Jose A. Santiago, 36, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced in Providence, Rhode Island, to serve 40 years in prison for his role in the September 2010 armed robbery and murder of Woonsocket, Rhode Island gas station manager David D. Main.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha of the District of Rhode Island, Special Agent in Charge Vincent B. Lisi of the FBI’s Boston Field Office, Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell of the Rhode Island State Police and Chief Thomas S. Carey of the Woonsocket Police Department made the announcement.
According to court documents, Main, 49, was chased, shot to death at close range, and robbed by Jason Wayne Pleau, 36, of Providence, as he approached the doorstep of a Woonsocket bank where he was preparing to deposit thousands of dollars in cash belonging to the gas station. Santiago was the getaway driver of a box truck parked a block away from the bank in which Pleau fled moments after he robbed and fatally shot Main.
Pleau, who pleaded guilty on July 31, 2013, to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; Hobbs Act robbery; and carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence resulting in death, was sentenced in October 2013 to serve life in prison.
Santiago pleaded guilty on September 5, 2013, to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; Hobbs Act robbery; and carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence resulting in death. No plea agreement was filed in this matter. At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith also ordered Santiago to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
Co-defendant Kelly Marie Lajoie, 36, of Springfield, pleaded guilty on December 9, 2011, to Hobbs Act conspiracy, aiding and abetting a Hobbs Act robbery, and use of a firearm during a federal crime of violence. Lajoie is scheduled to be sentenced on February 19, 2014.
The matter was investigated by the Woonsocket Police Department, Rhode Island State Police, and the FBI, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rhode Island National Guard.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adi Goldstein and William J. Ferland of the District of Rhode Island and Trial Attorney Jacabed Rodriguez-Coss of the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Guilty Plea in Golf Course Scheme that Swindled Millions from Investors
A man who fraudulently convinced 11 persons to loan him a total of $3.6 million for the purchase of a golf course near Gardnerville, Nevada, pleaded guilty to 24 federal felony charges, announced Daniel G. Bogden, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada.
Scott H. Summerhays, 55, formerly of the South Lake Tahoe area, but currently in custody in Reno, pleaded guilty during the first day of trial to 14 counts of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, two counts of identity theft, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Summerhays, who was indicted in February 2012, faces over 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5.7 million and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks.
“This is the second person to be convicted or sentenced of federal investment fraud charges in the northern Nevada area this week,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “In both cases, the defendants led their victims to believe that they were legitimate businessmen and used fraudulent documents to support their scheme. If you are considering a financial arrangement with someone, be sure to check the veracity of any documents they provide you, as fraudulent documents are common and easy to create.”
According to the court records, during 2008 to 2010, Summerhays represented to potential investors that he was purchasing the Genoa Lakes Golf Club located west of Gardnerville, Nevada, for $17 million and needed a short-term loan to complete the deal because his own money was tied up in a trust. Summerhays also represented to the potential investors that he solicited funds for oil and gas investments in Texas and owned more than $30 million in Berkshire, Las Vegas Sands, and MGM stocks. Summerhays showed some of the investors a fraudulent investment account statement. Summerhays also claimed that he was in partnership with Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Aldelson and showed potential investors a partnership agreement containing the forged signature of Adelson. In reality, Summerhays had no investment portfolio, and Adelson never heard of Summerhays or had any partnerships with him. Using this scheme, Summerhays was able to convince 11 persons to loan him money for the golf course, totaling approximately $3.6 million. None of the investors were repaid, and they lost all of the money they loaned Summerhays.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald C. Rachow and Megan Rachow.
Scott H. Summerhays, 55, formerly of the South Lake Tahoe area, but currently in custody in Reno, pleaded guilty during the first day of trial to 14 counts of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, two counts of identity theft, and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Summerhays, who was indicted in February 2012, faces over 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5.7 million and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. by U.S. District Judge Larry R. Hicks.“This is the second person to be convicted or sentenced of federal investment fraud charges in the northern Nevada area this week,” said U.S. Attorney Bogden. “In both cases, the defendants led their victims to believe that they were legitimate businessmen and used fraudulent documents to support their scheme. If you are considering a financial arrangement with someone, be sure to check the veracity of any documents they provide you, as fraudulent documents are common and easy to create.”
According to the court records, during 2008 to 2010, Summerhays represented to potential investors that he was purchasing the Genoa Lakes Golf Club located west of Gardnerville, Nevada, for $17 million and needed a short-term loan to complete the deal because his own money was tied up in a trust. Summerhays also represented to the potential investors that he solicited funds for oil and gas investments in Texas and owned more than $30 million in Berkshire, Las Vegas Sands, and MGM stocks. Summerhays showed some of the investors a fraudulent investment account statement. Summerhays also claimed that he was in partnership with Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Aldelson and showed potential investors a partnership agreement containing the forged signature of Adelson. In reality, Summerhays had no investment portfolio, and Adelson never heard of Summerhays or had any partnerships with him. Using this scheme, Summerhays was able to convince 11 persons to loan him money for the golf course, totaling approximately $3.6 million. None of the investors were repaid, and they lost all of the money they loaned Summerhays.
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald C. Rachow and Megan Rachow.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Attorney Christina M. Kitterman Convicted in Connection with Rothstein Ponzi Scheme
A federal jury in West Palm Beach convicted Christina M. Kitterman, 38, of Deerfield Beach, on three counts of wire fraud after a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Daniel T. K. Hurley. A sentencing date has not been set.
Kitterman was charged with three counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The acts set forth in the charging document were all in furtherance of a Ponzi scheme involving the sale of purported confidential settlement agreements in sexual harassment and/or whistle blower cases that were purportedly handled by attorneys at the former Ft. Lauderdale law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt, and Adler P.A. (RRA).
Evidence introduced at trial established that, during the course of the Ponzi scheme and while she was employed as an attorney at RRA, Kitterman falsely posed as the head of the Ft. Lauderdale office of the Florida Bar Association during a meeting with certain investors in order to explain to the investors the reason why certain payments due to them had not been made.
At sentencing, Kitterman faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “The verdict rendered by the jury today is another step toward bringing Rothstein’s criminal associates to justice. As I have previously stated, the success of Rothstein’s complex scheme to deceive and defraud depended on the complicity of individuals like Christina Kitterman. Kitterman, an attorney, was the 15th individual to face criminal charges in connection with this complex financial fraud.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Gonzalez stated, “The jury has validated the government’s case sending a strong message that those who knowingly assist in perpetrating investment scams will be held accountable for their actions. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate and bring to justice those who aided Rothstein in perpetrating this massive fraud.”
“Although Scott Rothstein was the ringleader in a massive Ponzi scheme, he needed help. A jury of her peers has determined Christina Kitterman gave him that help and needs to be held accountable,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “Regardless of one’s role, the FBI and its partners are committed to investigate those who swindle investors.”
Kitterman was charged with three counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. The acts set forth in the charging document were all in furtherance of a Ponzi scheme involving the sale of purported confidential settlement agreements in sexual harassment and/or whistle blower cases that were purportedly handled by attorneys at the former Ft. Lauderdale law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt, and Adler P.A. (RRA).
Evidence introduced at trial established that, during the course of the Ponzi scheme and while she was employed as an attorney at RRA, Kitterman falsely posed as the head of the Ft. Lauderdale office of the Florida Bar Association during a meeting with certain investors in order to explain to the investors the reason why certain payments due to them had not been made.
At sentencing, Kitterman faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, “The verdict rendered by the jury today is another step toward bringing Rothstein’s criminal associates to justice. As I have previously stated, the success of Rothstein’s complex scheme to deceive and defraud depended on the complicity of individuals like Christina Kitterman. Kitterman, an attorney, was the 15th individual to face criminal charges in connection with this complex financial fraud.”
IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Gonzalez stated, “The jury has validated the government’s case sending a strong message that those who knowingly assist in perpetrating investment scams will be held accountable for their actions. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively investigate and bring to justice those who aided Rothstein in perpetrating this massive fraud.”
“Although Scott Rothstein was the ringleader in a massive Ponzi scheme, he needed help. A jury of her peers has determined Christina Kitterman gave him that help and needs to be held accountable,” said Michael B. Steinbach, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “Regardless of one’s role, the FBI and its partners are committed to investigate those who swindle investors.”
Convicted Felon William Benjamin Mejias Pleads Guilty to Impersonating a DEA Agent at Nightclubs and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
William Benjamin Mejias (41, Orlando) pleaded guilty to impersonating a Drug Enforcement Administration agent and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Mejias faces a maximum penalty of 13 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement and court documents
, Mejias appeared at nightclubs, in Orlando, dressed in clothes that identified him as an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Mejias wore authentic-looking DEA badges, carried a firearm, and reportedly told several people that he was a DEA agent. He also posted photos of himself on social media websites wearing DEA clothes, a DEA badge, and a firearm. In September 2013, local police officers conducted a traffic stop on Mejias and he displayed a DEA badge and credentials to get out of the ticket. During a later search of Mejias’s residence, agents found a loaded semi-automatic firearm.
Mejias was convicted of three separate felony burglaries in 1994, 1995, and 1996 and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
According to the plea agreement and court documents
, Mejias appeared at nightclubs, in Orlando, dressed in clothes that identified him as an agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Mejias wore authentic-looking DEA badges, carried a firearm, and reportedly told several people that he was a DEA agent. He also posted photos of himself on social media websites wearing DEA clothes, a DEA badge, and a firearm. In September 2013, local police officers conducted a traffic stop on Mejias and he displayed a DEA badge and credentials to get out of the ticket. During a later search of Mejias’s residence, agents found a loaded semi-automatic firearm.Mejias was convicted of three separate felony burglaries in 1994, 1995, and 1996 and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
Christian Keston John, Marvin Johnson, and Shaquan Jones Indicted on Racketeering Charges, Including Six Murders
A superseding indictment was returned last Friday charging defendants Christian Keston John, Marvin Johnson, and Shaquan Jones, who were members of a violent criminal enterprise, with racketeering, consisting of 23 predicate acts, including six murders, two attempted murders, three armed robberies, kidnapping, murder-for-hire, and gambling on dog fighting, among other crimes, all of which occurred in the Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and East New York areas of Brooklyn. Johnson was arraigned earlier today at federal court in Brooklyn before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy, and the defendants Christian John and Shaquan Jones will be arraigned on Friday, also before Magistrate Judge Levy.
The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
According to court papers, the enterprise, known as the Hull Street Crew, began its violent conduct in 2000 with the murder of Charlemagne Lormand, followed by the 2005 murder of Shamell Etienne and the 2008 murder of Daquane Shelton. In 2006, the defendants allegedly murdered Earle Kevin Obermuller when they bound his entire head with duct tape, dragged him down to a basement, tied him to a chair on a bed of charcoals, and then set him on fire. The indictment also charges the 2011 murders of Jason Bostic and Aaron Formey, who were murdered in a similar manner when they were bound with duct tape, pushed down the stairs to a basement, and shot multiple times. The Hull Street Crew enriched its members through drug trafficking and gambling on dog fights and committed these violent acts to enhance the enterprise’s prestige and to protect it from rival criminal organizations.
“As set forth in the indictment, the Hull Street Crew rained down brutal violence onto the streets of Brooklyn for over a decade. The defendants pledged their allegiance to the Crew and its violent methods, committing a brutal murder and other senseless acts of violence. This indictment brings to a halt the Hull Street Crew’s reign of terror over the streets of Brooklyn,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “Working together with the FBI and the NYPD, we stand committed to ending the scourge of violence in our communities and bringing to justice those who commit such violent acts. We hope that this prosecution will bring some measure of closure to the families of the victims who have suffered not only because of the loss of loved ones but also by not knowing who was responsible for these crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos stated, “Violence is the rule, not the exception, in the Hull Street Crew. As alleged, this criminal enterprise used illegal means, including murder and kidnapping, to intimidate rivals and instill fear in the innocent public. Today’s indictment illustrates the FBI’s continued effort to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle violent criminal enterprises that terrorize our communities.”
Police Commissioner Bratton stated, “Members of this violent and vicious crew operated on the streets of Brooklyn for more than a decade, but with this investigation and indictment, we send a message to those who choose to operate within a ruthless criminal operation—you will be brought to justice and eradicated from our communities. The Hull Street Crew was shut down thanks to the tireless efforts of the investigators from the NYPD Detective Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.”
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Frederic Block. If convicted of murder, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, or possibly the death penalty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Celia A. Cohen, Gina M. Parlovecchio, and Robert T. Polemeni.
The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; George Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and William J. Bratton, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
According to court papers, the enterprise, known as the Hull Street Crew, began its violent conduct in 2000 with the murder of Charlemagne Lormand, followed by the 2005 murder of Shamell Etienne and the 2008 murder of Daquane Shelton. In 2006, the defendants allegedly murdered Earle Kevin Obermuller when they bound his entire head with duct tape, dragged him down to a basement, tied him to a chair on a bed of charcoals, and then set him on fire. The indictment also charges the 2011 murders of Jason Bostic and Aaron Formey, who were murdered in a similar manner when they were bound with duct tape, pushed down the stairs to a basement, and shot multiple times. The Hull Street Crew enriched its members through drug trafficking and gambling on dog fights and committed these violent acts to enhance the enterprise’s prestige and to protect it from rival criminal organizations.
“As set forth in the indictment, the Hull Street Crew rained down brutal violence onto the streets of Brooklyn for over a decade. The defendants pledged their allegiance to the Crew and its violent methods, committing a brutal murder and other senseless acts of violence. This indictment brings to a halt the Hull Street Crew’s reign of terror over the streets of Brooklyn,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “Working together with the FBI and the NYPD, we stand committed to ending the scourge of violence in our communities and bringing to justice those who commit such violent acts. We hope that this prosecution will bring some measure of closure to the families of the victims who have suffered not only because of the loss of loved ones but also by not knowing who was responsible for these crimes.”
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos stated, “Violence is the rule, not the exception, in the Hull Street Crew. As alleged, this criminal enterprise used illegal means, including murder and kidnapping, to intimidate rivals and instill fear in the innocent public. Today’s indictment illustrates the FBI’s continued effort to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle violent criminal enterprises that terrorize our communities.”
Police Commissioner Bratton stated, “Members of this violent and vicious crew operated on the streets of Brooklyn for more than a decade, but with this investigation and indictment, we send a message to those who choose to operate within a ruthless criminal operation—you will be brought to justice and eradicated from our communities. The Hull Street Crew was shut down thanks to the tireless efforts of the investigators from the NYPD Detective Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.”
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Frederic Block. If convicted of murder, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, or possibly the death penalty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Celia A. Cohen, Gina M. Parlovecchio, and Robert T. Polemeni.
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