Tag:

US Attorney for Massachusetts

Western Mass Man Who Admitted To Child Porn Videos Gets 5 Years In Prison Western Mass Man Who Admitted To Child Porn Videos Gets 5 Years In Prison
Western Mass Man Who Admitted To Child Porn Videos Gets 5 Years In Prison A 63-year-old Berkshire County man who admitted to watching child sexual abuse material will spend more than five years in prison, authorities said.  Robert Kend, of Lanesborough, pleaded guilty to receipt of child sexual abuse material in May, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. A judge sentenced him last week to 68 months in prison.  Police searched Kend's home on Sept. 12, 2023, and found an iPhone and Macbook computer that had videos of children between the ages of 8 and 15, authorities said. In some of the videos, Kend can be seen in a picture-in-picture box also performi…
Western Mass Man Admits To Sending Nudes To Agent Posing As 14-Year-Old Online: Feds Western Mass Man Admits To Sending Nudes To Agent Posing As 14-Year-Old Online: Feds
Western Mass Man Admits To Sending Nudes To Agent Posing As 14-Year-Old Online: Feds A 37-year-old Berkshire County didn't realize the 14-year-old girl he was sending nude photos to and begging her to reciprocate was a federal agent until he was arrested, authorities said.  Paul J. Bruzzi, of Lenox, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, July 16, to one count of attempt to transfer obscene material to a minor, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Bruzzi began a conversation online with someone he believed to be a 14-year-old girl in September 2022. During their talks, he sent nine photos and videos of his genitals to the girl in an attempt to have her send him simila…
Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds
Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds A 39-year-old Reading man is accused of helping smuggle the skulls, skins, and other parts of animals — many of them endangered — into the United States to sell on the black market, federal authorities said.  Adam Bied is charged with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and three counts of violating the Lacey Act which prohibits trafficking in wildlife, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The indictment said Bied brought in more than 100 animal parts from January 2018 through June 2021, knowin…
Ex-Mass State Senator Accused Of Fraud Now Charged With Lying About 'Sham Job Offer': Feds Ex-Mass State Senator Accused Of Fraud Now Charged With Lying About 'Sham Job Offer': Feds
Ex-Mass State Senator Accused Of Fraud Now Charged With Lying About 'Sham Job Offer': Feds A former state senator already facing 28 counts of fraud and tax evasion is now accused of lying about a fake job offer at his sister's company, federal authorities said.  Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on one count of obstruction of justice and one count of making a false statement. Tran's sister, Tuyet T. Martin, 54, of Pelham, New Hampshire, was indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of perjury, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Related: Ex-State Senator Charged With Illegally Collecting $30K In Unemployment Benefits “The charges …
More Charges For Western Mass Man Accused Of 'One Of The Worst Cases' Of Child Sexual Abuse More Charges For Western Mass Man Accused Of 'One Of The Worst Cases' Of Child Sexual Abuse
More Charges For Western Mass Man Accused Of 'One Of The Worst Cases' Of Child Sexual Abuse Federal authorities charged a 38-year-old Berkshire County man already facing more than four dozen charges of child sexual abuse with two more on Wednesday, May 29.  Brain Warner, of Cheshire, was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual exploitation of a child on Wednesday, May 29, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He previously lived in Adams.  Warner was arrested in April and charged with 51 counts of sexually abusing a minor, including multiple accusations of raping a child, indecent assault and battery, and 26 counts of child pornogr…
Ex-Central Mass 2nd Grade Teacher Gets 3.5 Years After Admitting To Child Porn Charge: Feds Ex-Central Mass 2nd Grade Teacher Gets 3.5 Years After Admitting To Child Porn Charge: Feds
Ex-Central Mass 2nd Grade Teacher Gets 3.5 Years After Admitting To Child Porn Charge: Feds A 36-year-old former Milford second-grade teacher will spend more than three years behind bars after he admitted to having thousands of images of child sexual abuse material, federal authorities said.  Vincent Kiejzo pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in December and was sentenced to 42 months in prison on Wednesday, May 15, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The former Memorial Elementary School teacher must also pay $43,500 in restitution to the victims.  Police began investigating Kiejzo in 2019 after his IP address was linked t…
Mass Man Aimed High-Powered Laser At Coast Guard Helicopter Forcing Them To Abort Landing: Feds Mass Man Aimed High-Powered Laser At Coast Guard Helicopter Forcing Them To Abort Landing: Feds
