Sergio Javier Romanos, 22, of Laredo, has been sentenced to more than four years
in prison for possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Kenneth
Magidson announced today. Romanos pleaded guilty November 18, 2011.
Romanos admitted to possessing and accessing with intent to view visual
depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct which had been shipped
and transported in interstate and foreign commerce, including by computer.
Today, Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen ordered Romanos serve 50
months in prison. That term will be followed by a 10-year term of supervised
release during which time he will have to register as a sex offender in compliance with the National Sex Offender
Registration Act and participate in either mental health or sex offender
after-care treatment. He was further ordered not to reside, access or loiter
within 100 feet of a school where children under 18 are located or to seek
employment or work at a location where children under 18 are located without
written permission of a U.S. probation officer. He will also have to pay a
$1,500 fine.
Romanos was arrested in San Antonio on September 8, 2011, following the
return of the federal indictment after which time he was released on bond.
Today, he was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S.
Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Roberto
F. Ramirez prosecuted the case.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Man Charged in Connection with Robbery of TCF Bank Branch in Chicago
A 50-year-old Chicago man has been charged with the May 22, 2012 robbery of
the TCF Bank branch located at 1224 S. Wabash in Chicago. Jerome D. Jackson was
taken into custody without incident by Chicago Police shortly after the robbery
yesterday, which occurred at approximately 5:15 p.m. Although not charged,
Jackson is also suspected of robbing the same TCF Bank branch on two prior
occasions: January 13, 2012 and May 12, 2012.
Jackson, whose last known address was in the 6000 block of South Drexel in Chicago, was charged in a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, a felony offense. He appeared at 1:30 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim, at which time he was formally charged. Jackson was ordered held until his next court appearance.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Jackson, whose last known address was in the 6000 block of South Drexel in Chicago, was charged in a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago with one count of bank robbery, a felony offense. He appeared at 1:30 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim, at which time he was formally charged. Jackson was ordered held until his next court appearance.
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Fisherman Admits to False Filing with NOAA Special Master
A Connecticut man was convicted today in federal court of providing false
information to the United States Department of Commerce, specifically the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Special Master, in order
to obtain reimbursement for fines he had previously paid.
Bruce Fitzsimmons, 54, of Canterbury, Connecticut, waived indictment and entered a plea today before U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to knowingly and willfully making a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter before the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Fitzsimmons was previously employed as a commercial fisherman in Massachusetts. Between 2005 and 2006, he received two separate notices of violations based upon, among other things, fishing in closed areas. Initially, Fitzsimmons agreed to a fine of $60,000 and a suspension of his fishing permit. After receiving a second violation notice for a separate violation, Fitzsimmons advised the NOAA General Counsel that he was no longer in the fishing business. Fitzsimmons negotiated a settlement for both violations and agreed to pay a total fine of $50,000 for both violations. Fitzsimmons sold his fishing permit to a third party for $80,000 and used a portion of the money to pay off his fine.
In June 2009, in response to complaints from the fishing industry, the Department of Commerce appointed a special master for the District of Massachusetts to review decisions and outcomes of cases handled by NOAA’s Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation.
In April2011, Fitzsimmons sent an Application for Review of the NOAA Notice of Violation and Assessment to the special master. Fitzsimmons falsely claimed that he only settled the case because he had received a letter from a NOAA attorney threatening a penalty of $350,000 plus a permit revocation. By this application and attaching what he said was the letter, Fitzsimmons was seeking to receive reimbursement for the $50,000 he paid to settle both prior violations. It was later determined that there was no such letter or threat and that Fitzsimmons made false claims and submitted a fabrication in order to obtain money to which he was not entitled from the Department of Commerce.
Fitzsimmons is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6 at 11 a.m. He faces up to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Special acknowledgment goes to the Northeast Enforcement Division of NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement for their cooperation during the investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini, Chief of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
Bruce Fitzsimmons, 54, of Canterbury, Connecticut, waived indictment and entered a plea today before U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to knowingly and willfully making a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter before the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Fitzsimmons was previously employed as a commercial fisherman in Massachusetts. Between 2005 and 2006, he received two separate notices of violations based upon, among other things, fishing in closed areas. Initially, Fitzsimmons agreed to a fine of $60,000 and a suspension of his fishing permit. After receiving a second violation notice for a separate violation, Fitzsimmons advised the NOAA General Counsel that he was no longer in the fishing business. Fitzsimmons negotiated a settlement for both violations and agreed to pay a total fine of $50,000 for both violations. Fitzsimmons sold his fishing permit to a third party for $80,000 and used a portion of the money to pay off his fine.
In June 2009, in response to complaints from the fishing industry, the Department of Commerce appointed a special master for the District of Massachusetts to review decisions and outcomes of cases handled by NOAA’s Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation.
