U.S. Department
of Justice
United States v. Dino Nastasi et al. - Updates
Pending Criminal Division Cases
United States v. Dino Nastasi et al.
Court Docket Numbers: 3:15-cr-00213 (W.D. North Carolina)
United States v. Jonathan Fernandez et al.
Court Docket Numbers: 3:15-cr-00212 (W.D. North Carolina)
Case Updates
Court Assigned: This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr., Courtroom 1, United States Courthouse, 401 W. Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. Unless noted in an update below, all court events will take place at this location.
UPDATE – January 26, 2021: Defendant Michael Saxon has applied to transfer to Canada, the country of which the inmate is a national (here-in-after referred to as “home country”) to serve the balance of his sentence in the above captioned case.
Pursuant to international treaties, the United States has prisoner transfer relationships with many countries. These treaties permit foreign nationals incarcerated in the prisons of a treaty partner to apply to transfer and serve the balance of their sentence in their home country. Although a prisoner has the right to apply for transfer, the inmate does not have a right to have the transfer approved. Transfer will not occur unless the United States, the home country, and the inmate all consent to the transfer. Once physical transfer occurs, the home country becomes solely responsible for administering the sentence according to the laws and procedures applicable in its country.
The Bureau of Prisons will provide you with a notification if this inmate is physically transferred to his home country. However, if in addition to receiving that notice, you wish to:
- provide comments about this transfer request to the Department of Justice; or
- be notified if both countries approve the transfer of this inmate,
Please provide this information, in writing, no later than 30 days from the date of this notice to the United States Department of Justice. Your written submission should be sent to:
United States Department of Justice
Criminal Division
Office of International Affairs
IPTU Victim Contact Official
10th Floor, 1301 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
or via email to: IPTU.Victim.Contact.Official@usdoj.gov.
All comments and/or requests for notification should be separately and clearly identified by the applicable Roman numerals and topics as described above (e.g., “I. Comments”; and “II. Request for Notification of Final Disposition”). It is also critical that you include the inmate’s full name and Register Number (34627-058). Additionally, the IPTU Victim Contact Official will not be using VNS to reply to you during the pendency of this process. Therefore, you must inform them whether you prefer to be notified by letter or email, and provide them with your contact address. Unless you inform the IPTU Victim Contact Official that you want to be notified as indicated above, this will be your final notification about this transfer application prior to any actual transfer of the prisoner.
November 2, 2020: The sentencing outcomes for defendants Sabrina Mommers, Thomas Sniffen, Michael Saxon, Gavin Jordan and Donald Dodt (United States v. Nastasi et al.) are as follows:
On January 31, 2020, defendant Gavin Jordan was sentenced to 4 years imprisonment, followed by 2 years supervised release.
On January 31, 2020, defendant Sabrina Mommers was sentenced to 4 years, 1 month imprisonment, followed by 2 years supervised release.
On February 5, 2020, defendant Donald Dodt was sentenced to 7 years, 6 months imprisonment, followed by 1 year supervised release. In addition, restitution was ordered to be paid joint and severally in the amount of $7,000,000.
On February 10, 2020, defendant Thomas Sniffen was sentenced to 9 years, 6 months imprisonment, followed by 2 years supervised release.
On February 10, 2020, defendant Michael Saxon was sentenced to 6 years, 3 months imprisonment, followed by 1 year supervised release. In addition, restitution was ordered to be paid joint and severally in the amount of $2,537,893.01.
Defendants Jordan, Mommers, and Sniffen were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,236,857.65.
Defendants Jonathan Fernandez, Chris Artavia-Masis, Steven Vargas and Carlos Ferrat-Gutierrez (United States v. Fernandez et al.) are currently fugitives.
Victim Impact Statement: If you would like to submit a Victim Impact Statement, you may do so by mailing the Victim Impact Statement below (or a letter to Judge Cogburn) to: Victim Witness Unit, U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, 10th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Bond Building, Room 4416, Washington, DC 20530. You also may submit the Victim Impact Statement via email at Victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov or by fax at: (202) 514-3708.
August 26, 2019: On August 20, 2019, defendants Dino Nastasi, Stephen Finck, David Fairchild, and Carlin Woods were sentenced as set forth below:
Defendant Nastasi was sentenced to 102 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
Defendant Finck was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
Defendant Fairchild was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
Defendant Woods was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
Defendants Nastasi, Finck, and Fairchild were all ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,236,857.65. The restitution amount for defendant Woods is to be determined at a later date by the court.
May 31, 2019: On April 5, 2019, defendant Thomas Sniffen pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, 2 counts of Mail fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud, and 15 counts of money laundering.
On May 2, 2019, defendant Gavin Jordan pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, 1 count of wire fraud, and 1 count of money laundering.
On May 16, 2019, defendant Michael Saxon pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, 1 count of wire fraud, and 1 count of money laundering.
On May 17, 2019, defendant Sabrina Mommers pleaded guilty to 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, 1 count of wire fraud, and 1 count of money laundering.
On May 28, 2019, following a 5 day trial, defendant Donald Dodt was found guilty of 1 count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, 2 counts of mail fraud, 8 counts of wire fraud, 1 count of conspiracy to commit international money laundering and 10 counts of international money laundering.
Any remaining counts will be disposed of at the time of sentencing. As a result of these guilty pleas, there will be no trial involving these defendants.
The trial previously scheduled for defendants Sabrina Mommers, Thomas Sniffen, Michael Saxon, Gavin Jordan, and Donald Dodt for March 18, 2019, at 9:30 AM, has been rescheduledfor May 20, 2019, at 9:30 AM.
In addition, on March 2, 2019, the court scheduled a sentencing hearing for defendant Carlin Woods, for March 11, 2019. However, on March 5, 2019, the court continued the sentencingto a date to be determined.
On November 8, 2018, defendant Dino Nastasi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In addition, on December 19, 2018, defendant Stephen Finck pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In addition, on January 25, 2019, defendant David Fairchild pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
As a result of the guilty pleas, the trial date previously scheduled for January 22, 2019, for defendants Nastasi, Finck, and Fairchild is cancelled.
No sentencing date has been set. Lastly, the trial previously scheduled for defendants David Fairchild, Thomas Sniffen, Gavin Jordan, Donald Dodt, and Sabrina Mommers on January 22, 2019, at 9:30 AM, has been rescheduled for March 18, 2019, at 9:30 AM.
The trial previously scheduled for defendants Dino Nastasi, David Fairchild, Stephen Eric Finck, Thomas Sniffen, Gavin Jordan, Donald Dodt, and Sabrina Mommers on November 19, 2018, at 9:30 AM has been rescheduled for January 22, 2019, at 9:30 AM.
The trial previously scheduled for Sabrina Mommers on July 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM has been rescheduled for September 17, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
On June 21, 2018, Sabrina Mommers made her initial appearance. In addition, on June 26, 2018 the defendant was detained pending trial.
Yampier Duarte-Laitano has applied for an international prisoner transfer to complete the remainder of his 51 month sentence in his home country of Costa Rica. He has already completed 42% of his sentence. Victims who were affected by the defendant who wish to comment on the transfer may do so by writing to IPTU.Victim.Contact.Official@usdoj.gov. Comments must be received by July 26, 2018.
For further information on the international prisoner transfer system you can review: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-oeo/international-prisoner-transfer-program
The trial previously scheduled for defendants Dino Nastasi, David Fairchild, Stephen Eric Finck, Thomas Sniffen, Gavin Jordan, and Donald Dodt on July 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM has been rescheduled for September 17, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
On May 22, 2018, Stephen Eric Finck was arraigned and detained pending trial. He made his initial appearance on May 18, 2018.
A trial for Finck is scheduled for July 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
In addition, on May 22, 2018, Brigitte Ferrat was sentenced to 39 months of incarceration and was ordered to pay $851,520.67 in restitution, joint and several with her co-conspirators. She will be deported upon release from prison.
