Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentry

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that SALVADOR TENOCO-RODRIGUEZ age 40, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to a one-count Bill of Information for illegal reentry of a removed alien after deportation.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Honduran Man Sentenced to 2 Years for Immigration Offense

United States District Court Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced LAGOS to the maximum sentence, 2 years, followed by one year of supervised release, a $100 special assessment fee, and a $5,000 fine. The defendant will be surrendered to the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings after he completes his sentence.  

According to court documents, on March 21, 2017, LAGOS was found in the United States after having been previously deported from the United States on January 13, 2016.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: New Haven Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Heroin Trafficking Ring

John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ELVIN PLAZA, also known as “Jordan,” 40, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in a heroin trafficking ring.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad targeted a New Haven-based heroin trafficking organization led by Bienvenido and Antonio Gonzalez.  The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, controlled purchases of narcotics and physical and video surveillance, revealed that the Gonzalez brothers regularly purchased bulk quantities of heroin from suppliers located in the Bronx, New York, and sold the heroin through a network of redistributors, including PLAZA, in New Haven and elsewhere.  PLAZA regularly purchased between 200 and 300 grams of heroin from Bienvenido Gonzalez and then sold the drug to his own customers.

The investigation resulted in federal charges against 24 individuals.

PLAZA was arrested on March 16, 2017.  On November 1, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of, heroin.

Bienvenido Gonzalez and Antonio Gonzalez pleaded guilty to related charges and await sentencing.

PLAZA has 10 prior convictions, including three drug-related convictions, and a sexual offense that involved a minor victim.

The DEA’s New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad includes officers from the Bristol, Hamden, Milford, Monroe, New Haven, Shelton, Wallingford and Wilton Police Departments.  The New Haven, East Haven and West Haven Police Departments, together with the U.S. Coast Guard, provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Patrick F. Caruso.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Identity Theft

BOSTON – A Worcester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to fraud and identity theft charges arising from unlawfully using the identity of a disabled Medicare beneficiary for 17 years.

Jose Agosto, 51, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud, four counts of misusing a Social Security number, three counts of making false statements relating to health care services, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2018. Agosto was charged on Aug. 9, 2017, and has been in custody since.

Agosto admitted that he began living under the name of another individual in order to avoid the consequences of an arrest warrant, and that he used the victim’s name and other personal identifying information to obtain replacement Social Security cards, driver’s licenses and bank accounts. Agosto also admitted to seeking medical treatment under the victim’s name and that doing so caused medical providers to submit more than $148,000 in claims to Medicare, despite the fact that Agosto was not a Medicare beneficiary. In addition, Agosto executed promissory notes under the victim’s name and then defaulted on those notes. Agosto acknowledged that by using the victim’s identity, Agosto threatened the victim’s continued receipt of Social Security and Medicare benefits as well as the victim’s credit rating.

Furthermore, Agosto admitted to leaving threatening voice mails in an effort to intimidate the victim and his family. In these voice mails, Agosto threatened to kill various members of the victim’s family and warned of a “massacre.” One such statement made by Agosto was: “I’m going to start killing all of your family one-by-one. I’ll start killing your mother, I’ll kill your sister, and then the last one’s going to be you.”  

Each wire fraud count provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charges of Social Security fraud and making false statements provide for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, up to 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. 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; Philip Coyne, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations; and Christina Scaringi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Regional Office, made the announcement today. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Investigations provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Leominster Woman Indicted for Stealing Social Security and Veterans Benefits

BOSTON – A Leominster woman was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston for theft of Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits.   

Joyce Progin, 70, was indicted on two counts of theft of public funds. Progin was released after appearing before U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy today at 3:00 p.m. 

According to the indictment unsealed today, from November 2009 through March 2017, Progin stole approximately $55,267 in Social Security benefits, and from November 2009 through November 2017, she stole approximately $269,978 in benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Scott Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Sean Smith, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office, made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Burzycki of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Monongalia County woman sentenced for drug distribution charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Hollie Jo Exline, of Dellslow, West Virginia, was sentenced today to time served and six months home detention, to be followed by six months of supervised release, for a drug distribution charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Exline, age 23, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Use of Communication Facility” in September 2017. Exline admitted to using a phone to distribute and assist in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone. The crime occurred in Monongalia County in February 2017.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). 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.

