Month: June 2022

Source: United States Department of Justice News

BOSTON – A Northborough man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to wire fraud and money laundering charges after embezzling approximately $366,477 from a non-profit organization in Sturbridge.

Kyriakos Kapiris, a/k/a Rick Kapiris, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2022. Kapiris was indicted in October 2021.

From April 2015 to May 2020, Kapiris worked as the Information Technology Manager at a non-profit organization. As part of his responsibilities, the organization provided Kapiris access to two company credit cards to purchase equipment and services as needed. Beginning in 2016, Kapiris used the two company credit cards to purportedly purchase equipment from two vendor accounts on the web app Square and one account on Amazon. In reality, Kapiris created the three vendor accounts to embezzle the funds and fabricated sales invoices for purportedly purchased equipment to conceal the scheme. Kapiris used the names of legitimate Massachusetts companies for the two Square accounts and created the Amazon account in the name of a company that he controlled, “NetworkingPlus.” 

Kapiris linked the three vendor accounts to several of his own personal accounts at Bank of America into which he transferred the fraudulent proceeds. Kapiris then used the stolen funds for personal expenses including a $19,250 payment to a home contractor.

The charges of wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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 Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Sturbridge and Northborough Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office and Nicole Dapcic of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit are prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

SCRANTON -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Antonio Menzell Clark, age 36, of Ashley, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on a firearm charge. 

According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that on January 12, 2022, Clark possessed a handgun when he was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives, the United States Marshal Service and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 10 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

           Montgomery, Alabama – Eighteen individuals were indicted on federal gun and drug charges as part of a United States Marshals Service led, multi-agency operation to combat violent crime in Central Alabama’s River Region. Other participating agencies include: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Montgomery Police Department; the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office; the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles; and the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama.

           Nationwide, gun crimes, gang activity, and shootings are on the rise. Law enforcement officers work every day to make our neighborhoods safer and our citizens more secure. Operations like this one, conducted from June 6th – 17th, are part of a combined effort to focus resources on violent offenders. Numerous state arrests were made during this operation as well.

            As part of this operation, the following individuals from the Montgomery area were indicted on federal charges:

• Mario Aguilera, 38, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Antonio Bailey, 39, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance;
• Christopher Shay Barron, 45, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered firearm;
• Patrick Bass, 42, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense;
• Julius Calhoun, 27, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Rodricko Davis, 30, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Christopher Duncan, 39, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Antwon Fisher, 38, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Arthur Hamilton, 34, on three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Deshunquez Harris, 27, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Eric Hoskins, 27, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute;
• Willie Thomas Luckie, Jr., 56, for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon;
• Kendarius Powell, 23, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Marcus Salter, 26, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Tadarius Salter, 22, for possession of a stolen firearm;
• Adrian Fitzgerald Talley, III, 29, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon;
• Jeremiah Trammer, 32, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a controlled substance; and
• Christopher Washington, 41, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

           An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

           The possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of an unregistered firearm charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a minimum sentence of five years to be served consecutively to any other sentences. The maximum sentence for those charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute varies depending on the type of controlled substance, weight of the substance, and other factors specific to the charge. There is no parole in the federal system.

           All federal cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program in which U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Recently, the Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of its renewed focus on targeting armed violent criminals and gang members.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

LYNCHBURG, Va. – A former veterinarian, who admitted to stealing opioids, was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison.

Patrick Gries, 54, of Madison Heights, Virginia, pleaded guilty in January 2022 to one count of adulteration of a drug held for sale after shipment in interstate commerce and one count of distribution of a controlled substance without a written prescription.

“When health care professionals put the well-being of others at risk, they violate the trust placed in them by the public and will be held accountable.  My Office will continue to prioritize these cases throughout the Western District of Virginia,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today.

“Health care professionals, including veterinarians, who take needed medications from their patients not only harm the patients but also put at risk the trust that consumers have in those who provide medical care to their companion animals,” said Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations – Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put the safety and health of pets at risk by tampering with their patients’ medications.”

According to court documents, from 1994 through 2021, Gries practiced as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at VCA Amherst Animal Hospital in Amherst County, Virginia. The animal hospital maintained supplies of Dilaudid, an opioid generically known as hydromorphone, primarily for use in treating pain in animal patients following surgeries.

As the hospital’s primary surgeon, Gries had full access to the hospital’s supply of hydromorphone and began withdrawing a portion of the highly addictive drug from the vials and injecting it into himself.  He would replace the stolen hydromorphone with another substance, usually either saline or butorphanol, and then return the altered narcotic back to the hospital inventory.

The Food and Drug Administration – Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration – Diversion Control Division, and the Virginia State Police investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Baudinet prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The former owner of Lighthouse Properties of Virginia was sentenced today to 42 months in federal prison in connection with an embezzlement scheme in which he stole more than $550,000.

Timothy Darrell Penick, 39, of Forest, Virginia, pleaded guilty in May 2021 to one count of wire fraud.

“This defendant violated the trust of his clients through his fraudulent behavior,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am grateful for the work of the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that brought him to justice and will provide the victims in this case with restitution for the crimes committed against them.”

“Mr. Penick implemented exceptional measures to prevent the unraveling of his scheme.  Through this joint investigation by the FBI, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office’s in the Western District of Virginia, he is no longer able to defraud clients of their hard-earned money and will be held responsible for his criminal activity,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division.  “ We encourage those who believe they’ve been victimized by a similar scheme to contact law enforcement via  https://tips.fbi.gov/.”  

According to court documents, Penick owned and operated Lighthouse Properties since 2011 and provided real estate management services to clients, including homeowners’ associations and individual property owners.  Beginning in June 2018, Penick devised a scam to defraud multiple clients by gaining direct access to their bank accounts and then transferring their funds into accounts controlled solely by Penick.  He used these funds for his personal benefit and enjoyment and completely without authorization by his clients.

To conceal the misuse of client funds, Penick created fraudulent bank account statements that omitted transactions from the client accounts into his accounts and then presented these fake bank statements to clients and their representatives.

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Baudinet is prosecuting the case.