Business Owners Sentenced for Employing Illegal Aliens

PILI CHEN, 56, of Norcross, Georgia, who was both an employment agency owner and driver, was sentenced today (April 21) by United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. for recruiting and employing illegal aliens in Chinese restaurants, where they were provided housing and transportation to work. Today’s sentencing follows the January 2011 sentencings in a related case of owners and operators of a neighboring agency and a Chinese restaurant in the Atlanta area.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “These defendants not only broke the law by employing workers who were illegally in the United States, they exploited the workers by subjecting them to long shifts, substandard pay, and poor working conditions. As this case shows, we will hold employers responsible—including business owners and managers—who attempt to gain an unlawful economic advantage by hiring employees who are not permitted to be in the United States.”

“These sentencings send a clear message that there are real consequences for willfully recruiting and employing an illegal workforce,” said Brock Nicholson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Atlanta. “Working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively target those who take advantage of illegal labor to make a profit.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin said, “This case was the result of a joint FBI/ICE operation which shut down a network that not only recruited and employed illegal aliens but exploited their vulnerabilities. Human trafficking, no matter what the underlying purpose is for, is a process of systematically exploiting others for personal gain. The FBI remains committed in its endeavor of combating human trafficking in all of its many and varied forms, including alien smuggling.”

PILI CHEN, 56, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and four months in prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. On January 31, 2011, Judge Evans sentenced three defendants. AI LIN FU, 41, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and two months in prison. SAU TING CHENG, 42, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a $3,000 fine. LIANG FENG CHEN, 33, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced to two years’ probation, including three months of home confinement, and a $1,000 fine. FU, CHENG, and PILI CHEN’s prison sentences are to be followed by three years of supervised release.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court: PILI CHEN and co-defendant XIAO PING LI, owned and operated an employment agency named “New Fuzhou” in Chamblee, Georgia, while AI LIN FU owned and operated a similar agency, “Zhong Mei Employment Agency,” in the same Chamblee shopping center.

The agencies obtained employment for illegal aliens, primarily undocumented Mexican workers, across the eastern United States. Neither agency required or requested any proof that the aliens had permission to be or work in the United States. They advertised in Chinese language newspapers and on the Internet. Employers called the agencies and requested workers for various jobs, usually in the kitchens of Chinese restaurants. The agencies charged the illegal aliens a commission and transportation fee to place them in the job and drive them there, and in some cases charged the restaurant owners, who deducted the fees from their illegal workers’ modest pay. FU’s husband and co-defendant, XIAN CHEN, operated Zhong Mei Employment Agency with FU and drove workers to the restaurants. PILI CHEN operated New Fuzhou with his wife XIAO PING LI, and also transported the workers. The employment agencies used paid drivers to minimize contact between the illegal aliens and the outside world, including law enforcement. XIAN CHEN fled to Canada after the indictment and has been ordered extradited to the United States. XIAO PING LI remains a fugitive.

SAU TING CHENG owned and operated a Chinese restaurant in Duluth, Georgia, named “Grand Buffet and Grill.” LIANG FENG CHEN was the manager at the restaurant. CHENG and CHEN hired illegal aliens through Zhong Mei Employment Agency. To better monitor the workers and shield them from detection, CHENG housed them at a nearby apartment complex and had them transported to and from work in 15-passenger vans. She also paid the workers in cash to avoid paying unemployment taxes. As the restaurant manager, CHEN participated in the pattern of hiring and employing the workers, knowing that the aliens were unauthorized to work in the United States, and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for his more limited role in the scheme.

These cases were part of a larger operation in June 2010 that involved the separate indictments of the owners and drivers of four employment agencies at 3146 Chamblee Dunwoody Road and the administrative arrests of 39 illegal aliens associated with the agencies and restaurants.

This case was investigated by special agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI), Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Brian M. Pearce and Stephen H. McClain prosecuted the cases.

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“Seaside Partners Fund” General Partner Sentenced to Prison for Investment Fraud

ROBERT L. DUNCAN, 49, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to prison today by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell, Jr. on a charge of wire fraud in connection with an investment scheme through his company, “Seaside Partners Fund,” which was based in Atlanta.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This is another case of a financial predator who has defrauded individuals of millions in savings. As part of the President’s Financial Fraud Task Force, it will remain a focus of our mission to root out and address these crimes and to help instill a measure of confidence in our financial system.”

DUNCAN was sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,839,751. DUNCAN pleaded guilty to the charge on September 23, 2010. The Court determined that DUNCAN has already paid back approximately $226,473.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: From January 2005 to March 2010, DUNCAN convinced several local investors to allow him to invest approximately $4 million of their money, falsely telling them that their funds were in individual capital accounts and invested through licensed securities brokers. The investors transferred their funds to DUNCAN’s investment program, known as “Seaside Partners Fund,” after he falsely represented that their principal would be held for their benefit in individual capital accounts and invested by licensed securities brokers. DUNCAN periodically furnished his investors with fraudulently altered account statements, which falsely showed that their investments were doing well, when in fact, DUNCAN was using their investment principal for his own business and personal expenses. The Criminal Information charges DUNCAN with wire fraud for causing the investors’ funds to be electronically transferred in interstate commerce to execute his scheme to defraud.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Atlanta District Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission has conducted a separate civil investigation and referred this case for prosecution.

