Federal Child Pornography Conviction

Albuquerque Man Receives 43-Month Prison Sentence and $150,000 Fine for Federal Child Pornography Conviction

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Albuquerque Man Receives 43-Month Prison Sentence and $150,000 Fine for Federal Child Pornography Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE—United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced that, yesterday in Albuquerque federal court, Albuquerque resident Jake Skinner, also known as Jack Skinner, 45, was sentenced to a 43-month term of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release based on his federal child pornography conviction. Skinner, a brewmaster by profession, also was ordered to pay a $150,000.00 fine and will be required to register as a sex offender when he completes his prison sentence.

Skinner was arrested based on a criminal complaint charging him with federal child pornography charges on April 9, 2010, and was released under pretrial supervision. Skinner entered a guilty plea to a one-count information charging him with possession of child pornography on October 5, 2010 under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney's Office. He was remanded into federal custody after he entered his plea.

According to the criminal complaint, between April and July 2007, a special agent of the New Mexico Attorney General's Office (NMAGO) and a member of the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force learned that e-mail screen names and addresses subscribed to Skinner were being used to distribute and receive child pornography while performing a forensic examination of a computer belonging to a different suspect. On September 12, 2007, agents from the NMAGO, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at Skinner's residence and seized computers and computer-related media. Forensic examination of Skinner's computer and computer-related media revealed that he possessed more than 1000 images and 31 videos of child pornography. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children determined that the child pornography images from Skinner's computers and computer-related media included 107 images of 23 children who have been identified as child pornography victims and have been rescued, and three videos of two children who have been identified as child pornography victims and have been rescued.

In his plea agreement, Skinner admitted that he possessed child pornography as alleged in the criminal information; that he had received child pornography for 10 years; and that he used his AOL accounts to receive and possess child pornography.

The case was investigated by the NMAGO, ICE, and the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlyn E. Rees. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The case also was brought as part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, whose mission is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 61 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies associated with the ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the NMAGO. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement. Read more at www.fbi.gov

 

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Child Sexual Exploitation

Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation Offense

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Kentucky Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation Offense

ALBUQUERQUE—Earlier today in Albuquerque federal court, Craig Andrew Armstrong, 25, of Louisville, Kentucky, entered a guilty plea to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Armstrong will be sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Armstrong has been in federal custody since September 28, 2010, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said officers of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Armstrong, who was in the company of a 12-year-old girl, in a local motel on September 27, 2010. According to the criminal complaint, APD officers went to the motel after the child’s mother reported receiving an anonymous call alerting her that the child was in the motel. During a safe house interview, the child admitting meeting Armstrong in August 2010 through an Internet website and, after that, Armstrong communicated with her by cellphone and texting. The child said she received a text message from Armstrong on September 26, 2010 notifying her that he was in Albuquerque. She reported that Armstrong took her to the motel where he performed sexual acts on her. The criminal complaint alleges that Armstrong admitted meeting the child through an Internet website and traveling from Louisville, Kentucky to Albuquerque to have a sexual relationship with the child. It also alleges that Armstrong admitted to performing sex acts with the child multiple times over a day-and-a-half time frame.

In his plea agreement, Armstrong admitted traveling from Kentucky to Albuquerque for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with the child and that he in fact had intercourse with the child various times from September 26, 2010 to September 27, 2010. Armstrong further admitted that he was 24 at the time and believed that the child was 14, and that he knew the child did not have her parents’ permission to be with him.

The case was investigated by APD, the FBI, and the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Bernalillo County and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charlyn Rees and was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Read more at www.fbi.gov

 

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New Jersey Man Prostituting Minor

New Jersey Man Indicted for Taking Minnesota Girl to Chicago, Denver for Prostitution

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New Jersey Man Indicted for Taking Minnesota Girl to Chicago, Denver for Prostitution

Recently in Minneapolis, a federal indictment was filed charging a 32-year-old New Jersey man with enticing a 16-year-old Minnesota girl to engage in prostitution. Floyd Henry, of Newark, New Jersey, was charged with two counts of inducing travel to engage in criminal sexual activity. Henry remains in custody in Colorado on state charges.

The indictment alleges that between August of 2009 and April of 2010, Henry persuaded a minor female to travel to Chicago and Denver to engage in prostitution. It also alleges that between August and October of 2009, Henry persuaded an adult woman to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.

If convicted, Henry faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each charge. All sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly M. Hare.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that an estimated 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked within the U.S. each year for involuntary servitude or use in the sex trade. According to the Justice Department, the Twin Cities metropolitan area is one of the 15 largest human trafficking centers in the nation. Read more at minneapolis.fbi.gov

 

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Child Pornography Charges

Houston Father Indicted for Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Pornography

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Houston Father Indicted for Producing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Pornography

HOUSTON—DJ Christopher Lowe has been transferred into federal custody and ordered held without bond pending trial on charges of producing, distributing, and possessing child pornography, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

Lowe, 36, who had been in state custody on related state charges since August 2010, was transferred into federal custody on March 7, 2011, to face federal child pornography charges contained in an eight-count indictment. The indictment was returned on Feb. 23, 2011. Today, after being advised that Lowe had waived his right to a detention hearing, United States Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson ordered that Lowe remain in federal custody without bond pending trial.

Lowe is charged in an eight-count indictment with producing child pornography as far back as 2009, distributing child pornography as of June 2010 and possessing child pornography as recently as Aug. 13, 2010. The indictment alleges that Lowe exploited six different children in order to produce child pornography.

The charges against Lowe are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Innocent Images Unit of the Houston FBI, which focuses its attention on investigating offenses involving the exploitation of children via the Internet.

Lowe faces a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of 30 years for producing child pornography. The distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to 20 years’ imprisonment. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Additionally, each charge is punishable by a $250,000 fine. If convicted, upon completion of any prison term imposed, Lowe faces a maximum of life on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect the children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

Lowe had been in state custody in Fort Bend county since Aug. 13, 2010.

This case, being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. Read more at houston.fbi.gov

 

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Coercion and Enticement of Minor

Ann Arbor, Michigan Man Sentenced to 150 Months’ Imprisonment for Coercion and Enticement of Minor

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Ann Arbor, Michigan Man Sentenced to 150 Months’ Imprisonment for Coercion and Enticement of Minor

DAYTON—David Jeremy Zobel, 33, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, was sentenced in United States District Court to 150 months’ imprisonment for coercion of a minor. He was also ordered to be under court supervision for the rest of his life.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge of the Cincinnati Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Andrew G. Arena, SAC, of the Detroit Division of the FBI; and Xenia Police Chief Randy Person, announced the sentence handed down yesterday by U.S. District Judge Walter Rice.

Zobel pleaded guilty on January 8, 2010 to one count of coercion of a minor. According to court documents, Zobel drove two minor females from Xenia to Toledo and engaged in sexual activity with both of them in June 2009.

Zobel began a series of sexually explicit online chats with numerous minor females from around the country, including a 13-year-old from Xenia, in approximately December 2008. Over the next six months, Zobel used online chats and text messaging to persuade her to participate in sexual activities.

On June 2, 2009, Zobel exchanged a series of text messages from Michigan with the girl asking if she and one of her friends, who was 12, would “do ANYTHING [he] want[ed]?” if he helped them runaway from Ohio. Zobel drove to Xenia, picked up the two minor girls and drove them to a parking garage in Toledo. He had each girl perform oral sex on him, took photographs of the girls posing either in their bras or with their bare breasts exposed. Mr. Zobel then left the girls in the parking garage, giving them each $20.

FBI agents arrested Zobel in Ann Arbor on June 12, 2009. He has been in custody since his arrest.

Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by FBI agents and Xenia police officers, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Tabacchi, who prosecuted the case. Read more at cincinnati.fbi.gov

 

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Attorney Sentenced to 46 Months

Former Charles County Attorney Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Defrauding Clients and Lenders

Losses Totaled $1,835,589

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Former Charles County Attorney Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Defrauding Clients and Lenders Losses Totaled $1,835,589

GREENBELT, MD—Chief U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced former attorney Frank P. Jenkins II, age 45, of LaPlata, Maryland, today to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud his clients and lenders in real estate transactions. Chief Judge Chasanow also entered an order that Jenkins pay restitution of $1,835,589.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Richard A. McFeely of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Charles County Sheriff Rex W. Coffey; and Charles County State's Attorney Anthony B. Covington.

