Category: Security

Source: US FBI

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentences imposed on VAZHA GABADADZE, TEIMURAZ TAVBERIDZE, KAKHA KATSADZE, and DAVIT TIKARADZE for extortion offenses.  The defendants include the leader of a criminal enterprise from the Republic of Georgia and his associates.  The last of the defendants to be sentenced, TAVBERIDZE, was sentenced to 21 months in prison today by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff after having been convicted on December 9, 2024, following a one-week jury trial.  The remaining three defendants were previously sentenced to terms of prison ranging from 12 to 30 months.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said:  “Vazha Gabadadze and his associates threatened to mutilate and kill a victim if he did not provide them with money.  They intimidated the victim, relying on their connections to violent organized crime, to obtain thousands of dollars.  But thanks to the dedication of the FBI and the career prosecutors of this Office, all four defendants have been brought to justice and will serve federal prison time for their crimes.” 

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

GABADADZE is a crowned “vor v zakone” and the leader of a criminal enterprise from the Republic of Georgia.  A vor v zakone, which is a Russian phrase that translates to “thief-in-law” or “thief within the code,” is part of a fraternal order of criminals that dates back to the time of the czars.  The vor stands at the highest level of Russian and Georgian organized criminal groups.  Traditionally, vory demand and receive tribute from criminals and laypersons, license criminal activity by others, and resolve disputes between members of the criminal community.  Payment demands are enforced by violence and threats of violence.  TAVBERIDZE, KATSADZE, and TIKARADZE each worked under GABADADZE’s supervision and control.

In 2017, in Georgia, GABADADZE approached an individual (the “Victim”) and demanded $15,000, claiming that the Victim’s friend owed GABADADZE the money.  The Victim subsequently moved to the U.S. 

In 2022, GABADADZE followed the Victim to the U.S. and reinitiated the extortion.  GABADADZE and the other defendants pursued, harassed, and threatened to kill and maim the Victim and his family if he did not pay.  Those threats were particularly violent and included, among others, that one or more of the defendants would “break [the Victim’s] spine over his knee,” “peel out [the Victim’s] eyes,” that the Victim would be beaten beyond recognition to his family, and that the Victim’s dead body would be found “when the snow melts.” 

Each of the defendants played a particular role in executing the extortion. GABADADZE was the leader of the scheme and ultimate beneficiary of the extortion payments.  TAVBERIDZE was primarily responsible for pursuing and communicating with the Victim and, in that capacity, personally threatened the Victim and collected extortion funds from the Victim.  KATSADZE managed the collection of the extortion payments, receiving such payments from TAVBERIDZE and passing them along to GABADADZE. TIKARADZE served as GABADADZE’s secretary and threatened the Victim on at least one occasion.  In total, the defendants received approximately $19,000 during the course of the extortion.

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GABADADZE and KATSADZE each pled guilty to one count of Hobbs Act extortion.  TIKARADZE pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion. TAVBERIDZE was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and one count of Hobbs Act extortion after trial.  A chart containing the sentences that each of the defendants received is set forth below.

Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Mr. Podolsky also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the New York City Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Getzel Berger, Varun Gumaste, Chelsea Scism, and Daniel Richenthal are in charge of the prosecution.

Source: US FBI

Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Leslie R. Backschies, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that MARCO TULIO FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, was extradited from the Dominican Republic and arrived in the United States this afternoon. FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ was extradited on murder, narcotics, and firearms charges in connection with an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon, New York, warehouse that sold various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. Two people—one employee of the warehouse and one member of the roughly 15-man robbery crew—were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt.  FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ will be presented tomorrow in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators attempted a violent armed robbery that left two dead in Mount Vernon. The persistence and dedication of our law enforcement partners led to locating the defendant in the Dominican Republic, where he was arrested. This Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible for these senseless deaths is brought to justice.”

FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie R. Backschies said: “Last year, Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez allegedly fled the country after participating in a robbery and massive gunfight which culminated in the murder of two individuals. Not only did his alleged involvement contribute to a highly violent episode which threatened the community’s safety, but Fernandez-Rodriguez also attempted to avoid responsibility by running. Today’s extradition and indictment reflects the FBI’s tireless commitment to ensuring all criminals face accountability for their behavior, regardless of where they may hide.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]

On or about March 18, 2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m., two customers arrived at a wholesale warehouse in Mount Vernon that sold unlicensed marijuana products. The two customers placed an order for a large quantity of merchandise from the warehouse, and it took warehouse employees about two hours to prepare their order. A little after midnight, after the customers’ order was prepared, two employees from the warehouse helped the customers carry the boxes containing the customers’ merchandise from the warehouse to the customers’ vehicle. At that point, at least 11 members of the robbery crew—including FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ—got out of a large cargo van that had been parked near the warehouse, many brandishing firearms. Some of the robbers, including FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, ran over to the two employees and the customers, some pointed firearms at them, and others forced them back inside the warehouse. Other robbers who also got out of the van ran inside the warehouse to steal the merchandise, including marijuana. A still image from video surveillance outside the warehouse is depicted below:

Shortly after the robbers got inside the warehouse, a gunfight broke out between the robbers and a warehouse employee. As a result, the warehouse employee and one of the robbers were killed. The robbers fled the scene, failing to steal anything.

On or about December 4, 2024, FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ was arrested in the Dominican Republic.  To date, 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with this crime.

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FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, is charged with one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a maximum possible sentence of death or life in prison; one count of firearms use, carrying, and possession, which carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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

Mr. Podolsky praised the work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Mount Vernon Police Department. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the New York City Police Department, the Westchester Real Time Crime Center, the FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo, and the Dominican authorities for their invaluable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic to secure the arrest and extradition of FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared D. Hoffman and Justin L. Brooke are in charge of the prosecution.

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

Source: US FBI

Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General. Li was further ordered to pay a fine of $250,000 and to serve three years of supervised release.

According to the plea agreement and other court filings, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers, and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’s mission.

Li is a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.

Li admitted that, from at least as early as 2012, he served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and reported that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.

For example, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.

In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.

In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.

In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.

In March 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.

In June 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the officer provided Li with the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet, Karyna Valdes, and Jordan Howard for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.

Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal jury has convicted Khaled Abughanem, 52, and Adham Abughanem, 28, both of Lackawanna, NY, of conspiracy to kidnap a person in a foreign country and kidnapping conspiracy, which carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Defendant Khaled Abughanem was also convicted of threatening to retaliate against a victim.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Maeve E. Huggins, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 8, 2021, Khaled Abughanem and Adham Abughanem flew from Buffalo, NY, to Guadalajara, Mexico to kidnap Victim 1, who is the daughter of Khaled and the sister of Adham. Between September 10, 2021, and April 6, 2023, the defendants conspired to transport Victim 1 from the Western District of New York to Cairo, Egypt, and then to Sanaa, Yemen, where they confined Victim 1 for approximately 16 months with the purpose of marrying her to a man not of her choosing. In addition, on March 14, 2023, defendant Khaled Abughanem threatened to “slaughter[]” Victim 1 in retaliation for information given by Victim 1 to a law enforcement officer relating to the commission of a federal offense.

“This verdict brings to an end a difficult time for the victim, who was twice kidnapped by family members, taken to Yemen against her will, held for more than a year, denied freedom of movement and communication, physically assaulted and had her life threatened” stated U.S. Attorney Ross. “These defendants are being held accountable because of the courage of this victim and the unwavering dedication of the investigators and prosecutors on this case.”

“The FBI prioritizes the protection of civil rights and safety of American citizens,” said Matthew Miraglia, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo Field Office. Today’s verdict is a direct result of the strong investigative work conducted by the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. The FBI values all our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which are paramount.”

“The Diplomatic Security Service would like to recognize the unshakable courage of the victim in this case as well as the close collaboration between DSS, the Western District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Lackawanna Police Department,” said DSS Protective Intelligence Investigations Director Greg Anderson.” The Diplomatic Security Service has the largest global presence of any U.S. law enforcement agency and remains committed to ensuring individuals like Adham and Khaled Abughanem who commit heinous criminal acts face justice In the United States.”

The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, under the direction of Protective Intelligence Investigations Director Greg Anderson.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2025, before Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr., who presided over the trial of the case.   

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Maria D’Amato, 30, of Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 108 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who handled the case, stated that in June 2022, D’Amato knowingly received images and videos of child pornography from a minor female on her cellular telephone. D’Amato met the 14-year-old Victim through another 14-year-old. She communicated with the Victim via text, and online applications, such as Snapchat. D’Amato and the Victim engaged in sexual acts, which D’Amato recorded using her cellular telephone or the Victim’s cellular telephone. Videos record on the Victim’s cell phone would be sent to D’Amato at her request.

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

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Source: US FBI

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Takesha Rogers, 39, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with willfully entering an airport area that serves an air carrier or foreign air carrier in violation of security requirements, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on May 5, 2022, Rogers pleaded guilty to entering an airport area in violation of security requirements, admitting that she had climbed over the fence and willfully entered the Aircraft Operations Area (AOA), which is a restricted area, at the Rochester Airport on four separate occasions. Rogers was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release. In April 2023, soon after her supervised release began, Rogers again attempted to evade the security requirements at the Rochester Airport, climb a fence, and enter the AOA. She also committed additional violations, which lead to a revocation of her supervised release. In October 2023, Rogers was sentenced to one year in prison. Rogers was released in July 2024. On November 27, 2024, just after 11:30 pm, Rogers again entered a secured AOA at the Rochester Airport. A Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy responded and observed Rogers running towards a moving aircraft that was taxiing towards the runway. She was taken into custody without incident and deemed a Mental Hygiene Arrest and released to Rochester General Hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

Rogers made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson and was detained.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.

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 Ahmed Yaqoob, 24, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum of 30 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on October 18, 2024, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Town of North Collins, to follow up on a report concerning the rape of a minor. The investigation determined that a 12-year-old (victim 1) began communicating with Yaqoob on October 17, 2024, through the dating application “Pure.” Yaqoob and victim 1 made arrangements to meet at the victim’s residence in North Collins. When Yaqoob arrived, the victim and her 14-year-old sister (victim 2) got into Yaqoob’s vehicle. The complaint states that Yaqoob drove both girls to the area of Zoar Valley Road in the Town of Concord, where Yaqoob had sexual relations with victim 1 and victim 2. Investigators believe Yaqoob recorded the sexual activity on his cell phone. On October 24, 2024, investigators searched Yaqoob’s cell phone and recovered two videos that had been recorded and deleted from the device on their respective dates and times. The videos included the victims engaged in sexual relations with Yaqoob.

Members of the public who have specific information related to this case are urged to contact the FBI Buffalo Office at 716-856-7800.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.

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

ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Katherine Mott-Formicola, 54, of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to financial institution fraud and money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Testani, who is handling the case, stated that Mott-Formicola was a controlling member of several business entities, operating 10 business accounts at Five Star Bank and seven business accounts at Kinecta Federal Credit Union. Between November 29, 2022, and March 11, 2024, she perpetrated a “check-kiting” scheme by sending hundreds of checks between the various bank accounts for the purpose of fraudulently inflating the balance of the accounts. Mott-Formicola would write a check from one account for a dollar amount greater than what the bank account actually contained. Then, she would deposit the over-valued check into another bank account that she controlled at a different institution, knowing that banks typically place funds into a depositing account before confirming the funds in the withdrawing account. Accordingly, during this delay, she would temporarily inflate the cash balance in her accounts at various financial institutions by writing over-valued checks that were still honored, despite the originating account having insufficient funds. During the course of the scheme, Mott-Formicola intentionally kited over 500 over-valued checks between her various bank accounts for the purpose of over-inflating her accounts. Furthermore, because the inflated account balance would only last until the depositing institution eventually discovered that the withdrawing account had insufficient funds, Mott-Formicola would kite additional checks into the withdrawing accounts to allow the scheme to continue without detection.

In March 2024, Kinecta ultimately dishonored Mott-Formicola’s latest round of over-valued checks to her Five Star Bank accounts and charged back the amounts. Because she had already spent approximately $20,907,000 from her various Five Star accounts that she did not actually have, the charge-back resulted in an approximately $20,907,000 overdraw balance. Mott-Formicola spent the $20,907,000 on her various business ventures and personal items, such as real estate. Five Star Bank was able to recover some funds, ultimately suffering a loss of $18,979,005.79.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Executive Special Agent-in Charge Harry Chavis, New York Field Division, and the New York State Department of Financial Services, under the direction of Superintendent Adrienne A. Harris.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 1, 2025, before Judge Geraci.

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Source: US FBI

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michael Cardwell, age 39, of Rensselaer County, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

Cardwell admitted that he sexually abused an approximately 7-year-old girl over a period of months and created sexually explicit images of that victim. Cardwell also acknowledged that he had a collection of approximately 1,000 CSAM files that he obtained via the internet, including pictures of prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity.

At sentencing scheduled for May 23, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci, Cardwell faces a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 15 years and a maximum imprisonment term of 50 years, post-release supervision of at least 5 years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000, special assessments, restitution to the victims, and forfeiture of the property he used to commit he offenses. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Cardwell also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the Troy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

Source: US FBI

From January 26-31, 2025, a large-scale, multi-agency nuclear incident training exercise will take place in the vicinity of Schenectady, New York, and surrounding counties of Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady. The training exercise will not pose any risk to area residents; the public does not need to be alarmed by training-related activity, including the presence of military personnel and aircraft, and people in protective equipment.

The Departments of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and state and local partners will conduct the exercise in several areas of Schenectady and Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties as part of a series of regularly scheduled U.S. government biannual exercises. Similar trainings have been conducted in various regions across the United States since 2012.

The general areas in which the training exercise will take place include areas around Albany Airport to Stratton Air National Guard Base to northern Saratoga County. 

Several local and state law enforcement, fire, emergency management, and public health agencies will also be participating in the training, including the New York State Police, Albany, Saratoga, and Schenectady County Sheriff’s Offices and the Albany Police Department.

Exercise participants will conduct operations in personal protective equipment to simulate realistic conditions. It will also include aircraft from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The exercise is an opportunity for participating entities to practice and enhance operational readiness to respond in the event of a nuclear incident in the United States or overseas.

Due to the sensitive nature of the capabilities being implemented, the training activities are not open to the public or media.

Again, the training exercise will not pose any risk to the public.

Media inquiries may be directed to: