epartment of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Southern District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Owner of Currency Exchange House Pleads Guilty to Intentionally Violating Anti-Money Laundering Laws

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel C. Silva and Michael A. Deshong (619) 546-9713

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 4, 2021

SAN DIEGO ­– Marco A. Gonzalez, a local business owner of MRK Casa de Cambio, pleaded guilty in federal court today to violating laws and regulations designed to prevent money laundering by customers of his currency exchange business.

Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) led the investigation into millions of dollars of transactions at MRK Casa de Cambio from approximately 2015 to 2020.

As admitted in the plea agreement entered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo, Gonzalez knew of, and intentionally failed to adhere to, the anti-money laundering (“AML”) laws and regulations imposed on currency exchange businesses like MRK Casa de Cambio. As with any U.S. financial institution, casas de cambio, currency exchanges houses, and other “money services businesses” must comply with the United States Bank Secrecy Act, found at Title 31, United States Code and Title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, which requires these businesses to assist U.S. government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and other financial crimes.

Chief among the violations to which Gonzalez admitted in his plea agreement were: failing to disclose MRK Casa de Cambio’s Mexico-based offices and branches with the Secretary of the Treasury; reporting false and materially incomplete information in connection with the registration of MRK Casa de Cambio; filing false or materially misleading (if filed at all) reports of currency transactions exceeding $10,000 and reports of suspicious activity.

Acting U.S. Attorney Randy S. Grossman said, “The gatekeepers of the United States financial system must be steadfast in the fight against international money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to demand the highest standards of anti-money laundering compliance by all financial institutions—whether a global financial conglomerate, or a single-office currency exchange house. I commend the diligence of the Homeland Security Investigations special agents for their commitment to prosecuting these crimes.” Grossman also praised prosecutors Daniel Silva and Michael A. Deshong for their excellent work on this case.

As a result of these intentional failures, among others, Gonzalez admitted in his plea agreement that he caused MRK Casa de Cambio to engage in cash transactions without applying adequate scrutiny to the source, purpose, ownership, or destination of the funds, or otherwise whether they were relevant to a possible violation of law or regulation. In doing so, Gonzalez acknowledged that he failed to adhere to best practices for all financial institutions; but, more specifically for a money services business like MRK Casa De Cambio, Gonzalez failed to develop and maintain an AML program that was commensurate with the risks posed by the location, size, nature, and volume of the financial services provided by his money services business.

Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego, also stated, “Communities along the Southwest border are particularly vulnerable to money laundering, and HSI is committed to protecting our communities by investigating the financial networks and third-party money launderers that facilitate introduction of the illicit proceeds into the U.S. financial system. This guilty plea, by the owner of a money service business in San Ysidro, sends a strong signal to financial institutions and especially money service businesses to remain vigilant in their anti-money laundering duties.”

Special Agent in Charge Morant further noted the assistance of local, regional, and federal partners on this investigation, including: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Sentencing is scheduled to occur on August 2, 2021 before U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson.

DEFENDANT Case Number 21-CR-1319-TWR

Marco A. Gonzalez San Diego, CA Age: 47

SUMMARY OF CHARGES*

Willful Violations of the Bank Secrecy Act – Title 31, U.S.C., Sections 5318 / 5322

Maximum penalty: Five years in prison, forfeiture, and $500,000 fine

>>13581813

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/owner-currency-exchange-house-pleads-guilty-intentionally-violating-anti-money

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby on Upcoming Secretary of Defense Travel

MAY 3, 2021

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby provided the following statement:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is looking forward to attending the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, June 4-5. This will be the Secretary’s first trip to Southeast Asia. The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue brings together defense ministers, chiefs of defense, and other high-ranking government officials from approximately 30 countries to discuss security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary will deliver on-the-record remarks on “Advancing the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy,” and hold bilateral and multilateral engagements with regional counterparts on the margins of the event.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2594234/statement-from-pentagon-press-secretary-john-f-kirby-on-upcoming-secretary-of-d/

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Pittsburgh Man Admits Distributing Videos of Children Engaged in Sex with Adults

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of distribution of material depicting the sexual exploitation of children, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

George Goodwin, 49, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Nicholas Ranjan.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on March 8, 2020, Goodwin was engaged in an internet chat when he distributed two videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts with adults. The Court was also advised that the investigation of Goodwin involved multiple search warrants and the discovery of a large collection of child pornography, including videos that depicted sadistic and masochistic abuse of prepubescent children.

Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for Sept. 7, 2021. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court released Goodwin on home detention and required a $50,000 bond.

Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Goodwin.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/pittsburgh-man-admits-distributing-videos-children-engaged-sex-adults

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Middle District of Tennessee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Chinese National Pleads Guilty To Obstructing International Human Trafficking Investigation

NASHVILLE – A Chinese National pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to conspiring to commit evidence tampering in relation to an international human trafficking investigation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Xu Zhang, 31, a New York resident, was indicted in September 2019, after conspiring with his girlfriend and co-conspirator, Gao Xing, also a Chinese National, to destroy and conceal records pertinent to a federal grand jury investigation.

According to court documents, on September 6, 2019, Zhang visited Gao Xing in jail while she was in federal custody and the subject of an international human trafficking investigation. During the visit, Xing instructed Zhang to delete material information, including contacts and conversations from her WeChat account. WeChat is a Chinese multi-purpose messaging, social media, and mobile payment application that can be accessed by mobile devices, personal computers, and the internet. Xing provided Zhang with a method to obtain her online WeChat account login information from her mother in China, and other details pertaining to her account. Xing indicated that the items she needed Zhang to delete would make her case or situation worse and she further instructed Zhang to change her WeChat name.

The following day, during a telephone call from the jail, Zhang confirmed to Xing that he had deleted the information requested and had changed Xing’s WeChat name in an attempt to delete and destroy material information related to her WeChat account.

On November 1, 2019, Gao Xing committed suicide in her cell at the Daviess County, Kentucky Detention Center.

Zhang faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on September 15, 2021.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations; IRS-Criminal Investigation; and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers is prosecuting the case.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/chinese-national-pleads-guilty-obstructing-international-human-trafficking

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Cattaraugus County Man Arrested, Charged With Possessing And Distributing Child Pornography

CONTACT: Barbara Burns

PHONE: (716) 843-5817

FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Thomas J. Conklin, 35, of Delevan, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with distribution and possession of child pornography. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonnano, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in May 2019, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received a report from Kik Messenger (a Canadian company) that a user, “butterflybullet6,” sent an image of child pornography on the Kik application. Subsequent investigation traced “butterflybullet6” to an IP address belonging to the defendant. On December 2, 2019, a search warrant was executed at Conklin’s residence in Delevan by Homeland Security Investigations. Special agents seized a cellular telephone belonging to the defendant. During a forensic review of the cell phone, the image reported by Kik Messenger was recovered, as well as another 294 image files of suspected child pornography.

The defendant made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was held pending a detention hearing on May 5, 2021, at 1:30 p.m.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly. Additional assistance was provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/cattaraugus-county-man-arrested-charged-possessing-and-distributing-child-pornography

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Seattle man pleads guilty to federal crimes for creating sexually explicit images of young children

Conspired with Canadian woman to create sexually explicit images of her children

Seattle – A Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three federal felonies connected to his creation and possession of sexually explicit images of children, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Cameron Bennett Scott, 53, pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor, possession of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. He faces a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik on July 30, 2021.

According to the plea agreement, Scott came to the attention of law enforcement in December 2018 when an internet service provider reported an internet address to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) for uploading suspected images of child pornography. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force traced the images to Scott. The investigation revealed that he had been communicating with a woman in British Columbia, Canada, about sexually molesting her children—both under the age of ten and he received files depicting their abuse.

Law enforcement served a search warrant at Scott’s residence in August 2019, seizing two computers and his mobile devices. An examination of his mobile device revealed that he had taken sexually explicit photos of a minor child in his residence in July 2019.

The woman in British Columbia is being prosecuted in Canada for the sexual abuse and exploitation of two minor children, as a result of the Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security investigation.

Enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Receipt of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison and up to twenty years in prison. Possession of child pornography is punishable by up to twenty years in prison.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.

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.justice.gov/psc.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/seattle-man-pleads-guilty-federal-crimes-creating-sexually-explicit-images-young

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Missouri

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Springfield Man Pleads to Child Pornography on Day of Trial

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Missouri, man who was scheduled to begin his criminal jury trial today instead pleaded in federal court to receiving child pornography over the internet.

Scott James Wells, 55, withdrew his plea of not guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool in order to enter a nolo contendre, or “no contest,” plea, neither admitting nor disputing the federal charges against him, but acknowledging the government had sufficient evidence to convict him of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt. The court found Wells guilty of one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. Wells remains detained in federal custody until his sentencing hearing.

