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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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‘Internet of Things’ cyber risks tackled during INTERPOL Digital Security Challenge

Source: Interpol (news and events)

Headline: ‘Internet of Things’ cyber risks tackled during INTERPOL Digital Security Challenge

22 February 2018

VIENNA, Austria – Do you know how to protect your webcam from being hacked? Would you know if a cybercriminal was using your printer to carry out cyberattacks?

While most of us are aware of the dangers that cybercriminals can pose to our computers and mobile phones and take steps to protect them, we seldom consider how these threats can affect the growing number of Internet-connected devices we use in our daily lives.

The ‘Internet of Things’

All devices which can connect to the Internet – collectively called the ‘Internet of Things’ or IoT – are potentially at risk of a cyberattack. Everyday personal items like video cameras, refrigerators and televisions can be used by cybercriminals for malicious means.

Cyberattacks targeting or using IoT devices have increased significantly in the past two years, according to several reports from the private cybersecurity industry. An example was the Mirai botnet, which in 2016 infected tens of thousands of devices, mostly Internet routers, with weak password security.  These were then used in coordinated distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against websites worldwide including a university and several media sites.

In the world of cybercrime, the number of IoT devices a criminal has access to is seen as a sign of their status.

Although police around the world are developing the skills necessary to forensically examine computers and mobile phones, they are often not aware of how to collect evidence from other connected devices.

The latest edition of the INTERPOL Digital Security Challenge tackled this threat, with 43 cybercrime investigators and digital forensics experts from 23 countries investigating a simulated cyberattack on a bank launched through an IoT device.

“Cybercrime investigations are becoming more and more complex and operational exercises such as the Digital Security Challenge, which simulate some of the hurdles that investigators face every day, are vital for the development of our capacities,” said Peter Goldgruber, Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior.

Meeting the challenge

In the scenario, cybercriminals attacked a bank in an attempt to steal large sums of money. The investigators analysed the bank’s computers to identify the date, time and files where the malware installed by the criminals.

Through this digital forensic examination, the teams discovered the malware was contained in an e-mail attachment sent via a webcam which had been hacked, and not directly from a computer. This is an emerging modus operandi, as it is more difficult to identify the source of the attack.

Once the teams accessed the digital data held by the compromised webcam, they identified the command and control server being used to remotely control the device to conduct the cyberattack. Further evidence led to the identification of a second command and control server, and the investigators identified technical vulnerabilities of the servers which could be used to prevent further attacks.  

Noboru Nakatani, Executive Director of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation said the scenario provided a learning experience on how to conduct real-world investigations more effectively.

“The ever-changing world of cybercrime is constantly presenting new challenges for law enforcement, but we cannot successfully counter them by working in isolation.

“A multi-stakeholder approach which engages the expertise of the private sector is essential for anticipating new threats and ensuring police have access to the technology and knowledge necessary to detect and investigate cyberattacks,” said Mr Nakatani.

Sharing expertise

Conducted annually, INTERPOL’s Digital Security Challenge helps police worldwide develop the skills necessary to tackle the latest cybercrime threats. The first two events in 2016 and 2017 simulated cyber blackmail involving bitcoin and a ransomware attack.

This year’s three-day (19 – 21 February) event was organized in close cooperation with the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Vienna and private sector partners NEC Corporation and Cyber Defense Institute.

“NEC has contributed as a strategic partner to INTERPOL’s commitment to improve the cybersecurity skills of investigators throughout the world. For the third year, NEC is honored to have helped develop the Digital Security Challenge by providing our expertise at this cutting-edge event,” said Kozo Matsuo, Vice President of NEC Corporation’s Cyber Security Strategy Division.

Training sessions to develop participants’ practical knowledge on IoT device analysis and the latest trends in malware-related crime were delivered by specialists from NEC Corporation, InfoSec, Meiya Pico, SECOM, Kaspersky Lab and TrendMicro. Support was also provided by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Kenji Hironaka, President of Cyber Defense Institute said: “We are proud to have provided forensic content and technical support during all three INTERPOL Digital Security Challenge events. We will continue assisting law enforcement around the world to enhance their cybercrime investigation capabilities.”

Protecting your devices

Most people use anti-virus products and update their software and programmes regularly on their computers and mobile phones to protect them from cyberthreats. But few people take the same precautions to secure their connected devices, leaving them vulnerable to attacks.

