Month: June 2022

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Security News: U.S. Attorney Breon Peace Highlights Support and Resources for Elder Abuse Awareness Day

Source: United States Department of Justice News

EDNY Disseminating Information to Increase Awareness of, Prevent, Scams against Seniors

In observation of this year’s World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, celebrated annually on June 15th, Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York highlighted available resources to increase awareness of, and prevent, various scams against seniors including brochures, flyers, and targeted presentations.

“By disseminating materials and having Assistant U.S. Attorneys provide presentations to the Eastern District community, we hope to ensure our valued senior citizens have the tools they need to protect themselves against scams,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.  “The Office is proud to be part of the Elder Fraud Strike Force and will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that our senior communities are protected, and those that wish to harm them are brought to justice. We encourage all to reach out for more information.” 

U.S. Attorney Peace thanked the Federal Trade Commission for its help in creating some of the materials and investigating alleged acts of elder fraud.

Some common scams targeting the elderly include:

  • Family imposter scams, where someone calls pretending to be the victim’s relative (often a grandchild) and claiming to need money;
  • Government imposter scams, such as callers impersonating the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration and demanding payment for fictitious tax liabilities or compromised personal information connected to alleged criminal activity;
  • Tech support scams, where scammers request remote access to victim computers and then demand money to fix various bogus computer problems; and
  • Romance scams conducted through online dating websites.  Often the scammers request payment via gift card, making it easier for them to remain anonymous. 

Increasing awareness of common types of scams among potential victims helps to increase their vigilance and makes them less likely to fall prey to these schemes. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has made available various materials to help increase awareness about, and prevent, frauds targeted at seniors. These include:

  • Presentations by Assistant U.S. Attorneys about ways to protect yourself and your community against scams. To request a presentation please email USANYE-SpeakersBureau@usdoj.gov
  • Brochure about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Strike Force, with details about how to submit a complaint if you were a victim of a scam, where to find additional information, and an overview of common scams and red flags – and how to protect yourself against them.
  • Flyers about gift-card scams in English and Spanish created with the Federal Trade Commission.

Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the U.S Attorney’s Office.  Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10% of older Americans every year.  Together with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, victim services, and public awareness.

The United States Department of Justice seeks to prevent and prosecute elder abuse and fraud through the Elder Justice Initiative, which coordinates enforcement efforts Department-wide.  In June 2019, the Attorney General announced the establishment of the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force. The Eastern District of New York was one of six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to be selected to be a part of this joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and other organizations. The Strike Force focuses on investigating and prosecuting individuals and entities associated with foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect American seniors. These include telemarketing, mass-mailing, and tech-support fraud schemes.

In March 2022, the Office formed the Consumer Protection Team within the Office’s Civil Division to protect the health, safety, economic security, and dignity of individuals in the Eastern District of New York and nationwide, including our most vulnerable residents – older adults and children. Click here to see more recent news regarding the Office’s Elder Justice initiative.

To request a presentation or other materials, please email USANYE-SpeakersBureau@usdoj.gov

For more information on the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, please call the Department of Justice’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311).

All FTC information is in the public domain, and free to share. Visit FTC’s Pass It On to download or order free materials, including articles, presentations that you can deliver, bookmarks, and activity sheets in English and Spanish.

The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office of Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

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Security News: Frederick County Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Connection with Overcharging the U.S. Postal Service Under His Company’s Contract to Perform Maintenance and Repair Services at Postal Service Facilities

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Concealed the Use of Subcontractors and Submitted Fraudulent and Inflated Invoices Resulting in Overpayment of More Than $940,000

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Joseph Liberto, age 47, of New Windsor, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 12 months of home detention, and three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy in connection with his company’s contract to perform repairs at U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities.  Judge Bennett also ordered Liberto to pay restitution of $941,629.17 and to pay a fine of $100,000.  Judge Bennett further ordered that $100,000 in restitution and the $100,000 fine must be paid by the time Liberto reports to prison on September 10, 2022.  The sentence was imposed on June 10, 2022.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General.

According to his plea agreement, between 2013 and 2018, Joseph Liberto, who was President and 50% co-owner of Sierra Construction LLC, in Frederick, Maryland, contracted with EMCOR-CSC to provide repair services to USPS facilities.  EMCOR acted as the clearing house responsible for receiving service calls for needed maintenance and repair work on its customers’ facilities, including the USPS, and assigning such work to service providers, such as Liberto and Sierra.  Liberto admitted that he engaged in a scheme to defraud EMCOR and the USPS by fraudulently concealing Sierra’s use of subcontractors to carry out maintenance work it was assigned to perform, inflating the number of hours and cost of repairs, and providing false documents to EMCOR, in order to overcharge the USPS.  Sierra obtained more than $940,000 through these fraudulent overbillings.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the Contract Fraud Investigation Division of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jefferson M. Gray and Matthew Phelps, who prosecuted the case.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

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Security News: Texas Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

Source: United States Department of Justice News

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Texas man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms.