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Former Atlanta Police Officer Sentenced to 12 Years for Corruption and Drug Trafficking

LUCIUS T. SOLOMON, III, 32, of Atlanta, formerly an officer with the Atlanta Police Department, was sentenced to prison December 16 by United States District Judge Richard W. Story on corruption and drug charges.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “This police officer took an oath to protect the public from criminals. Instead, he protected the criminals from law enforcement. Now he is headed to federal prison.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Office, said, “Public corruption investigations are a high priority at the FBI given that the potential for damage and discredit to law enforcement is very high. While these corruption cases are a serious breach of the public trust, it should be noted that the vast majority of those working within law enforcement fully understand their oaths and reflect often on their commitment to public service.”

Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said, “The public simply must have confidence in its police officers. While I believe this incident is not indicative of the vast majority of hardworking, honest and dedicated officers out there on the streets of Atlanta day in and day out, today’s sentence sends a strong message to those who would stray from their mission to uphold and enforce the law.”

SOLOMON was sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. SOLOMON was also ordered to perform 200 hours of community service. He pled guilty to the charges on September 2, 2010.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: On three occasions in 2009 and 2010, SOLOMON provided protection for what he believed to be multi-kilogram cocaine deals. For each deal, SOLOMON agreed to protect the people he thought were drug dealers in exchange for $2,000. On two of those occasions, SOLOMON was on duty, in uniform, and in his marked police vehicle when he provided the protection. SOLOMON’s participation in each of these three drug transactions forms the basis for both the corruption and the drug charges.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the FBI and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Atlanta Police Department.

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Three Former Fulton County Jailers Sentenced for Obstructing Federal Civil Rights Investigations

Three former Fulton County Jail detention officers were sentenced today (October 28) by Senior United States District Judge J. Owen Forrester for obstructing federal civil rights investigations. CURTIS JEROME BROWN, 42, of Lithonia, Georgia, and MITNEE MARKETTE JONES, 47, of Atlanta, were sentenced to federal prison for lying to a federal grand jury, making false statements to a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and writing false incident reports with the intent to hinder a federal investigation. DERONTAY ANTON LANGFORD, 35, of Atlanta, was ordered to home confinement as part of a probation sentence for his efforts to obstruct one of the investigations.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the convictions, “Today the court sentenced three detention officers for obstructing a federal civil rights investigation of inmate abuse in the Fulton County Jail. These convictions and sentences affirm our strong commitment to pursue justice even when those who are sworn to uphold the law attempt to hide the truth.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “The actions of former Fulton County Detention Officers Brown, Jones and Langford are an erosion of the public's ability to trust the law enforcement personnel who have taken an oath to protect against such egregious, criminal activity. The FBI remains highly committed to investigate such corruption by all government officials, so that the members of the public can continue to trust in the vast majority of law enforcement officials whom respect their oath and are committed to public service. Anyone with information regarding public corruption should contact the Atlanta office of the FBI.”

Fulton County Chief Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Carter said, “We fully support investigations and prosecutions of persons connected to incidents involving brutality by employees of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office who are sworn to protect and serve fairly. We have zero tolerance for behavior that results in the mistreatment of citizens who come in contact with the Sheriff's Office. Employees are expected to be truthful in reporting and submissions of reports of their actions, investigations, and other related activities.”

BROWN, who was convicted on the charges by a jury on April 16, 2010, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service. JONES, who was convicted on the charges by a jury on January 21, 2010, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service. LANGFORD entered a negotiated guilty plea to his charges on September 22, 2009, and cooperated with the federal investigation. LANGFORD was sentenced to four months of home confinement as part of three years of probation.

According to United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: On August 11, 2007, a Fulton County Jail inmate disrupted a count of inmates by shouting a crude comment to a female detention officer. BROWN handcuffed the inmate behind the inmate’s back and assisted moving the inmate to an administrative segregation area of the jail. While walking the inmate in a hallway that was not monitored by a video camera, BROWN stopped the inmate, admonished him, and hit the inmate. BROWN’s use of force caused the inmate to bleed from his mouth and left blood on the floor and wall. A fellow detention officer was shocked by BROWN’s behavior and immediately reported the conduct to a superior officer. Following the incident, BROWN wrote a memorandum to a supervisor that contained a false account of the incident.

The evidence in the case showed that later, in 2008, BROWN, JONES, and LANGFORD, along with and another detention officer, filed false incident reports omitting that jail staff entered the cell of an inmate and engaged in a physical altercation with the inmate a short time before the inmate was found unresponsive on the floor of his cell. According to trial testimony, BROWN, JONES, and LANGFORD entered the inmate’s cell and used force to subdue the inmate because the inmate was being loud and banging on his cell door and window. Approximately an hour after the group entered the cell, the inmate was discovered unresponsive and not breathing on the cell floor. The inmate was transported to Grady Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Court documents state that at the time of his death, the inmate was housed in the medical unit of the jail due to a mental health condition that required medication. According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s report, the inmate’s cause of death was “probable disrhythmia associated with acute psychotic episode and agitation.”

These cases were investigated by special agents of the FBI.

