Category: Security

Source: US FBI

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gabriel Charron, age 53, of Milton, Vermont, was sentenced today to 132 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release, for the attempted online enticement of a minor.

Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Charron admitted that between May 2022 and March 4, 2023, he exchanged sexually explicit messages online with people he believed were a mother and an 11-year old girl, in an attempt to entice the child into engaging in sexual acts with him.  Charron also admitted that on March 4, 2023, he traveled from Vermont to a hotel in Albany County, New York, with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the 11-year old girl.  Charron was arrested by law enforcement shortly after arriving at the location. 

Charron will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.

FBI Albany investigated this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted this 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

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for sexually abusing two children under 12 years old in separate incidents spanning 2014 and 2020.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Roderick Bitsilly, 61, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to engaging in unlawful sexual contact with Jane Doe 1, a child under 12 years old, between February and August 2014. Bitsilly also pleaded guilty to similar charges involving Jane Doe 2, also under 12, between September 2019 and September 2020.

Upon his release, Bitsilly will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case 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 Department of Justice. 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, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

Source: US FBI

Patrick Wayne Platero of Nageezi pleaded guilty to federal sexual abuse charges after he engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with the victim.

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man is facing federal for allegedly assaulting federal officers and transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines after a high-speed pursuit in New Mexico.

According to court documents, on March 31, 2025, Christopher Jack Leach, 33, became aware of a warrant for his arrest in Arizona. He borrowed a friend’s vehicle under false pretenses, claiming he would drive it to another friend’s house in Arizona, but instead fled toward Florida with a passenger. The vehicle was reported stolen after the owner realized Leach’s deception. On that date, Leach and his passenger traveled across state lines, knowing the vehicle was reported stolen, and evaded law enforcement for the next several days.

On the morning of April 2, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to reports of a stolen vehicle traveling eastbound at high speed on Interstate 10 in Las Cruces. During the pursuit, Leach accelerated toward the agents’ unmarked vehicle on a narrow street, prompting one agent to exit and discharge a warning shot. Leach evaded the agents, drove into a dead-end street, drove into their vehicle causing a collision, and fled again before ultimately being apprehended by the New Mexico State Police.

Following the incident, agents from the FBI interviewed Leach’s passenger, who confirmed that Leach knowingly fled law enforcement and was aware of the vehicle’s stolen status. Leach, however, claimed memory loss during his FBI interview, stating no recollection of events between Arizona and New Mexico.

Leach is charged with assault of a federal officer and transportation of a stolen vehicle and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Leach faces up to 20 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police, and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson Hehr is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after a federal search warrant uncovered large quantities of fentanyl, firearms, and cash linked to drug trafficking activities.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, on April 10, 2024, FBI Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force agents and Task Force Officers along with agents from Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics executed a federal search warrant at the residence of Joe Angel Sandoval, 29, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, uncovering substantial evidence of drug trafficking.

During the search, investigators located:

• Over 500 grams of fentanyl pills.
• Three firearms and ammunition.
• Approximately $139,857 in cash was found inside the residence, along with $1,900 in Sandoval’s vehicle.

In his plea agreement, Sandoval admitted to being an unlawful user of fentanyl at the time of the search and acknowledged selling the fentanyl pills for approximately three to four years, making him a prohibited possessor of firearms and ammunition under federal law.

Upon his release, Sandoval will be subject to 10 years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, Las Cruces Police Department, and Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted this case.

Source: US FBI

CAMDEN, N.J. – A pain clinic with locations in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties admitted to overbilling insurance companies for services provided, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced today.

Pain Specialists, P.A., with locations in Northfield, Vineland, and Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to an information charging it with health care fraud.  Pain Specialists also signed a civil settlement with the United States to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act.

According to documents filed in this case, statements made in court, and the terms of the civil settlement:                                                                                       

Pain Specialists was owned by a physician specializing in anesthesia and pain management (“Individual-1”).  On various dates between November 2015 and January 2020 when Individual-1 was traveling and not physically present at a Pain Specialists location, Pain Specialists used Individual-1’s National Provider Identifier (“NPI”) number to bill Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans for services and procedures requiring Individual-1’s in-person consultation or Individual-1’s direct supervision of the rendering provider.  Pain Specialists received approximately $58,365.26 for services purportedly rendered by Individual-1 or directly supervised by him while he was traveling and out of the office.

In addition, Pain Specialists entered a civil settlement with the United States to resolve allegations that, between January 2014 and November 2020, Pain Specialists improperly listed a physician as the rendering provider for services that were provided by a non-physician practitioner when no physician was present in the office, in violation of Medicare’s “incident-to billing” requirements and in violation of Medicaid’s requirement that providers bill under their own NPI number.

Pain Specialists agreed to pay criminal restitution of $58,365.26, a criminal fine of $81,711.36, and a civil settlement of $240,000. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations-New Jersey Field Office, under the Direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; special agents of the FBI Atlantic City Resident Agency and the Healthcare Fraud Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark; and special agents and diversion investigators of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division and Susan Pappy of the Health Care Fraud Unit, and Trial Attorney Daniel Meyler of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section).

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Defense counsel:

Riza I. Dagli Esq., Roseland, New Jersey

Source: US FBI

CAMDEN, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to life in prison on charges stemming from his travel to have sex with a 13-year old New Jersey minor, his coercion and enticement of a minor, and his production and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

Zachary Williams, 37 of New York, New York, was previously convicted of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, production of and possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor, following a 13-day trial before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

In or about September 2020, Williams met the minor via Snapchat. He lied about his age, telling her that he was 17-years old, when in actuality, he was 33-years old. Williams asked the minor for nude photographs of herself and, after receiving them, began to “sextort” the minor by threatening to send the nude photographs to the minor’s friends and family. He ultimately convinced the minor to meet him at a hotel in Atlantic County, New Jersey, and agreed to allow her to delete the nude photographs from his phone. On October 2, 2020, Williams traveled to a hotel in Atlantic County and, two days later, engaged in sexual intercourse with the minor in his hotel room. Afterward, despite his earlier promises, Williams continued to send messages to the minor threatening to expose the minor’s nude photographs.

Law enforcement officers arrested Williams in March 2021 in a sting operation through which they lured him to the same Atlantic County hotel by posing as the minor victim. Williams’ phone contained numerous images of child pornography, which have led to the identification of additional child victims in both the Eastern District of New York and the District of Connecticut where additional charges remain pending against Williams.

In addition to the life sentence on the coercion and enticement charge, the Court sentenced Williams to 30 years’ imprisonment on each of the two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, and the count of manufacturing child pornography, and 20 years’ on the possession of child pornography count, all to run concurrent to the life sentence. 

“Zachary Williams is a callous sexual predator whose crimes against children were especially cruel,” said U.S. Attorney John Giordano.  “First and foremost, the Court’s imposed sentence will forever protect our children from further abuse by Williams.  My office, and our law enforcement partners, are steadfast in our commitment to protecting our nation’s young people.”

“A 13-year-old by any normal definition is a child. Children can’t fend for themselves, needing adults to provide food, shelter and security. Williams, and other sexual deviants, prey on helpless children for reasons most of us can’t fathom. However, it is easy to see why monsters view an innocent and defenseless child as an easy and appealing target,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly.  “At FBI Newark, alongside our law enforcement partners, we are relentless in our mission to track down and remove these dangerous predators from our communities—because every child deserves to grow up safe and free from harm.”

U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly; officers from the Galloway Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard D. Barber,  and also recognizes the efforts of the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief James A. Sarkos and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William Reynolds with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diana Vondra Carrig and Patrick C. Askin of the Criminal Division, Camden.

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Defense counsel:

Mark W. Catanzaro, Esq. (Mt. Holly, NJ)

Source: US FBI

CAMDEN, N.J. – Two former executives of a Louisiana compounding pharmacy were found guilty of conspiring to use the pharmacy to defraud New Jersey and military health benefits programs of approximately $100 million, conspiring to commit identity theft in connection with the fraud, and conspiring to transact in the criminal proceeds, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

Christopher Kyle Johnston, 46, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Trent Brockmeier, 62, of The Villages, Florida, were convicted on March 10, 2025 of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, one count of conspiring to commit identity theft by fraudulently using a means of identification, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering by transacting in criminal proceeds following a six-week trial before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

Central Rexall Drugs was a pharmacy in Louisiana that prepared compounded medications, which are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient.  In 2013, Johnston and Brockmeier entered into an agreement to take over the management of the pharmacy and expand the compounding business in exchange for 90 percent of the profits.  Brockmeier became chief operating officer of Central Rexall and Johnston became general counsel. 

Johnston and Brockmeier learned that certain insurance plans would reimburse thousands of dollars for a one-month supply of certain compounded medications – including pain, scar, and antifungal creams, as well as vitamin combinations.  The health plans for New Jersey state and local government and education employees, including teachers, firefighters, municipal police officers, and state troopers, covered these medications, as did TRICARE, which insures current and former members of the U.S. military and their families.

Johnston and Brockmeier designed compounded medications and manipulated the ingredients in the medications in order to obtain high insurance reimbursements rather than serve the medical needs of patients.  To determine which ingredients and combinations resulted in high insurance reimbursements, Johnston and Brockmeier directed Central Rexall employees to submit false prescription claims to test out different combinations of ingredients, but they did not have a valid prescription signed by a doctor for these formulas.   Central Rexall submitted these false claims using, without their consent, individuals’ names, dates of birth, and identifying information (including insurance information) from pre-existing Central Rexall prescriptions.

By use of these false claims, Johnston and Brockmeier designed compounded medications with combinations of ingredients that were chosen solely based on the amount of money that insurance would pay rather than on the medications’ ability to serve the medical needs of patients.

Johnston and Brockmeier retained and directed an outside sales force that used various methods to get doctors to prescribe these medications and patients to accept them, including having prescriptions signed without the patient seeing a doctor or knowing about the medications, having medications or refills ordered without the patients’ knowledge, paying patients to accept the medications, and paying doctors to prescribe them.

Johnston and Brockmeier caused approximately $100 million in fraudulent insurance claims for compounded medications that were not medically necessary.  Johnston received approximately $34 million and Brockmeier received approximately $5 million in illicit profits.

50 people have been convicted or pled guilty in the overarching conspiracy.

The health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gain or loss from the offense.  The conspiracy to commit identity theft count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The conspiracy to commit money laundering charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense or not more than twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transactions.  Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2025.

U.S. Attorney John Giordano credited special agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan  in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to today’s conviction.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. David Walk, Jr. and Daniel A. Friedman of the Criminal Division.

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Defense counsel:

Johnston: Lawrence S. Lustberg, Anne Collart, and Andrew Marino, Esqs. (Newark, NJ)

Brockmeier: Marc Agnifilo and David Gelfand, Esqs. (New York, NY)

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A Paterson man was indicted today by a federal grand jury for his role in committing firearms offenses after authorities discovered dozens of illicit firearms, including 3D-printed “ghost” gun frames, machine gun conversion devices, firearm silencers, short-barreled rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a 3D printer in his residence, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

Mikhail Gouldson, 36, of Paterson, New Jersey, is charged in a five-count indictment with one count of dealing in firearms without a license, one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possession of machineguns, one count of possession of unregistered firearms and one count of attempted trafficking in firearms. Gouldson, who was previously charged by complaint, will be arraigned on a date to be determined.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement intercepted multiple shipments of weaponry that were mailed to Gouldson’s residence. After searching Gouldson’s residence, law enforcement recovered large quantities of firearms and ammunition, as well as 3D printing equipment.

The dealing in firearms without a license count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment. The possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon and attempted trafficking in firearms counts each carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment. The possession of machineguns and unregistered firearms counts each carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. Each of the counts carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

U.S. Attorney John Giordano credited special agents of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Ricky J. Patel; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr.; and the postal inspectors of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, with the investigation leading to today’s charges.

This case was prosecuted under the new criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of June 2022.  The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case is also part of the Paterson Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), which was formed in 2020 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Paterson’s Department of Public Safety for the purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Paterson. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals, the Paterson Department of Public Safety, the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, N.J. State Parole, Bergen County Jail, N.J. State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, and N.J. Department of Corrections.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Rosenblum of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit in Newark.

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

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. –  A Brooklyn, New York man admitted to having entered a laboratory business on false pretenses and destroying and stealing that business’ equipment, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced.

Eric Leykin, 33, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to a one-count indictment charging him with wire fraud.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Leykin was the CEO of a clinical reference laboratory based in New Jersey. Leykin’s laboratory competed against the victim business, another clinical reference laboratory also based in New Jersey.  On June 30, 2022, Leykin bought and activated a prepaid mobile phone and called an employee of the victim business, claiming to be a technician with a vendor that the victim business used to service its laboratory equipment. On that false pretense, Leykin arranged with the victim business’ employee to come to the victim business on the following day, supposedly to service the victim business’ laboratory equipment. On July 1, 2022, the date of the supposed service appointment, Leykin went to the victim business, entered the premises fraudulently posing as a vendor technician, and proceeded to destroy a significant amount of the victim business’ laboratory and computer equipment. Leykin also stole multiple hard drives housed within the victim business’ equipment.

The wire fraud count carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Giordano credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.  U.S. Attorney Giordano also thanked the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II, and the Millburn Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Gilfedder, for substantial assistance provided to the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Trombly, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Unit, and Chana Y. Zuckier of the Bank Integrity, Recovery, and Money Laundering Unit.

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Defense counsel: Albert Dayan, Esq.; Robert DeGroot, Esq.; Oleg Nekritin, Esq.