In April2011, Fitzsimmons sent an Application for Review of the NOAA Notice of Violation and Assessment to the special master. Fitzsimmons falsely claimed that he only settled the case because he had received a letter from a NOAA attorney threatening a penalty of $350,000 plus a permit revocation. By this application and attaching what he said was the letter, Fitzsimmons was seeking to receive reimbursement for the $50,000 he paid to settle both prior violations. It was later determined that there was no such letter or threat and that Fitzsimmons made false claims and submitted a fabrication in order to obtain money to which he was not entitled from the Department of Commerce.
Fitzsimmons is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6 at 11 a.m. He faces up to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Special acknowledgment goes to the Northeast Enforcement Division of NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement for their cooperation during the investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini, Chief of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
Houston Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraud
A Houston businessman has been sentenced for conspiring to commit wire fraud,
United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced. James Roland Dial, 56,
of Houston, just landed a five-year-term of imprisonment at a hearing that
concluded moments ago in Houston.
Dial pleaded guilty to the offense on March 4, 2011, admitting he conspired with Evan “Nick” Jarvis, 39, of Magnolia, Texas; and Alex Ellerman, 36, of Chicago, to enrich themselves between 2004 and 2007 by artificially inflating the stock price of a publicly traded company called Grifco International Inc. (Grifco). Grifco manufactured oil field drilling equipment, and Dial was Grifco’s CEO. Dial admitted knowing that Grifco issued a press release to the public on March 3, 2005 containing false information about Grifco’s revenue and net income and that he willfully and knowingly profited from the false press release by selling Grifco stock to the public at an inflated price. The stock ultimately became worthless.
Approximately 300 investors who had purchased Grifco stock submitted impact statements to the court for consideration at Dial’s sentencing today. Several victims noted they had lost their life savings because of the fraud. Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who accepted the guilty plea and presided over the hearing today, handed Dial a five-year prison sentence, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hittner also ordered Dial to pay restitution to his victims. A hearing to determine the amount of such restitution will be held within the next 90 days.
Jarvis and Ellerman pleaded guilty to conspiring with Dial and will be sentenced on June 1, 2012. Jarvis had been permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing hearing but was taken into custody on May 3, 2012 for violating conditions of his bond, where he will now remain. Ellerman has been in custody since April 20, 2010 when he was arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport upon returning to the United States after a lengthy stay in Panama.
The two-year investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI, with the assistance of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has conducted a parallel investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John R. Lewis is prosecuting the case.
Dial pleaded guilty to the offense on March 4, 2011, admitting he conspired with Evan “Nick” Jarvis, 39, of Magnolia, Texas; and Alex Ellerman, 36, of Chicago, to enrich themselves between 2004 and 2007 by artificially inflating the stock price of a publicly traded company called Grifco International Inc. (Grifco). Grifco manufactured oil field drilling equipment, and Dial was Grifco’s CEO. Dial admitted knowing that Grifco issued a press release to the public on March 3, 2005 containing false information about Grifco’s revenue and net income and that he willfully and knowingly profited from the false press release by selling Grifco stock to the public at an inflated price. The stock ultimately became worthless.
Approximately 300 investors who had purchased Grifco stock submitted impact statements to the court for consideration at Dial’s sentencing today. Several victims noted they had lost their life savings because of the fraud. Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner, who accepted the guilty plea and presided over the hearing today, handed Dial a five-year prison sentence, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hittner also ordered Dial to pay restitution to his victims. A hearing to determine the amount of such restitution will be held within the next 90 days.
Jarvis and Ellerman pleaded guilty to conspiring with Dial and will be sentenced on June 1, 2012. Jarvis had been permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing hearing but was taken into custody on May 3, 2012 for violating conditions of his bond, where he will now remain. Ellerman has been in custody since April 20, 2010 when he was arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport upon returning to the United States after a lengthy stay in Panama.
The two-year investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI, with the assistance of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has conducted a parallel investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John R. Lewis is prosecuting the case.
Couple Sentenced for Conspiracy to Embezzle from City of Garland
Kenneth Wayne Brown, 51, and his wife, Lea Michele Brown, 47, both of
Westminster, Texas, were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney
Fitzwater to 42 months and 34 months, respectively, in federal prison for their
roles in a conspiracy to embezzle funds from the city of Garland, Texas,
announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña. In addition, Judge Fitzwater ordered
that Kenneth Brown pay $304,553, and Leah Brown pay $142,554 in restitution.
