Month: December 2022

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Michigan Man Indicted for Allegedly Setting Commercial Trailers Ablaze

Source: United States Department of Justice News

TUCSON, Ariz. – On Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Viorel Pricop, 64, of Allen Park, Michigan, for Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce.

The indictment alleges that Pricop set two commercial semi-truck trailers ablaze near Willcox, Arizona, on February 7, 2022, and one commercial semi-truck trailer near Holbrook, Arizona, on March 1, 2022, damaging the trailers and cargo. All three trailers were owned by Swift Transportation.

Pricop is currently in federal custody in the Central District of California. He was indicted there on November 9, 2022, on six counts of Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce after allegedly setting fire to Swift Transportation trailers in San Bernadino and Riverside Counties.

A conviction for Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah B. Houston and Benjamin Goldberg, District of Arizona, are handling the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-22-02747-TUC-JCH-EJM
RELEASE NUMBER:    2022-228_Pricop

 

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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.

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Nathan Bishop Middle School Students Complete First Rhode Island “Discovering Justice” Program

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PROVIDENCE – In record time, a jury sitting in federal court in Providence returned a verdict for the plaintiff, finding that a school principal violated her 4th Amendment rights. The student, suspended for damaging school property, was punished based on information the principal discovered while searching her electronic devices during an unrelated investigation. The student claimed that the search was unreasonable, and unconstitutional.

While this true-to-life scenario could have been argued by skilled attorneys in a federal courtroom anywhere in the country, this jury verdict was the crowning event of the inaugural Rhode Island session of Discovering Justice: a four-month long civics education program undertaken by nine eighth grade students from Providence’s Nathan Bishop Middle School.

The program, hosted by the United States Attorney’s Office, and staffed by volunteer federal prosecutors and office staff, delved into the workings of the judicial system and explored the ideals of justice.  The class focused on legal and constitutional issues, with students each taking on the role of plaintiff, defendant, and witnesses during trial preparations.  The program culminated with a mock trial held in federal court, presided over by the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Students authored and delivered opening statements; examined and cross-examined witnesses (made up of volunteers from the U.S. Attorney’s Office staff); and prepared and delivered closing arguments to a volunteer jury.

On Thursday, United States Attorney Zachary Cunha met with each of the students and their teacher to congratulate them on their performance and dedication, providing each with a Department of Justice Certificate of Congratulations and photos taken during the trial.

 “These students did an amazing job, not just as advocates, but as engaged, passionate participants in learning about our legal system and how it works,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.  “Civics programs like Discovering Justice are an important way of engaging the kids who will be tomorrow’s judges, lawyers, and jurors, and show them that we all have a role to play to make our justice system fair, effective, and evenhanded. I’m thrilled that we were able to partner with Discovering Justice to make this happen here in Rhode Island.”

Discovering Justice is a Boston-based, non-profit organization, with more than two dozen programs currently in progress in Massachusetts. Nathan Bishop Middle School became the first Rhode Island school to participate in the program.

United States Attorney Cunha thanks United States District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Clerk of Court Hanorah Tyer-Witek, and the staff of the U.S. District Court for hosting the mock trial; the teachers and staff of Nathan Bishop Middle School for their assistance during the eleven-week program; and the prosecutors and staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their volunteer efforts.

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Multi-Agency Investigation Leads to Charges Against 13 Alleged Members of a Tucson-Area Drug Trafficking Organization

Source: United States Department of Justice News

TUCSON, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Tucson, Arizona, returned a 19-count indictment on November 10, 2022, against 10 current or former southern Arizona residents, including:

  • Alberto Gabriel Aranda-Ramon, 31, of Tucson, Arizona
  • Michele Oller, 54, of Tucson, Arizona
  • Larry William Nelson, Jr., 51, of Arizona
  • Ashley Yvonne Maxwell, 35, of Tucson, Arizona
  • Leah Jean Holmes, 28, of Tucson, Arizona
  • Alexander Anthony Ruiz, 34, of Tucson, Arizona

Aranda-Ramon, Oller, Nelson, Maxwell, and Holmes were indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs and Drug Distribution. Ruiz was indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Drugs, Conspiracy to Launder Money, and Money Laundering. The remaining four defendants’ names are presently under seal by court order.

The indictment alleges that, beginning in September 2021, the 10 defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The indictment further alleges that all of the 10 defendants except for Ruiz engaged in Drug Distribution. Finally, the indictment alleges that Ruiz also was involved in a conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and that he engaged in money laundering.

Three additional individuals with alleged ties to the above-described conspiracy to distribute drugs were arrested in a multi-agency law enforcement operation on December 7, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. They are:

  • Andrew Grijalva, 19, of Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Rodrigo Lopez-Lozoya, 36, of Mexico
  • Jesus Ramon Lozoya-Portillo, 41, of Mexico

On December 8, 2022, United States Magistrate Judge Eric J. Markovich authorized a complaint charging Grijalva, Lopez-Lozoya, and Lozoya-Portillo with drug trafficking (22-MJ-00777-N/A-LCK).

The complaint alleges that, beginning in September 2021, Grijalva, Lopez-Lozoya, and Lozoya-Portillo conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, or 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.

A conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, as charged in the indictment, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, and up to a lifetime of post-conviction supervision.

A conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, as alleged in the complaint, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, a fine of $10,000,000, or both, and up to a lifetime of post-conviction supervision.

A conviction for Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments, as charged in the indictment, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, or both imprisonment and a fine, and up to three years of post-conviction supervision.  

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

The Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General are conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:            22-CR-02454-TUC-RCC-MSA
                                           22-MJ-00777-N/A-LCK
RELEASE NUMBER:    2022-229_Aranda-Ramon, et al.

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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.

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Collegeville Man Found Guilty for Scheme to Sell Fraudulent Canine Cancer-Curing Drugs to Pet Owners

Source: United States Department of Justice News

The defendant promised to restore the health of terminally ill dogs and defrauded 900 pet owners of nearly one million dollars altogether

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jonathan Nyce, 73, of Collegeville, PA, was convicted by a federal jury of wire fraud and the interstate shipment of misbranded animal drugs. The charges arise from a years-long scheme to defraud pet owners of money by falsely claiming to sell canine cancer-curing drugs.

In February 2020, the defendant was charged by Indictment for this scheme, which he operated by creating several companies, including “Canine Care,” “ACGT,” and “CAGT,” through which he purported to develop drugs intended to treat cancer in dogs. Using various websites for these companies beginning in 2012, the defendant marketed these “cancer-curing” medications to desperate pet owners, using the drug names “Tumexal” and “Naturasone.” The websites made numerous false and fraudulent claims regarding the safety and efficacy of these supposed drugs, including that “Tumexal is effective against a wide variety of cancers,” and, “[i]n fact, Tumexal will almost always restore a cancer-stricken dog’s appetite, spirit and energy!” As alleged, these drugs were nothing more than a collection of bulk ingredients from various sources, which the defendant blended together himself at a facility on Arcola Road in Collegeville.

Further, through email and telephone conversations, Nyce induced the owners of terminally ill dogs to pay him hundreds or thousands of dollars for these drugs by touting the effectiveness of his products in treating a host of canine cancers. He also told prospective customers that their pets could become part of clinical trials, but in order to do so, they had to pay him large sums of money. Evidence presented at trial showed the defendant sold nearly $1,000,000 worth of drugs to approximately 900 different victims. The defendant’s marketing, sale, and shipment of these drugs violated the Food and Drug Administration’s Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because the drugs were not approved by the FDA. The defendant even falsely claimed in promotional materials that his company’s research was “funded in part by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” 

“When beloved pets become sick, caring owners look for treatments that can offer hope to keep their pet alive and comfortable,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Jonathan Nyce took advantage of that bond between pet and owner by defrauding customers and giving them false hope that they might be able to save their dying pet. That is both cruel and illegal, and we hope this verdict brings his victims a small measure of justice for their suffering.”

“The FDA’s animal drug approval process ensures that our pets receive safe and effective products. Ignoring the FDA’s requirements and selling unapproved drugs to vulnerable U.S. consumers will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will aggressively pursue and bring to justice those criminals who place profits above the health and safety of animal patients.”

The case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher E. Parisi.

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Defense News: USS Forrest Sherman Returns to Norfolk after NATO Deployment

Source: United States Navy

Forrest Sherman’s return to homeport marks the completion of a six-month deployment as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 2, commanded by Rear Adm. Scott Sciretta. As the flagship, Forrest Sherman led a multinational maritime group in operations throughout the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring security and stability in the region while supporting deterrence and defense of NATO territory. The ship conducted five multi-national exercises with NATO Allies and partners.

The crew traveled more than 37,000 nautical miles, safely navigated several strait transits, conducted 36 sea and anchor evolutions, 570 hours of flight operations, one anchoring evolution, and 21 replenishments-at-sea, 15 of which were with allied oilers.

“This year presented extraordinary challenges and incredible opportunities for the Forrest Sherman crew,” said Cmdr. Lawrence Heyworth IV, commanding officer of Forrest Sherman. “The primary mission of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is to provide NATO with an immediate operational response capability while enhancing and improving our interoperability and interchangeability with our NATO Allies and partners.”

Forrest Sherman also completed 17 port visits to Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain and Türkiye, strengthening relationships with these critical allies and partners and reinforcing the U.S. commitment to the NATO Alliance and to the region. While in port, Forrest Sherman Sailors attended planning meetings, participated in sporting events with Sailors from other navies, toured local regions, and participated in four community relations projects.

Through this wide range of exercises, operations, and port visits, Forrest Sherman’s crew demonstrated their unrelenting commitment to their mission and to the region.

“The Forrest Sherman crew accomplished just that and so much more,” Heyworth said. “Through a two-month surge deployment in the spring, followed by a six-month SNMG2 deployment, I am incredibly proud of our crew’s embodiment of our ship’s motto: Relentless Fighting Spirit!”

As a NATO task group, SNMG2 prioritizes its mandate to enhance the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployable readiness, integration and interoperability of its forces. Its focus is on deterrence and defense against all adversaries in the maritime domain, upholding freedom of navigation, securing maritime trade routes and protecting the main lines of communication.

SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that projects a constant and visible reminder of the Alliance’s solidarity and cohesion afloat. This continuous maritime capability performs a wide range of tasks, including exercises and real-world operations in periods of crisis and conflict.