Source: United States Department of Justice News
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man has admitted in federal court to fraudulently filing applications with five states for unemployment benefits provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.
Source: United States Department of Justice News
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A Providence man who admitted to stealing both the identity and U.S. Mail of at least two individuals, including checks that he deposited into his own bank accounts after forging the check endorsement, has been sentenced to two years and one day in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Source: United States Department of Justice News
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Patsy Truglia (54, Parkland) to 15 years in federal prison for his role in two consecutive conspiracies to commit health care fraud and for making a false statement in a matter involving a health care benefit program. As part of his sentence, the Court ordered Truglia to pay $18.3 million to the affected government health programs and an insurance company. The Court also entered a money judgment against Truglia in the amount of $10,117,738 and ordered him to forfeit numerous assets, including $9,308,235.86 seized from various financial accounts, high-end automobiles (Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, and Mercedes), jewelry, and Truglia’s lakefront home, all of which were traceable to the charged criminal conduct. Truglia had pleaded guilty on October 5, 2021.
Source: United States Department of Justice News
MACON, Ga. – A former pastor from Georgia who was conducting missionary work in Uganda when he sexually assaulted a girl under the care of his church has pleaded guilty to his crime in federal court today.
Eric Tuininga, 44, of Milledgeville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell. Upon entry of his guilty plea, Tuininga was taken into custody pending his sentencing. Tuininga faces a maximum 30 years in prison to be followed by a term of supervised release up to life and a maximum $250,000 fine. In addition, Tuininga will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 3, 2022.
Source: United States Department of Justice News
MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident convicted in August 2021 for his role in a substantial methamphetamine trafficking network was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison for his crimes.
Roderick Chester, 34, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 420 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on Thursday, Feb. 2, by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell, after he was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm on Wednesday, Aug. 25, following a three-day trial. Chester was one of a total of 19 defendants indicted after an investigation centered on drug trafficking in and around motels located in the Eisenhower Parkway corridor. All 19 defendants were convicted in federal court.