It is important for you to know that just because the Court ordered the defendant to make restitution in this case does not mean that the defendant is financially capable of making restitution at this time. In the event that sufficient restitution payments are received from the defendant, the funds will be distributed by the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
The sentencing hearing previously scheduled for Brigitte Ferrat on May 16, 2018, at 9:00 AM has been rescheduled for May 22, 2018, at 12:30 PM.
If you are a victim of the defendant’s crime, it is your right to be heard at sentencing. If you wish to speak at sentencing, please contact our office at (888) 549-3945 or email us at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov.
A sentencing hearing for Brigitte Ferrat is scheduled for May 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
The trial previously scheduled for defendants Dino Nastasi, David Fairchild, Thomas Sniffen, Gavin Jordan, and Donald Dodt on May 21, 2018, at 9:30 AM has been rescheduled for July 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
On March 28, 2018, Kristian Francis Sierp was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months of incarceration, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In addition, Sierp was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $9,910,099.48.
It is important for you to know that just because the Court ordered the defendant to make restitution in this case does not mean that the defendant is financially capable of making restitution at this time. In the event that sufficient restitution payments are received from the defendant, the funds will be distributed by the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
A trial for Gavin Jordan has been rescheduled for May 21, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
The sentencing hearing for Kristian Francis Sierp is scheduled for March 28, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
In addition, on March 8, 2018, Gavin Jordan had his initial appearance, arraignment, and detention hearing before Judge David Cayer. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges – one charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 14 counts of money laundering. Jordan was detained pending trial.
The trial previously scheduled for defendants Dino Nastasi, David Fairchild, Thomas Sniffen, and Donald Dodt on March 18, 2018, at 9:30 AM has been rescheduled for May 21, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
In addition, on January 19, 2018, Yampier Laitano was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,181,643.53.
It is important for you to know that just because the Court ordered the defendant to make restitution in this case does not mean that the defendant is financially capable of making restitution at this time. In the event that sufficient restitution payments are received from the defendant, the funds will be distributed by the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
On December 15, 2017, Dino Nastasi made his initial appearance in Court before Judge David Keesler. Nastasi was detained pending his detention hearing.
On December 20, 2017, Nastasi was arraigned and had a detention hearing. At the hearing, he pleaded not guilty and was detained pending trial.
The trial previously scheduled for defendants Dino Nastasi, David Fairchild, Thomas Sniffen, and Donald Dodt on January 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM has been rescheduled for March 19, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
On November 21, 2017, Yampier Laitano was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months of incarceration. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
The sentencing previously scheduled for Carlin Woods on November 27, 2017, at 3:30 PM has been rescheduled by the Court. No sentencing date has been set.
The trial for defendants Donald Dodt, Thomas Sniffen, and David Fairchild, previously scheduled for November 20, 2017, at 9:30 AM, has been rescheduled for January 16, 2018, at 9:30 AM.
The sentencing hearing for Yampier Laitano has been set for November 21, 2017, at 2:00 PM.
The sentencing hearing for Carlin Woods has been set for November 27, 2017, at 3:30 PM.
Laitano pleaded guilty on May 10, 2017, and Woods pleaded guilty to on May 15, 2017. Both defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of wire fraud.
Donald Dodt made his initial appearance in Court on October 6, 2017, at 10:20 AM before Judge David Cayer.
An arraignment and bail/detention hearing was scheduled for Donald Dodt on October 12, 2017, at 10:20 AM before Judge Cayer. Dodt pleaded not guilty and waived a detention hearing. He remains detained.
A trial for defendant Dodt is scheduled for November 20, 2017 at 9:30 AM.
On October 11, 2017, Brigitte Ferrat pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Any remaining counts will be disposed of at the time of sentencing. As a result of the guilty plea, there will be no trial involving this defendant.
The trial for Brigitte Ferrat, Thomas Sniffen, and David Fairchild, previously scheduled for September 18, 2017, has been rescheduled for November 20, 2017, at 9:30 AM.
The trial for Brigitte Ferrat, previously scheduled for July 17, 2017, has been rescheduled for September 18, 2017, at 9:30 AM.
