in and around Lowell with ties to gangs in California and other states. In 2018 and 2019, at least 12 incidents of gunfire in the Lowell area are alleged to be attributable to gang-motivated hostilities between OCF and its rivals. 

Since at least 2019, Prum and his co-conspirators used the U.S. Postal Service to receive shipments of illegal narcotics, and, in return, to ship cash proceeds to the sources of supply. Members of the conspiracy maintained stash houses in Lowell, which also served as venues for gang meetings and other events furthering the gang’s illegal activities. Over the course of the investigation, approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine; 2.4 kilograms of cocaine; 2.1 kilograms of MDMA; 513 grams of heroin; 169 grams of fentanyl; $177,591 in cash; and seven firearms were seized or purchased. 

In May 2021, Prum led a money laundering operation in which he and his co-conspirators provided “protection” for a shipment from Europe that purportedly contained 8 million Euros in drug proceeds from black tar heroin sales. Specifically, Prum and his co-conspirators helped pack a shipment of money into a truck and escorted it from New York to New Hampshire. 

Prum was charged with 14 others in June 2021. He is the final defendant in custody to plead guilty in the case. One defendant remains a fugitive. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua s. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Greg Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA-San Jose Task Force as well as the Long Beach (Calif.) and Santa Clara (Calif.), Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Moran and Fred Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

BOSTON – A Lynn man was sentenced today in connection with a scheme to impersonate bank customers and fraudulently withdraw money from their bank accounts.

Antonio Niati, 33, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (one day) and three years of supervised release. Niati was also ordered to pay restitution of approximately $360,000. In May 2019, Niati pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. 

In 2017, Niati recruited a bank teller working at a Santander Bank branch in Dorchester to assist in conducting fraudulent transactions in victims’ bank accounts. On three occasions in April 2017, another co-conspirator conducted transactions in two Santander Bank customers’ accounts using fraudulent driver’s licenses, all with the assistance of Niati, and the recruited teller. Niati and his co-conspirators fraudulently withdrew over $640,000 from the customers’ accounts. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright, Christopher J. Markham and Neil J. Gallagher of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

BOSTON – The former owner of several physical therapy clinics in Greater Boston has been convicted by a federal jury of health care fraud charges.

Chang Goo Yoon, 61, a South Korean national residing in Queens, N.Y., was convicted yesterday following a seven-day jury trial on two counts of health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for May 8, 2024. Yoon was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in February 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2021. 

“This was about stealing and greed, pure and simple. Mr. Yoon exploited our healthcare system, and billed for fictitious treatments on dates that he was traveling abroad or holed up in a casino,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This conduct was as brazen as it was illegal. Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. We all pay higher costs because of these types of fraudulent scams. Our office will continue to relentlessly pursue fraudsters and hold them accountable.”

“Chang Goo Yoon orchestrated a brazen scheme, abusing his position of trust as a health care provider to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments for work he did not do. We thank the jury for its swift and prudent verdict,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “This conviction sends an unambiguous message that anyone who cheats our health care system will not get away with it.”

“This is exactly why the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts was created over thirty years ago to combat insurance fraud and specifically this type of insurance fraud that increase the cost of insurance premiums for consumers in the state of Massachusetts. This case was borne out of a collaborative effort by our investigative partners. The perseverance and hard work done by all involved in this case is a demonstration that insurance fraud will not be tolerated in Massachusetts,” said Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts.

“Mr. Yoon repeatedly lied and billed for services he never provided.  Actions which were fueled by nothing more than his greed,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We are pleased with the jury’s guilty verdict in this matter and thank them for their service.  It is our hope that this case serves as a warning to others who may use the U.S. Mail to further their criminal activities.”

Yoon was the owner and operator of several physical therapy clinics in Allston, Waltham and Brookline between 2014 and 2018. Yoon billed patients for non-existent physical therapy appointments, including approximately $150,000 in claims billed on dates when Yoon was traveling in South Korea, Los Angeles and Toronto. Yoon also billed $50,000 in claims on dates when he was gambling at casinos including the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, N.J., MGM Springfield in Massachusetts and Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Additionally, Yoon submitted approximately $30,000 in physical therapy claims for himself after three automobile accidents. Most of those claims falsely listed one of Yoon’s employees as the servicing physical therapist. The remaining claims listed Yoon as both the patient and the servicing physical therapist.

