A high-level member of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico pleaded guilty a year ago to participating in a vast narcotics trafficking conspiracy and is cooperating with the United States, federal law enforcement officials announced. A written plea agreement with the defendant, Jesus Vicente Zambada-Niebla, was made public in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Zambada-Niebla, 39, pleaded guilty on April 3, 2013, before U.S. District Chief Judge Ruben Castillo. Zambada-Niebla was arrested in Mexico in 2009, and he was extradited to the United States in February 2010.
Zambada-Niebla remains in U.S. custody and no sentencing date has been set. Under the plea agreement, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison¸ a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and a maximum fine of $4 million. If the government determines at the time of sentencing that Zambada-Niebla has continued to provide full and truthful cooperation, as required by the plea agreement, the government will move to depart below the anticipated advisory federal sentencing guideline of life imprisonment. In addition, Zambada-Niebla agreed not to contest a forfeiture judgment of more than $1.37 billion.
“This guilty plea is a testament to the tireless determination of the leadership and special agents of DEA’s Chicago office to hold accountable those individuals at the highest levels of the drug trafficking cartels who are responsible for flooding Chicago with cocaine and heroin and reaping the profits,” said Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Fardon announced the guilty plea with Jack Riley, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Zambada-Niebla pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute multiple kilograms of cocaine and heroin between 2005 and 2008. More specifically, the plea agreement describes the distribution of multiple tons of cocaine, often involving hundreds of kilograms at a time on a monthly, if not weekly, basis between 2005 and 2008. The guilty plea means that there will be no trial for Zambada-Niebla, whose case was severed from that of his co-defendants. Among his co-defendants are his father, Ismael Zambada-Garcia, also known as “El Mayo,” and Joaquin Guzman-Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” both alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada-Garcia is a fugitive believed to be in Mexico, and Guzman-Loera is in Mexican custody after being arrested this past February.
Zambada-Niebla admitted that between May 2005 and December 2008, he was a high-level member of the Sinaloa Cartel and was responsible for many aspects of its drug trafficking operations, “both independently and as a trusted lieutenant for his father,” for whom he acted as a surrogate and logistical coordinator, the plea agreement states. Zambada-Niebla admitted he was aware that his father was among the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel since the 1970s and their principal livelihood was derived from their sale of narcotics in the United States.
Zambada-Niebla admitted that he participated in coordinating the importation of multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Central and South American countries, including Colombia and Panama, into the interior of Mexico, and facilitated the transportation and storage of these shipments within Mexico. The cartel used various means of transportation, including private aircraft, submarines and other submersible and semi-submersible vessels, container ships, go-fast boats, fishing vessels, buses, rail cars, tractor-trailers, and automobiles.
Zambada-Niebla “subsequently assisted in coordinating the delivery of cocaine to wholesale distributors in Mexico, knowing that these distributors would in turn smuggle multi-ton quantities of cocaine, generally in shipments of hundreds of kilograms at a time, as well as on at least one occasion, multi-kilogram quantities of heroin, from Mexico across the United States border, and then into and throughout the United States, including Chicago,” according to the plea agreement.
On most occasions, the Sinaloa Cartel supplied this cocaine and heroin to wholesalers on consignment, including to cooperating co-defendants Pedro and Margarito Flores, whom Zambada-Niebla knew distributed multi-ton quantities of cocaine and multi-kilogram quantities of heroin in Chicago, and in turn sent payment to Zambada-Niebla and other cartel leaders. Zambada-Niebla also admitted being aware of, and directly participating in, transporting large quantities of narcotics cash proceeds from the U.S. to Mexico.
Zambada-Niebla also admitted that he and his father, as well as other members of the Sinaloa Cartel, “were protected by the ubiquitous presence of weapons,” and that he had “constant bodyguards who possessed numerous military-caliber weapons.” Zambada-Niebla also admitted that he was aware that the cartel used violence and made credible threats of violence to rival cartels and to law enforcement in Mexico to facilitate its business.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Could William Bradford Bishop Jr, Newest Member of FBI's Most Wanted List, Be Hiding in Plain Sight?
Although William Bradford Bishop, Jr. traveled extensively overseas through his job with the U.S. Department of State and spoke several foreign languages, investigators believe he may have assumed a new identity and be hiding in plain sight in the United States.
Even an experienced traveler might find it difficult to maintain a new identity in a foreign country, said Steve Vogt, special agent in charge of our Baltimore Division. “If you’re a U.S. citizen it’s usually easier to hide in this country,” he explained. “Americans overseas tend to stand out.”
“The reality is, he could be anywhere,” Vogt added. “But we don’t want people to assume that he’s out of the country and overlook the fact that he might be living in their community. People might see someone who looks like him and think, ‘It couldn’t be him.’ Well, it could be him,” Vogt said. “That’s why we need the public’s help.”
Vogt doesn’t dismiss the possibility that Bishop died years ago, but currently there is no proof either way. “If he’s dead, so be it,” Vogt said, “but until we know for certain, we will not stop searching for him.”
Even an experienced traveler might find it difficult to maintain a new identity in a foreign country, said Steve Vogt, special agent in charge of our Baltimore Division. “If you’re a U.S. citizen it’s usually easier to hide in this country,” he explained. “Americans overseas tend to stand out.”
“The reality is, he could be anywhere,” Vogt added. “But we don’t want people to assume that he’s out of the country and overlook the fact that he might be living in their community. People might see someone who looks like him and think, ‘It couldn’t be him.’ Well, it could be him,” Vogt said. “That’s why we need the public’s help.”
Vogt doesn’t dismiss the possibility that Bishop died years ago, but currently there is no proof either way. “If he’s dead, so be it,” Vogt said, “but until we know for certain, we will not stop searching for him.”
William Bradford Bishop Added to FBI Top Ten List
William Bradford Bishop, Jr., wanted for the brutal murders of his wife, mother, and three sons in Maryland nearly four decades ago, has been named to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading directly to the arrest of Bishop, a highly intelligent former U.S. Department of State employee who investigators believe may be hiding in plain sight.
On March 1, 1976, Bishop used a hammer to bludgeon his family, including his three boys, ages 5, 10, and 14. Investigators believe he then drove to North Carolina with the bodies in the family station wagon, buried them in a shallow grave and set them on fire. The last confirmed sighting of Bishop was one day after the murders at a sporting goods store in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he bought a pair of sneakers.
“Nothing has changed since March 2, 1976 when Bishop was last seen except the passage of time,” said Steve Vogt, special agent in charge of our Baltimore Division. Vogt has teamed with local Maryland law enforcement officials to apprehend Bishop, a man described by investigators as a “family annihilator.”
“There is no indication that Bishop is dead,” Vogt said, explaining that the area where the bodies were discovered was searched extensively, and hundreds of individuals were interviewed at the park where the abandoned station wagon was later discovered, and there was no trace of Bishop.
The FBI, along with the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of State formed a task force last year to take another look at the Bishop case and to engage the public in locating him. As part of that effort, a forensic artist created a three-dimensional, age-enhanced bust of what the fugitive may look like now, at the age of 77.
Naming Bishop to the Top Ten list is expected to bring national and international attention to the case in a way that was impossible decades ago. “When Bishop took off in 1976, there was no social media, no 24-hour news cycle,” Vogt said. “There was no sustained way to get his face out there like there is today. And the only way to catch this guy is through the public.”
“If Bishop is alive—and there is every chance that he could be,” said Tom Manger, chief of the Montgomery County Police Department and a member of the task force, “we are hopeful someone will call with the tip we need to catch him.” Manger added, “When you have a crime of this magnitude, no matter how long ago it occurred, the police department and the community never stop trying to bring the person responsible to justice.”
“No lead or tip is insignificant,” Vogt explained. “If Bishop is living with a new identity, he’s got to be somebody’s next-door neighbor.” Vogt, a Maryland native who remembers when the murders happened 38 years ago, echoed Manger’s sentiments about never giving up trying to locate the fugitive. “Don’t forget that five people were murdered,” he said. “Bishop needs to be held accountable for that.”
We need your help: If you have any information concerning William Bradford Bishop, Jr., contact your local FBI office, the nearest law enforcement agency, or the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip online.
A reward of up to $100,000 is being offered for information leading directly to the arrest of Bishop, a highly intelligent former U.S. Department of State employee who investigators believe may be hiding in plain sight.
On March 1, 1976, Bishop used a hammer to bludgeon his family, including his three boys, ages 5, 10, and 14. Investigators believe he then drove to North Carolina with the bodies in the family station wagon, buried them in a shallow grave and set them on fire. The last confirmed sighting of Bishop was one day after the murders at a sporting goods store in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he bought a pair of sneakers.
“Nothing has changed since March 2, 1976 when Bishop was last seen except the passage of time,” said Steve Vogt, special agent in charge of our Baltimore Division. Vogt has teamed with local Maryland law enforcement officials to apprehend Bishop, a man described by investigators as a “family annihilator.”
“There is no indication that Bishop is dead,” Vogt said, explaining that the area where the bodies were discovered was searched extensively, and hundreds of individuals were interviewed at the park where the abandoned station wagon was later discovered, and there was no trace of Bishop.
The FBI, along with the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and the Department of State formed a task force last year to take another look at the Bishop case and to engage the public in locating him. As part of that effort, a forensic artist created a three-dimensional, age-enhanced bust of what the fugitive may look like now, at the age of 77.
Naming Bishop to the Top Ten list is expected to bring national and international attention to the case in a way that was impossible decades ago. “When Bishop took off in 1976, there was no social media, no 24-hour news cycle,” Vogt said. “There was no sustained way to get his face out there like there is today. And the only way to catch this guy is through the public.”
“If Bishop is alive—and there is every chance that he could be,” said Tom Manger, chief of the Montgomery County Police Department and a member of the task force, “we are hopeful someone will call with the tip we need to catch him.” Manger added, “When you have a crime of this magnitude, no matter how long ago it occurred, the police department and the community never stop trying to bring the person responsible to justice.”
“No lead or tip is insignificant,” Vogt explained. “If Bishop is living with a new identity, he’s got to be somebody’s next-door neighbor.” Vogt, a Maryland native who remembers when the murders happened 38 years ago, echoed Manger’s sentiments about never giving up trying to locate the fugitive. “Don’t forget that five people were murdered,” he said. “Bishop needs to be held accountable for that.”
We need your help: If you have any information concerning William Bradford Bishop, Jr., contact your local FBI office, the nearest law enforcement agency, or the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You can also submit a tip online.
Wednesday, April 09, 2014
Chicago Transportation Department Clerk Antionette Chenier Arrested for Allegedly Embezzling More Than $741,000 from City Permit Fees
A clerk for the City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation (CDOT) was arrested for allegedly embezzling more than $741,000 from fees that were paid for certain city permits. The defendant, Antionette Chenier, a city clerk since 1990, allegedly diverted the funds from checks that were written by companies that applied for and received city permits to block public ways with dumpsters or moving vans. Chenier, 50, of Homewood, was charged with embezzlement in a criminal complaint that was unsealed following her arrest.
The arrest and charge follow an investigation by the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General.
From 1993 through 2005, Chenier was assigned to CDOT, and from 2006 through 2008, she was assigned to the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC) before being transferred back to CDOT. As a clerk working in CDOT’s City Hall permitting office, she was involved in processing the moving van and dumpster permit fees.
The city charges a $25 daily fee for a residential moving van and between $50 and $200 (or higher) per dumpster, depending on the size, location, and length of time the dumpster will be on a city street. For several years, companies have been able to apply for permits through a website operated by CDOT. Although CDOT issues the permits and collects payment, the checks are often made payable to OEMC, which previously administered the permit process.
According to the complaint affidavit, bank records show that Chenier opened a personal bank account in August 2008 and a business account at the same bank in March 2009 under the name “OEMC Chenier,” and she was the sole signatory on both accounts. Between August 2008 and January 2014, she allegedly deposited several hundred checks, totaling $741,299 and payable to OEMC and other city departments into her personal and business accounts.
In January this year, bank officials noticed Chenier’s unusual banking activity and froze her business account, according to the affidavit.
The arrest and charge follow an investigation by the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, and the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General.
From 1993 through 2005, Chenier was assigned to CDOT, and from 2006 through 2008, she was assigned to the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC) before being transferred back to CDOT. As a clerk working in CDOT’s City Hall permitting office, she was involved in processing the moving van and dumpster permit fees.
The city charges a $25 daily fee for a residential moving van and between $50 and $200 (or higher) per dumpster, depending on the size, location, and length of time the dumpster will be on a city street. For several years, companies have been able to apply for permits through a website operated by CDOT. Although CDOT issues the permits and collects payment, the checks are often made payable to OEMC, which previously administered the permit process.
According to the complaint affidavit, bank records show that Chenier opened a personal bank account in August 2008 and a business account at the same bank in March 2009 under the name “OEMC Chenier,” and she was the sole signatory on both accounts. Between August 2008 and January 2014, she allegedly deposited several hundred checks, totaling $741,299 and payable to OEMC and other city departments into her personal and business accounts.
In January this year, bank officials noticed Chenier’s unusual banking activity and froze her business account, according to the affidavit.
Former Markham Deputy Police Chief, Tony D. Debois, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Lying to FBI About Raping Woman in Police Custody
The former deputy police chief in south suburban Markham was sentenced to the maximum of five years in federal prison after a judge ruled that he sexually assaulted a woman in police custody in 2010. The defendant, Tony D. Debois, pleaded guilty last September to lying to FBI agents in 2012 about having had sex in his office, but he contended at a lengthy sentencing hearing last month that the woman he had sex with was not the victim and the sex was consensual.
“It is a case about lying about a rape that occurred under the most egregious circumstances that law enforcement could imagine,” Assistant U.S. Attorney April Perry argued today before the sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow. “The seriousness should not be underestimated,” Judge Lefkow said, adding that she found Debois’ conduct “revolting.”
Debois, 42, of Frankfort, was also placed on supervised release for three years following his sentence, which he was ordered to begin serving on June 10.
