Month: April 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

A federal grand jury in Jacksonville, Florida, returned an indictment today charging a Florida woman with aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, filing a false tax return and failing to file a tax return.

According to the indictment, between 2017 and 2019, Gloria Gray, who at times resided in Jacksonville, prepared false income tax returns, first while working at two Jacksonville tax preparation businesses, and then at her own business, Triple X Tax Services. The indictment alleges that Gray prepared individual income tax returns for multiple clients that collectively reported hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent expenses and deductions, including false charitable deductions and unreimbursed employee business expenses.

In addition, Gray allegedly filed a false 2018 tax return that did not report all her income and she allegedly did not file a personal income tax return for 2019. 

If convicted, Gray faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison for each false return count.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd III and Richard (R.J.) Hagerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

An executive of the holding company that owns Privatbank IHAG pleaded guilty today to conspiring to conceal over $60 million of undeclared assets held by wealthy American clients of the Swiss private bank. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, Daniel Wälchli, a member of the bank holding company’s executive board, worked with others to help Privatbank IHAG conceal the accounts of American customers who did not want to disclose their Swiss bank accounts to the IRS. The scheme involved a number of steps designed to obscure these undeclared accounts by stripping them of any indicia of U.S. ownership. Known as the “Singapore Solution,” members of the conspiracy sent over $60 million dollars on “round trips” across the globe. The money was sent from Privatbank IHAG accounts in Switzerland to a bank in Hong Kong before returning to Privatbank IHAG in accounts held by a Singaporean asset manager owned and controlled by the Swiss bank’s holding company.

Pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement, Wälchli will not dispute that the tax loss was $531,524, and he agrees that a sentencing enhancement for “sophisticated means” is appropriate.

Wälchli faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis and Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga Zverovich of the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – A Texas man was found guilty in the District of Columbia of felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. 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.

            Shane Jenkins, 45, of Houston, Texas, was found guilty yesterday after a trial in U.S. District Court Corruptly Obstructing an Official Proceeding of Congress; Interfering with Law Enforcement Officers During a Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding Law Enforcement Officers with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Destruction of Government Property; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon; and Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, all felonies, as well as misdemeanors including: Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol building; and Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings.  A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2023.

            According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 6, 2021, Jenkins was captured on video on the Capitol grounds pulling a tomahawk axe out of his bag and smashing a window to the left of the Lower West Terrace tunnel area of the U.S. Capitol. The FBI found several publicly posted videos of Jenkins at the Capitol Riots. In one of the videos, Jenkins removes a tomahawk axe out of a backpack, puts on black gloves, and uses the axe to hit a window to the left of the Lower West Terrace tunnel. According to information received from the Architect of the Capitol, the cost to repair this window is over $1,000.

            In security and open-source video, Jenkins can be seen receiving, picking up from the ground, and throwing objects – including a wooden desk drawer, a broken wooden pole, and other stick-like objects – and throwing them at MPD and U.S. Capitol Police officers stationed in the entranceway to the Lower West Terrace tunnel.  The items struck several officers.

            Jenkins was arrested on March 5, 2021, in Houston, Texas.

            The Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and the Assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon offenses carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the Destruction of Government Property, the Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, the Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, and the Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon offenses all  carry a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; the Civil Disorder offense carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison.  All of the offenses carry potential financial penalties.  The Court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

            The case was investigated by the FBI’s Houston and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Secret Service, the Architect of the Capitol, the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 26 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including over 320 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON — A Colorado man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges 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.

            Jonathan Grace, 49, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with civil disorder, a felony, and related misdemeanor offenses. He was arrested today in Denver. He is expected to make his initial appearance later today in the District of Denver.

            According to court documents, on Jan. 6, 2021, Grace was among rioters who repeatedly engaged in violence against law enforcement officers guarding the Capitol.  Grace participated in the confrontation with law enforcement officers in the Lower West Terrace and tunnel areas of the Capitol.  He entered the tunnel on the Lower West Terrace at approximately 3:12 p.m., making his way into the mob of rioters who were coordinating pushes against police officers while they yelled “HEAVE HO!” and “PUSH!”  While Grace joined in collective pushes, one police officer screamed in pain as the weight of the rioters’ pushes pinned him between a shield and a door.  Grace briefly exited the tunnel to hand his beanie and backpack to a nearby rioter, and quickly re-entered the tunnel a second time where he quickly made his way to the front of the rioters pushing against police officers. As officers attempted to push rioters out of the tunnel, Grace grasped onto the wall in attempt to maintain ground in the tunnel.  After officers cleared rioters out of the tunnel, Grace reminded nearby the mouth of the tunnel where he watched as rioters dragged an officer out of the tunnel and brutally attacked him. Then, Grace again joined the rioters in collectively pushing against the police line in the tunnel.

            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 Colorado.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Denver Field Office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office which identified Grace as #233 on its seeking information photos. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

            In the 26 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, more than 320 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

            WASHINGTON – Elvin Cruz (“Cruz”), 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 44 months in prison for aggravated assault, third degree sexual abuse, two counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse, and assault, announced United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Cruz pleaded guilty on September 1, 2022.

            According to court documents, on July 10, 2021, Cruz followed his first victim as she was walking to the store. He approached the victim from behind and put his hand in between her legs touching her vagina, without her consent. On July 24, 2021, Cruz followed his second victim as she was walking home from a friend’s house. When she arrived at the front steps of her residence, Cruz shoved her to the ground. Cruz then placed himself on top of the victim and started touching her private area through her shorts while also lifting up her dress. The victim tried to fend Cruz off and defend herself by pushing him away. Cruz continued the assault and began to strangle the victim around the neck area, until the victim blacked out and lost consciousness.

            On August 7, 2021, Cruz approached a third victim by following her and a companion as they were walking home. Cruz followed them for multiple blocks and, after being noticed by the companion, ran up to the victim and grabbed her private area without her consent. Cruz then continued to try to grab the victim while her companion tried to fend him off. Less than an hour following this assault, Cruz approached a fourth victim, whom he followed while she was walking home. Upon observing Cruz following her, the victim sped up but the defendant started running and caught up to her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. The victim managed to break free and eventually run away and call 911.

            In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Judge Milton Lee ordered six years of supervised release and ordered Cruz to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Over the government’s objection, Judge Lee sentenced Cruz pursuant to the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of the detectives and patrol officers of the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Lezlie Richardson and Tracey Hawkins the Victim/Witness Specialist assigned to this matter, and paralegal Tiffany Jones. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Marco Crocetti, who investigated and prosecuted the case.