Tips for safeguarding IoT devices:

  • Change the factory default passwords – these can be the same for hundreds or thousands of devices, making it easy for criminals to hack;
  • Regularly update all software;
  • Disable features which allow the device to be accessed remotely;
  • Take extra care when buying used devices – you don’t know what the previous owner installed on the device.
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North Las Vegas Man Indicted For Unlawful Possession Of Pipe Bomb

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: North Las Vegas Man Indicted For Unlawful Possession Of Pipe Bomb

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A previously convicted felon was charged today for possession of a 12-inch pipe bomb that was found in a North Las Vegas house, announced U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson of the District of Nevada.

Christopher Michael Robinson, 46, of North Las Vegas, is charged with one-count of unlawful possession of a destructive device and one-count of felon in possession of a firearm. His initial appearance in court is scheduled for March 1, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe.

According to the indictment and criminal complaint, on January 11, 2018, North Las Vegas Police Department officers requested assistance from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue, and the FBI related to a pipe bomb in a house. The house’s resident indicated that he had evicted Robinson for nonpayment of rent and that Robinson had in turn threatened to “blow up the house.” Bomb technicians used a robot to remove a 12-inch pipe bomb from the house. After inspection, it was determined that the pipe contained match heads, a pyrotechnic powder, and BB pellets (for fragmentation). During an interview with law enforcement, Robinson admitted to constructing the pipe bomb and stated that he was currently on parole in Hawaii for previously manufacturing a pipe bomb.

In addition to the current possession of a destructive device charge, Robinson is charged with being a former felon in possession of a destructive device after multiple prior felony convictions in Clark County, Nevada, and Hawaii.

If convicted, Robinson will face the statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per each count.

The case is a joint investigation by the FBI, the North Las Vegas Police Department, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip N. Smith Jr. is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program by the Department of Justice 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. For more information about PSN, visit www.justice.gov/usao-nv.

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Response to post-inspection report review of child protection in the Met

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Headline: Response to post-inspection report review of child protection in the Met

Today, Thursday, 22 February, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services’ (HMICFRS) published their fourth quarterly post-inspection report review of child protection in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). This is their final assessment of the progress the MPS has made since the original 2016 report was published.

In response to this report, Commander Richard Smith, Head of Safeguarding, Metropolitan Police Service, said:

“The Metropolitan Police Service is pleased that the HMICFRS have recognised the significant changes that have been made to help protect children across London, in the face of the demands of policing the capital in 2017. Progress continues to be made in numerous areas despite the scale, complexity and varied multi-agency arrangements facing the Met.

“We are aware of the urgency of improving our services further, but we also know that delivering real and sustainable improvements in every aspect of our work will take time to achieve.

“The MPS has dedicated officers and police staff in front line and specialist roles working extremely hard to safeguard children in London and like the HMICFRS, we commend their hard work keep children safe. Their work is tremendously challenging and seldom straightforward, but they are committed to achieving better outcomes for the vulnerable children they seek to assist.

“Action has been taken in every case where either the MPS or HMICFRS identified concerns that safeguarding risks had not adequately been addressed.

“Keeping London’s children and young people safe is a key priority for the MPS. In response to the findings of HMIC’s 2016 inspection, a comprehensive plan was initiated to improve our child protection services. The work we did in 2017 delivered the positive changes mentioned in the last two reports from HMICFRS but has not yet brought the scale of improvement we want.

“Our plans for 2018 have taken the most recent findings into account and the successful introduction of a new safeguarding scrutiny framework will enable us to enhance our efforts to improve outcomes for London’s most vulnerable children.”

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Sweeny Woman Convicted in Sex Trafficking Conspiracy Involving Three Minors

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Sweeny Woman Convicted in Sex Trafficking Conspiracy Involving Three Minors

GALVESTON, Texas – A Sweeny woman has pleaded guilty in Galveston federal court to conspiracy and sex trafficking of children, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Angela Marks, 24, was originally charged with nine others as part of a sex trafficking ring that used sexually-oriented websites to advertise their illicit business employing four minors as young as 16 for commercial sex. The young girls were induced into posing for pictures used in online advertisements for sex and engaged in commercial sex acts for money.

Marks was associated with three of the minor victims who began working for the sex trafficking organization in February 2017. Between Feb. 23-27, 2017, Marks was one of the defendants who directed the victims to pose in sexually provocative positions. Pictures were then taken with her phone.

