Month: May 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JARON MCCREE, age 27, a resident of Orleans Parish, was charged on April 29, 2022 in a one-count indictment by a federal grand jury for possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, announced U. S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.

If convicted, MCCREE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee       

U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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.  

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Mike Trummel.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The United States has filed a lawsuit against government contractor Intelligent Fiscal Optimal Solutions LLC (iFOS) and its owner, Tawanda M. Smith, both of Columbia, Maryland, alleging that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false invoices to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in connection with a contract for staff augmentation services awarded by DHS to iFOS.   

According to the United States’ complaint, iFOS and Smith coordinated with then DHS official Kenneth J. Buck, to steer a contract to iFOS. iFOS and Smith planned for Buck to enter into a subcontract with iFOS following his departure from DHS pursuant to which Buck would serve as the Strategic Advisor for the DHS contract, a role that would necessitate him communicating directly with his successor at DHS on behalf of iFOS. iFOS and Smith were allegedly aware of federal conflict-of-interest rules that limited Buck’s ability to communicate directly with DHS officials on behalf of iFOS during a mandatory “cooling off” period that applies to former government officials such as Buck, and they allegedly misled DHS contracting personnel by falsely representing that a different iFOS employee would serve as the Strategic Advisor and concealing their planned involvement of Buck. After the contract was awarded, iFOS and Smith allegedly submitted false invoices to DHS contracting personnel that concealed the extensive work performed by Buck on the contract, which allegedly included improper communications with his DHS successor that violated federal conflict-of-interest laws. The complaint further alleges that iFOS and Smith violated material contract requirements that mandated a background investigation be completed for all iFOS personnel, which Buck never completed. Earlier this month, Buck settled civil claims relating to his alleged role in the scheme.   

“The government’s conflict-of-interest rules protect the integrity of the government’s procurement process,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This lawsuit demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to pursue those who make false statements that undermine the government’s ability to enforce these important safeguards, or who otherwise misrepresent their compliance with critical contractual requirements. 

“The federal procurement system has strict policies to prevent corruption and contract manipulation,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “These ethics and conflict of interest policies must be enforced to ensure that government contract awards are beyond reproach. In partnership with our investigative partners, our office will continue to hold accountable those who weaken the integrity of our procurement system.”

“I appreciate the continued partnership between DHS OIG and the Justice Department, which helps ensure the integrity of DHS programs,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). “This lawsuit should serve as a deterrent to individuals intent on defrauding the government.”  ​

The lawsuit is captioned United States v. Intelligent Fiscal Optimal Solutions LLC, et al., No. 22- CV No. 1:22-cv-01053-JMC (D. Md.), and is being handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. 

DHS OIG is investigating.    

Senior Trial Counsel Alicia J. Bentley of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Marquardt for the District of Maryland are handling the case. 

The claims asserted in the United States’ complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Miami, Florida – Fifty-four-year-old West Palm Beach, Florida resident Salvatore Renaldi has been sentenced in South Florida federal district court to 42 months in federal prison for orchestrating and running two investment fraud schemes that led victims across the country to collectively lose over $3 million.  

Renaldi was the founder and CEO of The Sanctum Group of Companies, Inc., Sanctum Publishing and Marketing, Ltd., and Sanctum Media Group, Inc. (the “Sanctum companies”).  Renaldi and others used the Sanctum companies to solicit funds from victim investors.  To induce people to invest, Renaldi lied to them, promising to use their money to build a profitable business and guaranteeing a solid return on their investment.  In addition, Renaldi failed to tell investors that he had a history of violating federal securities laws and that he used most of their money to pay for his personal expenses, make cash withdrawals, pay prior investors, and pay undisclosed commissions and fees.  From about 2011 to 2015, Renaldi defrauded approximately 14 Sanctum company investors out of almost $1.5 million.

Renaldi also was associated with Magnum Health Management, Magnum Media Management, and Magnum Media Mining (the “Magnum companies”).  Renaldi admitted that he represented himself to the public as the Magnum companies’ CEO, owner and operator.  When soliciting funds for the Magnum companies, Renaldi falsely told investors that he would use their money as working capital and to build diabetes clinics.  Instead, Renaldi used almost all the money for his personal use and benefit.  From about 2017 to 2019, Renaldi defrauded approximately 14 Magnum company investors out of more than $1.6 million. 

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, FBI Miami, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Yisel Valdes.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 20-cr-80045.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Huntington man was sentenced to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance on a residence on Norway Avenue in Huntington as part of a shooting investigation on July 7, 2021. Officers observed a vehicle believed to have been involved in a shooting and subsequently performed a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver was identified as Jabar Markeith Sellers, 32, and a firearm was found in plain view in the driver’s door panel.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Sellers was aware he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of felony convictions in Franklin County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas for aggravated assault in June 2011 and possession of heroin in November 2016.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, and the Huntington Police Department.

United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-120.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Black Hawk, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on May 2, 2022, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Cole Younger, age 33, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Younger was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2021, and pleaded guilty on December 3, 2021. The conviction stems from Younger, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, illegally possessing a loaded SCCY Industries, model CPX-2, 9x19mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol, which were found after Younger came into contact with law enforcement in June 2021 in Rapid City.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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. 

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Younger was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.