Judge Lefkow ruled that the government established that Debois raped the 21-year-old highly vulnerable victim by a “considerable” preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing last month, including the victim’s testimony, which the judge said was corroborated by other factors. The victim and a man were arrested by Markham police officers on September 23, 2010, after the man was suspected of engaging in a counterfeit currency transaction. The victim, who had no prior contact with law enforcement, was handcuffed, taken to the Markham Police Department, and placed in a holding cell for about 30 minutes. One of the arresting officers then took her to Debois’ tactical office, where, according to Judge Lefkow’s ruling, “he insinuated she could escape further trouble if she engaged in sex with him.” The judge found that Debois’ conduct was rape and that he later obstructed justice to avoid punishment for the sexual assault.
DeBois served as deputy chief in Markham between 2008 and 2011 and also served as the department’s head of internal affairs until 2011, when he became Markham’s inspector general until 2012. DeBois began his law enforcement career with the former Chicago Housing Authority Police Department in the 1990s, and he was a police officer in south suburban Harvey from 1999 to 2007, when he joined the Markham department.
“It is a case about lying about a rape that occurred under the most egregious circumstances that law enforcement could imagine,” Assistant U.S. Attorney April Perry argued today before the sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow. “The seriousness should not be underestimated,” Judge Lefkow said, adding that she found Debois’ conduct “revolting.”
Debois, 42, of Frankfort, was also placed on supervised release for three years following his sentence, which he was ordered to begin serving on June 10.
Judge Lefkow ruled that the government established that Debois raped the 21-year-old highly vulnerable victim by a “considerable” preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing last month, including the victim’s testimony, which the judge said was corroborated by other factors. The victim and a man were arrested by Markham police officers on September 23, 2010, after the man was suspected of engaging in a counterfeit currency transaction. The victim, who had no prior contact with law enforcement, was handcuffed, taken to the Markham Police Department, and placed in a holding cell for about 30 minutes. One of the arresting officers then took her to Debois’ tactical office, where, according to Judge Lefkow’s ruling, “he insinuated she could escape further trouble if she engaged in sex with him.” The judge found that Debois’ conduct was rape and that he later obstructed justice to avoid punishment for the sexual assault.
DeBois served as deputy chief in Markham between 2008 and 2011 and also served as the department’s head of internal affairs until 2011, when he became Markham’s inspector general until 2012. DeBois began his law enforcement career with the former Chicago Housing Authority Police Department in the 1990s, and he was a police officer in south suburban Harvey from 1999 to 2007, when he joined the Markham department.
Easy Money is Still Name of the Game with the Mob
The names change, the languages vary, and the players keep evolving. But when it comes to organized crime activity, the game on the street remains remarkably consistent.
It’s a lesson former Metro Det. Jason Hahn many years ago. Hahn, who retired from the department in December after nearly 27 years, spent most of his career working on the street as a member of Metro’s Criminal Intelligence Bureau. He also partnered with a federal task force focused on Asian organized crime.
The result was an impressive series of cases in which prolific prostitution rings and criminal gangs were taken down hard. Among the more notable were operations were Doll House, Jade Blade and Vegas Hold’em. Doll House and Jade Blade were prostitution-related. Vegas Hold’em was a joint task force operation that nailed a California-based Korean organized crime crew that was making high-dollar home invasions. By the time those cases closed, dozens of criminals were hit with long prison sentences.
These days Hahn has teamed up with former FBI agent Charles Bevan, his partner in the Korean case, in a local private investigations firm. The pair will no doubt benefit from its organized crime expertise.
Early in his career, Hahn realized what most good mob investigators know: Although criminal group identification and affiliations are important, many gangsters will gladly cross traditional ethnic lines to make a score. That’s why astute observers will commonly see Asian hoodlums in association with European criminals, Russian mobsters teaming up with Israeli counterparts, and traditional La Cosa Nostra figures taking advantage of alliances in outlaw motorcycle clubs. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll even see a casino guy keeping company with a notorious Chinese Triad associate.
Given Hahn’s background, it’s not surprising he would play an integral role in the growth of the International Asian Organized Crime Conference, as it was first known. It has undergone its own evolution over the years. Following the 9/11 attacks, the group added “Terrorism” to its title. With the spread of international organized crime, and investigations revealing liaisons between disparate criminal operations, this year’s gathering reflects the law enforcement group’s larger mission.
It’s now called the International Conference on Transnational Organized Crime &Terrorism. This year’s conference, which is closed to the public and most press, is set to begin Monday at the Red Rock Resort. More than 400 members of law enforcement from around the world are expected. This year, Metro Sgt. Darren Heiner and FBI agent Chuck Ro are the local conference coordinators.
“It basically covers everything — all different types of organized crime groups,” Hahn says. “These organized crime groups are working together. If there’s a profit to be made, it doesn’t matter if they’re Asian, Israeli, Italian, Eastern European or Russian.”
The conference reflects the reality of the new street. A sample of the workshops: “Narco-Terrorism,” “Detection of Counterfeit Currency,” “International Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” “Yakuza and Banks,” “Automating Investigative Tools for Social Networking Sites” and something called “Using Casinos as a Source of Information.”
That last one sounds intriguing.
When it comes to understanding the power of Japan’s Yakuza organized crime families, few can match the insight author and investigative journalist Jake Adelstein gained at Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper. The scheduled speaker is the author of “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard).”
Although it’s nothing the chamber of commerce would want to advertise, it also makes sense to hold an organized crime conference here — and not just because we have our own Mob Museum.
Although the traditional mob influence is largely a thing of the past, international organized crime associates continue their fascination with Las Vegas. In recent years, authorities have investigated and prosecuted groups representing Russian, Yugoslavian, Korean, Mexican, and Israeli mob factions.
Some of the crews are remarkably sophisticated, others are pretty crude, but they all share the same desire for easy money.
The players come and go on the street, but the game remains the same.
Thanks to John L. Smith.
It’s a lesson former Metro Det. Jason Hahn many years ago. Hahn, who retired from the department in December after nearly 27 years, spent most of his career working on the street as a member of Metro’s Criminal Intelligence Bureau. He also partnered with a federal task force focused on Asian organized crime.
The result was an impressive series of cases in which prolific prostitution rings and criminal gangs were taken down hard. Among the more notable were operations were Doll House, Jade Blade and Vegas Hold’em. Doll House and Jade Blade were prostitution-related. Vegas Hold’em was a joint task force operation that nailed a California-based Korean organized crime crew that was making high-dollar home invasions. By the time those cases closed, dozens of criminals were hit with long prison sentences.
These days Hahn has teamed up with former FBI agent Charles Bevan, his partner in the Korean case, in a local private investigations firm. The pair will no doubt benefit from its organized crime expertise.
Early in his career, Hahn realized what most good mob investigators know: Although criminal group identification and affiliations are important, many gangsters will gladly cross traditional ethnic lines to make a score. That’s why astute observers will commonly see Asian hoodlums in association with European criminals, Russian mobsters teaming up with Israeli counterparts, and traditional La Cosa Nostra figures taking advantage of alliances in outlaw motorcycle clubs. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll even see a casino guy keeping company with a notorious Chinese Triad associate.
Given Hahn’s background, it’s not surprising he would play an integral role in the growth of the International Asian Organized Crime Conference, as it was first known. It has undergone its own evolution over the years. Following the 9/11 attacks, the group added “Terrorism” to its title. With the spread of international organized crime, and investigations revealing liaisons between disparate criminal operations, this year’s gathering reflects the law enforcement group’s larger mission.
It’s now called the International Conference on Transnational Organized Crime &Terrorism. This year’s conference, which is closed to the public and most press, is set to begin Monday at the Red Rock Resort. More than 400 members of law enforcement from around the world are expected. This year, Metro Sgt. Darren Heiner and FBI agent Chuck Ro are the local conference coordinators.
“It basically covers everything — all different types of organized crime groups,” Hahn says. “These organized crime groups are working together. If there’s a profit to be made, it doesn’t matter if they’re Asian, Israeli, Italian, Eastern European or Russian.”
The conference reflects the reality of the new street. A sample of the workshops: “Narco-Terrorism,” “Detection of Counterfeit Currency,” “International Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs,” “Yakuza and Banks,” “Automating Investigative Tools for Social Networking Sites” and something called “Using Casinos as a Source of Information.”
That last one sounds intriguing.
When it comes to understanding the power of Japan’s Yakuza organized crime families, few can match the insight author and investigative journalist Jake Adelstein gained at Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan’s largest newspaper. The scheduled speaker is the author of “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard).”
Although it’s nothing the chamber of commerce would want to advertise, it also makes sense to hold an organized crime conference here — and not just because we have our own Mob Museum.
Although the traditional mob influence is largely a thing of the past, international organized crime associates continue their fascination with Las Vegas. In recent years, authorities have investigated and prosecuted groups representing Russian, Yugoslavian, Korean, Mexican, and Israeli mob factions.
Some of the crews are remarkably sophisticated, others are pretty crude, but they all share the same desire for easy money.
The players come and go on the street, but the game remains the same.
Thanks to John L. Smith.
Samir Azizi, International Fugitive, Arrested at @flySFO
U.S. Marshal Don O’Keefe announces the arrest of Samir Azizi by the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Azizi, 24, a German national, landed at SFO March 31 en route from Dubai, where he was intercepted by Deputy U.S. Marshals and members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to a criminal complaint filed in San Jose by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Azizi is wanted in Germany for several financial crimes – 89 counts related to tax evasion – committed between 2008 and 2012, in which Azizi allegedly formed a “gang” for the purpose of setting up 11 companies that primarily dealt in cellular communication and other technologies. The companies allegedly participated in criminal activity including filing false tax forms for the purposes of receiving fraudulent tax returns. The alleged criminal activity resulted in a loss to German tax authorities of more than 61 million euros.
Azizi holds a passport from Afghanistan and is also a legal resident of Germany and the United States. The criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California and the ensuing arrest warrant were issued for the purpose of seeking Azizi’s extradition to Germany.
Azizi appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd in San Jose on April 1, at which time he was ordered held without bail and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Extradition proceedings are currently pending, and a status hearing is scheduled before Judge Lloyd on May 23.
Azizi, 24, a German national, landed at SFO March 31 en route from Dubai, where he was intercepted by Deputy U.S. Marshals and members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to a criminal complaint filed in San Jose by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Azizi is wanted in Germany for several financial crimes – 89 counts related to tax evasion – committed between 2008 and 2012, in which Azizi allegedly formed a “gang” for the purpose of setting up 11 companies that primarily dealt in cellular communication and other technologies. The companies allegedly participated in criminal activity including filing false tax forms for the purposes of receiving fraudulent tax returns. The alleged criminal activity resulted in a loss to German tax authorities of more than 61 million euros.
Azizi holds a passport from Afghanistan and is also a legal resident of Germany and the United States. The criminal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California and the ensuing arrest warrant were issued for the purpose of seeking Azizi’s extradition to Germany.
Azizi appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Howard R. Lloyd in San Jose on April 1, at which time he was ordered held without bail and remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. Extradition proceedings are currently pending, and a status hearing is scheduled before Judge Lloyd on May 23.
Ray Allen Flener Pleads Guilty to Conveying False Allegations of a Terrorist Plot to Disrupt Election Day
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced that Ray Allen Flener, 25, of Sesser, Illinois, pled guilty to federal charges that he made a false statement to a federal officer and that he conveyed a false threat. Sentencing is set for July 31, 2014.
At the change of plea hearing, Flener admitted that on November 2, 2012, as a detainee at the Franklin County Jail in Benton, he told a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that he had knowledge of a plan by a group called “the New World Order” to disrupt Election Day on November 6, 2012, by using weapons and explosives. Specifically, Flener told and showed the FBI agent the area in which the weapons and explosives allegedly had been stored in August 2012. Flener’s representations were false because, as Flener knew, he had no such knowledge of weapons and explosives having been stored at that location.
Flener also admitted that on November 1, 2012, he did intentionally convey false and misleading information, under circumstances where such information may reasonably have been believed. Specifically, Flener told law enforcement officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI that he had personal knowledge of a plan by a group called the New World Order to disrupt Election Day, November 6, 2012, by using weapons and explosives.
The first charge of making a false statement carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The second charge of conveying a false threat carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Illinois State Police; the Illinois Department of Corrections; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the sheriff’s offices of Franklin County, Williamson County, Saline County, and Jackson County; and the police departments of Marion, West Frankfort, and Johnston City. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam Coonan.
At the change of plea hearing, Flener admitted that on November 2, 2012, as a detainee at the Franklin County Jail in Benton, he told a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that he had knowledge of a plan by a group called “the New World Order” to disrupt Election Day on November 6, 2012, by using weapons and explosives. Specifically, Flener told and showed the FBI agent the area in which the weapons and explosives allegedly had been stored in August 2012. Flener’s representations were false because, as Flener knew, he had no such knowledge of weapons and explosives having been stored at that location.
Flener also admitted that on November 1, 2012, he did intentionally convey false and misleading information, under circumstances where such information may reasonably have been believed. Specifically, Flener told law enforcement officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI that he had personal knowledge of a plan by a group called the New World Order to disrupt Election Day, November 6, 2012, by using weapons and explosives.
The first charge of making a false statement carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The second charge of conveying a false threat carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Illinois State Police; the Illinois Department of Corrections; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the sheriff’s offices of Franklin County, Williamson County, Saline County, and Jackson County; and the police departments of Marion, West Frankfort, and Johnston City. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Liam Coonan.
Patrick M. Curley Convicted of Extortion
United States Attorney Thomas E. Delahanty, II announced that Patrick M. Curley, 50, of Passaic, New Jersey, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court to extortion. Curley was indicted on March 21, 2013.
According to court documents, in March 2010, Curley applied online for a job with Vescom, a Hampden, Maine-based security firm. On April 21, 2010, Curley met Vescom’s senior vice president for a job interview in New York. In e-mails and a voice message left after the interview, he expressed ongoing interest in the job. On April 27, however, he e-mailed Vescom’s senior vice president and falsely accused her of sexual harassment and discrimination and threatened to sue. In the months that followed, both he and an attorney representing him contacted Vescom employees and staff counsel threatening to sue and take his claims to the media if they could not reach a financial settlement. Curley’s claims of sexual harassment and discrimination were false and were intended to extort money from Vescom.
