Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced two Nigerian nationals yesterday for their role in an international money laundering conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. 

U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Paulinus Ebhodaghe, 40, of Clementon, New Jersey to 46 months in prison.  Ebhodaghe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in September 2021. Ohimai Asikhia, 37, of Glassboro, New Jersey, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Asikhia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in March 2021.

“The defendants helped cybercriminals obscure the source of their ill-gotten gains and squirrel away fraud proceeds in overseas accounts,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said.  “Citizens are urged to carefully scrutinize any email directing the transfer of money via wire. I would like to thank the FBI for their hard work in tracking down and bringing these defendants to justice.”

“Business email compromise is one of the most financially damaging online crimes,” SAC Sharp said. It exploits the fact that so many of us rely on email to conduct business—both personal and professional. If you or your company fall victim to BEC, it’s important that you act quickly and notify your financial institution. Then, immediately file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, at www.ic3.gov.”

According to court documents, from June 2018 through November 2018, Ebhodaghe and Asikhia helped launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraud proceeds. During the course of the conspiracy, they would receive wire transfers from business email compromise, romance scam, and other fraud victims; move the fraud proceeds between bank accounts to disguise their origin and conceal their fraudulent nature; and then wire the proceeds to bank accounts in Nigeria or use them to purchase automobiles that were shipped overseas. Ebhodaghe and Asikhia typically received fees of twenty percent or more of the funds that they laundered.

The FBI investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter.

Source: US FBI

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury today charged a Huntsville man with committing a string of armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.  

A 12-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Christopher Maxwell Jacobie Owens, 27, of Huntsville, with 6-counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and 6-counts of brandishing a firearm. 

According to the indictment, in a span of six days in November 2020, Owens committed six armed robberies at businesses in Huntsville.  Owens robbed two Family Dollar locations, Dollar General, two MetroPCS locations, and Walgreens. 

The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery that affects interstate commerce and that involves the taking of property from another person by means of actual or threatened force or violence.

If convicted of a Hobbs Act Robbery, the defendant faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. If convicted of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison.

The FBI investigated the case along with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pillsbury is prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: US FBI

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury today charged a Hartselle man with attempted kidnapping and attempted sexual assault, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr. 

A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court, charges Matthias Jacob Edward Mann, 22, of Hartsell, with attempted kidnapping and coercion and enticement.

“Over the course of a week, law enforcement moved swiftly to identify the defendant and victim. Federal and local authorities from four different states worked together to investigate and arrest this defendant and derail a dangerous online plot,”  U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The internet is a tool that provides many opportunities for communication and connectivity, but also gives predators an easy way to access potential victims. One never knows who is lurking behind the keyboard. It is always important to exercise caution and protect your privacy in online forums.” 

According to court documents, on December 29, 2021, an undercover detective with the Owatonna, Minnesota Police Department was monitoring the public Kik group “Abduction and R@pe 3.” During that time, the Kik User “Dylan H.,” who was determined to be Mann, posted in the group, asking for someone to abduct and sexually assault a woman from Wisconsin. The undercover detective responded and told Dylan H. that he was in Minnesota and would be interested.

On December 30, 2021, the undercover detective recorded a telephone conversation with Mann. On the call, Mann confirmed that his request for the abduction and sexual assault of the victim was not a fantasy. Mann provided the undercover detective with photos and a physical address of the victim, who he stated was a former friend.  Mann requested a video to confirm that the abduction and sexual assault was carried out as requested.  During their subsequent conversations, Mann agreed to pay the undercover detective gas money to travel to Wisconsin from Minnesota, and approximately $2,000.00 once the abduction and sexual assault had been completed. Mann paid the undercover detective $75 on January 5^th. 

Federal agents arrested Mann on the morning of January 6, 2022 in Hartselle, Alabama.

The maximum penalty for attempted kidnapping and attempted coercion and enticement is twenty years in prison.

The FBI investigated the case along with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin Police Department; Owatonna, Minnesota Police Department; and FBI (Atlanta Division).  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Hodge and John Hundscheid are prosecuting the case.

An indictment contains only charges.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Leeds man in connection with two robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Adam James Mordecai, 38, to 120 months in prison.  Mordecai pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of Bank Robbery in August 2021. 

According to the plea agreement, Mordecai committed robberies at two different locations in Birmingham taking prescription drugs and cash.  The robberies occurred in June and October 2020.

On June 2, 2020, Mordecai entered the CVS Pharmacy located on Gadsden Highway in Birmingham and walked around the store for approximately 30 minutes before approaching the pharmacist.  Mordecai lifted his shirt to show the pharmacist a firearm in his waistband and demanded “Alprazolam” (Xanax).  The pharmacist told Mordecai that the Xanax was in a time delayed safe.  Mordecai did not believe her, so he opened the pharmacy counter door and went behind the counter where the pharmacy kept filled prescriptions.  Mordecai filled a plastic tote with more than $20,000 worth of filled prescriptions and left the pharmacy.

On October 26, 2020, Birmingham Police officers responded to a robbery at the Alatrust Credit Union located on Montclair Road in Birmingham.  Mordecai approached the teller and asked for a deposit slip.  The teller handed Mordecai the deposit slip, and he wrote on the back, “Large bills only hurry make no scene,” and returned the slip to the teller.  The teller gave Mordecai $3,800.  Mortdecai left the bank in a white Dodge Journey.  Shortly thereafter, Irondale police officers found a disabled white Dodge Journey near some apartments.  The officers learned that Mordecai was inside his apartment and set up a perimeter until he exited his apartment voluntarily.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

FBI investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and Irondale Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Plyler prosecuted the case.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – Four people, including a licensed physician, have been charged for their roles in an international telemedicine health care fraud and kickback scheme involving compound medications and durable medical equipment, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced today.

David Woroboff, 59, of Del Rey, California; George Willard, 53, of Brooklyn, Michigan; Randall Mills, 61, of Plano, Texas; and Dr. Le Thu, 66, of South Bridge, Massachusetts, are each charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.

According to the indictment:

Woroboff, Willard, and Mills were high-level employees of a telemedicine company. Beginning in May 2014, the defendants and their conspirators began to use the telemedicine company to generate a high volume of prescriptions for compounded medications and, later, durable medical equipment (DME), without regard to medical necessity and through the payment of kickbacks. The defendants agreed and arranged for health care providers associated with the telemedicine company to write prescriptions for compounded medications and DME without the establishment of any provider-patient relationship, in exchange for kickbacks, and in violation of certain state telemedicine laws. Woroboff, Willard, and Mills agreed to pay Thu approximately $35 per prescription. Thu wrote prescriptions without speaking to patients in exchange for those payments.

In order to encourage providers to write prescriptions without establishing a provider-patient relationship, Woroboff and Mills falsely informed providers that “nurses” had already consulted with the patients, taken their medical histories, and determined that compounded medication or DME was medically appropriate. In reality, the “nurses” were located in the Philippines, were not registered to practice medicine in the United States, and generally had not spoken with the patients. Rather, representatives of marketing companies provided patient information to the telemedicine company and paid the telemedicine company to generate prescriptions for compounded medications and DME. Woroboff and Willard also took additional steps to conceal their scheme, including the use of fake phone numbers and addresses for the health care providers.

The defendants caused losses to TRICARE, Medicare, and private health insurance companies of approximately $37 million.

The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The maximum fine for each count is $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest.

Acting U.S. Attorney Honig credited the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Tennessee, under the direction of Acting U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin; special agents of the Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Hegarty; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, in Birmingham, Alabama; special agents of the U.S Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Parker; special agents of the U.S Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Rafiq Ahmad; investigators of the U.S. Department of Labor-Employee Benefits Security Administration, under the direction of Regional Director Isabel Culver; and special agents of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Meagan Sands, with the investigation leading to the indictment.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean M. Sherman and Emma Spiro of the Opioid Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Unit.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: US FBI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today, a Vestavia man pleaded guilty to a bank fraud scheme in which he provided fraudulent information to financial institutions for the purpose of purchasing boats, luxury vehicles, and heavy equipment, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

Christopher A. Montalbano, 38, of Vestavia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Annemarie C. Axon to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.  

According to the plea agreement, between 2015 and 2020 Montalbano fraudulently obtained millions of dollars in loans from at least sixteen different financial institutions by submitting fraudulent information to the financial institutions in loan applications and in supporting documentation. Montalbano obtained these loan proceeds in his personal name, through a shell company, or in the name of a co-conspirator. Montalbano specifically used the loan proceeds to pay for an extravagant lifestyle which included traveling on a private jet aircraft, employing private pilots, employing a personal assistant, purchasing multiple high-end vehicles including Lamborghinis and Ferraris, and purchasing multiple real properties, including a residential home in a gated community, a lake house, and farmland.

To further facilitate the bank fraud scheme, Montalbano created internet websites for some of his shell companies including Land Work Tractor & Equipment (LWT&E), previously located in Florida and then Vincent, Alabama. On the LWT&E website, Montalbano posted photographs of agricultural and construction equipment, UTVs and boats which were purportedly in LWT&E’s possession and for sale. However, the majority of these photographs were copied and taken from the internet websites of legitimate equipment dealers. As a further part of the scheme, Montalbano purchased adjoining properties totaling approximately 150 acres in Vincent, Alabama, where LWT&E was purportedly located. Montalbano then gated the private access road(s) which both prevented unscheduled access, and severely limited the lenders’ ability to verify LWT&E’s possession of the equipment being sold and/or the validity of the equipment pictures on LWT&E’s internet website.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud is 30 years in prison.

The maximum penalty for money laundering is 10 years in prison.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin B. Mark and Kristen Osborne are prosecuting the case.

Source: US FBI

Defendant Brought Firearms and Components of Molotov Cocktails to Area Near U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6

Source: US FBI

Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PORFIRIA MARIBEL RAMOS SANCHEZ, 47, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Vernon, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 36 months of imprisonment for her involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford.  The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Ramos’s mother, Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero, and others in Connecticut and Mexico, to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S.  In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico.  They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.

After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay approximately $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez, Ramos, and their co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas, and utilities.  The co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area.  In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork without compensation and without having their debt reduced.

Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt.  If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that the co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments.

To date, investigators have identified 19 victims of this scheme.  Multiple victims were minors, and at least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a relative or legal guardian.

Ramos has been detained since her arrest on October 5, 2023.  On October 4, 2024, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens.

Judge Dooley ordered Ramos to pay restitution of $574,608.  As a condition of her plea agreement, in partial satisfaction or her restitution obligation, Ramos and her husband agreed to sell a house they owned at 74 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford, which was used to facilitate this criminal offense.  However, in violation of her plea agreement, Ramos did not inform the government of the pending sale and sold the house in November 2024 to a relative of her husband for $75,000 less than its appraised value.

Ramos faces immigration proceedings when she completes her prison term.

Sanchez pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.