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Emanuel County Couple Sentenced in Mortgage Fraud Scheme

BRIAN STEPTOE, 41, and NATASHA STEPTOE, 38, both from Emanuel County, Georgia, were sentenced September 27 in federal district court for their roles in a mortgage fraud scheme that occurred in Swainsboro, Georgia.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who engage in financial crimes, especially crimes such as mortgage fraud, that affect the heartland of our country,” stated United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver.

Evidence presented during their guilty pleas revealed that the Steptoes, with the assistance of others, knowingly submitted a false loan application and other documentation to Bank of America with regard to a $400,000 home loan. The investigation revealed that the Steptoes’ scheme was to defraud Bank of America in order to pocket sizeable sums of money for themselves and others. The property went into foreclosure soon after it was sold and remains on the market to this day.

BRIAN STEPTOE was sentenced to fifty-four (54) months, $410,236.59 in restitution to be paid jointly and severally with his co-defendants, and five (5) years of supervised release. NATASHA STEPTOE was sentenced to twenty (20) months, $340,297.54 in restitution to be paid jointly and severally with her co-defendants, and three (3) years of supervised release.

This case was brought in coordination with President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

U.S. Attorney Tarver recognized the extensive efforts of the FBI in bringing this criminal activity to light, and particularly praised the efforts of Statesboro FBI Special Agent Cornelius Harris, who investigated this case.

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Former Hall County School Bus Driver Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

JOHN COOPER SPINKS, 41, of Oakwood, Georgia, a former bus driver for the Hall County, Georgia school system, was sentenced September 16 by Senior United States District Court Judge William C. O'Kelley to six years in federal prison for his convictions of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “As a school bus driver, this defendant was in daily contact with the children of Hall County. While he was entrusted with our children by day, he was later searching for, downloading, and distributing sexually exploitative images of children at his home computer.”

SPINKS was sentenced to six years in federal prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. He was also fined $2,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to United States Attorney Yates and information presented during the guilty plea hearing on June 18, 2010, SPINKS distributed images of child pornography over the Internet to an undercover law enforcement officer who he encountered in a chat room named "#baby&toddlerlove." In January 2010, SPINKS was again found in a chat room known for trading images of child pornography. On March 25, 2010, federal agents executed a search warrant at SPINKS' home and seized a laptop computer and several other pieces of electronic media. SPINKS admitted to agents that he had searched for, downloaded, and viewed images of child pornography and that he had distributed child pornographic images over the Internet. FBI agents did in fact find hundreds of images of child pornography on his home computer.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Georgia Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

MARLON BURTON, 38, of McDonough, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash to serve 30 years in federal prison on charges of conspiring to distribute drugs.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Mr. Burton ran a sophisticated drug-trafficking organization for over 10 years while appearing to operate a legitimate contracting business in Atlanta. In reality, he was purchasing hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and other drugs from a Mexican drug cartel and then distributing the drugs to a variety of street-level dealers working for his organization.”

Atlanta FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin said, “The FBI, as part of the multi-agency Wilhelm Strike Force, is pleased to have this career offender off the streets. Burton had integrated himself into an international drug cartel and it was his role to bring that cartel’s interests and product to the Atlanta area and beyond.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: Beginning in November 2008, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta began to investigate BURTON and his drug-trafficking organization. The investigation quickly revealed that BURTON led a large drug-distribution group that operated in Atlanta. BURTON, and those working for him, distributed wholesale quantities of cocaine, heroin and marijuana during the conspiracy.

In November 2008, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia authorized the first wiretaps of telephones used by members of this organization. From November 2008 to December 2009, the FBI monitored telephones carried by its members, including BURTON. It quickly became apparent that BURTON was working with members of a Mexican drug trafficking cartel to obtain his drugs. In fact, it was not uncommon for BURTON to fly to Mexico himself to negotiate with cartel members concerning the price and quantity of drugs they would ship to him in Atlanta.

During the year-long investigation, BURTON was intercepted on the FBI wiretaps directing the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and thousands of pounds of marijuana in the Atlanta area. In July 2009, for example, after intercepting coded talk from BURTON concerning a load of drugs, law enforcement stopped a tractor trailer in McDonough, Georgia carrying 40 kilograms of cocaine destined for BURTON.

BURTON also generated millions of dollars in drug proceeds from the sale of the narcotics. In an effort to launder profits from his drug dealing, BURTON funneled drug money through his construction company and the other businesses he owned. It is estimated that BURTON laundered over $1.5 million in drug proceeds this way.

BURTON and eight other individuals were indicted in December 2009, on drug trafficking and money laundering charges relating to the drug conspiracy. PRINSTON CARTER was sentenced to four years in prison on May 18, 2010, for his role in the offense. DECARLO TATUM was sentenced to 11 years, three months’ imprisonment on July 28, 2010. RUFINO PRUNEDA received a nine-year prison sentence on August 18, 2010. INNECENCIO OCHOA, DAVID RUIZ, and OTONIEL HERRERA await sentencing in the case. MARCO DURON remains a fugitive.

