Category: MIL-OSI

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chaiya Maley-Jackson 25, of Concord, N.C., appeared in federal court today, following her arrest on fraud charges for selling and transferring fake Social Security Cards, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The indictment charges Maley-Jackson with two counts of social security number fraud and two counts of unlawful transfer of false identification documents.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.

According to allegations in the indictment, between October 2023 and October 2024, Maley-Jackson earned more than $49,000 in fees from producing, selling, and transferring various types of fraudulent documents, including Social Security Cards. Maley-Jackson allegedly had a Facebook page under the name of Yaya Ling which advertised the sale of false and fraudulent documents. The indictment alleges that Maley-Jackson communicated with customers via email and messages to obtain the information needed to create the false documents, to provide updates and samples on their orders, and to send the finalized fake documents. Maley-Jackson allegedly produced the fake documents while she was serving a probationary sentence for a prior federal conviction for a similar scheme.

Maley-Jackson was released on bond. The charges of social security fraud and unlawful transfer of a false identification document both carry a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison for each count in the indictment.

The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The FBI in Charlotte assisted by the U.S. Probation Office in the Middle District of North Carolina investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric Frick with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Lenoir, N.C. man was sentenced today to a total of 169 months in prison and a lifetime term of supervised release for possession and access with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while on federal supervised release, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Joshua Lynn Cook, 40, was also ordered to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison. The Court further ordered Cook to pay $17,000 in special assessments pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.

Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement.

“Despite prior convictions and strict court supervision, Cook broke the law once again and revictimized children by accessing and possessing horrific material depicting their sexual abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron. “Cook’s sentence reflects the consequences awaiting those who continue to ignore the law and harm vulnerable children.”

“This federal prison sentence reinforces the message; the FBI and our partners will not tolerate the victimization of children. We will continue to meticulously investigate these crimes, which cause irreparable harm and trauma to innocent victims,” said Special Agent in Charge DeWitt.

According to court documents, Cook was on federal supervised release for a 2016 federal conviction for transportation, receipt, and possession of CSAM. Under the terms of Cook’s federal supervision, he was not permitted to own an electronic device capable of accessing the internet, including a cell phone. Cook was also subject to periodic home inspections by the U.S. Probation Office (USPO) to ensure compliance with his probationary terms. Court records show that, on February 8, 2024, during a home inspection, USPO found Cook in possession of an unauthorized phone in his bedroom. Cook admitted to using the phone to access CSAM around the time that he first gained access to the phone, which was within one month of his release from prison. The phone and an SD card were seized and forensically examined by the FBI. The examination revealed that these devices contained images and videos depicting CSAM, including toddlers.  

On October 9, 2024, Cook pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography involving prepubescent minors. Today, the Court sentenced Cook to 151 months of incarceration for possession and access with intent to view CSAM, and 18 months, to run consecutive, for committing this offense while on federal supervised release, for a total of 169 months of incarceration. Cook will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The FBI with the assistance of the USPO investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Tommy Aijie Da Silva Weng, also known as “Tommy Weng Da Silva” and “Jacky,” with wire fraud, mail fraud and impersonating a federal law enforcement officer in connection with a scheme to defraud an individual by claiming that he could assist her in obtaining a green card through the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program (the EB-5 Program).  Weng was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Lara K. Eshkenazi.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges.

“As alleged, Weng falsely represented himself as a member of federal law enforcement to gain the trust of an unsuspecting victim,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “The defendant preyed on the victim’s desire to become a United States citizen and pursue the American dream, then stole not only that dream, but also hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Today, real law enforcement agents put the handcuffs on this fraudster and he will now have to answer for his crimes.”

“For nearly eight years, Tommy Weng allegedly curated a false persona of a federal law enforcement officer with flashy props and empty assurances of guaranteed lawful status to swindle a vulnerable victim of hundreds of thousands of dollars,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. “This alleged imposter twisted a respected profession into an elaborate scheme while violating the public’s trust in law enforcement. The FBI will continue to apprehend any individual who exploits an authoritative position to garner illicit profits.”

According to court filings, the fraud scheme began in April 2016, shortly thereafter Weng falsely claimed to the victim (Jane Doe) that he was a federal law enforcement agent, explaining that he was able to use his law enforcement connections to assist her with obtaining a green card through the EB-5 Program on an expedited basis if she invested $500,000 with him.  Weng showed Jane Doe a law enforcement badge and gave her a business card from the “Federal Officers Police Association” bearing his name.  On another occasion, Weng told Jane Doe that he worked for the United States Department of Homeland Security and that he was transferring to a new law enforcement position with INTERPOL in Italy. Weng drove a red Hummer vehicle with the vanity license plate that included the acronym “ICE,” an apparent reference to the federal law enforcement agency Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Based on Weng’s representations, Jane Doe provided Weng with $500,000 for a visa. Instead of investing the money that Jane Doe provided him, or submitting a visa application on her behalf, Weng pocketed the money and strung the victim along with a series of lies about why the process was delayed for approximately eight years.

The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 43 years’ imprisonment.

Anyone with information about crimes committed by Weng should contact the FBI at NY_WengTips@fbi.gov

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States  Attorneys Nadia E. Moore and Daniel J. Marcus.

The Defendant:

TOMMY AIJIE DA SILVA WENG
Age:  49
Queens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-94 (NGG)

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, John Ragano, also known as “Bazoo,” a member of the Bonanno organized crime family, was sentenced by United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez to 37 months in prison for extortionate collection of credit in connection with a $150,000 loan.  The sentence imposed today will be served following the completion of Ragano’s 57-month sentence for the conspiracy to commit extortionate collection of credit of the same victim.  Additionally, as part of the sentence, Ragano was ordered to pay the government $3,000 in forfeiture.  Ragano was convicted of the charge in October 2024 following a four-day jury trial.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

“Today’s sentence punishes Ragano’s blatant disregard for the law, even while under court supervision for crimes brazenly carried out within the federal courthouse,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “This prosecution represents my Office’s steadfast commitment to combatting the Mafia in our district.”

“Despite previous arrests and detention, John Ragano tormented his victim to make weekly exorbitant loan payments and enforced humiliating methods when faced with resistance,” stated Acting FBI Assistant Director in Charge Backschies.  “His actions reflected his apathy to the criminal justice system as he repeatedly attempted to extort his victims in the midst of active legal proceedings. Today’s verdict emphasizes the FBI’s intolerance of the mob’s historical inclination to utilize coercive and threatening tactics to fulfill their greedy demands.

In early 2021, the defendant Ragano loaned the victim $150,000 in cash and required the victim to make interest payments of approximately $1,800 a week.  These payments did not reduce the principal of the $150,000 loan.  On September 14, 2021, Ragano was arrested in connection with the extortionate loan to the victim, as well as separate schemes to traffic marijuana and commit fraud.  After Ragano was released on bond from the Metropolitan Detention Center in December 2021, he continued to try to collect the $150,000 loan from the victim while under pretrial supervision.  He did so by approaching the victim in-person at status conferences held at the federal courthouse, and by directing another individual (Individual #1) to contact the victim.  On November 28, 2022, Ragano pleaded guilty to conspiring to issue the extortionate loan to the victim.  However, in 2023, despite his previous guilty plea, ongoing court supervision, and sentence to 57 months’ imprisonment in connection with his previous guilty plea as to the 2021 loan, Ragano continued to extort the victim to collect payments on the 2021 loan, which resulted in a subsequent indictment for extortionate collection of credit and harassment of a witness.

As proven during Ragano’s October 2024 trial, on March 25, 2023, the victim recorded a meeting with Individual #1, who explained that Ragano wanted the entire amount of the loan repaid and that “nobody’s looking for anybody to get hurt.” A week later, on March 31, 2023, Individual #1 told the victim that Ragano was “a little upset” that the loan was outstanding.  On July 5, 2023, the victim went to a used auto parts yard where Ragano worked to discuss the loan.  Unbeknownst to Ragano, the victim recorded the meeting.  The victim told Ragano that he was going to stop repaying the loan. Ragano accused the victim of cooperating with the government and demanded that he remove all his clothes. Ragano stated: “Okay, well then take off your f–king s–t right now my man.  Take off your f–king pants right now, lemme see, I want to see.”  At Ragano’s insistence, the victim complied and took off all his clothing. At that point, two men at the business walked up behind Ragano, one of whom was holding metal tools.  Ragano then demanded the victim pay the money the defendant believed he was owed, telling him, “You owe me my f—king money, let’s see how you’re gonna do when I get out.”  Despite being forced to strip naked, the victim was still able to record the confrontation, including Ragano’s parting words, “I’ll see you when I get out tough guy…Don’t forget I know where you’re at now.”

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Devon Lash and Andrew D. Reich are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Kristina Kim.  Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.

The Defendant:

JOHN RAGANO (also known as “Bazoo”)
Age:  62
Franklin Square, Long Island

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-50 (HG)

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Leslie Backschies, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a seven-count Indictment charging CARL ERIK RINSCH for engaging in a scheme to defraud a subscription video on-demand streaming service (“Streaming Company-1”) in connection with a planned science fiction television show called “White Horse.”  RINSCH was arrested today in West Hollywood, California, and will be presented later today in the Central District of California.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Carl Erik Rinsch orchestrated a scheme to steal millions by soliciting a large investment from a video streaming service, claiming that money would be used to finance a television show that he was creating. But that was fiction. Rinsch instead allegedly used the funds on personal expenses and investments, including highly speculative options and cryptocurrency trading. Rinsch’s arrest is a reminder that this Office and our partners at the FBI remain vigilant in the fight against fraud and will bring those who cheat and steal to justice.”

FBI Assistant Director Leslie Backschies said: “Carl Rinsch allegedly stole more than $11 million from a prominent streaming platform to finance lavish purchases and personal investments instead of completing a promised television series. The FBI will continue to reel in any individual who seeks to defraud businesses.”

As alleged in the Indictment:[1]

RINSCH is a film and television writer and director who partially completed a science fiction television show called “White Horse.”  In 2018, RINSCH reached an agreement with Streaming Company-1 in which Streaming Company-1 would both pay RINSCH for the existing episodes of White Horse and also fund completion of the rest of the show.  Between 2018 and 2019, Streaming Company-1 paid approximately $44 million for White Horse.

Between late 2019 and early 2020, RINSCH demanded even more money from Streaming Company-1 to complete White Horse.  Streaming Company-1 ultimately agreed to pay another $11 million, and transferred those funds to a company RINSCH controlled on or about March 6, 2020.  The entirety of those funds was to be spent on the completion of White Horse.

But RINSCH did not use those funds to complete White Horse.  Instead, within days, RINSCH began transferring the funds he received through a number of different bank accounts before consolidating them in a personal brokerage account.  RINSCH then used those funds to make a number of personal and speculative purchases of securities.  His trading was unsuccessful, and in less than two months after receiving $11 million from Streaming Company-1, RINSCH had lost more than half of those funds.

Even after losing most of the $11 million, RINSCH still did not spend the remaining funds he had stolen on White Horse.  Instead, he used the money to speculate on cryptocurrency, and on personal expenses and luxury items, including approximately $1,787,000 on credit card bills; approximately $1,073,000 on lawyers to sue Streaming Company-1 for even more money, and for lawyers related to his divorce; approximately $395,000 to stay at the Four Seasons hotel and at various luxury rental properties; approximately $3,787,000 on furniture and antiques, including approximately $638,000 to purchase two mattresses and approximately $295,000 on luxury bedding and linens; approximately $2,417,000 to purchase five Rolls-Royces and one Ferrari; and approximately $652,000 on watches and clothing.

*               *                *

RINSCH, 47, of Los Angeles, California, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and five counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the FBI and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. 

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackie Delligatti, David A. Markewitz, and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.