Five defendants have previously been convicted for their roles in the conspiracy. In early December 2011, Duane Milford Stailey, 44, and his wife, Sharon Ware Stailey, 46, both of Leonard, Texas, pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge and were each sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. In early October 2011, Jerry Don Diviney, 69, of Durant, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty; he was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
The former risk management adjustor for the city of Garland, Patricia Leathers, 63, of Rowlett, Texas, pleaded guilty in December 2010 and is presently serving a 53-month sentence. Her sister, Connie M. Powell, 60, of Garland, pleaded guilty to her role involving checks exceeding $64,000, resulting in a three-year term of probation.
According to trial testimony and case documents, Leathers obtained checks issued by the city of Garland by submitting false claims for reimbursement for damage to vehicles, homes, and landscaping purportedly caused by city trucks or employees. Diviney provided Leathers with names and addresses to use for the false claims and deposited or cashed many of the checks. He then shared the proceeds with Leathers. The Browns and the Staileys negotiated checks payable to themselves and others and returned the bulk of the cash to Diviney and Leathers. The total loss to the city has been determined to be $1,968,479.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Garland Police Department, and the Garland Offices of the City Attorney and Internal Auditor. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Miller and Brian McKay prosecuted.
Five defendants have previously been convicted for their roles in the conspiracy. In early December 2011, Duane Milford Stailey, 44, and his wife, Sharon Ware Stailey, 46, both of Leonard, Texas, pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge and were each sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. In early October 2011, Jerry Don Diviney, 69, of Durant, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty; he was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison.
The former risk management adjustor for the city of Garland, Patricia Leathers, 63, of Rowlett, Texas, pleaded guilty in December 2010 and is presently serving a 53-month sentence. Her sister, Connie M. Powell, 60, of Garland, pleaded guilty to her role involving checks exceeding $64,000, resulting in a three-year term of probation.
According to trial testimony and case documents, Leathers obtained checks issued by the city of Garland by submitting false claims for reimbursement for damage to vehicles, homes, and landscaping purportedly caused by city trucks or employees. Diviney provided Leathers with names and addresses to use for the false claims and deposited or cashed many of the checks. He then shared the proceeds with Leathers. The Browns and the Staileys negotiated checks payable to themselves and others and returned the bulk of the cash to Diviney and Leathers. The total loss to the city has been determined to be $1,968,479.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Garland Police Department, and the Garland Offices of the City Attorney and Internal Auditor. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Miller and Brian McKay prosecuted.
Alton Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Offenses
An Alton man, Robert P. Ridenour, pled guilty on May 22, 2012, to a
three-count Indictment charging him with receipt of child pornography (count
one), distribution of child pornography (count two), and possession of child
pornography (count three), the United States Attorney for the Southern District
of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Because Ridenour has a prior
conviction for aggravated criminal sexual assault involving a minor, the
penalties for the charged offenses increase. Ridenour faces a term of
imprisonment on either or both of counts one and two of not less than 15 years
but not more than 40 years, a fine up to $250,000, and a term of supervised
release of five years to life. Ridenour faces a term of imprisonment on count
three of not less than 10 years but not more than 20 years, a fine up to
$250,000, and a term of supervised release of five years to life. Sentencing is
scheduled for September 28, 2012 in East St. Louis, Illinois. Ridenour has been
held without bond on this charge since March 2, 2012.
The violations were discovered when officers conducting a sex offender compliance check went to the residence that Ridenour shared with other individuals. Ridenour is a registered sex offender as a result of a conviction for predatory criminal sexual assault in 1997 in Madison County, Illinois. A preliminary review of a computer owned by Ridenour revealed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the “My Pictures” folder on the computer. Ridenour gave officers consent to seize and search a desktop computer and a flash drive plugged into it. Forensic reviews of the desktop computer and the flash drive revealed several hundred images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In a voluntary interview, Ridenour admitted the offenses.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the
Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
The case was investigated by the Alton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Metro East Cyber Crimes and Analysis Task Force. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
The violations were discovered when officers conducting a sex offender compliance check went to the residence that Ridenour shared with other individuals. Ridenour is a registered sex offender as a result of a conviction for predatory criminal sexual assault in 1997 in Madison County, Illinois. A preliminary review of a computer owned by Ridenour revealed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct in the “My Pictures” folder on the computer. Ridenour gave officers consent to seize and search a desktop computer and a flash drive plugged into it. Forensic reviews of the desktop computer and the flash drive revealed several hundred images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
In a voluntary interview, Ridenour admitted the offenses.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the
Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.
The case was investigated by the Alton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Metro East Cyber Crimes and Analysis Task Force. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Handsome Guy Bandit Enters Guilty Pleas, Admits Robbing 11 Banks in Texas, and Now Faces Up to Life in Prison
Steven Ray Milam, 44, of Richardson, Texas, pleaded guilty before
U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver to one count of brandishing a firearm
during or in relation to a crime of violence and one count of using, carrying,
and brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence in
connection with a string of 11 bank robberies, six of those armed bank
robberies, he admitted committing in Texas last year. Milam faces a maximum
statutory sentence of not less than 32 years, or more than life, in prison. He
is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay on September
17, 2012.