BURTON was sentenced to 30 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered the forfeiture of BURTON’s vehicles and house in Clayton County, Georgia. BURTON was convicted of these charges on May 26, 2010, after entering his guilty plea with the District Court.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Augusta Man Sentenced to Over 29 Years for Cocaine Trafficking

Reginald Darrell Beale, 29, from Augusta, Georgia, was sentenced earlier this week by U.S. District Judge J. Randal Hall to 350 months in prison for his conviction on cocaine trafficking charges. After serving his prison sentence, Beale will be on federal supervised release for five years.

Evidence presented during the sentencing revealed that Beale was a leader of a drug organization that operated in the Dogwood Terrace public housing community which was responsible for distributing up to15 kilograms of cocaine in the Augusta area. Beale has a previous drug conviction arising from his drug trafficking in the same housing community several years earlier.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which consists of officers and agents from the FBI, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Marshal’s Service also participated in the investigation.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver stated, “Our public housing communities are a resource that provide safe, clean, affordable housing, not sanctuaries for those who traffic in illegal drugs and other criminal behavior. Operations like the Streets Task Force show law enforcement’s ability to apprehend those who prey on public housing communities.”

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Former “Most Wanted Fugitive” Receives Two Life Sentences for Four-State Bank Robbery Spree

ANTHONY RAY ARTRIP, 38, of Ashland, Kentucky, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy to serve the remainder of his life in federal prison on charges of armed robbery of banks in Calhoun, Georgia; Mt. Airy, North Carolina; Princeton, West Virginia; Marmet, West Virginia; and Frenchtown Township, Michigan.

“Today’s sentencing puts an end to the criminal career of a man who brazenly made his way across half of the United States robbing banks and terrorizing citizens, and brings justice and closure to the many victims of his crimes,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.

Atlanta FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Lamkin said, “Artrip failed to take advantage of the many opportunities given to him to set his life on the proper path. Much effort and many resources from not only the FBI but other law enforcement entities were expended in investigating, tracking, and ultimately capturing him. It is with some sense of satisfaction that the criminal justice community, along with other potential victims, will not have to face Artrip on the streets again.”

ARTRIP was sentenced to serve two life sentences without the possibility of release under the federal “three strikes” law, and he was ordered to pay restitution to the banks he robbed in the total amount of $100,132.00. ARTRIP pleaded guilty to these charges on June 22, 2010.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: ARTRIP robbed the Regions Bank in Calhoun, Georgia, on the morning of September 27, 2007, when he walked into the bank, brandished a handgun, and jumped the teller counter to get money. While pointing the handgun at the tellers, ARTRIP told them not to worry and referred to them as “ladies” and “sweetie,” and even told them to have a good day when he left the bank with nearly $20,000.

The robbery of the Regions Bank in Calhoun, Georgia, was part of a several-month-long multi-state crime spree in the summer and fall of 2007, that began when ARTRIP escaped from the Grant County Detention Center in Williamstown, Kentucky, on June 24, 2007. Over the next three months, ARTRIP robbed banks in West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Michigan, slipping away from near-capture by authorities many times. Shortly after his robbery of the Regions Bank in Calhoun, Georgia, ARTRIP narrowly escaped capture by police in Chattanooga, Tennessee. However, on October 8, 2007, ARTRIP’s luck ran out and he was captured by U.S. Marshals in a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hotel. According to reports, ARTRIP had crawled into an air vent to try and evade justice yet again, but Marshals evacuated the hotel and used tear gas to flush ARTRIP out. During this criminal odyssey, ARTRIP was placed on the U.S. Marshal’s Most Wanted List, and was featured on the television show “America’s Most Wanted.”

ARTRIP was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia on January 9, 2008, on one count of armed bank robbery and one count of using a firearm during a crime of violence. He was also indicted in other federal districts for the armed robbery of four other banks - two in West Virginia, one in Michigan, and one in North Carolina. ARTRIP agreed to have all of his federal cases transferred to Georgia for disposition, and he pleaded guilty to all of the charges pending against him.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Georgia Man Sentenced to Prison for His Role in a Three-Year Drug Conspiracy

A Georgia resident was sentenced today for his role in a three-year drug conspiracy. Thomaas “30” Redding, 21, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to 69 months in prison. Redding previously pleaded guilty in April 2010, admitting he conspired with other dealers to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base in and around the Huntington, West Virginia area. A federal investigation revealed that from 2006 through 2009, Redding and several others participated in a drug conspiracy responsible for distributing quantities of crack cocaine. According to court documents, during this time Redding sold cocaine base and shared in profits made by the conspiracy.

The investigation was conducted by the Huntington Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Huntington Police Department, West Virginia State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lawrence County (Ohio) Drug Task Force, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the proceedings.

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Former Mortgage Broker Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison in Multiple Mortgage Fraud Schemes Worth $23 Million

EDWARD WILLIAM FARLEY, 47, of Hoschton, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to serve 25 years in federal prison on charges of bank fraud and conspiracy involving mortgage fraud, a real estate investment “Ponzi” scheme with over 100 victims, a check-kiting scheme, and bankruptcy fraud. WALTER JULIUS HERMANN, 41, of Dunwoody, Georgia, was also sentenced by Judge Batten to serve over two years in federal prison on charge of bank fraud involving real estate appraisals he submitted in the FARLEY mortgage fraud scheme.

United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “Not only did these different mortgage fraud schemes cause the lenders to suffer cash losses of $23 million, they contributed to the losses that many homeowners and communities have experienced because of the blight of empty houses. Homeowners think someone new is moving in, their houses will keep their value, and their community is growing. But just the opposite happens. Flipped houses turn into eyesores and the neighborhood quickly suffers. This creative mortgage fraudster is now going to federal prison.”

Brian Lamkin, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta, said, “While justice is served in the sentencing of Mr. Farley and his associates to federal prison, over a hundred victims suffering large monetary losses remain. Mr. Farley’s greed was far reaching in that he crossed over into several schemes to defraud. The mortgage fraud scheme run by Mr. Farley relied on others to pull off the scam, but he relied on the complete and ill-placed trust of the victims in an aggressive real estate Ponzi scheme offering investors high rates of returns. The FBI is pleased in the role that it played in removing from society these few individuals that preyed on so many.”

FARLEY was sentenced to 25 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $24,131,857. FARLEY pleaded guilty to these charges on November 5, 2009.

HERMANN was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $2,023,077. HERMANN was also prohibited from requesting reinstatement of his appraiser’s license during his prison sentence or during his supervised release. HERMANN pleaded guilty to this charge on December 16, 2009. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: FARLEY, a former mortgage broker, operated through “Creative Home Search,” “Southern Land Partners,” “Georgia Land Group,” and “Global Mortgage” in Dunwoody and Norcross, Georgia, to defraud mortgage lenders through same-day “flips” of properties located in Buford, College Park, Conyers, Cumming, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lithonia, Norcross, Marietta, Roswell, Snellville, and Suwanee.

FARLEY paid appraiser HERMANN to fraudulently inflate the value of each property by $50,000 to $100,000, and recruited often unqualified investor/borrowers to purchase them from one of his companies. The loan applications of these investor/borrowers were often supported by false income, employment, bank deposits, bank statements, W2’s and/or leases. However, as is common with “flips,” FARLEY did not purchase the properties he was selling to the investors/borrowers until after the fraudulently obtained loan proceeds on the “second” “subsequent” purchase had been disbursed. During the “first” purchase, he purchased the properties for up to $100,000 less than the amount of the inflated mortgage loans he had arranged for the investor/borrowers in the “second” purchase. As a result of the defendant’s lies and manipulations, the lenders lost millions of dollars in this flip scheme.

In a separate real estate investment/Ponzi scheme, FARLEY operated under the name “Alliance Resource Management” (“ARM”) in Lawrenceville, Georgia, to conceal his new source of income from prior victims. He falsely represented that ARM was in the business of purchasing primarily residential properties which were being renovated and sold at a profit, when in reality ARM had insufficient equity and income to do so. Real estate investors and lenders, including private investors, corporate lenders, and banks were induced to participate through FARLEY’s false promises that their investments and loans were fully secured by a first security position in property, plus a personal guarantee, and sometimes title insurance. FARLEY also provided promissory notes falsely promising those ARM lenders an interest rate between 14 percent to 60 percent. The same property was used to “fully secure” multiple investors and lenders, causing losses in excess of $20 million. As is common in such Ponzi schemes, FARLEY made repayments to early victims from scheme proceeds generated from newer investors and lenders.

FARLEY also fraudulently obtained $1.2 million from Washington Mutual Bank in a check kiting scheme by transferring funds he did not have among several ARM bank accounts, and withdrawing scheme proceeds before the “insufficient funds” checks were returned. He then used $400,000 in investor funds solicited for property refinance loans to address his check-kiting problem. The evidence also showed that FARLEY diverted assets of ARM to himself after a bankruptcy petition was filed, and concealed that diversion from the United States Bankruptcy Court and ARM creditors.

A co-defendant related to FARLEY’s Ponzi scheme, TRENT EDWARD WRIGHT, 38, of Cumming, Georgia, was a real estate closing attorney used by FARLEY in his scheme to issue title policies without paying off prior security holders. WRIGHT pleaded guilty to mail fraud on December 17, 2009, and was sentenced on March 12, 2010, by Judge Batten to serve one year and nine months in prison, to followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution of $2,409,760.

These cases were investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Office of the United States Trustee.

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Conspirators Sentenced to Prison in Construction Escrow Fraud Scheme

EDGAR J. BEAUDREAULT, JR., 61, of Alpharetta, Georgia, and HOWARD A. SPERLING, 45, of San Diego, California, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Clarence Cooper to federal prison on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their part in a scheme to defraud a California corrections facility operator of nearly $13 million.

United State Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said, “These defendants were part of an elaborate fraud scheme that ironically involved the construction of a prison. They will now experience how business is conducted inside a real prison.”

BEAUDREAULT was sentenced to three years, five months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,417,500. BEAUDREAULT pleaded guilty to the charges on December 17, 2008.

SPERLING was sentenced to five years, 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,417,500. SPERLING pleaded guilty to the charges on February 2, 2009.

Both BEAUDREAULT and SPERLING cooperated with the government, and in February 2010, testified in the trial of co-defendant ROBERT B. SURLES, which resulted in guilty verdicts on 16 counts of conspiracy and wire fraud. SURLES is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cooper on June 22, 2010.