According to court documents, in March 2010, Curley applied online for a job with Vescom, a Hampden, Maine-based security firm. On April 21, 2010, Curley met Vescom’s senior vice president for a job interview in New York. In e-mails and a voice message left after the interview, he expressed ongoing interest in the job. On April 27, however, he e-mailed Vescom’s senior vice president and falsely accused her of sexual harassment and discrimination and threatened to sue. In the months that followed, both he and an attorney representing him contacted Vescom employees and staff counsel threatening to sue and take his claims to the media if they could not reach a financial settlement. Curley’s claims of sexual harassment and discrimination were false and were intended to extort money from Vescom.
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Book Launch Reception for A History of Violence: An Encyclopedia of 1,400 Chicago Mob Murders
From Chicago's original gangsters to the Outfit's decline in recent years, Dr. Wayne Johnson is well-versed in the organized crime that long ensnared the city.
After 25 years with the Chicago Police Department - his last assignment supervising a unit within the Organized Crime Division - Johnson was appointed Chief Investigator for the renowned Chicago Crime Commission.
Now coordinator of Harper College's law enforcement programs and widely considered a top authority on organized crime, Johnson has written "A History of Violence:: An Encyclopedia of 1400 Chicago Mob Murders.1st Edition." The 300-plus page tome is the product of painstaking research into newspaper articles, police reports, coroners' reports and other archives over a 14-year period.
"Coming from someone who has fought in the trenches against Chicago's wise guys, Johnson's new contribution will be the go-to reference on Outfit violence for years to come," said Gus Russo, author of "The Outfit" and "Supermob."
Harper will host a public reception celebrating Johnson's book launch at noon Tuesday, April 15, in the lower level of the library on the College's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Johnson will give a presentation on the state of organized crime in Chicago followed by a brief question-and-answer session and book signing.
Johnson, who also served as the only Superintendent of Police/Inspector General for the town of Cicero before entering academic fulltime, credited two Harper students for their contributions. Daniella Boyd designed the cover art for "A History of Violence" by reproducing in charcoal a real morgue photo of Sam Giancana, one of the most notorious mob bosses in history. Jackie Cooney wrote a research paper that led Johnson to discover a group of killings that fit the criteria for the book.
"I really wanted to dig in on this because every one of these cases deserves to be investigated and solved," Johnson said. "To let them just disappear into history would be a disservice to everyone involved."
Harper student
Daniella Boyd designed the graphite drawing cover art for "A History of Violence" by reproducing a real morgue photo of Sam Giancana, one of the most notorious mob bosses in history.
Wayne A. Johnson served on the Chicago Police Department for 25 years and in his last assignment, supervised the Analytical Unit of the Intelligence Section, Organized Crime Division. He was then appointed Chief Investigator for the legendary Chicago Crime Commission, holding the position originally created by celebrated criminal investigator Virgil Peterson.
Johnson investigated and monitored the Chicago Mob during his five years at the Commission. The national recognition he received led to his recruitment as the only Superintendent of Police/Inspector General for Cicero.
Johnson earned his Doctor of Education degree from Northern Illinois University and Master of Science degree in Criminal-Social Justice from Lewis University in Romeoville. He is as an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Law Enforcement Programs at Harper College.
Johnson is a nationally recognized investigative and educational consultant for law enforcement and the security industry and has lectured extensively on organized crime, homicide investigations, criminal profiling, violence in the workplace and gang crimes.
After 25 years with the Chicago Police Department - his last assignment supervising a unit within the Organized Crime Division - Johnson was appointed Chief Investigator for the renowned Chicago Crime Commission.
Now coordinator of Harper College's law enforcement programs and widely considered a top authority on organized crime, Johnson has written "A History of Violence:: An Encyclopedia of 1400 Chicago Mob Murders.1st Edition." The 300-plus page tome is the product of painstaking research into newspaper articles, police reports, coroners' reports and other archives over a 14-year period.
"Coming from someone who has fought in the trenches against Chicago's wise guys, Johnson's new contribution will be the go-to reference on Outfit violence for years to come," said Gus Russo, author of "The Outfit" and "Supermob."
Harper will host a public reception celebrating Johnson's book launch at noon Tuesday, April 15, in the lower level of the library on the College's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Johnson will give a presentation on the state of organized crime in Chicago followed by a brief question-and-answer session and book signing.
Johnson, who also served as the only Superintendent of Police/Inspector General for the town of Cicero before entering academic fulltime, credited two Harper students for their contributions. Daniella Boyd designed the cover art for "A History of Violence" by reproducing in charcoal a real morgue photo of Sam Giancana, one of the most notorious mob bosses in history. Jackie Cooney wrote a research paper that led Johnson to discover a group of killings that fit the criteria for the book.
"I really wanted to dig in on this because every one of these cases deserves to be investigated and solved," Johnson said. "To let them just disappear into history would be a disservice to everyone involved."
Harper student
Daniella Boyd designed the graphite drawing cover art for "A History of Violence" by reproducing a real morgue photo of Sam Giancana, one of the most notorious mob bosses in history.Wayne A. Johnson served on the Chicago Police Department for 25 years and in his last assignment, supervised the Analytical Unit of the Intelligence Section, Organized Crime Division. He was then appointed Chief Investigator for the legendary Chicago Crime Commission, holding the position originally created by celebrated criminal investigator Virgil Peterson.
Johnson investigated and monitored the Chicago Mob during his five years at the Commission. The national recognition he received led to his recruitment as the only Superintendent of Police/Inspector General for Cicero.
Johnson earned his Doctor of Education degree from Northern Illinois University and Master of Science degree in Criminal-Social Justice from Lewis University in Romeoville. He is as an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Law Enforcement Programs at Harper College.
Johnson is a nationally recognized investigative and educational consultant for law enforcement and the security industry and has lectured extensively on organized crime, homicide investigations, criminal profiling, violence in the workplace and gang crimes.
Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow
In recent years, while continuing to learn more about strengths, 
Gallup scientists have also been examining decades of data on the topic of leadership. They studied more than 1 million work teams, conducted more than 20,000 in-depth interviews with leaders, and even interviewed more than 10,000 followers around the world to ask exactly why they followed the most important leader in their life.
The results of that research are unveiled in Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow. Using Gallup’s discoveries, authors Tom Rath and Barry Conchie identify three keys to being a more effective leader and use firsthand accounts from highly successful leaders — including the founder of Teach For America and the president of The Ritz-Carlton — to show how each person’s unique strengths can drive their success.
A new leadership version of Gallup’s popular StrengthsFinder assessment helps readers discover their own special gifts and specific strategies for leading with their top five strengths. Filled with novel research and actionable ideas, Strengths Based Leadership will give you a new road map for leading people toward a better future.
Gallup scientists have also been examining decades of data on the topic of leadership. They studied more than 1 million work teams, conducted more than 20,000 in-depth interviews with leaders, and even interviewed more than 10,000 followers around the world to ask exactly why they followed the most important leader in their life.The results of that research are unveiled in Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow. Using Gallup’s discoveries, authors Tom Rath and Barry Conchie identify three keys to being a more effective leader and use firsthand accounts from highly successful leaders — including the founder of Teach For America and the president of The Ritz-Carlton — to show how each person’s unique strengths can drive their success.
A new leadership version of Gallup’s popular StrengthsFinder assessment helps readers discover their own special gifts and specific strategies for leading with their top five strengths. Filled with novel research and actionable ideas, Strengths Based Leadership will give you a new road map for leading people toward a better future.
Monday, April 07, 2014
Russell Adler Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Federal Election Campaign Act
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office; and Jose A. Gonzalez, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announce that Russell S. Adler, 52, of Ft. Lauderdale, pled guilty before United States District Judge James I. Cohn to one count of conspiracy to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act and to defraud the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The defendant was a shareholder of the former Ft. Lauderdale law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler P.A. (RRA).
Sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. in Ft. Lauderdale. At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison.
In connection with his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that, in order to circumvent campaign finance laws setting limitations on the amounts which donors can contribute, RRA Chairman and CEO Scott W. Rothstein enlisted some of the attorneys and administrative personnel of RRA, and other persons associated with RRA, including Adler, to make political contributions to various political campaigns which were unlawfully reimbursed to them by RRA.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. in Ft. Lauderdale. At sentencing, the defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to five years in prison.
In connection with his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that, in order to circumvent campaign finance laws setting limitations on the amounts which donors can contribute, RRA Chairman and CEO Scott W. Rothstein enlisted some of the attorneys and administrative personnel of RRA, and other persons associated with RRA, including Adler, to make political contributions to various political campaigns which were unlawfully reimbursed to them by RRA.
I-55 Bandit, Andrew Maberry, Sentenced on Bank Robbery Charges
Andrew Maberry, 20, O’Fallon, Illinois, who the FBI referred to as the I-55 Bandit, was sentenced to 60 months in prison on bank robbery charges, including the July 2, 2013 robbery of the Commerce Bank in Jefferson County, Missouri. He entered his guilty plea last December and was sentenced by United States District Judge Catherine D. Perry, in St. Louis.
According to court documents, on July 2, 2013, Maberry robbed the Commerce Bank in Arnold, Missouri. He also admitted with his plea agreement to nine other robberies in five states: May 15, 2013, US Bank in Crystal City, Missouri; May 21, 2013, First State Community Bank in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; May 6, 2013, Scott Credit Union in Edwardsville, Illinois; June 5, 2013, Harford Bank in Bel Air, Maryland; June 9, 2013, TD Bank located in Essex, Maryland; July 19, 2013, Wells Fargo Bank in Bel Air, Maryland; July 24, 2013, Susquehanna Bank in Ocean City, Maryland; July 30, 2013, Huntington National Bank in Hurricane, West Virginia; and August 14, 2013, Bank of Jackson in Jackson, Tennessee.
On September 10, 2013, a multi-state press release was issued that included bank security camera photographs of the robber who had been dubbed the I-55 Bandit. The FBI in St. Louis and in other districts received numerous phone calls from individuals stating that they know Andrew Maberry. On the same date, FBI in St. Louis was contacted and told that the I-55 Bandit wanted to turn himself in, and on September 11, 2013, Andrew Caleb Maberry turned himself in to the FBI in St. Louis.
According to court documents, on July 2, 2013, Maberry robbed the Commerce Bank in Arnold, Missouri. He also admitted with his plea agreement to nine other robberies in five states: May 15, 2013, US Bank in Crystal City, Missouri; May 21, 2013, First State Community Bank in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; May 6, 2013, Scott Credit Union in Edwardsville, Illinois; June 5, 2013, Harford Bank in Bel Air, Maryland; June 9, 2013, TD Bank located in Essex, Maryland; July 19, 2013, Wells Fargo Bank in Bel Air, Maryland; July 24, 2013, Susquehanna Bank in Ocean City, Maryland; July 30, 2013, Huntington National Bank in Hurricane, West Virginia; and August 14, 2013, Bank of Jackson in Jackson, Tennessee.
On September 10, 2013, a multi-state press release was issued that included bank security camera photographs of the robber who had been dubbed the I-55 Bandit. The FBI in St. Louis and in other districts received numerous phone calls from individuals stating that they know Andrew Maberry. On the same date, FBI in St. Louis was contacted and told that the I-55 Bandit wanted to turn himself in, and on September 11, 2013, Andrew Caleb Maberry turned himself in to the FBI in St. Louis.
Irene Carrera Charged in #ShadyBandit Bank Robbery Case
A woman believed to be the robber who wore a pair of dark sunglasses during a series of robberies at TCF Bank branches on the north side of Chicago is facing a federal charge in connection with one of those robberies. The charge was announced by Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Irene Carrera, 51, of the 8200 block of South Ingleside Avenue in Chicago, was charged in a criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court with one count of bank robbery, a felony offense. She is currently being held on an unrelated state charge, and no federal court date has been set.
Although Carrera was charged with only one count, for a February 11, 2014 heist that occurred at the TCF branch located at 4355 North Sheridan Road in Chicago; the complaint includes details of three additional TCF robberies that Carrera allegedly committed. Those robberies occurred on May 21 and November 20, 2013, at 3531 North Broadway, and on March 6, 2014, at 5516 North Clark.
During each robbery, a woman later identified as Carrera approached a bank teller, presented a demand note for money, and made verbal demands for “large bills” or “big bills,” according to the complaint. Bank surveillance video from each robbery showed an individual wearing dark sunglasses, which led to the Shady Bandit moniker, and FBI agents later recovered sunglasses resembling those shown in the videos during a search of Carrera’s apartment.
Irene Carrera, 51, of the 8200 block of South Ingleside Avenue in Chicago, was charged in a criminal complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court with one count of bank robbery, a felony offense. She is currently being held on an unrelated state charge, and no federal court date has been set.
Although Carrera was charged with only one count, for a February 11, 2014 heist that occurred at the TCF branch located at 4355 North Sheridan Road in Chicago; the complaint includes details of three additional TCF robberies that Carrera allegedly committed. Those robberies occurred on May 21 and November 20, 2013, at 3531 North Broadway, and on March 6, 2014, at 5516 North Clark.
During each robbery, a woman later identified as Carrera approached a bank teller, presented a demand note for money, and made verbal demands for “large bills” or “big bills,” according to the complaint. Bank surveillance video from each robbery showed an individual wearing dark sunglasses, which led to the Shady Bandit moniker, and FBI agents later recovered sunglasses resembling those shown in the videos during a search of Carrera’s apartment.
Alleged #MagnoliaStreetSteelers Gang Member Arrested for Drug Trafficking #OperationWhiplash
A Lynn man who is allegedly a member of the Magnolia Street Steelers gang was arrested for drug trafficking in North Andover. The arrest marks the 44th individual charged in the multi-phase investigation dubbed Operation Whiplash.
