Former State Trooper Sentenced for Fraud, Witness Tampering

COLUMBUS—Benjamin W. Richardson, 47, of Powell, and a former Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to a total of 50 months in prison for participating in a mortgage fraud conspiracy, committing bankruptcy fraud, and tampering with a witness in a federal investigation. He was also ordered to pay restitution of $617,600 to lenders he deceived through the mortgage fraud.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Robert Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost.

“Richardson had sworn to uphold the law,” U.S. Attorney Stewart said. “Instead, he broke the law.”

Richardson was part of a conspiracy to defraud lending institutions by misleading mortgage lenders in the buying and selling of investment properties and the refinancing of his own home. Richardson and other co-conspirators used false statements to conceal from lenders that Richardson intended to receive large sums of money from the loan proceeds after closing. Richardson also admitted to falsely under-reporting his income when he filed for bankruptcy in 2007 by not disclosing income he received from a nightclub he owned with a narcotics trafficker.

Richardson pleaded guilty on February 13, 2012 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, two counts of making false statements and false oaths in bankruptcy, and one count of witness tampering for a scheme to prevent a narcotics trafficker from talking with law enforcement during the investigation. He was sentenced to 50 months and three years of supervised release on each of the eight counts. Judge Frost ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

“Not only did Richardson participate in multiple fraudulent schemes involving his property and the property of others, he also, as a seasoned law enforcement officer, tampered with a witness involved in a federal investigation,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Squires wrote in a memorandum filed with the court prior to sentencing. Richardson provided a known drug trafficker his cell phone number in case he got into trouble, and as result of this exchange, Richardson encouraged a fellow state trooper to show the drug trafficker leniency during a traffic stop.

FBI agents arrested Richardson on September 6, 2011. He has been in custody since his arrest. Richardson was a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol when he was charged and resigned when the charges were returned.

Stewart commended the cooperative investigation of this case by FBI and DEA agents and by Assistant U.S. Attorney Squires and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Fulton, who prosecuted the case.

Former State Trooper Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Witness Tampering

COLUMBUS—Former Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Benjamin W. Richardson, 46, of Powell, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to an eight-count indictment charging him with mortgage fraud, bankruptcy fraud, and witness tampering.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Anthony Marotta, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the pleas entered today before U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost.

FBI agents arrested Richardson on September 6, 2011 based on similar charges in a criminal complaint. He has been in custody since his arrest. The indictment was returned on September 8, 2011 under seal and has since been unsealed. Richardson was a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol when he was charged and resigned when the charges were returned.

“A federal investigation revealed that Richardson engaged in a scheme to enrich himself and avoid personal liabilities,” an FBI agent testified during the hearing.

Richardson admitted that, in 2005, he engaged in a conspiracy to defraud mortgage lending institutions out of $678,275 in loans by means of false and fraudulent pretenses involving three properties he was buying and the refinancing of his own home. Richardson also admitted to falsely under-reporting his income when he filed for bankruptcy in 2007 by not disclosing income he received from a nightclub he owned at the time.

Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Each crime is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements and false oaths in bankruptcy. Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison. Richardson also pleaded guilty to one count of witness tampering for attempting to prevent a witness from talking with law enforcement during the investigation. Witness tampering is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Stewart commended the cooperative investigation of this case by FBI and DEA agents, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Doug Squires and Laura Denton, who are prosecuting the case.

Judge Frost will schedule a date for sentencing.

U.S. Marshals Task Force and Cleveland Police S.W.A.T. Corner "Dangerous Dozen" Fugitive

Cleveland, OH – Yesterday evening at approximately 6:15 p.m., members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF), along with the Cleveland Police S.W.A.T., arrested fugitive Julius Webster, age 25, at a residence located on the 3500 block of E. 135th Street in Cleveland. Webster was wanted since October 2011 by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority for escape. Webster has a violent criminal history and is one of the leaders of the Heartless Felons gang. Webster was released from state prison on parole in August 2011 and failed to report upon his release.

The Ohio Adult Parole Authority referred the investigation to the NOVFTF in November 2011. The NOVFTF worked diligently on the search for Webster. The NOVFTF were not able to pin Webster down but continued to develop information that he was in the Cleveland area and was known to carry a firearm. In December, the NOVFTF added Webster to their most wanted “Dangerous Dozen”.

Yesterday, members of the NOVFTF were able to track Webster to the residence on E. 135th Street in Cleveland. Task Force members surrounded the residence and attempted to call out Webster. Webster refused to answer and remained in the residence. The NOVFTF requested assistance from the Cleveland Police S.W.A.T., who immediately responded. After approximately 2 hours of no contact, Webster exited the residence and surrendered. Webster was transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This was a dangerous fugitive with a history of violent crimes. We are thankful that this situation ended peacefully and that is a credit to our task force personnel and the Cleveland Police S.W.A.T.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED or text keyword WANTED and the tip to 847411(tip411). Tipsters may remain anonymous and a cash reward may be available. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Westlake Police Department.

Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Leaders Announce Kickoff of 2011 V-GRIP Effort in the Mahoning Valley

Seven people were arrested and an assault rifle was seized during the first weekend of this year’s V-GRIP program, federal, state and local law enforcement officials announced today.

“This program is the cornerstone of my office’s efforts to make the Mahoning Valley safer,” said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. “V-GRIP is a prime example of what happens when agencies and departments combine their resources and work together. We will build off the success we had last summer and work to take illegal firearms off the streets.”

The program began this past weekend with seven new arrests, an additional 18 people arrested on outstanding warrants and the seizure of an assault rifle. Charges are pending in those cases.

“The V-GRIP initiative shares the goals of the Ohio Attorney General’s office to protect Ohio families from violent crime and make encounters safer for law enforcement officers, said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “I commend and encourage the participation of of Ohio law enforcement in V-GRIP.”

“The days are heating up for criminals in the Mahoning Valley this summer, but soon they will feel the cold steel bars of justice. ATF is joining forces with Valley law enforcement in the V-GRIP initiative to take back the neighborhoods and stop gun violence,” said Robert J. Browning, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Columbus Field Division.

“The FBI and its partners are committed to combating gang and violent activity in the Mahoning Valley,” said Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge, Cleveland Office. “This multi-agency initiative will help take dangerous offenders off our streets with the goal of making our neighborhoods safer.”

V-GRIP stands for Violence Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program. It includes participation from: the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the U.S. Marshal Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Probation Service; the Ohio Adult Parole Authority; the Ohio State Highway Patrol; the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation; the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office; the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office; the Youngstown City Prosecutor; the Youngstown Police Department; the Warren Police Department; the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force and the Trumbull County Probation Department, among others.

These agencies are working together to put additional officers on the streets of Youngstown, Warren and surrounding communities to supplement regular patrols. They share intelligence and use crime mapping software and other technology to target specific neighborhood crime hot spots.

The goal is to identify repeat violent offenders, with an emphasis on reducing gun violence. Those arrested and found to be in possession of illegal firearms, drugs or other contraband could then be prosecuted in either federal or state court.

The officers and agents participating have undergone extensive training in the past month about safeguarding suspects’ rights while searching for guns and other contraband.

Federal Escapee Captured Within Four Hours of Escape

Cleveland, OH – Federal prisoner Ruby Seagraves, age 34, escaped custody from the Bedford Heights City Jail at approximately 11:45 p.m. last night. Seagraves was being held on federal charges of heroin possession since January 2011. The U.S. Marshals Service was immediately notified and responded to the jail to begin the fugitive investigation. The Bedford Heights Jail staff worked with the U.S. Marshals Service to develop information that the fugitive was possibly in a vehicle traveling southbound on I-71. The U.S. Marshals Service then coordinated with their Task Force partners at the Ohio State Highway Patrol in an effort to locate the vehicle.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. this morning, the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in Morrow County, Ohio. The Ohio State Troopers located and arrested Seagraves in the vehicle. Seagraves was transported to the Morrow County Jail to be held until return to the Northern District of Ohio. Another female was also taken into custody during the traffic stop and is being held at the Morrow County Jail pending potential federal charges of aiding an escapee. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are jointly conducting the escape investigation.

Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Roberto Robinson stated, “The prompt and effective response of the Bedford Heights City Jail staff, Deputy U.S. Marshals, Task Force Officers and the Ohio State Troopers proved to be the key component in capturing this escapee so quickly.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous. The Task Force’s “Dangerous Dozen” fugitives can be viewed at http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/fugitives/pdf/dangerous_dozen.pdf, which is updated monthly.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Bratenahl Police Department, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Chagrin Falls Police Department, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Westlake Police Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and the U.S. Secret Service.

One of Puerto Rico's Most Wanted Jailed in Cleveland

Cleveland, OH – Wanted fugitive Roberto Rivera-Amezquita, age 27, was arrested early this morning at approximately 7:15 am on Cleveland’s west side. Rivera-Amezquita had been on the run and eluding law enforcement since December 2007. Rivera-Amezquita was wanted out of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on charges of murder and weapons law violations. It is alleged that in October of 2006, Rivera-Amezquita and another suspect brutally beat Pablo Rivera-Rivera with an aluminum baseball bat leaving him unconscious. At the time, Rivera-Amezquita was originally charged with assault and battery charges. The victim subsequently died a few months later as a result of the beating turning the assault charge into a murder charge. Rivera-Amezquita immediately fled and became a fugitive from justice.

The U.S. Marshal Service in Puerto Rico became involved in the case and through its investigation eventually uncovered information leading Rivera-Amezquita to the Cleveland area. The information was relayed to the U.S. Marshal’s led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force and the investigation continued locally. It was discovered that Rivera-Amezquita had assumed the identity of his brother Martin Rivera-Amezquita who is currently incarcerated in Puerto Rico. It is not known exactly how long Roberta Rivera-Amezquita had been living in Cleveland until his arrest this morning; however he was arrested on a drug charge in 2009 under his brother’s identity. The Deputy Marshals and task Force Officers tracked the subject and were able to narrow their search for Rivera-Amezquita settling on a residence located at 2168 W. 104th Street in Cleveland. The Task Force was able to gain entry into the residence and Rivera-Amezquita surrendered peacefully. Rivera-Amezquita was transported to the Cuyahoga County Justice Center for booking and to be held pending his extradition back to Puerto Rico.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This was a great example of cooperation between our task force and the task force in Puerto Rico. This fugitive will now finally be brought to justice.”

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of a known fugitive is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at: 1-866-4-WANTED. Callers may remain anonymous.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies: U.S. Marshals Service, Bratenahl Police Department, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Chagrin Falls Police Department, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Linndale Village Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Westlake Police Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and the U.S. Secret Service.

This article was sponsored by Police Books.