Tanner Houghton, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, June 14, to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

On Oct. 14, 2021, Houghton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

Co-defendant Brittany Brannan, 35, also from Texas, has pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.

Houghton and Brannan were arrested on Dec. 27, 2020, after attempting to flee from law enforcement officers.

A Stone County, Mo., sheriff’s detective was conducting surveillance at a Branson West, Mo., hotel and saw Houghton and Brannan leave the hotel and drive to a convenience store in Reeds Spring, Mo. A sheriff’s deputy activated his emergency lights and attempted to stop Houghton, who was driving a 2001 Dodge Dakota, but Houghton rapidly sped away through a circle driveway. The driveway, however, was blocked by the detective’s vehicle. Houghton put his car in reverse and struck the deputy’s patrol vehicle. The officers drew their weapons and ordered Houghton and Brannon to get out of their vehicle.

When officers searched Houghton’s vehicle, they found a loaded Smith and Wesson .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a box of ammunition below the center console. They also found a loaded Amarillo Armory multi-caliber semi-automatic rifle, numerous loaded magazines, and numerous boxes of ammunition inside a duffle bag in the back seat. Officers found another duffle bag in the front passenger floorboard that contained approximately 292 grams of pure methamphetamine, 39.8 grams of heroin, and 128 fentanyl tablets.

According to court documents, Houghton had absconded from parole in Texas with Brannan. They were part of a large drug-trafficking organization, purchasing at least two pounds of methamphetamine twice a month for six months to a year, as well as varying amounts of fentanyl.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Branson West, Mo., Police Department.  

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Security News: U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee Marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by Reconfirming Commitment to Combatting Senior Fraud

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PORTLAND, Maine: Today marks World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee is concerned for Maine’s senior generation. Elder abuse can take many forms, including financial exploitation, caregiver neglect, and physical, sexual or psychological abuse. Annually, 15-20 million older Americans face some form of elder abuse.

“The impact on victims of elder abuse can be devastating,” U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee said. “At the federal level, the cases we most often see involve senior scams, and instances are becoming far too prevalent. Last year alone, 475 senior Maine residents were scammed out of more than $2.5 million while nationally the losses were a staggering $1.7 billion.”

Across the country, Department of Justice personnel and its law enforcement partners are pursuing fraudsters who swindle money from older adults. For example:

  • Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force is a federal-state collaborative body that investigates and prosecutes individuals and organizations engaged in foreign-based fraud schemes that disproportionately affect older Americans.
  • Money Mule Initiative  involves federal, state and local law enforcement agencies specifically identifying and addressing money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes that impact older Americans.
  • The National Nursing Home Initiative coordinates and enhances civil and criminal pursuit of nursing homes that provide grossly substandard care to their residents.
  • Elder Fraud Initiative within the Consumer Protection Branch is the Department’s leader in prosecuting elder fraud crimes.
  • Elder Justice Coordinators serving in each of the U.S. Attorney’s Offices actively pursue elder fraud in their respective jurisdictions.

“The Department has a strong elder justice history that I continue to fully support,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. “We all know an older family member or friend who has been the victim of financial fraud, either domestically or internationally, and we’ve witnessed first-hand how financial loss impacts older adults. The Department has devoted significant personnel and resources specifically to combat financial fraud committed against older Americans.”  

Report Elder Abuse: Victims of elder abuse are often hesitant to report it. While the Department of Justice remains committed to prosecuting cases of elder abuse, raising public awareness of scams and encouraging the reporting cases of abuse are vital to combatting the epidemic.

  • To report financial fraud: contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311.
  • To report elder abuse in Maine: call 1-800-624-8404 (24-hour, toll free) or Maine Relay 711 to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

“Maine seniors deserve to feel safe and secure without the concern of predators lurking, whether online or in person,” McElwee said. “We all must play a role in protecting our elder generation by being aware, vigilant and reporting suspected or attempted abuse.”

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Security News: Former Savannah resident sentenced to federal prison for distributing child pornography

Source: United States Department of Justice News

SAVANNAH, GA:  A former Savannah resident has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after he admitted sharing images of child sexual abuse.

Luis Carrasquillo, 40, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to 121 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Carrasquillo also was ordered to register as a sex offender and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Luis Carrasquillo shared horrific images of children who were subjected to sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Estes. “With our law enforcement partners, we will be relentless in identifying pedophiles and holding them accountable.”

As described in court documents and testimony, agents from Homeland Security Investigations received a cybertip in November 2019 from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, alerting them that images of child sexual exploitation were being shared from a Savannah location. Investigators narrowed the origin of the illegal file uploads to Carrasquillo’s Savannah apartment, and he was arrested in August 2020 after he had moved to San Juan. Investigators determined Carrasquillo shared multiple images depicting sexual abuse of children, some of them as young as toddlers.

“This sentence should serve as a warning to Carrasquillo and others like him who delight in the viewing and sharing of these despicable images of children being abused,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its partners are prioritizing the protection of our most vulnerable populations and we will continue to hold these criminals accountable.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland.

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/.