Criminal Division Press Releases for November 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Tourism Charge (08-1150)
WASHINGTON – Richard Hendryx, 78, of Morristown, Ariz., pleaded guilty today to traveling in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Diane J. Humetewa announced. (Read more)
California Man Pleads Guilty in International Child Exploitation Enterprise Case (08-1153)
WASHINGTON AND PENSACOLA, Fla. B Raymond Roy of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., today became the sixth defendant to plead guilty for his involvement in a global child pornography trafficking enterprise, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Thomas F. Kirwin and FBI Executive Assistant Director J. Stephen Tidwell announced. (Read more)
Monday, December 22, 2008
Member of Afghan Taliban Sentenced to Life in Prison in Nation's First Conviction on Narco Terror Charges (08-1145)
WASHINGTON – A member of an Afghan Taliban cell was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to two terms of life in prison on drug and narcoterrorism charges, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Fiat Agrees to $7 Million Fine in Connection with Payment of $4.4 Million in Kickbacks by Three Subsidiaries Under the U.N. Oil for Food Program (08-1140)
WASHINGTON – Fiat S.p.A. (Fiat), an Italian corporation based in Turin, Italy, has agreed to a $7 million penalty for illegal kickbacks paid to officials of the former Iraqi government by three of its subsidiaries, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)
Friday, December 19, 2008
Former GSA Chief of Staff David Safavian Convicted of Obstruction, Making False Statements (08-1138)
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Washington convicted David H. Safavian, the former chief of staff for the General Services Administration (GSA), of obstructing a GSA internal investigation and making false statements, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)
Alaska State Senator Pleads Guilty to Public Corruption Charges (08-1139)
WASHINGTON – Alaska State Senator John Cowdery, 78, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to bribe another Alaska state legislator, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Former Willbros International Executive and Consultant Charged in $6 Million Foreign Bribery Conspiracy (08-1137)
WASHINGTON – A former executive and a consultant of Willbros International Inc. (WII), a subsidiary of Houston-based Willbros Group Inc. (Willbros), have been charged in connection with a conspiracy to pay more than $6 million in bribes to government officials in Nigeria and Ecuador, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced today. (Read more)
Defendants Sentenced for Role in Sale of $2.5 Million Worth of Counterfeit Software (08-1133)
WASHINGTON - Three defendants were sentenced to prison today for their roles in an online copyright infringement scheme involving the sale of counterfeit software worth $2.5 million, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton for the Western District of Texas announced. The case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing initiative to combat the commercial distribution of pirated and counterfeit goods through online auction sites and other Web sites. (Read more)
Former State Department Employee Sentenced for Illegally Accessing Confidential Passport Files (08-1131)
WASHINGTON – A former State Department employee was sentenced today to 12 months of probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service for illegally accessing hundreds of confidential passport application files, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
North Carolina Man Indicted and Arrested in Child Pornography Case (08-1129)
WASHINGTON – Timothy Lloyd Christenbury, 46, of Charlotte, N.C., has been charged by a federal grand jury and arrested for possession of child pornography, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Gretchen C. F. Shappert for the Western District of North Carolina announced today.