On September 25, 2013, Tyrone Shepherd, a/k/a Pooh, 30, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and four counts of distribution of cocaine base. Operation Whiplash was a wide-ranging FBI Gang Task Force investigation of several gangs in and around Lynn and Revere. Operation Whiplash is the successor investigation to Operation Melting Pot which, in 2010, resulted in 62 Lynn gang leaders, members, and associates of the Avenue King Crips, Bloods, Gangsta Disciples, Deuce Boyz/Soldiers, and Latin Kings being charged in federal and state court. More than 40 guns were seized.
The goal of Operation Whiplash was to target the gangs and gang members who remained in and around Lynn, before they were able to fully reconstitute and seize power in the vacuum created by Operation Melting Pot. Operation Whiplash has resulted in state and federal charges against 44 leaders, members, and associates of the Money Over Broken Bitches (M.O.B.B.) street gang in Lynn, the Bloods in Revere, and other gangs. These individuals, including 27 federal defendants, face drug, firearms, and witness tampering charges. Operation Whiplash also resulted in the seizure of 16 firearms.
According to the detention affidavit filed today, Shepherd is a member of the MIC (Magnolia, Intervale, and Columbia) Street Gang, also known as the Magnolia Street Steelers. Shepherd has a tattoo of the insignia of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is also a symbol of the gang. On September 25, 2013, the FBI issued an arrest warrant and offered a reward of $5,000 for information leading directly to his arrest.
If convicted, Shepherd faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison; a mandatory minimum term of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release; and a $5 million fine on the charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. If convicted on the charge of distribution of cocaine base, Shepherd faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of three years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release; and a $1 million fine.
On September 25, 2013, Tyrone Shepherd, a/k/a Pooh, 30, was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and four counts of distribution of cocaine base. Operation Whiplash was a wide-ranging FBI Gang Task Force investigation of several gangs in and around Lynn and Revere. Operation Whiplash is the successor investigation to Operation Melting Pot which, in 2010, resulted in 62 Lynn gang leaders, members, and associates of the Avenue King Crips, Bloods, Gangsta Disciples, Deuce Boyz/Soldiers, and Latin Kings being charged in federal and state court. More than 40 guns were seized.
The goal of Operation Whiplash was to target the gangs and gang members who remained in and around Lynn, before they were able to fully reconstitute and seize power in the vacuum created by Operation Melting Pot. Operation Whiplash has resulted in state and federal charges against 44 leaders, members, and associates of the Money Over Broken Bitches (M.O.B.B.) street gang in Lynn, the Bloods in Revere, and other gangs. These individuals, including 27 federal defendants, face drug, firearms, and witness tampering charges. Operation Whiplash also resulted in the seizure of 16 firearms.
According to the detention affidavit filed today, Shepherd is a member of the MIC (Magnolia, Intervale, and Columbia) Street Gang, also known as the Magnolia Street Steelers. Shepherd has a tattoo of the insignia of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which is also a symbol of the gang. On September 25, 2013, the FBI issued an arrest warrant and offered a reward of $5,000 for information leading directly to his arrest.
If convicted, Shepherd faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison; a mandatory minimum term of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release; and a $5 million fine on the charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. If convicted on the charge of distribution of cocaine base, Shepherd faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of three years, and up to a lifetime of supervised release; and a $1 million fine.
Gang Violence Spills into Albuquerque
On March 31, 2014, the United States Marshals Service’s South West Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) fugitive task force arrested Maria Cathy Tercero on a warrant charging her with Attempted Homicide. Tercero was charged on August 1, 2012, in Victorville Superior Court in California. The attempted homicide occurred during an incident between rival gangs. Allegedly, Tercero and three additional gang members held down several victims from a rival gang and stabbed them multiple times. Tercero’s three accomplices were apprehended but Tercero fled California.
United States Marshals in central California developed leads that Tercero relocated to Albuquerque, NM. Deputy Marshals in Albuquerque were able to track Tercero to the 4000 block of Glen Canyon Court in northeast Albuquerque, NM. A team of law enforcement officers from the Marshal’s SWIFT task force located and arrested Tercero without incident. Tercero was transported and booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.
United States Marshals in central California developed leads that Tercero relocated to Albuquerque, NM. Deputy Marshals in Albuquerque were able to track Tercero to the 4000 block of Glen Canyon Court in northeast Albuquerque, NM. A team of law enforcement officers from the Marshal’s SWIFT task force located and arrested Tercero without incident. Tercero was transported and booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center.
Aman Ziadeh Arrested on Sexual Assault of Minors Charges
United States Marshal Martin J. Pane announced that the United States Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force arrested Aman Ziadeh, a 53-year old man, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
United States Marshal Pane stated, “The U.S. Marshals Service takes a very active, aggressive approach in locating and arresting fugitives charged with serious felony offenses such as sex crimes against children. Although the District Justice released Ziadeh on unsecured bail, it is my sincere hope that the victims will find some measure of comfort knowing the alleged attacker has been brought to justice.”
In July of 2013, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department began investigating allegations of sexual misconduct on two minors. It is alleged that Ziadeh had inappropriate contact with the minors on multiple occasions. On March 24, 2014, Lower Paxton Township Police obtained an arrest warrant from Magisterial Judge William Wenner, charging Ziadeh with the following offenses:
After the issuance of the arrest warrant, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department requested assistance of the USMS Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania to locate and apprehend Ziadeh.
On April 1, Ziadeh was arrested by Task Force members without incident in the 1600 block of Colonial Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was taken before Magisterial Judge Wenner. Ziadeh was released on $50,000 unsecured bail, and his travel was restricted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ziadeh was also required to surrender his Egyptian passport and to be under pre-trial supervision pending the final disposition of this case.
The USMS worked jointly in this investigation with officers from Lower Paxton Township Police Department.
United States Marshal Pane stated, “The U.S. Marshals Service takes a very active, aggressive approach in locating and arresting fugitives charged with serious felony offenses such as sex crimes against children. Although the District Justice released Ziadeh on unsecured bail, it is my sincere hope that the victims will find some measure of comfort knowing the alleged attacker has been brought to justice.”
In July of 2013, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department began investigating allegations of sexual misconduct on two minors. It is alleged that Ziadeh had inappropriate contact with the minors on multiple occasions. On March 24, 2014, Lower Paxton Township Police obtained an arrest warrant from Magisterial Judge William Wenner, charging Ziadeh with the following offenses:
- 2 counts of Corruption Of Minors – Defendant Age 18 or Above
- 2 counts of Unlawful Contact With Minor – Sexual Offenses
- 2 counts of Indecent Assault - Person Less than 13 Years of Age
After the issuance of the arrest warrant, the Lower Paxton Township Police Department requested assistance of the USMS Fugitive Task Force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania to locate and apprehend Ziadeh.
On April 1, Ziadeh was arrested by Task Force members without incident in the 1600 block of Colonial Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was taken before Magisterial Judge Wenner. Ziadeh was released on $50,000 unsecured bail, and his travel was restricted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ziadeh was also required to surrender his Egyptian passport and to be under pre-trial supervision pending the final disposition of this case.
The USMS worked jointly in this investigation with officers from Lower Paxton Township Police Department.
12 Indicted in Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy, 2 Charged with Distribution Resulting in Death
TERENCE TAYLOR, a/k/a “Peezy,” a/k/a “Sonny,” 35; ARTHUR MCKINNIS, a/k/a “Notchy,” 23; NOEL JONES, a/k/a “Skinny,” a/k/a “Noe,” 26; TERRELL DYER, a/k/a “T,” 29; PERCY DEPRON, a/k/a “Doo,” 27; ERNEST DIAZ, a/k/a “E.O.,” 24; MALCOLM BOLDEN, a/k/a “Little Mac,” 19; TERRELL DAVIS, a/k/a “Fest,” 22; MELVIN SMITH, a/k/a “Mel,” 29; THEODORE GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Old Timer,” a/k/a “Nokie,” 59; NARCISSE TROTTER, a/k/a “Nerk,” 43; and AARONISHA LEWIS, a/k/a “Molly,” 24, all residents of New Orleans, were indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday, March 27, 2014, for conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in the New Orleans area from January 2011 to the present, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.
TAYLOR and BOLDEN are also charged with distribution of heroin on or about July 26, 2013, resulting in the death of Kevin Ryan. Several of the defendants are charged with additional counts of distributing heroin and using telephones in furtherance of heroin trafficking. According to the indictment, GRIFFIN faces an additional charge of maintaining a drug-involved premise for allowing a residence located at 4848 Deanne Street in New Orleans to be used for drug-related activities.
“The arrests made today are part of DEA’s response to the addiction, crime, violence, and despair brought on by the growing threat of heroin,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown. “Heroin is a killer that does not discriminate. It destroys lives, families, and hope in every segment of society; and the individuals who sell heroin are spreading potential death in every foil package sold on the streets of this country. DEA, working shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement agencies across the New Orleans area, is fully committed to stopping the spread of this deadly drug and to bringing to justice those who profit from the misery created by heroin.”
“The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has a long-standing and proud partnership with our federal law enforcement partners. The work we do together is helping remove life-threatening drugs from our communities and making sure that those who would supply these drugs to others face the consequences of their actions,” stated St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain.
TAYLOR and BOLDEN are also charged with distribution of heroin on or about July 26, 2013, resulting in the death of Kevin Ryan. Several of the defendants are charged with additional counts of distributing heroin and using telephones in furtherance of heroin trafficking. According to the indictment, GRIFFIN faces an additional charge of maintaining a drug-involved premise for allowing a residence located at 4848 Deanne Street in New Orleans to be used for drug-related activities.
“The arrests made today are part of DEA’s response to the addiction, crime, violence, and despair brought on by the growing threat of heroin,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown. “Heroin is a killer that does not discriminate. It destroys lives, families, and hope in every segment of society; and the individuals who sell heroin are spreading potential death in every foil package sold on the streets of this country. DEA, working shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement agencies across the New Orleans area, is fully committed to stopping the spread of this deadly drug and to bringing to justice those who profit from the misery created by heroin.”
“The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has a long-standing and proud partnership with our federal law enforcement partners. The work we do together is helping remove life-threatening drugs from our communities and making sure that those who would supply these drugs to others face the consequences of their actions,” stated St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain.
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, Calls for Banishment of Pro-gun Opposition
Politicians seeking to diminish Second Amendment rights often couch their views in language that hides their true agenda. But, on January 17, pro-gun advocates were squarely confronted with the contempt in which they are held by some political elites. Speaking on "The Capitol Pressroom" public radio program, Governor Andrew Cuomo labeled gun rights supporters who are "pro-assault weapon" and critical of his so-called safe Act as "extreme conservatives" who "have no place in the state of New York." Ironically, this statement says more about Cuomo himself than those he attacks.
Besides being arrogant and dismissive, these comments ignore reality in the Empire State. The safe Act was passed under cover of night, and bypassed normal legislative procedures. Its own proponents obviously knew it would be controversial. Indeed, opposition to the law has been widespread, including among law enforcement groups such as the New York State Sheriffs' Association.
Further, the constitutionality of the act is still being litigated. As noted elsewhere in this issue, a case supported by NRA and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association challenging the law is progressing through the federal courts, and parts of the law have already been blocked by a federal judge.
One likely reason Cuomo considers those who defend the Second Amendment to be extreme is that he does not believe the amendment protects an individual right at all. As attorney general of New York, Cuomo signed onto a brief defending the District of Columbia's handgun ban in the landmark Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller. The brief argued the Second Amendment did not protect an individual right but instead "was intended to protect state sovereignty by restricting the federal government's ability to regulate gun ownership in ways that would interfere with state militias." Following the court's affirmation of the individual right interpretation, a Gallup poll showed that 73 percent of Americans agreed with the decision, leaving Cuomo in a small minority.
In 1998, as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Clinton administration, Cuomo's radical push to have the federal government support frivolous lawsuits against the gun industry faced resistance even from within the decidedly anti-gun White House. One White House insider opined that the scheme "smells like Cuomo" and that the Justice Department wouldn't want to pursue the case. "How can you blame gun manufacturers for illegal weapons brought into public housing by tenants and non-tenants," he asked. "Where is the conspiracy?"
Other gun control supporters agreed. In a Dec. 17, 1999, editorial, the Washington Post described the Cuomo supported lawsuits as "disquieting even for those who, like us, strongly support rigorous controls on handguns." The piece went on to explain it "seems wrong for an agency of the federal government to organize other plaintiffs to put pressure on an industry … to achieve policy results the administration has not been able to achieve through normal legislation or regulation."
Congress itself implicitly condemned Cuomo's tactics by passing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005, which effectively barred these sorts of suits against gun manufacturers.
Even before Cuomo's latest outburst, on May 21, 2013, the Albany Times Union reported that a source told them Cuomo "threatened to remove sheriffs from office" if the law enforcement officials did not keep quiet about their opposition to the safe Act. This is consistent with Cuomo's attempt in 2000 to bully gun makers into signing an agreement supporting several gun control proposals by threatening to exert his influence as HUD secretary to sway municipal law enforcement contracts.
Most tellingly, the so-called "assault weapons" and "large capacity" magazines banned by Cuomo's "SAFE" Act are among the most popular, fastest-selling arms in the United States. Law-abiding Americans are expressing their disagreement with him with their hard-earned dollars.
Based on Cuomo's long history of thuggish tactics to advance a radical anti-gun agenda, his recent comments striking at the core of New York's pluralism are merely the latest example that he is the true extremist. This November, we encourage all NRA members and Second Amendment supporters in the Empire State to deliver just as strong a message that he is not welcome as their governor.
Courtesy of Chris Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director
Besides being arrogant and dismissive, these comments ignore reality in the Empire State. The safe Act was passed under cover of night, and bypassed normal legislative procedures. Its own proponents obviously knew it would be controversial. Indeed, opposition to the law has been widespread, including among law enforcement groups such as the New York State Sheriffs' Association.
