News from 2019


Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Local Banks

News Release: Deshaun A. McGeorge, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge David S. Cercone.


Members of Hacker Collective Face Federal Charges for Attacking Computer Systems, Emailing Mass Hoax Bomb and Shooting Threats

News Release: The two defendants allegedly are members of the Apophis Squad, a worldwide collective of computer hackers and swatters intent on using the internet to cause chaos. The collective caused disruptions by making threatening phone calls, sending bogus reports of violent school attacks via email, and launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on websites.



Tennessee Man Sentenced to 300 Months for Crossing State Line to Engage in Sex with a Minor

News Release: Late last year, Spears admitted that, in October of 2017, he traveled from Tennessee to Franklin County, Kentucky, with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor who was less than 12 years old. Spears had posted an internet ad, to which an undercover investigator with the Kentucky Attorney Generals ...


Ohio Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Sex Crimes Against Minor Girls in Multiple States

News Release: Thanks to the hard work of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, this dangerous predator is off the streets, said U.S. Attorney John Milhiser. We will continue to identify and prosecute those who prey on our children.


Federal Court Sentences California-Based Drug Trafficking Head To Years In Prison

News Release: A federal jury convicted Castro in October 2018. He was the lead defendant of a 20-defendant drug conspiracy that began in 2013 and continued until all defendants were arrested in 2017. Chief United States District Judge Robert J. Jonker handed down the sentence.


Eagles Act Introduced Would Expand Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center

News Release: WASHINGTON On Feb. 14, 2019, the EAGLES Act of 2019 was introduced by a bi-partisan group of Senators to include Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Doug Jones (D-AL), Rick Scott (R- FL), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Cory Gardner (R-CO). The EAGLES Act would reauthorize and expand the Secret Services National Threat Assessment Centers ability to conduct additional research and training to prevent targeted violence.


Former Hospital Employee Sentenced for Embezzling Hospital Funds

News Release: They trusted him and, had they not caught him, he would still be stealing from them today, said United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Hospitals like Pleasant Valley are under assault financially, let alone having to protect themselves from thieves like Durst. We all pay more for healthcare to make up for ...


Florida Man Charged With Money Laundering in $8.5 Million Account Takeover Scheme

News Release: Igor Buzyukov, 51, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to appear tomorrow in Miami federal court.


Vinalhaven Man Sentenced to Over Two Years for Making Interstate Threats

News Release: Malmstrom was convicted on Aug. 27, 2018, after a one-day jury trial.


Arrested in Granite Bay, Contra Costa County Woman Pleads Guilty in Northern California Mail Theft Scheme

News Release: According to court documents, between February and August 2018, Tinay participated in a scheme to defraud banks in which she and others used counterfeit U.S. Postal Service keys to break into residential mailboxes throughout the Eastern and Northern Districts of California. Tinay stole mail from mailboxes ...


13 Cuban Nationals Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Mail Fraud

News Release: Jose Livan Rodriguez Espinosa, age 27, of Miami, Florida, to 108 months in federal prison


Duval County Man Sentenced To Prison In Counterfeit Currency Investigation

News Release: The court also ordered Jolly to forfeit computer media used in the production of counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Jolly had pleaded guilty on October 9, 2018.


9 Members Of Bronx Drug Trafficking Organization Charged With Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, And Cocaine Out Of Auto Body Shops

News Release: U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: As alleged, these defendants were a network that outwardly offered to fix cars but was really an organization that would supply a fix of heroin or cocaine. Thanks to the work of the DEA and its Strike Force partners, we have delivered a body blow to these allegedly drug-peddling body shops.


Former Canton Resident Extradited From Ireland Sentenced On Mortgage Fraud Charges

News Release: First Extradition to the United States from Ireland since 2012


St. Clair County Man Charged With Producing Child Pornography

News Release: The one-count federal indictment alleges that the offense occurred in St. Clair County between Dec. 1, 2018, and Jan. 26, 2019. Wigfall, 47, made his initial appearance in federal district court late last week and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending an April 30, 2019 jury trial.


Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty in Ugandan-Made Counterfeit Currency Scheme

News Release: Cole M. Harris, aka Ink, 23, of Knoxville, TN pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Mark Hornak.


Remaining EPMI Property Managers Sent to Prison for Defrauding Homeowner Associations

News Release: The Powells and Ellerbrock had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for using stolen Homeowners Association (HOA) fees to enrich themselves. Last month, Harlow White - the father of Kelsey Powell and Rachel Ellerbrock - was sentenced to prison for 15 months and ordered to pay $291,420 in restitution.


Man Who Stole $889K from Employers Sentenced to More Than 3 Years in Federal Prison

News Release: According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 2013 and October 2016, Avridor stole personal bank checks from two Greenwich residents who employed him as a driver. He made the checks payable either to Cash or to himself for various amounts of money and forged the signature of ...