Month: May 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice News

An indictment was unsealed today charging an Iranian national with leading a visa fraud scheme to facilitate the illegal entry of individuals from Iran into the United States.

According to court documents, Hesam Fatehi Peykani, 38, allegedly organized, led, and worked with others in his Iranian-based smuggling network to facilitate the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses. Peykani allegedly carried out his scheme by charging Iranian citizens between $1,000 to $30,000 to submit or cause to be submitted tourist visa applications with false information on their behalf at a nearby U.S. consulate or embassy. The purportedly false information made the Iranian citizens appear to have strong ties to Iran to increase the likelihood of receiving a U.S. tourist visa, even when the applicants intended to remain in the United States permanently. Peykani allegedly coached the applicants to repeat the lies on their tourist visa application during their visa interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy. On one or more occasions, Peykani allegedly provided fraudulent documents to the Iranian citizens to support the lies in their visa application during their visa interview.

“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is alleged to have fraudulently facilitated the entry of Iranian citizens into the United States when they were not entitled to otherwise do so – enriching himself in the process, by charging large fees for his services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, the department continues to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who seek to profit from conduct that undermines our system of legal immigration.”

“Peykani allegedly exploited individuals and the U.S. immigration system through his visa scheme, trading on lies and fake documents to facilitate the illegal entry of Iranian citizens into the United States under false pretenses,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “We are committed to holding accountable those who seek personal monetary gain by compromising and undermining the integrity of the immigration process.”

“This case represents the finest efforts of cooperative law enforcement,” said Supervisory Special Agent Gregory Batman of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “DSS pursued investigative leads which led to disrupting and dismantling human smuggling operations. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States and the trustworthiness of our visa process.”

“Hesam Fatehi Peykani is allegedly part of a larger Iranian smuggling network that purportedly lined their own pockets by cheating Iranian citizens out of thousands of dollars and lying to the U.S. government,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., Field Office. “They allegedly enabled Iranians to enter the U.S. under fictitious pretenses. HSI Washington cannot allow such breaches of security to happen without consequences. We are constantly looking to reinforce our nation’s security in order to provide safety for the American people.”

Peykani is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and commit visa fraud, visa fraud, conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to come to the United States for profit, and encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the United States for profit. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The DSS Criminal Fraud Investigations Branch is investigating the case, with assistance from the HSI Washington D.C., Field Office, and is supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

Trial Attorney Clayton O’Connor of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raizza Ty for the Eastern District of Virginia 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

MADISON, WIS. – “My entire office and I join with all Wisconsinites in expressing our deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and law enforcement colleagues of St. Croix County Deputy Kaitie Leising,” said Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.  “Deputy Leising gave her life to protect and serve the people of St. Croix County.  Her sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

“This tragic loss comes just four weeks after we mourned the deaths of Chetek Police Officer Emily Breidenbach and Cameron Police Officer Hunter Scheel,” U.S. Attorney O’Shea said.  “Every day, law enforcement officers throughout Wisconsin selflessly answer the call to service, knowing that at any moment they may be in harm’s way.  They deserve our respect, our gratitude, and our support.”

The death of Deputy Leising has occurred at the beginning of National Police Week, a series of remembrances and events from May 9 through May 15.  Attorney General Merrick Garland and leaders of federal law enforcement agencies will lay wreaths at the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.  There will be a candlelight vigil at the Memorial on Saturday, May 13, and the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service will take place on Monday, May 15.  The annual Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony will take place at the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial on the State Capitol Grounds on Friday, May 19, 2023.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the filing of an information and plea agreement charging Dawn Drum, 54, Janesville, Wisconsin, with product tampering while employed as a Registered Nurse at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Janesville in November 2021.

According to the information and plea agreement filed today, Drum tampered with vials of fentanyl by withdrawing the drug from the vials and replacing it with saline and then resealing the vial stopper with what appeared to be superglue. Drum then put the tampered vials back into a Pyxis machine, an automated medication dispensing system, so that the tampered fentanyl vials would be available for use with other patients at the hospital.  An audit of the Pyxis transactions in Drum’s name revealed that she had an excessive pattern of fentanyl overrides and wastes when compared to other employees in 2021. In November 2021, hospital management confronted Drum with this discrepancy and asked her to take a drug test. Drum refused and instead resigned from her position at the hospital.

According to the plea agreement, the parties are recommending the Court impose a sentence of 18 months imprisonment and a fine of $30,000 due and payable immediately at sentencing.  A date for Drum’s plea hearing has not been scheduled.  The statutory maximum penalties for the product tampering charge are 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The charges against Drum were the result of an investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Administration–Office of Criminal Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration–Diversion Control Division.  The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U. S. Attorney Daniel J. Graber.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

CONCORD – Philip A. DeVincent, the Administrative Officer at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was honored in Washington D.C. with a Director’s Award for his service to the District of New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

“Phil DeVincent was the standard-bearer for office administration during an unprecedented period in our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “His leadership skills and creative thinking ensured that the daily operations of the office continued during the pandemic, so that the people of the District of New Hampshire had the highest level of performance and response from the United States Attorney’s Office.”

Mr. DeVincent received the Superior Performance in Administration award for his exceptional leadership in managing staff and for providing excellent customer service through the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. DeVincent enabled the U.S. Attorney’s Office to continue to function at the highest level during the pandemic. Among other efforts, Mr. DeVincent facilitated remote work to keep federal prosecutors and support staff healthy and developed a system to test out-of-state witnesses for COVID before their court appearances. Mr. DeVincent’s administrative skills served as a model for all federal employees.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in the Great Hall of the U.S. Department of Justice, and was attended by the Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa M. Monaco, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young, and other U.S. Attorneys from across the country.

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