Wells received child pornography over the internet between Dec. 15, 2016, through March 22, 2017. Law enforcement received two CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after Wells used his Facebook account to transmit two images of child pornography to another Facebook user.

Officers executed a search warrant at Wells’s residence and seized his laptop computer, which contained child pornography.

Under federal statutes, Wells is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James J. Kelleher and Nhan Nguyen. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/springfield-man-pleads-child-pornography-day-trial

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Former Atomwaffen Division Leader Sentenced for Swatting Conspiracy

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former leader of the Atomwaffen Division in Texas, a racially motivated violent extremist group, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy that conducted multiple swatting events targeting journalists, a Virginia university, a former U.S. Cabinet member, a historic African American church, an Islamic Center in Arlington, Texas, and members of various minority groups and communities across the United States.

“The reprehensible conduct in this case terrorized communities across our Nation, as innocent Americans simply tried to attend school, practice their faith, and exercise their First Amendment rights,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The defendants caused irreversible trauma to the victims of these hate-based crimes. This case sends an unmistakable message that those who target individuals because of their race, religion, or any other form of bias, will be identified, apprehended, and brought to justice.”

According to court documents, John Cameron Denton, 27, of Montgomery, Texas, participated in a conspiracy that conducted swatting attacks on at least 134 different locations across the United States between October 2018 and February 2019. Swatting is a harassment tactic that involves deceiving emergency dispatchers into believing that a person or persons are in imminent danger of death or bodily harm and causing the dispatchers to send police and emergency services to an unwitting third party’s address. Many of the conspirators, including Denton, chose targets because they were motivated by racial animus.

Conspirators targeted multiple locations in the Eastern District of Virginia, including a then-sitting U.S. Cabinet official living in northern Virginia on January 27, 2019; Old Dominion University on November 29 and December 4, 2018; and the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Old Town Alexandria on November 3, 2018. In each instance, conspirators selected the targets and called emergency dispatchers with false claims of pipe bombs, hostage takings, or other violent activity occurring at the targeted locations. As a result of these swatting calls, police were dispatched to Old Dominion University and the Alfred Street Baptist Church, and individuals in each location were required to shelter in place while the bomb threats were investigated. According to court documents, a conspirator admitted to choosing the Alfred Street Baptist Church as a target because its congregation is predominantly African American.

Additionally, Denton personally chose at least two targets to “swat”: the New York City office of ProPublica, a non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism; and an investigative journalist who produced materials for ProPublica. Denton chose these two targets because he was angry with ProPublica and the investigative journalist for publishing Denton’s identity and discussing his role in the Atomwaffen Division, a U.S.-based violent extremist group with cells in multiple states. The group’s targets have included racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQ community, the U.S. government, journalists, and critical infrastructure.

During the investigation, Denton unknowingly met with an undercover law enforcement officer and told the undercover officer about his role in the swatting conspiracy. Denton stated that he used a voice changer when he made swatting calls and admitted that he swatted the offices of ProPublica and the investigative journalist. Denton also stated that it would be good if he was “raided” for the swatting because it would be viewed as a top-tier crime, and he felt that his arrest could benefit the Atomwaffen Division.

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Timothy Thibault, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carina A. Cuellar prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-154.

>>13582302

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/former-atomwaffen-division-leader-sentenced-swatting-conspiracy

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Former Tennis Coach Is Sentenced To 25 Years For The Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor

The Defendant Secretly Recorded Three Minors Undressing and Showering

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Acting U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer announced that U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. sentenced Benjamin Swain, 47, of Charlotte, late yesterday, to 25 years in prison, on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Jonny Jennings for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department join Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer in making today’s announcement.

According to court filings, plea documents and statements made in court, Swain was a tennis coach in the greater Charlotte area. As Swain previously admitted in court, beginning in at least 2016, and on at least two different occasions, Swain secretly recorded three minors while they were undressing and showering. On December 9, 2019, Swain pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor. Swain was previously sentenced to 12 years in prison, after pleading guilty to Child Molestation and Enticing a Child for Indecent Purposes in an unrelated case prosecuted by the state of Georgia.

In announcing Swain’s sentence, Judge Cogburn said that the sentence should deter other coaches and people who serve in similar positions from committing similar crimes.

Swain is currently in federal custody. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Swain, who is a British citizen, will also be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his federal sentence. If Swain is not deported, or later returns to the United States, he was ordered by Judge Cogburn to serve a lifetime of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.

