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Federal Grand Jury

Purported Psychic Masterminded Scheme To Bilk Love-Struck Maryland Man Into $4M Scam: Feds Purported Psychic Masterminded Scheme To Bilk Love-Struck Maryland Man Into $4M Scam: Feds
Purported Psychic Masterminded Scheme To Bilk Love-Struck Maryland Man Into $4M Scam: Feds The purported psychic who masterminded an elaborate fraud, extortion, and money laundering scheme that resulted in a Maryland man embezzling more than $4 million from his DC employer will spend time in prison, federal authorities announced. Gina Rita Russell, 35, formerly of New York and Los Angeles, was sentenced to 125 months in prison following an elaborate scheme involving family members, one of whom threatened the Maryland man's young children. According to prosecutors, Russell met a New York woman and performed a psychic reading on her, convincing her that bad things would happen…
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of Federal Criminal Investigation: Report Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of Federal Criminal Investigation: Report
Mount Vernon's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of Federal Criminal Investigation: Report A federal criminal investigation is focusing on well-known hip-hop artist and longtime New Yorker Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to a report by NBC.  Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was told that he is a focus of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by federal authorities in the Southern District of New York, NBC reported.  The outlet added that as part of the probe, a federal grand jury is hearing evidence. There is nothing to suggest that charges are coming, though.  Combs has not received a lett…
Boston Man Recruited Teen Foster Child For Sex Work In Mass, NY, CT: Feds Boston Man Recruited Teen Foster Child For Sex Work In Mass, NY, CT: Feds
Boston Man Recruited Teen Foster Child For Sex Work In Mass, NY, CT: Feds A 31-year-old man from Boston admitted to trafficking a 17-year-old girl for sex at hotels in Hartford, Connecticut, and New York City, officials said. Leon Blount III met the girl, identified as Jane Doe 2, while she was living at a Massachusetts group home for adolescents, according to the US Attorney's Office for Massachusetts.  He pleaded guilty to three counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and is set for sentencing on April 24. Related: Carlos Casillas Gets 18 Years For Sex Trafficking Teen Girl Blount has been in custody sin…
Conman Steals $200K In Gold Coins From Massachusetts Estate, Feds Say Conman Steals $200K In Gold Coins From Massachusetts Estate, Feds Say
Conman Steals $200K In Gold Coins From Massachusetts Estate, Feds Say A Connecticut man is facing federal charges for allegedly swindling a Western Massachusetts estate out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in gold coins. William Dawson, age 51, was indicted on fraud charges by a federal grand jury in Worcester on Wednesday, Oct. 18. According to prosecutors, Dawson met with an employee of a home cleanout business in January 2023 after the company was hired by an estate in Shrewsbury. The employee reportedly found 170 Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins inside the home, collectively worth around $290,000. With approval from the estate, the em…
Mass Teen Tried To Help ISIS In Terrorist Group's War Against 'Disbelievers': Feds Mass Teen Tried To Help ISIS In Terrorist Group's War Against 'Disbelievers': Feds
Mass Teen Tried To Help ISIS In Terrorist Group's War Against 'Disbelievers': Feds An 18-year-old Middlesex County man has been charged with helping raise money for the terrorist group ISIS, federal authorities announced.  Mateo Ventura, 18, of Wakefield, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston this week on the charge of knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Investigators said Ventura provided multiple gift cards worth $700 to someone he believed was an ISIS supporter. The gift cards would be sold on the dark web for less than their face value, wi…
Arlington Doc Prescribed 50K Oxy Pills Illegally To Office Manager For 10 Years: Feds Arlington Doc Prescribed 50K Oxy Pills Illegally To Office Manager For 10 Years: Feds
Arlington Doc Prescribed 50K Oxy Pills Illegally To Office Manager For 10 Years: Feds An Arlington doctor not once, but twice subject to investigations is facing federal charges for illegally prescribing her own office manager more than 50,000 oxycodone pills over the span of a decade, authorities announced. A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Kirsten Van Steenberg Ball, 68, charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, and 21 counts of distribution of oxycodone, this week, according to Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Ball's office manager, Candie Marie Calix, 40, of Front Royal, used a…
Manhunt For Former Top Hogan Aide In MD Hits Week Three; $20K Reward Offered By Feds Manhunt For Former Top Hogan Aide In MD Hits Week Three; $20K Reward Offered By Feds
Manhunt For Former Top Hogan Aide In MD Hits Week Three; $20K Reward Offered By Feds Weeks after he skipped out on a scheduled fraud trial, federal officials are offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Gov. Larry Hogan's former Chief of Staff Roy McGrath.  A manhunt is underway by the US Marshals Services and other law enforcement agencies as they attempt to locate McGrath, 53, the former governor’s top aide, after he failed to make a scheduled court appearance on Monday, March 13. @USMSBaltimore has initiated an interstate fugitive investigation. It is now seeking to apprehend the former Maryland governor’s top aide after he failed to appe…
Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region
Pair Faces Life In Prison For Using Explosive Device To Rob 7-Eleven ATMs In DMV Region Two men are facing federal charges in Maryland for an explosive scheme that saw them set fire to convenience stores in an effort to rob ATMs, according to officials. Stephen Kennedy, 33, of Temple Hills, Maryland, and Donnell Kelly, 33, of Washington, DC, have been charged on a 10-count indictment by a federal grand jury on a host of charges following a yearlong conspiracy. Prosecutors say that between January 2021 and January 2022, the pair conspired to commit arsons at 7-Eleven stores so that they could obtain cash contained in ATMs inside the stores.  Specifically, the indictment …
Former DC Corrections Officer Accused Of Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate, Feds Say Former DC Corrections Officer Accused Of Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate, Feds Say
Former DC Corrections Officer Accused Of Assaulting Handcuffed Inmate, Feds Say A former District of Columbia Department of Corrections officer who allegedly assaulted a handcuffed inmate has been charged with using unreasonable force federal officials announced. Officials say that a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday, Nov 30, charging former officer Marcus Bias, 26, for an alleged incident more than three years ago. According to the indictment, while working as a corrections officer, Bias pushed a handcuffed pre-trial detainee’s head into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the Department of Co…
Feds: Ex-Owner, CEO 'Pilfered' $3.9M From Bergen Pharma Company To Fund Lavish Lifestyle Feds: Ex-Owner, CEO 'Pilfered' $3.9M From Bergen Pharma Company To Fund Lavish Lifestyle
Feds: Ex-Owner, CEO 'Pilfered' $3.9M From Bergen Pharma Company To Fund Lavish Lifestyle The former founder and CEO of a Bergen County pharmaceutical firm embezzled $3.9 million from the business to help pay credit card charges, property taxes and his kid's private school tuition, an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Friday says. John Klein, 76, was arrested by federal agents last December. By that point, he'd been sued in federal court by several people with whom he either worked or collected investment money from at Cambridge Therapeutic Technologies in Teaneck, records show. Klein -- now of Tampa, Florida -- "looted and pilfered" the company to fund a "lavish" …
Lowell Money Manager Admits To Stealing $3.5M From Clients, Elderly Couple's Life Savings: Feds Lowell Money Manager Admits To Stealing $3.5M From Clients, Elderly Couple's Life Savings: Feds
Lowell Money Manager Admits To Stealing $3.5M From Clients, Elderly Couple's Life Savings: Feds A Lowell money manager who police arrested trying to flee the country pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars of his client's money, including one elderly couple's entire life savings, federal authorities said.  Steven Xigoros, 55, pleaded guilty this week to two counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of filing a false tax return, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Xigoros worked as an accountant, tax preparer, and investment advisor who federal investigators said used that position to misappropriate millions of dollars from his cl…
Massachusetts Man Indicted For Bank Robbery Massachusetts Man Indicted For Bank Robbery
Massachusetts Man Indicted For Bank Robbery A Massachusetts man with a lengthy rap sheet is facing more time in prison after being busted for an alleged bank robbery in Cambridge, federal prosecutors announced. Boston resident Jamaal Copeland, age 49, was indicted by a federal grand jury in connection to the robbery of a TD bank branch in the region. Prosecutors said that Copeland was charged with one count of bank robbery and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date after being charged in a criminal complaint in May. According to court documents, on Wednesday, April 27, Copeland entered the TD Bank branch on Massachus…
CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin
CT Man Sentenced For Distributing Heroin A Connecticut man will spend more than two years in prison after being sentenced for distributing heroin, federal officials announced. New Haven County resident Adam Mines, age 38, of Naugatuck, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in December 2021 to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. US Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said that according to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2020, the DEA New Haven Task Force and Waterbury Police Department began an investigation into a drug trafficking o…
Two Accused PA Meth Dealers Could Face $10Mil Fine Or Life In Prison For Crimes: Indictment Two Accused PA Meth Dealers Could Face $10Mil Fine Or Life In Prison For Crimes: Indictment
Two Accused PA Meth Dealers Could Face $10Mil Fine Or Life In Prison For Crimes: Indictment Two Harrisburg men have been accused of trafficking methamphetamine, according to an indictment by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Steven Seibert, 42, and Dennis Banegas, 46, both of Harrisburg, were indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, Thursday, April 28 by a federal grand jury. Seibert and Banegas are accused of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine between October 2018 and January 2019, and attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on January 7, 2019, in Dauphin …
Maryland NSA Employee Sent Out Top Secret Info Using Personal Email: Feds Maryland NSA Employee Sent Out Top Secret Info Using Personal Email: Feds
Maryland NSA Employee Sent Out Top Secret Info Using Personal Email: Feds A federal grand jury has returned charges to a Hanover man who allegedly sent top secret information to another person using his personal email, the US Attorney's Office for Maryland reports. Mark Unkenholz, 60, "willfully transmitted" National Defense Information (NDI) to someone who was not entitled to receive it 13 times from February 14, 2018 to June 1, 2020, the office reports.   As an employee of the National Security Agency (NSA), Unkenholz had access to NDI, which is  typically classified as "Top Secret," "Secret" or "Confidential."  In addition, only certa…
Hudson Valley Man Among Four Charged In $40M Scam Hudson Valley Man Among Four Charged In $40M Scam
Hudson Valley Man Among Four Charged In $40M Scam A Hudson Valley man was among four charged in an 11-count indictment for allegedly stealing more than $40 million in investor funds as part of a cryptocurrency scam, federal authorities announced. On Tuesday, March 8, US Attorney Breon Peace announced that four owners and operators of online cryptocurrency companies - including one from Dutchess County - are facing a host of charges for allegedly running a sophisticated scheme to steal from investors and later attempting to obstruct justice as they were being investigated. Those charged, according to the US Attorney’s Office: Gregory Agg…
59-Year-Old Worcester County Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn 59-Year-Old Worcester County Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn
59-Year-Old Worcester County Man Accused Of Possessing Child Porn A 59-year-old Massachusetts man is facing charges after being busted with dozens of child pornography videos that included some depicting children as young as 2 years old, federal authorities announced. Worcester County resident Joseph Michael Smith, age 59, of Spencer, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of child pornography. Prosecutors said that investigators received multiple tips that child pornography was shared from a messenger account tied to Smith’s address. During a search of Smith’s Massachusetts home on Nov. 10, 2021, a USB drive was seized by investigato…
CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses
CT Resident Indicted For Alleged Child Exploitation Offenses A Connecticut man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving child pornography and the distribution of child pornography. New Haven County resident Kevin Curley, age 40, of Naugatuck, appeared on Tuesday, Dec. 21, in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges, said Leonard C Boyle, Acting US Attorney for the District of Connecticut. In 2020, officials began investigating Curley for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos via a hidden service website, court documents show. In August 2020, investigators con…
Maryland Man Indicted For Robbing 5 Central PA Banks Maryland Man Indicted For Robbing 5 Central PA Banks
Maryland Man Indicted For Robbing 5 Central PA Banks A Maryland man has been indicted for committing five bank robberies in Adams, Cumberland, and York Counties between July 19, 2021 and Oct. 5, 202, according to the US Department of Justice. James Henderson Bryant III, 34, of Westminster, Maryland, was indicted by a federal grand jury for the robberies on Dec. 1, according to a release by the USDOJ.  Bryant is accused of stealing approximately $28,823 during the five robberies, which are as follows according to the release: July 19, 2021 - BB&T Bank, Hanover, PA $3,026 Aug. 9, 2021 - BB&T Bank, Gettysburg, PA $8,670 Aug. 30, 2…
Federal Grand Jury Indicts South Jersey Officer Who Pepper-Sprayed Handcuffed Driver Federal Grand Jury Indicts South Jersey Officer Who Pepper-Sprayed Handcuffed Driver
Federal Grand Jury Indicts South Jersey Officer Who Pepper-Sprayed Handcuffed Driver An angry South Jersey police officer doused a drunk driver with pepper spray twice after he’d been handcuffed, then filed a false report about the incident, an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Thursday alleges. Another officer had handcuffed the disruptive driver and was beginning to put him in the rear of a patrol vehicle at a local gas station when Bridgeton Police John Grier III “grabbed a large can of OC spray and pulled out the pin,” Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig said. Grier, 49, of Cedarville, told the officer to “step back,” then asked the driver, “Do you want to …
CT Man Known As 'Buck' Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old CT Man Known As 'Buck' Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old
CT Man Known As 'Buck' Charged For Murder Of 21-Year-Old A 30-year-old man already behind bars for distributing heroin is facing life in prison or the death penalty after being charged with a drug-related murder of a man in Hartford nearly seven years ago. Antwane Williams-Bey, also known as “Buck,” has been charged for his role in the murder of Valentin Santos Jr., 21, in Hartford, on Aug. 12, 2013. U.S. Attorney John Durham said that on Sept. 24 last year, a federal grand jury indicted Williams-Bey with murder for the shooting death of Santos, allegedly in relation and to further his drug trafficking. Durham said that the murder was done “deli…
CT Woman Admits Lying To Grand Jury About Kidnapping, Triple Homicide CT Woman Admits Lying To Grand Jury About Kidnapping, Triple Homicide
CT Woman Admits Lying To Grand Jury About Kidnapping, Triple Homicide A 26-year-old Connecticut woman has admitted to making false statements before a federal grand jury in connection with an investigation into the kidnapping and murder of two individuals, and the related murder of a third individual, in November 2015, authorities announced. According to court documents and statements made in Bridgeport Court,  On Nov. 16, 2015, Laquasia Samms, also known as “Quasia,” 26, of New Haven, was present when an illegal firearm transaction was occurring in her apartment on Shelton Avenue in New Haven. Damian Connor and Tamar Lawrence were also pr…
Man Accused Of Producing Images Of Child Sex Abuse In Fairfield County Man Accused Of Producing Images Of Child Sex Abuse In Fairfield County
Man Accused Of Producing Images Of Child Sex Abuse In Fairfield County A Fairfield County man faces up to 30 years in prison after being busted on child pornography charges. Easton resident Robert McGuire, 41, has been arrested and charged by a federal grand jury with the production of child pornography on multiple occasions over the course of more than two years. The indictment alleges that McGuire produced images of child pornography between February 2018 and June this year. The investigation into McGuire was led by the FBI and Easton Police Department. McGuire, who has been detained since his arrest by the Easton Police Department on Friday, July 10, …
Two Connecticut Men Charged With Sex Trafficking A Minor Two Connecticut Men Charged With Sex Trafficking A Minor
Two Connecticut Men Charged With Sex Trafficking A Minor Two East Hartford men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in New Haven on charges related to the sex trafficking of a minor. On Thursday, Aug. 20, Joel “Joey Guapo” Lindsay, 22, and Joseph Pina, 23, both of East Hartford were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a minor. Linsay is also charged with sex trafficking of a minor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Connecticut. Lindsay and Pina are accused of recruiting, enticing, and transporting a minor to engage in commercial sex acts, the Attorney’s Office said. Linsday and Pina are facing life in p…
Ex-CFO Manipulated Documents To Overcharge Customers, Feds Say Ex-CFO Manipulated Documents To Overcharge Customers, Feds Say
Ex-cfo Manipulated Documents To Overcharge Customers, Feds Say The former chief financial officer of a Connecticut company has been indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with fraud offenses. Torrington Joseph Nader, 53, the CFO of RAM Specialty Fabrications, a company specializing in sheet metal fabrication services in Naugatuck, was charged in a six-count indictment by a federal grand jury in New Haven, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. It is alleged that from 2013 through February 2017, while serving as CFO, Nader defrauded his company by making false representations to the company’s owners regarding the company’s financial status.&nb…
Former Area Resident Charged With Possessing Child Pornography Former Area Resident Charged With Possessing Child Pornography
Former Area Resident Charged With Possessing Child Pornography A former Connecticut resident with a previous conviction for possessing child pornography is facing new charges for the same crime. Michelle Lynn Gschlecht, formerly known as Richard Gschlecht, 49, last known to reside in New Haven, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Hartford charging him with possession of child pornography. It is alleged that Gschlecht knowingly possessed the forbidden material on July 31. He was previously convicted in state court of possession f child pornography and first-degree sexual assault. Gschlecht has been detained since her arrest on a probation violation…
Hamden Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Explosives Hamden Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Explosives
Hamden Man Charged With Illegally Possessing Explosives A Connecticut convict is facing charges after being busted with illegal explosives, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. Kenneth Lupoli, 57, of Hamden, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with one count of possession of explosives by a convicted felon. It is alleged that on May 28, Lupoli was found in possession of several explosives, including fireworks, fuses, and salutes. Lupoli has a previous criminal history that includes state felony convictions for illegal possession of explosives and criminal possession of a pistol or revolver. Durham noted that it is a violation of fe…
Felon From Bridgeport On Supervised Release Had Heroin, Handgun, Police Say Felon From Bridgeport On Supervised Release Had Heroin, Handgun, Police Say
Felon From Bridgeport On Supervised Release Had Heroin, Handgun, Police Say A convicted felon from Fairfield County is facing new weapons and drug charges after he was busted with an illegal semi-automatic pistol and heroin while on supervised release from federal prison. A federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned a six-count indictment charging Lynwood Cogdell, 32, of Bridgeport, with firearms and narcotics offenses,” U.S. Attorney John Durham announced. Cogdell has pleaded not guilty to the charges. On May 1, 2015, Cogdell pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possessing a firearm by a convicted felon. On March 15, 2016, he was sentenced to 36 mont…
CT Man Faces Child Exploitation Charge CT Man Faces Child Exploitation Charge
CT Man Faces Child Exploitation Charge A man with a previous conviction for child pornography in Connecticut is facing new child exploitation charges. Michael Szwarc, last known to live in Hartford, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced on Thursday, Feb. 14. Durham said the indictment was returned on Tuesday, Feb. 5. Szwarc, 31, has pleaded not guilty to the latest charge. He will remain detained until his trial. The indictment alleges that between June and September last year, Szwarc received images of minors engaged in sexually explicit activ…
63-Year-Old Dealer Sentenced After Admitting To Distributing Heroin That Led To Fatal Overdose 63-Year-Old Dealer Sentenced After Admitting To Distributing Heroin That Led To Fatal Overdose
63-Year-Old Dealer Sentenced After Admitting To Distributing Heroin That Led To Fatal Overdose A 63-year-old Connecticut man has been sentenced to more than a year behind bars after admitting to distributing heroin that led to a fatal overdose. New Haven resident Curtis "Kirk" Draughn has been sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty in court to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, for his role in the overdose death of a 33-year-old man. The sentencing comes as part of an "ongoing statewide initiative targeting narcotics dealers who distribute heroin, fentanyl or opioids that cause d…
Man Admits To Drug Charge Related To Heroin OD Death Man Admits To Drug Charge Related To Heroin OD Death
Man Admits To Drug Charge Related To Heroin OD Death A 63-year-old Connecticut man has admitted to distributing heroin that led to a fatal overdose. New Haven resident Curtis "Kirk" Draughn pleaded guilty in court to one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, for his role in the overdose death of a 33-year-old man.  According to police, following the fatal overdose in December 2016, investigators determined that the victim had called “Kirk” prior to his overdose. In May last year, investigators contacted “Kirk,” who was identified to be Draughn, asking about purchasing heroin. In May, June and Augu…