Mass Man Aimed High-Powered Laser At Coast Guard Helicopter Forcing Them To Abort Landing: Feds A 59-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested after federal investigators said he shined a high-powered laser into the windshield of a US Coast Guard helicopter, forcing the pilot to change their landing location, authorities said.  Philip Gagnon, of Boston, was charged on Monday, May 13, with one count of aiming a laser pointer at a Coast Guard helicopter and was released with conditions, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The incident happened on Sept. 21, when a US Coast Guard helicopter was taking part in a training exercise and attempting to land at Massachuset…
Western Mass Sex Offender Gets 10 Years For Child Porn Western Mass Sex Offender Gets 10 Years For Child Porn
Western Mass Sex Offender Gets 10 Years For Child Porn A Berkshire County registered sex offender will return to prison after admitting to having child sexual abuse material and an illegal shotgun, federal authorities said.  Brian Hohman, 60, of Sandisfield, pleaded guilty in January to one charge of possession of child pornography and one charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday, May 2.  Hohman was arrested in September 2023 after police found a laptop at his home with more than 300 images and two videos featuring children b…
Ex-Western Mass Schools Superintendent Who Sent Threats To Police Chief Candidate Sentenced Ex-Western Mass Schools Superintendent Who Sent Threats To Police Chief Candidate Sentenced
Ex-Western Mass Schools Superintendent Who Sent Threats To Police Chief Candidate Sentenced The former superindentent of a Hampden County school district will avoid jail time for lying to FBI agents about sending nearly 100 threatening messages to a candidate for Chicopee police chief, authorities said.  Lynn Clark, 53, of Belchertown, was sentenced to a year of probation and a $1,000 fine on Tuesday, April 30, after pleading guilty to two counts of making false statements in January, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Clark had been head of the Chicopee School District when she made the threatening texts, authorities said.  Acting US Attorney for Massachuset…
Mass Man Who Hired Hitman To Kill Ex-Wife For Her 'Independent Thinking' Gets 8 Years: Feds Mass Man Who Hired Hitman To Kill Ex-Wife For Her 'Independent Thinking' Gets 8 Years: Feds
Mass Man Who Hired Hitman To Kill Ex-Wife For Her 'Independent Thinking' Gets 8 Years: Feds A 47-year-old Boston man who attempted multiple times to hire a hitman to kill his ex-wife and her new boyfriend will spend nearly eight years behind bars, federal authorities announced.  Mohammed Chowdhury, who pleaded guilty in January to two counts of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, was sentenced last week to 92 months in federal prison, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  “Mr. Chowdhury literally thought he could get away with murder,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Mr. Chowdhury’s disturbing conduct – in co…
Oxford Man Coerced Multiple Children Into Making Child Porn: Feds Oxford Man Coerced Multiple Children Into Making Child Porn: Feds
Oxford Man Coerced Multiple Children Into Making Child Porn: Feds A 41-year-old Worcester County man is accused of multiple sex crimes against children, including coercing several into producing child sexual assault material, authorities announced on Friday, April 26.  Michael Lamountain, of Oxford, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, one count of sex trafficking of a minor, and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  He was previously arrested and charged in February with a Rhode Island man for filming their assault of an underage girl. He has remained in custod…
Western Mass Man Drove Child Across State Lines For Sex: Feds Western Mass Man Drove Child Across State Lines For Sex: Feds
Western Mass Man Drove Child Across State Lines For Sex: Feds A 50-year-old Berkshire County man is accused of driving a minor to have sex, authorities said.  Paul Newton-Irelan is charged with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Newton-Irelan allegedly drove the minor to New York and Massachusetts on Nov. 26, 2023, as part of a scheme for sex, authorities said. He told police he thought the girl was 18, but she was 11 years old, reports said.  According to federal sentencing guidelines, he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison if convicted followed …
'I Obey': Man Threw Bomb At Satanic Temple In Mass Because God Told Him To, Feds Say 'I Obey': Man Threw Bomb At Satanic Temple In Mass Because God Told Him To, Feds Say