Defendants Thomas Sniffen and David Fairchild are also scheduled for trial on September 18, 2017, at 9:30 AM. Sniffen and Fairchild were both detained pending trial.
On July 3, 2017, defendants David Fairchild and Thomas Sniffen made their initial appearances in Court before Judge David Keesler. The purpose of these hearings is to advise the defendants of the nature of the criminal charges and to determine if they have any attorney to represent them.
An arraignment and detention hearing for David Fairchild is scheduled for July 7, 2017, at 10:30 AM.
An arraignment and detention hearing for Thomas Sniffen is scheduled for July 7, 2017, at 10:45 AM.
The arraignment and detention hearing for both defendants listed above will be held in Magistrate Courtroom 1-3, 401 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202, before Judge David Keesler.
On May 22, 2017, Barry Harmelin was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months of incarceration, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Harmelin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,000,000.00.
It is important for you to know that just because the Court ordered the defendant to make restitution in this case does not mean that the defendant is financially capable of making restitution at this time. In the event that sufficient restitution payments are received from the defendant, the funds will be distributed by the Clerk of the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
On May 15, 2017, Carlin Woods pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of wire fraud. As a result of the plea, Woods’s trial date on July 17, 2017 has been cancelled.
On May 10, 2017, Yampier Duarte Laitano pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. As a result of the plea, Laitano’s trial date on May 15 has been cancelled.
A plea hearing for Carlin Woods is scheduled for May 15, 2017, at 11:00 AM in Magistrate Courtroom 1-3, 401 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202 before Magistrate Judge David Cayer. The purpose of this hearing is for the defendant to enter a plea of guilty.
A plea hearing for Yampier Duarte Laitano is scheduled for May 10, 2017, at 10:55 AM in Magistrate Courtroom 1-3, 401 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202 before Magistrate Judge David Keesler. The purpose of this hearing is for the defendant to enter a plea of guilty.
The trials for Brigitte Ferrat and Carlin Woods, previously scheduled for May 15, 2017, have been rescheduled for July 17, 2017, at 9:30 AM.
A sentencing hearing for Barry Harmelin is scheduled for May 22, 2017, at 10:00 AM. Harmelin pleaded guilty on November 18, 2016, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The trial for Carlin Woods, previously scheduled for May 1, 2017, at 9:00 AM, has beencancelled. A reset docket call is scheduled for May 1, 2017, at 9:30 AM.
The sentencing for Barry Harmelin, previously scheduled for April 24, 2017, at 9:00 AM, has been cancelled.
A trial for Brigitte Ferrat is scheduled for May 15, 2017, at 9:30 AM before Judge Max Cogburn.
The trial for Yampier Duarte Laitano, previously scheduled for March 6, 2017, at 9:00 AM, has been rescheduled for May 15, 2017, at 9:30 AM.
The trial for Carlin Woods, previously scheduled for March 6, 2017, at 9:00 AM, has been rescheduled for May 1, 2017, at 9:00 AM.
An arraignment for Brigitte Ferrat is scheduled before Judge David Cayer on March 16, 2017, at 10:10 AM in Magistrate Courtroom 1-3, 401 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202.
Brigitte Ferrat is scheduled to make her initial appearance in Court on March 3, 2017, at 10:15 AM before Judge Frank Whitney.
On February 2, 2017, Kristian Sierp pleaded guilty to charges of mail and wire fraud conspiracy, mail fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. Any remaining counts will be disposed of at the time of sentencing. As a result of the guilty plea, there will be no trial involving this defendant.
The sentencing hearing for Barry Harmelin is set for April 24, 2017, 9:00 AM. Harmelin pleaded guilty on November 18, 2016, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The trial for Carlin Woods and Yampier Duarte Laitano is scheduled for March 6, 2017, 9:00 AM. While the trial date is currently scheduled for March 6, 2017, motions to continue are pending and the government anticipates the Court will set a future trial date. The government will provide an updated trial date as soon as it has been set by the Court.
For information about the charges in this case, please click here.
Because of the Court’s schedule, hearing dates could change on very short notice. If you plan on attending, you may want to contact the Victim Assistance Line toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or email us at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov.