Criminal Division Press Releases for November 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Texas Businessman Sentenced To Prison For False Statements To Federally Insured Bank
WASHINGTON – A Sherman, Texas, businessman was sentenced today to three years in prison for each of two counts of submitting a false statement to a federally insured financial institution, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich announced. The prison terms will run concurrently. (Read more)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Florida Physician Sentenced To More Than 33 Years In Prison For Child Pornography Receipt And Possession
WASHINGTON – A Florida physician was sentenced today to 405 months in prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida A. Brian Albritton. Dr. Richard Carino, who was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, was found guilty on July 10, 2008. (Read more)
Indictment Charges Contractor, Two Union Officials With Illegal Payment Conspiracy
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury has charged Nicholas Manocchio, an employee of the Laborers
International Union of North America (LIUNA), Harold Tillinghast, a former LIUNA employee, and Gerald Diodati, a construction contractor, with conspiring to make and receive unlawful payments from employers to labor union officials.
(Read more)
Attorney Sentenced For Receiving Child Pornography
WASHINGTON – A Maryland resident, who previously worked as an attorney in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today for one count of receiving child pornography, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Friday, November 21, 2008
Korean Businessman Detained In Bribery Conspiracy Involving $206 Million Contract
WASHINGTON – A South Korean businessman was ordered detained today for his alleged role in a bribery conspiracy for a $206 million telecommunications contract involving employees of the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Aibel Group Ltd. Pleads Guilty To Foreign Bribery And Agrees To Pay $4.2 Million In Criminal Fines
WASHINGTON – Aibel Group Ltd. (Aibel Group), a United Kingdom corporation, today pleaded guilty to violating the antibribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew W. Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Miami Physicians Sentenced To Prison For Their Roles In A $6.8 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON – Miami physicians Carlos Contreras, 61, and Ramon Pichardo, 58, were sentenced today to 37 months and 48 months in prison, respectively, for defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $6.8 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. (Read more)
Former Congressional Legislative Assistant Pleads Guilty To Failing To Report Thousands Of Dollars In Illegal Gifts From Lobbyists
WASHINGTON – Trevor L. Blackann, 34, a former legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate, pleaded guilty today to making a false statement on his 2003 tax returns by failing to report as income thousands of dollars in illegal gifts that he received from lobbyists, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced.(Read more)
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Civilian Contractor Charged With Second Degree Murder
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Don Michael Ayala, a civilian contractor stationed in Afghanistan, has been charged with second degree murder in the death of Abdul Salam while on patrol in Chehel Gazi, Afghanistan, on Nov. 4, 2008, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana J. Boente. (Read more)
Ms-13 Member Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Involvement In Rico Conspiracy
WASHINGTON – A member of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison and five years of supervised release for his participation in a racketeering enterprise, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Edward M. Yarbrough of the Middle District of Tennessee announced. (Read more)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Miami Hiv Clinic Administrator And Two Miami Residents Sentenced For Their Roles In A $14 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
WASHINGTON – Miami residents Dilcia Marinez, Juan Carlos Castaneda and Luis Frias each were sentenced to prison today for their roles in defrauding the Medicare program and laundering the illegal proceeds in connection with a $14 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. (Read more)
Monday, November 17, 2008
Virginia Physicist Pleads Guilty To Illegally Exporting Space Launch Data To China And Offering Bribes To Chinese Officials
WASHINGTON – A physicist in Newport News, Va., has pleaded guilty today to charges that he illegally exported space launch technical data and defense services to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and offered bribes to Chinese government officials. (Read more)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Ms-13 Member Convicted Of Racketeering Conspiracy, Armed Robbery And Firearm Violation
Greenbelt, Maryland – A jury convicted Victor Ramirez, age 30, a native of El Salvador residing in Hyattsville, Maryland, today on charges of Racketeering Conspiracy, Armed Robbery And Firearm Violation. (Read more)
Former Dod Official Sentenced For Making A False Statement
WASHINGTON – A former employee of the Defense Logistics Agency, an agency within the Department of Defense (DoD), was sentenced today to two years of probation for committing one count of making a false statement, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Former Department Of Interior Official Sentenced For Criminal Conflict Of Interest
WASHINGTON – The former Special Assistant to the Associate Director of Minerals Revenue Management, Minerals Management Service, at the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) was sentenced today for a felony violation of the criminal conflict of interest law, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich announced. (Read more)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Two Men Plead Guilty On International Sex Tourism Charges
WASHINGTON – Two men pleaded guilty today to traveling and conspiring to travel, in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with children, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Deborah J. Rhodes announced. (Read more)
District Of Columbia Man Sentenced On Child Pornography Charges
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia resident was sentenced today to 27 months in prison as a result of his plea to one count of possessing child pornography, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Miami Clinic Owner Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For $10.9 Million Medicare Fraud
WASHINGTON – Miami clinic owner Nayda Freire, 61, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for defrauding the Medicare program in connection with a $10.9 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. (Read more)
Former Alaska Businessman Sentenced On Public Corruption Charges
WASHINGTON – A former Alaska business owner was sentenced today to six months in prison on public corruption charges, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced.(Read more)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Ms-13 Member Sentenced To Over 12 Years In Racketeering Conspiracy
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Juan Jiminez-Hernandez, also known as Sniroon, age 23, of Beltsville, Maryland, today to 150 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to conduct and participate in racketeering enterprise activities of MS-13. (Read more)
Member Of Ms-13 Sentenced To Life In Prison For Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder Conspiracy And Murder
Greenbelt, Maryland - U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Israel Ernesto Palacios, also known as Homie, age 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland, today to life in prison, after he was convicted by a federal jury on August 8, 2008 for Racketeering Conspiracy, Murder Conspiracy And Murder. (Read more)
Ms-13 Leader Sentenced To Life In Prison On Firearm Charge
WASHINGTON - A leader of the gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced today to life in prison for using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and to a 20-year term, to be served consecutively, for his participation in a racketeering enterprise. (Read more)
Ms-13 Leader Sentenced To Life In Prison On Firearm Charge
WASHINGTON - A leader of the gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced today to life in prison for using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, and to a 20-year term, to be served consecutively, for his participation in a racketeering enterprise. (Read more)
Friday, November 07, 2008
U.S. Army Colonel And Lt. Colonel Convicted Of Conspiracy For Role In Fraud Scheme In Al-Hillah, Iraq
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Trenton, N.J., today convicted U.S. Army Col. Curtis G. Whiteford and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Michael B. Wheeler of conspiracy to commit bribery and interstate transportation of stolen property, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division announced. (Read more)
Nashville Man Sentenced To 16 Years For Child Pornography Offenses Involving Commercial Web Sites
WASHINGTON – Timothy Ryan Richards, 27, of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of 11 child pornography-related offenses centered around his operation of commercial child pornography Web sites. (Read more)
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Oklahoma Businessman Found Guilty Of Child Pornography Charges
WASHINGTON – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday against a Tulsa, Okla., businessman for receiving images of child pornography on his home computer, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma David E. O’Meilia announced today. (Read more)
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Miami Physician Sentenced To 84 Months In Prison For $26.2 Million Medicare Fraud
WASHINGTON – Miami physician Ronald Harris, 58, was sentenced today to 84 months in prison and medical clinic administrator Mariela Rodriguez, 40, was sentenced today to 70 months in prison, for defrauding the Medicare program in connection with large scale HIV infusion fraud schemes. (Read more)