After customers began responding to advertisements on Backpage.com, Marks would use a computer application to communicate with customers and to monitor the three minor victims during prostitution dates. Marks instructed the minor victims on how to conduct prostitution dates and how much to charge. During prostitution dates involving the minors at the Hobby Inn and Stay Express Inn in Houston, Marks would also hide in the hotel bathroom.

She also collected the proceeds from the prostitution dates and provided condoms, food and drugs to the minor victims.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks accepted the plea today and set sentencing for May 9, 2018. At that time, Marks faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

The FBI and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance of sheriff’s offices in Brazoria and Galveston Counties and police departments in Galveston, Sherman, Wharton, La Marque and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri Zack and Sebastian Edwards are prosecuting the case.

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Two Nixa Residents Plead Guilty, Florida Man Indicted in Scheme to Market Dietary Supplements

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Two Nixa Residents Plead Guilty, Florida Man Indicted in Scheme to Market Dietary Supplements

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that two Nixa, Mo., residents have pleaded guilty and a Florida resident has been indicted in a scheme to market an all-natural male enhancement supplement that actually contained the same active ingredient found in Viagra.

John G. Schindele, 41, and Jennifer S. Travis, 45, both of Nixa, waived their right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty in separate appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018.

Michael S. Schindele, 43, of Jacksonville, Florida, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon Schindele’s arrest and initial court appearance.

Michael Schindele, the owner and operator of Executive Image International, operated a website that sold dietary supplements and drugs to the general public. The federal indictment alleges that he worked through businesses owned and operated by John Schindele (his brother) and Travis to sell dietary supplements, which claimed to contain only all-natural ingredients. 

Michael Schindele marketed Silver Bullet as an “all-natural male performance enhancer,” an “Extreme Male Stimulant,” and a “dietary supplement.” In reality, the indictment says, Silver Bullet contained materially different ingredients than what was listed, including sildenafil, a synthetic pharmaceutical ingredient that was not disclosed to consumers purchasing the product. 

Sildenafil is the active pharmaceutical that is commonly used in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. The labeling for Silver Bullet failed to provide adequate warnings about the use of a sildenafil-containing product, which is only legally available with a prescription from a doctor.

According to the indictment, Silver Bullet was purchased and shipped from a supplier in the People’s Republic of China, then resold by Michael Schindele and others to consumers throughout the United States.

The indictment charges Michael Schindele with one count of wire fraud and one count of delivering adulterated or misbranded food. It also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Michael Schindele to forfeit to the government all property derived from the proceeds of the offense, including a money judgment of $47,930.

John Schindele, who pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of delivering adulterated or misbranded food, is the owner of Schindele Enterprises, L.L.C., and Midwest Wholesale. Travis, who also pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of delivering adulterated or misbranded food, partially owned and managed a business known as Kinevative. Both businesses sold food and drug products advertised as “dietary supplements” to customers throughout the United States and worldwide. The base of operation for both of these businesses was in Nixa.

By pleading guilty, John Schindele admitted that he marketed Silver Bullet as an “all-natural male performance enhancer,” and a “dietary supplement” and failed to disclose that sildenafil was an ingredient. John Schindele was not authorized or licensed to sell this pharmaceutical. 

According to his plea agreement, John Schindele fraudulently received $210,000 for the misrepresented and mislabeled dietary supplements from April 16, 2012, to July 8, 2015.

Travis marketed products known as Boost Ultra and Magic for Men as an “Ultra Sexual Enhancement Formula.” The products were advertised as dietary supplements, and the label listed the contents as “all natural.” Travis admitted that she failed to disclose that Boost Ultra and Magic for Men also contained sildenafil. Travis was not authorized or licensed to sell sildenafil.

Federal agents, acting in an undercover capacity, purchased products, including Boost Ultra and Magic for Men, that were advertised as containing all-natural ingredients. The supplements were purchased from websites that were traced back to Travis. The purchased dietary supplements were then tested by the FDA and found to contain undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients, including sildenafil.

According to her plea agreement, Travis fraudulently received $152,862 for the misrepresented and mislabeled dietary supplements from June 2, 2014, through Jan. 31, 2017.

Under federal statutes, John Schindele and Travis are each subject to a sentence of up to 21 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. 

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Carney and Nhan D. Nguyen. They were investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
 

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St. Joseph In-home Health Care Worker Indicted for $207,000 Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: St. Joseph In-home Health Care Worker Indicted for $207,000 Fraud Scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that additional charges have been filed against a St. Joseph, Mo., in-home health care nursing assistant for stealing bank account information from one of her clients to illegally transfer more than $207,000 out of her account.

Ashley N. Garr, 33, of St. Joseph, was charged in a 14-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today’s indictment replaces the original indictment returned on Dec. 5, 2017.

Garr is charged with eight counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft and three counts of filing false tax returns.

Today’s indictment alleges that Garr, through her work as a home health care aid, became friendly with a woman identified as “PLR.” Garr visited the home of PLR in the fall of 2016, the indictment says, and stole checks and checking account information from her. Garr allegedly used the stolen checking account information to pay her personal expenses directly from PLR’s checking account.

Among the various payments, Garr allegedly directed payments on her behalf to the IRS and two student loan accounts. Additionally, Garr allegedly used the checking account information to open and pay credit card accounts. According to the indictment, Garr fraudulently transferred at least $207,638 from the checking account of PLR.

Two of the wire fraud counts relate to a scheme in which Garr allegedly stole personal information from persons she was assisting as a home health care aide. Garr used the stolen information to prepare two false and fraudulent tax returns in 2016, the indictment says, claiming refunds totaling $20,831.

The false tax returns allegedly involved Garr’s personal income tax returns filed in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The indictment alleges that Garr inflated her income in returns filed in 2015 and 2016. Garr claimed $61,725 in wages during 2014, the indictment says, and federal withholding of $30,851. Garr claimed $89,206 in wages in 2015, the indictment says, and federal withholding of $44,593. Garr allegedly failed to report her gross income of approximately $212,892 and reported a gross income of only $26,208 for 2016.

Today’s indictment also contains a forfeiture allegations, which would require Garr to forfeit to the government any property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, including $207,638.
 
Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.
 

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KC Woman Indicted for $100,000 Tax Refund Scheme

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: KC Woman Indicted for $100,000 Tax Refund Scheme

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Timothy A. Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for a scheme to file fraudulent tax returns in order to obtain more than $100,000 in illegal tax refunds.

Tanisha Williams, 40, of Kansas City, was charged in a 21-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Williams prepared and filed false income tax returns on behalf of others that claimed refunds to which she knew they were not entitled. Williams allegedly caused 20 false returns to be filed for tax years 2012 through 2014, claiming approximately $102,172 in refunds.

At times, Williams recruited individuals to file federal income tax returns under their own names and Social Security numbers. At other times, the indictment says, Williams used stolen identity information to file federal income tax returns. Williams allegedly used false Form W-2 information to inflate the income on the federal individual income returns filed for some of the taxpayers. At other times, Williams fraudulently caused dependents to be listed on tax returns for individuals knowing the dependents were not associated with the taxpayer listed on the return.

Williams requested the refunds be deposited onto pre-paid debit cards. Once the funds were deposited to the debit cards, she would withdraw cash from them or utilize the funds for her personal expenses.

Williams is charged with 13 counts of making false claims, four counts of wire fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.

Garrison cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation.
 

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Rochester Tax Return Preparer Indicted For Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Rochester Tax Return Preparer Indicted For Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Rochester-based tax return preparer with conspiring to file false claims for tax refunds, theft of public money, and aggravated identity theft, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Brooker for the District of Minnesota.

According to the indictment, MERCEDES MALDONADO RODRIGUEZ, from 2008 through April 2013, operated a tax return preparation business located in Rochester, Minnesota. RODRIGUEZ allegedly purchased authentic birth certificates of Mexican nationals, which she and her co-conspirators then used along with other falsified documents to fraudulently obtain Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) from the Internal Revenue Service. The indictment further alleges that RODRIGUEZ and her co-conspirators used the fraudulently obtained ITINs to file fraudulent tax returns, which claimed refunds based on, among other items, false dependents and child tax credits. An ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the IRS to individuals who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a social security number.

RODRIGUEZ is further alleged to have directed the fraudulent tax refund checks to be mailed to addresses belonging to her co-conspirators, employees, and family members and then cashed.

If convicted, RODRIGUEZ faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy, 10 years in prison for each count of theft of public money and a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. She also faces substantial monetary penalties and restitution.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Brooker commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General, who investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter and Trial Attorney Christopher S. Strauss of the Tax Division.

Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.

Defendant information:

MERCEDES MALDONADO RODRIGUEZ

Rochester, Minn.

Charges:

  • Conspiracy to Defraud the United States with Respect to Claims, 1 count
  • Theft of Public Money, 7 counts
  • Aggravated Identity Theft, 33 counts
     

 

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The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.