Further, the constitutionality of the act is still being litigated. As noted elsewhere in this issue, a case supported by NRA and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association challenging the law is progressing through the federal courts, and parts of the law have already been blocked by a federal judge.One likely reason Cuomo considers those who defend the Second Amendment to be extreme is that he does not believe the amendment protects an individual right at all. As attorney general of New York, Cuomo signed onto a brief defending the District of Columbia's handgun ban in the landmark Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller. The brief argued the Second Amendment did not protect an individual right but instead "was intended to protect state sovereignty by restricting the federal government's ability to regulate gun ownership in ways that would interfere with state militias." Following the court's affirmation of the individual right interpretation, a Gallup poll showed that 73 percent of Americans agreed with the decision, leaving Cuomo in a small minority.
In 1998, as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Clinton administration, Cuomo's radical push to have the federal government support frivolous lawsuits against the gun industry faced resistance even from within the decidedly anti-gun White House. One White House insider opined that the scheme "smells like Cuomo" and that the Justice Department wouldn't want to pursue the case. "How can you blame gun manufacturers for illegal weapons brought into public housing by tenants and non-tenants," he asked. "Where is the conspiracy?"
Other gun control supporters agreed. In a Dec. 17, 1999, editorial, the Washington Post described the Cuomo supported lawsuits as "disquieting even for those who, like us, strongly support rigorous controls on handguns." The piece went on to explain it "seems wrong for an agency of the federal government to organize other plaintiffs to put pressure on an industry … to achieve policy results the administration has not been able to achieve through normal legislation or regulation."
Congress itself implicitly condemned Cuomo's tactics by passing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005, which effectively barred these sorts of suits against gun manufacturers.
Even before Cuomo's latest outburst, on May 21, 2013, the Albany Times Union reported that a source told them Cuomo "threatened to remove sheriffs from office" if the law enforcement officials did not keep quiet about their opposition to the safe Act. This is consistent with Cuomo's attempt in 2000 to bully gun makers into signing an agreement supporting several gun control proposals by threatening to exert his influence as HUD secretary to sway municipal law enforcement contracts.
Most tellingly, the so-called "assault weapons" and "large capacity" magazines banned by Cuomo's "SAFE" Act are among the most popular, fastest-selling arms in the United States. Law-abiding Americans are expressing their disagreement with him with their hard-earned dollars.
Based on Cuomo's long history of thuggish tactics to advance a radical anti-gun agenda, his recent comments striking at the core of New York's pluralism are merely the latest example that he is the true extremist. This November, we encourage all NRA members and Second Amendment supporters in the Empire State to deliver just as strong a message that he is not welcome as their governor.
Courtesy of Chris Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director
Railroaders: Jack Delano’s Homefront Photography Hosted by @ChicagoMuseum
In 1942, the Office of War Information issued photographer Jack Delano a new assignment: document “railroads and their place in American life.” During the next several months, Delano captured three thousand images, two-thirds of them in the nation’s rail hub—Chicago.
The opening of Railroaders is finally here! Railroaders features the photography of Jack Delano, whose portraits of Chicago railroad workers rallied support for the war effort during World War II. Enjoy boxcar music from the Sanctified Grumblers acoustic trio and family activities in celebration of the opening. NPR’s StoryCorps will be on hand to record your transportation stories (space is limited).
Railroaders: Jack Delano’s Homefront Photography
Exhibition Opening Celebration
Saturday, April 5, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
The opening of Railroaders is finally here! Railroaders features the photography of Jack Delano, whose portraits of Chicago railroad workers rallied support for the war effort during World War II. Enjoy boxcar music from the Sanctified Grumblers acoustic trio and family activities in celebration of the opening. NPR’s StoryCorps will be on hand to record your transportation stories (space is limited).
Railroaders: Jack Delano’s Homefront Photography
Exhibition Opening Celebration
Saturday, April 5, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Chicago History Museum
1601 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60614
Monday, March 31, 2014
Mario and Gladys Fuertes Arrested for Operating Clinic to Defraud Medicare #HealthCareFraud
United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Miami residents Gladys Fuertes (40) and her husband Mario Fuertes (38) with conspiracy, health care fraud, aggravated identity theft, and obstructing a healthcare investigation. The Fuerteses were arrested on in Miami. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each of the conspiracy and health care fraud counts and five years on each of the obstruction counts, as well as mandatory sentences of two years in prison for each of the aggravated identity theft counts. The indictment also notifies the couple that the United States is seeking a money judgment in the amount of $266,423.20, which is traceable to the proceeds of the alleged criminal conduct.
According to the indictment, Gladys and Mario Fuertes established and operated a sham clinic in Coral Gables, Florida, for the purpose of committing health care fraud. The clinic was called Gables Medical and Therapy Center. The Fuerteses allegedly employed unlicensed medical professionals and misused the Medicare billing numbers of other medical professionals, without their knowledge, in order to claim that they rendered medical treatment to Gables patients. Gladys and Mario Fuertes also paid a co-conspirator to recruit Medicare beneficiaries for Gables and to drive patients to the clinic for basic and sham medical services.
Once recruited, Gladys and Mario Fuertes urged the Gables patients to enroll in Universal’s Medicare Part C and Part D plans. They believed Universal paid a relatively high percentage of its claims. Gladys and Mario Fuertes fraudulently billed Universal and caused Universal’s Medicare Part C plan to be billed for Gables patients’ supposed treatments. The treatments included expensive HIV-related treatments that patients never actually received. Gladys and Mario Fuertes also billed Universal and caused Universal to be billed for services that required a physician’s presence when no licensed physician was present or rendered the service.
The defendants and their co-conspirators paid the Medicare beneficiaries, who were recruited to come to Gables for their Medicare identification numbers, to allow Gables to bill Universal for services that were never rendered. In addition, Gladys and Mario Fuertes facilitated the provision of fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone, to Gables patients. In some cases, the signatures on the prescriptions were forged. The patients who received these oxycodone prescriptions were assisted in filling them by a co-conspirator. The co-conspirator also purchased the pills from some of the patients and sold them on the street.
Once they learned of the federal health care fraud investigation into their actions, Gladys and Mario Fuertes instructed Gables patients to lie to law enforcement agents and otherwise obstruct a federal investigation into health care fraud at Gables. The Fuerteses also provided altered Medicare billing documentation to federal agents investigating their activities.
According to the indictment, Gladys and Mario Fuertes established and operated a sham clinic in Coral Gables, Florida, for the purpose of committing health care fraud. The clinic was called Gables Medical and Therapy Center. The Fuerteses allegedly employed unlicensed medical professionals and misused the Medicare billing numbers of other medical professionals, without their knowledge, in order to claim that they rendered medical treatment to Gables patients. Gladys and Mario Fuertes also paid a co-conspirator to recruit Medicare beneficiaries for Gables and to drive patients to the clinic for basic and sham medical services.
Once recruited, Gladys and Mario Fuertes urged the Gables patients to enroll in Universal’s Medicare Part C and Part D plans. They believed Universal paid a relatively high percentage of its claims. Gladys and Mario Fuertes fraudulently billed Universal and caused Universal’s Medicare Part C plan to be billed for Gables patients’ supposed treatments. The treatments included expensive HIV-related treatments that patients never actually received. Gladys and Mario Fuertes also billed Universal and caused Universal to be billed for services that required a physician’s presence when no licensed physician was present or rendered the service.
The defendants and their co-conspirators paid the Medicare beneficiaries, who were recruited to come to Gables for their Medicare identification numbers, to allow Gables to bill Universal for services that were never rendered. In addition, Gladys and Mario Fuertes facilitated the provision of fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances, including oxycodone, to Gables patients. In some cases, the signatures on the prescriptions were forged. The patients who received these oxycodone prescriptions were assisted in filling them by a co-conspirator. The co-conspirator also purchased the pills from some of the patients and sold them on the street.
Once they learned of the federal health care fraud investigation into their actions, Gladys and Mario Fuertes instructed Gables patients to lie to law enforcement agents and otherwise obstruct a federal investigation into health care fraud at Gables. The Fuerteses also provided altered Medicare billing documentation to federal agents investigating their activities.
Richard Zanco Pleads Guilty to Illegally Laundering More Than $343,000
Richard Zanco, age 44, of Slidell, Louisiana, plead guilty as charged before United States District Judge Susie Morgan to money laundering, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.
According to court documents, in about May 2012, Zanco learned that someone had opened a brokerage account in his name and used that account to acquire collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), a type of bond that bore value from interest generated upon its sale by fraudulent means. Even though he knew that the CMOs did not belong to him, Zanco gained control of the accounts and arranged for the interest proceeds of the CMOs to be diverted to other financial accounts under his control. Between about March 11, 2013 and September 19, 2013, Zanco used the funds, totaling approximately $343,998.82, to engage in a variety of financial transactions for his personal use, including purchasing multiple automobiles and at least one boat.
Zanco faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled before Judge Morgan for July 2, 2014.
This case is being investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Dan Friel.
According to court documents, in about May 2012, Zanco learned that someone had opened a brokerage account in his name and used that account to acquire collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs), a type of bond that bore value from interest generated upon its sale by fraudulent means. Even though he knew that the CMOs did not belong to him, Zanco gained control of the accounts and arranged for the interest proceeds of the CMOs to be diverted to other financial accounts under his control. Between about March 11, 2013 and September 19, 2013, Zanco used the funds, totaling approximately $343,998.82, to engage in a variety of financial transactions for his personal use, including purchasing multiple automobiles and at least one boat.
Zanco faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled before Judge Morgan for July 2, 2014.
This case is being investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Dan Friel.
John Silvia, Disbarred Attorney, Indicted on Fraud Charges
A disbarred Somerset attorney was indicted on fraud charges arising out of his promotion of various fraudulent investments.
John Silvia, 55, purportedly the “managing member” of Richardson Consulting LLC, was charged with securities, mail, and wire fraud. He was arrested on February 7, 2014.
Silvia, who was licensed to practice law in Massachusetts in 1975, has been disbarred since 2003. He was charged based on his promotion of various fraudulent investments, including investments in real estate and Advance Space Monitor LLC (ASM), a technology company with which he was affiliated. According to the indictment, Silvia obtained money from various individuals based on false representations regarding certain real estate transactions and his purported ability to transfer interests in ASM. Specifically, Silvia issued promissory notes based on the false representation that he was investing the money in real estate transactions that would yield profits within a short amount of time, thereby allowing him to re-pay the notes. In fact, Silvia was not engaged in such transactions. Silvia also falsely represented that he was entitled to receive shares in ASM in exchange for investment money. In fact, Silvia was not entitled to receive shares of ASM, as he had represented, and was not permitted to assign any interests in ASM.
If convicted, Silvia faces the statutory maximum penalties for the securities fraud charges are 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. The statutory maximum penalties for the mail and wire fraud charges are 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain to the defendant or loss to the victim.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. The Massachusetts Securities Division, which filed an administrative complaint charging Silvia with violation of Massachusetts securities laws, referred this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and cooperated with the criminal investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Walters of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.
John Silvia, 55, purportedly the “managing member” of Richardson Consulting LLC, was charged with securities, mail, and wire fraud. He was arrested on February 7, 2014.
Silvia, who was licensed to practice law in Massachusetts in 1975, has been disbarred since 2003. He was charged based on his promotion of various fraudulent investments, including investments in real estate and Advance Space Monitor LLC (ASM), a technology company with which he was affiliated. According to the indictment, Silvia obtained money from various individuals based on false representations regarding certain real estate transactions and his purported ability to transfer interests in ASM. Specifically, Silvia issued promissory notes based on the false representation that he was investing the money in real estate transactions that would yield profits within a short amount of time, thereby allowing him to re-pay the notes. In fact, Silvia was not engaged in such transactions. Silvia also falsely represented that he was entitled to receive shares in ASM in exchange for investment money. In fact, Silvia was not entitled to receive shares of ASM, as he had represented, and was not permitted to assign any interests in ASM.
If convicted, Silvia faces the statutory maximum penalties for the securities fraud charges are 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. The statutory maximum penalties for the mail and wire fraud charges are 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain to the defendant or loss to the victim.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. The Massachusetts Securities Division, which filed an administrative complaint charging Silvia with violation of Massachusetts securities laws, referred this case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and cooperated with the criminal investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Walters of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.
Investigative Journalist Mel Ayton Pens #JusticeDenied about Intrigue, Assassinations and Black Power in Bermuda
Justice Denied - Bermuda’s Black Militants, the “Third Man,” and the Assassinations of a Police Chief and Governor is the first full account of the 1972/1973 assassinations of Bermuda’s governor, Richard Sharples, and police chief, George Duckett. The book includes a Foreword by Dr. Carol Shuman, a former journalist with the Bermuda Sun and Mid Ocean News.
During the 1970s, a black power organization in Bermuda, which modeled itself on the American Black Panthers, conspired to bring about social change “by any means necessary,” including assassination. The struggle for equal rights in Bermuda during this period both imitated events in the United States and was heavily influenced by them. This is especially true for the role American black militants played in encouraging Bermuda’s youth to challenge the white power structure on the island. Bermuda became the first nation to suffer the violent effects of the importation of 1960s-style American Black Power militancy. As a result, Governor Sharples, Police Chief George Duckett and others were murdered.
Justice Denied points the finger of guilt at a faction of the black militant group led by the ‘Third Man’, who controlled the convicted assassins. The author names the Bermuda businessman, a convicted drug dealer who assisted the assassins in financing their political aims through drug deals and bank robberies. Ayton also concludes that the real story about the assassinations was ‘whitewashed’ by consecutive Bermudian governments in the interests of racial harmony.
This investigative book is based on interviews with police officers involved in the investigation into the assassinations and murders, as well as interviews with prison officers familiar with two members of the assassination team. Additional material for the book was gleaned from the previously secret Scotland Yard murder files, British Foreign Office files, court records, newspaper archives and interviews with the Bermudian governor’s widow.
Paul Donnelley, author of 501 Most Notorious Crimes, says of Justice Denied, "Murders in paradise... Mel Ayton has proved in previous books that he has a consummate skill for unraveling the facts behind conspiracies or debunking them where they don't exist (JFK, RFK, MLK to name but three). His latest book is no exception. It reads like a thriller, but every word is true and his telling of racism, riots, murders, and cover-ups on Bermuda makes this an unputdownable page-turner."
During the 1970s, a black power organization in Bermuda, which modeled itself on the American Black Panthers, conspired to bring about social change “by any means necessary,” including assassination. The struggle for equal rights in Bermuda during this period both imitated events in the United States and was heavily influenced by them. This is especially true for the role American black militants played in encouraging Bermuda’s youth to challenge the white power structure on the island. Bermuda became the first nation to suffer the violent effects of the importation of 1960s-style American Black Power militancy. As a result, Governor Sharples, Police Chief George Duckett and others were murdered.
Justice Denied points the finger of guilt at a faction of the black militant group led by the ‘Third Man’, who controlled the convicted assassins. The author names the Bermuda businessman, a convicted drug dealer who assisted the assassins in financing their political aims through drug deals and bank robberies. Ayton also concludes that the real story about the assassinations was ‘whitewashed’ by consecutive Bermudian governments in the interests of racial harmony.
This investigative book is based on interviews with police officers involved in the investigation into the assassinations and murders, as well as interviews with prison officers familiar with two members of the assassination team. Additional material for the book was gleaned from the previously secret Scotland Yard murder files, British Foreign Office files, court records, newspaper archives and interviews with the Bermudian governor’s widow.
Paul Donnelley, author of 501 Most Notorious Crimes, says of Justice Denied, "Murders in paradise... Mel Ayton has proved in previous books that he has a consummate skill for unraveling the facts behind conspiracies or debunking them where they don't exist (JFK, RFK, MLK to name but three). His latest book is no exception. It reads like a thriller, but every word is true and his telling of racism, riots, murders, and cover-ups on Bermuda makes this an unputdownable page-turner."
Friday, March 28, 2014
Attorney General Eric Holder Issues Statement on Same-Sex Marriages in Michigan
Attorney General Eric Holder issued the following statement today on the status of same-sex marriages performed in the state of Michigan:
“I have determined that the same-sex marriages performed last Saturday in Michigan will be recognized by the federal government. These families will be eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages. The Governor of Michigan has made clear that the marriages that took place on Saturday were lawful and valid when entered into, although Michigan will not extend state rights and benefits tied to these marriages pending further legal proceedings. For purposes of federal law, as I announced in January with respect to similarly situated same-sex couples in Utah, these Michigan couples will not be asked to wait for further resolution in the courts before they may seek federal benefits to which they are entitled.
“Last June’s decision by the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor was a victory for equal protection under the law and a historic step toward equality for all American families. The Department of Justice continues to work with its federal partners to implement this decision across the government. And we will remain steadfast in our commitment to realizing our country’s founding ideals of equality, opportunity, and justice for all.”
Thursday, March 27, 2014
6 Individuals Associated with the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union Arrested
A criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in the Eastern District of New York charging Benjamin Castellazzo, Jr.; Rocco Giangregorio; Glenn LaChance, Rocco Miraglia, also known as “Irving,” and Anthony Turzio, also known as “the Irish Guy,” with conspiring to defraud the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union (NMDU) and Hudson News in order to obtain a union card and employment at Hudson News for Castellazzo, Jr.
In addition, a three-count indictment was unsealed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Thomas Leonessa, also known as “Tommy Stacks,” with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and theft and embezzlement from employee benefit plans in an unrelated scheme. The indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, New York, on March 6, 2014, and relates to Leonessa’s alleged “no show” job as a delivery driver for the New York Post.
Castellazzo, Jr., Giangregorio, LaChance, Miraglia, Turzio, and Leonessa were arrested earlier today, and their initial appearances are scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.
The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George C. Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office.
As alleged in the complaint, the NMDU is an independent union that represents approximately 1,500 employees involved in the newspaper industry in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. NMDU members deliver newspapers for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and El Diario. Hudson News, which also employs members of the NMDU, is a retail chain of newsstands mainly located in major transportation hubs, including airports and train stations.
Between June 2009 and October 2009, Miraglia, who was a foreman at the New York Daily News—as well as an alleged associate of the Colombo organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra and the son of a deceased soldier in the Colombo family—conspired with officials of the NMDU and with Turzio, who was an employee of El Diario, to get an NMDU union card for Castellazzo, Jr. and place him in a job at Hudson News. Castellazzo, Jr. is the son of Benjamin Castellazzo, the alleged underboss of the Colombo family. Giangregorio and LaChance, who were business agents for the NMDU, also are charged with participating in this scheme.
As alleged in the indictment, Leonessa was employed by the New York Post to deliver newspapers by truck from a New York Post warehouse in the Bronx, New York, to New Jersey. He was also a member of the NMDU, which maintained offices, including offices for its welfare and pension funds, in Queens, New York. From about December 2010 to about September 2011, Leonessa had a “no show” job at the New York Post, that is, a job for which he was paid wages and benefits but which he did not perform. When Leonessa did not complete his required deliveries, he was nevertheless, based on his fraudulent representations, paid wages by the New York Post and accorded benefits from employee pension and welfare funds managed by the NMDU.
“Today’s arrests indicate that the NMDU and the newspaper delivery industry are, sadly, still subject to the influence of organized crime,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We cannot tolerate corruption in that industry, which is relied on by newspaper readers throughout New York City and beyond. We will prosecute anyone who seeks to obtain employment—or to maintain “no show” employment—in that industry by trading on the power of organized crime. Such acts not only lead to ill-gotten gains, but they also displace innocent, hard-working union members and would-be union members from jobs they have rightfully earned. We thank our partners at the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, for their tremendous efforts to identify and root out these corrupt practices.” Ms. Lynch also extended her grateful appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, and Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor for their assistance.
“As alleged, a paycheck in exchange for a hard day’s work was a foreign concept to these defendants. Instead, they engaged in a scheme to defraud the NMDU and Hudson News for easy money and personal gain. The FBI, along with its law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue allegations of corruption and fraud all levels,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. The charges in the complaint and indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geddes and Allon Lifshitz and by Trial Attorney Joseph Wheatley of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.
Defendants:
Benjamin Castellazzo, Jr.
Age: 48
Manahawkin, New Jersey
Rocco Giangregorio
Age: 39
Dumont, New Jersey
Glenn LaChance
Age: 50
Oceanside, New York
Rocco Miraglia
Age: 43
Staten Island, New York
Anthony Turzio
Age: 78
New York, New York
Thomas Leonessa
Age: 52
High Bridge, New Jersey
In addition, a three-count indictment was unsealed in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Thomas Leonessa, also known as “Tommy Stacks,” with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and theft and embezzlement from employee benefit plans in an unrelated scheme. The indictment was returned under seal by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, New York, on March 6, 2014, and relates to Leonessa’s alleged “no show” job as a delivery driver for the New York Post.
Castellazzo, Jr., Giangregorio, LaChance, Miraglia, Turzio, and Leonessa were arrested earlier today, and their initial appearances are scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.
The charges were announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and George C. Venizelos, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), New York Field Office.
As alleged in the complaint, the NMDU is an independent union that represents approximately 1,500 employees involved in the newspaper industry in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. NMDU members deliver newspapers for the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and El Diario. Hudson News, which also employs members of the NMDU, is a retail chain of newsstands mainly located in major transportation hubs, including airports and train stations.
Between June 2009 and October 2009, Miraglia, who was a foreman at the New York Daily News—as well as an alleged associate of the Colombo organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra and the son of a deceased soldier in the Colombo family—conspired with officials of the NMDU and with Turzio, who was an employee of El Diario, to get an NMDU union card for Castellazzo, Jr. and place him in a job at Hudson News. Castellazzo, Jr. is the son of Benjamin Castellazzo, the alleged underboss of the Colombo family. Giangregorio and LaChance, who were business agents for the NMDU, also are charged with participating in this scheme.
As alleged in the indictment, Leonessa was employed by the New York Post to deliver newspapers by truck from a New York Post warehouse in the Bronx, New York, to New Jersey. He was also a member of the NMDU, which maintained offices, including offices for its welfare and pension funds, in Queens, New York. From about December 2010 to about September 2011, Leonessa had a “no show” job at the New York Post, that is, a job for which he was paid wages and benefits but which he did not perform. When Leonessa did not complete his required deliveries, he was nevertheless, based on his fraudulent representations, paid wages by the New York Post and accorded benefits from employee pension and welfare funds managed by the NMDU.
“Today’s arrests indicate that the NMDU and the newspaper delivery industry are, sadly, still subject to the influence of organized crime,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “We cannot tolerate corruption in that industry, which is relied on by newspaper readers throughout New York City and beyond. We will prosecute anyone who seeks to obtain employment—or to maintain “no show” employment—in that industry by trading on the power of organized crime. Such acts not only lead to ill-gotten gains, but they also displace innocent, hard-working union members and would-be union members from jobs they have rightfully earned. We thank our partners at the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, for their tremendous efforts to identify and root out these corrupt practices.” Ms. Lynch also extended her grateful appreciation to the New York City Police Department, the New York County District Attorney’s Office, and Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor for their assistance.
“As alleged, a paycheck in exchange for a hard day’s work was a foreign concept to these defendants. Instead, they engaged in a scheme to defraud the NMDU and Hudson News for easy money and personal gain. The FBI, along with its law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue allegations of corruption and fraud all levels,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Venizelos.
The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. The charges in the complaint and indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geddes and Allon Lifshitz and by Trial Attorney Joseph Wheatley of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.
Defendants:
Benjamin Castellazzo, Jr.
Age: 48
Manahawkin, New Jersey
Rocco Giangregorio
Age: 39
Dumont, New Jersey
Glenn LaChance
Age: 50
Oceanside, New York
Rocco Miraglia
Age: 43
Staten Island, New York
Anthony Turzio
Age: 78
New York, New York
Thomas Leonessa
Age: 52
High Bridge, New Jersey
5 Charged with Conspiring to Fraudulently Obtain Union Job for Organized Crime Underboss
Five men have been charged in the Eastern District of New York with conspiring to defraud the Newspaper and Mail Deliverers’ Union (NMDU) and Hudson News newsstands to obtain a union card and employment at Hudson News newsstands for the son of the alleged underboss of the Colombo family of La Cosa Nostra.
A criminal complaint was unsealed charging Benjamin Castellazzo Jr., Rocco Giangregorio, Glenn LaChance, Rocco Miraglia, aka “Irving,” and Anthony Turzio, aka “the Irish Guy,” with mail fraud conspiracy. The five men were arrested and their initial appearances are scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
In addition, a three-count indictment was unsealed charging Thomas Leonessa, aka “Tommy Stacks,” with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and theft and embezzlement from employee benefit plans in an unrelated scheme. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 6, 2014, and relates to Leonessa’s alleged “no show” job as a delivery driver for the New York Post.
The charges were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and Assistant Director in Charge George C. Venizelos of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
As alleged in the complaint, the NMDU is an independent union that represents approximately 1,500 employees involved in the newspaper industry in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. NMDU members deliver newspapers for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, the New York Post and El Diario. Hudson News, which also employs members of the NMDU, is a retail chain of newsstands mainly located in major transportation hubs, including airports and train stations.
Between June 2009 and October 2009, Miraglia, who was a foreman at the New York Daily News – as well as an associate of the Colombo organized crime family and the son of a deceased soldier in the Colombo family – conspired with officials of the NMDU and with Turzio, an employee of El Diario, to get an NMDU union card for Castellazzo Jr. and place him in a job at Hudson News. Castellazzo Jr. is the son of Benjamin Castellazzo, the alleged underboss of the Colombo family. Giangregorio and LaChance, who are business agents for the NMDU, also participated on this scheme.
As alleged in the indictment, Leonessa was employed by the New York Post to deliver newspapers by truck from a New York Post warehouse in the Bronx, N.Y., to New Jersey. He was also a member of the NMDU, which maintained offices, including offices for its welfare and pension funds, in Queens, N.Y. From about December 2010 to about September 2011, Leonessa had a “no show job” – a job for which he was paid wages and benefits for services he did not perform – at the New York Post. When Leonessa did not complete his required deliveries, he was nevertheless, based on his fraudulent representations, paid wages by the New York Post and accorded benefits from employee pension and welfare funds managed by the NMDU.
Leonessa is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y.
A criminal complaint was unsealed charging Benjamin Castellazzo Jr., Rocco Giangregorio, Glenn LaChance, Rocco Miraglia, aka “Irving,” and Anthony Turzio, aka “the Irish Guy,” with mail fraud conspiracy. The five men were arrested and their initial appearances are scheduled before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
In addition, a three-count indictment was unsealed charging Thomas Leonessa, aka “Tommy Stacks,” with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and theft and embezzlement from employee benefit plans in an unrelated scheme. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Brooklyn, N.Y., on March 6, 2014, and relates to Leonessa’s alleged “no show” job as a delivery driver for the New York Post.
The charges were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, United States Attorney Loretta E. Lynch of the Eastern District of New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Garcia of the New York region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations and Assistant Director in Charge George C. Venizelos of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
As alleged in the complaint, the NMDU is an independent union that represents approximately 1,500 employees involved in the newspaper industry in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. NMDU members deliver newspapers for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, the New York Post and El Diario. Hudson News, which also employs members of the NMDU, is a retail chain of newsstands mainly located in major transportation hubs, including airports and train stations.
Between June 2009 and October 2009, Miraglia, who was a foreman at the New York Daily News – as well as an associate of the Colombo organized crime family and the son of a deceased soldier in the Colombo family – conspired with officials of the NMDU and with Turzio, an employee of El Diario, to get an NMDU union card for Castellazzo Jr. and place him in a job at Hudson News. Castellazzo Jr. is the son of Benjamin Castellazzo, the alleged underboss of the Colombo family. Giangregorio and LaChance, who are business agents for the NMDU, also participated on this scheme.
As alleged in the indictment, Leonessa was employed by the New York Post to deliver newspapers by truck from a New York Post warehouse in the Bronx, N.Y., to New Jersey. He was also a member of the NMDU, which maintained offices, including offices for its welfare and pension funds, in Queens, N.Y. From about December 2010 to about September 2011, Leonessa had a “no show job” – a job for which he was paid wages and benefits for services he did not perform – at the New York Post. When Leonessa did not complete his required deliveries, he was nevertheless, based on his fraudulent representations, paid wages by the New York Post and accorded benefits from employee pension and welfare funds managed by the NMDU.
