INDIANAPOLIS MAN SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS IN PRISON FOR GUN, IDENTITY THEFT CRIMES

INDIANAPOLIS – Joseph H. Hogsett, the United States Attorney, announced today that William "Ricky" Harris, age 34, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 72 months (6 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. This follows his plea of guilty to charges of possessing firearms as a convicted felon and access device fraud.

"I know I sound like a broken record, but this Office simply has no tolerance for convicted felons who illegally arm themselves," Hogsett said. "We are doing all we can to help reduce violent crime, and we are committed to keeping guns out of the hands of violent, repeat offenders in this Indianapolis."

In pleading guilty, Harris admitted that on December 13, 2011, he was found by law enforcement to be in possession of a dozen different firearms. In 2003, Harris was convicted of a felony in Marion County, and therefore is not legally entitled to possess firearms. Guns confiscated from Harris included:

•Beretta .32 caliber pistol

•Marlin .22 caliber rifle

•Winchester 16 gauge shotgun

•High Standard 12 gauge shotgun

•Winchester 12 gauge shotgun

•Kel-Tec .223 caliber pistol

•Henry .22 caliber rifle

•Harrington & Richardson .410 shotgun

•Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol

•Browning 12 gauge shotgun

•Ruger .357 caliber revolver

In addition, Harris pleaded guilty to charges that he possessed 15 or more counterfeit access devices, such as credit cards, debit cards, and fraudulent account numbers. The information filed earlier this year specifically describes a number of counterfeit gift cards that had been re-encoded with fraudulent account information. During the course of the investigation, Harris also admitted that he had been a drug dealer in Indianapolis for many years, selling both marijuana and heroin.

These indictments come as part of the U.S. Attorney's Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), and are the result of collaborative investigative efforts by the ATF, the United States Secret Service, and local law enforcement.

Launched in March 2011, the VCI has produced a dramatic increase in the number of gun-related charges brought federally – from just 14 charges in 2010 to more than 110 last year. Already in 2012, 61 felon in possession of a firearm charges have been filed as part of the Violent Crime Initiative, putting the office on pace to meet or exceed last year's total.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers, who prosecuted the case for the government, Harris was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release to be served upon his release. Federal sentencing rules require that, at a minimum, Harris will serve 85% of his sentence in prison.

Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictments

MADISON, WI—A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. A charge is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Fitchburg Man Charged with Fraud Scheme

Christian Peterson, 42, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, is charged with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of making a false statement to a financial institution, and four counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that Peterson misrepresented to banks that loans and a business line of credit were intended for a legitimate business purpose when, in fact, he used all or a portion of each loan and line of credit to gamble at casinos or for personal expenses. The indictment also alleges that Peterson claimed that certain accounts receivable were loans when, in fact, they were the result of gambling debts.

If convicted, Peterson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each bank fraud and false statement count and a maximum penalty of 10 years on each money laundering charge. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Connell.

Minnesota Man Charged with Producing False Identification Documents

Cherub Kumar, 19, Woodbury, Minnesota, is charged with two counts of producing a false identification document, two counts of transferring a false identification document, and one count of trafficking in false authentication features for use in false identification documents.

The indictment alleges that Kumar produced and transferred a false Florida driver’s license in February 2012 and produced and transferred a false Ohio driver’s license in March 2012. The indictment also alleges that he transported 300 counterfeit holographic overlays for use in producing false drivers’ licenses.

If convicted, Kumar faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and University of Wisconsin Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin.

Superior Resident Charged with Possessing Child Pornography

Samuel L. Dewitt, 40, Superior, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and with possessing a computer hard drive containing visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that he distributed the child pornography on November 6, 2011, and that he possessed the hard drive on December 15, 2011.

If convicted, Dewitt faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation and the Lake Superior Forensic Technology and Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

Watertown Man Faces Child Pornography Charges

Russell J. Forsman, 43, Watertown, Wisconsin, is charged with knowingly receiving visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The indictment alleges that on February 28, 2005, Forsman received an e-mail containing a child pornography video. The indictment also charges Forsman with possessing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on October 27, 2011, he possessed CDs containing visual depictions of child pornography.

If convicted, Forsman faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Milwaukee Police Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman.

This case, and the Dewitt case, were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “Resources.”

Madison Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm

Christopher Carthans, 23, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that he possessed a 9mm pistol on May 15, 2012.

If convicted, Carthans faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department; Fitchburg Police Department; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Rhinelander Man Charged with Gun Crimes

John W. Houghton, 43, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition and possessing ammunition after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. The indictment alleges that he possessed the ammunition on May 31, 2012.

If convicted, Houghton faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Rhinelander Police Department and Oneida County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

Chicago Man Charged with Making a False Statement When Attempting to Purchase a Firearm

Jeffrey R. Vali, 32, Chicago, is charged with making a false written statement when attempting to purchase a 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a licensed firearms dealer in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on June 22, 2012. The indictment alleges that Vali falsely stated he was a resident of Wisconsin and resided in Neenah, Wisconsin.

If convicted, Valli faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution of this case will be handled by United States Attorney John W. Vaudreuil.