'I Obey': Man Threw Bomb At Satanic Temple In Mass Because God Told Him To, Feds Say An Oklahoma man has been arrested and charged with throwing a pipe bomb at the Satanic Temple in Salem after the group did not heed his God's warnings to repent, federal authorities said.  Sean Patrick Palmer, 49, of Perkins, Okla., is charged with using an explosive to cause damage to a building used in interstate or foreign commerce, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Surveillance video taken just before 4:15 a.m. shows a person in all-black clothing, a black face mask, a tactical vest, and gloves approach and throw something at the "temple." Moments later, the prosec…
Central Mass Kid's Magician Gets 6 Years For Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds Central Mass Kid's Magician Gets 6 Years For Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds
Central Mass Kid's Magician Gets 6 Years For Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds A Worcester County, Massachusetts, magician who has performed in the area for 20 years was sentenced Thursday, March 28, to six years behind bars for having child sexual abuse material in his luggage after returning from an overseas flight, authorities said.  Scott Jameson, age 47, of Sutton, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of transportation of child pornography, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He had faced potentially decades in prison for the charges.  Action Pour Les Enfants, a Cambodian child-protection group, …
Man Who Threatened To Harm Mass Doctor Over Her Work With Trans Kids Gets 3 Months: Feds Man Who Threatened To Harm Mass Doctor Over Her Work With Trans Kids Gets 3 Months: Feds
Man Who Threatened To Harm Mass Doctor Over Her Work With Trans Kids Gets 3 Months: Feds A Texas man who threatened a Boston doctor for her work with transgender children will spend three months behind bars.  Matthew Jordan Lindner, 39, of Comfort, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transmission of threatening communication, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Along with his prison sentence, he must pay nearly $3,000 in restitution and spend three years on probation.  Investigators said Lindner called the Boston-based National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center on Aug. 31, 2022, and left a hate-filled voicemail.  “You sick motherf*****s, you’re a…
Mass Ex-FedEx Driver Who Sold Guns He Stole From Truck Gets 6 Days In Prison: Feds Mass Ex-FedEx Driver Who Sold Guns He Stole From Truck Gets 6 Days In Prison: Feds
Mass Ex-FedEx Driver Who Sold Guns He Stole From Truck Gets 6 Days In Prison: Feds A former FedEx driver who sold guns he stole from his truck will not return to prison despite his guilty plea, authorities announced.  Frank P. O’Toole, 40, of Middleborough, was sentenced to time served on Friday, Feb. 2, after he admitted to two counts of possession or sale of a stolen firearm, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. The government had requested the judge impose a 10-month sentence.  O'Toole took three packages during his time as a Fed-Ex driver from Oct. 2021 until June 2022 that contained two rifles and a shotgun, the prosecutor said. He sold those g…
Martha's Vineyard Man Who Wore Wig, Used Fake Bomb In Bank Robbery Gets 8 Years: Feds Martha's Vineyard Man Who Wore Wig, Used Fake Bomb In Bank Robbery Gets 8 Years: Feds
Martha's Vineyard Man Who Wore Wig, Used Fake Bomb In Bank Robbery Gets 8 Years: Feds A 40-year-old Martha's Vineyard former clothing store owner who admitted to robbing a bank on Cape Cod last year will spend more than eight years behind bars, authorities announced.  Petar Petyoshin, of Edgartown, pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery in October and was sentenced to 100 months in prison on Monday, Feb. 5, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He faced a potential 25-year prison sentence.  Investigators said Petyoshin robbed the Rockland Trust Bank branch in the Cape Cod town of Falmouth on April 8, wearing a blonde wig and face mask and pointing a pi…
Mass Sex Offender Admits To Having 5,000 Child Porn Files, Mutilated Dolls: Feds Mass Sex Offender Admits To Having 5,000 Child Porn Files, Mutilated Dolls: Feds
Mass Sex Offender Admits To Having 5,000 Child Porn Files, Mutilated Dolls: Feds A Billerica registered sex offender has pleaded guilty to possessing more than 5,000 of child sexual abuse material that featured children as young as infants being abused, federal authorities said.  Eric Robert Johnson, 50, a lifetime Level 2 sex offender, admitted to one count of child porn possession Monday, Jan. 29, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He faces a minimum of 10 years in prison when he's sentenced in May.  Johnson was arrested in February 2022 after police searched his home and found 25 electronic devices, including laptops, hard drives, and other electronic …
'We Should Kill You All': Mass Man Threatened To Kill Jews, Bomb Synagogues, Feds Say 'We Should Kill You All': Mass Man Threatened To Kill Jews, Bomb Synagogues, Feds Say
