Month: February 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Two government contractors were sentenced this week for their involvement in separate bribery schemes in which they gave payments to the mayor of the municipality of Cataño, Puerto Rico, in exchange for the mayor’s awarding of municipal contracts to their respective companies.

Mario Villegas-Vargas, 44, of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for conspiracy to commit federal funds bribery. According to court documents, Villegas-Vargas paid kickbacks and bribes in exchange for the mayor exerting his influence on municipal officials in Cataño to ensure that Villegas-Vargas’ asphalt and paving business, JR Asphalt, was awarded municipal contracts. Villegas-Vargas’ bribe payments and his efforts to conceal those payments resulted in his business being awarded over $9.9 million in municipal contracts in Cataño.  

Other public officials in Puerto Rico have already pleaded guilty to receiving bribe payments from JR Asphalt, including the former mayors of Aguas Buenas, Guayama, and Trujillo Alto and the former Directors of Public Works in Guayama and Cataño.

Jose Bou-Santiago, 50, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for conspiracy to commit federal funds bribery. According to court documents, in April 2019, Bou-Santiago provided a Rolex watch to the mayor of Cataño in exchange for a future municipal contract for Bou-Santiago’s company, Bou Maintenance Service. Specifically, in June 2019, Bou Maintenance Service was awarded a construction contract by the municipality valued at approximately $190,000.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. 

The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the cases.

Trial Attorneys Nicholas W. Cannon and Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Chief of the Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Section Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the cases.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

DES MOINES, IA – A Dallas Center woman was sentenced on February 14, 2023, to 18 months in prison for wire fraud.

According to court documents, Jordyn Darion Culp, age 28, stole $273,698 from the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. From approximately October 2019 to September 2021, Culp accessed FEGLI trust accounts through her employment and fraudulently transferred money from the FEGLI accounts to her personal bank account. Using the funds, Culp purchased a motorcycle, motorhome, and cargo trailer which were forfeited. Culp posted TikTok videos discussing her purchases. Culp was ordered to pay restitution and after her prison sentence she will serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau investigated the case.

Topic(s): 

Financial Fraud

Component(s): 

Contact: 

MacKenzie Tubbs Public Information Officer 515-473-9300 USAIAS.PAO@usdoj.gov

Updated February 22, 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

PITTSBURGH – A resident of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of violating federal conspiracy law in connection with the theft of 24 vehicles, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

Bernard Washington, age 31, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from on or about May 30, 2021, until on or about Oct. 25, 2021, Washington conspired to commit offenses against the United States, namely, transportation and receipt of stolen vehicles. Washington admitted that he worked as a contractor for the Hertz Rent a Car at the Pittsburgh International Airport between May and July 2021. During that time, and for several months thereafter, Washington and co-conspirators accessed the Hertz parking lot and stole approximately 24 vehicles, at least three of which were transported across state lines from Pennsylvania to other states, including Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Washington and his co-conspirators provided these stolen vehicles to other individuals in exchange for payment. Washington also received at least two stolen vehicles from a co-conspirator, one of which had crossed state lines after being stolen.

Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2023. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorneys Karen Gal-Or and William Guappone are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading that led to the prosecution of Washington.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ANDREW DONE, a/k/a “Caballo,” the leader of the “Shooting Boys” gang, was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for the November 5, 2020, murder of Angel Barreiro in the Bronx and other racketeering offenses.  DONE previously pled guilty before United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed the sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Andrew Done, dissatisfied with his membership in the Trinitarios gang, decided to perpetuate gang violence in New York City by breaking off from the Trinitarios and starting his own gang.  His decision created a rivalry between his new gang and the Trinitarios, which led to increased acts of violence, multiple shootings, and the tragic murder of Angel Barreiro.  Done’s sentence should highlight that anyone who exacerbates violent crime in our community will face a lengthy prison sentence.”

According to the Indictment, other documents filed in federal court, and statements made in public court proceedings:

The “Shooting Boys” is a criminal organization based in the University Heights section of the Bronx.  DONE founded the Shooting Boys in or about 2017.  DONE and his followers were originally associated with the “Sunset” chapter of the Trinitarios gang, but DONE decided to break off from the Trinitarios and form his own gang.  DONE then convinced other disaffected Trinitarios to join the Shooting Boys as well.  

Under DONE’s leadership, the Shooting Boys sold crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana throughout the Bronx and engaged in a back-and-forth series of shootings with the Trinitarios and other associated gangs.  The rivalry between the Shooting Boys and the Trinitarios led to multiple non-fatal shootings and other acts of violence against rival gang members and innocent bystanders.  It culminated in the murder of Angel Barreiro on November 5, 2020.

On that date, Barreiro was sitting in the driver’s seat of his parked car opposite 1365 Cromwell Avenue in the Bronx.  DONE approached Barreiro, removed a firearm from his jacket, and shot Barreiro multiple times through the car’s passenger side window.  DONE then walked over to the driver’s side of the car and shot Barreiro again.  DONE fled to the Dominican Republic shortly after the murder and was apprehended by the United States Marshals Service in April 2022.

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In addition to his prison term, DONE, 24, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. 

DONE was initially charged by indictment in March 2022 with nine other individuals who were members or associates of the Shooting Boys gang.  The other nine defendants have all pled guilty to various racketeering related charges and have either been sentenced to prison terms or are awaiting sentencing.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations.    

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, Adam S. Hobson, and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Maine man is in custody on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.

            Christopher Maurer, 45, formerly of Biddeford, Maine, is charged in a criminal complaint, filed in the District of Columbia, with two felonies: civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a deadly and dangerous weapon; and five misdemeanors, including: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; and engaging in an act of physical violence on capitol grounds or buildings. Maurer was arrested this morning in Westbrook, Maine. He will have an initial appearance today in the District of Maine.

            According to court documents, law enforcement identified Maurer (FBI BOLO #150-AFO) as an individual who pushed against police and swung a large pole at police officers who were defending an entrance to the U.S. Capitol on the Lower West Terrace known as “the tunnel” on January 6, 2021. Maurer initially entered the tunnel at approximately 3:01pm, and proceeded through the crowd of other rioters. After reaching the police line, Maurer attempted to pull a police shield and/or strike police officers who were helping another rioter experiencing a medical emergency. At approximately this same time, Maurer joined other rioters in pushing against the police line. He left the tunnel at approximately 3:08pm.

            About 90 minutes later, Maurer entered the tunnel for a second time, screaming at and gesturing to officers on the police line. During this time, he was sprayed with oleoresin capsicum (“OC”) spray by officers while he screamed at and made obscene gestures at the officers. Maurer then picked up what appeared to be a long metal pipe or pole from the ground and swung it at the front line of police officers at the tunnel before leaving the tunnel area again.

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Boston Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Westbrook Police Department in Maine, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 25 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 985 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including approximately 319 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. 

            Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.

            A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.