Leonessa is scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dr. Naeem Mahmood Kohli, of the Kohli Neurology and Sleep Center, Indicted on Charges of Health Care Fraud and Illegal Dispensation of Controlled Substances
A federal grand jury sitting in East St. Louis, Illinois returned a 15-count indictment against an Effingham County doctor, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. The indictment was opened upon the arrest and arraignment of the doctor in Benton, Illinois.
Naeem Mahmood Kohli, 59, of Effingham, Illinois, operated the Kohli Neurology and Sleep Center, located on North Maple in Effingham, Illinois. The indictment alleges that, for some patients, Kohli did not operate a legitimate medical practice but instead was engaged in a scheme to illegally distribute controlled substances by running what was in essence a prescription service for drug addicts, commonly known as a pill mill. The indictment also alleges that Kohli defrauded Health Care Benefit Programs, namely, Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, by billing for services not provided.
In the indictment, Kohli is charged with the following offenses: (1) health care fraud in counts one through three, which carry penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum of three years’ supervised release; (2) illegal distribution of a Schedule II controlled substances (oxycodone, hydromorphone, and methadone) in counts four through 13, which carry penalties of a maximum of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, no less than three years’ supervised release; and (3) money laundering in counts 14 and 15, which carry penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and one year of supervised release. A $100 special assessment must be imposed on each count.
Naeem Mahmood Kohli, 59, of Effingham, Illinois, operated the Kohli Neurology and Sleep Center, located on North Maple in Effingham, Illinois. The indictment alleges that, for some patients, Kohli did not operate a legitimate medical practice but instead was engaged in a scheme to illegally distribute controlled substances by running what was in essence a prescription service for drug addicts, commonly known as a pill mill. The indictment also alleges that Kohli defrauded Health Care Benefit Programs, namely, Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, by billing for services not provided.
In the indictment, Kohli is charged with the following offenses: (1) health care fraud in counts one through three, which carry penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, a maximum of three years’ supervised release; (2) illegal distribution of a Schedule II controlled substances (oxycodone, hydromorphone, and methadone) in counts four through 13, which carry penalties of a maximum of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, no less than three years’ supervised release; and (3) money laundering in counts 14 and 15, which carry penalties of a maximum of 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and one year of supervised release. A $100 special assessment must be imposed on each count.
Severe weather impacted January 2014 U.S.-Canada freight flows
Severe weather in January impacted freight transportation, contributing to a decline in U.S.-Canada trade for the month. Freight moving across the northern border in January 2014 was down 3.4 percent from January 2013, the first decline from the same month of the previous year since June 2013 and the largest year-to-year decline since November 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Trade using truck, the largest mode, declined 4.9 percent while rail dropped 9.9 percent. Air trade also declined while pipeline and vessel increased.
With less weather impact along the southern border, U.S.-M̩xico trade rose 3.9 percent from January 2013, the seventh consecutive increase from the same month of the previous year. Trade using the three surface transportation modes Рtruck, rail and pipeline Рrose a combined 5.4 percent from the previous year while trade using air and vessels declined.
Total U.S.-NAFTA trade declined 0.2 percent from January 2013 in the face of the weather impact on the northern border. It was the first year-to-year decline since June 2013. Trade using rail and air declined. With the rise in trade by truck with Mexico offsetting the trucking decline with Canada, total U.S.-NAFTA truck trade was virtually unchanged. Pipeline and vessel trade rose.
Trade by Mode
Truck, which carries nearly three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA trade and is the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners, was essentially unchanged year-to-year while rail declined 4.2 percent. Vessel rose 0.6 percent and air declined 1.2 percent.
Trade with Canada
Year-to-year, the value of U.S.-Canada trade by vessel increased the most of any mode, growing 3.7 percent. Vessel freight exports to Canada increased 64.8 percent due to an increase in exports of mineral fuels. U.S.-Canada trade by pipeline increased by 1.9 percent. U.S.-Canada pipeline trade comprised 95.1 percent of total U.S.-NAFTA pipeline trade in January.
Trade with Mexico
Year-to-year, the value of trade by pipeline increased the most of any mode, growing 30.6 percent, but pipeline trade remained less than 1 percent of total U.S.-Mexico trade. Trade using rail rose 5.9 percent while truck freight increased 5.0 percent. Freight moved by vessel and air decreased by 5.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.
With less weather impact along the southern border, U.S.-M̩xico trade rose 3.9 percent from January 2013, the seventh consecutive increase from the same month of the previous year. Trade using the three surface transportation modes Рtruck, rail and pipeline Рrose a combined 5.4 percent from the previous year while trade using air and vessels declined.
Total U.S.-NAFTA trade declined 0.2 percent from January 2013 in the face of the weather impact on the northern border. It was the first year-to-year decline since June 2013. Trade using rail and air declined. With the rise in trade by truck with Mexico offsetting the trucking decline with Canada, total U.S.-NAFTA truck trade was virtually unchanged. Pipeline and vessel trade rose.
Trade by Mode
Truck, which carries nearly three-fifths of U.S.-NAFTA trade and is the most heavily utilized mode for moving goods to and from both U.S.-NAFTA partners, was essentially unchanged year-to-year while rail declined 4.2 percent. Vessel rose 0.6 percent and air declined 1.2 percent.
Trade with Canada
Year-to-year, the value of U.S.-Canada trade by vessel increased the most of any mode, growing 3.7 percent. Vessel freight exports to Canada increased 64.8 percent due to an increase in exports of mineral fuels. U.S.-Canada trade by pipeline increased by 1.9 percent. U.S.-Canada pipeline trade comprised 95.1 percent of total U.S.-NAFTA pipeline trade in January.
Trade with Mexico
Year-to-year, the value of trade by pipeline increased the most of any mode, growing 30.6 percent, but pipeline trade remained less than 1 percent of total U.S.-Mexico trade. Trade using rail rose 5.9 percent while truck freight increased 5.0 percent. Freight moved by vessel and air decreased by 5.4 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
17 Defendants Indicted in Chicago in International ATM Skimming and Money Laundering Scheme
Seventeen defendants are facing federal fraud or related charges for their alleged roles in an international ATM skimming and money laundering scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars. Two defendants were arrested in Sofia, Bulgaria, and 13 defendants were arrested in Chicago and several suburbs by FBI agents following a lengthy international investigation.
The alleged scheme involved using ATM and debit card numbers and the personal identification numbers associated with them, which were fraudulently obtained in Europe, to withdraw money from victims’ accounts using automated teller machines at various locations in the Chicago area. The charges were brought in a 29-count indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on March 12 and was unsealed following the arrests.
“These charges are the result of the hard work of dedicated law enforcement personnel both here and abroad to address a transnational crime problem that can affect virtually anyone with a bank account and carries significant financial consequences. Cooperation with international law enforcement agencies was crucial to the investigation, and we are grateful for the assistance that led to these arrests,” said Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The arrests and charges were announced by Mr. Holley and Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. They praised the cooperation of the State Agency National Security and the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office of Cassation in Bulgaria. The investigation is continuing, they said.
Two defendants, Radoslav Pavlov, 36, of Sofia, Bulgaria, also known as “Radi,” charged with wire fraud, and Mihail Petrov, 41, of Sofia, charged with wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering, were arrested in Sofia. The United States intends to seek their extradition to face the charges in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment alleges that Pavlov, Petrov, and Domeniko Evitmov, 46, of Chicago, who was arrested here, were located outside the United States and fraudulently obtained ATM and debit card numbers and PINs from locations in Europe and elsewhere without the actual account holders’ knowledge.
Pavlov, Petrov, Evitmov, Alexander Savov, 47, of Carol Stream, Illinois, and others they directed then transferred the fraudulently obtained information, often by Skype or e-mail, to Gheorgui Martov, also known as “Mitsubishi” and “Mitsu,” 39, of Schiller Park, Illinois, who allegedly directed the scheme in the Chicago area. Martov gave the information to numerous co-defendants to make the fraudulent withdrawals from area ATMs, the charges allege, and the defendants divided the money they obtained.
Martov and his wife, Temenuga Koleva, aka “Nushka,” 37, also of Schiller Park, were each charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying computer files and Internet browsing history during the course of the FBI’s investigation. Koleva was also charged with being an accessory after the fact to wire fraud.
Martov, Petrov, and Emil Gospodinov, 44, of Chicago—who owned and operated BG Center Rodina, located 4828 N. Cumberland Ave. in Norridge, Illinois, a business that transmitted funds via MoneyGram, among other things—were charged with money laundering conspiracy for allegedly transmitting the fraudulently obtained funds from the United States to Bulgaria and elsewhere. After receiving funds from Martov, Gospodinov transmitted the funds to Martov’s alleged co-schemers outside the United States using nominee senders and receivers on the transactions to disguise the true identities of those sending and receiving the funds.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of approximately $200,000 from 15 defendants as alleged proceeds of the fraud, and it also seeks approximately $50,000 from Martov, Petrov, and Gospodinov as alleged proceeds of the money laundering.
The indictment alleges that once Martov obtained the ATM and debit card and PIN information he gave it to the following defendants to fraudulently withdraw money from area ATMs: Ivan Kotselov, 32, of Schiller Park; Georgi Vangelov, aka “Zhoro,” 26, of Schiller Park; Svetoslav Nedelchev, aka “Svetlyo,” 28, of Chicago; Daniel Yordanov, aka “Dani,” 29; Deyan Slavchev, aka “Dido,” 28, of Schiller Park; Karl Popovski, aka “Kiro Papata,” 23, of Chicago; Nikolay Todorov, aka “Niketsa,” 35, of Schiller Park; Mladen Gueorguiev, 25, of Chicago; Nedislav Gabov, 33, of Chicago; and Dimo Deshkov, 28, of Chicago.
After receiving the fraudulently obtained account data, defendants Kotselov, Vangelov, Nedelchev, Yordanov, Slavchev, Popovski, Todorov, Gueorguiev, and Gabov allegedly encoded the data onto the magnetic strip of blank or recycled cards. Once in possession of the encoded cards, various defendants traveled to Chicago-area ATMs to withdraw funds. The defendants, acting at Martov’s direction, made ATM withdrawals shortly before and after midnight in the timezone of the issuing bank in an attempt to circumvent the daily withdrawal limits on the victims’ accounts. The defendants also coordinated ATM transactions to withdraw money before the issuing banks could detect the fraud and deactivate the ATM and debit card numbers.
Martov was charged with 22 counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering in addition to the money laundering conspiracy and obstruction counts. Fourteen other defendants were each charged with one or more counts of wire fraud. Gospodinov was charged with four counts of money laundering in addition to the money laundering conspiracy.
Martov, his wife, and 11 other defendants were arraigned yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against them before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Martin. Two defendants, Gueorguiev and Gabov were released on bonds, while the other 11 defendants who appeared in court yesterday remain in federal custody pending detention hearings scheduled for tomorrow and Friday. Yordanov is a fugitive and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Todorov is in state custody and will be arraigned on the federal charges on a date to be determined.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and restitution is mandatory. Money laundering conspiracy and each count of money laundering carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine or a fine totaling twice the value of the funds involved in the money laundering. The obstruction of justice count against Martov and Koleva carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the accessory count against Koleva carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Edenfield, Matthew Getter, and Timothy Chapman. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Burke guided the investigation before he transferred last week from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago to the Eastern District of Virginia. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided assistance with this case.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The alleged scheme involved using ATM and debit card numbers and the personal identification numbers associated with them, which were fraudulently obtained in Europe, to withdraw money from victims’ accounts using automated teller machines at various locations in the Chicago area. The charges were brought in a 29-count indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on March 12 and was unsealed following the arrests.
“These charges are the result of the hard work of dedicated law enforcement personnel both here and abroad to address a transnational crime problem that can affect virtually anyone with a bank account and carries significant financial consequences. Cooperation with international law enforcement agencies was crucial to the investigation, and we are grateful for the assistance that led to these arrests,” said Robert J. Holley, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The arrests and charges were announced by Mr. Holley and Zachary T. Fardon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. They praised the cooperation of the State Agency National Security and the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office of Cassation in Bulgaria. The investigation is continuing, they said.
Two defendants, Radoslav Pavlov, 36, of Sofia, Bulgaria, also known as “Radi,” charged with wire fraud, and Mihail Petrov, 41, of Sofia, charged with wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering, were arrested in Sofia. The United States intends to seek their extradition to face the charges in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The indictment alleges that Pavlov, Petrov, and Domeniko Evitmov, 46, of Chicago, who was arrested here, were located outside the United States and fraudulently obtained ATM and debit card numbers and PINs from locations in Europe and elsewhere without the actual account holders’ knowledge.
Pavlov, Petrov, Evitmov, Alexander Savov, 47, of Carol Stream, Illinois, and others they directed then transferred the fraudulently obtained information, often by Skype or e-mail, to Gheorgui Martov, also known as “Mitsubishi” and “Mitsu,” 39, of Schiller Park, Illinois, who allegedly directed the scheme in the Chicago area. Martov gave the information to numerous co-defendants to make the fraudulent withdrawals from area ATMs, the charges allege, and the defendants divided the money they obtained.
Martov and his wife, Temenuga Koleva, aka “Nushka,” 37, also of Schiller Park, were each charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying computer files and Internet browsing history during the course of the FBI’s investigation. Koleva was also charged with being an accessory after the fact to wire fraud.
Martov, Petrov, and Emil Gospodinov, 44, of Chicago—who owned and operated BG Center Rodina, located 4828 N. Cumberland Ave. in Norridge, Illinois, a business that transmitted funds via MoneyGram, among other things—were charged with money laundering conspiracy for allegedly transmitting the fraudulently obtained funds from the United States to Bulgaria and elsewhere. After receiving funds from Martov, Gospodinov transmitted the funds to Martov’s alleged co-schemers outside the United States using nominee senders and receivers on the transactions to disguise the true identities of those sending and receiving the funds.