According to the plea agreement, prior to September 15, 2009, Jenkins was licensed to practice law in Maryland and did business as Frank P. Jenkins, PC; The Jenkins Group, Inc.; Jenkins Real Estate, Inc.; and Exit Prom Homes Realty. On September 15, 2009, Jenkins was disbarred.

Jenkins admitted that from about 2006 through 2009, he caused clients to transfer money into bank accounts that he controlled, then embezzled the funds for his own purposes, rather than fulfilling his fiduciary obligations to his clients. Jenkins admitted that he used the stolen money to pay his personal expenses, purchase tickets to the Washington Capitals hockey games and to repay other clients whom he had previously defrauded. According to the plea agreement, Jenkins also made false statements to his clients as to his handling of estates and civil litigation, and to lenders. Jenkins also provided his clients with fraudulent documents, including deeds and deeds of trust relating to property. Jenkins admitted that he forged the signatures of his clients, including on a consent decree requiring clients to pay $150,000 to settle a breach of contract suit.

In June 2009, Jenkins applied for a loan to refinance a property that he fraudulently told the lender he had purchased. In fact, Jenkins had entered into a contract to purchase the property, misrepresenting to the owners of the property that he would file a deed of trust and promissory note. Jenkins did record the deed showing he had purchased the property, but did not record the deed of trust. Jenkins received a check for $128,654.19 from the lender based on the fraudulent loan application. The deed Jenkins filed was subsequently rescinded and restored to the original owners, who were also awarded $150,000 each in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees, by the Circuit Court for St. Mary's County.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the FBI, the Charles County Sheriff's Office, and the Charles County State's Attorney's Office for their work in this investigation and prosecution. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Stuart A. Berman and Deborah A. Johnston, who prosecuted the case. Read more at baltimore.fbi.gov

 

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Corrections Officer Convicted

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Former Corrections Officer Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violations

Keith Ronald Hancock, Jr. was convicted following a jury trial in Albany of violating the civil rights of an inmate while working as a corrections officer at the Rensselaer County Correctional Facility (RCCF), and making false statements to the FBI regarding the incident, announced Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice; and Clifford C. Holly, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Following trial before U.S. District Judge Gary L. Sharpe, the jury found that, on or about January 18, 2009, Hancock, age 37, of Cohoes, while employed as a correctional officer at the RCCF in Troy, New York and acting under color of the laws of the state of New York, knowingly and wilfully physically struck and assaulted an inmate housed at the RCCF, resulting in bodily injury to the inmate, and thereby willfully deprived the inmate of a right preserved and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, namely, the right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment. The jury also found Hancock guilty of knowingly and willfully making a materially false statement to the FBI during the investigation of the January 2009 incident, in that he stated in substance that he had heard through the grapevine that he punched someone, but that it did not happen, and that he was threatened by the inmate walking down the hallway and did what he had to do to protect himself, whereas, as defendant then and there well knew, the defendant, while on duty as a correctional officer, had physically punched and struck an inmate who had not threatened the defendant and he did not have to do so to protect himself.

At trial, the jury heard evidence that Hancock struck an inmate on multiple occasions, despite the fact that the inmate was handcuffed behind the back and under the control of other correctional officers. After the incident, Hancock prepared an incident report, in which he failed to report his uses of force or provide any justification for them. Thereafter, during the course of the federal investigation, Hancock falsely denied his conduct and, at trial, he claimed in substance that he thought the inmate was going to spit and was trying to stop him from doing so, even though that was not documented in his contemporaneous incident report.

“Corrections officers who abuse their authority and punish inmates with violence and who make false statements to their fellow law enforcement officers about their conduct do a disservice to all officers who take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution,” said Assistant Attorney General Perez. “The Civil Rights Division will aggressively prosecute these abuses of official authority, wherever they occur.”

United States Attorney Hartunian stated: “Conduct such as the defendant’s has no place in our correctional institutions, or in our society. Prosecutions such as this send an important message that such conduct cannot and will not be tolerated.”

The defendant’s conviction for violating the inmate’s civil rights carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and a period of up to three years’ supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment. The conviction for making a false statement to the FBI carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and a three-year period of supervised release. Sentencing was set for Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., before Judge Sharpe in Albany.

The investigation in this matter was conducted by the Albany Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

LOCAL CONTACT: Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert P. Storch, or Deputy Criminal Chief AUSA William C. Pericak, both at (518) 431-0247 Read more at www.fbi.gov

 

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Corruption Charges

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Corruption Charges Against Two Members of the New York State Legislature

Six Others Charged in Bribery Schemes, Including Albany Lobbyist, Two Hospital CEOs, Health Care Consultant, and Real Estate Developer

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Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Federal Corruption Charges Against Two Members of the New York State Legislature Six Others Charged in Bribery Schemes, Including Albany Lobbyist, Two Hospital CEOs, Health Care Consultant, and Real Estate Developer

PREET BHARARA, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and JANICE K. FEDARCYK, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI“), announced today the unsealing of a complaint charging New York State Senator CARL KRUGER and State Assemblyman WILLIAM BOYLAND, JR., with accepting bribes in exchange for official acts. KRUGER is charged with taking more than $1 million in bribes from, among others, lobbyist RICHARD LIPSKY, real estate developer AARON MALINSKY, and health care consultant SOLOMON KALISH, all of whom are also charged. DAVID ROSEN, the CEO of the MediSys Health Network, is also charged with conspiring to bribe KRUGER, as well as with paying over $177,000 in bribes to New York State Assemblyman WILLIAM BOYLAND, JR., and $390,000 in bribes to former New York State Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio, in exchange for their official acts. ROBERT AQUINO, the former CEO of Parkway Hospital in Queens, New York, is also charged with bribing KRUGER. MICHAEL TURANO, a Manhattan-based gynecologist, is charged with laundering KRUGER’s bribes through two shell companies TURANO established for the benefit of himself, KRUGER, and others. Each of the eight defendants voluntarily surrendered this morning. They are expected to be presented in Manhattan federal court later today.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “Today’s complaint filed in Manhattan federal court describes a broad-based bribery racket reflecting an unholy alliance of politicians, lobbyists, and businessmen. Every single time we arrest a state senator or assemblyman, it should be a jarring wake-up call. Instead, it seems that no matter how many times the alarm goes off, Albany just hits the snooze button. Maybe this time they will get the message.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge JANICE K. FEDARCYK said: “The complaint lays out a roadmap of bribery, money laundering, influence-peddling, and official misconduct that is eye-opening even to seasoned investigators. The web of graft and corruption, of buying and selling influence, is not what representative democracy is supposed to look like. The FBI remains committed to rooting out official corruption wherever it exists.”

According to the complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

The Alleged KRUGER Bribery Conspiracy

CARL KRUGER has served as a member of the New York state senate since 1994, representing Bergen Beach, Flatlands, Mill Basin, and other communities in the 27th Senate District. From at least 2006 through March 2011, KRUGER received a stream of bribes totaling at least $1 million in exchange for taking official actions on behalf of the bribe payers as opportunities arose. Rather than receive these corrupt payments directly, KRUGER funneled them to the bank accounts of two shell companies established by MICHAEL TURANO—Olympian Strategic Development Corp. (“Olympian”) and Bassett Brokerage (“Bassett”). KRUGER had an intimate relationship with the TURANO family. He acted and was treated in many ways like a member of the family. Among other things, KRUGER spent his free time with the Turanos, shared holidays with them, went shopping for them, and managed the affairs of their residence. Of all the TURANOS, KRUGER was closest with MICHAEL TURANO. The two men were in nearly daily contact, KRUGER picked TURANO up from work, and people even called KRUGER’s cellphone in order to reach TURANO. MICHAEL TURANO used the money deposited in Olympian and Bassett to pay the lease on a Bentley automobile, pay his credit card bills, and pay off the mortgage on the multi-million-dollar home that he shared with his mother and brother.

As alleged in the complaint, between 2006 and 2011, KRUGER received a stream of bribes from, among others: (1) RICHARD LIPSKY, a lobbyist and the principal of Richard Lipsky Associates, Inc.; (2) AARON MALINSKY, the principal of P/A Associates LLC, a real estate development firm; and (3) SOLOMON KALISH, the owner and operator of Adex Management, Inc. (“Adex”), a marketing/consulting firm that brokered relationships in the health care industry.

LIPSKY directed approximately $252,000 of his lobbying fees to the Olympian account in exchange for which KRUGER took official actions to benefit LIPSKY’s clients. His actions included sponsoring and supporting legislation, lobbying other elected officials, and directing state monies for the benefit of LIPSKY and his clients. For example, KRUGER supported the award of millions of dollars in state funds to certain development projects that were being undertaken by a key client of LIPSKY’s. He even wrote a letter to a judge on behalf of one of LIPSKY’s clients.

MALINSKY, through P/A Associates, caused a stream of payments to be made to Olympian totaling approximately $472,500. In exchange for these payments, KRUGER took official action to benefit MALINSKY’s interest in a certain real estate development project in Brooklyn, including taking positions at a public hearing in favor of that project.

Through Adex, KALISH directed approximately $197,000 to Olympian in exchange for KRUGER’s taking official action. For example, as alleged in the Complaint, in the summer of 2008, ROBERT AQUINO, then the CEO of Parkway Hospital, paid Adex approximately $60,000—half of which KALISH then directed to the Olympian bank account—so that KRUGER would lobby New York state officials in connection with Parkway Hospital’s efforts to acquire certain other hospitals, namely the Caritas Hospitals. In 2008, DAVID ROSEN similarly attempted to bribe KRUGER in connection with efforts by MediSys to acquire the same hospitals. To that end, ROSEN caused Brookdale Hospital to hire a certain third party hospice care provider, knowing that KRUGER had an interest in it. That interest was manifested by an arrangement with Adex pursuant to which Adex was paid for helping to secure business for the hospice care provider. The contractual negotiation between Brookdale Hospital and the hospice care provider appears to have been terminated, however, when Anthony Seminerio was arrested.

The Alleged ROSEN Bribery Conspiracy

According to the complaint, KRUGER was one of three elected officials that DAVID ROSEN sought to bribe. In addition to KRUGER, ROSEN also is alleged to have made or caused corrupt payments to Anthony Seminerio and WILLIAM BOYLAND, JR. Specifically, between 1999 and 2008, ROSEN caused MediSys or its affiliates to make approximately $390,000 in payments to Seminerio through a sham consulting company, Marc Consultants, that Seminerio had established. In exchange for receiving these payments, Seminerio advocated with New York State agencies concerning the discharge of a $19,000,000 loan in 2006, co-sponsored legislation to provide a secured financing option to MediSys in 2006, and, like KRUGER, deliberated with state agency personnel on behalf of Medisys in connection with the acquisition of the Caritas Hospitals. Because of these acts, Seminerio was indicted, pled guilty to one count of honest services fraud, and was sentenced to six years in prison. Seminerio passed away while his case was on direct appeal and the cause of action against him was abated.

ROSEN also caused MediSys to make corrupt payments to BOYLAND. As alleged in the complaint, ROSEN caused BOYLAND to be hired for what amounted to a no-show consulting job that paid BOYLAND approximately $35,000 a year between 2003 and 2008. In exchange for the approximately $177,000 that BOYLAND received from MediSys, BOYLAND took official action to benefit MediSys, including requesting that the Speaker of the Assembly award millions of dollars to Brookdale Hospital, a member of the MediSys health network.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative work of the FBI.

This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Senior Trial Counsel GLEN G. McGORTY and Assistant U.S. Attorneys WILLIAM HARRINGTON, MICHAEL BOSWORTH, and KAN NAWADAY are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the complaint are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

1 Conspiracy to deprive New York state and its citizens of Carl Kruger’s honest services Kruger, Lipsky, Malinsky 20 years in prison; three years of supervised release; $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain/loss; $100 special assessment 2 Conspiracy to deprive New York state and its citizens of their legislators’ honest services Kalish, Aquino, Rosen, Boyland 20 years in prison; three years of supervised release; $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain/loss; $100 special assessment 3 Money laundering conspiracy Kruger, Lipsky, Malinsky, Kalish, Turano 20 years in prison; three years of supervised release; $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds; $100 special assessment

- Assistant Director in Charge Fedarcyk's remarks at press conference. Read more at www.fbi.gov

 

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Child Porn Charges

Marin Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

Images Taken of Young Girl Found on Defendant’s iPhone After His Arrest for Exposing Himself to Another Young Girl

Amplify’d from sanfrancisco.fbi.gov

Marin Man Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography Images Taken of Young Girl Found on Defendant’s iPhone After His Arrest for Exposing Himself to Another Young Girl

SAN FRANCISCO—Jonathan Hill pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco today to production of child pornography, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

In pleading guilty, Hill admitted to persuading a minor to assist him in making a sexually explicit video on March 17, 2010. Hill also admitted to persuading another minor to assist him in making a sexually explicit video five years earlier, on May 25, 2005. Hill, a 30-year-old Novato resident, came to the attention of Marin County Sheriff’s deputies on March 20, 2011, when a young girl reported that he had exposed himself to her near an elementary school. During his arrest, sheriff’s deputies found photos and videos on Hill’s iPhone that depicted him exposing himself to another young girl in a local park, whom deputies later learned was 9 years old. A subsequent search warrant at Hill’s home revealed a large collection of child pornography, including photos and videos that Hill had taken of himself five years earlier, also exposing himself to a young girl. Also found in Hill’s room were a shotgun and a bag containing duct tape, bandages, large zip ties, towels, a lint roller, plastic tarps, condoms, lubricant, disinfectant wipes, and painters’ booties and coveralls, which deputies described as a rape and abduction kit.

Hill was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 6, 2010. He was charged with production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), and possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). Under the plea agreement, Hill pled guilty to count one of the indictment, charging production of child pornography.

Hill is currently in custody. His sentencing is scheduled for June 2, 2011, before Judge Jeffrey S. White in San Francisco. The maximum statutory penalty for the count of conviction is 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Owen Martikan is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

Further Information:

Case #: CR 10-0261 JSW Read more at sanfrancisco.fbi.gov

 

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Child Porn Charges

Amplify’d from sanfrancisco.fbi.gov

Oakland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography 67-Year-Old Man Who Had Attempted to Arrange to Have Sex with a 13-Year-Old Girl Found in Possession of Child Pornography Pictures and Videos

SAN FRANCISCO—Arthur Abraham pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco today to possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced.

Abraham, 67, of Oakland, came to the attention of San Rafael Police in May, 2010, when he answered a Craigslist ad posted by an undercover police officer offering “hedonistic pleasures” involving a family with two young children. During a subsequent e-mail exchange and a meeting at a San Rafael coffee shop with the undercover officer, Abraham described his interest in having sex with a 13-year-old girl. Abraham was arrested when he showed up at a local hotel to meet the girl. He had brought with him a child’s swimsuit, toys, and lubricant. A search warrant of Abraham’s home revealed child pornography images and videos.

In pleading guilty, Abraham admitted to possessing more than 600 child pornography images, including images depicting prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Abraham was charged by Information on Feb. 10, 2011. He was charged with possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B). Under the plea agreement, Abraham pled guilty to the sole count of the Information.

Abraham is currently released on bond. His sentencing is scheduled for June 16, 2011, before Judge Jeffrey S. White in San Francisco. The maximum statutory penalty for the count of conviction is 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and restitution. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Owen Martikan is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rosario Calderon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the San Rafael Police Department.

Further Information:

Case #: CR 11-0068 JSW Read more at sanfrancisco.fbi.gov

 

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/budns