The charge of health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, IFB Chief DiPaolo and USPIS INC Larco-Ward made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elysa Q. Wan and Patrick M. Callahan of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for embezzling over $1.2 million from his employer over a 16-year period.

Darrell Pike, 57, of Hesperia, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Judge Myong J. Joun to three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first nine months to be served in home confinement. Pike was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $1,232,001. In October 2022, Pike pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. 

Pike was the general manager of an Ontario, Calif. subsidiary of a supply and service company based in Wilmington, Mass. Between approximately 2005 and 2021, Pike prepared and submitted fraudulent invoices to his employer on behalf of a fake temporary staffing company, Consumer Information Systems (CIS), for staffing services CIS purportedly provided at his employer’s Ontario location. Pike added approving initials of company personnel to the invoices without their knowledge or consent. Through the fraudulent invoices, Pike caused the company to pay approximately $1,271,206 to CIS, which he deposited into a bank account he controlled. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

Truman Sitting Eagle, age 36, and Kandace Sitting Eagle, age 33, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, were arraigned on Jan. 16. They are both charged with aggravated child abuse and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Their trial has been set for Mar. 18 before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson in Cheyenne.

Both defendants were detained at the request of the government and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. If convicted on all counts, they each face no less than 10 years up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This crime is being investigated by the FBI and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook

An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Case No. 24-CR-03

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

      LITTLE ROCK—Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today that a former Bryant High School teacher has pleaded guilty to transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of unlawful sexual activity. Heather Hare, 33, of Conway, entered this guilty plea earlier today before United States District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky.

      Judge Rudofsky will sentence Hare at a later date. Transportation of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity is punishable by not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, and not less than five years of supervised release.

      The investigation into Hare revealed that Hare taught Family Consumer Science classes at Bryant High School and met the minor victim on his first day of his senior year. Hare began one-on-one counseling sessions with the minor victim, eventually giving him her personal phone number and primarily communicating with him through Instagram and Snapchat.

      Hare later told the minor victim that she had a dream of them having sex and gave him her home address in Conway. The minor victim and Hare had sex approximately 20 to 30 times throughout the 2021-2022 school term, including multiple times at her Conway residence, in her vehicle, and in her classroom and parking lots at Bryant High School.

      Between April 21 and April 24, 2022, Hare was the sponsor and chaperone for a field trip to Washington, D.C., as part of an extracurricular activity related to the Family Consumer Science courses Hare taught. During the field trip, which included four students, of which the minor victim was the only male student, Hare and the minor victim engaged in the unlawful sexual activity to which she pleaded guilty.

      “This former teacher took advantage of her position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using her role to entice and lure this minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activity,” Ross said. “Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any educational professional who sexually abuse their students.”

      Hare was indicted on August 1, 2023, and charged with one count of interstate/foreign travel for prostitution/sexual activity by coercion and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. In exchange for her guilty plea, the remaining charge was dismissed.

      The case was investigated by the FBI and Saline County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.

# # #

Additional information about the office of the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at

https://www.justice.gov/edar

X (formerly known as Twitter):

@EDARNEWS 

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

SHERMAN, Texas – A Leonard, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for robbing multiple banks in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Kevin Long, 31, pleaded guilty to bank robbery and was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan on January 18, 2024.  Long was also ordered to pay restitution of $573,000.

According to information presented in court, Long robbed multiple banks in East Texas between 2020 and 2021.  During the robberies he passed threatening notes to bank employees, he physically restrained bank employees, and he stole over $550,000.  Those robberies include: CapTex Bank in Bonham on Jan. 31, 2020; Financial Bank in Farmersville on August 11, 2020; Bancorp South Bank in Tom Bean on Oct. 16, 2020; Commercial Bank in Farmerville on August 13, 2021; and First United Bank in Leonard on August 20, 2021.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bonham Police Department, Farmersville Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, Sherman Police Department, Allen Police Department, Leonard Police Department, Bells Police Department, Tom Bean Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety. 

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