Milam was given the moniker “Handsome Guy Bandit” by the FBI because of the latex mask he wore when committing the robberies.
According to plea documents filed in the case, Milam admitted robbing the following banks:
During the last bank robbery, on December 31, 2011, Milam entered the bank wearing a mask, black frame glasses, a blue warm-up suit, a white ball cap, latex gloves, and was and holding a clear bag and carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He approached the teller, displayed the gun and demanded money. He then forced the employees and customers into the vault at gun point and told the bank manager to empty the teller drawers, stating, “No dye packs or trackers. I’ll kill you if you put them in the bag.” Milam then forced the employees and customers into the bathroom, told them to count to 500, and said not contact the police.
Police officers intercepted Milam walking away from the bank after the robbery, and when they approached him in their vehicles, he pointed the gun at them. He fired one round at the officer’s squad car, hitting the driver’s side front windshield just above the inspection sticker, causing the glass to shatter over the officer’s head and shoulders. The officers retreated, and Milam shot two more times striking the driver’s door and the back left passenger door of the squad car. He fled on foot, discarding his gun, mask, keys, clothes, and money. He ran to his home in Richardson, packed clothes, and drove to Austin, spending that night in Austin.
The following day, while en route to Florida, he was spotted in Mississippi. Officers attempted to apprehend him, but Milam refused to pull over and a high-speed chase ensued. Milam almost struck several vehicles in the process of escaping and officers shut down portions of the highway in order to deploy road spikes. Milam took evasive maneuvers to avoid the spikes. As a last resort, the local Mississippi sheriff pulled up beside Milam and shot out his back tire, disabling his car and allowing law enforcement to take him into custody.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, in conjunction with the Richardson Police Department and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Keith Robinson.
Milam was given the moniker “Handsome Guy Bandit” by the FBI because of the latex mask he wore when committing the robberies.
According to plea documents filed in the case, Milam admitted robbing the following banks:
- April 19, 2011: BBVA Compass Bank, 14852 Preston Road, Dallas
- May 2, 2011 Bank of America, 7300 North MacArthur Blvd., Irving, Texas
- May 13, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, 17088 Preston Road, Dallas
- May 17, 2011 First National Bank, 1300 Preston Road, Plano, Texas
- June 11, 2011 American National Bank, 1101 E. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas
- July 14, 2011 First Community Bank, 1755 North Collins Road, Richardson, Texas
- August 30, 2011 Patriot Bank, 9545 Katy Freeway, Hedwig Village, Texas
- September 12, 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, 5219 Richman Avenue, Houston, Texas
- September 29, 2011 Prosperity Bank, 5919 Forrest Lane, Dallas
- November 22, 2011 BB&T Bank, 11800 Preston Road, Dallas
- December 31, 2011 BBVA Compass Bank, 1401 Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas
During the last bank robbery, on December 31, 2011, Milam entered the bank wearing a mask, black frame glasses, a blue warm-up suit, a white ball cap, latex gloves, and was and holding a clear bag and carrying a black semi-automatic handgun. He approached the teller, displayed the gun and demanded money. He then forced the employees and customers into the vault at gun point and told the bank manager to empty the teller drawers, stating, “No dye packs or trackers. I’ll kill you if you put them in the bag.” Milam then forced the employees and customers into the bathroom, told them to count to 500, and said not contact the police.
Police officers intercepted Milam walking away from the bank after the robbery, and when they approached him in their vehicles, he pointed the gun at them. He fired one round at the officer’s squad car, hitting the driver’s side front windshield just above the inspection sticker, causing the glass to shatter over the officer’s head and shoulders. The officers retreated, and Milam shot two more times striking the driver’s door and the back left passenger door of the squad car. He fled on foot, discarding his gun, mask, keys, clothes, and money. He ran to his home in Richardson, packed clothes, and drove to Austin, spending that night in Austin.
The following day, while en route to Florida, he was spotted in Mississippi. Officers attempted to apprehend him, but Milam refused to pull over and a high-speed chase ensued. Milam almost struck several vehicles in the process of escaping and officers shut down portions of the highway in order to deploy road spikes. Milam took evasive maneuvers to avoid the spikes. As a last resort, the local Mississippi sheriff pulled up beside Milam and shot out his back tire, disabling his car and allowing law enforcement to take him into custody.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, in conjunction with the Richardson Police Department and the Dallas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon McCarthy and Keith Robinson.
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