Category: MIL-OSI

Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Terrance Michael Ciszek a/k/a DrMonster, 34, of Buffalo, NY, with possession of unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud and making a false statement to an agency of the United States, which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the cases, stated that since August 2018, the FBI has been investigating an illicit online marketplace known as Genesis Market, whose operators compile stolen data, such as computer and mobile device identifiers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords, from malware-infected computers around the globe and package it for sale on the market. Purchases made through Genesis Market are conducted using virtual currency, such as bitcoin.

According to the indictment and a previously filed complaint, between March 16 and July 29, 2020, Ciszek, a Buffalo Police Detective, purchased 11 packages on Genesis Market that included 194 stolen account credentials. Investigators also determined that Ciszek had bitcoin wallet addresses associated with UniCC, a dark web carding website. Carding websites are illicit marketplaces and/or forums used to share stolen credit card data and discuss techniques for obtaining credit card data, validating it, and using it for criminal activity. On April 15, 2020, Ciszek recorded a video explaining to others how he anonymized his identity on the internet when purchasing stolen credit cards, and described his use of UniCC. In the video, he stated, among other things, “And then I usually get my credit cards from UniCC, which is an amazing place if you guys don’t have it.

On April 4, 2023, Ciszek is accused of making false statements to the FBI, claiming that he had not purchased stolen credentials from the internet, and further stating that his nephew may have been responsible for the online purchase of stolen credentials.

The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.     

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Trevor Knapp, 32, of Tonawanda, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in April 2024, a 17-year-old minor female contacted the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department stating that she was being harassed by a 32-year-old male named Tyler Knapp online. The minor victim met Knapp in 2020, when she was 13-years-old, on a website called, “mylol,” a friend finding website that she no longer uses. As the two began communicating, the conversations became sexual in nature. Knapp sent sexually explicit videos of himself to the minor victim. He also asked that she send naked images of herself, but she declined. However, the minor victim would get out of the shower naked while the two were video chatting and Knapp would screen capture an image of her. The two also messaged through Google Chat and Knapp utilized multiple Google email accounts. The minor victim, who was uncomfortable with how he was talking, would delete or block Knapp but he would utilize a new account to regain contact. Knapp also located the minor victim’s Instagram account and messaged her on that platform as well. The minor victim advised Knapp multiple times of her real age.

The minor victim requested for months that Knapp leave her alone, stating that she had a boyfriend. Knapp then requested images of the minor victim and her boyfriend having sex. He also sent her a naked image of a second minor victim, a female living in Pennsylvania. The two minor victims began communicating, and the second minor victim described Knapp as “the pedophile.” Subsequent investigation traced Knapp back to the Western District of New York.

On October 10, 2024, a search warrant was executed at Knapp’s residence, during which investigators seized his cell phone. A preliminary search recovered a sexually explicit video that included Knapp and the first minor victim.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Flagstaff, Arizona Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean Connolly, the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal jury has convicted retired Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Joseph Bongiovanni, 60, of Tonawanda, NY, of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, four counts of obstruction of justice, and one count of false statement to law enforcement. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 year in prison and a $250,000 fine.

“The prosecution of law enforcement officers and public officials are the most difficult cases that are undertaken by prosecutors,” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “However, these verdicts show that no one is above the law, not even a federal agent.”

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia stated, “Federal agents hold a significant amount of authority and trust to keep American people safe. Therefore, when the FBI learns of allegations including bribery, obstruction of justice, and lying to investigators, a rigorous investigation unfolds. Our investigation, re-enforced by the jury’s verdict, found that former DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni chose greed over integrity. The FBI continues to execute our duties to the highest level of ethical and moral values. We remain steadfast in aggressively investigating and bringing those who misuse their authority to justice.”

“I want to commend the HSI special agents, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for the tremendous work and countless hours expended to achieve a successful outcome in this case,” said Erin Keegan, HSI Buffalo Special-Agent-in Charge. “While Bongiovanni’s actions undermined and compromised law enforcement efforts throughout the area, his actions are not, in any way, a reflection of the thousands of DEA agents or law enforcement officers who serve this nation and community with honor and integrity.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Tripi, Nicholas T Cooper, and Casey L. Chalbeck, who are handling the case, stated that between 1998 and February 1, 2019, Bongiovanni served as a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. From 2001 until his retirement, he was assigned to the Buffalo Resident Office. Bongiovanni used his position as a DEA special agent to defraud the DEA, an agency that is a part of the Department of Justice and the Executive Branch of the United States government, by violating his oath to the United States Constitution and duty to enforce the drug laws of the United States. As a part of his agreement to defraud the United States in violation of his oath and duty, and as part of his agreement to accept bribes, Bongiovanni protected his friends, associates, and individuals he believed were members or associates of Italian Organized Crime in Buffalo, from investigation, arrest, and prosecution. In particular, Bongiovanni provided Michael Masecchia, a former Buffalo School teacher with connections to Italian Organized Crime, and others involved in the distribution of substantial quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl pills, by providing law enforcement sensitive information about the existence of investigations, the identities of informants, and about sensitive law enforcement techniques and tactics. As part of his protection and in furtherance of his conspiracy to defraud the DEA, Bongiovanni opened a case file within the DEA, which he then used to obtain to ensure that other state and local law enforcement agencies, and federal agents, would defer the investigation of the individuals that the defendant was protecting to the defendant. Bongiovanni also used the DEA case file to enter information pertaining to drug traffickers he was protecting into deconfliction databases in order to alert himself if any other members of law enforcement were investigating coconspirators Bongiovanni was protecting.

Relatedly, Bongiovanni was convicted of obstruction of justice and making materially false statements to an agent of the United States for preparing false and fraudulent official DEA memoranda, and making false statements to agents investigating Bongiovanni, to conceal his relationship with Peter Gerace Jr., an individual who was under investigation by the DEA, and others for drug trafficking and related offenses.

Michael Masecchia was previously convicted and sentenced to serve seven years in prison. Peter Gerace Jr. is awaiting trial. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The verdict is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ryan T. Geach, Northeast Region. The Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarantino, III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, and the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti also assisted in the investigation.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 9, 2025, before Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo who presided over the trial of the case.

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Source: US FBI

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Gregory M. Brooks, 53, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2021, Brooks secretly placed a video camera in a bathroom where he knew that a Minor Victim showered. He positioned the camera to capture naked videos of the Minor Victim entering and exiting the shower. Between February 2021, and August 31, 2023, Brooks received and stored the videos of child pornography captured by the video camera on his cellular telephone.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood.

Sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2025, before Judge Geraci.

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Johnny Williams, 32, of North Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, was sentenced to serve 168 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas T. Cooper and Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that between June and October 2021, Williams conspired with others, including Lairon Graham, to sell fentanyl and crack cocaine from a residence on Liddell Street in Buffalo. While doing so, Williams possessed a firearm on multiple occasions. In August 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a Davey Street residence in Buffalo, which was also used by members of the conspiracy to sell fentanyl and crack cocaine. During the search, investigators recovered approximately 44 grams of fentanyl, approximately 37 grams of crack cocaine, approximately $2,500 cash, and assorted drug paraphernalia. In March 2022, Williams a semi-automatic pistol to fire multiple gunshots at an individual, striking the victim in the upper arm. The Government contends that the shooting was intended to discourage another person from providing information to law enforcement about the narcotics conspiracy. Williams contends that was not his motivation for firing gunshots at the victim.

Lairon Graham was previously convicted and sentenced to serve 264 months in prison.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia; the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia; the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Gummo; and the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard.

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