Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Huntington man sentenced to prison for federal heroin crime

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man caught with heroin in January 2015 was sentenced today to two years and a month in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Daniel Justin Watts, 32, previously pled guilty to a single-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute heroin. U.S. Attorney Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force.

“A safe Huntington is a top priority for me and my office,” said U.S. Attorney Stuart. “I can assure you that aggressive prosecution of drug dealers and violent criminals is the cornerstone of our strategy to take back Huntington from the opioid crisis. The federal prison population is down 17% and there’s plenty of room at the inn for drug thugs.”

On January 7, 2015, agents with the Huntington FBI Drug Task Force arrested Watts in a parking lot at 1034 14th Street West in Huntington after observing him distributing heroin in the area. Officers transported Watts to the Huntington Police Department and, during a search, found heroin he had concealed in his groin area. The heroin was packaged for distribution, and Watts admitted that he intended to sell the drugs. As part of the plea agreement, Watts further admitted that he distributed heroin in Huntington during the months of December 2014 and January 2015.

Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie S. Taylor handled the case. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. 

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

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: U.S. Attorney announces 69-count indictment charging owners, managers and physicians associated with Hope Clinic

United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced the unsealing of a 69-count indictment charging a total of 12 individuals with operating a “pill mill.”  The indictment charges the owners, managers and physicians associated with HOPE Clinic, which operated as a purported pain management clinic in Beckley, Beaver and Charleston, West Virginia, as well as Wytheville, Virginia, and a related company, with conspiring to distribute oxycodone and other Schedule II controlled substances, not for legitimate medical purposes and outside the usual course of professional practice, from November 2010 to June 2015.   

United States Attorney Mike Stuart was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Philadelphia Regional Office and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sherri Arp, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office.  “I commend the work of my team, under the leadership of AUSAs Monica Coleman and Meredith Thomas and the critical work of our law enforcement partners,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Stuart commended the investigation conducted by agents with:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, OIG
• Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations
• Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Drug Enforcement Administration
• West Virginia State Police
• Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT)
• Beckley Police Department
• Kentucky State Police
• Harrison County (KY) Sheriff’s Department
• Appalachia HIDTA

The charges announced today aggressively target medical professionals involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other dangerous controlled substances. “As of today, there are 69 counts.  10 doctors in total. Clinics from Beckley to Beaver, and Charleston to Wytheville. Lots and lots of pills, and even more misery,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.   Stuart continued, “Home-grown drug dealers hidden behind the veil of a doctor’s lab coat, a medical degree and a prescription pad are every bit as bad as the heroin dealers from Detroit who bring their poisons to West Virginia.  Today’s 69-count indictment is the continuation of our efforts to hold accountable those who prey on the good citizens of West Virginia.”

The following individuals are charged in the indictment: James H. Blume, Jr., D.O, Mark T. Radcliffe, Joshua Radcliffe, Michael T. Moran, M.D., Sanjay Mehta, D.O., Brian Gullett, D.O., Vernon Stanley, M.D., Mark Clarkson, D.O., William Easley, D.O., Paul W. Burke, M.D., Roswell Tempest Lowry, M.D., and Teresa Emerson, LNP. “We are committed to protecting all those in government health programs,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Working side by side with our law enforcement partners we will aggressively investigate charges of medical providers needlessly prescribing deadly opioids.” 

In addition to the conspiracy charge, the indictment charges defendants Blume and Mark Radcliffe with maintaining drug-involved premises in Beckley, Beaver and Charleston, and includes 62 counts charging several physicians with distribution of controlled substances not for legitimate medical purposes and outside the usual course of professional practice. The indictment also charges Sanjay Mehta, D.O., a former physician at the Beckley and Beaver HOPE Clinic locations, with two counts of distribution of controlled substances causing death, and charges 10 of the defendants with conspiracy to launder drug proceeds by paying bonuses to HOPE Clinic physicians and employees of Patients, Physicians, and Pharmacists Fighting Diversion, Inc. (PPPFD), to encourage continued prescribing of Schedule II narcotics to customers.   

