A former payroll manager of the Detroit Public Schools (“DPS”) was sentenced today to 24 months in prison as a result of her guilty plea to conspiring with a retired DPS employee to fraudulently obtain money from the DPS, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.
McQuade was joined in the announcement by Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent In Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Robert Bobb, Detroit Public Schools’ Emergency Financial Manager.
Sentenced today was Toni D. Gilbert, 46, of Detroit, by United States District Judge John Corbett O’Meara. Judge O’Meara also ordered Gilbert to pay restitution in the amount of $672,762.00. Co-defendant Anton V. Carter, 56, of Detroit was sentenced on August 10, 2010 to six months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $378,765.00. Both will serve a three-year term of supervised release once their custodial sentence has been served.
According to court records, the fraud from DPS, an agency receiving federal funding, occurred between 2000 and 2005. During that time, Gilbert, worked as a payroll manager for DPS, with authority to issue payroll checks. According to the guilty pleas, during the term of the conspiracy, Gilbert issued regular DPS payroll checks to codefendant Carter, totaling $378,765, after Carter had retired from DPS due to a disability for which he was receiving disability checks from DPS. In addition, at her guilty plea, Gilbert acknowledged inappropriately issuing paychecks to other deceased DPS employees during the same time period.
United States Attorney Barbara McQuade said, “Stealing money from our schools, when our school system is already financially strapped, robs our children of their future.”
McQuade offered special thanks the Detroit Public Schools for its cooperation and strong efforts to weed out corruption from within its own institution.
The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Last Two of Eight Charged in Attempted Carjacking of Off-Duty Border Patrol Agent Convicted
MCALLEN, TX—The last two of eight defendants charged with the attempted carjacking of an off-duty Border Patrol agent have been convicted of attempted carjacking on the eve of trial, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.
Jose Antonio Armendariz, 27, of Penitas, Texas, and Maria Teresa De La Rosa, 28, of McAllen, Texas, each set to begin jury selection on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, pled guilty instead to attempted carjacking. Armendariz also pled guilty to the related charge of using a firearm during and in relation of the carjacking and to hostage taking arising from a separate incident. Each entered their respective guilty pleas before United States District Judge Randy Crane
Armendariz, also known as “El Commandante” according to allegations in a criminal complaint filed in the case, and De La Rosa admitted to their respective involvement in the June 2009 attempted carjacking of an off-duty Border Patrol agent traveling with his minor daughter to Mission, Texas, from Arizona.
According to the record of the case, on June 23, 2009, Claudia Elena Gomez Aguilar, 28, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, a card reader and Santisima Muerte worshipper, was contacted by a drug money courier who asked Gomez to pray for her as she traveled from Michigan to the Rio Grande Valley with a large sum of money. Instead, Gomez told De La Rosa and Juan Vite Martinez, 40, of Hidalgo, Mexico, about the trip and asked if they knew anyone willing to rob the courier and split the money with her. Martinez offered the name of “El Commandante,” Jose Antonio Armendariz.
Armed with the make and model of the car the courier would be driving—a gray Cadillac—Martinez contacted Armendariz who agreed to get people together for the carjacking. Later the same day, Gomez, Martinez and De La Rosa met with Armendariz and others at Gomez’s residence. After messages from the drug money courier during the early morning hours of June 24th confirmed that the courier was near, the defendants, in four separate trucks, awaited the arrival of the gray Cadillac along Highway 281. Armendariz drove a red truck. In a blue truck rode Nieves Rogelio Ramirez, 27, of Sullivan City, Texas, and Dagoberto Navarro Pompa, 26, of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Gomez, Martinez and De La Rosa rode in Gomez’s red truck. Jose Wenceslado Mejia, 20, of Rio Grande City, Texas, drove a red and black truck and Jose Concepcion Hernandez, also known as “El Mazapan,” 31, of Edinburg, Texas, drove in a white truck. Both the red trucks and the blue truck began following a gray Cadillac they thought was being driven by the courier for several miles. In actuality, they were following a Cadillac driven by an off-duty Border Patrol agent traveling with his young daughter. The trucks continued, following the agent, until the blue truck driven by Ramirez blocked it at an intersection in Cimarron just west of Shary Road.
At the intersection, the blue truck prevented the agent from leaving. Pompa, the passenger, got out of the truck armed with a gun, knocked on the driver’s window of the agent’s car while brandishing his firearm. In response, the agent displayed his duty weapon by resting it on his chest. Seeing the weapon, Pompa ran back to the blue truck. The agent drove away from the scene and called 911. The blue truck pursued the agent and ultimately fired multiple shots at the agent’s vehicle two of which actually struck the front windshield area of the vehicle. Both the agent and his daughter were unharmed.
In response to the agent’s call to 911, Mission Police Department were dispatched and met with the agent who relayed what had occurred as well as license plate numbers to the blue truck and the description of the other vehicles involved in following him. As a result of the information provided, the investigation ultimately resulted in the identification and arrest of all involved in the carjacking attempt on the agent and his daughter, the recovery of the firearm used, as well as confessions from several of the defendants.
Gomez, Martinez, Mejia, Ramirez, Pompa and Hernandez pleaded guilty earlier this year to the attempted carjacking as well as the related firearm charge. Each remains in custody without bond pending sentencing in late September. The carjacking conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. The firearms conviction carries a mandatory sentence of no less than 10 years, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the underlying carjacking conviction. Each of the two counts of conviction also carry a maximum fine of $250,000.
In addition to the conviction relating to the carjacking, Armendariz also pled guilty today to an unrelated charge of hostage taking. Armendariz admitted to having taken an area rancher hostage in November 2006 and directing others to detain him and threaten to kill the rancher if his daughter did not pay $200,000. After a ransom of $150,000 was paid to the defendant and his co-conspirators, the rancher was safely released.
Armendariz, who has been in federal custody since his January 2010 arrest, faces a maximum of life imprisonment for the hostage taking conviction as well as an additional fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation leading to the charges against Armendariz, De La Rosa and the other defendants charged in this case was conducted by FBI and FBI Safe Street Task Force with the assistance of the Mission Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Leo J. Leo III and Casey MacDonald are prosecuting the case.
Jose Antonio Armendariz, 27, of Penitas, Texas, and Maria Teresa De La Rosa, 28, of McAllen, Texas, each set to begin jury selection on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, pled guilty instead to attempted carjacking. Armendariz also pled guilty to the related charge of using a firearm during and in relation of the carjacking and to hostage taking arising from a separate incident. Each entered their respective guilty pleas before United States District Judge Randy Crane
Armendariz, also known as “El Commandante” according to allegations in a criminal complaint filed in the case, and De La Rosa admitted to their respective involvement in the June 2009 attempted carjacking of an off-duty Border Patrol agent traveling with his minor daughter to Mission, Texas, from Arizona.
According to the record of the case, on June 23, 2009, Claudia Elena Gomez Aguilar, 28, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, a card reader and Santisima Muerte worshipper, was contacted by a drug money courier who asked Gomez to pray for her as she traveled from Michigan to the Rio Grande Valley with a large sum of money. Instead, Gomez told De La Rosa and Juan Vite Martinez, 40, of Hidalgo, Mexico, about the trip and asked if they knew anyone willing to rob the courier and split the money with her. Martinez offered the name of “El Commandante,” Jose Antonio Armendariz.
Armed with the make and model of the car the courier would be driving—a gray Cadillac—Martinez contacted Armendariz who agreed to get people together for the carjacking. Later the same day, Gomez, Martinez and De La Rosa met with Armendariz and others at Gomez’s residence. After messages from the drug money courier during the early morning hours of June 24th confirmed that the courier was near, the defendants, in four separate trucks, awaited the arrival of the gray Cadillac along Highway 281. Armendariz drove a red truck. In a blue truck rode Nieves Rogelio Ramirez, 27, of Sullivan City, Texas, and Dagoberto Navarro Pompa, 26, of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Gomez, Martinez and De La Rosa rode in Gomez’s red truck. Jose Wenceslado Mejia, 20, of Rio Grande City, Texas, drove a red and black truck and Jose Concepcion Hernandez, also known as “El Mazapan,” 31, of Edinburg, Texas, drove in a white truck. Both the red trucks and the blue truck began following a gray Cadillac they thought was being driven by the courier for several miles. In actuality, they were following a Cadillac driven by an off-duty Border Patrol agent traveling with his young daughter. The trucks continued, following the agent, until the blue truck driven by Ramirez blocked it at an intersection in Cimarron just west of Shary Road.
At the intersection, the blue truck prevented the agent from leaving. Pompa, the passenger, got out of the truck armed with a gun, knocked on the driver’s window of the agent’s car while brandishing his firearm. In response, the agent displayed his duty weapon by resting it on his chest. Seeing the weapon, Pompa ran back to the blue truck. The agent drove away from the scene and called 911. The blue truck pursued the agent and ultimately fired multiple shots at the agent’s vehicle two of which actually struck the front windshield area of the vehicle. Both the agent and his daughter were unharmed.
In response to the agent’s call to 911, Mission Police Department were dispatched and met with the agent who relayed what had occurred as well as license plate numbers to the blue truck and the description of the other vehicles involved in following him. As a result of the information provided, the investigation ultimately resulted in the identification and arrest of all involved in the carjacking attempt on the agent and his daughter, the recovery of the firearm used, as well as confessions from several of the defendants.
Gomez, Martinez, Mejia, Ramirez, Pompa and Hernandez pleaded guilty earlier this year to the attempted carjacking as well as the related firearm charge. Each remains in custody without bond pending sentencing in late September. The carjacking conviction carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. The firearms conviction carries a mandatory sentence of no less than 10 years, which must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the underlying carjacking conviction. Each of the two counts of conviction also carry a maximum fine of $250,000.
In addition to the conviction relating to the carjacking, Armendariz also pled guilty today to an unrelated charge of hostage taking. Armendariz admitted to having taken an area rancher hostage in November 2006 and directing others to detain him and threaten to kill the rancher if his daughter did not pay $200,000. After a ransom of $150,000 was paid to the defendant and his co-conspirators, the rancher was safely released.
Armendariz, who has been in federal custody since his January 2010 arrest, faces a maximum of life imprisonment for the hostage taking conviction as well as an additional fine of up to $250,000.
The investigation leading to the charges against Armendariz, De La Rosa and the other defendants charged in this case was conducted by FBI and FBI Safe Street Task Force with the assistance of the Mission Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Leo J. Leo III and Casey MacDonald are prosecuting the case.
Leader of Anchorage Drug Ring Sentenced to 65 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Crimes
Convicted of Three-Year Conspiracy Involving Pounds of Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin, Multiple Stolen Machine Guns, and Other Firearms
ANCHORAGE, AK—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that on September 9, 2010, Juan Manuel Mendiola, of Anchorage, was sentenced to 65 years in prison without the possibility of parole on drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms charges.
Senior United States District Judge James K. Singleton imposed the sentence on Mendiola, age 28.
On June 18, 2010, a federal jury convicted Mendiola of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, and related drug crimes. The jury also convicted Mendiola of illegally possessing six firearms, including two fully automatic MAC-10 machine guns, in furtherance of his drug trafficking conspiracy. The investigation of Mendiola spanned three years, from July 2005 through September 2008.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Russo, the lead prosecutor in the case, the testimony from witnesses during the two-week trial revealed that Mendiola was the leader of a violent drug conspiracy operating in Anchorage. Mendiola obtained drugs from areas in California, including Van Nuys and Lancaster. Cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin would be shipped through FedEx or UPS to residences in Anchorage controlled by Mendiola or his accomplices. Some of the cocaine was converted into crack cocaine at these residences, and the drugs were then distributed in Anchorage and other cities, including Kodiak and Valdez.
Testimony at trial showed that Mendiola possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. On October 31, 2007, APD recovered five firearms, including two stolen machine guns, at a residence controlled by Mendiola. Two additional stolen firearms were recovered on September 19, 2008, when Mendiola was arrested on outstanding warrants. During the course of the investigation, over six kilograms of cocaine, three pounds of methamphetamine, 22 ounces of heroin, and over $100,000 in cash were seized. Mendiola was ordered to forfeit the currency, a Cadillac Deville, and firearms that facilitated his drug trafficking business.
The testimony at trial further indicated that Mendiola was constantly on the run from police, and engaged in a standoff with police in March 2008 after Mendiola ordered the assault of an accomplice who Mendiola feared was cooperating with police. Police responded to 5711 Cordova Street on March 10, 2008, after receiving a report that Mendiola was holding an individual against his will after he was beaten on orders from Mendiola. Upon arrival, police knocked on the door, and an officer saw Mendiola come to the door with a pistol in his hand. Police took cover, and Mendiola proceeded to hide inside the residence for several hours and did not respond to police requests to surrender. Ultimately, a police dog was sent inside the residence. Mendiola came out of a bedroom with his 7-year-old son, whom he positioned between the police dog and himself. The dog jumped around the boy and bit Mendiola after Mendiola made a sudden movement.
After his arrest in September 2008, testimony at trial revealed that, while in jail, Mendiola had placed “a hit” on an another accomplice that Mendiola believed was cooperating with police. An enforcer of Mendiola’s, Phonesavanh Vongthongdy, was arrested in December 2008 with a newspaper photograph of the accomplice in his pocket. Vongthongdy was sentenced to 17 years in prison last July for his role in the conspiracy. Another person identified as Mendiola’s “muscle,” Timothy Ray Moore, was sentenced to over 21 years in prison last June. In total, 10 members of Mendiola’s drug conspiracy have been convicted.
Mendiola faced a mandatory minimum 10 years on the drug convictions and a mandatory minimum 55 years on possessing machine guns and firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. Judge Singleton ordered that those sentences be served consecutively, as required by law. Mendiola has a criminal history involving the possession of drugs and weapons, including a 2002 incident involving a drive-by shooting, for which he served 18 months in jail.
“Drug crime and gang violence will not be tolerated in our communities. As this sentence demonstrates, those that participate in these illegal activities, repeatedly preying on our youth and our community, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Ms. Loeffler. Loeffler also praised the Municipality of Anchorage’s Anti-Gang and Youth Violence program, which funds a prosecutor who assisted in the prosecution of Mendiola: “The continued commitment to lend resources to this program demonstrates that the Mayor and the Municipality of Anchorage has put a priority on protecting the community from violent gang activity.”
Numerous federal and state agencies participated in the investigation and prosecution of Mendiola, including the Anchorage Police Department’s Drug Enforcement and Special Assignment Units, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Both the Department of Public Safety and the Anchorage Police Department crime laboratories provided forensic assistance and testimony.
ANCHORAGE, AK—United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that on September 9, 2010, Juan Manuel Mendiola, of Anchorage, was sentenced to 65 years in prison without the possibility of parole on drug trafficking conspiracy and firearms charges.
Senior United States District Judge James K. Singleton imposed the sentence on Mendiola, age 28.
On June 18, 2010, a federal jury convicted Mendiola of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 100 grams or more of heroin, and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, and related drug crimes. The jury also convicted Mendiola of illegally possessing six firearms, including two fully automatic MAC-10 machine guns, in furtherance of his drug trafficking conspiracy. The investigation of Mendiola spanned three years, from July 2005 through September 2008.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Russo, the lead prosecutor in the case, the testimony from witnesses during the two-week trial revealed that Mendiola was the leader of a violent drug conspiracy operating in Anchorage. Mendiola obtained drugs from areas in California, including Van Nuys and Lancaster. Cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin would be shipped through FedEx or UPS to residences in Anchorage controlled by Mendiola or his accomplices. Some of the cocaine was converted into crack cocaine at these residences, and the drugs were then distributed in Anchorage and other cities, including Kodiak and Valdez.
Testimony at trial showed that Mendiola possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. On October 31, 2007, APD recovered five firearms, including two stolen machine guns, at a residence controlled by Mendiola. Two additional stolen firearms were recovered on September 19, 2008, when Mendiola was arrested on outstanding warrants. During the course of the investigation, over six kilograms of cocaine, three pounds of methamphetamine, 22 ounces of heroin, and over $100,000 in cash were seized. Mendiola was ordered to forfeit the currency, a Cadillac Deville, and firearms that facilitated his drug trafficking business.
The testimony at trial further indicated that Mendiola was constantly on the run from police, and engaged in a standoff with police in March 2008 after Mendiola ordered the assault of an accomplice who Mendiola feared was cooperating with police. Police responded to 5711 Cordova Street on March 10, 2008, after receiving a report that Mendiola was holding an individual against his will after he was beaten on orders from Mendiola. Upon arrival, police knocked on the door, and an officer saw Mendiola come to the door with a pistol in his hand. Police took cover, and Mendiola proceeded to hide inside the residence for several hours and did not respond to police requests to surrender. Ultimately, a police dog was sent inside the residence. Mendiola came out of a bedroom with his 7-year-old son, whom he positioned between the police dog and himself. The dog jumped around the boy and bit Mendiola after Mendiola made a sudden movement.
After his arrest in September 2008, testimony at trial revealed that, while in jail, Mendiola had placed “a hit” on an another accomplice that Mendiola believed was cooperating with police. An enforcer of Mendiola’s, Phonesavanh Vongthongdy, was arrested in December 2008 with a newspaper photograph of the accomplice in his pocket. Vongthongdy was sentenced to 17 years in prison last July for his role in the conspiracy. Another person identified as Mendiola’s “muscle,” Timothy Ray Moore, was sentenced to over 21 years in prison last June. In total, 10 members of Mendiola’s drug conspiracy have been convicted.
Mendiola faced a mandatory minimum 10 years on the drug convictions and a mandatory minimum 55 years on possessing machine guns and firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. Judge Singleton ordered that those sentences be served consecutively, as required by law. Mendiola has a criminal history involving the possession of drugs and weapons, including a 2002 incident involving a drive-by shooting, for which he served 18 months in jail.
“Drug crime and gang violence will not be tolerated in our communities. As this sentence demonstrates, those that participate in these illegal activities, repeatedly preying on our youth and our community, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said Ms. Loeffler. Loeffler also praised the Municipality of Anchorage’s Anti-Gang and Youth Violence program, which funds a prosecutor who assisted in the prosecution of Mendiola: “The continued commitment to lend resources to this program demonstrates that the Mayor and the Municipality of Anchorage has put a priority on protecting the community from violent gang activity.”
Numerous federal and state agencies participated in the investigation and prosecution of Mendiola, including the Anchorage Police Department’s Drug Enforcement and Special Assignment Units, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Both the Department of Public Safety and the Anchorage Police Department crime laboratories provided forensic assistance and testimony.
Norwood Man Sentenced for Peabody Bank Robbery
BOSTON, MA—A Norwood man was sentenced today in federal court for robbing the Sovereign Bank in Peabody.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, announced today that Michael J. Peters, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole to 108 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $26,433 for armed bank robbery.
At the plea hearing in June, the prosecutor told the court that had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that in September 2009, two masked and armed individuals entered the Sovereign Bank in Peabody. One of the robbers, later identified as Michael J. Febonio, climbed over a teller’s counter and began ransacking cash drawers while displaying a firearm. While Febonio emptied the cash drawers, the other robber, Peters, pointed his weapon at the other employees and ordered them to the ground. The robbers stuffed the currency into a black nylon bag and fled the scene. A post robbery audit revealed that $26,433 was taken during the robbery.
A bank employee observed the two individuals entering a black sedan and fleeing the area. Video surveillance at the bank captured the robbers during the robbery and as they fled. The vehicle was eventually recovered and determined to have been recently purchased by codefendant Brian Febonio the day before the robbery. Brian Febonio was also identified by witnesses from the video surveillance, and was arrested a few days later in a New Hampshire motel where agents seized information linking Peters to Brian Febonio. Peters was located and arrested shortly thereafter.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Peabody Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crime Unit.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, announced today that Michael J. Peters, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole to 108 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $26,433 for armed bank robbery.
At the plea hearing in June, the prosecutor told the court that had the case proceeded to trial, the government’s evidence would have proven that in September 2009, two masked and armed individuals entered the Sovereign Bank in Peabody. One of the robbers, later identified as Michael J. Febonio, climbed over a teller’s counter and began ransacking cash drawers while displaying a firearm. While Febonio emptied the cash drawers, the other robber, Peters, pointed his weapon at the other employees and ordered them to the ground. The robbers stuffed the currency into a black nylon bag and fled the scene. A post robbery audit revealed that $26,433 was taken during the robbery.
A bank employee observed the two individuals entering a black sedan and fleeing the area. Video surveillance at the bank captured the robbers during the robbery and as they fled. The vehicle was eventually recovered and determined to have been recently purchased by codefendant Brian Febonio the day before the robbery. Brian Febonio was also identified by witnesses from the video surveillance, and was arrested a few days later in a New Hampshire motel where agents seized information linking Peters to Brian Febonio. Peters was located and arrested shortly thereafter.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Peabody Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crime Unit.
Weiser Man Sentenced for Interstate Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Activity
David Eugene Brechbiel, 43, of Weiser, Idaho, was sentenced on Tuesday to 168 months in federal prison for Interstate Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Activity, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Brechbiel to serve 14 years of supervised release following his prison term. He will be required to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Brechbiel pled guilty to the charge in April 2010.
This prosecution arose after the Ada County Sheriff's Department and the FBI conducted an investigation showing that Brechbiel, who is a long-haul trucker, took an 11-year-old female with him on a trip to Utah during the summer of 2009. Brechbiel admitted that he engaged in sexual contact with the child during that trip. Brechbiel also admitted having engaged in sexual contact with the same child on previous occasions in Idaho before the trip.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ada County Sheriff’s Department, Cascade Police Department, and the CARES Unit at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center.
This prosecution arose after the Ada County Sheriff's Department and the FBI conducted an investigation showing that Brechbiel, who is a long-haul trucker, took an 11-year-old female with him on a trip to Utah during the summer of 2009. Brechbiel admitted that he engaged in sexual contact with the child during that trip. Brechbiel also admitted having engaged in sexual contact with the same child on previous occasions in Idaho before the trip.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ada County Sheriff’s Department, Cascade Police Department, and the CARES Unit at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center.
Virginia Beach Man Sentenced for Federal Bribery
NORFOLK, VA—Joseph James Cafiero, 63, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to five years and four months in prison for his conviction on bribery charges. Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Cafiero was sentenced by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Cafiero, who was also ordered to pay more than $550,000 in restitution, previously pled guilty to these charges on May 14, 2010.
According to court records, Cafiero was a co-owner of a medical supply company with Todd Jenkins, 48, of Virginia Beach, Va. Cafiero and Jenkins paid bribes in the approximate amount of $50,000 in cash and other items in exchange for receiving approximately $500,000 in orders placed on behalf of the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Jenkins, who also pled guilty to similar charges, will be sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar on October 6, 2010.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Naval Audit Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Seidel, Jr. and Kevin M. Comstock prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
According to court records, Cafiero was a co-owner of a medical supply company with Todd Jenkins, 48, of Virginia Beach, Va. Cafiero and Jenkins paid bribes in the approximate amount of $50,000 in cash and other items in exchange for receiving approximately $500,000 in orders placed on behalf of the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center. Jenkins, who also pled guilty to similar charges, will be sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar on October 6, 2010.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Naval Audit Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Seidel, Jr. and Kevin M. Comstock prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
ICE Fugitive Operations apprehends man accused of murder in Mexico
HOUSTON - A man who fled to the United States after allegedly committing a homicide in Mexico was deported on Thursday by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Felipe Cuello-Varela, 51, a Mexican national, was escorted by ICE ERO to the Juarez Lincoln International Bridge, in Laredo, Texas, on Sept. 9. He was taken into custody by officials with the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico (PGR).
The investigation was initiated after information was provided by the ICE Attaché Mexico regarding Cuello-Varela whereabouts. On Aug. 10, ICE ERO Fugitive Operation officers on surveillance observed Cuello-Varela walking near the intersection of La Fonda St. and La Jolla St. in Houston. He was taken into custody without incident.
"The United States will not be a haven for individuals seeking refuge for crimes in other countries," said Kenneth L. Landgrebe, field office director of the ICE ERO office in Houston. "ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries."
Cuello-Varela last entered the United States in June at the Brownsville Port of Entry. On June 16 the U.S. Department of State revoked Cuello-Varelas's non-immigrant visa, making his presence in the United States a violation of U.S. immigration laws.
His removal was coordinated with ICE's Office of International Affairs, the ICE Attaché Mexico and the Houston ICE Office of Chief Counsel.
-- ICE --
Felipe Cuello-Varela, 51, a Mexican national, was escorted by ICE ERO to the Juarez Lincoln International Bridge, in Laredo, Texas, on Sept. 9. He was taken into custody by officials with the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico (PGR).
The investigation was initiated after information was provided by the ICE Attaché Mexico regarding Cuello-Varela whereabouts. On Aug. 10, ICE ERO Fugitive Operation officers on surveillance observed Cuello-Varela walking near the intersection of La Fonda St. and La Jolla St. in Houston. He was taken into custody without incident.
"The United States will not be a haven for individuals seeking refuge for crimes in other countries," said Kenneth L. Landgrebe, field office director of the ICE ERO office in Houston. "ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries."
Cuello-Varela last entered the United States in June at the Brownsville Port of Entry. On June 16 the U.S. Department of State revoked Cuello-Varelas's non-immigrant visa, making his presence in the United States a violation of U.S. immigration laws.
His removal was coordinated with ICE's Office of International Affairs, the ICE Attaché Mexico and the Houston ICE Office of Chief Counsel.
-- ICE --
Maryland woman sentenced to 45 months in prison for assuming the identity of a disabled victim for 25 years
BALTIMORE - U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake sentenced Chinyere Etoty, aka "Paulette Etoty," 50, of Cockeysville, Md., to 45 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for social security fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to use stolen identifying information of a disabled victim for 25 years. Judge Blake determined at today's hearing that the amount of loss incurred by the victim as a result of the fraud scheme was $38,721.72 and ordered Etoty to pay restitution in that amount.
The sentence was announced by U. S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge William Winter of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McGill of the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General, Philadelphia Field Division.
For over two decades Chinyere Etoty continued to perpetrate a fraud with no regard or remorse for her crimes against some of our most vulnerable victims. Today she is faced with the consequences of her misdeeds," said Winter. "This sentence concludes a joint investigation with ICE and the Social Security Administration and reflects law enforcement's steadfast commitment to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals who try to exploit and profit from others."
According to testimony at the three day trial, in September 1984 Etoty stole personal identifying information belonging to a disabled resident of Decatur, Ill., to obtain a replacement social security card in the victim's name. Etoty used the fraudulent social security card to impersonate the victim for the next 25 years in order to obtain employment and driver's licenses, open bank accounts and apply for lines of credit.
During this same time period, Etoty also assumed other identities and social security numbers that did not belong to her, and in 1996, she pled guilty in federal court in Florida to 12 counts of using two additional social security numbers that were not assigned to her. At her Florida guilty plea hearing, Etoty fraudulently identified herself using the name, residence and birth date of the victim. Evidence was subsequently presented at Etoty's sentencing hearing in 1996 that she had fraudulently represented herself as the victim at her guilty plea proceeding. Evidence was also presented at the 1996 sentencing that the individual whose identity Etoty had usurped was in fact a disabled adult living in Decatur who was receiving Social Security benefits.
The defendant continued to use the victim's social security number and means of identification following the 1996 sentencing. For example, she applied for and received a duplicate social security card in the victim's name while serving time in a federal correctional facility on her 1996 sentence. Trial evidence further established that after Etoty's release from prison following her 1996 conviction, Etoty relocated her fraudulent scheme to Baltimore where she continued to use the victim's social security number and identification.
Etoty was able to operate undetected until September 2006, when she applied in person for another duplicate social security card with the victim's social security number. Etoty's request was denied when the service representative read from the victim's social security record that Etoty had been using the victim's social security number for some time and had previously been convicted of social security fraud. When confronted by the service representative, Etoty denied being previously convicted for social security fraud or ever using the victim's name.
The case was referred to the SSA's Office of Inspector General which conducted a "sting" operation wherein Etoty was sent a letter informing her that in order to obtain a replacement social security number card, she would need to fill out an application and send in the original supporting identification documentation. Etoty responded a few days later by mailing a replacement card application for the victim's number, which Etoty represented as her own, as well as a birth certificate, social security card and driver's license containing the victim's personal identifying information.
The victim testified at trial that as a result of Etoty's conduct, she has had difficulty opening bank accounts of her own, difficulty receiving her disability benefits and that she has received numerous calls from creditors looking for payment on accounts that the victim did not open.
Assistant U. S. Attorneys Rachel M. Yasser and Mushtaq Gunja prosecuted this case.
-- ICE --
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Washington County Man Pleads Guilty to Solicitation of Murder
LOUISVILLE, KY—Ryan Lynn Dean, age 21, of Mackville, Kentucky, in Washington County, pled guilty on September 8, 2010, to soliciting a murder for hire, United States Attorney David J. Hale of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.
Dean admitted that in June 2009, he solicited an undercover Kentucky State Police Detective to murder another person and promised to pay ten (10) pounds of marijuana in return for the murder. Dean also requested that the undercover Detective cut off a tattoo on the intended victim’s leg and give it to Dean to evidence the murder, and for Dean to keep as a memento.
The maximum potential penalties are 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of five years.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Weiser, and it was investigated by the Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The plea was entered before Magistrate Judge James D. Moyer, United States District Court, Louisville, Kentucky. Dean is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Charles Simpson, III on December 13, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., in Louisville, Kentucky.
Dean admitted that in June 2009, he solicited an undercover Kentucky State Police Detective to murder another person and promised to pay ten (10) pounds of marijuana in return for the murder. Dean also requested that the undercover Detective cut off a tattoo on the intended victim’s leg and give it to Dean to evidence the murder, and for Dean to keep as a memento.
The maximum potential penalties are 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of five years.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Weiser, and it was investigated by the Kentucky State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The plea was entered before Magistrate Judge James D. Moyer, United States District Court, Louisville, Kentucky. Dean is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Charles Simpson, III on December 13, 2010, at 2:30 p.m., in Louisville, Kentucky.
Three Principals of A&O Entities Arrested and Charged for Their Alleged Roles in $100 Million Fraud Scheme
RICHMOND, VA—Three principals of a group of businesses that acquired and marketed life settlements to investors were arrested and charged in an 18-count indictment for their alleged roles in a $100 million fraud scheme with more than 800 victims across the United States and Canada.
The charges were announced today by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division.
An indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia charges Christian M. Allmendinger, 39; Adley H. Abdulwahab, 35; and David C. White, 40, with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, six counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, six counts of money laundering, and four counts of securities fraud. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of approximately $103 million from all three defendants.
“Today’s announcement is another example of how allegations in a national financial fraud case can directly harm everyday people on Main Street,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “The alleged victims in this case are not banks or professional investors taking a calculated risk. Instead, this case involves elderly retirees and others who gave most—and in some cases, all—of their life savings and have seen it all disappear.”
“These defendants allegedly defrauded unsuspecting investors of more than $100 million, often for their own personal enrichment,” said Assistant Attorney General Breuer. “As a result of their alleged scheme, more than 800 victims across the United States and Canada were cheated out of their savings and deceived. Through the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force we are continuing to root out financial fraud in all its forms.”
According to the indictment, Allmendinger, Abdulwahab, White and their co-conspirators were principals with A&O Resource Management Ltd., and various related entities, which sold life settlement investments. The defendants allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud investors by making misrepresentations about such things as A&O’s prior success, its size and office locations, its number of employees, the risks of its investment offerings, and its safekeeping and use of investor funds. The indictment further alleges that when state regulators began to scrutinize A&O’s investment products, Abdulwahab and his co-conspirators manufactured a pair of sham transactions in which A&O was “sold” to a shell corporate entity named Blue Dymond and later to another shell corporate entity named Physician’s Trust. It is alleged that following these sham transactions, White became the figurehead president of A&O and Physician’s Trust, but that A&O was still secretly controlled by Abdulwahab and other co-conspirators. The indictment also alleges that Allmendinger, Abdulwahab and their co-conspirators routinely used investor funds for personal enrichment.
If convicted of all the charges in the indictment, Allmendinger, Abdulwahab and White face up to 20 years in prison on each count except the four securities fraud counts, on which they face up to five years in prison per count.
In addition to Allmendinger, Abdulwahab, and White, four other individuals have been charged with criminal offenses in connection with the A&O fraud scheme. Brent Oncale, 36, of Houston, was charged in a two-count criminal information with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role as vice president of A&O. Russell E. Mackert, 51, of Spring, Texas, was charged in a two-count criminal information with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bulk cash smuggling for his role as an attorney in the A&O scheme. Eric M. Kurz, 46, of The Woodlands, Texas, was charged in a one-count criminal information with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering for his actions as a wholesaler of A&O investment products. Tomme Bromseth, 68, of Blackstone, Va., was charged in a two-count criminal information with mail fraud and structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements for his role as an A&O sales agent in the Richmond area. In addition to the charging documents, signed plea agreements for Mackert, Oncale, Kurz and Bromseth were filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court hearings have yet to be scheduled.
This continuing investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service and FBI, with significant assistance from the Texas State Securities Board. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. Dry and Jessica Aber Brumberg from the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Albert B. Stieglitz Jr., of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
The investigation has been coordinated by the Virginia Financial and Securities Fraud Task Force, an unprecedented partnership between criminal investigators and civil regulators to investigate and prosecute complex financial fraud cases in the nation and in Virginia. The task force is an investigative arm of the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, an interagency national task force.
President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
Former Police Officers Face Additional Charges
PHILADELPHIA—A superseding indictment was unsealed today against former Philadelphia Police Officers Robert Snyder, James Venziale, and Mark Williams, along with Snyder’s wife, Christal; Angel Ortiz; Zachary Young; and Miguel Santiago, charging an additional count stemming from a drug conspiracy case, announced United States Attorney Zane David Memeger. Specifically, all of the defendants are charged with possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin within 1,000 feet of a school.
Additionally, the superseding indictment also charges Ortiz, both Snyders, Williams, and another individual named Marcus Branker with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to the superseding indictment, the defendants attempted to rob someone they believed was a member of the “mafia”, but who in reality was a undercover FBI agent. Ortiz believed that the “Mafia” member routinely collected large amounts of gambling proceeds from individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and then delivered those proceeds to be laundered by, who they believed was a drug dealer and money launderer, but who in reality, was an undercover Special Agent with the DEA. The indictment details how a scheme was developed whereby defendant Williams and Robert Snyder, abused their positions as Philadelphia Police officers, by planning to have defendant Williams conduct a vehicle stop while defendant Ortiz was in possession of the United States Currency and a small amount of narcotics. After finding the narcotics and United States Currency, Williams would make it appear as if he was arresting Ortiz and seizing the money and drugs. To ensure that the “mafia” member believed that the seizure was legitimate Police activity, defendant Williams provided Ortiz with a Philadelphia Police Department property receipt.
On June 25, 2010 Williams was placed on restricted duty by the Philadelphia Police Department. As a result, he was not permitted to wear a police uniform, not permitted to carry a weapon on or off duty and was not permitted to take any police action. Additionally, Williams was required to, and did turn in his Police Department issued weapon. Despite these restrictions,
an attempt to commit the robbery took place on July 9, 2010. Williams, recruited defendant Branker, who drove a vehicle equipped with strobe lights, to pretend to be an undercover police officer to assist in the vehicle stop. Williams then, while off duty, and on restricted duty, armed himself with his personal weapon, and took, without authorization, a Philadelphia Police Department vehicle from the 39th Police district. After meeting with Ortiz and discussing the final arrangement, Williams and Branker took their positions to await the arrival of the “mafia” member.
According to the indictment, defendant Christal Snyder facilitated the conspiracy by passing information, frequently via telephone or text message, between the defendants Robert Snyder, Mark Williams, and Angel Ortiz.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEFENDANTS
Marcus Branker, Philadelphia, PA, Born 1972
If convicted of all charges, the defendants now face the following maximum possible sentences:
Young: maximum sentence of 184 years in prison with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Ortiz: maximum sentence of 337 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Robert Snyder: maximum sentence of 169 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Christal Snyder: maximum sentence of 185 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Williams: maximum sentence of 209 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Branker: maximum sentence of 45 years in prison, with a madatory minimum term of five years.
The case was investigated by The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the cooperation and assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy A. Stark and Maureen McCartney.
Additionally, the superseding indictment also charges Ortiz, both Snyders, Williams, and another individual named Marcus Branker with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
According to the superseding indictment, the defendants attempted to rob someone they believed was a member of the “mafia”, but who in reality was a undercover FBI agent. Ortiz believed that the “Mafia” member routinely collected large amounts of gambling proceeds from individuals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and then delivered those proceeds to be laundered by, who they believed was a drug dealer and money launderer, but who in reality, was an undercover Special Agent with the DEA. The indictment details how a scheme was developed whereby defendant Williams and Robert Snyder, abused their positions as Philadelphia Police officers, by planning to have defendant Williams conduct a vehicle stop while defendant Ortiz was in possession of the United States Currency and a small amount of narcotics. After finding the narcotics and United States Currency, Williams would make it appear as if he was arresting Ortiz and seizing the money and drugs. To ensure that the “mafia” member believed that the seizure was legitimate Police activity, defendant Williams provided Ortiz with a Philadelphia Police Department property receipt.
On June 25, 2010 Williams was placed on restricted duty by the Philadelphia Police Department. As a result, he was not permitted to wear a police uniform, not permitted to carry a weapon on or off duty and was not permitted to take any police action. Additionally, Williams was required to, and did turn in his Police Department issued weapon. Despite these restrictions,
an attempt to commit the robbery took place on July 9, 2010. Williams, recruited defendant Branker, who drove a vehicle equipped with strobe lights, to pretend to be an undercover police officer to assist in the vehicle stop. Williams then, while off duty, and on restricted duty, armed himself with his personal weapon, and took, without authorization, a Philadelphia Police Department vehicle from the 39th Police district. After meeting with Ortiz and discussing the final arrangement, Williams and Branker took their positions to await the arrival of the “mafia” member.
According to the indictment, defendant Christal Snyder facilitated the conspiracy by passing information, frequently via telephone or text message, between the defendants Robert Snyder, Mark Williams, and Angel Ortiz.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE DEFENDANTS
Marcus Branker, Philadelphia, PA, Born 1972
If convicted of all charges, the defendants now face the following maximum possible sentences:
Young: maximum sentence of 184 years in prison with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Ortiz: maximum sentence of 337 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Robert Snyder: maximum sentence of 169 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Christal Snyder: maximum sentence of 185 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Williams: maximum sentence of 209 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years;
Branker: maximum sentence of 45 years in prison, with a madatory minimum term of five years.
The case was investigated by The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the cooperation and assistance of the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathy A. Stark and Maureen McCartney.
Carrollton, Texas Man Charged with Child Pornography Violations
PLANO, TX—A 54-year-old Carrollton, Texas man has been indicted on charges of child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Richard Missler was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 8, 2010 and charged with transportation and possession of child pornography and had previously been indicted on a charge of transportation of child pornography. He has previously appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos J. Mazzant and has been in custody since June, 2010.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
If convicted, Missler faces up to 20 years for the transportation charge and up to 10 years for the possession charge.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Griffith.
It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Richard Missler was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sept. 8, 2010 and charged with transportation and possession of child pornography and had previously been indicted on a charge of transportation of child pornography. He has previously appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos J. Mazzant and has been in custody since June, 2010.
This case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
If convicted, Missler faces up to 20 years for the transportation charge and up to 10 years for the possession charge.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy Griffith.
It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
North Las Vegas man sentenced to 15 years for child pornography crimes
LAS VEGAS - A convicted sex offender, who was previously found guilty of possessing and transmitting images and movies of child pornography over the Internet, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.
Ezra Hallock, 43, of North Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan to 180 months in prison and lifetime supervised release on the charges stemming from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Hallock was convicted in May of receiving and possessing child pornography following a two-day jury trial. His prior felony conviction in Idaho for sexual abuse of a minor made him subject to a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence under federal law.
"For the second time in a week, a defendant has been sentenced to 15 years minimum in prison for a federal child pornography conviction in Nevada," said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. "Convicted sex offenders who think they can sexually abuse children through the use of technology will be tracked down by federal, state and local investigators, and face stiff penalties when caught."
In 2005, ICE HSI agents in Seattle began an investigation into individuals who were using Google's "Hello" program to send and receive digital child pornography images over the Internet to a Washington state resident. Investigators determined Hallock was one of the individuals distributing the images. ICE HSI agents searched Hallock's North Las Vegas residence in October 2006, and recovered two laptop computers, 13 computer hard drives, more than 1,300 media storage devices and approximately 600 images and movies of child pornography. Hallock was arrested Dec. 17, 2006, following his indictment by a federal grand jury. He has been in federal custody ever since.
"Every time a sexually explicit image of a minor is produced, transmitted, or viewed, a child is victimized," said Richard Curry, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE Office of HSI in Las Vegas. "We will continue to work tirelessly to seek justice for those who mistakenly believe the Internet makes them invisible and invincible."
ICE HSI's participation in this investigation is part of the agency's initiative known as Operation Predator, an ongoing enforcement effort targeting those who sexually exploit children. The public is encouraged to report suspected child predators and suspicious activity by contacting ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE; and NCMEC, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Nancy J. Koppe and Roger Yang. The prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U. S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the U.S. Department of Justice, 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.
-- ICE --
Ezra Hallock, 43, of North Las Vegas, Nev., was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan to 180 months in prison and lifetime supervised release on the charges stemming from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Hallock was convicted in May of receiving and possessing child pornography following a two-day jury trial. His prior felony conviction in Idaho for sexual abuse of a minor made him subject to a 15-year minimum mandatory sentence under federal law.
"For the second time in a week, a defendant has been sentenced to 15 years minimum in prison for a federal child pornography conviction in Nevada," said Daniel G. Bogden, U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. "Convicted sex offenders who think they can sexually abuse children through the use of technology will be tracked down by federal, state and local investigators, and face stiff penalties when caught."
In 2005, ICE HSI agents in Seattle began an investigation into individuals who were using Google's "Hello" program to send and receive digital child pornography images over the Internet to a Washington state resident. Investigators determined Hallock was one of the individuals distributing the images. ICE HSI agents searched Hallock's North Las Vegas residence in October 2006, and recovered two laptop computers, 13 computer hard drives, more than 1,300 media storage devices and approximately 600 images and movies of child pornography. Hallock was arrested Dec. 17, 2006, following his indictment by a federal grand jury. He has been in federal custody ever since.
"Every time a sexually explicit image of a minor is produced, transmitted, or viewed, a child is victimized," said Richard Curry, assistant special agent in charge of the ICE Office of HSI in Las Vegas. "We will continue to work tirelessly to seek justice for those who mistakenly believe the Internet makes them invisible and invincible."
ICE HSI's participation in this investigation is part of the agency's initiative known as Operation Predator, an ongoing enforcement effort targeting those who sexually exploit children. The public is encouraged to report suspected child predators and suspicious activity by contacting ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE; and NCMEC, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorneys Nancy J. Koppe and Roger Yang. The prosecution was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U. S. Attorneys' Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the U.S. Department of Justice, 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.
-- ICE --
Owner of 3 Virginia restaurants arrested for harboring illegal aliens
Fairfax, Va. - Kiet Boc Bui, a resident of Centerville, Va. and the owner of three Viet House restaurants in Virginia, was arrested yesterday on charges of knowingly employing and harboring illegal aliens after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
"ICE aggressively targets employers who violate immigration laws by knowingly employing an illegal alien workforce," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington, D.C. "No industry is immune to following the law. Businesses that use illegal alien workers must understand that they will be held accountable for those unlawful practices."
According to court documents, between approximately April 5, 2005, and April 20, 2010, Bui allegedly knowingly employed and harbored illegal aliens not authorized to work in the United States. He allegedly employed at least seven illegal aliens and paid the workers in cash. In addition, he is alleged to have not kept payroll records for those employees and allegedly did not report the workers to the Virginia Employment Commission.
According to court documents, Bui allegedly had not filed an I-9 form for any of the employees who were paid in cash. Employers are required to complete this employment eligibility verification form within three business days after an employee is hired.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Joseph V. Moreno and Assistant U. S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg. ICE has developed a comprehensive worksite enforcement strategy that promotes national security, protects critical infrastructure and ensures fair labor standards. ICE's worksite enforcement investigations focus on egregious employers involved in criminal activity or worker exploitation.
-- ICE --
"ICE aggressively targets employers who violate immigration laws by knowingly employing an illegal alien workforce," said John P. Torres, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Washington, D.C. "No industry is immune to following the law. Businesses that use illegal alien workers must understand that they will be held accountable for those unlawful practices."
According to court documents, between approximately April 5, 2005, and April 20, 2010, Bui allegedly knowingly employed and harbored illegal aliens not authorized to work in the United States. He allegedly employed at least seven illegal aliens and paid the workers in cash. In addition, he is alleged to have not kept payroll records for those employees and allegedly did not report the workers to the Virginia Employment Commission.
According to court documents, Bui allegedly had not filed an I-9 form for any of the employees who were paid in cash. Employers are required to complete this employment eligibility verification form within three business days after an employee is hired.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Joseph V. Moreno and Assistant U. S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg. ICE has developed a comprehensive worksite enforcement strategy that promotes national security, protects critical infrastructure and ensures fair labor standards. ICE's worksite enforcement investigations focus on egregious employers involved in criminal activity or worker exploitation.
-- ICE --
Masked Armed Bank Robber Arrested
ATLANTA—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Brian D. Lamkin, FBI Atlanta, in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department, announces the arrest of the following individual, responsible for September 9, 2010 robbery of the Chase Bank, located at 3330 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Georgia:
Abdul Khaliq Amin, age 52, was arrested after an FBI SWAT entry was made at a Decatur, Georgia residence earlier this morning. A crucial tip from a viewer of a local area television station broadcasting photographs of the robber prior to donning his robbery mask was considered instrumental in today’s arrest.
Amin will have his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Atlanta, Georgia later this afternoon.
On Tuesday, September 7, 2010, during the mid morning hours, a lone black male entered the Chase Bank, located at 3330 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Georgia, and, after putting on a porcelain doll-type facemask, entered the above bank and brandished a semi automatic handgun while announcing a robbery. The robber then jumped over the teller counter and forcibly obtained an undisclosed amount of money.
The robber was described as being a black male, late 30’s to late 40’s in age, 5’8” - 5’10” in height, scruffy beard/facial hair, prescription eye glasses, black wool cap, white t-shirt, blue jeans, silver semi-auto handgun, porcelain doll-type facemask.
While the robber was masked, two very detailed photographs of the robbers face were taken by the bank’s ATM just prior to the robber placing the mask over his face.
It is noted that the above are mere allegations and that all persons are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Abdul Khaliq Amin, age 52, was arrested after an FBI SWAT entry was made at a Decatur, Georgia residence earlier this morning. A crucial tip from a viewer of a local area television station broadcasting photographs of the robber prior to donning his robbery mask was considered instrumental in today’s arrest.
Amin will have his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Atlanta, Georgia later this afternoon.
On Tuesday, September 7, 2010, during the mid morning hours, a lone black male entered the Chase Bank, located at 3330 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Georgia, and, after putting on a porcelain doll-type facemask, entered the above bank and brandished a semi automatic handgun while announcing a robbery. The robber then jumped over the teller counter and forcibly obtained an undisclosed amount of money.
The robber was described as being a black male, late 30’s to late 40’s in age, 5’8” - 5’10” in height, scruffy beard/facial hair, prescription eye glasses, black wool cap, white t-shirt, blue jeans, silver semi-auto handgun, porcelain doll-type facemask.
While the robber was masked, two very detailed photographs of the robbers face were taken by the bank’s ATM just prior to the robber placing the mask over his face.
It is noted that the above are mere allegations and that all persons are to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ohio Investment Manager Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison for $30.4 Million Fraud
CLEVELAND—Enrique F. Villalba was sentenced to more than eight years in prison, Steven M. Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today.
The Beachwood, Ohio investment manager previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for executing a scheme that defrauded 27 investors of $30.4 million. Villalba, 47, was sentenced to 105 months in prison.
“This sentence serves as an example to the public that the Department of Justice and the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force will fight fraud in order to protect the integrity of financial markets,” U.S. Attorney Dettelbach said. “If you lie to investors, there will be a steep price to pay.”
Villalba, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and of the University of Puget Sound School of Law, represented to investors that his “Money Market Plus” investment methodology provided a conservative approach to futures market trading. According to court documents, in order to reduce the risk inherent in the futures market and to protect investors’ principal investments, Villalba represented to investors that he would put stop orders in place to protect their principal investments. Generally, stop orders were orders to sell the futures contracts if it appeared that the investors were beginning to lose too much money.
Villalba did not put the stop orders in place as he represented and, as a result, lost millions of dollars of investor money. Villalba also converted millions of dollars of investor money for his own purposes, which included funding his “Rico Latte” coffee shops in Hudson and Stow, Ohio; purchasing property in Vermillion, Ohio; and making Ponzi-type payments to some of his investors.
In order to conceal market losses and his misuse of investor funds, Villalba sent numerous interstate e-mail communications to investors advising them of their current positions and the stop orders he put in place to protect their investments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Henry DeBaggis after an investigation by the Cleveland Office of the FBI.
This prosecution is part efforts underway by the President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
The Beachwood, Ohio investment manager previously pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for executing a scheme that defrauded 27 investors of $30.4 million. Villalba, 47, was sentenced to 105 months in prison.
“This sentence serves as an example to the public that the Department of Justice and the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force will fight fraud in order to protect the integrity of financial markets,” U.S. Attorney Dettelbach said. “If you lie to investors, there will be a steep price to pay.”
Villalba, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and of the University of Puget Sound School of Law, represented to investors that his “Money Market Plus” investment methodology provided a conservative approach to futures market trading. According to court documents, in order to reduce the risk inherent in the futures market and to protect investors’ principal investments, Villalba represented to investors that he would put stop orders in place to protect their principal investments. Generally, stop orders were orders to sell the futures contracts if it appeared that the investors were beginning to lose too much money.
Villalba did not put the stop orders in place as he represented and, as a result, lost millions of dollars of investor money. Villalba also converted millions of dollars of investor money for his own purposes, which included funding his “Rico Latte” coffee shops in Hudson and Stow, Ohio; purchasing property in Vermillion, Ohio; and making Ponzi-type payments to some of his investors.
In order to conceal market losses and his misuse of investor funds, Villalba sent numerous interstate e-mail communications to investors advising them of their current positions and the stop orders he put in place to protect their investments.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bridget M. Brennan and Henry DeBaggis after an investigation by the Cleveland Office of the FBI.
This prosecution is part efforts underway by the President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
Dallas Man Guilty in $485 Million Investment Fraud Scheme
SHERMAN, TX—A 35-year-old Dallas man has pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas for his role in a multi-million-dollar oil and gas scheme, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Joseph Blimline pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiring to defraud investors in an oil and gas scheme that involved more than $485 million and 7,700 investors throughout the United States. Blimline also pleaded guilty to defrauding investors in a second oil and gas scheme based in the state of Michigan that involved more than $50 million obtained from investors. He entered his pleas today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant.
“Victims from across the country relied upon the representations made in the scheme before investing their hard-earned money into what they believed to be a vibrant opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Investment fraud is, at its core, a betrayal of trust by one person to another. We will be relentless in our pursuit of those individuals responsible for abusing the trust of others in order to obtain criminal profits.”
According to information presented in court, beginning in September 2006, Blimline and other individuals, operating as representatives of Provident Royalties, made materially false representations and failed to disclose material facts to their investors in order to induce the investors into providing payments to Provident. Among these false representations were statements that funds invested would be used only for the oil and gas project for which those funds were raised. Among the omissions of material fact were the facts that Blimline was a control person over Provident, Blimline received millions of dollars of unsecured loans, Blimline had been previously charged with securities fraud violations by the state of Michigan and that funds from investors in one oil and gas project were being used to pay individuals who invested in previous oil and projects.
In the second scheme, according to information presented in court, between November 2003 and December 2005, Blimline and other individuals falsely promised inflated rates of return in order to obtain payments from investors, which they then used to make payments to previous investors.
This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.
President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
Blimline faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the two conspiracy charges. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shamoil Shipchandler.
Joseph Blimline pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiring to defraud investors in an oil and gas scheme that involved more than $485 million and 7,700 investors throughout the United States. Blimline also pleaded guilty to defrauding investors in a second oil and gas scheme based in the state of Michigan that involved more than $50 million obtained from investors. He entered his pleas today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant.
“Victims from across the country relied upon the representations made in the scheme before investing their hard-earned money into what they believed to be a vibrant opportunity,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Investment fraud is, at its core, a betrayal of trust by one person to another. We will be relentless in our pursuit of those individuals responsible for abusing the trust of others in order to obtain criminal profits.”
According to information presented in court, beginning in September 2006, Blimline and other individuals, operating as representatives of Provident Royalties, made materially false representations and failed to disclose material facts to their investors in order to induce the investors into providing payments to Provident. Among these false representations were statements that funds invested would be used only for the oil and gas project for which those funds were raised. Among the omissions of material fact were the facts that Blimline was a control person over Provident, Blimline received millions of dollars of unsecured loans, Blimline had been previously charged with securities fraud violations by the state of Michigan and that funds from investors in one oil and gas project were being used to pay individuals who invested in previous oil and projects.
In the second scheme, according to information presented in court, between November 2003 and December 2005, Blimline and other individuals falsely promised inflated rates of return in order to obtain payments from investors, which they then used to make payments to previous investors.
This law enforcement action is part of President Barack Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.
President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.
Blimline faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the two conspiracy charges. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shamoil Shipchandler.
Pawn Shop Owner Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Launder $20 Million in Proceeds of Stolen Merchandise
Admitted Laundering Millions of Dollars in Proceeds of Stolen Over-the-Counter Medicines, Health and Beauty Aid Products, Gift Cards, DVDs, Tools, and Other Items
BALTIMORE—Louis Leitch, Sr., age 62, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering and attempting to evade taxes.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel S. Cortez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.
“For the last six years the Ponemon Institute has ranked the Postal Service the ‘Most Trusted Government Agency’,” said Inspector in Charge Daniel S. Cortez. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue to ensure that trust by thwarting criminals that use the U.S. Mail in furtherance of their crimes.”
“The IRS-Criminal Investigation's largest enforcement program is directed at those who willfully and intentionally violate their legal duty of filing and paying their fair share of taxes,” stated Rebecca Sparkman, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Honest taxpayers pay when others swindle the government.”
According to his plea agreement, from 2007 to March 2010, Leitch conspired with others to conduct monetary transactions involving the sale of mass quantities of stolen over-the-counter medications, health and beauty aid products, gift cards, DVDs, tools and other merchandise. Shoplifters, also known as “boosters,” stole products from Target, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and other retailers in Maryland and other states. Pawn shops bought large amounts of stolen items from the boosters. Louis Leitch, Sr. and others were owners of E-Z Money Pawn Shop and 2Brothers Liquidators, Inc. Leitch and others would receive stolen products at E-Z Money. The stolen items were “cleaned,” meaning that the security labels and retail tags from the stolen product were removed. Sometimes a heat gun and lighter fluid would be used to peel away the plastic security labels. In addition, Leitch worked with co-defendants to purchase and transport stolen material. Leitch knew that many of his co-defendants and others participated in the scheme. Some of the defendants also had online auction sites, such as eBay and Amazon.com, where they would sell the stolen products far below normal retail value. The stolen products were then delivered to unsuspecting customers via the United States mail. The defendants received payment back by interstate wire transfers using PayPal accounts and through various financial institutions in Maryland.
On March 25, 2010, agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at E-Z Money and the other pawn shops in this case. Agents recovered well over $1 million in stolen merchandise, approximately $1 million in bank accounts and over $140,000 in cash, and 44 firearms. Although the entire conspiracy involved approximately $20 million in stolen merchandise, at least $2.5 million but less than $7 million in stolen product was reasonably foreseeable to Leitch.
In addition, Leitch failed to file income tax returns for tax years 2005 and 2006, although he received substantial income through his pawn shop and other business. During 2005 through 2006, Leitch withdrew from his bank accounts more than $2.5 million of his gross income, with each withdrawal being less than $10,000. During 2007, Leitch made cash deposits of more than $200,000 of his gross income into bank accounts, with each deposit being less than $10,000. By making deposits and withdrawals in amounts less than $10,000, Leitch was able to avoid bank reporting requirements and conceal from the Internal Revenue Service that he had substantial income and knowingly failed to pay taxes on the income. The tax loss as a result of this conduct for 2005 and 2006 is $401,600.
Leitch faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the money laundering conspiracy and a maximum of five years in prison for attempting to evade taxes. U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg has scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
Co-defendants who have pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy to date, include: Justin Noel Mayhew, age 29; Robert Anthony Reed and Daniel Filip Mimer, both age 27; Spencer Michael Garonzik, age 43; Michael Ender, age 32; and Warren Allen Culver II, age 31; and Michael B. Levy, age 51, all of Baltimore; Jared Lee Ezra, age 41, of Reisterstown, Maryland; and Nicholas Acosta, age 22, of Baltimore.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Baltimore County Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Department; and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation for their work in this investigation and commended Assistant United States Attorneys Kwame J. Manley and Richard Kay, who are prosecuting the case.
BALTIMORE—Louis Leitch, Sr., age 62, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering and attempting to evade taxes.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Postal Inspector in Charge Daniel S. Cortez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Chief James W. Johnson of the Baltimore County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III; and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Sparkman of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.
“For the last six years the Ponemon Institute has ranked the Postal Service the ‘Most Trusted Government Agency’,” said Inspector in Charge Daniel S. Cortez. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue to ensure that trust by thwarting criminals that use the U.S. Mail in furtherance of their crimes.”
“The IRS-Criminal Investigation's largest enforcement program is directed at those who willfully and intentionally violate their legal duty of filing and paying their fair share of taxes,” stated Rebecca Sparkman, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office. “Honest taxpayers pay when others swindle the government.”
According to his plea agreement, from 2007 to March 2010, Leitch conspired with others to conduct monetary transactions involving the sale of mass quantities of stolen over-the-counter medications, health and beauty aid products, gift cards, DVDs, tools and other merchandise. Shoplifters, also known as “boosters,” stole products from Target, Safeway, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, and other retailers in Maryland and other states. Pawn shops bought large amounts of stolen items from the boosters. Louis Leitch, Sr. and others were owners of E-Z Money Pawn Shop and 2Brothers Liquidators, Inc. Leitch and others would receive stolen products at E-Z Money. The stolen items were “cleaned,” meaning that the security labels and retail tags from the stolen product were removed. Sometimes a heat gun and lighter fluid would be used to peel away the plastic security labels. In addition, Leitch worked with co-defendants to purchase and transport stolen material. Leitch knew that many of his co-defendants and others participated in the scheme. Some of the defendants also had online auction sites, such as eBay and Amazon.com, where they would sell the stolen products far below normal retail value. The stolen products were then delivered to unsuspecting customers via the United States mail. The defendants received payment back by interstate wire transfers using PayPal accounts and through various financial institutions in Maryland.
On March 25, 2010, agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Baltimore County Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at E-Z Money and the other pawn shops in this case. Agents recovered well over $1 million in stolen merchandise, approximately $1 million in bank accounts and over $140,000 in cash, and 44 firearms. Although the entire conspiracy involved approximately $20 million in stolen merchandise, at least $2.5 million but less than $7 million in stolen product was reasonably foreseeable to Leitch.
In addition, Leitch failed to file income tax returns for tax years 2005 and 2006, although he received substantial income through his pawn shop and other business. During 2005 through 2006, Leitch withdrew from his bank accounts more than $2.5 million of his gross income, with each withdrawal being less than $10,000. During 2007, Leitch made cash deposits of more than $200,000 of his gross income into bank accounts, with each deposit being less than $10,000. By making deposits and withdrawals in amounts less than $10,000, Leitch was able to avoid bank reporting requirements and conceal from the Internal Revenue Service that he had substantial income and knowingly failed to pay taxes on the income. The tax loss as a result of this conduct for 2005 and 2006 is $401,600.
Leitch faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the money laundering conspiracy and a maximum of five years in prison for attempting to evade taxes. U.S. District Judge Benson E. Legg has scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
Co-defendants who have pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy to date, include: Justin Noel Mayhew, age 29; Robert Anthony Reed and Daniel Filip Mimer, both age 27; Spencer Michael Garonzik, age 43; Michael Ender, age 32; and Warren Allen Culver II, age 31; and Michael B. Levy, age 51, all of Baltimore; Jared Lee Ezra, age 41, of Reisterstown, Maryland; and Nicholas Acosta, age 22, of Baltimore.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Baltimore County Police Department; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Baltimore Police Department; and Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation for their work in this investigation and commended Assistant United States Attorneys Kwame J. Manley and Richard Kay, who are prosecuting the case.
“Wheaton Bandit” Investigation Continues
Reward Offer Increased to $50,000
Authorities are once again asking for the public’s help in identifying the serial robber suspected of as many as 16 armed takeover-style robberies of banks and credit unions in the western suburbs. Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was joined today by chiefs from six suburban police departments in announcing that a reward of up to $50,000 is now being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the “Wheaton Bandit.” A combined reward of up to $45,000 was previously offered by the FBI and several of the affected banks.
The “Wheaton Bandit,” who was so named as seven of the banks he initially robbed were in the west suburb, first struck in January of 2002 and continued robbing banks in and around Wheaton until December 7, 2006, when he hit the Glen Ellyn Bank and Trust, which is believed to be his last Chicago-area robbery. No injuries were reported during any of the incidents.
The first major break in the investigation came in November of 2006, when a passerby is believed to have caught a glimpse of the “Wheaton Bandit” without his trademark ski mask pulled down over his face. This was just prior to the armed robbery of the Fifth Third Bank branch, located in Winfield. An artist rendition of the robber based on the witness account is contained on the wanted flyer below.
More recently, a bank surveillance photo of a person of interest was discovered. This individual, who investigators would like to identify, entered the Mid America Bank branch in Glen Ellyn in late December of 2004. He was not a customer of the bank and was never seen again by bank employees. However, the bank was robbed by the “Wheaton Bandit” a couple weeks later and this individual appears to fit the known physical description of the robber. As such, anyone recognizing this individual, who is depicted on the seeking information flyer below, is asked to call the FBI at (312) 421-6700.
Witnesses have described the “Wheaton Bandit” as a white male, 25 - 35 years of age, 5’ 10” - 6’ 2” tall, medium build, with blue eyes. He has worn different clothing in each robbery and has always used a hood or ski mask to help conceal his identity. He is possibly left handed and has been armed with a semi-automatic handgun during each of the robberies, which he has used to threaten bank employees and customers. He is also thought to have prior law enforcement or military training due to the way he handled the weapon.
This case is being investigated by a task force consisting of FBI special agents and detectives from the Carol Stream, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Wheaton, and Winfield Police Departments.
Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the below flyers are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.
Authorities are once again asking for the public’s help in identifying the serial robber suspected of as many as 16 armed takeover-style robberies of banks and credit unions in the western suburbs. Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was joined today by chiefs from six suburban police departments in announcing that a reward of up to $50,000 is now being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the “Wheaton Bandit.” A combined reward of up to $45,000 was previously offered by the FBI and several of the affected banks.
The “Wheaton Bandit,” who was so named as seven of the banks he initially robbed were in the west suburb, first struck in January of 2002 and continued robbing banks in and around Wheaton until December 7, 2006, when he hit the Glen Ellyn Bank and Trust, which is believed to be his last Chicago-area robbery. No injuries were reported during any of the incidents.
The first major break in the investigation came in November of 2006, when a passerby is believed to have caught a glimpse of the “Wheaton Bandit” without his trademark ski mask pulled down over his face. This was just prior to the armed robbery of the Fifth Third Bank branch, located in Winfield. An artist rendition of the robber based on the witness account is contained on the wanted flyer below.
More recently, a bank surveillance photo of a person of interest was discovered. This individual, who investigators would like to identify, entered the Mid America Bank branch in Glen Ellyn in late December of 2004. He was not a customer of the bank and was never seen again by bank employees. However, the bank was robbed by the “Wheaton Bandit” a couple weeks later and this individual appears to fit the known physical description of the robber. As such, anyone recognizing this individual, who is depicted on the seeking information flyer below, is asked to call the FBI at (312) 421-6700.
Witnesses have described the “Wheaton Bandit” as a white male, 25 - 35 years of age, 5’ 10” - 6’ 2” tall, medium build, with blue eyes. He has worn different clothing in each robbery and has always used a hood or ski mask to help conceal his identity. He is possibly left handed and has been armed with a semi-automatic handgun during each of the robberies, which he has used to threaten bank employees and customers. He is also thought to have prior law enforcement or military training due to the way he handled the weapon.
This case is being investigated by a task force consisting of FBI special agents and detectives from the Carol Stream, Geneva, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Wheaton, and Winfield Police Departments.
Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the below flyers are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.
San Diego Man Charged with Robbing Chase Bank in Poway, California
San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter, announces that Colter Stanley Johnson, age 25, of San Diego, California, has been charged with robbing the Chase Bank, located at 12380 Poway Road, Poway, California, on Thursday, September 2, 2010.
On Thursday, September 2, 2010, at approximately 8:55 p.m., Colter Stanley Johnson was arrested near the intersection of Narragansett Avenue and Chatsworth Blvd. Johnson was arrested following the robbery of the Chase Bank, located at 12380 Poway Road, Poway, California, earlier that afternoon. The robbery of the Chase Bank is believed to be the third bank robbery in the “Skateboard Bandit” series investigation.
According to the federal complaint filed in this matter, on Thursday, September 2, 2010, at approximately 3:27 p.m., the Chase Bank, located at 12380 Poway Road, Poway, California, was robbed by an unknown male. At the time of the robbery, the robber approached a teller, lifted his shirt, exposed the handle of a gun, and demanded money. The robber was wearing a dark hat, black sunglasses, a black bandanna covering his mouth, a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt, long black shorts, and carried a black backpack and a skateboard. The robber instructed the victim teller to put the money in his black backpack. The robber then moved to another teller and demanded money. The second victim teller complied with the robber’s demands and provided him with a sum of money.
After receiving a sum of money, the robber exited the bank and traveled Northbound on his skateboard through the bank parking lot. A witness from the bank observed the robber fleeing the scene and followed the robber to an alley in the vicinity of the bank. The witness watched as the robber pulled down the bandanna that covered his mouth revealing his face. The witness observed the robber’s face and observed him getting into a white sport utility vehicle. The witness recorded the license plate and provided this information to San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Additional investigation involving the San Diego Police Department and the FBI led to the arrest of Johnson later that evening.
Johnson is currently being detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) and expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.
The “Skateboard Bandit” investigation involves the following bank robberies:
Comerica Bank, 3361 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, Monday, July 12, 2010.
Wells Fargo Bank, 7875 Highland Village Place, San Diego, Friday, July 23, 2010.
Chase Bank, 12380 Poway Road, Poway, Thursday, September 2, 2010.
Anyone with information concerning any of the above bank robberies is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255 or Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. You may remain anonymous by calling the FBI or Crime Stoppers. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
On Thursday, September 2, 2010, at approximately 8:55 p.m., Colter Stanley Johnson was arrested near the intersection of Narragansett Avenue and Chatsworth Blvd. Johnson was arrested following the robbery of the Chase Bank, located at 12380 Poway Road, Poway, California, earlier that afternoon. The robbery of the Chase Bank is believed to be the third bank robbery in the “Skateboard Bandit” series investigation.
According to the federal complaint filed in this matter, on Thursday, September 2, 2010, at approximately 3:27 p.m., the Chase Bank, located at 12380 Poway Road, Poway, California, was robbed by an unknown male. At the time of the robbery, the robber approached a teller, lifted his shirt, exposed the handle of a gun, and demanded money. The robber was wearing a dark hat, black sunglasses, a black bandanna covering his mouth, a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt, long black shorts, and carried a black backpack and a skateboard. The robber instructed the victim teller to put the money in his black backpack. The robber then moved to another teller and demanded money. The second victim teller complied with the robber’s demands and provided him with a sum of money.
After receiving a sum of money, the robber exited the bank and traveled Northbound on his skateboard through the bank parking lot. A witness from the bank observed the robber fleeing the scene and followed the robber to an alley in the vicinity of the bank. The witness watched as the robber pulled down the bandanna that covered his mouth revealing his face. The witness observed the robber’s face and observed him getting into a white sport utility vehicle. The witness recorded the license plate and provided this information to San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. Additional investigation involving the San Diego Police Department and the FBI led to the arrest of Johnson later that evening.
Johnson is currently being detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) and expected to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Tuesday, September 7, 2010.
The “Skateboard Bandit” investigation involves the following bank robberies:
Comerica Bank, 3361 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, Monday, July 12, 2010.
Wells Fargo Bank, 7875 Highland Village Place, San Diego, Friday, July 23, 2010.
Chase Bank, 12380 Poway Road, Poway, Thursday, September 2, 2010.
Anyone with information concerning any of the above bank robberies is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number (858) 565-1255 or Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. You may remain anonymous by calling the FBI or Crime Stoppers. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Armed Robbery of Wachovia Bank Branch in Snellville
ATLANTA—Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Brian D. Lamkin, FBI Atlanta, requests the assistance of the public in identifying and locating two armed bank robbers responsible for today’s robbery of the Wachovia Bank, located at 3520 Centerville Highway, Snellville, Georgia. These individuals are believed to be responsible for a series of recent takeover-style armed bank robberies within the metro Atlanta, Georgia area wherein the robbers often wore shoulder-length black wigs.
On Wednesday, September 8, 2010, at approximately 12:00 noon, two black males wearing masks and brandishing handguns entered the Wachovia Bank, located at 3520 Centerville Highway, Snellville, Georgia. Customers were forced to the floor and the teller counter was vaulted. During the robbery, one shot was fired into the bank’s ceiling by one of the robbers. The robbers obtained an undisclosed amount of money and were observed departing in a Dodge Magnum, which was recovered nearby and determined to have been stolen from Cobb County, Georgia several days prior.
While nobody was injured, a bank employee was transported to a nearby hospital for medical observation as a precaution.
As a result of today’s robbery, Wells Fargo has authorized a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for these takeover robberies.
The robbers are described as follows:
Robber #1 is described as a black male, 20-30 years in age, 5’8”-5’10” tall
Robber #2 is described as a black male, 20-25 years in age, 6’0” tall
Prior similar area robberies include:
7/27/10 - Wachovia, Clairmont Rd, Atlanta/Dekalb County, GA. Two black males, wigs, guns, takeover-style, 10:44 a.m.
7/30/10 - Chase Bank, 5552 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA. Four males entered the bank, demanded money; two of the males were armed with pistols and a third was armed with an assault rifle; described as black males, wearing dark clothing and ski masks; ranged in height from 5’5” – 5’10” tall. 10:15 a.m.
8/16 /10 - Wachovia Bank, 3374 Holcomb Bridge Rd., (Holcomb Corners) Norcross, GA. Two black males, wearing wigs, displaying guns, takeover-style robbery. 10:20 a.m.
8/20/10 - Chase Bank, 1050 E. Piedmont Rd. (Piedmont Commons), Marietta, GA. Two black males, armed takeover-style robbery, wearing masks, no wigs. 1:11 p.m.
8/25/10 - Wachovia Bank, 1280 Dogwood Rd, Conyers, GA. Two black males, wearing wigs, displaying guns, takeover-style robbery. 10:43 a.m.
8/26/10 - BB&T, Covington, GA. One black male, takeover-style robbery, stolen silver Lexus recovered.
8/27/10 - Chase Bank, 2079 S. Hairston Rd. (Hairston Crossing) Decatur, GA. Two black males, guns displayed, takeover-style robbery, no wigs. 10:15 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the Atlanta office FBI at tel. (404) 679-9000.
On Wednesday, September 8, 2010, at approximately 12:00 noon, two black males wearing masks and brandishing handguns entered the Wachovia Bank, located at 3520 Centerville Highway, Snellville, Georgia. Customers were forced to the floor and the teller counter was vaulted. During the robbery, one shot was fired into the bank’s ceiling by one of the robbers. The robbers obtained an undisclosed amount of money and were observed departing in a Dodge Magnum, which was recovered nearby and determined to have been stolen from Cobb County, Georgia several days prior.
While nobody was injured, a bank employee was transported to a nearby hospital for medical observation as a precaution.
As a result of today’s robbery, Wells Fargo has authorized a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for these takeover robberies.
The robbers are described as follows:
Robber #1 is described as a black male, 20-30 years in age, 5’8”-5’10” tall
Robber #2 is described as a black male, 20-25 years in age, 6’0” tall
Prior similar area robberies include:
7/27/10 - Wachovia, Clairmont Rd, Atlanta/Dekalb County, GA. Two black males, wigs, guns, takeover-style, 10:44 a.m.
7/30/10 - Chase Bank, 5552 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA. Four males entered the bank, demanded money; two of the males were armed with pistols and a third was armed with an assault rifle; described as black males, wearing dark clothing and ski masks; ranged in height from 5’5” – 5’10” tall. 10:15 a.m.
8/16 /10 - Wachovia Bank, 3374 Holcomb Bridge Rd., (Holcomb Corners) Norcross, GA. Two black males, wearing wigs, displaying guns, takeover-style robbery. 10:20 a.m.
8/20/10 - Chase Bank, 1050 E. Piedmont Rd. (Piedmont Commons), Marietta, GA. Two black males, armed takeover-style robbery, wearing masks, no wigs. 1:11 p.m.
8/25/10 - Wachovia Bank, 1280 Dogwood Rd, Conyers, GA. Two black males, wearing wigs, displaying guns, takeover-style robbery. 10:43 a.m.
8/26/10 - BB&T, Covington, GA. One black male, takeover-style robbery, stolen silver Lexus recovered.
8/27/10 - Chase Bank, 2079 S. Hairston Rd. (Hairston Crossing) Decatur, GA. Two black males, guns displayed, takeover-style robbery, no wigs. 10:15 a.m.
Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the Atlanta office FBI at tel. (404) 679-9000.
“Bicycle Bandit” Now Suspected in at Least Six Area Bank Robberies
The FBI Bank Robbery Task Force needs your help in identifying a man now suspected of robbing at least six Houston area banks. The latest occurred at the Comerica Bank located at 15701 Kingfield Drive in Houston Texas, on 09/07/2010.
At approximately 1:46 p.m., the man entered the bank, and gave a threatening demand note to one of the tellers. The note stated “I have a gun… put all the money in the bag or I will shoot you”. The teller provided him with some cash. He fled the bank on foot in an unknown direction. No getaway vehicle was observed. No one was physically hurt. In other bank robberies, the robber was seen getting away on a bicycle.
The “Bicycle Bandit” is described as a black male, 37-42, approximately 5’9”-6’0” tall, with a slim build and a bald head. During the robbery, he wore a black shirt with a blue design on the front and dark jeans.
Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and arrest of this robber, or any felony suspect. If you have information about this crime, please call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
At approximately 1:46 p.m., the man entered the bank, and gave a threatening demand note to one of the tellers. The note stated “I have a gun… put all the money in the bag or I will shoot you”. The teller provided him with some cash. He fled the bank on foot in an unknown direction. No getaway vehicle was observed. No one was physically hurt. In other bank robberies, the robber was seen getting away on a bicycle.
The “Bicycle Bandit” is described as a black male, 37-42, approximately 5’9”-6’0” tall, with a slim build and a bald head. During the robbery, he wore a black shirt with a blue design on the front and dark jeans.
Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the charging and arrest of this robber, or any felony suspect. If you have information about this crime, please call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
Two Charged in Conspiracy to Possess Stolen Firearms, Including Fully Automatic Weapons
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gillies, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced today that defendants Abdalaziz Aziz Hamayel, 23, of West Bank Palestinian Authority, and Yanny Aguila Urbay, 24, of Hialeah, were charged by separate Complaints.
Specifically, the Complaints charge Abdalaziz Aziz Hamayel and Yanny Aguila Urbay with one count of conspiracy to possess stolen firearms, that is, M-16s, AK-47s, and silencers, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
According to the Complaints, beginning in April 2009, the defendants negotiated to purchase 300 stolen, fully automatic weapons. In addition to the firearms, Hamayel wanted to purchase grenades and improvised explosive devices. During the meeting with Hamayel in June 2009, Hamayel was shown the firearms, grenades and improvised explosive devices.
If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum of five (5) years and a $250,000 fine.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Task Force partners. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Sherwin and Karen Gilbert.
A Complaint is only an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/.
Specifically, the Complaints charge Abdalaziz Aziz Hamayel and Yanny Aguila Urbay with one count of conspiracy to possess stolen firearms, that is, M-16s, AK-47s, and silencers, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
According to the Complaints, beginning in April 2009, the defendants negotiated to purchase 300 stolen, fully automatic weapons. In addition to the firearms, Hamayel wanted to purchase grenades and improvised explosive devices. During the meeting with Hamayel in June 2009, Hamayel was shown the firearms, grenades and improvised explosive devices.
If convicted, the defendants face a statutory maximum of five (5) years and a $250,000 fine.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and its Task Force partners. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Sherwin and Karen Gilbert.
A Complaint is only an accusation and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov/.
ICE arrests 2 airline employees and accomplice in drug smuggling conspiracy
NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested two current and one former Continental Airlines employees on Monday and seized 125 kilograms of cocaine in a drug smuggling conspiracy conducted at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Yunior Lopez, 25, of Elizabeth, N.J.; Amaurys Caminero, 29, of Linden, N.J.; and Kerlwin Taveras, 27, of the Bronx, N.Y., were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The arrests are the result of an ICE HSI-led investigation, which include the seizure of over 47 kilograms of cocaine at the airport over the Labor Day weekend. Lopez and Caminero were arrested at the airport Sept. 4, 2010, and Sept. 5, 2010. Taveras was picked up last night in the Bronx, N.Y.
According to the criminal complaints filed today, Lopez and Caminero, baggage handlers at the airport and co-conspirators, including other Continental Airlines employees, conspired to smuggle cocaine into the United States through the airport. The cocaine was put aboard flights in the Dominican Republic, usually packaged in gym bags with hand-written luggage tags that indicated they had been checked at the departing gate. Once the planes landed in Newark, Lopez, Caminero and others arranged to remove the cocaine from the airplanes, take it from the airport, and facilitate its distribution in the New Jersey and New York areas.
Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations in Newark Peter T. Edge stated: "Regardless of their role in a drug trafficking organization, persons engaged in the illegal importation of narcotics into the United States through our nation's airports are on notice that ICE HSI will use all of its investigative resources to disrupt and dismantle these criminal enterprises, large or small, and bring them to justice."
During the investigation, ICE HSI agents intercepted numerous communications in support of the conspiracy and in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made five separate seizures of cocaine, totaling about 125 kilograms.
ICE HSI was assisted in the investigation by CBP officers, under the direction of the Director, Field Operations New York, Robert E. Perez, who stated: "During the course of these events our CBP officers demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, dedication to duty and vigilance in detecting and seizing these illegal narcotics, leading to the apprehension of these conspirators."
The U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman stated: "Criminals may think that having inside operators at airports will save them from detection, but they underestimate our commitment to and focus on the integrity of those who work there. We will continue to come down hard on anyone who tries to comprise the security of the planes on which we fly or try to bring drugs into the neighborhoods in which we live."
-- ICE --
Yunior Lopez, 25, of Elizabeth, N.J.; Amaurys Caminero, 29, of Linden, N.J.; and Kerlwin Taveras, 27, of the Bronx, N.Y., were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The arrests are the result of an ICE HSI-led investigation, which include the seizure of over 47 kilograms of cocaine at the airport over the Labor Day weekend. Lopez and Caminero were arrested at the airport Sept. 4, 2010, and Sept. 5, 2010. Taveras was picked up last night in the Bronx, N.Y.
According to the criminal complaints filed today, Lopez and Caminero, baggage handlers at the airport and co-conspirators, including other Continental Airlines employees, conspired to smuggle cocaine into the United States through the airport. The cocaine was put aboard flights in the Dominican Republic, usually packaged in gym bags with hand-written luggage tags that indicated they had been checked at the departing gate. Once the planes landed in Newark, Lopez, Caminero and others arranged to remove the cocaine from the airplanes, take it from the airport, and facilitate its distribution in the New Jersey and New York areas.
Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations in Newark Peter T. Edge stated: "Regardless of their role in a drug trafficking organization, persons engaged in the illegal importation of narcotics into the United States through our nation's airports are on notice that ICE HSI will use all of its investigative resources to disrupt and dismantle these criminal enterprises, large or small, and bring them to justice."
During the investigation, ICE HSI agents intercepted numerous communications in support of the conspiracy and in conjunction with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made five separate seizures of cocaine, totaling about 125 kilograms.
ICE HSI was assisted in the investigation by CBP officers, under the direction of the Director, Field Operations New York, Robert E. Perez, who stated: "During the course of these events our CBP officers demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, dedication to duty and vigilance in detecting and seizing these illegal narcotics, leading to the apprehension of these conspirators."
The U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman stated: "Criminals may think that having inside operators at airports will save them from detection, but they underestimate our commitment to and focus on the integrity of those who work there. We will continue to come down hard on anyone who tries to comprise the security of the planes on which we fly or try to bring drugs into the neighborhoods in which we live."
-- ICE --
Previously deported Honduran man charged with illegally re-entering the U.S.
LOUISVILLE, KY - A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment Tuesday against a Honduran national on charges of illegally re-entering the United States. The indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Danilo Fausto Chacon-Chapas, 40, was indicted Sept. 7 in the Western District of Kentucky. According to the indictment, Chacon-Chapas was encountered in the United States in January after having been previously deported. He had not obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to re-apply for admission back into the United States.
Chacon-Chapas was initially arrested by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) for criminal possession of a forged instrument, leaving the scene of an accident, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, failure to maintain insurance, no operator license and alcohol intoxication. Upon his arrest, a records check revealed that Chacon-Chapas had an extensive criminal history, and that he had been deported on June 15, 2006, to Honduras.
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Chacon-Chapas faces deportation after serving any prison sentence imposed.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney, Daniel P. Kinnicutt, Western District of Kentucky.
-- ICE --
Danilo Fausto Chacon-Chapas, 40, was indicted Sept. 7 in the Western District of Kentucky. According to the indictment, Chacon-Chapas was encountered in the United States in January after having been previously deported. He had not obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Homeland Security to re-apply for admission back into the United States.
Chacon-Chapas was initially arrested by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) for criminal possession of a forged instrument, leaving the scene of an accident, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, failure to maintain insurance, no operator license and alcohol intoxication. Upon his arrest, a records check revealed that Chacon-Chapas had an extensive criminal history, and that he had been deported on June 15, 2006, to Honduras.
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalties are 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Chacon-Chapas faces deportation after serving any prison sentence imposed.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney, Daniel P. Kinnicutt, Western District of Kentucky.
-- ICE --
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
ON THE SOUTHWEST BORDER
Going After the Major Players
Methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and cash—the amount of drugs and currency crossing the border in and around El Paso, Texas can be difficult to comprehend.
“El Paso may be the busiest city in the world in terms of the flow of drugs,” said Special Agent Mike Cordero, a member of the FBI/DEA Strike Force, an investigative team established in 2007 to target “the biggest of the big” drug trafficking organizations.
“If they are major players,” Agent Cordero explained, “we’re going after them. Our mission is to disrupt and dismantle these organizations.”
It is estimated that 40-60 percent of all illegal drugs that come into the U.S. enter through the border areas encompassed by our El Paso Field Office. The drugs flow across the border from Juarez, and U.S. currency flows back into Mexico. Every month, tens of millions of dollars in cash pass into Juarez, enabling the cartels to corrupt public officials, purchase weapons, and engage in other criminal activity beyond drug trafficking.
The strike force in El Paso—one of several along the Southwest border—is designed to fight this cycle of crime and violence. The program is funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a longstanding Department of Justice initiative that combines federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts to fight organized crime and drug traffickers. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI have lead roles in operating the strike force.
Working with undercover operatives, sources, and Mexican law enforcement, the team uses an intelligence-driven approach in its investigations. Besides orchestrating large drug buys, agents pay close attention to the money laundering aspects of drug trafficking. Perhaps most importantly, the actionable intelligence gathered by the strike force benefits many other investigations and law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally.
The El Paso strike force consists of 10 FBI agents and 10 DEA agents, as well as representatives from the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“We are a badge-less operation,” Agent Cordero said. “When you walk in our office, you can’t tell who is FBI and who is DEA. There is a concerted effort to put the cases first and not to worry about who gets the credit,” he added. “A win is a win for everybody.”
Recently, during a nationwide drug trafficking takedown called Project Deliverance, the strike force arrested 133 individuals on drug charges and seized 800 pounds of marijuana, 11 kilos of cocaine, and nearly $140,000 in cash. The operation also contributed intelligence to numerous other investigations around the country. “Because El Paso is a pivotal location for the Mexican drug trade,” said Special Agent Raul Bujanda, another member of the strike force, “the intelligence we gather allows us to spin off a lot of cases to other offices.”
“We’re very proud of the work we do,” Agent Cordero said. “There are no egos involved in the strike force—it’s all about the cases and bringing down the drug traffickers.”
Next: Understanding the Gang Threat
Methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and cash—the amount of drugs and currency crossing the border in and around El Paso, Texas can be difficult to comprehend.
“El Paso may be the busiest city in the world in terms of the flow of drugs,” said Special Agent Mike Cordero, a member of the FBI/DEA Strike Force, an investigative team established in 2007 to target “the biggest of the big” drug trafficking organizations.
“If they are major players,” Agent Cordero explained, “we’re going after them. Our mission is to disrupt and dismantle these organizations.”
It is estimated that 40-60 percent of all illegal drugs that come into the U.S. enter through the border areas encompassed by our El Paso Field Office. The drugs flow across the border from Juarez, and U.S. currency flows back into Mexico. Every month, tens of millions of dollars in cash pass into Juarez, enabling the cartels to corrupt public officials, purchase weapons, and engage in other criminal activity beyond drug trafficking.
The strike force in El Paso—one of several along the Southwest border—is designed to fight this cycle of crime and violence. The program is funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a longstanding Department of Justice initiative that combines federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts to fight organized crime and drug traffickers. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI have lead roles in operating the strike force.
Working with undercover operatives, sources, and Mexican law enforcement, the team uses an intelligence-driven approach in its investigations. Besides orchestrating large drug buys, agents pay close attention to the money laundering aspects of drug trafficking. Perhaps most importantly, the actionable intelligence gathered by the strike force benefits many other investigations and law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally.
The El Paso strike force consists of 10 FBI agents and 10 DEA agents, as well as representatives from the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
“We are a badge-less operation,” Agent Cordero said. “When you walk in our office, you can’t tell who is FBI and who is DEA. There is a concerted effort to put the cases first and not to worry about who gets the credit,” he added. “A win is a win for everybody.”
Recently, during a nationwide drug trafficking takedown called Project Deliverance, the strike force arrested 133 individuals on drug charges and seized 800 pounds of marijuana, 11 kilos of cocaine, and nearly $140,000 in cash. The operation also contributed intelligence to numerous other investigations around the country. “Because El Paso is a pivotal location for the Mexican drug trade,” said Special Agent Raul Bujanda, another member of the strike force, “the intelligence we gather allows us to spin off a lot of cases to other offices.”
“We’re very proud of the work we do,” Agent Cordero said. “There are no egos involved in the strike force—it’s all about the cases and bringing down the drug traffickers.”
Next: Understanding the Gang Threat
2 men plead guilty to impersonating U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in advance fee fraud scheme
MIAMI - Saleumsak Khammungkhune, 57, of San Diego, and David Johnson, aka Ukoha Eke, 39, a Nigerian national residing in Upper Marlboro, Md., pleaded guilty to conspiring to impersonate U. S. officers and to commit wire fraud following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
David Johnson pleaded guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas to conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer and to commit wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 16. On Aug. 17, Saleumsak Khammungkhune pleaded guilty to the same charge and is facing up to five years in prison at his sentencing on Oct. 26.
The defendants admitted to posing as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers in a conspiracy which contacted victims through the Internet. Victims were told that $10 million had arrived for them from Nigeria, but that they had to pay U.S. customs duties and fees to obtain the money. Through this "advance fee" scheme, conspirators defrauded victims out of approximately $300,000.
ICE special agents, in two sting operations, arrested Johnson in Greenbelt, Md. on May 13, and Khammungkhune at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., on May 15.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry S. Baron.
-- ICE --
Front Royal Man Indicted on Gun Charges
Don Simonpietri Is Accused of Illegally Selling Firearms
HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA — A former federally licensed firearms dealer has been charged with illegally selling guns without a license and selling guns to convicted felons at a flea market in Front Royal, Virginia.
Don Francis Simonpietri, 64, of Front Royal, Virginia, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg. The indictment, returned under seal, was made public today following the defendants initial court appearance.
The grand jury has charged Simonpietri with one count of conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, one count of dealing in firearms without a license, three counts of selling or giving firearms to a convicted felon, two counts of possession of a machine gun and three counts of possession of a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to the indictment, beginning in 2005, Simonpietri conspired with others to illegally engage in the business of dealing firearms without being a licensed dealer. The grand jury has charged that Simonpietri repeatedly sold numerous firearms, without a license, to individuals he knew were previously convicted felons and therefore ineligible to possess or purchase firearms. In addition, the defendant is charged with illegally possessing two machine guns and possessing firearms, including a 61 mm Mortar, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture in which the United States is seeking the forfeiture of 1,100 firearms.
If convicted, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license charge, up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the three charges of selling/disposing of a firearm to a convicted felon, up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two counts of possession of a machine gun and up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 for each of the three counts of possession of a firearm not registered under NFA.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Front Royal Police Department and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald Huber and Grayson Hoffman will prosecute the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
HARRISONBURG, VIRGINIA — A former federally licensed firearms dealer has been charged with illegally selling guns without a license and selling guns to convicted felons at a flea market in Front Royal, Virginia.
Don Francis Simonpietri, 64, of Front Royal, Virginia, was indicted last week by a federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg. The indictment, returned under seal, was made public today following the defendants initial court appearance.
The grand jury has charged Simonpietri with one count of conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, one count of dealing in firearms without a license, three counts of selling or giving firearms to a convicted felon, two counts of possession of a machine gun and three counts of possession of a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to the indictment, beginning in 2005, Simonpietri conspired with others to illegally engage in the business of dealing firearms without being a licensed dealer. The grand jury has charged that Simonpietri repeatedly sold numerous firearms, without a license, to individuals he knew were previously convicted felons and therefore ineligible to possess or purchase firearms. In addition, the defendant is charged with illegally possessing two machine guns and possessing firearms, including a 61 mm Mortar, not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture in which the United States is seeking the forfeiture of 1,100 firearms.
If convicted, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 for the conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license charge, up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the three charges of selling/disposing of a firearm to a convicted felon, up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two counts of possession of a machine gun and up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000 for each of the three counts of possession of a firearm not registered under NFA.
The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Front Royal Police Department and the Virginia State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald Huber and Grayson Hoffman will prosecute the case for the United States.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Denny Hecker Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
Earlier today in federal court in Minneapolis, Dennis Earl Hecker, age 58, of Medina, pleaded guilty to crimes in connection with orchestrating a scheme to defraud financial lenders and others out of millions of dollars. Appearing before United States District Court Judge Joan N. Ericksen, Hecker pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of bankruptcy fraud.
For many years, Hecker owned and operated numerous Minnesota auto dealerships and businesses that provided fleet vehicles to car rental companies. Those businesses operated under different corporate names but, collectively, were known as the “Hecker organization.”
In the plea agreement, Hecker admitted that from November of 2006 through June of 2009, he conspired with others to defraud Chrysler Financial Services and other commercial lenders from which he and the Hecker organization borrowed money for business operations. Specifically, in the fall of 2007, he conspired with Steve Leach and others to present fraudulent documents to Chrysler Financial in an effort to obtain $80 million in financing for the purchase of 5,000 vehicles from Hyundai Motor America. Among the documents submitted to Chrysler Financial was a letter from Hyundai Motor America that had been altered to benefit Hecker and the Hecker organization. The altered letter was transmitted via interstate wire transfer to Hecker himself, who then provided it to Chrysler Financial, knowing it was fraudulent.
Documents provided to Chrysler Financial also failed to specify the true nature and value of the collateral acquired by Hecker and the Hecker organization to secure the financing requested. Specifically, Hecker omitted details of the incentive payments he and the Hecker organization received from Hyundai Motor America, even though those payments totaled more than approximately $17.2 million and were material to the lender, Chrysler Financial. As a result of those false statements and misrepresentations, Chrysler Financial loaned Hecker and the Hecker organization more than $80 million and ultimately lost more than $10 million.
According to the plea agreement, Hecker also admittedly misled Chrysler Financial into financing Suzuki vehicles. Again, Hecker failed to inform the lender that the Hecker organization had received significant incentives from American Suzuki Motor Corporation. This particular fraud was accomplished by removing a material portion of each year’s Suzuki purchase contract before providing the contract to Chrysler Financial.
When Chrysler Financial learned about the missing addendum to the contract, it insisted on receiving the incentive money. Hecker agreed to turn it over but, instead, continued the fraud scheme by providing the altered Suzuki contract to other lenders, including U.S. Bank, in an effort to obtain financing from them. As a result of those actions, the other lenders suffered a collective financial loss of more than $10 million.
The purpose of the overall fraud scheme, at least in part, was to fund Hecker’s extravagant lifestyle. In an effort to maintain the fraud, Hecker carried out a cover-up and engaged in communications meant to lull creditors. In a further effort to avoid paying his debts, Hecker filed personal bankruptcy in June of 2009, seeking to discharge, among other amounts owed, the $10 million debt to Chrysler Financial.
After filing bankruptcy, however, Hecker admitted that he concealed assets from the bankruptcy trustee. For example, he transferred $33,057 into someone else’s bank account, over which he exercised control. In addition, he transferred approximately $80,000 to that same individual and arranged for that individual to deposit the money in his bank account, with instructions to return it to Hecker later.
For his crimes, Hecker faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison—five years on each of the two charges. Judge Ericksen will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.
Steve Leach is scheduled to go to trial in this matter on October 18, 2010.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole A. Engisch, Nancy E. Brasel, and David M. Genrich.
For many years, Hecker owned and operated numerous Minnesota auto dealerships and businesses that provided fleet vehicles to car rental companies. Those businesses operated under different corporate names but, collectively, were known as the “Hecker organization.”
In the plea agreement, Hecker admitted that from November of 2006 through June of 2009, he conspired with others to defraud Chrysler Financial Services and other commercial lenders from which he and the Hecker organization borrowed money for business operations. Specifically, in the fall of 2007, he conspired with Steve Leach and others to present fraudulent documents to Chrysler Financial in an effort to obtain $80 million in financing for the purchase of 5,000 vehicles from Hyundai Motor America. Among the documents submitted to Chrysler Financial was a letter from Hyundai Motor America that had been altered to benefit Hecker and the Hecker organization. The altered letter was transmitted via interstate wire transfer to Hecker himself, who then provided it to Chrysler Financial, knowing it was fraudulent.
Documents provided to Chrysler Financial also failed to specify the true nature and value of the collateral acquired by Hecker and the Hecker organization to secure the financing requested. Specifically, Hecker omitted details of the incentive payments he and the Hecker organization received from Hyundai Motor America, even though those payments totaled more than approximately $17.2 million and were material to the lender, Chrysler Financial. As a result of those false statements and misrepresentations, Chrysler Financial loaned Hecker and the Hecker organization more than $80 million and ultimately lost more than $10 million.
According to the plea agreement, Hecker also admittedly misled Chrysler Financial into financing Suzuki vehicles. Again, Hecker failed to inform the lender that the Hecker organization had received significant incentives from American Suzuki Motor Corporation. This particular fraud was accomplished by removing a material portion of each year’s Suzuki purchase contract before providing the contract to Chrysler Financial.
When Chrysler Financial learned about the missing addendum to the contract, it insisted on receiving the incentive money. Hecker agreed to turn it over but, instead, continued the fraud scheme by providing the altered Suzuki contract to other lenders, including U.S. Bank, in an effort to obtain financing from them. As a result of those actions, the other lenders suffered a collective financial loss of more than $10 million.
The purpose of the overall fraud scheme, at least in part, was to fund Hecker’s extravagant lifestyle. In an effort to maintain the fraud, Hecker carried out a cover-up and engaged in communications meant to lull creditors. In a further effort to avoid paying his debts, Hecker filed personal bankruptcy in June of 2009, seeking to discharge, among other amounts owed, the $10 million debt to Chrysler Financial.
After filing bankruptcy, however, Hecker admitted that he concealed assets from the bankruptcy trustee. For example, he transferred $33,057 into someone else’s bank account, over which he exercised control. In addition, he transferred approximately $80,000 to that same individual and arranged for that individual to deposit the money in his bank account, with instructions to return it to Hecker later.
For his crimes, Hecker faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison—five years on each of the two charges. Judge Ericksen will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.
Steve Leach is scheduled to go to trial in this matter on October 18, 2010.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole A. Engisch, Nancy E. Brasel, and David M. Genrich.
Arrest Announced in “Over the Hill Bandit” Investigation
The arrest of a suspect in the “Over the Hill Bandit” serial bank robbery investigation was announced today by Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Mr. Grant was joined in making this announcement by Jody P. Weis, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department (CPD); Thomas Dart, Cook County Sheriff; and James D. Ritz, Chief of the Berwyn, Illinois Police Department (BPD).
DANIEL H. KUTZ, age 74, of Cicero, was arrested last week by officers of the BPD following the August 31st robbery of the Harris Bank branch, located at 6811 West Stanley in Berwyn. KUTZ was taken into custody shortly after the robbery by responding officers in the 3100 block of Oak Park Avenue in the near west suburb, after a brief foot chase and the use of an electronic Taser. KUTZ was charged in a criminal complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, which is a felony offense.
According to the complaint, KUTZ entered the Harris Bank branch around 4:00 p.m., approached the teller counter, and announced a robbery, demanding cash from two tellers. After receiving just over $2500.00, KUTZ fled the bank on foot. An alert citizen, who was approaching the bank when KUTZ exited, saw him picking up some currency which he had dropped on the sidewalk. After KUTZ left the area, the citizen realized that he had just robbed the bank and began to follow him, watching as he discarded his shirt in a nearby garbage dumpster. The citizen returned to the bank and alerted responding BPD officers of his observations, resulting in the location and eventual arrest of KUTZ.
Subsequent investigation by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) and the BPD led to the development of additional evidence linking KUTZ to the robbery and the filing of the charges announced today.
In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant noted both the invaluable assistance provided by a member of the public in solving this case and the professional actions of the Berwyn Police Department, whose officer’s dedication to duty resulted in the apprehension of a potentially dangerous serial criminal.
Though not charged, KUTZ is also a suspect in the April 1, 2010 robbery of a Fifth Third Bank branch, located at 7112 West Cermak Road in Berwyn; the April 21 attempted robbery of the Charter One bank branch, located at 6201 West Cermak Road, also in Berwyn; and the April 28 robbery of the TCF Bank branch, located at 800 North Harlem Avenue in River Forest.
KUTZ is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole, at 2:00 p.m. today, at which time he will be formally charged. If convicted of the charge filed against him, KUTZ faces a possible sentence of up to twenty (20) years’ incarceration.
This case was investigated by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) which is comprised of FBI special agents, detectives from the Chicago Police Department, and investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.
Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.
DANIEL H. KUTZ, age 74, of Cicero, was arrested last week by officers of the BPD following the August 31st robbery of the Harris Bank branch, located at 6811 West Stanley in Berwyn. KUTZ was taken into custody shortly after the robbery by responding officers in the 3100 block of Oak Park Avenue in the near west suburb, after a brief foot chase and the use of an electronic Taser. KUTZ was charged in a criminal complaint filed last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, which is a felony offense.
According to the complaint, KUTZ entered the Harris Bank branch around 4:00 p.m., approached the teller counter, and announced a robbery, demanding cash from two tellers. After receiving just over $2500.00, KUTZ fled the bank on foot. An alert citizen, who was approaching the bank when KUTZ exited, saw him picking up some currency which he had dropped on the sidewalk. After KUTZ left the area, the citizen realized that he had just robbed the bank and began to follow him, watching as he discarded his shirt in a nearby garbage dumpster. The citizen returned to the bank and alerted responding BPD officers of his observations, resulting in the location and eventual arrest of KUTZ.
Subsequent investigation by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) and the BPD led to the development of additional evidence linking KUTZ to the robbery and the filing of the charges announced today.
In announcing this arrest, Mr. Grant noted both the invaluable assistance provided by a member of the public in solving this case and the professional actions of the Berwyn Police Department, whose officer’s dedication to duty resulted in the apprehension of a potentially dangerous serial criminal.
Though not charged, KUTZ is also a suspect in the April 1, 2010 robbery of a Fifth Third Bank branch, located at 7112 West Cermak Road in Berwyn; the April 21 attempted robbery of the Charter One bank branch, located at 6201 West Cermak Road, also in Berwyn; and the April 28 robbery of the TCF Bank branch, located at 800 North Harlem Avenue in River Forest.
KUTZ is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole, at 2:00 p.m. today, at which time he will be formally charged. If convicted of the charge filed against him, KUTZ faces a possible sentence of up to twenty (20) years’ incarceration.
This case was investigated by the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) which is comprised of FBI special agents, detectives from the Chicago Police Department, and investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.
Additional information about this and other recent Chicago area bank robberies, including downloadable photographs, is available at the Bandit Tracker website, www.bandittrackerchicago.com.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Copies of the criminal complaint filed in this case are available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.
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