Month: April 2022

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Security News: Norfolk Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Distribution Resulting in Death of Chesapeake Woman

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NORFOLK, Va. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Norfolk man to 45 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, acetyl-fentanyl, and heroin in the Hampton Roads region. He was convicted by a jury in May 2021 of all five counts related to the drug conspiracy, including distribution of fentanyl resulting in a young woman’s death.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between early 2017 and May 2020, Daniel Carrington, a.k.a. “Eastside,” a.k.a. “E,” 28, traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, and purchased heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl-fentanyl to resell in Chesapeake and throughout the Hampton Roads region. The drugs distributed by Carrington resulted in the overdose death of a Chesapeake woman, identified in Court documents as D.J., on December 27, 2019. Although Carrington was aware D.J.’s death, he continued to sell fentanyl until his arrest in May 2020.

Evidence presented at trial included a video of the defendant laughing at his “tester” while he was falling out of consciousness and proudly declaring how strong his fentanyl was. Other videos introduced to the jury included large quantities of cash, a firearm, and illegal narcotics. Text messages introduced at trial showed the defendant’s knowledge that he was distributing pure fentanyl and that he knew of its lethal effects. A medical examiner testified that the levels of fentanyl in the victim’s body were five times the minimum level considered to be lethal by forensic pathologists.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Kelvin L. Wright, Chief of the Chesapeake Police Department made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John F. Butler and Joseph E. DePadilla are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-106.

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Security News: Scranton Man Sentenced To 42 Months’ Imprisonment For Committing Aggravated Identity Theft While Serving A Term Of Federal Supervised Release

Source: United States Department of Justice News

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Robert Cagle, age 57, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 4, 2022, to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 1-year term of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, for Aggravated Identity Theft.  Because Cagle engaged in this new criminal conduct while serving a prior term of federal supervised release, Judge Mariani also sentenced Cagle to a consecutive 18 months’ imprisonment for the supervised release violation, resulting in a total, aggregate sentence of 42 months’ imprisonment.    

According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on December 4, 2019, Cagle used the personal identification information of a Florida man to open a line of credit in the victim’s name in an attempt to purchase a cellular phone plan.  Cagle engaged in this conduct while he was serving a term of federal supervised release that had been imposed in connection with similar identity theft and fraud offenses committed by Cagle in 2014. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Philadelphia Division and the Wilkes-Barre Township Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St. John prosecuted the case.

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Security News: Brooklyn Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Defendant Allegedly Targeted Minors via Skype and Convinced Them to Send Him Sexually Explicit Photos and Videos of Themselves

A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Steven Labianca with the sexual exploitation of children.  The charges relate to sexually explicit images and videos of children that the defendant requested and received from minors that he targeted on Skype.  Labianca was arrested this morning and will make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges.

“As alleged, Labianca preyed on minors online, developing a relationship with them first, then exploiting them by enticing the victims to take sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves for the defendant’s own personal gratification,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Today’s arrest underscores the importance of monitoring our children’s Internet activity and teaching them to say ‘no’ to inappropriate requests in the real world and online.  Fighting child exploitation is a priority for the Department of Justice and this Office will continue to make every effort to ensure that those who contribute to the victimization of children will be brought to justice.” 

“The behavior in which we allege Mr. Labianca engaged – soliciting and receiving sexually-explicit images and videos from children as young as 13 – is depraved, and it underscores the dangers children may face online,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.  “The action we’ve taken today will ensure Mr. Labianca faces justice for his crimes, but our investigation continues.  We implore anyone who may have information about this case to call as at 1-800-CALL-FBI or reach us online at tips.fbi.gov.” 

As set forth in court filings, Labianca was using a Skype account with the account name “Original Geek” and an Instagram account with the account name “haulsropefasterr.”  Between April 2017 and February 2021, Labianca allegedly engaged in a series of sexually explicit Skype communications with at least eight underage victims, ages 13 to 17, who lived within the United States and abroad.  Labianca directed the victims to perform sexual acts while participating in the video calls.  Labianca also directed the children to take nude photos and videos of themselves and send them to him.  Several victims did in fact send sexually explicit photos and videos to Labianca.

If convicted of sexual exploitation of a child, Labianca faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.  The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Olatokunbo Olaniyan is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

STEVEN LABIANCA
Age:  49
Midwood, Brooklyn

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-MJ-386

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Security News: Two Individuals Sentenced for Conspiracy and Sale of Fraudulent Identity Documents on the Darknet

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Two New York residents were sentenced for selling and conspiring to transfer false identification documents on the darknet marketplaces AlphaBay Market and Dream Market. According to court documents, from at least from May 2015 until October 2017, defendants Andrea Alessandrini and Evan Hayes sold New York state driver’s licenses, fraudulent identity information for individuals (including fake social security numbers and birthdates), credit card holograms, and ATM skimmers on the darknet, all in exchange for cryptocurrency.

Yesterday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California sentenced Evan Hayes, 28, of Buffalo, New York, to 18 months in prison, and on April 5, 2021, Alessandrini, 34, of Italy, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, for their roles in the charged identity fraud conspiracy. Alessandrini and Hayes pleaded guilty to the offenses on Nov. 16, 2020, and July 12, 2021, respectively.

According to court filings and statements made in connection with the defendants’ guilty pleas, Alessandrini created and operated the vendor account PlasticA on numerous darknet marketplaces, including AlphaBay Market and Dream Market. With his business partner, Hayes, Alessandrini sold over 300 fraudulent New York identity cards, four social security cards, 15 false birth certificates, 28 state identity card holograms, one ATM skimmer, and 410 “farmed” (i.e., stolen or fraudulently produced) identity packages to buyers in the Eastern District of California and elsewhere. Alessandrini operated the primary darknet accounts used to make these sales, while Hayes produced and mailed most of the fraudulent documents sold. On AlphaBay alone, Alessandrini and Hayes conducted between $250,000 and $400,000’s worth of transactions between May 2015 and October 2017.

In connection with the case, the United States seized evidence concerning the wide range of fraudulent identity documents created and sold to buyers throughout the United States, evidence which has been shared with a range of law enforcement agencies for use in additional investigations. Finally, the United States forfeited the proceeds of the offense conduct, which included approximately $134,881 in U.S. currency, 14.78 Bitcoins, 285 ounces of silver, four ounces of gold, and 22 prepaid Visa gift cards.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert for the Eastern District of California made the announcement.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

Senior Counsel Louisa K. Marion of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hemesath for the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case.

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Defense News in Brief: The Department of the Navy and Howard University Host National Discussion on Building Healthy Environments

Source: United States Navy

Leading experts from across the nation will join Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Donald Remy, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lynn Rosenthal, chair of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, and Rosie Hidalgo, senior advisor on gender based violence and special assistant to the President Biden, to discuss how to set institutional climate and culture to reduce the prevalence of sexual assault, sexual harassment and related undesirable behavior.

“Across the Department of Defense, we are working hard to ensure healthy practices in our military workplaces,” said Dr. Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense. “This means promoting inclusive environments across units and offices, while targeting those risk factors and negative cultures that lead to sexual assault, harassment, and other readiness impacting behaviors.”

This event builds upon prior discussions about the need to address these challenges at the first signs of disrespect to ultimately help leaders develop the skills needed to prevent violence and build healthy climates.

“One of my guiding principles for the Department of the Navy is to build a culture of warfighting excellence built on leadership, dignity, and respect,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “That includes preventing and effectively addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment head-on. Events like this are a catalyst for change in institutions that lead to changes in climate and culture. These necessary changes will drive leadership development and enforce standards that ensure the safety of those entrusted to our care—whether in the military or places of higher education.”

Institutional climate plays a role in facilitating and enabling harassment. Research shows that sexual assault and sexual harassment often take place in environments where other unacceptable behaviors are tolerated. The National Discussion will promote prevention efforts aimed at building critical prevention skills, fostering healthy climates and developing and selecting proactive leaders.

“A thriving institution is one that prioritizes diversity, respect and accountability,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The urgency to address sexual assault and sexual harassment is felt by both academia and the military. Together, we can increase innovation, share solutions and engage on a national level to build better leaders.”

These on-going conversations support information exchange on the future of violence prevention, the intersection between diversity, inclusion and innovation, and the critical skills students and service members need to create healthy climates within their institutions.

“Our military and higher education communities have much to learn from one another in preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment,” said Hicks. “Discussions like this benefit all of us.”

This national discussion builds upon the success of both regional and national discussions held over the last four years. For more information, visit https://www.secnav.navy.mil/sapro.