U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of New Hampshire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

CONCORD – Arnetta Harris, 60, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to one count of aiding and abetting the distribution of a controlled substance, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2018, Harris sold crack cocaine to another individual who in turn sold the crack cocaine to an undercover officer. Shortly after the sale, officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle Harris was driving and a search revealed crack cocaine in a DVD case located in the footwell of the car. After her arrest, Harris admitted that she drove another individual to conduct the drug transaction. She further confirmed the DVD case was used in the drug transaction.

Harris is scheduled to be sentenced on August 31, 2021.

Harris is one of eleven individuals charged in this drug trafficking case. All have pleaded guilty. Several members of the conspiracy have received substantial prison sentences. Melvin Nooks, Jr. was sentenced on April 2, 2020, to 120 months. George Cruz was sentenced on July 30, 2020, to 63 months. Mallory Nooks was sentenced on February 25, 2020, to 60 months. Marvin Morrison was sentenced on May 13, 2020, to 15 months. Don Johnson was sentenced on February 13, 2020, to 42 months. Isaiah Kinard pleaded guilty on December 18, 2019, Lawrence Fortenberry pleaded guilty on January 7, 2020, William Greenleaf pleaded guilty on January 14, 2020, and Melvin Stanford pleaded guilty on April 9, 2021. They are all awaiting sentencing.

“Drug trafficking endangers public health and safety in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we are targeting the organizations that distribute dangerous drugs in Nashua and throughout the Granite State. While this organization has been dismantled, we continue to work each day to identify and target other criminal organizations that threaten our citizens.”

“Arnetta Harris and her criminal cohorts thought they were above the law and could traffic crack cocaine in the neighborhoods of Nashua without getting caught. The hard work of the NH Safe Streets Gang Task Force in dismantling this organization and disrupting the flow of dangerous drugs to our area has paid off, but there is much more work to be done to ensure that other criminal enterprises don’t try to fill the void left by this one,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force; the Nashua Police Department; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; New Hampshire Probation and Parole; DEA; Massachusetts State Police Department; Portsmouth Police Department and the Federal Protective Service. The United States Marshals Service also assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana MacDonald and Anna Krasinski.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nh/pr/massachusetts-woman-pleads-guilty-drug-trafficking

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Federal Charges Brought Against Four Madera Men for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury indicted three Madera residents today, charging Emilio Hernandez Yesca, 27; Jorge Perez, 24; and Jorge Luis Hernandez Gonzalez, 30, with trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

An associate of the trafficking ring, Eli Quiroz Hernandez, 26, also of Madera, was indicted in a related case on April 1.

According to court documents, the charges arose out of a months-long investigation into a drug trafficking organization. At the center of the organization were Hernandez and Perez. Between October 2020 and March 2021, the two conspired to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills and pounds of methamphetamine. As part of their plan, they sold 1,400 fentanyl pills in two separate drug deals in October and November 2020. Then, in February 2021, they sold a pound of methamphetamine. On March 2, law enforcement stopped the drug-dealing partners in a vehicle on their way to deliver 5,000 fentanyl pills and 3 pounds of methamphetamine. A loaded firearm was found under the driver’s seat of the car. The two other defendants are charged with selling methamphetamine: Eli Quiroz Hernandez sold a quarter pound of methamphetamine on December 10, 2020, and Jorge Gonzalez distributed a pound of methamphetamine in February 2021.

This case is the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Chowchilla Police Department, the Madera Police Department, and the Madera Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio is prosecuting the case.

If convicted of the charged offenses, Perez, Hernandez and Gonzalez each face a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. Eli Quiroz Hernandez faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison up to 40 years in prison, and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/federal-charges-brought-against-four-madera-men-trafficking-fentanyl-and

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Former National Guard Member Pleads Guilty to Using the Internet to Commit Sexual Exploitation Offenses While Stationed in Qatar

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jaziz Jesahias Cea, 23, formerly of Galt, pleaded guilty today to transportation of child pornography and receipt of child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Cea used internet communications platforms and social media to commit the offenses. In particular, on May 13, 2018, Cea uploaded to his YouTube channel child pornography videos showing prepubescent girls being abused by adult males. Cea also separately used his Skype account to receive child pornography videos depicting prepubescent minor females being sexually exploited, to share links to such material, and to communicate with others about his interest in sexually exploiting children.

Between September 2017 and July 2018, Cea was a member of the California National Guard serving on active duty with the United States Army in Qatar. He was discharged from the California National Guard on July 23, 2020, under other than honorable conditions.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, and the Galt Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosanne Rust and Christina McCall are prosecuting the case.

Cea is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. on July 22. The two counts to which Cea pleaded guilty carry a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

This case 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/former-national-guard-member-pleads-guilty-using-internet-commit-sexual-exploitation

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Southern District of Georgia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Grovetown, Ga., man sentenced to federal prison for possession of child pornography

Illegal images discovered during GBI investigation

AUGUSTA, GA: A Grovetown, Ga., man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison after admitting to possession of child pornography.

Johnathan Malone, 23, of Grovetown, was sentenced to 68 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. He also was ordered to pay a total of $21,000 in restitution to victims in the case. After completion of his prison sentence, Malone will be required to serve 25 years of supervised release, and register as a sex offender.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“Protection of our most vulnerable citizens is essential for a safe and secure society,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners perform outstanding work in monitoring cyber networks to protect children from exploitation – and hold accountable those who do them harm.”

As described in court documents and testimony, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that led to the execution of several search warrants. Agents found hundreds of images and videos of child pornography on devices belonging to Malone.

“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent child victims of online exploitation,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “We are grateful for the relationships we maintain with our federal partner agencies to bring these offenders to justice.”

The cases were investigated by the GBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara Lyons.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/grovetown-ga-man-sentenced-federal-prison-possession-child-pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Ohio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Correctional officer sentenced for sexual abuse of a ward, accepting bribes and smuggling contraband into the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center

Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that Barbara Davis, 47, of Youngstown, Ohio, was sentenced to five months imprisonment and five months of home confinement by U.S. Judge Sara Lioi. Davis, a former Northeast Ohio Correctional Center (NEOCC) correctional officer, pleaded guilty in January of 2021 to sexual abuse of a ward, accepting bribes and providing a cell phone and tobacco to an inmate.

“Exploiting a position of trust by sexually abusing an inmate and receiving bribe payoffs for smuggling contraband into a correction center threatens to undermine the public’s trust in our criminal justice system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan. “Let this matter be a reminder to the public that anyone who seeks to harm and exploit inmates or detainees can and will be held accountable.”

“Davis sexually abused an inmate and accepted bribes for smuggling contraband into a federal prison. Today’s sentencing shows that when correctional officers abuse their authority, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General will ensure they are held accountable,” said William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Chicago Field Office.

According to court documents, from on or about November 13, 2017, to November 7, 2018, Davis engaged in sexual conduct with an inmate at the NEOCC. During this same time, Davis smuggled contraband, specifically a cell phone and tobacco, to the inmate at the NEOCC. In return, Davis received payments made from other parties through a mobile payment application.

This investigation was conducted by the Cleveland Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Seabury Gould.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/correctional-officer-sentenced-sexual-abuse-ward-accepting-bribes-and-smuggling

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Massachusetts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, April 29, 2021

SAP Admits to Thousands of Illegal Exports of Its Software Products to Iran and Enters Into Non-Prosecution Agreement with DOJ

BOSTON – SAP SE, a global software company headquartered in Waldorf, Germany, has agreed to pay combined penalties of more than $8 million as part of a global resolution with the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and the Treasury.

In voluntary disclosures the Company made to the three agencies, SAP acknowledged violations of the Export Administration Regulations and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. As a result of its voluntary disclosure to DOJ, extensive cooperation, and remediation costing more than $27 million, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and DOJ’s National Security Division entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement with SAP. Pursuant to that agreement, SAP will disgorge $5.14 million of ill-gotten gain.

Beginning in approximately January 2010 and continuing through approximately September 2017, SAP, without a license, willfully exported, or caused the export, of its products to Iranian users. SAP’s violations occurred in two principle ways.

First, between 2010 and 2017, SAP and its overseas partners released its U.S-origin software, including upgrades, and/or software patches more than 20,000 times to users located in Iran. SAP senior management was aware that neither the Company nor its U.S.-based Content Delivery Provider used geolocation filters to identify and block Iranian downloads, yet for years the Company did nothing to remedy the issue. The vast majority of the Iranian downloads went to 14 companies, which SAP Partners in Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and Malaysia knew were Iranian-controlled front companies. The remaining downloads went to several multinational companies with operations in Iran, which downloaded SAP’s software, updates, and/or patches from locations in Iran.

Second, from approximately 2011 to 2017, SAP’s Cloud Business Group companies (CBGs) permitted approximately 2,360 Iranian users to access U.S.-based cloud services from Iran. Beginning in 2011, SAP acquired various CBGs and became aware, through pre-acquisition due diligence as well as post-acquisition export control-specific audits, that these companies lacked adequate export control and sanctions compliance processes. Yet, SAP made the decision to allow these companies to continue to operate as standalone entities after acquiring them and failed to fully integrate them into SAP’s more robust export controls and sanctions compliance program.

While this conduct constituted serious violations of U.S. law involving the release of U.S. origin technology and software through cloud servers and online portals, this Non-Prosecution Agreement recognizes the importance of voluntary self-disclosure and cooperation with the government. DOJ and the District of Massachusetts reached this resolution with SAP based upon its voluntary self-disclosure as well as SAP’s extensive internal investigation and cooperation over a three-year period. During this time, SAP worked with prosecutors and investigators, producing thousands of translated documents, answering inquiries, and making foreign-based employees available for interviews in a mutually agreed upon overseas location. AP also timely remediated and implemented significant changes to its export compliance and sanctions program, spending more than $27 million on such changes, including, among other things detailed in the NPA: (1) implementing GeoIP blocking; (2) deactivating thousands of individuals users of SAP cloud based services based in Iran; (3) transitioning to automated sanctioned party screening of its CBGs; (4) auditing and suspending SAP partners that sold to Iran-affiliated customers; and (5) conducting more robust due diligence at the acquisition stage by requiring new acquisitions to adopt GeoIP blocking and requiring involvement of the Export Control Team before acquisition.

Concurrently with this agreement, SAP is entering into Administrative Agreements with the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) and the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”). Among other things, the BIS settlement agreement requires SAP to conduct internal audits of its compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, and produce audit reports to BIS for a period of three years.

“Today’s first-ever resolution pursuant to the Department’s Export Control and Sanctions Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations sends a strong message that businesses must abide by export control and sanctions laws…

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/sap-admits-thousands-illegal-exports-its-software-products-iran-and-enters-non

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