Category: Security

Source: US FBI

Rochester, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Gregory Pum, 48, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson to possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Meghan K. McGuire, who are handling the case, stated that in January 2014, Pum was convicted in Monroe County Court of Possessing Sexual Performance by a Child Less than 16, and sentenced to serve six months in jail, followed by 10 years’ probation. Pum violated his probation terms and was resentenced to prison. He was discharged from parole on May 31, 2016.

In May 2022, law enforcement received two cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), that a user of an email account, later determined to belong to Pum, had uploaded 29 images and a video of child pornography to a file sharing site. Investigators later received seven additional  cybertips related to the same email account. In June 2022, a search warrant was executed at Pum’s residence, during which electronic devices that contained images of child pornography were seized. On March 11, 2024, while Pum was on pretrial release, law enforcement executed another  search warrant at his residence after receiving two additional NCMEC cybertips. An iPhone was seized and found to contain 19 images and one video of child pornography.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Miklos Szoczei III, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 20, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. 

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jose Francisco Cardoso Tehovnik, 21, of Orlando, Florida, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor, and production, receipt, and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin M. Higgins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in February 2024, Tehovnik began communicating with a minor female (victim) in the Western District of New York on the social media application Instagram, before moving the conversation to Snapchat. During these conversations, Tehovnik and the victim exchanged naked images, which included child pornography of the victim, and Tehovnik made plans to travel to the Western District of New York. In April 2024, Tehovnik flew from Florida to New York to engage in sexual activity with the victim, before returning to Florida. On June 4, 2024, Tehovnik came back to the Western District of New York, picked up the victim, and traveled to New Jersey, where law enforcement located him with the victim. Tehovnik was arrested and taken into custody. 

Tehovnik made an initial appearance this morning in the District of New Jersey and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.

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 Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari.

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 Arcides Castillo-Dieguez, 59, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. The charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. McGrath, who is handling the case, stated that over the course of a long-term narcotics investigation, law enforcement identified Castillo-Dieguez as a bulk supply source of fentanyl for other Rochester drug dealers. Investigators identified several locations from which Castillo-Dieguez either sold or stashed fentanyl for future distribution. In May 2023, multiple search warrants were executed at three of these locations on Avenue A, East Main Street, and Durnan Street. One of the locations was used as a day care facility. Investigators seized over four kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and heroin. Drug paraphernalia was also seized during the searches. This is Castillo-Dieguez’s sixth felony conviction for an offense involving the illegal distribution of controlled substances.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, and the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET).                         

Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Geraci.

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael P. Daly, 49, of Cheektowaga, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison, and 25 years supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Daly was also ordered to pay $23,000 in victim-related assessments.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in June 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report from Microsoft Bing that one of their users uploaded an image of child pornography. Subsequent investigation traced the image to Daly. On October 22, 2020, investigators  executed a search warrant at Daly’s residence in Cheektowaga, seizing a laptop computer, a flash drive, and an iPhone. A forensic search of all three items recovered over 200,000 images and 95 videos of child pornography. Some of the images include prepubescent minors and depictions of violence.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Miraglia, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards, III, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons.

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Source: US FBI

BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Wul Isaac Chol, 27, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that Genesis Market is an online marketplace 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. Between June 2019, and January 2021, Chol deposited approximately $105.08 worth of bitcoin in a Genesis account that he had created. Chol used the funds he deposited in his Genesis account to purchase 21 packages of unauthorized access devices. Those packages contained, in total, approximately 778 unauthorized access devices. In addition, Chol admits that he obtained, without authorization, $25,164.00 from the New York State Department of Labor.

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

Sentencing is scheduled for September 13, 2024, before Judge Sinatra.

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Source: US FBI

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aaron Griesche, age 41, of Niskayuna, New York, was sentenced today to 135 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing child pornography. 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.

As part of his prior guilty plea, Griesche admitted that on July 11, 2021, he possessed child pornography on a USB flash memory stick found in his residence.  Griesche admitted that he had purchased the memory stick from an online retailer and transferred numerous videos of child pornography from the Internet to the device.

In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, Griesche was ordered to pay a total of $18,000 in restitution to child victims depicted in the files he possessed.

The FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force investigated this case.  The FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorney Dustin C. Segovia prosecuted 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 Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locates, 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

ALBANY, NEW YORK –Jason Miller, age 33, of Plattsburgh, New York, was sentenced today to serve 120 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.

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.

As part of his guilty plea, Miller admitted that on March 17, 2021, he possessed images on his cell phone of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant’s conduct was uncovered during a joint law enforcement investigation into an online group sharing images of child pornography on Kik, a social media messaging application. The defendant admitted to receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography on Kik.

United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a term of 15 years of supervised release, which will start after Miller is released from prison. Miller will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Miller was previously convicted on May 16, 2016, in Clinton County Court of disseminating indecent material to minors in the first degree. Following multiple violations of probation, he was sentenced to 16 months to 4 years’ imprisonment.

The FBI investigated this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham prosecuted the case.

Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and is designed to marshal 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

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 28, 2024, Clair Deslandes, 65, of Island Pond, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 30 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Deslandes previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States.

According to court records, Deslandes became associated with his codefendant Juan Carlos “JC” Ortiz in late 2021 while Ortiz was staying at multiple residences in and around Orleans County, Vermont, for the purpose of distributing drugs. Deslandes purchased controlled substances from Ortiz, both for his own consumption and for distribution to others in the Northeast Kingdom. Witnesses explained that Deslandes allowed Ortiz and other drug dealers to periodically stay at his Island Pond residence, which was used to store and distribute controlled substances to customers. Deslandes appears to have continued his drug interactions with Ortiz until Ortiz was arrested in August 2022. Earlier in this case, Judge Reiss sentenced Ortiz to 95 months’ imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy.

The sentencing hearing followed a long-term investigation conducted by multiple local, county, state and federal agencies that was led by the Northeastern Vermont Drug Task Force (NEVDTF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). NEVDTF and ATF were assisted in this investigation by agents with Homeland Security Investigations, detectives and troopers from the Vermont State Police; members of the Orleans and Essex County Sheriff’s Departments, the Newport Police Department; aviators with the Air & Marine Operations component of United States Customs & Border Protection; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaboration of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies during the investigation and prosecution of the case.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher. William Kraham, Esq. represented Clair Deslandes.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

Source: US FBI

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 27, 2024, John Van Vught, 73, of Northfield, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 27 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Van Vught was also ordered to pay $558,625 of restitution to ValleyNet. Van Vught previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud on February 22, 2024.

According to court records, from 2010 through July 2022, Van Vught was employed as an accountant for ValleyNet, a non-profit operator of fiber-to-the-home internet networks in east-central Vermont. As part of this work, Van Vught provided accounting services, including managing company bank accounts, which allowed him to execute electronic funds transfers and pay bills from ValleyNet accounts. Between approximately 2013 until July 2022, Van Vught embezzled approximately $558,625 from ValleyNet’s accounts by conducting electronic transfers. After Van Vught’s embezzlement was suspected in the summer of 2022, Van Vught provided intentionally erroneous documentation to ValleyNet leadership in an attempt to further obfuscate his theft. After being confronted with evidence of his crime by ValleyNet leadership, Van Vught fled Vermont, initially traveling west to New Mexico, then back east to Brunswick, Georgia, where he was apprehended by the FBI.

United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt. Van Vught was represented by Federal Public Defender Michael Desautels.

Source: US FBI

Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 24, 2024, Jeremy Allin, 54, of Lancaster, New Hampshire was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 14 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Allin previously pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States.

According to court records, Allin became associated with his codefendant Juan Carlos “JC” Ortiz in late 2021 while Ortiz was staying at multiple residences in and around Orleans County, Vermont, for the purpose of distributing drugs. Allin initially purchased controlled substances from Ortiz for his own consumption, but he eventually began working with Ortiz to complete drug transactions and to provide transportation for the drug activities. Following the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Westfield, Vermont in February 2022, Ortiz began staying with other conspirators at their residences throughout the Northeast Kingdom, including with Allin. At the time, Allin was living in Lunenburg, Vermont. Allin continued his drug interactions with Ortiz until Ortiz was arrested in August 2022. Earlier in this case, Judge Reiss sentenced Ortiz to 95 months’ imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy.

The sentencing hearing followed a long-term investigation conducted by multiple local, county, state and federal agencies that was led by the Northeastern Vermont Drug Task Force (NEVDTF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). NEVDTF and ATF were assisted in this investigation by agents with Homeland Security Investigations, detectives and troopers from the Vermont State Police; members of the Orleans and Essex County Sheriff’s Departments, the Newport Police Department; aviators with the Air & Marine Operations component of United States Customs & Border Protection; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaboration of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies during the investigation and prosecution of the case.

The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher. Kevin Henry, Esq. represented Jeremy Allin.

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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.