(Read more)
Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty in International Child Exploitation Enterprise Case (08-1124)
WASHINGTON AND PENSACOLA, Fla. – Johnathan Mosman, 47 of Waterbury, Conn., today became the fifth defendant to plead guilty for his involvement in a vast global child pornography trafficking enterprise, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Thomas F. Kirwin and FBI Executive Assistant Director J. Stephen Tidwell announced. (Read more)
Physician's Assistant Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for his Role in $119 Million Medicare Fraud (08-1124)
WASHINGTON – A Miami physician’s assistant was sentenced today to 14 years in prison in connection with his role in a $119 million HIV-infusion Medicare fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced. (Read more)
Florida Man Indicted for Possessing and Transporting Child Pornography (08-1123)
WASHINGTON – John Duane Green of Hernando, Fla., was indicted today by a federal grand jury in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, on charges of transporting and possessing child pornography, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Paul Murphy of the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Read more)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
St. Thomas Man Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography (08-1121)
WASHINGTON – Bradley Douglas Highbarger, 35, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced today to 75 months in prison for receipt of child pornography, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Paul A. Murphy of the District of the Virgin Islands announced. In addition to his prison term, Highbarger also was ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release. (Read more)
Miami Physician Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for $11 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme (08-1120)
WASHINGTON – A Miami physician and nurse were sentenced today to 30 years and seven years in prison, respectively, in connection with their roles in an $11 million HIV infusion fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced. The 30-year prison sentence is one of the longest terms ever given to a physician in a federal Medicare fraud case. (Read more)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Former Gen Re Chief Executive Officer Sentenced for Role in Fraudulent Manipulation Scheme (08-1117)
WASHINGTON – The former chief executive officer of General Re Corporation (Gen Re) was sentenced today for his role in a fraudulent scheme to manipulate AIG’s financial statements, the Department of Justice announced. (Read more)
Monday, December 15, 2008
Canadian Man Arrested in United Kingdom on U.S. Charges of International Sex Tourism (08-1117)
WASHINGTON – John Wrenshall, 62, was arrested today on charges of conspiring to travel in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children; aiding and abetting sex tourism; and conspiracy to produce, production of, and distribution of child pornography, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Ralph J.Marra Jr. announced. (Read more)
Siemens AG and Three Subsidiaries Plead Guilty to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Violations and Agree to Pay $450 Million in Combined Criminal Fines (08-1105)
WASHINGTON – John Wrenshall, 62, was arrested today on charges of conspiring to travel in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children; aiding and abetting sex tourism; and conspiracy to produce, production of, and distribution of child pornography, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Ralph J.Marra Jr. announced. (Read more)
Friday, December 12, 2008
Indianapolis Man Sentenced for Obscenity Violations (08-1097)
WASHINGTON - Loren Jay Adams, 45, of Indianapolis was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Martinsburg, W.Va., to 33 months in prison for violating federal obscenity laws, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Sharon Lynn Potter. (Read more)
Department of Justice Announces Ongoing Global Enforcement Effort Targetting Child Pornographers (08-1095)
WASHINGTON – Today, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey, speaking after a joint United States and European Union (EU) ministerial meeting, highlighted "Operation Joint Hammer" – the U.S. component of an ongoing global enforcement operation targeting transnational rings of child pornographers. The operation already has led to the arrest of more than 60 people in the United States involved in the trade of child pornography; a number that the Attorney General remarked was likely to increase. Thus far, 11 child victims have been identified through Operation Joint Hammer. (Read more)
Norte Valle Cartel Leader Extradited to Face Charges in the United States (08-1100)
WASHINGTON – Diego Montoya-Sanchez, a/k/a Don Diego, a former FBI top-ten most wanted fugitive and principal leader of the Norte Valle Cartel (NVC), has been extradited from Colombia to the United States to face federal charges, the Department of Justice announced today. Montoya-Sanchez faces drug-trafficking related charges in the Southern District of Florida and the District of Columbia. (Read more)
Former Lobbyist Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud (08-1098)
WASHINGTON – A former lobbyist pleaded guilty today to conspiring with others to commit honest services fraud, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. James F. Hirni, 36, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts in the District of Columbia. (Read more)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Indicted for Attempted Extortion and Bribery (08-1081)
WASHINGTON – A former Supreme Court Justice of the Third Judicial Circuit of the State of New York was charged today with attempted extortion and federal program bribery, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. Thomas J. Spargo, 65 was charged in an indictment returned today by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York. (Read more)
Arizona Man Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charges (08-1086)
WASHINGTON – An Arizona man was sentenced today to 220 months in prison after he was previously convicted on multiple child pornography charges, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Diane J. Humetewa for the District of Arizona announced. (Read more)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Former Department of Energy Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds (08-1073)
WASHINGTON – A former U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) employee who falsified overtime records pleaded guilty today to one count of theft of more than $90,000 through a time and attendance fraud scheme, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division. (Read more)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Redding, California, Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Charge (08-1065)
WASHINGTON – A Redding, Calif., man was sentenced today in Sacramento, Calif., for one count of possession of child pornography and three violations of his supervised release conditions, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California McGregor W. Scott announced. (Read more)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Puerto Rico Political Consultant Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy (08-1062)
WASHINGTON – Alberto Goachet, 67, a political consultant and aide to Puerto Rico Sen. Jorge De Castro Font, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to launder illegal campaign contributions and other payments, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez announced. (Read more)