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges and other information presented in court: From August 2003 through January 2004, BEAUDREAULT, SPERLING and SURLES conspired to defraud “Cornell Corrections of California, Inc.,” a private company that operates corrections facilities for various governmental units. In June 2003, Cornell Corrections contracted to have a corrections facility built in Canon City, Colorado for $13 million. The $13 million purchase price was to be held in an escrow account until the facility was completed.

In August 2003, the defendants induced Cornell Corrections to transfer its $13 million to an account in Atlanta, which they controlled, by falsely representing to Cornell that the account was an escrow account that was administered by a reputable bank. Upon receipt of Cornell Corrections’ $13 million, the defendants wire transferred the majority of Cornell’s $13 million to other accounts, to be used for their own purposes. Under the terms of their contract, the defendants were also to obtain a construction loan on behalf of “Western Comfort, Inc.” the general contractor who began construction of the facility. No loan was secured, making Western Comfort another victim of this scheme.

This case was investigated by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Four Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms for Their Roles in Drug Trafficking Ring

Brian Christopher HARRIS, 28, of Augusta; Marsignor Cornelius WHITE, 26, of Augusta; Derrick D. KING, 32, of Millegeville, Georgia; and Jaimere PROSSER, 27, of Newark, New Jersey, were sentenced this week by United States District Judge J. Randal Hall to serve prison terms of 14 years or more in federal prison on charges of drug trafficking.

United States Attorney Edward J. Tarver said, “These defendants directly participated in the distribution of significant quantities of cocaine throughout the Augusta area. These sentences demonstrate that those who distribute cocaine and other dangerous drugs in our communities will serve long prison sentences.”

HARRIS was sentenced to more than 14 years (175 months) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. WHITE was sentenced to more than 15 years (188 months) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. KING was sentenced to more than 18 years (220 months) in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. PROSSER was sentenced to 25 years (300 months) in prison to be followed by eight years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Tarver noted that these sentences relate to a 14-month federal investigation of a cocaine trafficking ring in the East Augusta area including Augusta’s Dogwood Terrace Public Housing Community. During the investigation, government agents seized significant quantities of crack and powder cocaine, nine firearms and over $55,000 cash. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force which consists of officers and agents from the FBI, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the GBI, and the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. ATF, DEA and the United States Marshal’s Service also participated in the investigation.

Other defendants who pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing include: Reginald Darrell BEALE, 28, of Hephzibah, Georgia; Latria Grenise SMITH, 26, of Hephzibah; Mark JONES, 52, of Augusta; Sylvester Ruben LEWIS, 33, of Augusta; and Sequoyah ELAM, 28, of Lincolnton, Georgia.

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Former Georgia Closing Attorney Sentenced to Prison in Multimillion Dollar Mortgage Fraud

/PRNewswire/ -- Trent Edward Wright, 38, of Cumming, Ga., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to serve one year, nine months in federal prison on a mail fraud charge involving a mortgage fraud scheme which victimized lenders and title insurance companies.

Acting U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of today's sentencing, "Lenders and title companies relied on this defendant as their closing attorney and agent and he was in a position of trust. He was supposed to pay off all prior encumbrances on properties to secure loans, and pass clear title as warranted by the title insurance. He didn't. Now he is going to federal prison."

Wright was sentenced to one year, nine months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,409,760 in restitution to the victims of the scheme. There is no parole in the federal system. Wright pleaded guilty to the mail fraud charge in a criminal information on Dec. 17, 2009.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: In September, October and November 2006, Wright, then a real estate closing attorney operating from an office in Sugar Hill, Ga., closed approximately 17 loans in which lenders were falsely assured that all prior loans encumbering the properties securing their loans had been paid off. Those lenders then believed that they would be in first position to recoup their loan amounts from the sale of the properties should they go into foreclosure. Wright also wrote title insurance for these loans although he failed to pay off numerous prior recorded liens which encumbered the properties. Rather than ordering title searches and requesting pay off amounts from all prior lenders as required before the new loan closings, Wright either failed to order title searches or disregarded recorded prior encumbrances, causing over $2.4 million in losses. Wright closed his law practice in January 2007, and surrendered his license to practice law in December 2009.

A co-conspirator in a related case, Edward William Farley, 47, of Hoschton, Ga., operated through a company called Alliance Resource Management (ARM) located in Lawrenceville, Ga., as the borrower who received the proceeds from the 17 mortgage loans closed by Wright. In seeking funds for other loans, Farley told real estate investors, lenders, and banks, that they would get returns of 14% to 60%. Farley also promised them that they, too, would be first position to recoup their loan amounts from the sale of the properties should they go into foreclosure. Farley in fact used the same property to falsely "fully secure" multiple lenders on that same property. This fraud caused losses in excess of $25 million.

Farley pleaded guilty to bank fraud and conspiracy on Nov. 5, 2009, and is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Batten on April 14, 2010. Farley could receive a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 on each of the two counts, plus full restitution to all victims who have not been repaid. In determining the actual sentence, the court will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

These cases are part of President Barack Obama's Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. President Obama established the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to wage an aggressive, coordinated and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. The task force includes representatives from a broad range of federal agencies, regulatory authorities, inspectors general, and state and local law enforcement who, working together, bring to bear a powerful array of criminal and civil enforcement resources. The task force is working to improve efforts across the federal executive branch, and with state and local partners, to investigate and prosecute significant financial crimes, ensure just and effective punishment for those who perpetrate financial crimes, combat discrimination in the lending and financial markets, and recover proceeds for victims of financial crimes.

These cases were investigated by Special Agents of the FBI, assisted by the Office of the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee.

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Georgia Man Sentenced for Transporting a Minor for Illegal Sexual Activity

/PRNewswire/ -- Mack Gordon Harris Sr., 67, was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Neil H. MacBride.

Harris, formerly of Social Circle, Ga., was also ordered today by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Spencer to serve 10 years of supervised release following his prison term, and to register as a sex offender.

Harris pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2009, to one count of transporting a minor for illegal sexual activity. According to court documents, in June 2005, Harris began communicating with a girl in Maryland, then 15 years old, through a Christian online chat room. Harris admitted that as he continued chatting with the victim during the next few months, he suggested they engage in sexual intercourse. He exposed himself on a computer webcam, urged her to send naked pictures, and engaged in "phone sex." Harris eventually visited the victim around the time that she turned 16, which is the age of sexual consent in Maryland. Harris admitted that several times during his visit and after the victim's 16th birthday, the two engaged in sexual intercourse.

Shortly afterward, Harris decided that he would take the victim to live with him in Georgia. Harris admitted that he instructed the victim to pack her belongings and leave farewell notes for her family. According to court documents, Harris picked up the victim in Maryland in December 2005 and began driving her to his home in Georgia. Harris admitted he told the victim that while traveling, she was not to speak with anybody, but if asked her age, she should respond that she was 25. During the journey, they stopped overnight at a hotel in Skippers, Va., where the age of consent is 18, and engaged in sexual intercourse.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth C. Wu of the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Barak Cohen of the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The case was investigated by U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Bank Robber Sentenced

Merkuri Stanback, age 28, was sentenced December 17, 2009, by the Honorable Hugh Lawson, United States District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia to a total sentence of 480 months (40 years) without parole. Stanback had been previously convicted of Armed Bank Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon on September 17, 2009 in connection with the robbery of Park Community Federal Credit Union located on Riverside Drive, Macon, Georgia.

On December 28, 2007, Stanback, along with two co-defendants entered the Park Community Federal Credit Union located on Riverside Drive, Macon, Georgia brandishing a firearm. Stanback and his co-defendants restrained employees and ransacked the teller area. Stanback and the co-defendants robbed the contents of the bank vault and stole approximately $198,439.00. While in the process of fleeing, the robbers lost approximately $49,000 which was recovered in an adjoining parking lot. Macon Police Officers arrived and processed the crime scene.

A tip to the FBI lead to the search of a residence located at 1032 Main Street where the Defendant was residing. Macon Police Officers and FBI Agents recovered a majority of the stolen money as well as the firearms and clothing used in the robbery. Warrants were issued for Stanback who was later arrested in Pensacola, Florida by the United States Marshals Service.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia G.F. Peterman, III stated: “The sentence handed down by the Court sends a clear message that violent gun crime will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Georgia. Anyone who commits a federal crime with a firearm will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. A sentence of 40 years' imprisonment without parole means that Stanback will not be released from federal prison well past his 65th birthday.”

The case as investigated by the Macon Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and United States Marshals Service. Questions concerning this case should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2602.

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Retired Army Major Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison for Role in Bribery Scheme Involving DOD Contracts in Kuwait

A retired major in the U.S. Army today was sentenced to 57 months in prison for his role in a bribery scheme related to Department of Defense (DOD) contracts awarded in Kuwait, announced Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer and Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division Christine Varney.

Christopher H. Murray, 42, a resident of Cataula, Ga., was also ordered by Judge Clay D. Land of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia - Columbus Division to pay $245,000 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release following the prison term.

Murray pleaded guilty in January 2009 to a five-count criminal information charging him with four counts of bribery and one count of making a false statement. According to the court documents, in 2005 and 2006, then-Major Murray served as a contracting specialist in the small purchases branch of the contracting office at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. As a contracting specialist, Murray was responsible for soliciting bids for military contracts, evaluating the sufficiency of those bids, and then recommending the award of contracts to particular contractors. In this capacity, Murray solicited and received approximately $225,000 in bribes from DOD contractors in exchange for recommending the award of contracts for various goods and services.

According to court documents, Murray returned to Kuwait in fall 2006, as a contracting officer, and solicited and received another $20,000 in bribes from a DOD contractor in exchange for the award of a construction contract. When confronted with evidence of his criminal conduct, Murray made false statements to federal agents investigating the matter.

This case is being prosecuted by trial attorney Richard B. Evans of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section as well as trial attorneys Mark W. Pletcher, Emily W. Allen and Finnuala Kelleher of the Antitrust Division’s National Criminal Enforcement Section.

The case is being investigated by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction; the Army Criminal Investigation Command, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the FBI; and the Internal Revenue Service.

The National Procurement Fraud Task Force, created in October 2006 by the Department of Justice, was designed to promote the early detection, identification, prevention and prosecution of procurement fraud associated with the increase in government contracting activity for national security and other government programs.

