Month: March 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ricky L. Romero, 27, of Roswell, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on March 23 where he is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor and receiving child pornography. A federal grand jury indicted Romero on March 16.

According to the indictment and other court records, from March 4 to March 6, 2019, in Chaves County, New Mexico, Romero allegedly coerced a minor to produce child pornography and received videos and images of child pornography on his iPhone. Romero was a New Mexico State Police officer at the time the offenses were committed.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Romero faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

Leonard C Boyle, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an eight-count indictment charging ERASMO ROSARIO-HERNANDEZ, also known as “Wally Rosario,” 38, and WILY ARIAS DE LA CRUZ, 38, both citizens of the Dominican Republic last residing in Hartford, with multiple offenses related to the distribution of fentanyl, heroin and crack cocaine.  Rosario is also charged with a firearm offense stemming from his possession of several assault rifles and other firearms.

As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, a DEA investigation identified Rosario and De La Cruz as members of a drug trafficking organization that has been trafficking in large quantities of fentanyl.  In the early morning of March 11, 2022, investigators, in Hartford, stopped a car in which De La Cruz was a passenger and seized two compressed bricks of fentanyl with a total weight of more than one kilogram.  Later in the morning, a court authorized search of Rosario’s residence on Magnolia Street in Hartford revealed approximately one kilogram of fentanyl, approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills disguised as 30 milligram oxycodone pills, three high-capacity magazine, and a bump stock device for an automatic rifle.  After a narcotics-detection canine alerted to Rosario’s Mercedes that was parked outside of the residence, investigators searched the car and seized approximately 14 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 1,000 bags of prepackaged fentanyl, approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills, approximately 75 grams of heroin, 41 grams of cocaine base, a kilogram press, four assault-style rifles, two handguns, ammunition, multiple false identification cards with Rosario’s photo, and approximately $66,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.

Rosario and De La Cruz have been detained since March 11.

The indictment, which was returned on March 22, charges Rosario and De La Cruz with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.  Each of these offenses carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.  Rosario is also charged with offenses related to the distribution of heroin and cocaine base (“crack”), and with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  The firearm offense carries a mandatory consecutive prison term of at least five years.

“It is alleged that these defendants have been involved in a drug trafficking network that involved a massive amount of fentanyl and the production of thousands of fentanyl pills that could easily be mistaken for legitimate oxycodone pills,” said U.S. Attorney Boyle.  “As fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of overdose deaths in Connecticut and around the country, we are determined to do everything  to stop of the flow of this deadly drug into and around our state.  This case represents one of the largest one-time seizures of fentanyl that we’ve seen in Connecticut, and I thank the DEA and its task force members for their excellent work.  Their efforts in taking these dangerous drugs and guns off the streets have saved lives.”

“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Boyle.  “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in Connecticut and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

U.S. Attorney Boyle stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This investigation is being conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, Windsor Locks and Willimantic Police Departments.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            CONCORD – Robesteur St. Felix, 47, of Manchester, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, between February and July of 2019, the defendant was involved in a scheme to defraud several financial institutions.  The defendants in the scheme applied for and obtained multiple loans to purchase cars purportedly sold by Allied Imports, a Manchester car wholesaler, and Cap’s Auto Sales, a Manchester car retailer.  St. Felix was the CEO of Cap’s Auto Sales.  The sales were fraudulent because the defendants never owned or greatly inflated the value of the cars.  In total, the defendants defrauded the financial institutions of several hundred thousand dollars. 

            St. Felix participated in the scheme by fabricating three purchase contracts which were used to apply for three fraudulent loans.  On August 20, 2020, St. Felix entered into a consent order with the New Hampshire Banking Department in which he admitted to falsifying the purchase contracts for two of the vehicles in question. 

            St. Felix is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29, 2022. 

            A total of six defendants were charged in this case.  Four defendants are awaiting trial and one has not yet been arrested.

            “By submitting false documents to obtain fraudulent loans, the defendant participated in a substantial criminal scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “As this case demonstrates, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit fraud.  By working together, we strive to hold these criminals accountable for their unlawful conduct and seek justice for victims.”

            “The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating complex fraud schemes in New Hampshire.”  stated Timothy Benitez, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s New Hampshire Office. “The success of this investigation is due to the collaboration between the U.S. Secret Service, New Hampshire Banking Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.”

            This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

BOSTON – Six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with a fentanyl trafficking operation that spanned across northern New England.

Randell Starlin Medina Rodriguez, 26, of Andover, Mass.; Williams Colon Sanchez, 26, or Lawrence, Mass.; Douglas Morris, 31, of Bangor, Maine; Robert Rodriguez Jr., 48, of Portland, Maine; and Cortney Moulton, 37, of West Bath, Maine, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue. Germania Amparo, 29, of Andover, Mass., was also charged with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and six counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The defendants were arrested on Feb. 23, 2022.

According to court documents, beginning in mid-2021, the defendants conspired to deliver hundreds of grams of fentanyl throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.  Specifically, Medina Rodriguez, Colon Sanchez and others allegedly served as Massachusetts-based dealers who delivered large quantities of fentanyl to wholesale customers such as Morris, Rodriguez Jr., and Moulton, who in turn would distribute those substances in Maine and/or New Hampshire. It is alleged that from March through July 2021, Amparo regularly delivered distribution-quantities of fentanyl to an undercover officer.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of p-Fluorofentanyl, a fentanyl analogue, provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hassink and Lauren Graber of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

A federal grand jury in Austin, Texas,  yesterday returned a three-count indictment charging Franklin Barrett Sechriest with crimes relating to the intentional fire set at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Austin on Oct. 31, 2021. 

According to a federal criminal complaint previously filed in this case and evidence presented at a detention hearing, on Oct. 31, 2021, at around 9:00 p.m., Sechriest set fire to the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue. He was seen on surveillance video carrying a five-gallon container and toilet paper toward the synagogue’s sanctuary. Moments later, multiple surveillance videos captured the distinct glow of a fire ignition appearing to come from the direction of the sanctuary. A security camera captured Sechriest jogging away from the direction of the fire and towards the open driver’s side door of a vehicle. A concerned citizen reported the fire, and the Austin Fire Department responded quickly to extinguish it. No one was injured, but the fire caused over $200,000 in damage. 

The vehicle seen in the surveillance video was later traced to Sechriest’s residence, in part based on surveillance video from Oct. 28, 2021, showing a similar vehicle parked near the synagogue’s sanctuary with the license plate visible. On Nov. 10, 2021, the FBI searched Sechriest’s residence under authority of a court-ordered search warrant. During the search, agents found items similar to those seen on the Oct. 31 surveillance videos, including similar clothing worn by Sechriest and a receipt for a five-gallon container similar to the one seen on video. Also found were various handwritten journals appearing to be written by Sechriest. The journals contained statements related to the synagogue fire and statements demonstrating hatred of and contempt for persons of the Jewish faith.

The indictment charges Sechriest with one count each of damage to religious property, use of fire to commit a federal crime, and arson. If convicted of all charges, Sechriest faces a minimum of 10 years and maximum of 60 years of imprisonment, a fine of $250,000 or twice the loss suffered by the victim, and restitution for the amount of damage caused. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Sechriest remains in federal custody since his arrest on Nov. 12, 2021.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin of the Western District of Texas and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

The FBI and Austin Fire Department are investigating the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of lawreasonable doubt.