Month: May 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

TUCSON, Ariz. – Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned indictments against Bryan Israel Moreno-Aguilar, 23, Alfredo Daniel Mireles, 29, Glen Adam Romero, Jr., 40, and Ana Lizeth Romero, 39, charging them each with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. All four individuals are from Tucson, Arizona.

The indictments allege that from a time unknown and continuing until January 7, 2022, Moreno-Aguilar, Mireles, Glen Romero, and Ana Romero knowingly conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.

The previously filed complaints alleged that the four charged individuals conspired with each other and others to distribute counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl. According to the complaints, the group used Mireles’ residence, the Romeros’ residence, and the Romeros’ recreational vehicle to store counterfeit M30 pills. On October 15, 2021, a vehicle leaving Mireles’ residence was stopped and found to contain approximately 8,000 counterfeit M30 pills that contained fentanyl. On December 11, 2021, the Romeros’ recreational vehicle was at a business in Tucson and the Romeros were seen counting and distributing pills to an individual who was later stopped and found to possess approximately 100 counterfeit M30 pills that contained fentanyl.

A conviction for the crime of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine, or both.

An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The FBI Tucson Resident Agency and the Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. Rossi and Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, are handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBERS:     CR 22-00978-TUC-RCC; CR 22-00979-TUC-RCC; CR 22-00977-TUC-CKJ; CR 22-00975-TUC-JAS

RELEASE NUMBER:    2022- 067_Moreno-Aguilar

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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Derek Morales-Figueroa (26, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Morales-Figueroa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, beginning on September 11, 2020, Morales-Figueroa and a conspirator, Jacob Luis Bonilla-Rivera, engaged in a series of phone calls with individuals who they believed to be cocaine dealers but who were, in fact, undercover agents working on behalf of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). These discussions culminated in an agreement to purchase 20 kilograms of cocaine in Orlando. On September 16, 2020, HSI agents met with Bonilla-Rivera and Juan Omar Rodriguez, Jr. (21, Auburndale) where the conspirators showed to HSI agents the $600,000 in cash that they had brought to the deal in a hidden compartment in one of their vehicles. After doing so, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez proceeded to a location where HSI agents had arranged to show them the 20 kilograms of cocaine. Morales-Figueroa participated in inspecting the cocaine by video conferencing on one of the conspirator’s phones. After inspecting the cocaine, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez returned to their car to retrieve the cash from the hidden compartment, at which time they were arrested. Upon searching their vehicles, HSI agents found that both Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez had loaded firearms in their possession in the vehicles they had driven to the meeting along with a total of $639,325 cash. In his plea agreement, Morales-Figueroa agreed to forfeit the cash seized in connection with this arrest.

On September 17, 2020, Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez were charged for their roles in the conspiracy. Bonilla-Rivera and Rodriguez both pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Morales-Figueroa was not located at the time. On March 10, 2021, Morales-Figueroa was identified during a traffic stop in Flagler County but fled from law enforcement. On January 3, 2022, Morales-Figueroa was arrested in Jacksonville in connection with a search of a residence and seizure of nine kilograms of cocaine. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Seminole County Sherriff’s Office, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Nathanael Santiago (29, Ocala) guilty of possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Santiago faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Santiago had been indicted on July 21, 2021.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office encountered Santiago behind the driver’s seat of an idling vehicle in Marion Oaks. Deputies approached Santiago and saw a marijuana “blunt” in the ashtray, which Santiago admitted to smoking. When Santiago stepped out of the vehicle, deputies discovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol partially concealed under his right leg. Santiago had previously been convicted of three felony offenses and never had his civil rights restored by executive clemency.

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.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William S. Hamilton and Hannah Nowalk.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Four Jamaican nationals who resided in Myrtle Beach have been sentenced for their roles in a bogus lottery scam that targeted elderly victims around the country. Specifically, Fabian Gray, a/k/a “Mike Taylor,” 30, and Romaine Gordon, 30, were each sentenced to more than five years in federal prison; Avia Reid, 30, was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison; and Khalelah Powell, 20, was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) began this case with an investigation into individuals in the Myrtle Beach area who were operating a lottery telemarketing scam with domestic and international connections. According to evidence presented to the Court, as part of the scam, the Defendants would contact elderly victims via phone and mail, and falsely inform the victims they had won a sweepstakes.  The supposed prizes in these sweepstakes usually consisted of millions of dollars, a new vehicle, or other valuable items.  The Defendants told the victims they had to pay taxes and fees in order to receive their winnings.

Victims throughout the case mailed the Defendants prepaid cards, Postal Service money orders, bank money orders, cash, and personal checks to pay the phony taxes and fees. Victims also made deposits into the Defendants’ bank accounts and sent wire transfers to the Defendants. The Defendants received more than $300,000 from their targets. The funds were ultimately withdrawn by, or transferred to, co-conspirators in Jamaica, and the Defendants retained a 25% cut of the scamming proceeds. At least 67 victims, who were mostly elderly, suffered a loss as part of the scheme. Twenty-five of those victims were more than 80 years old, and several victims were targeted multiple times.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gray to 63 months, Gordon to 63 months, Reid to 51 months, and Powell to 33 months. The Defendants were each sentenced to three years of court-ordered supervision to follow their federal prison sentences in the event they are not deported upon release. There is no parole in the federal system. The Defendants were also ordered to pay $349,433.75 in restitution to their victims.

This case was investigated by HSI and USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek A. Shoemake prosecuted the case.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

NEW BERN, N.C. – A Fayetteville man was sentenced yesterday to 10 months in prison, 5 years’ supervised release, and a $2,000 fine for sexual contact without consent while on an airplane flying into RDU airport.  Ryan Eugene Larned will also have to register as a sex offender.  On July 26, 2021, Larned pled guilty to the charge pursuant to a plea agreement.

“Safe air travel is essential to our economy and keeping families connected,” said Michael Easley. “This defendant assaulted a young woman traveling alone, and now he will be spending time behind bars and will be identified as a sex offender in the community. No passenger, flight crew, or flight attendant should have to fly in fear. My office will continue to prosecute crimes that jeopardize the safety of the flying public.”

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Larned, 38, flew on an American Airlines flight from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to Raleigh-Durham International Airport where he was seated next to a 17-year-old girl who was flying alone.  The female, a high school junior, was in the window seat while Larned was in the middle seat.  Without engaging in conversation and without consent, the 6’2’’ 220 pound man proceeded to touch the groin area of the 5’1’’ 100 pound female.  He placed his jacket over them and reached his hands inside the pants of the female.  The victim immediately reported the assault. 

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. FBI Special Agent Craig Noyes investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-141.

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