Anyone with information concerning bid rigging, bribery or other criminal conduct regarding DOD contracts is urged to call the Defense Criminal Investigative Service at 800-424-9098 or hotline@dodig.mil; Army Criminal Investigation Division at www.cid.army.mil; or the FBI at 800-225-5324.

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Waynesboro Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Receiving Child Pornography

Edward J. Tarver, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced that Roger Alan Gambrel, convicted on June 5, 2009, of the federal offense of Receipt of Child Pornography, was sentenced December 2 by United States District Judge J. Randal Hall, to 240 months imprisonment, followed by supervised release for the remainder of his life. Gambrel will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison.

Tarver stated that the evidence presented at the defendant’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings showed that Gambrel routinely engaged in sexually suggestive online “chats” with others about the child pornography images being traded during those communications. When his computer and other computer media were seized from Gambrel, he was found in possession of over 2,000 child pornography images.

The case was the result of a joint investigation by Special Agent Brian Ozden of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Agent Charles Kicklighter of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, based upon information they received from FBI agents in California. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Greenwood represented the Government.

Tarver commented that this case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide U.S. Department of Justice initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the 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 identify and rescue victims.

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Fort Benning Arsonist Sentenced

/PRNewswire/ -- Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and Fort Benning announced today the sentencing of a former Army civilian employee responsible for burning down the Fort Benning Staff Judge Advocate (SJA) building on Feb. 6, 2009. The Honorable Clay Land, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia sentenced Shawana Topekia Pierce, 31, of Columbus, to 84 months (7 years) in federal prison, plus 3 years of supervised release and ordered her to pay $7.5 million in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

"This was an attack on an institution of justice, having a significant community impact," said Special Agent in Charge Gregory Gant of ATF's Atlanta Field Division. "ATF, Army CID, and military police investigators brought to bear every available asset in our collective effort to investigate the fire and solve this crime. This investigation is a textbook example of agencies working together to solve a complex case in very short order."

"Today's sentencing should send a clear message to everyone affiliated with the U.S. Army, in or out or uniform, that if you perpetrate a crime against our Army or its people, or destroy government property, we will track you down and do everything in our power to bring you to justice," said Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, the Commanding General of Army CID. "We were fortunate to have such a tremendous working relationship with the ATF throughout this investigation and we were even more fortunate that none of our first responders or Soldiers were killed during this senseless act."

At the request of the U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Command, ATF deployed its National Response Team (NRT) and special agents from ATF's Atlanta Field Division joined the investigation to work alongside CID agents and Military Police personnel. By Feb. 11, the team of investigators had officially determined the cause of the fire to be incendiary ("arson"), had secured a federal warrant for Pierce's arrest and took her into custody on the same day. Later that month, a federal grand jury formally charged Pierce for the federal crime of arson for her role in causing the destruction of the Ft. Benning SJA office building.

According to information presented in court and U.S. Attorney's Office officials who prosecuted the case, Pierce pleaded guilty to the charge on July 15, 2009 and admitted to burning down the facility. On February 6, Pierce traveled to Fort Benning and went to the SJA building, where she broke a window, entered the building and poured gasoline in different places. She also placed piles of paper on some desks. Pierce then placed two propane gas bottles inside the building and used a butane lighter to ignite the gasoline-soaked parts of the building, then departed.

The Fort Benning Fire Department, assisted by the Columbus Fire Department, responded to and suppressed the fire. The SJA building was completely destroyed. Two first responders, a fire fighter and a police officer, suffered smoke injuries during the fire and were treated at a hospital.

"The Fort Benning community really came together to reestablish legal services, immediately following the fire, which is a tremendous testimony to the team here," said Col. Tracy Barnes, Staff Judge Advocate. "But we still feel the effects today, since we are now operating out of four locations across post. Fort Benning also suffered an historical loss, since the SJA building was the second oldest building on Fort Benning."

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Gainesville Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Offenses

CHARLES R. VAN BRACKLE, 49, of Rabun Gap, Georgia, was sentenced today by United States District Judge William C. O’Kelley on charges of receiving child pornography.

Acting United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said of the case, “The large collection of child pornography that this defendant possessed directly promoted an industry that exploits, molests, and degrades children. This sentence underscores the harsh consequences for people who possess images of children being sexually exploited.”

FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Gregory Jones said, “The protection of our children from individuals who would exploit them is one of the many vital missions of the FBI. The extensive collection of child pornography by the defendant is indicative of an individual who has likely been involved in this exploitive behavior for quite some time. We are appreciative of the sentence handed down today and feel that, as a result, the community is a safer place.”

VAN BRACKLE was sentenced to 9 years, 2 months in prison to be followed by lifetime supervised release. He was also fined $2000. There is no parole in the federal system. VAN BRACKLE pleaded guilty to the charge on July 17, 2009.

According to Acting United States Attorney Yates and the information presented in court: VAN BRACKLE was identified as a possible child pornography consumer after his name and identifying information were linked to child pornography investigations in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas. In January 2009, FBI and GBI agents searched VAN BRACKLE’s home, recovering a computer whose hard drive contained over a thousand images and videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images recovered from the computer were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Child Victim Identification Program, where many of the children depicted in the images were determined to be known victims of child exploitation.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse, was launched. Led by the United States Attorney's Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

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