Criminal Division Press Releases for October 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Fact Sheet: Protecting Voting Rights And Prosecuting Voter Fraud
WASHINGTON – Among the Department of Justice’s highest priorities are protecting voting rights and combating voter fraud. (Read more)
Former National Century Financial Enterprises Ceo Convicted Of Conspiracy, Fraud And Money Laundering
WASHINGTON – A federal jury today convicted Lance K. Poulsen, former president, owner and chief executive officer of National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering. (Read more)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Roy Belfast Jr. A/K/A Chuckie Taylor Convicted On Torture Charges
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Miami today convicted Roy M. Belfast Jr. of crimes related to the torture of people in Liberia between April 1999 and July 2003, the Department of Justice and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced. (Read more)
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Virgin Islands Government Official Sentenced In $1.4 Million Bribery And Kickback Scheme
WASHINGTON – The former director of permits for the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) was sentenced today to 14 months in prison for his role in a $1.4 million bribery and kickback scheme. (Read more)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty On International Sex Tourism And Child Pornography Charges
WASHINGTON – A Union City, N.J., man pleaded guilty today to a five-count information charging him with three counts of traveling in foreign commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count each of producing and possessing child pornography. (Read more)
Florida Drug Dealer Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison
WASHINGTON – Nelson Castillo, 33, of Tampa, Fla., was sentenced today on drug charges and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton for the Middle District of Florida announced. (Read more)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
29 Individuals Indicted In Racketeering Probe Targeting Ms-13 Gang
WASHINGTON – Twenty-two individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area were indicted on federal racketeering and other charges arising from their participation in La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today. (Read more)
Florida Man Sentenced To 97 Months In Prison On Charge Of Traveling To Sexually Exploit A Minor
WASHINGTON – A Florida resident was sentenced today to 97 months in prison on one count of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. (Read more)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
United States Extradites Accused Serial Killer To Mexico
WASHINGTON – Jose Francisco Granados de la Paz, 30, a Mexican national, was extradited yesterday to Mexico to stand trial in the state of Chihuahua for aggravated homicide involving the June 2001 stabbing death of Mayra Juliana Reyes Solis, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich announced today. (Read more)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ms-13 Member Pleads Guilty To Racketeering Conspiracy
GREENBELT, Maryland - Eris Marchante-Rivas, also known as Strayboy, age 24, of Hyattsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to conduct and participate in racketeering enterprise activities of MS-13 (Read more)
Maryland Man Sentenced On Child Pornography Charges
WASHINGTON – An Upper Marlboro, Md., man was sentenced today to 97 months in prison on one count of receiving child pornography through the Internet, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein for the District of Maryland announced. (Read more)
Friday, October 17, 2008
Jury Convicts Miami Physician And Nurse Of $11 Million Hiv Infusion Medicare Fraud
WASHINGTON - Miami physician Ana Alvarez-Jacinto, 54, and nurse Sandra Mateos, 43, were found guilty by a Miami jury today for their roles in an $11 million HIV/AIDS infusion fraud scheme, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich announced. (Read more)
Leader Of Colombian Drug Cartel Pleads Guilty To Racketeering Charges
WASHINGTON - Luis Hernando Gomez-Bustamante, a/k/a “Rasguno,” one of the leaders of the Norte Valle Colombian Drug Cartel, pleaded guilty today to charges of leading a racketeering enterprise that engaged in murder, narcotics trafficking, money laundering and bribery. (Read more)
Former Swim Coach In Indiana Sentenced In Child Pornography Case
WASHINGTON - Brian D. Hindson, 40, of Carmel, Ind., was sentenced today in Indianapolis to 400 months in prison on 11 counts of production of child pornography, four counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. (Read more)
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Los Angeles Area Health Care Company Owner Pleads Guilty To Medical Identity Theft And Medicare Fraud
WASHINGTON - A La Crescenta man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges of defrauding Medicare by using patients’ Medicare identification numbers without their knowledge. (Read more)
Indiana Man Sentenced For Transporting Child Pornography
WASHINGTON - An Indiana man was sentenced today in Terre Haute, Ind., to 97 months in prison on one count of transporting child pornography. (Read more)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Former Enron Broadband Co-Chief Executive Officer Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud
WASHINGTON - Joseph Hirko, former co-chief executive officer of Enron Broadband Services (EBS), Enron’s failed telecommunications business, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and Assistant Director Kenneth W. Kaiser of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division announced. (Read more)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Ringleader Of International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Sentenced To 40 Years In Prison
PHILADELPHIA - A federal court today sentenced the ringleader of an international drug trafficking conspiracy to 40 years in prison, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Laurie Magid announced. (Read more)
Tennessee Man Indicted For Alleged Hack Of Governor Sarah Palin’s E-Mail Account
WASHINGTON – David C. Kernell, 20, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tenn., for intentionally accessing without authorization the e-mail account of Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney James R. Dedrick for the Eastern District of Tennessee announced today. (Read more)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Former Department Of Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty To Participating In Scheme To Steal $39.6 Million Worth Of Fuel From U.S. Army In Iraq
WASHINGTON – A former Department of Defense (DoD) contractor pleaded guilty today to participating in a scheme to steal fuel worth approximately $39.6 million from the U.S. Army in Iraq, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Chuck Rosenberg. (Read more)
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Indicts Eight Miami-Dade Residents For Aids/Hiv Infusion Fraud
WASHINGTON – Eight Miami-Dade County residents have been charged in a 16-count indictment for their alleged roles in a Medicare fraud scheme involving fake HIV infusion treatments. (Read more)
Loan Broker Charged In $15 Million Scheme To Defraud The Export-Import Bank Of The United States
WASHINGTON – A loan broker from the Philippines has been charged in connection with a $15 million scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (the Ex-Im Bank), Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today. (Read more)
Mexican Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Of Minors And Transportation For The Purpose Of Commercial Sex Acts
WASHINGTON – Jorge Flores-Rojas, 44, an undocumented Mexican national, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Charlotte, N.C., to two counts of sex trafficking of minor females and one count of transporting an adult female for the purpose of commercial sex. (Read more)
Three Ms-13 Members Sentenced For Role In Rico Conspiracy
WASHINGTON – Three members of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, have been sentenced in Nashville, Tenn., for their participation in a racketeering enterprise, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Edward M. Yarbrough announced today. (Read more)
Friday, October 3, 2008
Adult Entertainment Producer Sentenced To 46 Months In Prison On Obscenity Charges
WASHINGTON – Paul F. Little, 50, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison as a result of his conviction on multiple obscenity offenses, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and Chief Postal Inspector Alexander Lazaroff announced. (Read more)
Four Individuals And Contracting Company Charged With Contract Fraud Related To The War In Afghanistan And Rebuilding Efforts
WASHINGTON – Four U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contractors and a subcontracting company have been charged with conspiracy, major fraud and wire fraud arising from their scheme to defraud the United States in connection with the war and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. (Read more)
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Puerto Rico Commonwealth Senator And Political Aide Indicted For Honest Services Fraud, Extortion, Bribery And Money Laundering
WASHINGTON – Jorge De Castro Font, 45, a senator in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, was indicted today by a grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico for engaging in a scheme that deprived the people of Puerto Rico of his honest services, a conspiracy to commit extortion through fear of economic harm and under color of official right, numerous acts of bribery and two money laundering conspiracies. (Read more)
California Woman Sentenced To 37 Months In Prison In Connection With Scheme To Defraud The Export-Import Bank Of The United States
WASHINGTON – A California woman was sentenced today to 37 months in prison in connection with a $15 million scheme to defraud the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor of the District of Columbia announced. (Read more)
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
More Than 900 Defendants Charged With Disaster-Related Fraud By Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force During Three Years In Operation
WASHINGTON – The Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force has brought federal charges against 907 individuals in 43 federal judicial districts across the country since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in southern Louisiana in August 2005. (Read more)
Indiana Man Convicted Of Obscenity Violations By Federal Jury In West Virginia
WASHINGTON – A federal jury in Martinsburg, W.Va., yesterday convicted Loren Jay Adams, 46, of Martinsville, Ind., of six counts of selling and distributing obscene films in West Virginia, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Matthew Friedrich and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Sharon L. Potter announced. (Read more)