'We Should Kill You All': Mass Man Threatened To Kill Jews, Bomb Synagogues, Feds Say Police arrested a 59-year-old Norfolk County man after investigators say he left voicemails threatening to kill Jewish people and blow up their places of worship.  John Reardon, of Millis, is charged with one count of using a facility of interstate commerce to threaten a person or place with harm via an explosive, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said on Monday. Reardon was arrested last week.  Investigators say Reardon called Congregation Agudas Achim, a synagogue in Attleboro, Thursday morning, Jan. 25, and left a voicemail threatening horrific violence over the …
Sex Offender Admits To Child Porn Charges In Western Mass: Feds Sex Offender Admits To Child Porn Charges In Western Mass: Feds
Sex Offender Admits To Child Porn Charges In Western Mass: Feds A Berkshire County registered sex offender has pleaded guilty to child porn and weapons charges, federal authorities said.  Brian Hohman, 60, of Sandisfield, admitted to one charge of possession of child pornography and one charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm on Wednesday, Jan. 24, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He remains in federal custody.  Police arrested Hohman in September after they found a sawed-off shotgun not registered to him at his home and a laptop, two phones, and a sim card containing child sexual abuse material, the prosecutor said.…
Ex-Flight Attendant On Boston-Bound Plane Filmed Children As They Used Bathroom: Feds Ex-Flight Attendant On Boston-Bound Plane Filmed Children As They Used Bathroom: Feds
Ex-Flight Attendant On Boston-Bound Plane Filmed Children As They Used Bathroom: Feds A former American Airlines flight attendant attempted to film a child as she used the bathroom and had videos of several other children using the plane's lavatory on his phone, authorities said.  Estes Carter Thompson III, 36, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  A 14-year-old aboard a Charlotte to Boston flight in September 2023 told her parents that Thompson had escorted her to the first-cl…
eBay To Pay $3M After Ex-Employees Put Mass Couple Through 'Pure Hell': Feds eBay To Pay $3M After Ex-Employees Put Mass Couple Through 'Pure Hell': Feds
eBay To Pay $3M After Ex-Employees Put Mass Couple Through 'Pure Hell': Feds eBay has agreed to pay $3 million in criminal penalties after several former employees targeted a Middlesex County couple in a campaign of harassment that included sending live cockroaches and funeral wreaths to their home in Natick, federal authorities said.  Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said the employee's actions put the couple through "pure hell" and said eBay's conduct was "absolutely horrific." eBay engaged in absolutely horrific, criminal conduct. The company’s employees and contractors involved in this campaign put the victims through pure hell, in a petrifying …
Springfield Man Talked Foster Child Into Sex Trafficking Gets 18 Years: Feds Springfield Man Talked Foster Child Into Sex Trafficking Gets 18 Years: Feds
Springfield Man Talked Foster Child Into Sex Trafficking Gets 18 Years: Feds A Springfield man who talked a child into performing sex acts for money will spend the next 18 years in a federal prison, authorities announced Friday, Jan. 12.  Carlos Casillas, 51, was convicted of sex trafficking a 13-year-old girl in July, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He will serve five years of probation after he is released from prison.  Investigators said Casillas met the 13-year-old girl, who was living in a foster home, on Facebook and communicated through Facebook Messenger. He talked about her leaving the group home and "exchanging money for services," the pr…
Boston Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced For Trying To Deport Woman He Exposed Himself To: Feds Boston Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced For Trying To Deport Woman He Exposed Himself To: Feds
Boston Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced For Trying To Deport Woman He Exposed Himself To: Feds A Boston man on federal supervised release for sex trafficking has been sentenced in a different case for exposing himself to a woman and then trying to stop her from testifying. Mark Pinnock, 32, was sentenced to 33 months followed by three years supervised release on Friday, Jan. 5, after pleading guilty to one county of witness intimidation in October 2023, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Pinnock served eight years in prison for sex trafficking in 2014. After his release in July 2022, the man worked as an Amazon delivery driver while under federal supervision, officials sa…
Ex-Mass Detective Who Scammed Multiple Landlords For Years Avoids Jailtime: Feds Ex-Mass Detective Who Scammed Multiple Landlords For Years Avoids Jailtime: Feds
Ex-Mass Detective Who Scammed Multiple Landlords For Years Avoids Jailtime: Feds A former Stoneham police officer who admitted to scamming his former landlords for more than a decade will not go to prison for his crimes, federal authorities announced on Thursday, Jan. 4.  Robert Kennedy, 54, of Stoneham, was sentenced to two years of probation and 90 days of home confinement after he pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in September, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He must also repay $14,275 to his victims.  Investigators said Kennedy defrauded three landlords from February 2020 through June 2023. The scheme played out similarly each time. H…