Senior U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Seven Aliens Indicted on Illegal Reentry Charges, False Representation of a Social Security Account Number, False Claim Of United States Citizenship with Intent to Engage Unlawfully in Employment, and Aggravated Identity Theft

RALEIGH – Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned indictments charging VALENTIN GARCIA-CRUZ, age 21, of Mexico, JUAN ALVAREZ-GUTIERREZ, age 39, of Mexico, ANA ROSA FERNANDEZ, age 53, of Honduras, JUAN LOPEZ-RODRIGUEZ, age 42, of Mexico, and MARCIO SANTOS-PORTILLO, age 44, of Honduras, with Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.

Additionally, a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned an indictment charging JOSE NOEL IZAGUIRRE-INESTROZA, age 42, of Honduras, and WILSON ABAD INESTROZA, age 37, of Honduras, with False Representation of a Social Security Account Number, False Representation of United States Citizenship with Intent to Engage Unlawfully in Employment in the United States, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien.

If convicted of Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, GARCIA-CRUZ, found in Wake County, ALVAREZ-GUTIERREZ, found in New Hanover County, and LOPEZ-RODRIGUEZ, found in Wake County, would face maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

SANTOS-PORTILLO, found in New Hanover County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to a felony conviction (evading arrest). If convicted, he would face maximum penalties of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

FERNANDEZ, found in Onslow County, is alleged to have been previously deported subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction (conspiracy to manufacture marijuana). If convicted she would face maximum penalties of twenty years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

If convicted of False Representation of a Social Security Account Number, False Representation of United States Citizenship with Intent to Engage Unlawfully in Employment in the United States, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Illegal Reentry of a Deported Alien, IZAGUIRRE-INESTROZA, found in Sampson County, and INESTROZA, found in Sampson County, would face maximum penalties of twelve years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any term of imprisonment.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

The cases are being investigated by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – Leroy Gallegos, 58, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 60 months in prison for his conviction on a methamphetamine trafficking charge.  Gallegos will be on supervised release for four years after completing his prison sentence.

Gallegos was arrested on Oct. 4, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with distribution of methamphetamine.  According to the complaint, Gallegos sold approximately four ounces of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement agent on Aug. 31, 2017, in Bernalillo County, N.M. 

Gallegos subsequently was indicted on Oct. 24, 2017, and was charged with distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.  Gallegos pled guilty to the indictment on Nov. 1, 2017, without the benefit of a plea agreement.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Former Goffstown Youth Coach is Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

            CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Matthew Riehl, 25, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

            According to court documents and statements in court, Riehl coached youth sports teams in Goffstown.  Between July of 2015 and August of 2016, while posing as a teenage girl, he contacted his victims using social media accounts, including Instagram, Snapchat and KIK Messenger, and persuaded his victims to take sexually explicit photographs of themselves and send the photographs to him.  When some of the victims sent pictures that were not sexually explicit, Riehl worked to convince them to take photographs showing more sexually explicit conduct.  In some instances, Riehl was able to coerce the victims to send explicit photographs by threatening to post on social media photographs that the victims previously had sent to him. 

            On August 31, 2016, a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence in Goffstown and Riehl’s cell phone was seized.  A forensic examination of the phone by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force revealed approximately 500 photographs of minor boys, in various states of dress, including examples of child pornography.  Numerous photographs depicted individuals who were members of teams that Riehl had coached.

            Riehl, who previously pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.  He will also have to register as a sex offender for life. 

            “This 25-year sentence demonstrates that those who use the Internet to prey on young victims will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “It is a sad fact of modern life that some individuals adopt false identities on the Internet in order to manipulate and exploit their young victims.  We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who create child pornography.  I commend the bravery of the victims and their families who cooperated with this investigation and encourage all parents to speak to their children about the dangers that lurk on the Internet.”

            “This case involves an egregious breach of public trust, given Mr. Riehl’s former position in the community, and today’s significant sentencing ensures that he no longer has access to children,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Shea of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Boston.  “HSI is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our law enforcement partners and other stakeholders aggressively engaged in the effort against child predators.”  

            “This investigation is another fine example of the collaborative efforts of state, local and federal law enforcement agencies working to bring to justice those who prey on society’s most innocent victims,” said Detective Sergeant Thomas A. Grella, Commander, New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. 

            The Goffstown Police Department would like to thank everyone involved in this case for coming forward and providing crucial information that has been instrumental in seeing this case come to a successful conclusion.

            This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Goffstown and Bedford Police Departments, the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes members of several other police departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arnold Huftalen and Georgiana Konesky.

            In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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.

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