According to the indictment, defendant James H. Blume, Jr., D.O., the owner of the HOPE Clinic, entered into a Physician Practice Management Agreement with defendant Mark T. Radcliffe, owner of PPPFD, to be the practice manager of the HOPE Clinic. The indictment alleges that together Blume and Radcliffe operated HOPE Clinic as a cash-based business that prescribed oxycodone and other Schedule II controlled substances to customers, while refusing to accept insurance, charging in-state customers at least $275 for an initial appointment, and at least $160 for each subsequent appointment.  Out of state customers paid as much as $330 for initial visits and at least $185 for subsequent visits.   The indictment alleges that HOPE Clinic practitioners prescribed thousands of oxycodone-based pills to individual customers and some HOPE Clinic locations, including Beaver and Charleston, averaged 65 or more customers a day during a 10-hour workday with only one practitioner working.  In addition, the indictment alleges that Blume and Mark T. Radcliffe contracted the services of physicians without any knowledge of pain management who consistently conducted cursory, incomplete, or no medical examinations of Clinic customers and provided large amounts of Schedule II prescription medications to customers that they knew, and had reasonable cause to believe, were drug addicts. The indictment further alleges that Mark T. Radcliffe and his son, Joshua Radcliffe, neither of whom had any formal medical education or training, instructed medical practitioners at HOPE Clinic to provide customers with prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances, sometimes in direct contrast with the practitioners’ clinical opinions.

“Those who facilitate the abuse of controlled dangerous substances are negatively impacting our entire community and will be held accountable,” said Kimberly Lappin, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Washington D.C. Field Office.  “Today’s indictment is a reminder that IRS-CI will remain vigilant in our financial investigations and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat this type of conduct.”

If convicted on all charges as alleged in the indictment, Dr. Blume and Mark Radcliffe face up to 100 years; Joshua Radcliffe faces up to 20 years; Teresa Emerson faces up to 20 years; Michael Moran faces up to 60 years; Sanjay Mehta faces a forty year mandatory minimum sentence up to life imprisonment; Vernon Stanley faces up to 240 years; Brian Gullett faces up to 340 years; Mark Clarkson faces up to 80 years; William Earley faces up to 200 years; Paul Burke faces up to 180 years; and Roswell Tempest Lowry faces up to 120 years. In a related case, John Pellegrini faces up to 20 years imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to commit money laundering.   

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

Please find a link to the Indictment and Information below.

Indictment

Information

Please note:  An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

 
 

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: 19 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.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Local Man Sent to Prison for Robbing Two Banks

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for his conviction of bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Johnathan Samuel Borden, 32, pleaded guilty Nov. 20, 2017.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey handed Borden a 48-month-sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the banks.

On Jan. 6, 2017, law enforcement officers responded to a bank robbery at the Texas Bridge Credit Union in the 3100 block of Holly in Corpus Christi. After entering the bank, a male, later identified as Borden, handed the teller a bag and demanded money. Borden then left the bank with a significant amount of U.S. currency. During the investigation, agents were able to link Borden to an additional robbery that occurred Dec. 20, 2016, at the Navy Army Community Credit Union in the 9500 block of South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi. In that case, Borden again handed the teller a black bag, demanded money and left with it.  

In federal custody since his arrest, Borden will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI and the Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Owner of Basketball Academy Pleads Guilty to Visa Fraud

Columbia, South Carolina —- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Michael A. Rawson, age 48, of the United Kingdom, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville, to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Rawson and other associates made false statements to the United States in an effort to get an L1 Visa, which allows for intra-company transfers if certain criteria are met, to aid in the establishment of a for-profit basketball academy in the United States: 22ft Basketball Academy.  At one time 22ft Basketball Academy had relationships with Shannon Forrest Christian School and Anderson Christian School.  A key false statement was that 22ft Dutch, a related entity, was operational in Europe and would remain so after Rawson immigrated to the United States to work with 22ft US.  In truth, 22ft Dutch had no operational office and ceased to do business while Rawson was in the United States.  Thus, there could be no legitimate intra-company transfer. 

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Rawson can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, supervised release of 3 years, plus a special assessment of $100. 

The case was investigated by agents with the ICE – Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Area Man Sentenced for Preparing False Tax Returns

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Columbia, South Carolina —- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Desmond Lamar Williams was sentenced for Preparation of False Tax Returns, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, § 7206(2).  Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, sentenced Williams to 24 months in jail after a sentencing hearing. 

Facts presented in court established that Williams was an active duty member of the United States Army for many years, and that for the tax years 2011-2014, he also worked as a tax preparer. An investigation by the Internal Revenue Service revealed that many of the returns Williams prepared contained false information. As a result of Williams’ fraudulent actions, the government suffered a loss of $712,728.00.

The Internal Revenue Service investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney John C. Potterfield, of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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Contact: 

John C. Potterfield (803) 929-3000

Updated February 20, 2018

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Selling Heroin And Fentanyl That Led To The Deaths Of Two People

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

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Aaron J. McDuffie, aka “G”, 23, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to distribution of heroin and butyryl fentanyl causing death, and distribution of fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl causing death before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a $1,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wei Xiang, who handled the case, stated that on June 27, 2015, the defendant met with a repeat drug customer identified as “A.E,” a 24 year-old Cheektowaga man. McDuffie sold A.E. a quantity of powder that the defendant advertised as “fire,” a mixture that contained heroin and butyryl fentanyl. A.E. died as a result of using the drugs McDuffie provided to him.

On November 23, 2016, McDuffie met with another repeat drug customer identified as “D.M,” a 34 year-old West Seneca man, and sold him a quantity of powder that the defendant advertised once again as “fire.” This mixture contained fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl. D.M. also died as a result of using the drugs McDuffie provided to him.

On November 30, 2016, law enforcement officers arrested McDuffie leaving his residence in Buffalo. The defendant was on his way to distribute a quantity of powder that contained fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, and furanyl fentanyl. Under McDuffie’s’s living room couch, officers recovered a Hi-Point, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun that was loaded with eight rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.

“With his plea, this defendant has admitted that the drugs he sold killed two people,” stated U.S. Attorney Kennedy. “Under federal law, he is, therefore, legally responsible for their deaths. Any entrepreneur who is considering getting into the illicit drug trade must recognize that a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison represents a very significant cost of doing business. The reason the price is so steep is because the lives of all people in our community—even those who are broken and addicted—are valuable.  Hopefully, this plea will help to deliver that message.”

DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt stated, “Opioid traffickers fill glassine bags branded with stamps to attract customers; in this case, the highly potent doses were branded with ‘Fire.’ Today’s plea is another step in the process of bringing justice to the family and friends of ‘A.E.’ and ‘D.M.’ who overdosed after using ‘Fire.’ DEA and our partners in law enforcement will continue to fight opioid distributors at all levels, from the street dealers to international traffickers.”

The plea is result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division; Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Zack; and the West Seneca Police Department, under the direction of  Chief Daniel Denz.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Carlsbad Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine in Southeastern New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Kenneth Dickerson, 56, of Carlsbad, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking charges under a plea agreement requiring him to be sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment followed by a term of supervised release to be determined by the court

Dickerson pled guilty to charges resulting from a multi-agency investigation into a criminal organization that allegedly was trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine and firearms in southeastern New Mexico in spring 2017.  The investigation initiated by the DEA, ATF and the HIDTA Region VI Pecos Valley Drug Task Force and initially targeted a methamphetamine trafficking organization operating in southeastern New Mexico that allegedly was supplied by Daniel P. Bruton, 39, of Artesia, N.M., and Marcos A. Martinez, 31, of Roswell, N.M.  The investigative team quickly expanded to include HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, the New Mexico State Police, the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, and the investigative targets expanded to include other alleged drug traffickers in Eddy and Chaves Counties.  The investigation was designated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.  During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and 44 firearms.

Dickerson, Bruton and Martinez were charged along with seven other co-defendants in a 34-count indictment filed on Oct. 3, 2017, that alleges that Dickerson, Bruton, Martinez and their co-defendants conspired to violate the federal narcotics trafficking and firearms laws from May 2017 through Oct. 2017 in Eddy and Chaves Counties and elsewhere in New Mexico.  The indictment includes 55 overt acts that discuss the conspiracy’s operations, including the quantities of methamphetamine – ranging from multiple ounces to five pounds – allegedly distributed by the defendants on a routine basis.  It also describes the firearms – including assault rifles that allegedly were to be smuggled into Mexico – allegedly used by the defendants in relation to their drug trafficking activities.  

During today’s proceedings, Dickerson pled guilty to two counts of the indictment charging him with conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  In entering the guilty plea, Dickerson admitted that between April 2017 and July 2017, he conspired with his codefendants to distribute methamphetamine in Eddy County.  Dickerson further admitted that on April 19, 2017, he distributed 6.9 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement, and on July 27, 2017, he picked up approximately 116.62 grams of pure methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it to other individuals.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

One of Dickerson’s co-defendant, Chelcy A. Vasquez, 26, of Dexter, N.M., previously entered a guilty plea on Feb. 5, 2018, to methamphetamine trafficking charges and the use of a cellular phone in the commission of a drug trafficking crime.  At sentencing, Vasquez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

The remaining eight co-defendants have entered pleas of not guilty to the charges against them.  Charges in indictments and criminal complaints are only accusations.  Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

These cases were investigated by the DEA, ATF, HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, the New Mexico State Police, the HIDTA Region VI Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, the HIDTA Region VI Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara N. Cobos and Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee L. Camacho of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the cases filed as the result of the investigation.

The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department and Artesia Police Department and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force.  The HIDTA Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force is comprised of investigators from the Roswell Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI and the Chaves County Sherriff’s Office.  The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.  HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking Charges in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Esmeralda Dominguez, 33, of Glendale, Ariz., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking charges.

Dominguez and co-defendant Frank Lara, 45, of Albuquerque, N.M., were charged by criminal complaint in July 2017, with methamphetamine trafficking offenses.  According to the complaint, Dominguez and Lara distributed approximately 56.09 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement on July 15, 2016, in Dona Ana County, N.M.

Dominguez and Lara subsequently were charged in a two-count indictment filed on Oct. 19, 2017, with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from July 14, 2016 through July 15, 2016, and distribution of methamphetamine on July 15, 2016.  According to the indictment, the offenses took place in Dona Ana County.

During today’s proceedings, Dominguez pled guilty to the charges in the indictment without the benefit of a plea agreement.  At sentencing, she faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison.  A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Lara has entered a plea of not guilty the charges against him.  Charges in criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Martinez.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Hudson County Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Robbing Jersey City Bank

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bayonne, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for robbing Bayonne Community Bank in Jersey City, New Jersey, on May 25, 2016, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Patrick O’Boyle, 60, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an indictment charging him with one count of bank robbery. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On May 25, 2016, O’Boyle robbed the Bayonne Community Bank by approaching the teller and demanding all “your 100s, 50s, and 20s and make it quick because my car is double parked outside.” O’Boyle had his left arm clutched at his side as if he had something under his hooded sweatshirt, which the teller thought might have been a gun. The teller handed him cash, and O’Boyle fled the bank.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced O’Boyle to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher in Newark, and officers of the Jersey City Police Department, under the direction of Director James Shea, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari B. Fontecchio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark.