Justice News

Miami man sentenced to life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering

Fri, 03 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A Miami man was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a man in aid of racketeering, assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, as well as of multiple counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

U.S. Attorney’s Office staff lend support to incarcerated citizens prior to their release

Fri, 03 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Approximately 100 incarcerated citizens recently attended an Institutional Re-Entry Seminar at the South Florida Reception Center, South Unit Correctional Institution in Doral, Florida, and U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) staff was there to help those scheduled to leave prison reintegrate more seamlessly.

Drug dealer sentenced to 300 months in prison for possession of a controlled substance, among other charges

Thu, 02 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 30, a drug dealer who was convicted by a Fort Lauderdale federal jury in January was sentenced to 300 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Miccosukee tribal member charged with assault with intent to murder

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 29, a Miccosukee tribal member was charged in federal court with, among other related charges, assault with intent to commit murder.

Central Florida man sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud, creating fictitious payroll that included his children

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 25, a central Florida man was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans and grants under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Relief Program (EIDL); after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud.

Highlands County drug dealer sentenced to prison

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 25, a Highlands County drug dealer was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after previously pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Doctor sentenced to 10 years in prison for unlawfully dispensing controlled substances

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 25, a Weston doctor was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for running a pill mill type pain clinic.

Man sentenced to prison for international parental kidnapping of two small children

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 23, a man was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison for the international parental kidnapping of his two young daughters to Morocco and Turkey.

Laboratory Owners Charged in $36M COVID-19 Testing Fraud Scheme

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Florida charging three men for their alleged roles in an approximately $36 million health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering scheme that involved submitting false and fraudulent claims for COVID-19 testing to health care benefit programs, including Medicare and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) COVID-19 Uninsured Program.

U.S. Attorney’s Office staff strive to make path to re-entry easier for returning citizens

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Hundreds of job seekers recently attended Miami-Dade County’s 305 Second Chance Job & Resource Expo at the Main Library in downtown Miami and United States Attorney’s Office staff were present to provide helpful community resources.

Former Comptroller General of Ecuador Convicted for $10M International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

A federal jury in Miami convicted the former Comptroller General of Ecuador yesterday for his role in a multimillion-dollar international bribery and money laundering scheme.

West Palm Beach Sex Offender Convicted by Jury for Failure to Properly Register

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 22, 2024, after a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Ramon Fuertes, a/k/a “Raymond Cortez,” of West Palm Beach, Florida of four counts of failure of a sex offender to properly register, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a).

Local pharmacist charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and child sex tourism

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 19, a local pharmacist was charged by criminal complaint with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct.

Ten Charged and One Arrested in Connection with Sanctions Evasion Scheme

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of an indictment charging 10 defendants with conspiring to violate the International Economic Emergency Powers Act (IEEPA) for their roles in a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed on Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, in January 2019. One of the defendants, George Clemente Semerene Quintero, 60, was arrested on April 19, 2024, upon arrival at the Miami International Airport.

Operators of Florida Labor Staffing Companies Sentenced to More than Three Years in Prison for Tax and Immigration Charges

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Two operators of several Key West, Florida, labor staffing companies – including PSEB Services Inc., E.S.F. Services Inc. and Expert Services F.S. Inc. – were each sentenced to over three years in prison today for tax and immigration-related crimes.

Luxury Handbag Company, Founder and Co-Conspirator Sentenced for Smuggling Handbags Made from Caiman and Python Skin

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Luxury handbag company Gzuniga Ltd., its founder Nancy Teresa Gonzalez de Barberi and Gonzalez’s associate Mauricio Giraldo were sentenced to prison today for illegally importing merchandise from Colombia to the United States that was made from protected wildlife. All had previously pleaded guilty.

Eight people charged with distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 18, eight defendants were arrested on a 12-count indictment charging them with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Owner of tax preparation business indicted for tax fraud charges

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 11, a south Florida grand jury returned an indictment charging the owner of a tax preparations business with 15 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns and one count of contempt of court

U.S. Attorney Lapointe Briefs Media on Former U.S. Ambassador Secretly Acting as an Agent of Cuba

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

International Arms Dealers Charged with Conspiring to Unlawfully Export Weapons and Ammunition from the United States to Sudan and Iraq

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging Syria national Mohamad Deiry and Lebanese national Samer Rayya, both principals of an Iraq-based arms company, Black Shield Ltd., with conspiring to export munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq without the necessary licenses and approvals, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

Competition builds rapport between police officers and local teens

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Rim rattling dunks and long-range scoring from beyond the three-point line provided the action at the recent Fourth Spring Classic Youth & Cops Basketball Tournament at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex in Miami Gardens.

Florida Woman Arrested for Filing False Tax Refund Claims

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 12, a Florida woman was arrested today on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on April 4 in Miami that charged her with filing false tax returns.

Former U.S. Ambassador and National Security Council Official Admits to Secretly Acting as Agent of the Cuban Government and Receives 15-Year Sentence

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, of Miami, Florida, a former U.S. Department of State employee who served on the National Security Council from 1994 to 1995 and as U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002, pleaded guilty today to secretly acting for decades as an agent of the government of the Republic of Cuba. Immediately thereafter, a federal judge sentenced Rocha to the statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for his crimes of conviction.

Four men plead guilty to targeting and robbing victims selling products on the online marketplace application OfferUp

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 10, the last of four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit robbery, robbing several people who had listed electronic items for sale on the online marketplace application OfferUp and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

Sober home owner sentenced to four years in prison for defrauding over $4 million from Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to fund lavish lifestyle

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:00:00 +0000

On April 10, a substance abuse facility owner was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,444,417.65 in restitution, for defrauding the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) of over $4 million.