Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Judge Sentences Pittsburgh Heroin Dealer to 8 Years in Prison

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to eight years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating the federal drug laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer imposed the sentence on Clinton Robinson, 33, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

According to information presented to the court, from January 2016 to August 2016, Clinton conspired with others to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 700 grams but less than one kilogram of heroin. In addition, on August 22, 2016, Clinton attempted to possess with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin.

Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. Johnston prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. This prosecution was part of a federally administered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that resulted in several federal indictments in August of 2016. The OCDETF task force was headed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was comprised of members drawn from the FBI Greater Pittsburgh Safe Streets Task Force including the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Wilkinsburg Police Department, Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, and the Allegheny County Police Department. Substantial assistance was provided by FBI San Juan, Puerto Rico (St. Thomas Resident Agency, U.S. Virgin Islands) and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Numerous other FBI field offices, including Detroit, Cleveland, New York, and Atlanta, in addition to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, also assisted with this investigation. The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

United States Attorney Brady commended the agencies for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Clinton Robinson.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Two More Sentenced on Charges Arising Out of ATF-Led Operation Targeting Drug Trafficking and Firearms Crime in Bernalillo County

ALBUQUERQUE – In Aug. 2016, a multi-agency investigation led by the ATF concluded with the filing of 59 federal indictments and a federal criminal complaint charging 103 Bernalillo County residents with federal firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses.  To date, 84 of these defendants have been convicted, including 83 who have entered guilty pleas, and 60 of them have been sentenced.

The investigation was undertaken in support of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets “the worst of the worst” offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders for federal prosecution primarily based on their prior criminal convictions with the goal of removing repeat offenders from communities in New Mexico for as long as possible.

This week two Albuquerque residents were sentenced in federal court for their convictions on drug trafficking charges.  Jesus Parra, 30, was sentenced on Feb. 5, 2018, to 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his methamphetamine trafficking conviction.  Timothy Dilley, 35, was sentenced today to 19 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release for his heroin and methamphetamine trafficking conviction.

Parra was charged in an indictment filed on June 30, 2016, with distribution of methamphetamine on May 12, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  On June 12, 2017, Parra pled guilty to an information charging him with distribution of methamphetamine and admitted that on May 12, 2016, he distributed methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent. 

Dilley and co-defendant Jonathan Aragon, 38, were arrested in July 2016, based on an indictment alleging that they participated in a drug trafficking conspiracy, and distributed methamphetamine and heroin in June 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.  On Sept. 26, 2016, Dilley pled guilty to distributing heroin and methamphetamine on June 15, 2016.  In entering the guilty plea, Dilley admitted selling heroin and methamphetamine to an undercover ATF agent.  Aragon pled guilty on Jan. 20, 2017, and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2018.

Sixteen of the defendants charged as the result of the ATF investigation have entered not guilty pleas.  Charges in indictments are merely accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.   Two defendants are fugitives and the charges against two defendants have been dismissed.

These cases were investigated by the Albuquerque office of ATF, and Parra and Dilley were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Tan Co. Owner Sentenced on Federal Kidnapping Charges

St. Louis, MO – Todd Beckman was sentenced to 240 months in prison for his role in kidnapping a Maplewood man.             

According to court documents, on November 21, 2016, brothers Blake and Caleb Laubinger entered the victim’s residence and, when he arrived home, attacked and confined him with zip ties, threatening to kill him if he screamed. They transported the victim in a rental truck to Blake Laubinger’s residence, and held him in the basement in zip ties, handcuffs and duct tape. Todd Beckman and Kerry Roades arrived at the residence. Beckman and Roades beat the victim and pressed the barrel of a handgun to his head. They accused him of stealing from Blake Laubinger and demanded money. The next day, the Laubinger brothers told the victim if they did not get ransom money from his parents in Florida they would kill him. The victim was repeatedly beaten, tased, and assaulted by the kidnappers. The kidnappers made ransom calls to the victim’s parents demanding money in exchange for his life.

On November 22, Blake and Caleb Laubinger, and Todd Beckman, transported the victim in the rental truck to Todd Beckman’s property and confined him in a shipping container.  Beckman put a handgun to the victim’s head and threatened to kill him.

On November 23, the victim’s parents paid approximately $27,000 in ransom to Todd Beckman. Shortly after, the kidnappers removed the victim from the shipping container and threatened to kill him if he said anything to anyone. The kidnappers took the victim in a “St. Louis Tan Co.” van to Gravois Bluffs shopping center, where they released him.

Todd Beckman, 53 of Fenton, pled guilty on November 2 to one felony count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping.  He appeared today for sentencing in front of U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig.

This case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Maplewood Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys John T Davis and Stephen Casey are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: St. Martinville man sentenced to 60 months in prison for drug distribution, firearms possession

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced today that a St. Martinville man was sentenced to five years in prison for drug distribution and firearm charges.

Clay Anthony Robertson, 31, of St. Martinville, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to five years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of firearms by a convicted felon.  He was also sentenced to four years of supervised release. According to the October 23, 2017 guilty plea, law enforcement agents searched Robertson’s former apartment in Lafayette on January 19, 2017. Law enforcement agents recovered more than 500 grams of cocaine, 31 grams of marijuana dipped in Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) wax and $64,280.  Law enforcement also recovered a .40 caliber pistol, a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, 30 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, and 41 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. Agents also discovered that the .40 caliber pistol was stolen, and that Robertson had previously been convicted of a felony controlled substance offense.

The DEA, ATF, Lafayette Metro Narcotics Task Force and the St. Martin Parish Narcotics Division of the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Six Individuals Charged in $7 Million International Investment Scam

HOUSTON – Charges were unsealed today against six individuals for their alleged participation in an elaborate international advance fee and money laundering scheme. The scheme allegedly involved the impersonation of Branch Banking & Trust (BB&T) and JPMorgan Chase (Chase) executives, the fabrication of U.S. government documents, the creation of fraudulent investment agreements in the name of BB&T and Chase and the purchase of luxury vehicles to launder the proceeds of the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Field Office and Inspector General Steve A. Linick for the U.S. Department of State made the announcement.

Uju Okigbo, 48, of Richmond; Chioma Okafor, 28, of Houston; Marita Ranalan Underwood, 61, of Manila, Philippines; John Christian Rutledge, 64, of Yaphank, New York; and Osa May Martin, 68, of Carthage, Missouri, were charged in an indictment unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas. All five defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Okigbo and Okafor were also charged with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments as well as two counts each of wire fraud and two counts each of concealment money laundering. Okigbo is also charged with three counts of engaging in transactions with proceeds of specified unlawful activity and one count of aggravated identity theft for impersonating a U.S. banking executive. Underwood, Rutledge and Martin are also charged with one count of conspiracy to wrongfully use government seals.

Okigbo was already in custody as of today. Martin made her initial appearance this afternoon in front of a U.S. magistrate judge in Springfield, Missouri, and Rutledge is scheduled to make his initial appearance. 

A sixth individual, Tiffany Sourjohn, 47, of Miami, Oklahoma, was charged by an information with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wrongful use of government seals, which was also unsealed today. Sourjohn made her initial appearance this morning and entered a guilty plea to the information in front of Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. of the Southern District of Texas.

According to the charging documents, the scheme involved fraudulent offers of investment funding by perpetrators primarily living in Nigeria who impersonated U.S. bank officials and financial consultants over the Internet and phone. Victims in various countries were deceived into believing they would receive millions of dollars of investment funding as part of joint ventures with U.S. banks, usually BB&T or Chase. The perpetrators utilized false domain names to make it appear that senders of emails were actually affiliated with BB&T or Chase. To convince victims the opportunities were authentic, the perpetrators recruited U.S. citizens to pose as bank “representatives” at in-person meetings with victims around the world and, if occurring abroad, utilized sham visits to the local U.S. embassy or consulate and fabricated U.S. government documents to make the victims believe the U.S. government was sponsoring the investment agreements. The victims were then allegedly induced to pay tens of thousands, and often hundreds of thousands, of dollars to U.S.-based bank accounts on the belief that such payments were necessary to effectuate their investment agreements. 

According to the charging documents, to ensure the proceeds made it back to Nigeria, after victims wired in funds, money movers who controlled the U.S. bank accounts liquidated the proceeds through outgoing wire transfers to exporters, cash withdrawals and purchases of vehicles, including luxury brands such as Land Rover and Mercedes Benz, which were then shipped to Nigeria. Okigbo and Okafor were primarily money movers in the scheme, while Underwood, Rutledge, Martin and Sourjohn were representatives, according to the charges.

The scheme allegedly resulted in losses of more than $7 million from victims in more than 20 countries. To date, a house in Richmond, a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover and approximately $200,000 in cash, all directly traceable to victims’ payments, have been seized.

The FBI and Department of State – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney William E. Johnston of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. AUSA Kristine Rollinson is handling forfeiture matters.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Federal Agents Make Arrests Related to Firearms and Narcotics Violations

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Authorities executed multiple search warrants and arrested five Corpus Christi residents following enforcement actions resulting in criminal complaints for federal firearms and/or narcotics violations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Those arrested today include Annabella Lynn Davila, 20, Carlos Virgilio Hernandez, 30, and John Rudy Hernandez, 27, and Abelardo Garza Jr., 33. All made their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge B. Janice Ellington, at which time they were ordered into custody pending a detention hearing set for Feb. 14 at 9:00 am. Travis Robert Hellman, 34, was taken into custody last night on unrelated charges and is expected to appear in federal court in the near future. 

Hellman and Davila are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, while Carlos and John Hernandez are charged with possession of a firearm after being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Garza was taken into custody for allegedly being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

As part of an undercover operation, Special Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) Narcotics Division purchased multiple firearms from individuals operating out of the Touch of Ink tattoo parlor in Corpus Christi, according to the indictment. On each occasion, the individual selling the firearm was allegedly prohibited from possessing the firearm and/or ammunition under federal law.

Further, during one of the firearms purchases, Hellman agreed to sell methamphetamine that Davila delivered, according to the complaint.       

The possession of firearms charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Those charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances face up to 20 years of imprisonment and a possible $1 million maximum fine.

The ATF and CCPD conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the cases.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Former Alarm Monitoring Company Worker Admits to Stealing from Company

HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Rosharon woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Sonja Martinez admitted she and her co-conspirators electronically submitted falsified vendor requests for payment to divert money to themselves from their former employer’s bank account.

Martinez worked at the Houston branch of a Florida-based security company that installed, tested and monitored fire and security systems. The Florida company had acquired the Houston branch from another company and she had worked at the predecessor company. 

The company used third party vendors to install its alarm systems. Martinez worked in the Accounting Department and was responsible for paying the vendors and noting in the company’s accounting system. From November 2011 until May 2016, Martinez and others participated in a scheme to divert approximately $1,661,163 to themselves and their family members. 

A computer in Texas was used to submit fraudulent vendor requests for payment to their employer’s out-of-state bank. Martinez and others then utilized an electronic bank token to release funds and transfer money from their employer’s account to their own bank accounts and the bank accounts of their relatives. 

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea today and set sentencing for April 26, 2018, at which time Martinez faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. At the hearing today, the court also entered a money judgment against Martinez for $739,450.36.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending her sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case. 

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Northern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $350,706,916.75 in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers and Crime Victims in Fiscal Year 2017

DALLAS – U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox announced today that the Northern District of Texas collected $350,706,916.75 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2017. Of this amount, $322,529,436.78 was collected in criminal actions and $28,177,479.97 was collected in civil actions. 

Additionally, the Northern District of Texas worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect another $2,668,204.90 in cases pursued jointly with these offices. Of this amount, $101,752.75 was collected in criminal actions and $2,566,452.15 was collected in civil actions.                  

Overall, the Justice Department collected just over $15 billion in civil and criminal actions in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2017. 

“The message in these numbers should be clear,” said U.S. Attorney Nealy Cox. “This office will vigorously pursue all available enforcement remedies to recover assets for victims of crime and the federal treasury. It continues to be a critical aspect of our mission to pursue Justice on behalf of the citizens of the United States.”

Substantial collections in FY 2017 in the Northern District of Texas included:

• $287 million fine paid in the US v. ZTE Corporation terrorism financing case
• $16.3 million in forfeited assets restored to restitution to dozens of victims of wire fraud and money laundering in US v. Jeffrey David Gunselman
• $12.2 million settlement with International Tutoring Services, LLC et al., resolving allegations of improper kickbacks in association with healthcare claims
•  $8.45 million settlement with MB2 Dental resolving allegations of submission of false claims associated with dental services
• $7.4 million in restitution in US v. Richard Ferdinand Toussaint, Jr. for health care fraud
• $1.8 million to dozens of oil and gas investor victims in US v. Brian Polito
• $900,000 in civil damages for disabled workers in the US v. Kenneth Henry and Hill Country Farms forced labor case
• $700,500 in restitution to victims of insurance fraud in US v. Vincent Bazemore
• $645,000 in restitution to a victim of bank fraud in US v. Nick Daryanani
• $415,000 in restitution to a victim of embezzlement in US v. Pamela and Richard Abeyta

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims.  The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss.  While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violations of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws.  In addition, civil debts were collected on behalf of several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Internal Revenue Service, Small Business Administration and Department of Education.

Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Texas, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $6,578,012 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2017. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

# # #

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Motley County High School Teacher Sentenced for the Enticement of a Sixteen Year-Old Student

LUBBOCK — Shonna Lynn Calaway, 48, of Matador, Texas, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 188 months in federal prison for having a sexual relationship with a sixteen year-old student, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox of the Northern District of Texas.

Calaway pleaded guilty in October 2017 to one count of enticement of a minor. She has been in custody since September 2017.

According to the plea agreement factual resume filed in the case, during the 2016-2017 school year, Calaway was employed as a teacher at Motley County High School. In December 2016, Calaway used the Snapchat application to communicate with a sixteen year-old sophomore, John Doe, at Motley County High School. Calaway sent John Doe a message asking him if he wanted to “hang out,” followed by sexually explicit photos.

Shortly after the Snapchat exchange, Calaway drove to a residence in Roaring Springs, Texas, and picked up John Doe. She drove him to a somewhat secluded scenic location near Roaring Springs and engaged in sexual conduct with John Doe.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood leverages federal, state and local resources to better investigate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children. Project Safe Childhood also prioritizes identifying and rescuing victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Lamb County Sheriff’s Office, Motley County Sheriff’s Office, Floyd County District Attorney’s Office and Lamb County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag was in charge of the prosecution.

# # #