http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ma/ United States Attorney's Office District of Massachusetts Press Releases http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/ThibeaultDanielPR.html BOSTON – A Boston-area mutual fund manager was arrested last night on securities fraud charges in connection with an alleged scheme to use the fund’s money to issue fictitious loans. Daniel Thibeault, 40, of Framingham, was charged in a criminal complaint with a single count of securities fraud. Thibeault was held overnight and had an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/ThibeaultDanielPR.html BOSTON – A Boston-area mutual fund manager was arrested last night on securities fraud charges in connection with an alleged scheme to use the fund’s money to issue fictitious loans. Daniel Thibeault, 40, of Framingham, was charged in a criminal complaint with a single count of securities fraud. Thibeault was held overnight and had an initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/ChensentencingPR.html Boston – Two Chinese nationals, living in Massachusetts, were sentenced today in federal court for importing and reselling counterfeit cases for cell phones. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV, sentenced Zexiong Chen, 28, to 18 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $6,000 and restitution in the amount of $4,820. Haotian Chen, 26, was sentenced to time served which was one day in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $4,000 and restitution in the amount of $4,829. In September 2014, the defendants pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit goods. In February 2014, Zexiong Chen was arrested at JFK International Airport as he prepared to board a plane to China. He has been in custody since then. Haotian Chen was also arrested in February 2014 and was released by the Court on conditions. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/FongeJosephpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Chelsea man pleaded guilty yesterday to submitting fraudulent financial aid applications to support his daughter’s Harvard College tuition. Joseph N. Fonge, 59, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for March 4, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/BitranGabrielPlea2PR.html BOSTON – Two Boston-area hedge fund managers pleaded guilty today to conspiring to mislead investors into investing more than $500 million in their fraudulent hedge fund business. Gabriel Bitran, 69, of Newton, a former professor and associate dean of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Business, and his son Marco Bitran, 39, of Brookline, a Harvard Business School graduate and money manager, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud and obstruction of justice in connection with their hedge fund businesses, GMB Capital Management and GMB Capital Partners. U.S. Senior District Judge Mark L. Wolf deferred a determination as to whether he will accept the plea until the time of sentencing which is scheduled for March 27, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/LardieroEmilypleaPR.html BOSTON – A Revere woman pleaded guilty today to fraudulently receiving over $88,000 in disability payments and rental assistance benefits. Emily Lardiero, 64, pleaded guilty to theft of public money. In November 2014, Lardiero was charged in a felony information. U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for March 11, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/LetellierDillansupersedingindictmentPR.html BOSTON – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment yesterday adding three additional charges against a Saco, Maine man. Dillan Letellier, 30, was charged in a seven-count superseding indictment with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor involving two minor victims, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, three counts of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count of possession of child pornography. In October 2013, Letellier was originally indicted on coercion and travel relating to one minor victim. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/ReyesElmerindictedPR.html BOSTON – Elmer Reyes, 32, of Chelsea, was indicted yesterday on charges that he sexually exploited a child. A federal grand jury handed down a two count indictment charging Reyes with producing a pornographic image of a child and possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that the conduct occurred on October 1, 2014. The charging statutes provide a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the child exploitation charge, and no greater than 10 years in prison on the possession of child pornography charge. The charging statutes also provide a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 on each count. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/ChengSihaiextraditionandinitialPR.html BOSTON – Sihai Cheng, a/k/a Chun Hai Cheng, a/k/a Alex Cheng, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), arrived to face charges for conspiring to export pressure transducers to Iran which can be used in the production process of weapons-grade uranium. In February 2014, Cheng was arrested by British authorities on U.S. charges during a trip to the United Kingdom. He was detained in the United Kingdom pending extradition to the United States. Cheng is charged in a ten-count indictment with Seyed Abolfazl Shahab Jamili, an Iranian national, and two Iranian companies, Nicaro Eng. Co., Ltd. (Nicaro) and Eyvaz Technic Manufacturing Company (Eyvaz). They are accused of conspiring to export, and exporting, highly sensitive U.S. manufactured goods with nuclear applications to Iran. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/PattersonJameschargePR.html BOSTON – A previously convicted federal bank robber, most recently living in Brockton, was charged today with robbing five banks and attempting to rob a sixth. James Patterson, 46, was charged today with five counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery while on supervised release. According to court records, in 2001, Patterson was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston of bank robbery and sentenced to 151 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/GalatisMichaelconvictedPR.html BOSTON – After deliberating for less than four hours, a federal jury convicted the owner of a home nursing agency for fraudulently billing millions of dollars of services to Medicare and then laundering the proceeds. The jury also decided that the defendant’s $750,000 home in Natick is forfeitable because it was purchased with the fraud proceeds. Following a 15-day trial, Michael Galatis, 63, was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, ten counts of health care fraud, and seven counts of money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Feb. 26, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/Jean-JacquesSniderssentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Worcester yesterday for leading a scheme to steal and launder over $100,000 in government funds. Sniders Jean-Jacques, 27, of Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 24 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $110,299 in restitution to the federal government. In July 2014, Jean-Jacques pleaded guilty to theft of government money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/December/NAMSsettlementMAPR.html BOSTON – Regional Home Care, Inc., (d/b/a North Atlantic Medical Services) (NAMS), a durable medical equipment supplier based in Leominster, Mass., has agreed to pay $852,378 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid for respiratory care services provided by unlicensed personnel. NAMS provides equipment and services for the treatment of respiratory ailments, such as oxygen deficiency and sleep apnea. "This respiratory care company flouted important licensure requirements, failed to provide patients the standard of care that they deserve, and fraudulently billed the federal government for improperly rendered services," said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. "With the important assistance of whistleblowers, our health care fraud team seeks to ensure patient safety and protect the public fisc." http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/FurnelliRichardpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Massachusetts businessman pleaded guilty to tax evasion for using nominee entities to hide ownership and control over his businesses and assets from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Larry J. Wszalek for the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz for the District of Massachusetts. According to the indictment, Richard L. Furnelli, a former resident of Holyoke and South Hadley, Mass., evaded payment of his federal income taxes for 2006 through 2009, among other years, and also failed to file his federal individual income tax returns for those years. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/PharmahealthsettlementPR.html BOSTON – The United States Attorney’s Office in Boston reached a civil settlement today with PharmaHealth Specialty Pharmacy in Fairhaven, Mass., in connection with allegations that the company violated federal regulations related to the sale of prescription drugs. The government contended that PharmaHealth violated the Controlled Substances Act by dispensing controlled substances to physicians instead of patients, failing to keep complete and accurate records of controlled substances, and failing to maintain readily retrievable records of controlled substances. PharmaHealth has agreed to pay $20,000 in settlement of these claims. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/AbdollahiShahinsentencingPR.html BOSTON – A California man was sentenced today for remotely hacking into the computerized cash registers of a number of Subway restaurants and fraudulently obtaining more than $40,000 in gift cards. Shahin Abdollahi, aka Sean Holdt, 46, of Lake Elsinore, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to serve 18 months in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $43,712 in restitution to Subway. In May 2014, Abdollahi pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion and wire fraud and one count of wire fraud. Abdollahi’s co-conspirator, Jeffrey Wilkinson, 37, of Rialto, Calif., was sentenced to six months in prison in May 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/ChasseChristophersentencingPR.html BOSTON – A former Foxboro man was sentenced yesterday for mortgage fraud in connection with the purchases of residential properties. Christopher A. Chasse, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release. In August 2014, Chasse pleaded guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/KalinowskiJohnarraignmentPR.html BOSTON – A Bellingham man was arraigned today on federal charges relating to the production of child pornography. John E. Kalinowski, 26, appeared before Chief Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal on a three count federal indictment charging him with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. Kalinowski had been arrested on similar charges on Sept. 8, 2014, following the execution of a search warrant at his Bellingham home. He has been held in federal custody since September 8. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/RiccoPaulpleaPR.html BOSTON – A former inspector for the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Springfield yesterday to making false statements on inspection reports he submitted to federal regulators. Paul Ricco, 54, of Springfield, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of making false statements after being charged in September 2014. U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Feb. 11, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/TeamstersPR.html BOSTON – Two former members of a powerful Boston Teamsters local, including its principal officer and a member who had been convicted of a prior felony, were convicted today by a federal jury of extortion and racketeering, including charges that they extorted local non-profits. John Perry, 62, of Woburn and Joseph "Jo Jo" Burhoe, 46, of Braintree, were convicted on multiple felony counts after a seven week trial. Perry, the former Secretary/Treasurer of Boston Teamster’s Local 82, and Burhoe, a member who acted as Perry’s enforcer, were convicted of extorting non-profits and other non-union businesses in Boston, as well as extorting other union members of their wages and benefits. Among the extortion victims were Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the United States Green Building Council. Since the time of the crimes, Local 82 has been merged with Teamsters Local 25. Those Locals load and unload trucks at major business and entertainment venues in downtown Boston. Judge Denise Jefferson Casper set sentencing for Perry on Feb. 25, 2015 and Feb. 26, 2015 for Burhoe. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/LacoutureDavidpleaPR.html BOSTON – A former East Longmeadow woman was arrested today in Virginia after being charged in U.S. District Court in Springfield with embezzling funds from a retirement community. Alice Lacroix, 53, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud, eight counts of money laundering, and two counts of aiding and abetting the filing of false tax returns. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/HessDamienpleaPR.html BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty today defrauding borrowers who sought loans from Quest Capital Finance. Damien John Hess, 36, of Laguna Niguel, Calif., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and seven counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Feb. 27, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/FordMichaelpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Cambridge man pleaded guilty yesterday to identity fraud related to the theft and sale of a book stolen from Boston’s historic Old South Church. Michael Ford, 66, pleaded guilty to using the identity of another man in August 2008 in connection with the sale of the diary. U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole scheduled sentencing for Feb. 27, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/TexeiraEricpleaPR.html BOSTON – A former Lowell man and convicted felon pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing multiple firearms, including a semi-automatic pistol. Eric Texeira, 34, pleaded guilty yesterday to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Feb. 10, 2015. On May 16, 2014, Texeira, a convicted felon, possessed a Glock semi-automatic pistol and sold multiple other firearms, including two revolvers and a rifle, to another individual for $1,300. Some of the firearms had obliterated serial numbers. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/WilhiteDennisPR.html BOSTON – A Springfield man appeared in federal court this afternoon on a charge of impersonating a Deputy United States Marshal. Dennis Wilhite, 49, was arrested on Nov. 10, 2014, and appeared in U.S. District Court today before Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein. It is alleged in a criminal complaint that Wilhite falsely represented himself as a Deputy United States Marshal in an effort to secure the release of a friend from state custody. In posing as a U.S. Marshal, Wilhite claimed that his friend was working with law enforcement on a sex trafficking investigation involving minors, and should be released from custody to assist in that investigation. Wilhite is also alleged to have posed as a U.S. Marshal in calls made to a victim in a state criminal case filed against Whilhite’s friend. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/BrayRobertchargePR.html BOSTON – A Boston-area real estate developer was arrested today and charged with participating in an insider trading conspiracy for buying – and later selling – shares of Wainwright Bank & Trust Company based on a tip that the company would be acquired. Prior to the acquisition, shares of Wainwright traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market. Robert H. Bray, 77, of Watertown, was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit securities fraud. As set forth in the complaint, Bray worked for, and at one time owned, R&B Construction, a construction and real estate development company. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/GonzalezCarlossentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Revere man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Boston for his role in a stolen identity refund fraud scheme. Carlos Mauricio Gonzalez, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 30 months in prison, and ordered to pay $326,802 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. On Nov. 13, 2013, Fernandez pleaded guilty to a one count of conspiracy to convert public money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/GardnerMarkchargePR.html BOSTON – Mark Gardner, 56, of Abington, was indicted in U.S. District Court in Boston on theft of public money. The indictment alleges that from July 2009 to January 2014, Gardner stole $65,311 in Social Security benefits. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than ten years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, and restitution. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/LacoutureDavidpleaPR.html BOSTON – A former Barnstable man who was residing in Missouri pleaded guilty today to failing to register as a sex offender. David W. Lacouture, 52, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to a one-count Indictment charging him with failing to register as a sex offender. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/BoldenJamelpleaPr.html BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Springfield to illegally possessing a firearm. Jamel Bolden, 21, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a felony. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 28, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/GordonMichaelPR.html BOSTON – Three men were arrested today for conspiracy to distribute and possess more than 1,000 kilos of marijuana. In an indictment unsealed today, Michael Gordon, 45, and Andrean Jaggon, 37, both of Randolph and Dagoberto Olea, 43, of Mendocino County, California, were charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 1000 Kilograms or more of marijuana. Gordon was also charged with two counts of structuring fraudulent transactions. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/WeedRichardchargePR.html BOSTON – A securities attorney based in California was arrested this morning on securities fraud charges arising out of his participation in a scheme to manipulate the stock of a Boston-based company. Richard Weed, 52, was charged with conspiracy, securities fraud and wire fraud based on his involvement in the manipulation of the stock of CitySide Tickets, Inc., a Boston-based ticket reseller. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/Valles-LopezOscarpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Chelsea man pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently accepting over $46,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. Oscar P. Valles-Lopez, a/k/a Oscar Valle, 44, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging him with mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole scheduled sentencing for Feb. 13, 2014. Valles-Lopez is an El Salvadorian national who illegally reentered the United States in July 2003 after previously living in this country from 1996 to 2001. After working for several years under fraudulently obtained immigration papers, he lost his job in 2009. Although Valles-Lopez knew he was not entitled to unemployment insurance benefits without a valid work permit, he paid $400 for a false permit and made three claims for benefits in 2009, 2010, and 2012. Over the course of several years, Valles-Lopez cashed 111 unemployment checks totaling $46,218. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/StokesDarrenpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty yesterday to engaging in a fraud scheme involving the creation of phony invoices for annual dues that purported to come from legitimate business and trade associations. Darren Stokes, 42, pleaded guilty yesterday to eight counts of wire fraud and seven counts of mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Feb. 5, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/November/ElectionDayProgram2014.html BOSTON – United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz announced today that Assistant United States Attorney Robert A. Fisher will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 4, 2014, general elections. AUSA Robert A. Fisher has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Massachusetts, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. U.S. Attorney Ortiz said, "Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process." http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/GerbutavichCharlespleaPR.html BOSTON – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today to stealing more than $160,000 in government benefits. Charles Gerbutavich, 70, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Rya W. Zobel to theft of public money. In October 2014, Gerbutavich was charged in a felony information. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/5thAnniversaryHateCrimesActPR.html BOSTON – The United States Attorney's Office and the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) New England Division hosted an event yesterday commemorating the 5th anniversary of the signing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. On Oct. 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed this landmark legislation which greatly expanded the federal government’s ability to prosecute hate crimes. The law enables the Justice Department to prosecute crimes motivated by race, color, religion and national origin without having to show that the defendant was engaged in a federally protected activity. The Shepard-Byrd Act also empowers the Department of Justice to prosecute assaults committed because of a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, gender or disability as hate crimes. The law also marked the first time that the words, "lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender" appeared in the United States Code. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/EBISettlementPR.html BOSTON – EBI LLC (d/b/a Biomet Spine and Bone Healing Technologies) and Biomet Inc. have paid $6.07 million to resolve allegations that EBI violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to induce use of its bone growth stimulators and billing federal health care programs for refurbished stimulators, the Department of Justice announced today. EBI is a medical device company located in Parsippany, New Jersey, that sells bone growth stimulators, which are used to repair fractures that are slow to heal. It is a subsidiary of Warsaw, Indiana, based Biomet. The United States alleged that, from 2001 to 2008, EBI paid staff at doctors’ offices to induce doctors to order its bone growth stimulators. These payments were allegedly provided pursuant to personal service agreements with staff members. The United States concluded that these payments violated the federal anti-kickback statute and resulted in false billings to various federal health care programs, including Medicare. The settlement also resolves EBI’s disclosure that it received federal reimbursements for bone growth stimulators that had been refurbished. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/SanchezLeonelpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Chelsea man pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to produce fraudulent identification documents. Leonel Sanchez, 52, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce false identification documents and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 20, 2015 at 2:00 pm. From December 2012 through January 2013, Sanchez bribed an employee of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles in connection with a scheme to issue Massachusetts driver’s licenses to individuals who presented fraudulently obtained Puerto Rican identification documents. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/PhilliposRobelconvictedPR.html BOSTON – Following an eight-day trial, the jury convicted a college friend of alleged Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, for making false statements to investigators assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. The jury found Robel Phillipos, 21, of Cambridge, guilty of making false statements during the terrorism investigation of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 20, 2013 and April 25, 2013. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Jan. 29, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/GendronJasonsentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Pittsfield man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for producing material involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Jason Gendron, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 50 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. On July 29, 2014, Gendron pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sexual exploitation of minors by producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/LacroixCameronsentencingPR.html BOSTON – A New Bedford man was sentenced today for hacking into computer networks around the country, including networks belonging to law enforcement agencies and a local college. Cameron Lacroix, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf to four years in prison, and three years of supervised release. In June 2014, Lacroix pleaded guilty to two counts of computer intrusion and access device fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/KnightsCharlessentencingPR.html BOSTON – Charles Knights, 43, of Weymouth, was sentenced today for attempted bank robbery and two counts of bank robbery. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton sentenced Knights to six years in prison and three years of supervised release on each count, all to run concurrently. Knights was on supervised release at the time of his offenses and was previously sentenced to six months’ incarceration on a supervised release violation. On Feb. 25, 2013, Knights attempted to rob the Citizens Bank at 607 Boylston Street in Boston by means of a demand note. Later that day, while law enforcement units were on scene at Citizens Bank, Knights robbed the Sovereign Bank at 279 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston and stole $415 in cash. On March 4, 2013, Knights robbed the TD Bank at 1840 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington and obtained $865. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/GageKeithsentencingPR.html BOSTON – Keith Gage, 43, of Middleboro, was sentenced yesterday for coercing and enticing a minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV sentenced Gage to 13 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Gage is also required to register as a sex offender, and must refrain from contact with his victim during the period of his incarceration and supervised release. In July 2014, Gage pleaded guilty. Gage met the 14-year-old victim on TeenSpot.com, a website designed for young teens but which has been increasingly used by predators to contact young victims. He persuaded her to meet with him and engage in sexual intercourse on multiple occasions. Gage also videotaped his victim performing sexual acts. Gage was apprehended when the victim came forward and reported his criminal acts, at which time an undercover federal agent assumed the victim’s identity online, ultimately leading to Gage’s arrest. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/MashaliFathallaindictmentPR.html BOSTON – A physician specializing in pain management was charged in a superseding indictment today for overbilling the Medicare Program. Fathalla Mashali, 59, of Dover, was charged with 23 counts of heath care fraud in connection with billing the Medicare Program for services that he did not provide to his Medicare patients between October 2010 and March 2013. Mashali will be arraigned on Oct. 29, 2014 in U.S. District Court in Boston. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/SpragueJaredsentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Dalton man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for possessing child pornography. Jared Sprague, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 52 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Sprague pleaded guilty in July 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/ShippsGeorgesentencingPR.html BOSTON – A previously convicted Level II sex offender was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Boston for transportation and possession of child pornography. George Shipps, 32, of Chelsea, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 20 years in prison. In May 2014, Shipps pleaded guilty to transportation and possession of child pornography. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Shipps also pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2014 to one count of aggravated child rape in Middlesex Superior Court and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison, to be served concurrently with the federal sentence. Shipps, a Level II registered sex offender based upon a 2006 state conviction for child pornography and enticement offenses, was on state court probation when he committed the federal offenses. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/SteeleMelpleaPR.html BOSTON – A former Boston Police Officer was charged today in U.S. District Court in Boston with making false statements to the FBI relating to an investigation of the Academy Homes Street Gang (AHSG), a violent narcotics-trafficking gang that operated out of the Academy Homes housing development in Roxbury. Mel Steele, 36, of Boston, was charged in an Information with one count of making false statements to the FBI during the course of a federal investigation. At the time, Steele was an officer with the Boston Police Department. Steele recently resigned from his position. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/MurphyMarysentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Dorchester woman was sentenced today for stealing more than a quarter million dollars in government benefits to which she was not entitled. Mary Murphy, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris to 18 months of home confinement, 10 hours per week of community service, and was ordered to pay $331,630 in restitution and a fine of $40,000. In July 2014, Murphy pleaded guilty to stealing public money in the form of Social Security and Civil Service Retirement annuity payments paid out for the benefit of her mother. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/MacKenzieEdwardpleaPR.html BOSTON – Edward J. MacKenzie, Jr., a self-professed "enforcer" for James "Whitey" Bulger, pleaded guilty today to charges relating to his decade-long scheme to siphon off the considerable financial assets of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem Church. MacKenzie, 56, of Weymouth, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 13 counts, including Rico conspiracy, racketeering, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/DelaCruzRenatosentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Dominican national living in Peabody was sentenced to jail today on charges that he used the identity of another man to obtain unemployment benefits. Renato De La Cruz, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 25 months in prison and ordered to pay $33,164 in restitution to the state and federal governments. In June 2014, De La Cruz was convicted following a three-day jury trial of theft of public money, use of a falsely-obtained social security number, and aggravated identity theft. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/SligarKevinPleaPR.html BOSTON – A Springfield man pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2014 in U.S. District Court in Worcester with conspiring to illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition and with conspiring to distribute cocaine. Kevin Sligar, 30, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with conspiring to possess a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison and with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute cocaine. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/JohnsonEdwardSentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Milton man was sentenced late yesterday in federal court on bank and wire fraud charges in connection with a property flipping program which involved sham purchasers buying multiple properties which were ultimately the subject of foreclosure. Edward Johnson, 53, was sentenced by Judge Denise J. Casper to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $430,110 to the victim lenders. From about May through July 2006, Johnson recruited two financially unqualified individuals to buy multiple properties in Dorchester and Mattapan. To secure their participation in the scheme, Johnson, or others acting with him, promised these individuals that they would have no responsibility for any expenses or payments on the property, would hold title in their name for a few months until the property was improved and then sold, and in exchange, they would receive a payment for each property purchased. Johnson, and others, submitted false mortgage applications on behalf of these individuals that misrepresented their income, employment, prior indebtedness, and intention to reside in the purchased properties. The mortgages were not paid as promised and all of the properties went into foreclosure. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/BokhariSyedPR.html BOSTON - A Middletown, Conn. man appeared today in federal court on charges related to a scheme to defraud the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the State of Connecticut of millions of dollars in tobacco tax revenue. Syed I. Bokhari, 50, was charged in a 32-count Indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, trafficking in contraband smokeless tobacco, money laundering, and violation of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act. Bokhari was the de facto owner of a warehouse in Springfield, Mass., that went by a variety of names, including A-Z Discount Merchandise and Discount Novelties and Merchandise, Inc. He was also the de facto owner of a warehouse in Danbury, Conn. which went by the name of Novelty and Merchandise, LLC. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/SantanaWilsonSentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Lawrence man was sentenced today in connection with the theft of $230,000 in federal tax refund checks. Wilson Santana, 41, was sentenced today to 21 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $237,277.18 to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Santana pleaded guilty in May 2014 to 34 counts of theft of public money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/DaSilvaGeanFabioPleaPR.html BOSTON - An Everett, Mass. man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to bank fraud conspiracy. Gean Fabio DaSilva, 33, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge Rya W. Zobel to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering. It is alleged that the defendant conspired to defraud banks by depositing worthless checks into accounts opened in fictitious names and then withdrawing funds before the banks realized the deposits were worthless. In July 2012 the defendant allegedly used illegally obtained funds to purchase, at least in part, a cashier's check used to buy real estate in Everett. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/ChenoyMichaelSentencingPR.html Boston – The last of eight defendants was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Boston on Friday in connection with an oxycodone trafficking ring that distributed more than 70,000 Oxycodone pills in New England. Michael Chenoy, 29, of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release in connection with his role in supplying Oxycodone from Florida. Chenoy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone in January 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/KimEldoSentencingPR.html BOSTON – Eldo Kim, 21, of Allston has been charged in an Information in U.S. District Court in Boston with e-mailing several bomb threats to offices associated with Harvard University, including the Harvard University Police Department and the Harvard Crimson, the student-run daily newspaper. Kim was previously charged by complaint and has been under pretrial supervision since his arrest. It is alleged that on Dec. 16, 2013, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the Harvard University Police Department, two officials of Harvard University, and the president of the Harvard Crimson, received identical e-mail messages bearing a subject line that read “bombs placed around campus.” The bomb threats specified four buildings on the Harvard campus – the Science Center, Sever Hall, Emerson Hall, and Thayer Hall. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/JacobsStephenpleaPR.html BOSTON – A Lowell chiropractor pleaded guilty today for bribing an IRS auditor. Steven Jacobs, 56, of Lowell, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official. Jacobs paid an IRS auditor $5,000 in cash to favorably end an audit and ignore two deductions Jacobs improperly took on his 2011 and 2012 income tax returns. These deductions were in fact payments Jacobs made to two different women after they accused him of touching them inappropriately during medical treatments during 2011 and 2012. He was arrested on federal charges in February of this year. U.S. District Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/MinasianDavidsentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl. David Minasian, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution to the victim. Minasian will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. In May 2014, Minasian pleaded guilty sex trafficking of a minor. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/AlexandreEdmondindictedPR.html BOSTON – A Haitian national was indicted yesterday for interfering with flight crew members on a flight from Miami to Paris, which caused the flight to be diverted to Boston. Edmond Alexandre, 60, a Haitian national residing in Paris, France, was indicted for interference with flight crew members and attendants. On Aug. 27, 2014, approximately two hours after takeoff, Alexandre allegedly began to argue with other passengers over a reclined seat. A flight crew member intervened. In response, Alexandre chased the crew member down the aisle of the plane and grabbed the crew member’s arm. Federal Air Marshals intervened and subdued Alexandre. The captain of the flight diverted the plane to Boston’s Logan International Airport where Alexandre was arrested. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/GonsalvesBrothersconvictedPR.html BOSTON – After a month-long federal trial, brothers Stanley D. Gonsalves and Joshua M. Gonsalves were convicted on multiple charges arising from a three-year conspiracy involving hundreds of thousands of 30-milligram oxycodone pills which were distributed on Cape Cod and generated over $5 million in proceeds. Stanley Gonsalves, 36, of Sandwich, Mass., was convicted of an oxycodone trafficking conspiracy, a money laundering conspiracy, and 17 substantive money laundering charges. The money laundering charges relate to his purchase of two Mercedes vehicles and property located on Hoover Road in West Yarmouth. He was also convicted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of the oxycodone trafficking conspiracy. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/HenryJanetpleaPR.html BOSTON – A former Springfield charter school principal pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to a federal felony in connection with assisting students to cheat on the MCAS. Janet Henry, 42, pleaded guilty to an Information charging her with committing mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 8, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/DelgadoelalindictmentPR.html BOSTON – Three North Shore men have been indicted for conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Massachusetts. Jorge Delgado, a/k/a Elisaul Martinez Santana, 27, of Peabody, and Juanel Pena, 26, of Salem, were arrested last week, and Thomas Martinez-Ortiz, 21, of Lynn, was arrested today. The men were indicted on conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl, distribution of heroin, and possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine in Salem, Peabody, and elsewhere in Massachusetts from at least March 2013 through September 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/MarvinLubinsentencingPR.html Boston - A former Worcester resident was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Worcester today for leading a scheme to steal and launder over $100,000 in government money. Marvin Lubin, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $110,299 in restitution to the federal government. In April 2014, Lubin pleaded guilty to theft of government money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/KesslerBrendanindictedPR.html Boston – A Plymouth man was indicted yesterday with distribution and possession of child pornography. Brendan R. Kessler, 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with his distribution of child pornography, discovered by undercover agents. According to an affidavit filed in support of a previously issued complaint, on May 16, 2014, law enforcement discovered that Kessler was utilizing a public file sharing program to post what appeared to be child pornography. On Sept. 2, 2014, a search warrant was executed at Kessler’s Plymouth residence and a computer, various digital devices, hard drives, and other media storage devices were seized and determined to contain multiple images and videos of child pornography. Additionally, 14 unsecured firearms (many of them loaded), various caliber ammunition, boxes of fireworks, detonator cords, remote firing switches, and hand written journals were observed. Kessler was arrested following the execution of the search warrant and is currently held in federal custody. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/BoldenJamelchargePR.html BOSTON – A Springfield man was charged yesterday in U.S. District Court in Springfield with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. Jamel Bolden, 21, was charged in an Information with possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/Gonzalez-BuzettaLuissentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Mattapan man was sentenced today for distributing child pornography through the Internet. Luis Miguel Gonzalez-Buzetta, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to nine years in prison and seven years of supervised release. Upon release, Gonzalez-Buzetta must register as a sex offender. In June of 2014, Gonzalez-Buzetta pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/FisetteMarksentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced today for tax crimes involving the filing of tax returns, and concealing income in the name of a deceased relative. Mark R. Fisette, 54, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper to 10 months in prison, one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $125,780 in restitution to the IRS. In June 2014, Fisette pleaded guilty to tax evasion and four counts of filing false tax documents. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/DinunzioLouisPR.html BOSTON – Louis J. Dinunzio, 27, of Medford, Joseph Spagnuolo-Kazonis, 29, of Boston, John Woodman, 42, of Braintree, and Robert Fitzpatrick, 40, of Quincy, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. All four men were arrested today and will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/LightbodyPR.html BOSTON – Three men have been indicted on state and federal charges in connection with their efforts to hide the financial interest of a convicted felon in a parcel of land in Everett from Wynn Resorts, Limited (Wynn Resorts) and from state gaming regulators, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz and Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced today. The men all held a financial interest in FBT Everett Realty LLC (FBT), which held title to a parcel of land Wynn Resorts has proposed to locate a destination resort casino. Charles Lightbody, 54, of Revere, Dustin DeNunzio, 37, of Cambridge, and Anthony Gattineri, 56, of Winchester, were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for their role in concealing from Wynn Resorts and Massachusetts gaming regulators the financial interests of Lightbody, a convicted felon and known New England Family of La Cosa Nostra (NELCN) associate, in the land and to obtain money from Wynn Resorts in exchange for the land. Each is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aiding and abetting. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/HMADirectInsurancepleaPR.html BOSTON – Four men pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with their participation in a fraudulent scheme perpetrated through a Massachusetts health insurance company known as HMA Direct. William O’Brien, of West Barnstable, Mark Celentano, of Ipswich, Francis Gaetani, of Sutton, and Ronald Anger, of Sutton, pleaded guilty before U.S. Senior District Judge Mark L. Wolf. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2015. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/October/StoloffZacharysentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Brighton man was sentenced today for coercing and enticing a minor for the purpose of sexual activity. Zachary Stoloff, 30, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and ordered that he have no contact with the victim during the period of incarceration and supervised release. Stoloff is also required to register as a sex offender. In June 2014, Stoloff pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/GalliWadepleaPR.html BOSTON – A North Adams man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Springfield to possession of material involving the sexual exploitation of a minor. Wade Galli, 47, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni. On May 29, 2013, Galli possessed numerous digital files containing child pornography. Galli told investigators that he also filmed girls aged 13 to 20 at beaches in Pittsfield and Vermont, and he surreptitiously filmed videos at a nude beach in Vermont about a dozen times. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/CrannyeJohnindictmentPR.html BOSTON – A former Belmont resident was arrested today in El Paso, Texas after being charged in U.S. District Court in Boston with defrauding at least 15 investors of more than $6 million. John William Cranney, aka Jack Cranney, 73, was charged in an indictment unsealed today with four counts of wire fraud, 16 counts of mail fraud, and three counts of money laundering. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/CulkinLindaLouisesentencingPR.html Boston – A Quincy woman was sentenced yesterday for sending multiple bomb, anthrax and other death threats through the U.S. mail, e-mail and Twitter. Linda Louise Culkin, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to 51 months in prison, three years of supervised release and ordered to pay over $125,000 in restitution. She was arrested in January 2012 and has been detained since. In November 2013, Culkin pleaded guilty to three counts of sending threats through the U.S. mail, two counts of sending threats over the Internet, five counts of sending threats and false information regarding explosives, and four counts of sending threats about biological agents such as anthrax. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/JetBlueAirportchargingPR.html BOSTON – Five commercial airline employees were charged today after an undercover operation revealed that they used their airport security clearances to secretly smuggle hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash past security checkpoints. According to the charging documents, Rupert Crossley, 26, of Lynn, and Anthony Trotman, 24, of Boston, have agreed to plead guilty to separate informations. Alvin Leacock, 28, of Hollywood, Fla.; Eric Vick, 24, of Mattapan; and Dino Dunkley, 31, of Boston, were indicted by a federal grand jury. Crossley, Leacock, Vick, and Trotman, all JetBlue Airways ground operations crew members, and Dunkley, a Delta Air Lines customer service ramp agent, were each charged with money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the United States, namely, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), by entering Boston’s Logan International Airport with the intent to evade security procedures, and with the intent to commit a felony in a secure airport area. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/MoseleyFrancespleaPR.html BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty today to taking more than $220,000 in Social Security payments to which she was not entitled and failing to pay taxes on that income. Frances Kenney Moseley, 65, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani to theft of public money and tax evasion. In September 2014, Moseley was charged in a felony information. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 22, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/SpringGarycomplaintPR.html Boston – The chairman of Merrimack College’s Civil Engineering Department was arrested today for possession of child pornography. Gary S. Spring, 61, of Danvers, was charged in a criminal complaint with possession of child pornography. Spring was also the administrator of the college’s residential summer camp for middle and high school aged children. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/HansmannJamessentencingPR.html BOSTON – An Agawam tax preparer was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Springfield for embezzling more than $400,000 from a corporate client. James F. Hansmann, 86, of Agawam, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to three years of probation and ordered to pay $408,035 in restitution to his client and $86,692 to the Internal Revenue Service. Hansmann also is permanently enjoined from preparing tax returns. In July 2013, Hansmann pleaded guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/TavarezValentinapleaPR.html BOSTON –A Dorchester woman pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with offering cosmetic buttock and lip injections in exchange for money. Valentina Perez Tavarez, a/k/a Rossi Tavarez, 37, pleaded guilty to receipt in interstate commerce of a misbranded device and the proffered delivery thereof for pay. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Dec. 9, 2014 http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/ColonLuissentencingPR.html BOSTON – A former Springfield man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition. Luis Colon, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to 15 years in prison, and three years of supervised release. In October 2013, Colon was convicted following a four-day jury trial of possessing a firearm and ammunition after being previously convicted of a felony. On Sept. 7, 2010, Colon sold a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with 14 rounds of Remington 9mm ammunition to a man working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/KarlisCraigsentencingPR.html BOSTON – A Hopkinton man, and former owner of Boston Trading and Research, was sentenced this afternoon to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that he and his business partner defrauded more than 700 investors out of more than $30 million. Craig K. Karlis, 54, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to nine years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,378,306 in restitution to the fraud victims as well as $457,438 to the Internal Revenue Service. In March 2014, Karlis pleaded guilty to nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax-related crimes. Karlis’ business partner, Ahmet Devrim Akyil, was also charged, but remains a fugitive and is believed to be in his native Turkey. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/PallazolaMarksentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Level III sex offender was sentenced today for production of child pornography. Mark Pallazola, 38, of Gloucester, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William G. Young to 300 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In May 2014, Pallazola pleaded guilty to production and possession of child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/EMAPR.html Boston, MA - Episcopal Ministries to the Aging, Inc. (EMA), an Eldersburg, Md. based company that operates William Hill Manor, a skilled nursing facility in Easton, Md., has entered into an agreement to pay $1.3 million to resolve allegations that it submitted false claims for rehabilitation therapy purportedly provided by RehabCare Group East, Inc. (RehabCare), a subsidiary of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. "Patients in nursing homes should not be left to wonder whether the therapy they receive is based on their own clinical needs, or is instead tied to the financial targets of the companies providing their care," said Carmen M. Ortiz, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. "This settlement, like others recently announced by this office, makes it clear that when a skilled nursing facility contracts with an outside rehabilitation therapy provider, the facility remains responsible for ensuring that its patients are receiving, and Medicare is paying for, reasonable and necessary care." http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/GlatfelterDianeconvictionPR.html BOSTON - A Billerica woman was convicted following a five-day jury trial on wire fraud charges in connection with a bogus bank guaranty program. Diane Glatfelter, 48, was found guilty by a federal jury of four counts of wire fraud. Glatfelter had been indicted in August 2012. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Dec. 12, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/GrahamDarrellsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Hyde Park man was sentenced today for transporting a woman from Massachusetts to New Jersey, Vermont and Pennsylvania for the purpose of prostituting her. Darrell B. Graham, a/k/a Diamond, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 150 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and $58,403 in restitution. In April 2014, Graham pleaded guilty to transporting a woman to engage in prostitution. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/FeinJonathansentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Longmeadow tax preparer was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for filing false tax returns for customers of his business, JLF Tax Group, Inc. Jonathan Fein, 55, of Longmeadow, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to six months in prison, six months in a community corrections center, and six months in home confinement. The court also ordered Fein to repay $138,474 to the IRS and $29,000 to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Fein is permanently enjoined from preparing tax returns. In December 2012, Fein pleaded guilty to twenty-nine counts of falsely preparing tax returns. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/DiProtoSamuelpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Cromwell, Conn. man pleaded guilty yesterday to child exploitation charges in federal court in Bridgeport. Samuel DiProto, 63, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer to receiving child pornography. DiProto was charged in March 2013. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/TrombleyJosephpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Chicopee man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Springfield to failing to register as a sex offender. Joseph Trombley, 35, had been indicted in September 2013, and peladed guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 17, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/BabiarzJohnMichaelsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Peabody investment advisor was sentenced today for defrauding several Boston-area residents out of their retirement savings. John Michael Babiarz, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to four years in prison, restitution of more than $645,000 to his victims, and forfeiture of his house, an automobile, and a brokerage account. In May 2014, Babiarz pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/DirectorsAwards2014.html BOSTON - Members of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston were recognized today by Attorney General Eric Holder and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 30th annual Director's Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. Assistant United States Attorneys Richard L. Hoffman, Neil J. Gallagher, Jr., Linda M. Ricci, Forensic Auditor Lori Moccaldi, Public Affairs Officer Christina DiIorio-Sterling, and former AUSA Patricia M. Connolly were among the members of the Department of Justice recognized by the Attorney General in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/KeithDavidsentencingPR.html BOSTON - David Keith, 31, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr. to 78 months in prison, and 10 years of supervised release with specific conditions, including that he register as a sex offender. In May 2014, Keith pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and accessing child pornography. In September 2010, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Keith's Haverhill residence. Keith, who was at home at the time, consented to an interview. Among other things, Keith admitted to having child pornography on his computer as well as to sexually assaulting a small child several years earlier. A forensic examination of the two computers seized revealed a total of 1,751 images of child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/KalinowskiJohnComplaintPR.html BOSTON - A Bellingham man was charged today with receipt and possession of child pornography. John E. Kalinowski III, 26, was charged in a complaint with receipt and possession of child pornography. He appeared today in U.S. District Court in Boston for an initial appearance. It is alleged that Kalinowski knowingly received and possessed images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Kalinowski was arrested on Sept. 8, 2014, following the execution of a search warrant at his Bellingham home. As alleged in the criminal complaint affidavit, during the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement agents located and seized numerous digital devices including computers, hard drives, and other media storage devices. It's also alleged that a preliminary review of the digital media revealed numerous images of children being sexually exploited. Additionally, law enforcement officers recovered numerous articles of children's undergarments. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison with a five year mandatory minimum term, and a lifetime of supervised release. The charge of possession provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, and a lifetime of supervised release. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/GeorgiadisEvripidessentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Greek man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Boston today for his role in perpetrating a multi-million dollar scheme which defrauded developers of $7.9 million. Evripides Georgiadis, 49, of Larisa, Greece, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to eight years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $8.4 million in restitution. In May 2014, following a three-week trial, Georgiadis was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/LunnCyrilunsealedindictPR.html Boston - A former Pepperell man was charged with concealing $3 - $4 million in bankruptcy filings. Cyril Gordon Lunn, 66, formerly of Pepperell, Mass., was charged in an indictment with concealing assets from his bankruptcy creditors and making a false statement in one of his bankruptcy schedules. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/ElderJusticePR.html WASHINGTON - Earlier today, Associate Attorney General Tony West, Assistant Attorney General Stuart Delery for the Civil Division and members of the Department's Elder Justice Initiative met with stakeholders in the field of elder abuse and financial exploitation to launch the Elder Justice website in an effort to further prevent and combat elder abuse and financial exploitation. Associate Attorney General West and Assistant Attorney General Delery delivered remarks at the outreach event to federal, state and local law enforcement, as well as to other partners who combat elder abuse. The remarks focused on the significant contributions that the Elder Justice website can make to the field and on the Department's commitment to protecting seniors from abuse and exploitation. The Elder Justice website will serve as a resource for elder abuse prosecutors, researchers and practitioners, and most importantly, for victims of elder abuse and their families. This website will also serve as a forum for law enforcement and elder justice policy communities to share information and enhance public awareness on the subject matter. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/CarnovalePhiliparrestPR.html Boston - An Italian national and illegal alien was arrested on Sept. 2, 2014 for reentering the United States after being removed on three prior occasions to Italy. Philip Mario Carnovale, 62, who most recently resided in Danvers, was charged in a criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a previously removed alien. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/PeaseJamessentencingPR.html Boston - A Ludlow man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Springfield today for child exploitation charges. James Pease, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 15 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In May 2014, Pease pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/LCS-ParkVistasettlementPR.html Boston - Life Care Services LLC (LCS), a Des Moines, Iowa-based manager of skilled nursing facilities, its affiliate, group purchasing organization Care Purchasing Services LLC (CPS), and CoreCare V, LLP, d/b/a ParkVista, a skilled nursing facility in Fullerton, Calif., have entered into agreements to pay a total of $3.75 million to resolve allegations that they submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims for rehabilitation therapy purportedly provided by RehabCare Group East, Inc. (RehabCare), a subsidiary of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. "Patients in skilled nursing facilities and their families should have confidence that the facilities are not allowing therapy companies to manipulate the therapy they provide based on financial motives," said Carmen M. Ortiz, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. "Settlements like this one show that, when a facility contracts with an outside rehabilitation therapy provider, the facility has a continuing responsibility to ensure that the provider is not engaged in conduct that causes the submission of false claims to Medicare." http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/ChenpleaPR.html Boston - Two Chinese citizens, living in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to importing and reselling counterfeit cases for cell phones. Zexiong Chen, 28, and Haotian Chen, 26, who are unrelated, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to trafficking in counterfeit goods. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/September/ChinGlennArrestPR.html BOSTON - A Canton man was arrested today at Boston's Logan International Airport in connection with the U.S. Attorney's Office's and the Justice Department's Civil Division's ongoing criminal investigation of New England Compounding Center (NECC). Glenn Adam Chin, 46, was attempting to board a plane to Hong Kong when he was arrested by federal authorities. He was charged in U.S. District Court with one count of mail fraud. He is scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Judge Boal later today. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/AlexandreEdmundPR.html BOSTON - A passenger on American Airlines (AA) Flight 62 from Miami to Paris last evening, was charged today in federal court with interfering with flight crew members. The flight was diverted to Boston's Logan International Airport where the passenger was arrested. Edmund Alexandre, 60, of Paris, France, was a passenger on AA Flight 62 from Miami to Paris which departed at 7:00 p.m. At approximately 9:10 p.m., Alexandre allegedly began arguing with another passenger and became disruptive. A flight crew member intervened, and asked Alexandre to calm down. Alexandre continued to raise his voice, left his seat and became disruptive to other passengers. As the crew member turned and walked away, Alexandre allegedly began raising his voice again, followed the crew member towards the back of the plane, and grabbed the crew member's arm. It was at that time that federal air marshals identified themselves and subdued and handcuffed Alexandre. Alexandre was taken into custody, and the captain of the flight diverted the flight to Boston's Logan Airport. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/BuffisJosephsupersedingPR.html BOSTON - The former Chief of the Lee Police Department (LPD) was charged today in U.S. District Court in Springfield with wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering. Joseph Buffis, 56, of Pittsfield, Mass., was charged today in a superseding indictment with three counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, and four counts of money laundering. On Aug. 8, 2013, Buffis was charged in an initial indictment with extortion and three counts of money laundering. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/MathesPrumPichandPromketpleaPR.html BOSTON - Four family members who operated a temporary employment agency pleaded guilty yesterday to charges relating to a scheme to hide $25 million in employees' wages from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Margaret Mathes,67, Boseba Prum, 47, Sam Pich, 63, and Thaworn Promket, 52, all of Lowell, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service, mail fraud, and to violating laws against structuring monetary transactions to avoid reporting requirements. Prum also pleaded guilty to 10 counts of filing false employment tax returns, six counts of mail fraud, and two counts of structuring monetary transactions. Pich also pleaded guilty to 17 counts of assisting the filing of false employment tax return, six counts of mail fraud and two counts of structuring monetary transactions. Promket also pleaded guilty to seven counts of filing false employment tax returns, six counts of mail fraud and two counts of structuring monetary transactions. The defendants were indicted in September 2013, and on Nov. 24, 2014 they are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Mark L. Wolf. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/GomezandAndradechargedPR.html BOSTON - Two Cape Cod men with extensive criminal histories were arrested and charged today with conspiring to violate federal drug laws. Duane Gomez, a/k/a "Go-Go" or "G," 39, of Falmouth, and Antone Andrade, a/k/a "Tank," 34, of Bourne, were charged in criminal complaints with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, over 100 grams of heroin. In addition, Andrade is charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/SoaresandSteinindictedPR.html BOSTON - Two men were charged today in federal court in Boston with impersonating federal agents in connection with a scheme to defraud persons trying to obtain legal resident status in the United States. Francisco Soares, 44, of Foxborough and Paul Stein, 58, of Mashpee, were charged with conspiracy to impersonate a federal officer and falsely impersonating a federal agent. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/KadyrbayevDiasPleaPR.html BOSTON - Dias Kadyrbayev, 20, a close friend of alleged Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston, to impeding the bombing investigation. Kadyrbayev pleaded guilty to conspiring to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with the intent to impede the Boston Marathon bombing investigation. The terms of the plea agreement provide that the U.S. Attorney will recommend a sentence of seven years in prison. Kadyrbayev has agreed to be deported from the United States after serving his sentence. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Nov. 18, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/BurtonRobertpleaPR.html BOSTON - The former owner of a Lawrence-based financial services company pleaded guilty today to charges that he defrauded investors, filed false tax returns on behalf of certain clients, and then filed his own false tax returns. Robert Burton, 37, the former Managing Director of Pinnacle Financial Consulting LLC, Pinnacle Strategic Investments LLC, and the Pinnacle Asset and Capital Management Group LLC, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf to securities fraud and tax fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov.13, 2014 at 3:00 pm. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/BergstromGeorgesentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Shrewsbury man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Worcester today for taking $57,948 in Social Security payments to which he was not entitled. George Bergstrom, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $57,948 in restitution to the Social Security Administration, all of which he paid today. In May 2014, Bergstrom pleaded guilty to theft of public money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/StoneEdwardinitialappearancePR.html BOSTON - Edward Stone, 25, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today where he is charged with three bank robberies. The indictment, which was returned July 31, 2014, alleges that during a three-week period in June 2014, Stone robbed two TD Bank branches in Braintree, and one in Hingham. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution in the approximate amount of $18,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/ONeillJohnPatrickPR.html BOSTON - A former executive of Boston-based Eastern Bank Corp. was arrested and charged today with participating in an insider trading conspiracy. It is alleged that John Patrick O'Neill, 64, of Belmont, secretly tipped off a friend about the sale of Wainwright Bank & Trust Company, which was acquired by Eastern Bank in 2010. Prior to the acquisition, shares of Wainwright traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/SantanaLauraIndictmentPR.html BOSTON - A Massachusetts woman has been charged with smuggling cocaine through Logan Airport. On Aug. 14, 2014, Laura Santana, 26, of East Boston, was stopped at Logan International Airport as she returned from the Dominican Republic with two empty purses, one in her suitcase and another in a handbag. It is alleged that each purse was heavier than an empty purse should have been, and the Customs and Border Patrol officer felt something sewn into the lining of the purses. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/ChenZexiongandChenHoationInformationPR.html Boston - Two Chinese citizens, living in Massachusetts, were charged today with importing and reselling counterfeit cases for cell phones. Zexiong Chen, 28, and Haotian Chen, 26, who are unrelated, were charged today with trafficking in counterfeit goods. It is alleged that in February 2013, the defendants incorporated Max Wireless Group, Inc. as a vehicle for importing and reselling cell phone cases, many of which were counterfeit. Through Max Wireless, Zexiong Chen and Haotian Chen allegedly imported counterfeit cell phone cases from China, sold a small percentage of them through their Wakefield store, and sold the vast majority of them to individuals and companies who resold them at retail locations. Many of these retail locations were kiosks in shopping malls, some of which were in Massachusetts. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/LubinEmelinepleaPR.html BOSTON - A former employee of Tufts Health Plan pleaded guilty today to stealing personal identifying information belonging to hundreds of customers. The stolen data included names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, primarily of customers over the age of 65. Emeline Lubin, 27, pleaded guilty to the unlawful disclosure of Social Security numbers. U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr., scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/HathawayRyansentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Rhode Island man was sentenced today for failing to register as a sex offender. Ryan Hathaway, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 24 months in prison and five years of supervised release. In April 2014, Hathaway pleaded guilty to failure to register as a sex offender. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/RaytheonsettlementPR.html BOSTON - Raytheon Company, a Waltham-based defense contractor, has agreed to pay $350,000 to resolve allegations that it charged the Department of Defense for meal expenses that were ineligible for reimbursement. Specifically, the government alleged that, from 2007 to 2009, Raytheon submitted overhead expenses for group meals, business group meals, and group meals at conference events that were ineligible for reimbursement under the Federal Acquisition Regulation. This matter was investigated by Leo Lamont, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, and Michael Conner, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, Hartford Fraud Resident Agency, with the assistance of the Defense Contract Audit Agency's Investigative Support Division and the Defense Contract Management Agency. The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cardello or Ortiz's Civil Division. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/PinnockandPinkneypleaPR.html BOSTON - Two men, one from Boston and one from Baltimore, pleaded guilty today in connection with the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. Mark Pinnock, 23, of Boston, pleaded guilty to recruiting and transporting a minor to engage in prostitution. Martin Pinkney, 23, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sex traffic a minor victim. In March 2014, Pinnock, Pinkney, and their co-defendant, Justin Richardson, were originally charged. Richardson pleaded guilty to a sex trafficking charge yesterday. All three men are scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton in November 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/BitranGabrielPleaPR.html BOSTON - Two Boston-area hedge fund managers were charged today with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud and obstruction of justice. Gabriel Bitran, 69, of Newton, a former professor and associate dean of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ("MIT") Sloan School of Business, and his son Marco Bitran, 39, of Brookline, a Harvard Business School graduate and money manager, were charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, wire fraud and obstruction of justice in connection with their hedge fund businesses, GMB Capital Management and GMB Capital Partners. Both Gabriel and Marco Bitran have agreed to plead guilty to the charge. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/RichardsonPleaPR.html BOSTON - A Baltimore man pleaded guilty today to the sexual trafficking of a 15-year-old girl. Justin Richardson, a/k/a "Jay," a/k/a "Jay Loyal Richardson," 21, pleaded guilty to recruiting and transporting a minor to engage in prostitution. Richardson and his codefendants, Mark Pinnock and Martin Pinkey, were originally charged in March 2014. Richardson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton on November 14, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/KUChiaoPleaPR.html WORCESTER - A Holden woman was convicted of wire fraud today after pleading guilty to charges that she stole close to $1 million from her elderly in-laws. Chiao Fang Ku, 45, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to an Information charging her with wire fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/OHernDanielindictedPR.html BOSTON - A former pediatrician was indicted today with charges relating to child pornography. Daniel J. O'Hern, 64, of Mashpee, was charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. In June 2014, O'Hern was charged by criminal complaint and is currently being held in federal custody. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/IsrebWaelsentencingPR.html BOSTON - Two men pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to defraud the government in connection with the renovation of the John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse in Boston. Wael Isreb, 55, of Wrentham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr., to four years of probation, including 18 months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $164,627 in restitution. In March 2014, Isreb and his co-defendant, Aluisio Dasilva, 67, of Hudson, Mass., each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and false statements. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/EspinalBurgosLeonardosentencingPR2.html BOSTON - An illegal alien was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Worcester in connection with a conspiracy to produce false identification documents. Leonardo Burgos Espinal, 42, most recently residing in Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to time served of 14 months. Burgos Espinal was remanded into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation. In March 2013, Burgos Espinal was charged with bribing an employee of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/ChasseChristopherPleaPR.html BOSTON - Christopher Chasse, formerly of Foxboro, was convicted today in federal court of mortgage fraud in connection with the purchases of residential properties. From June to September of 2006, Chasse fraudulently caused mortgage financing of more than $4 million for the purchase of residential properties in greater Boston. Chasse submitted false loan applications to lenders containing bogus information about his employment, income, assets, closing costs and related matters. The documentary evidence included phony income tax returns and other IRS forms, all to cause lenders to wire loan proceeds to attorneys closing the loans. Chasse also recruited other buyers for fraudulent mortgage loans. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/GeorgeJohnPR.html Boston - A North Dartmouth man was arrested today and charged with conspiring to commit an offense against the United States and embezzlement from an organization that received federal funds. John George, Jr., 68, owned Union Street Bus Company (USBC), a New Bedford-based company that operated public buses. During the same period, George operated John George Farms (JG Farm), a large produce farm based in Dartmouth. From approximately 1994 to 2011, USBC was awarded the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) contract to operate the SRTA public bus system that served a region that included New Bedford, Fall River, and several other neighboring towns. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/August/PelushiGjerjiPR.html BOSTON - A Melrose man was arrested and charged today in federal court with two counts of impersonating a federal agent. Gjerji Pelushi, a/k/a "Gjergi Pelushi," a/k/a "George Pelushi," 28, was charged by criminal complaint and faces the maximum sentence under the statute of three years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/GarnerBryceSentencingPR.html BOSTON - A former substitute teacher and camp counselor was sentenced today for the distribution and possession of child pornography. Bryce Garner, 23, of East Sandwich, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris to seven years in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release. Upon release, Garner must register as a sex offender. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/Valles-LopezOscarPR.html BOSTON - A Chelsea man was charged today with mail fraud for fraudulently accepting over $46,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. Oscar P. Valles-Lopez, a/k/a Oscar Valle, 44, was charged in a criminal complaint with mail fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/GendronJasonPleaPR.html BOSTON - A Pittsfield man pleaded guilty today in federal court to producing and possessing child pornography. Jason Gendron, 34, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of sexual exploitation of minors by producing child pornography and possessing child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/TelexfreeIndictmentPR.html Boston - James M. Merrill and Carlos N. Wanzeler, principals of TelexFree, Incorporated, and related entities, were indicted today for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Merrill, 53, of Ashland, Mass., and Wanzeler, 45, of Northborough, Mass., were charged by a federal grand jury in a nine-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Worcester, Mass. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/ManganelliSentencingPR.html BOSTON - A former Waltham Police Department police officer was sentenced today on child pornography charges. Paul Manganelli, 48, of Waltham, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 60 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Upon release, Manganelli must register as a sex offender. In May 2014, Manganelli pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. Manganelli was a police officer at Waltham Police Department until after his arrest in March 2013. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/MordachChristinePR.html BOSTON - The Director of Financial Aid for Merrimack College was charged yesterday with fraudulently obtaining funding for the North Andover school's students. Christine Mordach, 62, of Methuen, was charged with two counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/MurphyMaryPleaPR2.html BOSTON - A Dorchester woman pleaded guilty today to stealing almost $350,000 in government benefits to which she was not entitled. Mary Murphy, 62, pleaded guilty to theft of public money. In April 2014, Murphy was charged in a felony information. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/TazhayakovAzamatPR.html BOSTON - A federal jury in Boston has convicted a friend of alleged Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, for impeding the bombing investigation. The jury found Azamat Tazhayakov, 20, guilty of conspiring to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with the intent to impede the Boston Marathon bombing investigation. U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for October 16, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/ShahShaileshpleaPR.html BOSTON - The CEO of two publicly-traded companies was convicted today on charges that he paid kickbacks in return for purchases of his companies' stock. Shailesh Shah, 48, of Chino, Calif., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to two counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/FlynnandGrondellsentencingPR.html BOSTON - Two Georgetown men were sentenced today for defrauding the Social Security Administration of $105,158. Charles Flynn, 36, and Steven Grondell, 45, were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr. to three years of probation, including six months of home confinement, 105 hours of community service, and ordered to pay $105,158 in restitution to the Social Security Administration, $40,000 of which was paid today. In December 2013, Flynn and Grondell pleaded guilty to theft of public money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/WilcoxJosephindictedPR.html BOSTON - A Dedham man was indicted today for robbing three Boston area banks. According to the indictment, in January of this year, Joseph Wilcox, 46, robbed three banks, stealing over $8,000. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 15, Wilcox stole $1,318 from the Blue Hills Bank in Brookline; on Jan. 22, he stole $839 from the Eastern Bank in Cambridge; and on Jan. 25, he stole $6,260 from the TD Bank in Brookline. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/CondoJohnsentencing.html Boston - A former Florida resident who defrauded victims across the country, including in Massachusetts, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Boston yesterday for his role in an advance-fee scheme. John Condo, 62 of formerly of Clearwater, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 90 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2014, following his extradition from Italy, Condo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 14 counts of wire fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/MORALESChristopheretalSentPR.html BOSTON - Two men, who pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms on Saratoga Street in Lawrence, were recently sentenced to lengthy prison terms in United States District Court in Boston. Christopher Morales, 29, and Melvin Rivera, 26, pleaded guilty earlier this year to being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On July 15, 2014, U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper sentenced Morales to 180 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. On July 8, 2014, Judge Casper sentenced Rivera to 96 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/DixonGarysentencingPR.html BOSTON - A former Jamaica Plain man was sentenced yesterday for failing to register as a sex offender. Gary Dixon, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 33 months in prison, and five years of supervised release. In February 2014, Dixon pleaded guilty to failing to register as a sex offender. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/SpragueJaredpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Dalton man pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in Springfield to possessing child pornography. Jared Sprague, 25, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to possessing child pornography. Sprague is being held in custody pending sentencing which is scheduled for Oct. 7, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/TokuteksettlementPR.html BOSTON - Tokutek, Inc., a Lexington-based software development company, has agreed to pay $120,000 to resolve allegations that it failed to create and maintain accurate time records reflecting work allegedly performed by its employees related to a National Science Foundation (NSF) award. In January 2011, NSF awarded Tokutek a Small Business Innovation Research grant to support the development and commercialization of Tokutek's software technology for use with large databases. The United States alleged that Tokutek provided NSF with interim and final progress reports to document work pursuant to the award, and these reports caused NSF to release incremental award payments to Tokutek. According to the government's allegations, the progress reports claimed certain labor costs expended in performance of the award that Tokutek could not have substantiated at the time the claims were made, because it failed during that time to maintain complete timekeeping records for its employees. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/DaSilvaAluisiosentencingPR.html Boston - A Hudson man was sentenced today for conspiring to defraud the government in connection with the renovation of the John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse in Boston. Aluisio Dasilva, 67, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O'Toole, Jr., to one year of probation, including six months of home confinement, and ordered to pay $10,800 in restitution. In March 2014, Dasilva and his co-defendant, Wael Isreb, 55, of Wrentham, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and false statements. Isreb is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug.7, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/CoughlinShawnsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A former Plymouth police sergeant was sentenced today for using excessive force on an arrestee and covering up his actions by falsifying police reports related to the incident. Shawn Couglin, 47, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of $7,500. In February 2014, Coughlin was convicted following a jury trial of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law and falsifying a record to impede a federal investigation. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/LeeMarcellusLopesindictedPR.html Boston - A Quincy man was charged today with engaging in a scheme to defraud persons seeking to invest in the foreign currency exchange ("forex") market. Marcellus Lopes Lee, 46, was charged in an indictment unsealed today with 16 counts of wire fraud and six counts of monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/GageKeithpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Middleboro man pleaded guilty today two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. Keith Gage, 43, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Gage admitted that he persuaded a 14-year-old girl he met on the Internet to meet with him in person and engage in sexual intercourse. On more than one occasion, Gage traveled to the girl's town in Massachusetts, and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Thereafter, Gage attempted to arrange another meeting with the minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with her. However, at this point Gage was communicating with an undercover federal agent. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/AmogearPR.html BOSTON - The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed suit today charging five individuals who were previously criminally charged and arrested for attempting to manipulate the securities of Massachusetts-based company, Amogear Inc. The criminal cases charged the following individuals with conspiracy to commit securities fraud: Andrew J. Affa, 30, of Huntington Station, N.Y.; Michael A. Affa, 34, of Toms River, N.J.; Mitchell H. Brown, 48, of Long Branch, N.J.; Christopher R. Putnam, 37, of Charleston, S.C.; and Christopher G. Nix, 34, of Charleston, S.C. Andrew Affa, Michael Affa and Brown were also charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The SEC suit, likewise, charges all five individuals with securities fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/AMSCPR.html BOSTON - Two men were charged today with conspiring to use inside information about business activities of American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) to profit from trading AMSC stock. Eric McPhail, 41, of Waltham and Douglas Parigian, 56, of Lowell, were indicted on charges of conspiracy and securities fraud. Parigian was also charged with making false statements to a federal agent in the course of the investigation. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/Jean-JacquesSniderspleaPR.html Boston - A Florida man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Worcester today to participating in a scheme to steal more than $110,000 from the federal government. Sniders Jean-Jacques, 26, of Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty to theft of public money. In June 2014, Jean-Jacques was charged in a felony information. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 at 2:30 pm. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/BarecichFranksentencigPR.html Boston - A Florida man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Boston today for his role in an advance-fee scheme. Frank Barecich, 35, of Hollywood, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to one year in prison and three years of supervised release. In April 2014, Barecich pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 14 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/KerasiotesJameschargePR.html BOSTON - The former Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation was charged today with filing false tax returns. James J. Kerasiotes, 60, of Wrentham, was charged in an information with filing false personal income tax returns for the years 2010 and 2011. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/July/STOLOFFZacharypleaPR.html BOSTON - A Brighton man pleaded guilty late yesterday in federal court to a charge of coercion and enticement of a minor. Zachary Stoloff, 29, admitted to meeting a 14-year-old victim, on the Internet, whom he persuaded to meet for the purpose of having sex. Stoloff traveled to the minor victim's town in Massachusetts, and drove her to his Brighton residence where he engaged in sexual intercourse with her. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/ZanettiMichaelsentencingPR.html Boston - A Florida man was sentenced today for his role in perpetrating an investment fraud scheme. Michael Zanetti, 36, of Pompano Beach, Fla. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2014, Zanetti pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 14 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/COSTELLOLawrencechargesPR.html BOSTON - A Dedham man previously convicted of armed bank robbery was arrested Friday for allegedly robbing an Attleboro bank in May. Lawrence J. Costello, 54, was charged in U.S. District Court in Boston by criminal complaint for armed bank robbery. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/MillerPatriciaindictedPR.html Boston - A Pennsylvania woman affiliated with a Massachusetts-based broker dealer was indicted today in U.S. District Court in Boston on charges that she orchestrated a multi-million dollar investment fraud scheme. Patricia S. Miller, 67, was charged with five counts of wire fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/GreanyMariesentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Mattapoisett woman was sentenced today to a year in prison for stealing nearly $320,000 from two Middleboro businesses. Marie Greany, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rya W. Zobel to one year and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $74,000 in restitution which is the balance of the stolen funds that Greany has yet to repay. In March 2014, Greany pleaded guilty to wire fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/DelaCruzRenatoconvictedPR.html BOSTON - Former Peabody man found guilty of purchasing false identity documents and receiving unemployment benefits. Following a three-day trial, Renato de la Cruz, 40, was convicted of theft of public money, use of a falsely obtained Social Security Number, and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/OHernDanielPressRelease.html BOSTON - A Mashpee man, who is a semi-retired pediatrician, was arrested this morning, charged with possessing and distributing child pornography. Dr. Daniel J. O'Hern, 64, was charged by complaint of possession of child pornography and distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/FordLucaspleaPR.html BOSTON - An Idaho business executive pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a scheme to steal deposits from individuals seeking financing. Lucas Ford, 37 of Post Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris. Ford is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov.10, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/ChargedPR.html BOSTON - Twenty-two Springfield men were charged today in federal and state court with either distributing a controlled substance or unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. Separate federal indictments alleging the distribution of crack cocaine were returned against Alberto Correa-Martinez, 27, and Stephen Tavernier, 28; Sherad Therrien, 24; David Faust, 26; Richard Freedman, 29; Jayson Green, 35; Aaron Smith, 30; Theo Waldron, 39; Dimitri Major, 36; and one other individual known to law-enforcement. Therrien was also charged for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/McLaughlinMichaelsentencingPR.html BOSTON - The former Executive Director of the Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) was sentenced in federal court today for his role in rigging the inspection process for federally-funded housing units. Michael E. McLaughlin, 68, of Dracut, who is already serving a three-year prison term for falsifying records to conceal his $360,000 salary as Executive Director, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to serve an additional 12 months in prison and pay a $3,000 fine for his conviction for conspiring to defraud the United States and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by impairing, impeding, and defeating the proper operation of HUD's physical condition assessment. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/FisetteMarkpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Malden man pleaded guilty today to a number of tax crimes involving the filing of tax returns which failed to report income he had received in the name of a deceased relative. Mark R. Fisette, 54, pleaded guilty to tax evasion and four counts of filing false tax documents. U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Oct. 2, 2014 at 2:00 pm. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/HamiltonAnthonypleaPR.html BOSTON - A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to armed bank robbery. Anthony Hamilton, 28, pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/PressRelease.html Boston - A federal grand jury indicted four men yesterday on one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and three counts of distribution of heroin. Fernando Lnu, a/k/a Cesar Gonzalez, 43, of the Dominican Republic, Osvaldo Ortiz-Ventara, 23, of Dorchester, and Kevin Sanderson, 28, of Quincy, were indicted today. A fourth indicted defendant, Weslley Hernandez, 25, of Dorchester, remains a fugitive. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/LametalindictedPR.html BOSTON - In a 91-count superseding indictment unsealed yesterday, five Worcester residents were charged with participating in a marijuana trafficking and money laundering scheme. Huy Anh Lam, a/k/a Henry; Nhi Ai Thi Lam, a/k/a Cindy, Cindy Nguyen, and Lien Mach; An Bao Lam, a/k/a Bao; Diemphuc Thi Lam, a/k/a Diem Lam and Deedee; and Dan Pham, all of Worcester, were charged with multiple crimes relating to the scheme, including conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, money laundering conspiracy, structuring conspiracy, structuring transactions to evade reporting requirements, money laundering, unlawful monetary transactions, perjury, and aiding and abetting. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/MillerPatriciachargedPR.html BOSTON - A Pennsylvania woman affiliated with a Massachusetts-based broker dealer was arrested today on charges that she orchestrated a massive Ponzi scheme. Patricia S. Miller, 67, was charged in a complaint with wire fraud and arrested in Pennsylvania today. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/DozierMarksentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Roxbury man was sentenced today for stealing iPhones from the mail and making false statements. Mark Dozier, 58, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf to two years in prison, three years of supervised release and $595 in restitution. In March of this year, he pleaded guilty to theft of mail by an employee of the postal service and making false statements. Dozier has been in custody since his arrest in 2012. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/MonellErnestosentencingPR.html BOSTON - Following his conviction on drug and weapons charges, an armed career criminal affiliated with the Bloods street gang was sentenced today to 22 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV sentenced Ernesto Monell, 35, of Fall River, to 262 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In December 2013, a jury convicted Monell of possessing a firearm and ammunition and possessing crack cocaine with intent to distribute. In 2012, Monell was arrested after officers executed a search warrant at his apartment where they found him barricaded alone holding a pistol. Officers subsequently found ammunition, as well as 37 rocks of crack cocaine, drug scales, and other drug paraphernalia. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/BriandThomassentencingPR.html BOSTON - An East Boston man was sentenced today for robbing three Citizens Bank locations. Thomas Briand, 34, of East Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $7,201 in restitution to the three banks he robbed. In February 2014, Briand pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with robbing three different Citizens Bank branch locations, located in Boston and Cambridge. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/FelizSamuelsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Dominican national living in Medway was sentenced today for fraudulently receiving more than $120,000 in federal housing funds and identity fraud. Samuel Stalin Lebreault Feliz, a/k/a Antonio Jose Rodriguez Rodriguez, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 33 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $121,077 in restitution. In February 2014, Feliz was convicted following a four-day jury trial of two counts of passport fraud, false representations to the Social Security Administration, and theft of public money. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/June/LaCroixPR.html BOSTON - A New Bedford man was charged today with hacking into computer networks around the country - including networks belonging to law enforcement agencies, a local police department and a local college - and obtaining highly sensitive law enforcement data and altering academic records. He also obtained stolen credit, debit and payment card numbers. Cameron Lacroix, 25, was charged with two counts of computer intrusion and one count of access device fraud. Lacroix has agreed to plead guilty. If the plea agreement is accepted by the court, Lacroix will be sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/CrosselyetalPR.html BOSTON - Five commercial airline employees were arrested today and charged after an undercover operation revealed that they used their airport security clearances to secretly smuggle thousands of dollars in cash, past security checkpoints. According to the complaint affidavit, they transported cash, which was represented to be drug proceeds, past Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials and security check points and, in some instances, aboard commercial airline flights at Logan International Airport. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/MatanovKhairullozhonPR.html BOSTON - A Quincy man has been charged with obstructing the investigation of the Boston Marathon bombings. Khairullozhon Matanov, 23, of Quincy, is charged in an indictment that was unsealed today, with one count of destroying, altering, and falsifying records, documents, and tangible objects in a federal investigation, specifically information on his computer, and three counts of making materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements in a federal terrorism investigation. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/RosaGeorgesentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Western Massachusetts businessman, who used more than $2 million of company funds for his own purposes, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield for bank fraud and tax evasion. George J. Rosa, III, 54, of Conway, Mass., the former owner and president of the Hallmark Institute of Photography (HIP) in Greenfield, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to nine months of confinement in a community correctional center, nine months home confinement, 42 months of supervised release, and $3.4 million in restitution. In March 2013, Rosa pleaded guilty to bank fraud and tax evasion. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/ShippsGeorgePleaPR.html BOSTON - George Shipps, 32, of Chelsea, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of transportation and possession of child pornography. Shipps, a Level II registered sexual offender based upon a 2006 state conviction for child pornography and enticement offenses, was on state court probation when he committed the federal offenses. In connection with the plea, Shipps admitted that he was sending and receiving child pornography from his residence in Chelsea at the time that his conduct was discovered as part of an international federal investigation. Among other things, Shipps admitted that he took sexually explicit photographs of three children, ages six, four, and two, on separate occasions. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/AnitaAllenindictedPR.html BOSTON - A Haverhill woman was charged yesterday with using PayPal as part of a scheme to embezzle close to $1 million from her employer, a privately-held information technology staffing company based in Massachusetts. Anita Allen, 34, was indicted on wire fraud charges. Allen was previously arrested on a criminal complaint at the airport in Charleston, S.C., and has remained in custody since that time. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/BergstromGeorgepleaPR.html BOSTON - A Shrewsbury man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Worcester today to taking $57,948 in Social Security payments to which he was not entitled. George Bergstrom, 60, pleaded guilty to theft of public money. Earlier this month, Bergstrom was charged in a felony information. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for August 20, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/MinasianDavidpelaPR.html BOSTON - A Malden man pleaded guilty yesterday to sex trafficking a 15-year-old girl. David Minasian, 25, pleaded guilty to causing a minor to engage in prostitution. In April 2013 he was indicted and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young on October 9, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/NailenDavidsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Cape Cod man was sentenced yesterday for trafficking counterfeit Viagra on Craigslist. David Nailen, 45, of East Falmouth, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 18 months in prison, to be served intermittently, with nine months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons and nine months in home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release. Nailen was also ordered to pay $48,902 in restitution to Pfizer, Inc. and a money judgment of $2,280 to the United States Customs and Border Protection. In February 2014, Nailen pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit drugs. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/KorichLancesentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Westminster man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Worcester for bank fraud. Lance N. Korich, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to one year and one day in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $593,617 in restitution. In December 2013, Korich pleaded guilty to four counts of bank fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/PeaseJamespleaPR.html BOSTON - A Ludlow man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Springfield today to child exploitation charges. James Pease, 35, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. In March 2013, Pease was indicted. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/SantanaWilsonpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today to theft of more than $230,000 in U.S. Treasury tax refunds. Wilson Santana, 40, pleaded guilty to 34 counts of theft of public money. He was indicted in January of 2013 and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole on Sept. 4, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/GemmaconvictPR.html BOSTON - A federal jury today convicted a Boston area man of sex trafficking a 16-year-old girl. Following a five-day trial, Michael Gemma, 30, of Dorchester was convicted of using force, fraud and coercion to cause a minor to engage in prostitution and transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. He was indicted in May 2012. Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/JeffriesetalindictedPR.html BOSTON - Five individuals were charged in an indictment unsealed today for operating a multistate sex trafficking ring centered in Massachusetts and Maine involving minors and adult women. Raymond Jeffries, a/k/a Skame Dollarz, Skame, Frenchy, 26, of Boston and Portland, Maine; Corey Norris, a/k/a Case, 23, of Boston; Jacqueline Lungelow, a/k/a Baby J., 26, of Boston; Kairis Sanchez, a/k/a Lola, 19, of Boston; and John Kanda, a/k/a J., 21, of Portland, Maine, were charged in a 17-count superseding indictment unsealed today involving the trafficking of six victims, three of whom were under the age of 18, for the purposes of prostitution in Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, and California. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/WairiJoshindictedPR.html BOSTON - A Cambridge elementary school teacher was indicted today on multiple counts of child pornography. Josh Wairi, 27, of Somerville, was charged with transportation of child pornography and three counts of production of child pornography. He is currently being held without bail. On April 17, 2014, Wairi was initially charged via criminal complaint. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/McLeallanDavidsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Taunton man was sentenced today for producing and transporting child pornography. David McLellan, 31, of Taunton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel to 17 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release. In February 2014, McLellan pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children and transportation of child pornography. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/GeorgiadisEvripidesconvictedPR.html BOSTON - A Greek man was convicted in U.S. District Court in Boston yesterday for his role in perpetrating a multi-million scheme which defrauded developers of $7.9 million. Following a three-week jury trial, Evripides Georgiadis, 49, of Larisa, Greece, was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was indicted in June of 2011. Sentencing is scheduled for August 18, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/BabiarzJohnpleaPR.html BOSTON - A Peabody investment advisor pleaded guilty today to defrauding several Boston-area residents out of their retirement savings. John Michael Babiarz, 40, of Peabody, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. In December 2013, Babiarz was arrested and charged. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/AbdollahiShahinpleaPR.html WASHINGTON - A California man pleaded guilty today in the District of Massachusetts for his role in a conspiracy to hack into the computerized cash registers of a number of Subway restaurants to fraudulently obtain more than $40,000 in gift cards. Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O'Neil of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz of the District of Massachusetts and Resident Agent in Charge Holly Fraumeni of the U.S. Secret Service in Manchester, New Hampshire, made the announcement. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/JenkinsHerbertindictedPR.html BOSTON - A West Hartford man was charged in U.S. District Court in Worcester yesterday with sending obscene images to a 14-year-old boy over the Internet. Herbert Lawrence Jenkins, 45, was indicted for transferring obscene materials to a minor. An affidavit in support of Jenkins' arrest, previously unsealed, alleges that in July 2013, after chatting with the victim for several months, Jenkins sent four photographs of his genitals to a 14-year-old boy in Bolton, Mass. while graphically describing sexual acts that he wished to perform with the boy. The affidavit further alleges that approximately one week before this occurred Jenkins had traveled from his home in West Hartford to the boy's residence in Bolton. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/ParkerBenjaminsentencingPR.html BOSTON - A former West Harwich man was sentenced today for attempting to recruit two homeless men to burn a West Harwich residence and then attempting to tamper with the witnesses of the criminal case. Benjamin Parker, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O'Toole to six years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March, Parker pleaded guilty to attempted arson, attempted kidnaping, and attempted witness tampering. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/McLaughlinMichaelpleaPR.html BOSTON - The former Executive Director of Chelsea Housing Authority (CHA) pleaded guilty today for rigging the inspection process for federally-funded housing units at the CHA. Michael McLaughlin, 68, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to conspiring to defraud the United States. In October 2013, McLaughlin was indicted along with two co-defendants who are pending trial. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/MerrillJamesPR.html BOSTON - James M. Merrill and Carlos N. Wanzeler, principals of TelexFree, Incorporated and related entities, were charged today in a federal criminal complaint, charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Merrill, 53, of Ashland, Mass. and Wanzeler, 45, of Northborough, Mass., were charged in a one count criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Worcester, Mass. If convicted, each face up to 20 years in prison. Merrill was arrested today by federal authorities and made an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Worcester. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Wanzeler who is a fugitive. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/DOrsainvilleRiccardosentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Holyoke man was sentenced today for embezzling $60,000 from the Boston Veteran's Administration Research Institute (BVARI). Riccardo D'Orsainville, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 21 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $59,979 in restitution. In February 2014, D'Orsainville pleaded guilty to embezzlement and misuse of a passport. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/ShahSandipandShaileshchargedPR.html BOSTON - Two California men were charged yesterday for their involvement in a microcap stock kickback scheme. Sandip Shah, 40, was charged in an indictment with nine counts of wire fraud and Shailesh Shah, 47, was charged in an Information with two counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Both are from Chino, Calif. And were previously arrested on February 27, 2014. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/UrsinyandOConnorindictedPR.html BOSTON - A Florida woman and a man who previously resided in Beverly were charged in an indictment unsealed today in connection with an advance fee scheme involving approximately 100 victims throughout the United States, including many in Massachusetts. Ann Elizabeth Ursiny, a/k/a Ann Stone, 50, and Robert E. O'Connor, 63, were indicted on 19 counts of mail fraud and 17 counts of wire fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/BurgosEspinalLeonardopleaPR.html BOSTON - An illegal alien pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Worcester in connection with a conspiracy to produce false identification documents. Leonardo Burgos Espinal, 42, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Hillman to conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with identification documents. In March 2013, Burgos Espinal was charged by information with bribing an employee of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/WhiteJamessentencingPR.html BOSTON - A former postal worker was sentenced today for stealing more than 200 video games from the mail. James L. White, 68, of Dorchester, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 30 days in prison, three years of supervised release, and $8,000 in restitution to Gamefly. In January, White pleaded guilty to theft of mail. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/MemonNabeelindictedPR.html BOSTON - A former postal worker was sentenced today for stealing more than 200 video games from the mail. James L. White, 68, of Dorchester, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 30 days in prison, three years of supervised release, and $8,000 in restitution to Gamefly. In January, White pleaded guilty to theft of mail. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/April/WilliamsColesentencingPR.html BOSTON - A Maryland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Springfield today for a number of charges related to the altering of U.S. currency in connection with a "black money" scheme. Cole Williams, 32, of Frederick, Md., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to 27 months in prison, $329,000 in restitution to five victims, and forfeiture of $329,000. In November 2013, Williams pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, and possession of altered U.S. currency with intent to defraud involving a fraud scheme in Springfield, Mass. Williams admitted that he perpetrated similar "black money" schemes in Billerica, Leominster, Groton, Conn., and Woonsocket, R.I. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/MemonNabeelindictedPR.html BOSTON - A Quincy man was charged yesterday in connection with a scheme to steal valuable intellectual property from his former employer, Daedalus Software, Inc., of Cambridge. Nabeel Memon, 29, of Quincy, was indicted today on wire fraud. http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/news/2014/May/WeiYufengSentencingPR.html BOSTON - The former manager of a Massachusetts electronics company was re-sentenced yesterday for illegally exporting electronics components to China. Yufeng Wei, a Chinese national residing in Belmont, Mass., was sentenced to 23 months in prison for conspiring, over a 10 year period, to illegally export military and sophisticated electronics used in military phased array radar, electronic warfare, and missile systems to the People's Republic of China (PRC) and illegally exporting sensitive electronic components to the PRC in violation of the Export Administration Regulations. Several Chinese military entities were among those to whom the defendant and her co-conspirators exported the equipment.