Men Faked Mass Armed Robberies So 'Victims' Could Get Immigration Protection: FBI Men Faked Mass Armed Robberies So 'Victims' Could Get Immigration Protection: FBI
Men Faked Mass Armed Robberies So 'Victims' Could Get Immigration Protection: FBI Two New York men are accused of staging at least eight fake robberies so the store owners could receive immigration benefits, authorities said.  Long Island resident Rambhai Patel, age 36, of Farmingdale, and New York City Balwinder Singh, age 39, of Queens, are charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, the U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts said. FBI agents said they linked the men to four robberies in Massachusetts, two in Pennsylvania, and one in Kentucky and Tennessee.  The dates and locations of the alleged fake robberies are:  March 22: Richdale Food Shops, Hing…
Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds
Man Turned Massachusetts College Jobs Into An Illegal Fortune, Now He's Going To Prison: Feds A 53-year-old Connecticut man will spend the next eight months in prison after he admitted to taking bribes to sell contracts to build, maintain, and repair three colleges in Massachusetts, federal authorities said.  Floyd Young, of the city of Shelton in Fairfield County, pleaded guilty in August 2020 to one count of conspiracy and three counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He was sentenced on Wednesday, Dec. 20.  Along with his prison term, Young must also forfeit $919,066, the amount of bribes he receiv…
Child Porn: Ex-Milford Teacher Admits To Have Thousands Of Images, Videos, Feds Say Child Porn: Ex-Milford Teacher Admits To Have Thousands Of Images, Videos, Feds Say
Child Porn: Ex-Milford Teacher Admits To Have Thousands Of Images, Videos, Feds Say A former Worcester County second-grade teacher pleaded guilty on Monday, Dec. 4, to possession of child pornography, authorities said.  Vincent Kiejzo, 36, faces up to two decades in prison when he is sentenced in April, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Police raided Kiejzo's home in September 2020, where they found a USB drive plugged into a television in his bedroom that contained websites dedicated to child sexual exploitation material as well as more than 6,000 images of the material, the prosecutor said.  Related: Second-Grade Teacher Busted On Child Porn Char…
Longtime Central Mass Magician Admits To Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds Longtime Central Mass Magician Admits To Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds
Longtime Central Mass Magician Admits To Smuggling Child Porn Into US: Feds A Massachusetts man who performed as a children's magician for two decades across New England admitted to having child sexual abuse material and traveling to another country to rape a child, federal authorities said.  Worcester County resident Scott Jameson, age 46, of Sutton, faces decades in prison after he pleaded guilty in federal court to illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place and one count of transportation of child pornography, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Action Pour Les Enfants, a Cambodian child-protection group, contacted US federal investigators in Febr…
Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds
Ex-State Senator Charged With 28 Counts Of Fraud: Feds A former Republican state senator who represented Worcester and Middlesex counties was charged with illegally taking thousands in COVID relief money and concealing cash from the IRS, federal authorities said.  Dean Tran, 48, of Fitchburg, was indicted on 25 counts of wire fraud and three charges of filing false tax reports on Friday, Nov. 17, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.  Tran served in the Massachusetts Senate from 2017-2021.  Investigators said Tran collected $30,120 in unemployment benefits after being voted out of o…
High-End Prostitution Network Serviced Mass's Elite, Elected Officials: Feds High-End Prostitution Network Serviced Mass's Elite, Elected Officials: Feds
High-End Prostitution Network Serviced Mass's Elite, Elected Officials: Feds Three people were arrested and charged with running a high-end prostitution network in Massachusetts and Virginia that catered to VIP customers and elected officials. It was so exclusive that potential "Johns" had to provide references to book appointments, federal authorities said.  Han Lee, age 41, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, James Lee, age 68, of Torrance, California, and Junmyung Lee, age 30, of Dedham, Massachusetts, were all charged with running the operation that serviced elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government…