Madison Man Charged with Distributing Cocaine

Rodolfo Juarez, 37, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing cocaine. The indictment alleges that he distributed 500 grams or more of cocaine on June 25, 2012.

If convicted, Juarez faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. The charges against him are the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda.

Four Charged with Illegally Re-Entering United States

In separate indictments, four individuals have been charged with reentering the United States after previously being deported. The persons charged are:

1. Arturo Gomez-Maturin, 41, a citizen of Mexico, found in Dane County on June 14, 2012;

2. Alvaro Cano-Oyarzabal, 31, a citizen of Mexico, found in Clark County on June 14, 2012;

3. Isaac Gutierrez-Blandon, 33, a citizen of Nicaragua, found in Dane County on July 2, 2012; and

4. Rafael Carrera-Flores, 39, a citizen of Mexico, found in Juneau County on May 4, 2012.

If convicted, each person faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The charges against them are the result of investigations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The prosecution of these cases will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea.

Federal Jury Finds John Doe Guilty of Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud Charges Involving United States Navy and Jaxport

JACKSONVILLE, FL—U.S. Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces today that a federal jury has found “John Doe,” a/k/a Leroy, a/k/a L.T.H., guilty of seven counts of aggravated identity theft, six counts of falsely representing a Social Security number, and one count of passport fraud. As of yet, law enforcement has not affirmatively identified John Doe. He was arrested on a federal warrant while he was in state custody for fraud charges. John Doe faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in federal prison for each aggravated identity theft charge, up to five years in federal prison for each charge of falsely representing a Social Security number, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the passport fraud. He remains in the custody of United States Marshals Service pending his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for August 27, 2012 at 10:30 a.m.

According to court documents and evidence presented during trial, John Doe assumed the identity of a living victim and had been living under that assumed identity for approximately 22 years. Using the Social Security number of the victim, he obtained at least 23 government-issued forms of identification in the name of the victim. These forms of identification included among other items, a passport, two Mayport Naval Station Military contractor identification cards, three Florida identification cards, and six replacement Social Security cards. The Mayport Naval Station identification cards allowed John Doe to have unescorted access on at least five different Navy vessels. He also used the victim’s personal identification information at JAXPORT to fraudulently obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWIC) badge issued by the Transportation Security Administration. The TWIC badge allowed John Doe to have unescorted access to secure areas of JAXPORT, including the Blount Island Marine Terminal.

This case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State-Diplomatic State Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Florida Highway Patrol-Bureau of Intelligence and Investigations, Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin C. Frein and Kathleen O’Malley.

Union City Fugitive Captured Near Detroit

NEWARK—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Michael B. Ward announced today the capture of Luis Colon, Jr., who was wanted for failing to appear in Newark federal court on November 14, 2011 to face arraignment on fraud and identity theft charges. The FBI credits the capture to the fugitive announcement that featured Colon, Jr., which appeared on ClearChannel Outdoor digital billboards on several major highways throughout New Jersey since November.

Colon, Jr. had been out on bail after being arrested and charged by federal criminal complaint in April 2011. Colon, Jr. was ordered to wear a monitoring bracelet as a condition of bail. On September 22, 2011, Colon, Jr. was scheduled to appear in court in Philadelphia on an unrelated matter and was granted permission by federal authorities in New Jersey to attend those proceedings. When Colon failed to appear in Philadelphia as scheduled and contact with him could not be established, a federal bench warrant was immediately issued. (See the U.S. Department of Justice news release: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/Colon,%20Luis%20Arraignment%20News%20Release.html.)

Colon, Jr., was from Union City, New Jersey, but he had ties to East Lansing, Michigan and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In February this year, the Newark FBI was contacted by an individual who recognized Colon, Jr. in the digital billboard fugitive announcement as someone with whom the individual had been in contact through the Internet. Using this information, the FBI tracked Colon, Jr. to an apartment complex at 32600 Concord Drive in Madison Heights, Michigan. Colon, Jr. may have lived in this same apartment complex sometime during 2005 to 2006. The Detroit Division of the FBI maintained surveillance at this address for a period of two weeks.

This past Monday night, April 9, at approximately 8 p.m., Detroit FBI agents observed Colon, Jr. leaving the complex and getting into a vehicle. The agents approached and arrested Colon, Jr. without incident.

“I’d like to thank ClearChannel Outdoor for their substantial support of the FBI’s Fugitive Program,” said SAC Ward. “It’s imperative for the integrity of the legal process that individuals honor the terms of their authorized release, and when they flee, that law enforcement be diligent in their pursuit. The digital billboard program has been a tremendous success, and Luis Colon, Jr.’s capture is yet another example of that successful partnership.” SAC Ward also thanked the agents Detroit Division of the FBI for making the actual capture.

Colon, Jr. appeared in federal court in Detroit yesterday, April 10, 2012, and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals for transport to Newark, New Jersey to face his original charges. The exact date of Colon, Jr.’s appearance in Newark is unknown at this time.

It is important to note that Mr. Colon has not been convicted of the charges he faces. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.