The indictment seeks forfeiture of approximately $200,000 from 15 defendants as alleged proceeds of the fraud, and it also seeks approximately $50,000 from Martov, Petrov, and Gospodinov as alleged proceeds of the money laundering.
The indictment alleges that once Martov obtained the ATM and debit card and PIN information he gave it to the following defendants to fraudulently withdraw money from area ATMs: Ivan Kotselov, 32, of Schiller Park; Georgi Vangelov, aka “Zhoro,” 26, of Schiller Park; Svetoslav Nedelchev, aka “Svetlyo,” 28, of Chicago; Daniel Yordanov, aka “Dani,” 29; Deyan Slavchev, aka “Dido,” 28, of Schiller Park; Karl Popovski, aka “Kiro Papata,” 23, of Chicago; Nikolay Todorov, aka “Niketsa,” 35, of Schiller Park; Mladen Gueorguiev, 25, of Chicago; Nedislav Gabov, 33, of Chicago; and Dimo Deshkov, 28, of Chicago.
After receiving the fraudulently obtained account data, defendants Kotselov, Vangelov, Nedelchev, Yordanov, Slavchev, Popovski, Todorov, Gueorguiev, and Gabov allegedly encoded the data onto the magnetic strip of blank or recycled cards. Once in possession of the encoded cards, various defendants traveled to Chicago-area ATMs to withdraw funds. The defendants, acting at Martov’s direction, made ATM withdrawals shortly before and after midnight in the timezone of the issuing bank in an attempt to circumvent the daily withdrawal limits on the victims’ accounts. The defendants also coordinated ATM transactions to withdraw money before the issuing banks could detect the fraud and deactivate the ATM and debit card numbers.
Martov was charged with 22 counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering in addition to the money laundering conspiracy and obstruction counts. Fourteen other defendants were each charged with one or more counts of wire fraud. Gospodinov was charged with four counts of money laundering in addition to the money laundering conspiracy.
Martov, his wife, and 11 other defendants were arraigned yesterday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against them before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Martin. Two defendants, Gueorguiev and Gabov were released on bonds, while the other 11 defendants who appeared in court yesterday remain in federal custody pending detention hearings scheduled for tomorrow and Friday. Yordanov is a fugitive and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Todorov is in state custody and will be arraigned on the federal charges on a date to be determined.
Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and restitution is mandatory. Money laundering conspiracy and each count of money laundering carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine or a fine totaling twice the value of the funds involved in the money laundering. The obstruction of justice count against Martov and Koleva carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the accessory count against Koleva carries a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $125,000 fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Edenfield, Matthew Getter, and Timothy Chapman. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Burke guided the investigation before he transferred last week from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago to the Eastern District of Virginia. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division provided assistance with this case.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
14 #BloodsStreetGang Members & #MacBallers Charged with Engaging in a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian announced that 14 members and associates of the Bloods street gang known as the “MacBallers” were charged by way of a felony criminal complaint in federal court in Binghamton, New York, with engaging in a drug trafficking conspiracy, pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846. Federal, state, and local law enforcement teams executed arrest warrants in the greater Binghamton, New York area, as well as in New York City. Defendants made their appearances before a federal magistrate judge in federal court. Additionally, law enforcement also executed federal search warrants at nine locations in the Binghamton, New York area including at the nightclub called 17 East, located at 348 Clinton Street, Binghamton, New York, which was utilized and frequented by members of the MacBallers gang.
The investigation leading to today’s arrests and charges was conducted by members of a task force comprised of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Binghamton, New York; FBI Albany Field Office and FBI New York Field Office; Broome County District Attorney’s Office; Binghamton Police Department; New York State Police; Broome County Sheriff’s Office; Johnson City Police Department; Endicott Police Department; and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The federal felony complaint charges that starting in September 2009 and continuing up to the present, members and associates of the MacBallers set of the Bloods street gang operated in Binghamton, New York and were responsible for distributing large quantities of controlled substances including cocaine base (crack cocaine), powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in the greater Binghamton area. The complaint also charges that MacBaller members utilized rental vehicles and rental apartments to facilitate their drug trafficking conspiracy in order to cook, package, store, and transport controlled substances; utilized prepaid cellular telephones to contact drug customers and gang associates, both affiliated and unaffiliated to the MacBallers, in order to distribute controlled substances; engaged in gang meetings at various locations in the Binghamton area; and utilized firearms including handguns to commit assaults and shootings and to threaten others in furtherance of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy.
The federal felony complaint also charges as follows as to each defendant:
If convicted, each defendant faces an imprisonment term of at least 10 years and up to life.
The investigation leading to today’s arrests and charges was conducted by members of a task force comprised of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Binghamton, New York; FBI Albany Field Office and FBI New York Field Office; Broome County District Attorney’s Office; Binghamton Police Department; New York State Police; Broome County Sheriff’s Office; Johnson City Police Department; Endicott Police Department; and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The federal felony complaint charges that starting in September 2009 and continuing up to the present, members and associates of the MacBallers set of the Bloods street gang operated in Binghamton, New York and were responsible for distributing large quantities of controlled substances including cocaine base (crack cocaine), powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in the greater Binghamton area. The complaint also charges that MacBaller members utilized rental vehicles and rental apartments to facilitate their drug trafficking conspiracy in order to cook, package, store, and transport controlled substances; utilized prepaid cellular telephones to contact drug customers and gang associates, both affiliated and unaffiliated to the MacBallers, in order to distribute controlled substances; engaged in gang meetings at various locations in the Binghamton area; and utilized firearms including handguns to commit assaults and shootings and to threaten others in furtherance of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy.
The federal felony complaint also charges as follows as to each defendant:
- DEREK CARR, a/k/a “Jinx,” 29 years old, is affiliated to the Bloods street gang and believed to a member of the MacBallers. DEREK CARR is a close, personal associate of SAQUAN JOHNSON and supplied SAQUAN JOHNSON with controlled substances including crack cocaine and heroin. DEREK CARR communicated with SAQUAN JOHNSON regarding the cooking, packaging, acquisition, and distribution of controlled substances including crack cocaine and heroin.
- COURTNEY DOUGLAS, a/k/a “Poppy,” 32 years old, is a member of the MacBallers who received supplies of crack cocaine and heroin from SAQUAN JOHNSON, as well as crack cocaine from CHAD EDWARDS, JUAN PENA, and REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. and then distributed those controlled substances to drug customers. COURTNEY DOUGLAS communicated with other members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy, including SAQUAN JOHNSON, CHAD EDWARDS, and JUAN PENA regarding the acquisition, distribution, and resale of controlled substances including crack cocaine and heroin.
- LAMONT CLEMONS, a/k/a “Stime,” 39 years old, is believed to be a family relative (cousin) of CALVIN JOHNSON who transported supplies of controlled substances and distributed controlled substances on behalf of CALVIN JOHNSON. LAMONT CLEMONS also supplied SAQUAN JOHNSON with controlled substances including crack cocaine, heroin, powder cocaine, and marijuana. LAMONT CLEMONS communicated with SAQUAN JOHNSON regarding the acquisition, storage, transportation, distribution, and resale of controlled substances, including crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.
- CHAD EDWARDS, a/k/a “Chaddy O,” 31 years old, is a high-ranking member of the MacBallers who was responsible for distributing large quantities of crack cocaine in Binghamton, New York. CHAD EDWARDS worked closely with JUAN PENA AND REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. to distribute controlled substances and shared the same cellular telephones with these individuals. CHAD EDWARDS communicated with other members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy, including SAQUAN JOHNSON, JUAN PENA, REGINALD SIMMONS, JR., SHARELL HOLTON, and COURTNEY DOUGLAS regarding the acquisition, packaging, and distribution of controlled substances.
- SHARELL HOLTON, a/k/a “Rell,” 35 years old, is a known controlled substances distributor in Binghamton, New York who is believed to have been supplied by members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including JOHN MELVILLE, CHAD EDWARDS, JUAN PENA, and REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. She allowed members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy, including JOHN MELVILLE and BRIAN WEST, to utilize her residence in Endicott, New York and distribute controlled substances from her residence. SHARELL HOLTON communicated with other known members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including SAQUAN JOHNSON, CHAD EDWARDS, and JUAN PENA regarding the acquisition, storage, and distribution of controlled substances as well as the collection of drug proceeds.
- LESLIE HUGHES, a/k/a “Les,” 41 years old, is a Bloods Street Gang member and a known controlled substances distributor in Binghamton, New York who supplied SAQUAN JOHNSON with controlled substances including crack cocaine. LESLIE HUGHES worked for CALVIN JOHNSON and supplied SAQUAN JOHNSON with controlled substances to include crack cocaine. LESLIE HUGHES communicated with SAQUAN JOHNSON regarding the acquisition, cooking/mixing, packaging, and distribution of controlled substances, including crack cocaine, and the collection of drug proceeds.
- CALVIN JOHNSON, a/k/a “Cal,” 38 years old, is a known controlled substances distributor in Binghamton, New York who operated the nightclub 17 East, which was utilized and frequented by members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy. He also supplied SAQUAN JOHNSON, LAMONT CLEMONS, LESLIE HUGHES, and others with controlled substances including crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and marijuana. CALVIN JOHNSON communicated with SAQUAN JOHNSON regarding the acquisition, distribution, and storage of controlled substances including crack cocaine, powder cocaine, and marijuana, as well as the acquisition of a handgun/firearm.
- SAQUAN JOHNSON, a/k/a “Banga,” a/k/a “Sa,” 23 years old, is a member of the MacBallers gang and is known as an enforcer/shooter who was responsible for the distribution of large amounts of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana to other members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including GERALD NORFLEET and COURTNEY DOUGLAS. SAQUAN JOHNSON was supplied with controlled substances from CALVIN JOHNSON, LAMONT CLEMONS, DEREK CARR, CHAD EDWARDS, JUAN PENA, REGINALD SIMMONS, JR., and DAYNELL ROWLAND. SAQUAN JOHNSON also communicated with other members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including DEREK CARR, COURTNEY DOUGLAS, LAMONT CLEMONS, CHAD EDWARDS, SHARELL HOLTON, LESLIE HUGHES, CALVIN JOHNSON, GERALD NORFLEET, JUAN PENA, DAYNELL ROWLAND, and REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. regarding the acquisition, distribution, transportation, and cooking/mixing of controlled substances including crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, as well as robberies, assaults, and firearms violations.
- JOHN MELVILLE, a/k/a “Flip,” a/k/a “Fat Boy,” 29 years old, is a high ranking member of the MacBallers gang. JOHN MELVILLE was known to traffic large quantities of controlled substances including crack cocaine and powder cocaine into Binghamton, New York, in order to distribute controlled substances and supply additional members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including SHARELL HOLTON, CHAD EDWARDS, JUAN PENA, and REGINALD SIMMONS, JR.
- GERALD NORFLEET, a/k/a “G,” 55 years old, purchased controlled substances from SAQUAN JOHNSON and distributed controlled substances including crack cocaine. Additionally, he collected drug proceeds derived from controlled substance sales on behalf of SAQUAN JOHNSON AND LAMONT CLEMONS. GERALD NORFLEET also provided transportation for SAQUAN JOHNSON in order to facilitate drug transactions in furtherance of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy. GERALD NORFLEET communicated with SAQUAN JOHNSON regarding the acquisition, packaging, and distribution of controlled substances, and the collection of drug proceeds derived from the sales of controlled substance including crack cocaine.
- JUAN PENA, a/k/a “John John,” 30 years old, is a high ranking member of the MacBallers who was responsible for distributing large quantities of crack cocaine. At one time, JUAN PENA also paid CALVIN JOHNSON an amount of United States currency to control and operate various illegal gambling games at CALVIN JOHNSON’S nightclub 17 East. JUAN PENA also communicated with other members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including SAQUAN JOHNSON, CHAD EDWARDS, REGINALD SIMMONS, JR., SHARELL HOLTON, COURTNEY DOUGLAS, and others regarding the acquisition and distribution of controlled substances.
- DAYNELL ROWLAND, a/k/a “Daylo,” 31 years old, is a suspected member of the MacBallers who resides in Syracuse, New York, and was responsible for supplying SAQUAN JOHNSON and others with large amounts of controlled substances including marijuana and heroin. DAYNELL ROWLAND introduced SAQUAN JOHNSON to his (DAYNELL ROWLAND’S) heroin supplier residing in the New York City area so SAQUAN JOHNSON could obtain large quantities of heroin directly from this individual. DAYNELL ROWLAND also expressed a desire for SAQUAN JOHNSON to become his main heroin distributor in Binghamton, New York. DAYNELL ROWLAND communicated with SAQUAN JOHNSON regarding the acquisition, cooking, packaging, and distribution of controlled substances and the collection of drug proceeds derived from the sales of controlled substances.
- REGINALD SIMMONS, JR., a/k/a “Reg,” a/k/a “Moe,” 30 years old, is a member of the MacBallers who was responsible for distributing large quantities of crack cocaine. REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. worked with JUAN PENA AND CHAD EDWARDS to distribute controlled substances and shared the same cellular telephones with them for the purpose of distribution of controlled substances. REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. also communicated with other additional members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including SAQUAN JOHNSON, JUAN PENA, CHAD EDWARDS, SHARELL HOLTON, and COURTNEY DOUGLAS regarding the demand, acquisition, packaging, and distribution of controlled substances.
- BRIAN WEST, a/k/a “West,” 27 years old, is a member of the MacBallers who was responsible for distributing large quantities of crack cocaine. BRIAN WEST trafficked controlled substances into the Binghamton, New York area with JOHN MELVILLE and who supplied other members of the MacBallers’ drug trafficking conspiracy including SHARELL HOLTON, CHAD EDWARDS, JUAN PENA, and REGINALD SIMMONS, JR. BRIAN WEST also utilized SHARELL HOLTON’S residence to distribute controlled substances.
If convicted, each defendant faces an imprisonment term of at least 10 years and up to life.
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