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Nebraska Fugitive Sentenced To Four Years In Prison

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Howard D. Farley, Jr. (72, Weirsdale) to four years in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised released for passport fraud, aggravated identity theft, and operating as a pilot without a legitimate airman’s certificate. The court also ordered the forfeiture of an aircraft that was seized by the Department of Homeland Security at Farley’s home.

Farley had pleaded guilty in April 2021.

According to his plea agreement, Farley admitted to using the identity of a deceased person to obtain a United States passport and an Airman’s Certificate (pilot’s license). Farley admitted to operating as an airman using the fraudulently obtained certificate between January 4, 2016, until his arrest by federal authorities on November 28, 2020.

Other court documents established that Farley used the identity of a deceased infant for more than 35 years to avoid apprehension in the Nebraska where, in 1985, he had been indicted on federal narcotics conspiracy charges.

The case against Farley’s co-defendant, Duc Hanh Thi Vu, remains pending and is scheduled for the October 2021 trial term.

“The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) has a statutory mandate to investigate passport fraud,” said Peter Kapoukakis, Special Agent in Charge of the DSS Miami Field Office. “We are firmly committed to collaborating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to bring fugitives like Mr. Farley to justice regardless of how long they have been on the run. Strong relationships like those that made this prosecution possible are vital toward ensuring the integrity of U.S. travel documents and protecting our country’s greater interests.”

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“By operating aircraft for several years with a fraudulently obtained airman’s certificate, Howard D. Farley, Jr., put the safety of those traveling in our National Airspace System at serious risk,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Southern Region. “May today’s sentencing serve as a stern warning that, together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, we will not waver in our commitment to pursue those who are willing to compromise safety for personal gain.”

“The importance of the U.S. passport system and aviation security procedures cannot be overstated,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David J. Pezzutti. “By using a variety of investigative techniques and leveraging strong partnerships, HSI has helped ensure this criminal faces the consequences of his actions.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, with support from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Former Newton Scientist Agrees to Pay $215,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Statements in Grant Application

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

BOSTON – A former Newton scientist sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has agreed to resolve allegations that he submitted false statements on a grant application to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Sam W. Lee, PhD, 67, of Bellevue, Wash., has agreed to pay $215,000 to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims for payment in a grant application to the NIH. MGH, the sponsor institution for the NIH grant, disclosed to the United States that Dr. Lee, the Principal Investigator (PI), submitted the grant application to NIH containing allegedly inauthentic data. MGH separately repaid NIH the full amount of funds it drew from the grant.

“The NIH grant application process relies on scientific integrity, accuracy and honesty from individual principal investigators, but Dr. Lee supplied falsified results, inauthentic data and false statements instead,” said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell. “Defrauding the NIH wastes taxpayer money, limits the availability of funding for other research and undermines the central purpose of scientific inquiry. We commend MGH for disclosing the alleged false statements, for repaying funds and for taking meaningful steps to prevent future recurrences.”

“The National Institutes of Health (NIH) seeks to preserve and enhance the well-being of our communities by spending $35 billion in taxpayer money each year on medical research; in Massachusetts, over $3 billion is spent annually,” said Special Agent in Charge Phillip M. Coyne of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Dr. Lee’s lack of truthfulness defied NIH’s grant application process that is meant to protect research dollars. OIG, with our law enforcement partners, spares no resources to ensure that funding for life saving research is appropriately spent. People who suspect grant fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.”

The United States contends that Dr. Lee knowingly included inauthentic data in his grant application to NIH. Pursuant to NIH policy, PIs are required to provide a signed assurance when submitting a grant application to the NIH that certifies the truth, completeness and accuracy of the information in the application. Dr. Lee signed the PI assurance for the grant application and confirmed that he had reviewed and approved the application. A fellow in Dr. Lee’s laboratory conducted the underlying experiments for certain figures included in the grant application, but the fellow no longer worked for Dr. Lee at the time that he submitted the application. The United States contends that Dr. Lee altered the experiment descriptions in two of the figures, falsifying the results of the experiments, and that Dr. Lee falsified a third figure by horizontally flipping the image and thus mislabeling the results in the application.

Acting U.S. Attorney Mendell and HHS-OIG SAC Coyne made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica J. Weber of Mendell’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter.

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Albuquerque man charged with bank robbery, aiding and abetting

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Carl “Wizard” Gutierrez, 44, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Aug. 5 for a detention hearing, charged with bank robbery and aiding and abetting. Gutierrez will remain in custody pending trial.

According to a criminal complaint and other court records, on July 15, Gutierrez and an accomplice allegedly robbed the BBVA Bank on Candelaria Road NE in Albuquerque. Gutierrez and his accomplice allegedly entered the bank and approached the teller counter. The accomplice allegedly made his way behind the counter, opened cash drawers and grabbed money. The pair then allegedly fled the bank in a gold minivan.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Gutierrez faces up to 25 years in prison

The FBI Violent Crime Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.

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Long Island Contractor Charged with Performing Lead-Based Paint Removal in Violation of the Toxic Substances Control Act

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

An indictment was unsealed today in federal court in Central Islip charging Rickey Lynch with violating the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (“TSCA”), making false statements and aggravated identity theft. Lynch is the first person to be charged with a felony violation of TSCA since the statute was amended in 2016 to include enhanced punishments for certain conduct posing a risk of death or serious bodily injury. Lynch was arrested this morning and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States District Judge Gary R. Brown.

Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Tyler Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division, New York (EPA), announced the charges.

“As alleged, the defendant placed a very young child at serious risk of continued exposure to toxic chemical hazards by deliberately disregarding federal standards that ensure the safe remediation of lead-based paint. He then compounded the risk of harm by lying and falsifying documents in a failed effort to establish his purported compliance with those standards,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis. “Today’s arrest serves as a warning that those who circumvent environmental regulations that protect the community from the well-known dangers of lead-based paint will face the consequences.”

“Defendant Lynch knowingly violated the requirements of safely removing lead from a home and in so doing endangered the health of a vulnerable family,” stated EPA Special Agent-in-Charge Amon. “The EPA remains focused on holding accountable companies and individuals that cut corners and fail to put public health and safety first.”

As alleged in the indictment, in January 2020, Lynch’s company, Bright Lights Supreme Cleaning, Inc., was retained by residents of Freeport, Long Island, to remediate hazardous lead-based paint from their home after the family’s two-year-old son was found to have elevated levels of lead in his blood. Federal regulations require that lead-based paint abatement work be performed and supervised by individuals who have been certified by the EPA. The regulations also establish work practice standards to ensure that lead-based paint removal is done safely. Over the course of several days, Lynch remediated the lead-based paint himself, despite lacking the proper certification to either perform or supervise such work. Lynch also failed to comply with various work practice standards and did not use a High Efficiency Particulate Air (“HEPA”) filtration system that would have contained the spread of toxic dust and debris throughout the house. As a result of Lynch’s failure to comply with the regulations, lead dust exceeding legally permissible limits spread throughout the house.

In addition, Lynch faces charges of making false statements and aggravated identity theft related to his responses to an inquiry by the EPA. Specifically, Lynch took steps to obstruct the agency’s investigation by supplying a fake subcontractor agreement, an affidavit and other documents that contained the forged signature of an individual Lynch falsely identified as having supervised the abatement work on the Freeport residence.

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The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Under TSCA, the maximum sentence for conviction of a violation that places one or more individuals at risk of death or serious bodily injury is 15 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Bagnuola is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

RICKEY LYNCH

Age: 58

Arverne, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-405 (GRB)

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Philadelphia Sex Offender Convicted of Failing to Register After Absconding from Federal Supervision

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Edward C. Kipp, 74, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted today at trial of failing to register as a sex offender, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), also known as “Megan’s Law.” Under Megan’s Law, sex offenders are required to register their home, work, and school addresses with state law enforcement, so that individuals can search a database and be aware of convicted sex offenders living, working, or attending school in their neighborhood.

In 2013, the defendant was convicted of possessing child [censored]ography. Because of that conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender with the Pennsylvania State Police, and to verify that registration on an annual basis for 10 years. The defendant must also notify the State Police within three business days if there is any change in his residence. In 2020, Kipp absconded from federal supervised release and moved to a new residence without updating his registration. In September 2020, the defendant was charged by Indictment with one count of failing to register as a convicted sex offender.

“The purpose of Megan’s Law is to provide the public with current information about the whereabouts of sex offenders in order to ensure public awareness and safety,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “Failure to comply with the Megan’s Law registration requirement is not simply an administrative hiccup; it is a new federal crime. And if these offenders do not comply, we will aggressively prosecute.”

“The U.S. Marshals Service is pleased to lead Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) enforcement as part of Project Safe Childhood initiatives to diminish the risk posed by those that have the potential to dangerously endanger children,” said Eric Gartner, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

“Parents and caregivers deserve to know if a sex offender lives next door,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “That’s precisely why the registration and notification law was passed, to provide that critical information to the public and better protect children. Convicted offenders are required to advise the state police if their address of record changes. Edward Kipp was well aware of that, failed to do so, and is now being held appropriately accountable.”

This case 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 Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s 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.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Rice and Nancy Rue.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

West Haven Man Charged with Narcotics and Ammunition Offenses

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

Leonard C Boyle, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned an indictment charging CHAZ REDDICK, 38, of West Haven, with narcotics and ammunition offenses.

The indictment was returned on August 3 and Reddick appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and entered a plea of not guilty. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on April 20, 2021.

As alleged in statements made in court, on April 20, 2021, Reddick was arrested by West Haven Police after a court-authorized search of his apartment revealed a distribution quantity of crack cocaine and multiple rounds of ammunition.

It is alleged that Reddick’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm, drug and larceny offenses. It is a violation of federal law for someone previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.

The indictment charges Reddick with one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Acting U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor M. Reardon.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Swainsboro, Ga., banker admits obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent loans

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

SAVANNAH, GA: A former commercial loan officer at a Chatham County bank is facing significant penalties after admitting to obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent loans.

Jason McMillan, 45, of Swainsboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Bank Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. McMillan’s guilty plea subjects him to a statutory penalty of up to 30 years in prison, up to $1 million in fines, significant restitution and asset forfeiture, and up to three years of supervised release after completion of any prison term.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Customers of financial institutions rightly depend on the integrity of those institutions, and of the staff they employ,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “As part of his plea, Jason McMillan will never again work as a banker – and that will help protect those institutions and their customers.”

As described in court documents and testimony, McMillan was employed as a commercial loan officer at a Chatham County branch of a bank when, in July 2009, he used the identity of C.J. without the victim’s knowledge or authorization to obtain a commercial loan for $187,000, “purportedly for obtaining industrial farm equipment.”

During the next four years, McMillan made interest payments on the loan and completed renewal applications to obtain additional loan amounts of $160,000, $157,000, and $250,000. The plea agreement attributes a total of approximately $200,271 in fraudulently obtained funds that McMillan converted to his personal use. The bank discovered the fraud during an internal investigation.

In addition to the statutory guidelines for sentencing, as part of the plea agreement, McMillan agrees to forfeit $112,430.32, to pay restitution as ordered by the court, and to consent to an order prohibiting him from future employment as a banker.

“Purposely stealing from others for one’s own personal benefit is a greedy, criminal act that burdens all involved,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service. “Thankfully, our daily investigative collaboration with our prosecutorial partners helps identify and bring to justice those who choose a felonious path.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Lee and Asset Forfeiture Unit Section Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

International Drug Trafficking Organization Member Sentenced for Trafficking Nearly Four Tons of Cocaine

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

RICHMOND, Va. – A Guatemalan national was sentenced today to 17 and a half years in prison for his role as a transportation manager in a large-scale Guatemalan drug trafficking organization (DTO).

According to court documents, between 2015 and 2016, Edi Barrera-Salguero, 46, conspired to distribute over 1,000 kilograms or more of cocaine. Barrera-Salguero, who was extradited to the United States on February 4, 2021, served as a transportation manager for the DTO. In this leadership role, Barrera-Salguero organized cocaine transportation networks, directed the movement of cocaine loads, and directed the movement of bulk cash.

Operating throughout Central America, Barrera-Salguero orchestrated the movement of 3,586 kilograms of cocaine from Costa Rica to Guatemala. In June 2016, Barrera-Salguero coordinated the transportation of 381 kilograms of cocaine from Costa Rica to Guatemala City, Guatemala. Once the cocaine arrived in Guatemala, the 381 kilograms of cocaine were seized by Guatemalan law enforcement authorities during a traffic stop in the vicinity of Barrera-Salguero’s commercial trucking business, “Importada La Zarza Encendida.”

On July 1, 2020, Luis Pedro Fuentes Amaya, a co-defendant of Barrera-Salguero, was sentenced to 192 months for his role in the cocaine trafficking conspiracy on behalf of the DTO.

This prosecution is part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation Go Explorers. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Heather H. Mansfield prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:20-cr-18.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Ocala Man Convicted Of Wire Fraud In Relation To Resale Of Wireless Communications Plans

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Gainesville has convicted Justin Lewis, 38, of Ocala, Florida of six counts of wire fraud. The guilty verdict, returned Tuesday, at the conclusion of a five-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Evidence introduced at trial revealed that between September 2015, and February 2018, Lewis engaged in a scheme to defraud a wireless carrier by obtaining unlimited cellular data lines through fraudulent means and reselling them to the public for a 1500% mark-up. During most of this time-period, unlimited plans were not widely available to the public. When his actions were discovered, Lewis made false representations to the carrier, created new companies in other people’s names, and submitted altered documentation to conceal his activities. Finally, he used a technique to manipulate the carrier’s customer website portal to obtain unlimited data for free through accounts he had opened in other people’s names.

“Notwithstanding the size of the corporation, fraud schemes harm companies and their customers,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Coody. “The deceptive, persistent, and sophisticated acts employed by this defendant demonstrate the danger posed to both corporations and their consumers. With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of corporate fraud.”

“This case is an example of the FBI’s relentless effort to protect American companies and their customers,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “When individuals defraud corporations, it is ultimately us – the corporation’s customers – who pay the price. The FBI remains committed to pursuing investigations into corporate fraud in an effort to protect consumers from bearing the costs associated with criminal activity.”

Lewis’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 26, 2021, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before the Honorable United States District Judge Allen Winsor. Lewis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offenses.

This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Gary Milligan and David Byron prosecuted the case.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To Eight Years On Gun Charges

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Thursday, August 5, 2021, U.S. District Robert J. Conrad, Jr. sentenced Kane Kileal Lamont Moore, 26, of Charlotte, to 96 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on felon in possession of a firearm charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer.

Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.

According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, between May and June 2019, Moore sold two firearms to undercover ATF agents and was involved in the sale or attempted sale of additional firearms. Court records show that Moore was previously convicted of Breaking and Entering, Common Law Robbery, and Attempted Common Law Robbery, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms. On July 24, 2020, Moore pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Moore is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Kelly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

Columbia, South Carolina — Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart announced today that Raekwon Cortez Ford, 24, of Columbia, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that, in late November 2019, several automobiles were broken into and various items stolen, including an iPhone. One of the victims of the break-ins was able to track their iPhone to a residence in Columbia and notified the Columbia Police Department. Officers responded to the residence and found a number of individuals in the yard, including Ford. Ford, a gang member, was placed under arrest on outstanding warrants and was found to be in possession of the stolen iPhone.

Officers then obtained a search warrant for Ford’s residence, which they executed on December 4, 2019. Within the residence, officers located Ford, who had been released on state bond from the earlier arrest, and found a loaded Ruger .45 caliber handgun concealed in an air vent in Ford’s bedroom. An analysis showed Ford’s DNA on the firearm and that the firearm had been reported stolen from an earlier auto break-in in Columbia in December 2018. A ballistics analysis through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) revealed that the firearm had been used in four separate shooting incidents in Richland and Lexington Counties from June through August 2019.

NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. More information on NIBIN can be found at: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.

Ford is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior felony convictions. Ford has prior state convictions for unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of a stolen weapon, breach of peace of an aggravated nature, and breach of trust.

Ford faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs accepted the guilty plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.

The charges against Ford were the result of an investigation by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department, as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

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v

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Metro East Personal Assistant Facing Health Care Fraud Charges

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

EAST SAINT LOUIS, Ill. – Shomanicka Holly, 36, of East Saint Louis, Illinois, was arraigned in

federal court today after a grand jury returned an indictment charging her with three counts of

felony health care fraud.

The indictment alleges that Holly served as a personal assistant from 2016 to 2019 for a qualified

beneficiary enrolled in the Illinois Department of Human Services Home Services Program. The Home

Services Program is a Medicaid program in Illinois that provides personal assistants to

Medicaid recipients to assist them with general household activities and personal care. It is

designed to reduce Medicaid expenditures by avoiding more expensive institutional care, including

nursing home care.

According to the indictment, Holly submitted false timesheets requesting payment for

personal assistant services that she never actually performed because she was working at another

job, not caring for the Medicaid recipient. In doing so, Holly allegedly defrauded the

program and breached its policies stating that personal assistants “cannot charge [the Home

Services Program] for the same hours worked when working another job” and “billing for

hours not worked constitutes Medicaid fraud.”

Holly’s case is set for trial on October 4, 2021, at 9:00am, before United States District Judge

David W. Dugan in the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. If convicted, Holly faces a maximum penalty

of 10 years in prison on each fraud count.

An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be

innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

This case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of

Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and the Illinois State Police, Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau (MFCB).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Freeburg Couple Plead Guilty to Defrauding Elderly Family Member

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

EAST SAINT LOUIS, Ill. – Ronald Speiser, 81, and Jean Speiser, 81, of Freeburg, Illinois, pled

guilty today in federal court to two felony charges after defrauding an elderly family member out

of nearly $200,000.

The Speisers were designated as the victim’s power of attorney and successor power of attorney in

estate documents. In June 2018, they exercised their authority over the victim’s finances by

opening a joint account for Ronald Speiser and the victim at Citizens Community Bank in Mascoutah,

Illinois, and depositing a check for over $250,000 after selling the victim’s home. Starting around

December 2018, and continuing until at least June 2020, the Speisers abused their access to

these funds by spending over $200,000 of the victim’s money without the victim’s knowledge or

permission, and for purposes that did not benefit the victim. Their spending spree included over

$50,000 in personal home renovations, paying over a year’s worth of personal credit card bills,

purchasing a $29,000 camper and $23,000 truck, and making a down payment and thirteen mortgage

payments on a second home.

As part of the plea agreement, the Speisers agreed to a sentence including twelve months of home

confinement and full restitution to the victim, including $119,000 that must be paid

before their sentencing hearing. The Speisers’ sentencing is set for November 18, 2021, at 1:30pm

in the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.

This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative. Information

about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is

standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This

U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by

experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the

victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting

agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with

appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is

the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting

certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering

losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

The case was investigated by Adult Protective Services, St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, and

Federal Bureau o Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney

Luke J. Weissler.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

West Roxbury Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

BOSTON – A West Roxbury woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme involving inferior merchandise refunds.

Tamara Khatuntseva, 64, pleaded guilty to wire fraud before U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 6, 2021. Khatuntseva was charged on July 20, 2021.

In December 2018, law enforcement initiated an investigation into multiple individuals who were suspected of engaging in activities to defraud runway stores across Massachusetts. From December 2018 through approximately August 2020, Khatuntseva engaged in a scheme to defraud a store through refunds of inferior merchandise including high end and expensive jewelry, clothing, purses, handbags, luggage and shoes. Specifically, Khatuntseva admitted to returning merchandise purportedly purchased from the store, but that was actually not purchased from the store and was of inferior quality, for a full refund and then selling the legitimate merchandise on the internet. For example, Khatuntseva was captured on video surveillance purchasing a pink Gucci scarf for $399, which was then listed for sale on an eBay site associated with Khatuntseva. Several days later, video surveillance showed Khatuntseva returning a different scarf – with the same bar code – and receiving a full refund. The company’s loss as a result of Khatuntseva participation in this scheme is estimated to be between $40,000 and $150,000.

The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, forfeiture and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Former Detroit Police Department Officer Sentenced to 18 Months for Bribery

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

DETROIT – Former Detroit Police Department Officer, Michael Mosley, was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison following his conviction for bribery announced Acting United States Attorney Saima Mohsin.

Joining Mohsin in the announcement was Timothy Waters, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mosley, age 49, pleaded guilty in February 2020 before United States District Judge George Caram Steeh. Mosley’s sentencing was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officer Mosley was a nineteen-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department. As stated during Mosley’s guilty plea, in April 2019, Mosley was a member of the Police Department’s Major Violators Unit. On April 3, 2019, Detroit police officers, including Officer Mosley, searched a drug trafficker’s house pursuant to a search warrant. The search uncovered two kilograms of heroin, one kilogram of cocaine, and six firearms. The drug trafficker admitted to owning the three kilograms of drugs to Officer Mosley, and the trafficker signed a confession. After the April 3rd search, Officer Mosley remained in contact with the drug trafficker in an effort to secure the trafficker’s cooperation concerning other criminal activity.

Subsequently, the drug trafficker offered Officer Mosley a cash bribe of $15,000 in exchange for not pursuing criminal charges based on the three-kilogram drug seizure. Officer Mosley agreed to the deal. On May 2, 2019, Officer Mosley collected $10,000 in cash left for him by the drug dealer in the backyard of an abandoned house in Detroit. On May 23, 2019, Officer Mosley accepted another $5,000 in cash left for him by the drug trafficker at the same abandoned house. In exchange, Officer Mosley gave the drug trafficker the original copy of his confession.

Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin commended the outstanding work of the FBI in conducting this criminal investigation of a corrupt police officer. “The vast majority of Detroit Police Officers are dedicated and superb public servants. When Mosley accepted a bribe, he betrayed his oath as a police officer and the citizens of Detroit. He also betrayed his fellow officers who seek to protect and serve with integrity. This prosecution demonstrates that we will not tolerate public officials who abuse their authority and seek to use their power to line their own pockets,” said Mohsin.

“Michael Mosley violated his oath to serve and protect the people of Detroit. His misconduct was a betrayal of his fellow officers, and it is not representative of the outstanding work of the Detroit Police Department every day,” said FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters. “The FBI will do everything in its power to bring corrupt police officers to justice to ensure communities can have faith in the integrity of law enforcement.”

“We are deeply disappointed in the actions of former police officer Michael Mosley,” said Interim DPD Chief James White. “I appreciate the collaborative effort with our federal partners and those members who conducted this thorough investigation and subsequent prosecution. Clearly, the actions of this former officer are disheartening; however, it does not represent the values of our department and the vast majority of the men and women who serve honorably to keep our residents safe.”

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Resnick Cohen, David A. Gardey, and Adriana Dydell.

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United States v. Andre Taylor

U.S. v. Stephen Shipps

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U.S. v. Matthew D. Thomas

U.S. v. Michael Zeidler

U.S. v. Tara Lee

U.S. v. Dr. Rajendra Bothra, et. al.

U.S. v. Rathburn et al

16-CR-20043

U.S. v. Farid Fata

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Convicted Bronx Fraudster Who Fled To Ghana Prior To Serving Sentence Is Extradited To The United States

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jacqueline Maguire, the Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Thomas Fattorusso, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced that TOUREY AHMED RUFAI, a/k/a “Joe Thompson,” a/k/a “Joe Terry,” a/k/a “Rufai A Tourey,” a/k/a “Ahmed Rufai Tourey,” who was previously sentenced to four years in prison and fled to the Republic of Ghana (“Ghana”) prior to surrendering to serve his sentence, was arrested in Ghana on April 14, 2021, and extradited to the United States earlier today to serve his sentence. RUFAI’s sentence of four years was imposed by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote on April 12, 2019, in connection with RUFAI’s participation in a fraud scheme based in Ghana involving the theft of over $10 million through business email compromises and romance scams that targeted elderly victims from at least 2014 through 2018.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “When a defendant released on bail like Tourey Ahmed Rufai cuts his ankle bracelet and flees the country, it is an affront to the victims of his crimes and the Court. Thanks to the extraordinary work of the FBI, IRS-CI, and our law enforcement partners both in the United States and in Ghana, this fugitive was apprehended in Ghana and has been returned to the United States to serve his four-year sentence.”

FBI Acting Assistant Director Jacqueline Maguire said: “Justice will now rightfully be delivered – both to Mr. Rufai as he serves his prison sentence, and to the innocent victims from whom he stole millions of dollars. When Mr. Rufai decided to cut off his ankle bracelet and flee the United States, he did not understand the FBI’s ability to find fugitives in foreign nations through our extraordinary international law enforcement partnerships. We thank everyone involved, and especially our IRS-CI colleagues and our Ghanaian partners, in ensuring Mr. Rufai will be held accountable for his crimes.”

IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “This extradition reflects that despite his best efforts, Tourey Ahmed Rufai could not outrun justice, even after two years on the run, and by fleeing to another continent. Tourey Ahmed Rufai perpetrated an elaborate scheme driven by insatiable greed and a blatant disregard for the tremendous damage inflicted on innocent victims. He will now rightfully serve out the prison term as originally handed down.”

According to court filings in Manhattan Federal Court:

Between 2014 and 2018, RUFAI, a Ghanaian national who was residing in the Bronx, New York, was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in Ghana that was involved in defrauding more than 100 American businesses and individuals of more than $10 million through business email compromises and romance scams. RUFAI and his co-conspirators received or otherwise directed the receipt of millions of dollars in fraud proceeds from victims of the Enterprise in bank accounts that they controlled in the Bronx, New York. Some of these bank accounts were opened using fake names, stolen identities, or shell companies in order to avoid detection and hide the true identities of the members of the Enterprise controlling those accounts. Once the defendants received the fraud proceeds in bank accounts under their control, the defendants withdrew, transported, and laundered those fraud proceeds to other members of the Enterprise, including those located in Ghana.

RUFAI was released on bail shortly after his arrest on January 9, 2018, on conditions including a $150,000 bond co-signed by three individuals, surrender of all travel documents, and home detention with electronic monitoring through an ankle bracelet. At his sentencing on April 12, 2019, RUFAI was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to self-surrender to prison on May 24, 2019. Then, on May 12, 2019, 12 days prior to his surrender date, U.S. Pretrial Services learned that the defendant’s ankle bracelet had been removed and that the defendant had fled. A bench warrant was thereafter issued for the defendant’s arrest.

On April 14, 2021, after the defendant’s bond was forfeited, the defendant was arrested in Ghana pending his extradition to the United States to serve his sentence.

* * *

RUFAI, 33, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on January 9, 2019. In addition to a prison term of four years, he was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $109,868.61 and pay restitution of $320,449.97 to victims.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and IRS-CI in locating RUFAI in Ghana so that he could be arrested by Ghanaian law enforcement. Ms. Strauss also thanked the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office, Interpol – Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigative Division, Ghana National Security, and the Ministry of Justice & Attorney General’s Office of Ghana, for their assistance in the extradition of RUFAI to the United States.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Bronx Man Convicted Of Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy, Drug Trafficking, And Firearms Offenses

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that a jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against SYDNEY SCALES, a/k/a “Moe Black,” a/k/a “Sid,” on five counts in a Superseding Indictment, including charges of murder-for-hire conspiracy, narcotics conspiracy, a firearms offense, and two counts of distributing crack cocaine. SCALES is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2021, by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who presided over the 11-day trial.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Sydney Scales was the leader of a violent drug operation that peddled drugs and brought guns and violence to our streets. Scales caused at least one drug-related shooting, and he hired a hitman in an attempt to murder rival drug dealers who were having a barbecue in front of a neighborhood barbershop. We continue our daily work with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe by vigorously investigating and prosecuting acts of violence and drug trafficking.”

According to the Superseding Indictment and the evidence at trial:

Between in or about 2016 and in or about 2019, SCALES participated in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana in the Bronx and elsewhere. SCALES also used, carried, and possessed firearms, which were brandished and discharged, in connection with the narcotics conspiracy, and aided and abetted such firearms offenses. For example, the Government offered evidence that on December 1, 2016, SCALES caused a shooting at rival drug dealers standing in front of a convenience store located next to the entrance of the West Farms subway station.

In addition, in or about June 2017, SCALES conspired to commit murder for hire, agreeing to compensate another individual in return for locating and killing at least one rival drug dealer.

* * *

SCALES, 42, was convicted on five counts: (1) conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana, which carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years and a maximum prison term of life; (2) murder-for-hire conspiracy, which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years; (3) using and carrying firearms during, and possessing firearms in furtherance of, the narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory consecutive prison term of 10 years and a maximum prison term of life; and (4) two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, each of which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. SCALES was acquitted of one count of murder in furtherance of drug trafficking and one count of murder using a firearm.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.

The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Mathew Andrews, Andrew K. Chan, Sarah Krissoff, and Gina Castellano, and paralegal specialist Claudia Hernandez, are in charge of the prosecution.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Death by fentanyl overdose leads to indictment of two men on federal drug charges

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

SAVANNAH, GA: Two Bryan County men face up to life in prison after another man’s fatal fentanyl overdose.

Javarus McKinney, a/k/a “Jody,” 32, of Richmond Hill, Ga., is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Near a School, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A co-defendant, Darien Cothern, 32, of Richmond Hill, also is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death. The primary charge carries a possible statutory penalty of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.

“Since the start of the pandemic, overdoses and deaths have been rising throughout the country, with an alarming increase in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in the Southern District,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our office will continue its diligence in working with our law enforcement partners to find the source of illegal drugs implicated in fatalities.”

Richmond Hill Police officers initiated an investigation Aug. 12, 2020, after a male victim was found dead in a residential pool. An autopsy indicated the man died from a fatal dose of fentanyl, and the indictment charges McKinney and Cothern with providing the illegal drugs.

In addition to the criminal charges, McKinney also faces forfeiture of $12,970 seized during the investigation, along with a 2017 Chevrolet Impala.

Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, and the Richmond Hill Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington and Noah J. Abrams.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Former Deputy Arrested For Lying On Federal Firearm Forms At Gun Dealer

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

Ocala, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Karin Hoppmann announces the arrest of Kenyari Devaughnte Brewton (26, Ocala) on a criminal complaint charging him with eight counts of knowingly causing a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in its official records. Each count is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. According to court records, Brewton worked as a detention deputy for the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office until his arrest on August 5, 2021.

According to the criminal complaint, between February 3, 2020, and April 26, 2021, Brewton purchased multiple Glock pistols, AK-47 style pistols, and an AK-47 rifle from a Marion County gun dealer. Many of the firearms were identical. While purchasing the firearms, Brewton certified on each ATF Form 4473 (Firearm Transaction Record) that he was the “actual transferee/buyer” of the guns, even though he quickly resold them to “unknown” individuals for a profit. On May 2, 2021, one of the Glock pistols that Brewton had sold to an individual was used during a homicide in Marion County. Brewton had purchased this firearm only six days earlier from the gun dealer.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Pembroke Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Firearm Crimes

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Pembroke man was sentenced yesterday to 160 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On May 3, 2021, Patrick Warren Privette pled guilty to the charges.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, on October 15, 2020, officers with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Patrick Privette’s residence after learning he supplied drugs to an individual which led to an overdose. Inside the defendant’s bedroom, officers located a quantity of fentanyl, and approximately 50 prescription pills. Inside an air vent near the nightstand, officers recovered a Walther .380, model PK380, semi-automatic handgun. Officers arrested Privette and transported him to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office where he waived his Miranda rights and gave a statement. Privette stated that the drugs found in the house were his and that he had been dealing heroin and fentanyl. He also admitted to possessing the gun and needing it for protection. Privette is also a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Another witness confirmed that Privette had been dealing fentanyl for months.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad E. Rhoades prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-00193-M.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Convicted Murderer Sentenced to 51 Months for Stealing and Possessing a Handgun

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony A. Parker, age 55, of Troy, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Antoinette T. Bacon; Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen.

In pleading guilty, Parker admitted that on April 13, 2020, while employed as a driver at the Federal Express distribution center in Menands, New York, he removed a package from a conveyor belt that was addressed to a Capital Region gun store that contained a Ruger 57 5.7 x 28mm caliber semi-automatic pistol and two magazines. Parker later hid the pistol and magazines at his residence in Troy. At the time he stole and possessed the pistol and magazines, Parker had a prior conviction for second-degree murder.

Parker has been in custody since his arrest on a federal complaint on May 13, 2020.

In addition to the prison sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby sentenced Parker to serve a 3-year term of post-release supervision.

This case was investigated by the FBI and NYSP, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet J. O’Hanlon.

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Department of Justice Press Releases

Promoter of Bogus Green Energy Firm Based in Montgomery County Sentenced to 18 Years for $54 Million Ponzi Scheme

by Press Release August 6, 2021

By Press Release

PHILADELPHIA – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams announced that Wayde McKelvy, 59, of Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $37 million restitution today by United States District Judge Joel Slomsky for operating a $54 million Ponzi scheme in one of the largest green energy frauds in U.S. history.

In October 2018, the defendant was convicted after trial of seven counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, securities fraud, and conspiracy to engage in securities fraud. The government established at trial that McKelvy and his co-conspirators ran an elaborate Ponzi scheme operating as Mantria Corporation, which received more than $54 million in fraudulently obtained new investor funds. The group promised investors huge returns, as high as 484%, for securities investments in supposedly profitable business ventures in real estate and green energy. In reality, Mantria, based in Bala Cynwyd, PA, was a classic Ponzi scheme in which new investor money was used to pay “returns” to early investors, and the business generated meager revenues and no actual profits.

To induce investors to invest money, the defendant and his co-conspirators repeatedly made fraudulent representations and material omissions about the economic state of Mantria. McKelvy also promoted himself as a financial wizard through aggressive marketing tactics, even though he had little financial acumen and was an unlicensed securities salesman. McKelvy operated what he called “Speed of Wealth” clubs, which advertised on television, radio and the Internet, held seminars for prospective investors, and promised to make them rich. During those seminars and other programs, McKelvy lied to prospective investors to dupe them into investing in Mantria. When the SEC shut down Mantria in November 2009, the pyramid scheme collapsed and was exposed.

McKelvy’s co-conspirators, Troy Wragg and Amanda Knorr, who met as Temple University students, were previously sentenced for their involvement in this scheme to 22 years and two and a half years in prison, respectively.

“This case is a classic example of the warning: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Williams. “McKelvy is nothing more than a twenty-first century snake oil salesman, with all of the trappings to make him appear to be a legitimate businessman. The defendant is clearly a danger to the investing public and deserves to be in prison for a very long time, as the government demonstrated at trial.”

“Wayde McKelvy didn’t care about green energy. The only ‘green’ on his mind was money,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “At his bogus financial seminars, he actively and enthusiastically duped people into investing in Mantria, even urging them to liquidate retirement funds and other assets to do so. When the teetering Ponzi scheme finally collapsed, many victims were left financially devastated. It’s the FBI’s duty to hold scammers like McKelvy and his co-conspirators accountable for the serious damage they’ve done.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Livermore and Sarah Wolfe. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of Securities and Exchange Commission.

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OMG!

Snake in the attic? Family shocked when they find out how many

by Shore News Network August 6, 2021

By Shore News Network

A family thought a snake was living in their attic and when they found out just how many there were, they were shocked. So was the snake catcher they hired.

Crikey! A family Down Under suspected a snake may be living on their roof, but after calling Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers, they found they had a much bigger problem.

The company ended up pulling 30 snakeskins and said there were about 20 more in the roof space of the home.

“Has There Been Any Snakes In Our Roof?” the company joked on Facebook. “Well to be completely honest, there have been a couple…at least! How is this haul from Dave when he conducted a roof inspection yesterday. He brought down over 30 snake skins out of the family’s roof space, and there was probably another 20 skins up there.”

That’s a good thing the company says.

“Snakes are great to have in your roof as they eat all the rodents,” they said. “Who doesn’t love free pest control?”

August 6, 2021 0 comments

Entertainment News

Remember the boy from Eight is Enough? Here’s what happened to him

by Shore News Network August 6, 2021

By Shore News Network

Sometimes child stars grow up to be grown-up movie and film stars, but not always. One of the cases where this didn’t happen was the little boy Nicholas Bradford from the television show Eight is Enough.

In 1977, Eight is Enough aired on television and the unspoken star of the show was then 8-year-old Adam Rich, who played Nicholas Bradford on the show. The show lasted for five seasons and had a long run on the after-school daytime rerun circuit for many years. Rich was dubbed “America’s Little Brother”.

After the show, Rich went on to play roles in other popular 70s and 80s television shows, making cameos in Chips, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and more.

Then things went south for Rich. He ended up dropping out of high school and getting hooked on drugs. In 1989, he reportedly almost died of an overdose while taking the popular 80s drug, Valium. In 1991, Rich was arrested for attempted burglary at a pharmacy.

See more: Whatever Happened to the Feral Kid from Mad Max?

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Politics

Cori Bush justifies her $70,000 security detail while calling to defund the police

by Shore News Network August 6, 2021

By Shore News Network

Cori Bush told reporters this week that she has an important role to play in Washington and said white supremacists are making death threats against her. Now she’s saying defund the police has to happen, but she also needs her own private security detail to make it happen.

She said her security is to protect her against racist attempts against her life, even saying police officers have threatened her life.

Democrat Congresswoman Cori Bush isn’t backing down from her $70,000 security detail after facing scrutiny for her stance to defund police across America. Bush, who announced she was recently homeless and sued by her landlord for rent non-payment is among those in Congress leading the charge to defund the police.

“I’m going to make sure I have security because I know I have had attempts on my life and I have too much work to do,” a defiant bush said. “There are too many people that need help right now for me to allow that, so if I end up spending $200,000…if I spend 10 more dollars on it, you know what, I get to be here to do the work, so suck it up, and defunding the police has to happen. We need to defund the police and put that money into the social safety net.”

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