In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Stetzer thanked the FBI, CMPD, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia for their investigation of the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Cortney Randall of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

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 U.S. 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.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/former-tennis-coach-sentenced-25-years-sexual-exploitation-minor

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of Missouri

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Former Paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School Pleads Guilty to Producing Child Pornography

Faces At Least 15 Years in Prison

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court today to producing and distributing child pornography.

Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet. Allen, who has been in federal custody since his arrest on Nov. 25, 2019, remains detained until his sentencing hearing.

At the time of the offense, Allen worked as a paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School.

By pleading guilty today, Allen admitted that he used two minor victims to produce child pornography and distributed those images, and others, to individuals over the internet. Allen also admitted he had been sharing images of child pornography over the internet every couple of days for the past five to six years.

According to today’s plea agreement, Allen began communicating over the internet with an undercover officer in the United Kingdom in June 2019. The undercover officer purported to be the father of a 10-year-old girl. Allen sent the undercover officer numerous images of one of the minor victims. He also discussed participating in and fantasizing about sexually abusing the undercover officer’s daughter.

On Oct. 7, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Allen’s residence and seized numerous electronic devices that contained more than 9,200 images and 89 videos of child pornography, including more than 800 images of infants and toddlers being sexually assaulted, 65 images of violent sexual acts, and two images of bestiality.

Allen also produced a number of images and videos of prepubescent girls using a waterproof camera at a community swimming pool.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Allen must pay $5,000 to each of the nine victims who have petitioned for restitution from every person who received or possessed pictures of their sexual abuse, or $3,000 if he can pay restitution within 30 days of his sentencing.

Allen is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

Project Safe Childhood

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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/former-paraprofessional-blue-springs-high-school-pleads-guilty-producing-child

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Northern District of Illinois

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Financial Advisor Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Prison for Swindling Investors Out of $5.1 Million

CHICAGO — A financial advisor who told clients they were guaranteed to make money by investing with him has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for defrauding those clients out of $5.1 million.

DARAYL DAVIS falsely represented to clients that they would receive fixed annual interest payments and guaranteed protection against losses if they invested with his firms - Washington, D.C.-based Financial Assurance Corp. and Los Angeles, Calif.-based Affluent Advisory Group LLC. Davis claimed that some of the investments would be backed by a well-known multinational life insurance company. In reality, Davis did not invest the funds as promised, and none of the purported investments had any affiliation with the life insurance company.

Davis instead spent the money for his own personal benefit, including rent for an eight-bedroom mansion in Los Angeles, airline tickets, luxury hotels, car rentals, a club membership, theater tickets, and other items. Davis often attempted to conceal the scam by using funds from some investors to make Ponzi-type payments to other investors.

The alleged fraud scheme lasted from at least 2003 to 2018. In all, Davis defrauded more than 25 victims out of more than $5.1 million. Many of the victims were retirees who gave Davis all of their savings.

Davis, 48, of Chicago, and formerly of Bowie, Md., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of mail fraud. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman on Monday imposed a 160-month prison sentence.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Emmerson Buie, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed a civil complaint against Davis.

“Davis targeted his victims personally, seeking out fellow church members, individuals who had previously purchased legitimate investment products from him, or ‘friends’ to whom he offered the ‘favor’ of an inside investment opportunity,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Catizone and Philip N. Fluhr argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Davis knew these people trusted him and deliberately exploited that trust.”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/financial-advisor-sentenced-more-13-years-prison-swindling-investors-out-51-million

BRIEFING ROOM

Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed

MAY 04, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

President Joseph R. Biden Jr. spoke today with Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to reaffirm the longstanding partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The President congratulated the Crown Prince on the United Arab Emirates’ upcoming 50th anniversary of independence, and reflected on the collaborative efforts the United States and the United Arab Emirates have undertaken on issues ranging from space to climate to defense and security. They discussed regional and global challenges, including Afghanistan, the nuclear and regional dimensions of the threat posed by Iran, as well as the common quest for de-escalation and peace in the Middle East. In that regard, the President underlined the strategic importance of the normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. He expressed his full support for strengthening and expanding these arrangements. President Biden and the Crown Prince agreed on the priority of working together to address conflicts, including the humanitarian crisis in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndil/pr/financial-advisor-sentenced-more-13-years-prison-swindling-investors-out-51-million

>>13582392

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/05/04/readout-of-president-joseph-r-biden-jr-call-with-abu-dhabi-crown-prince-mohamed-bin-zayed/