Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “This is tremendous validation for the City of Suffolk and the entire Hampton Roads region as a center of international trade. I am extremely pleased that Ace Hardware Corp. has recognized the world-class capabilities of Virginia’s premier transportation system that includes the Port of Virginia, one of the largest intermodal networks on the East Coast. As the second Virginia location selected by Ace Hardware, this project demonstrates the positive economic climate that companies experience when they choose to do business in Virginia.”

“Fifty-four small business owners across Virginia own stores that belong to the Ace Hardware cooperative, and these independent owners employ hundreds of Virginians,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “The cooperative also employs 275 people at its regional distribution center in Prince George County. We welcome the expansion of such a valued Virginia employer into the City of Suffolk.”

Ace Hardware, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, was founded in 1924 by a small group of hardware store owners. As a retailer-owned cooperative, the company has more than 4,500 independently owned stores across the U.S. The company offers a wide variety of hardware and fix-and-replace products, in addition to expert advice and service.

“We’re confident that the Ace Hardware Import Re-Distribution Center in Suffolk will allow us to more efficiently ship goods to our East Coast retailers-and ensure that they will be able to continue providing superior service to their customers,” said Tim Duvall, supply chain director for Ace. “We’re grateful for the exceptional cooperation of state and local officials and the strong Virginia business climate that have made this new facility possible.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with City of Suffolk and Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McDonnell approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist City of Suffolk with the project. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment, training and retraining activities.

“Ace Hardware’s decision to locate their newest import center in Suffolk is a testament to the welcoming business climate we have cultivated in our city,” stated Suffolk Mayor Linda T. Johnson.  “We are proud to welcome Ace Hardware to our business community, and we look forward to supporting them as they grow in Suffolk.”

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Gay’s arrest.  If convicted, Gay faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each of the five mail and wire fraud counts, up to 10 years in prison on each of the four unlawful monetary transaction counts, and up to five years in prison on the false statement count.

According to the indictment, Gay was an attorney licensed to practice law in Virginia and maintained a law practice in Virginia Beach.  In 2006 he qualified as the executor of the estate and trustee for the trust of a Virginia Beach resident who died in 2006.  The indictment alleges that the trust was to be funded by $520,000 in life insurance proceeds for the benefit of the decedent’s minor children.  The indictment further alleges that Gay devised a scheme to defraud and converted and misapplied the proceeds of the life insurance policies primarily for his own benefit and not the minor children.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the    United States Secret Service.  Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Seidel, Jr., is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

NORFOLK, Va. – Robert Raymond Ruks, 34, of Portsmouth, Va., pleaded guilty today to two counts of making false statements by falsely certifying that he had inspected the hulls of Navy ships and submarines, when in fact he had not.  A subsequent inspection found certain welding to be defective.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mark D. Clookie, Director, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), made the announcement after Ruks’ plea was accepted by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis.  Ruks faces a maximum term of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and full restitution for each offense when he is sentenced on August 12, 2011.

“Lying on weld inspection reports is a dangerous crime that threatens the safety of our Navy personnel,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “His lies caused the Navy and its shipbuilding partners to conduct a thorough technical review and re-inspection of the affected vessels to ensure the ships’ safety.  My office is committed to ensuring that government contractors are held responsible when they attempt to defraud the government and put our servicemen in danger.”

In a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Ruks admitted that on or about
May 14, 2009, he worked for Northrup Grumman Shipbuilding, Newport News (NGSB NN) as a Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspector.  On that day, Ruks admitted to his supervisors that he had falsely certified that he had inspected three lift pad welds on a Navy submarine when in fact he had not.

On May 22, 2009, Ruks was questioned by NCIS agents and, although he admitted the false certifications of the lift pad welds, he lied to the agents regarding the number of other ship and submarine hulls that he had failed to inspect.   During a re-inspection by NGSB NN of all the welds certified by Ruks, a pipe joint weld on a submarine was determined to be defective.  This particular weld was a critical SUBSAFE weld.  A total of 18,906 man-hours were expended to complete the re-inspection at a cost of approximately $654,000.

This case was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigative Service.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen M. Somers and Assistant United States Attorney Steve Haynie are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the indictment was unsealed today.  Murry, Stevens and Holley face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty.  Sifford faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to the indictment, from October 5 – 6, 2010, Murry, Stevens, Holly and Sifford conspired to rob the Gold Shop located on Portsmouth Boulevard in Portsmouth, Va.  Murry, Stevens and Sifford attempted to rob the Gold Shop on October 5, 2010.  Murry, Stevens and Holley attempted to rob the Gold Shop on October 6, 2010.  During that attempt, a firearm was used and discharged, resulting in the death of Robert Nelson.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Portsmouth Police Department.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Fitzwater and Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin L. Hatch are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the jury returned the verdict before the Honorable Jerome B. Friedman.

According to the evidence introduced at trial, from 2001 through 2005, Manning and other conspirators engaged in distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base commonly known as “crack.” On March 26, 2005, Manning shot and killed a fellow drug dealer, Donald Smith, over a drug debt and wounded another person in the process.   Manning went to trial with Marlon Pettaway who was accused of disposing of the firearm following the murder.  Pettaway was found not guilty.

The trial began before the Honorable Jerome Friedman on February 7, 2011, in the United States Courthouse in Newport News.  Following the presentation of fourteen witnesses and forty exhibits, over three days, the jury found the defendant guilty of all three counts of the indictment.  Sentencing is set for May 24, 2010, at 11:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Newport News, Virginia.  Manning faces a maximum sentence of Life on all three convictions.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Newport News Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Eric M. Hurt and Brian J. Samuels, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Kevin O. Driscoll prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Mr. Hawkins claimed the fourth and final top prize in 10x The Money, which means the game is being closed. It is the Lottery’s policy to close Scratcher games as soon as the final top prize is claimed.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, between 2001 and 2009, Williams was a member of the “Dump Squad” street gang, a criminal organization that operated primarily in the Ridley Circle, Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court areas of Newport News. Members engaged in drug distribution and violence including murder, attempted murder and robbery. They often carried firearms to intimidate others and protect themselves from rival gangs. On Dec. 24, 2007, Williams and other gang members were involved in a fight inside the Atmosphere Club. Management at the night club made all of the patrons leave the building. In the parking lot outside a fight ensued and several members of the gang began to beat Tony Vaughan. Martin Manley was the primary assailant who completed the beating by shooting and murdering Tony Vaughan. Williams was also involved in a separate incident where he brandished a firearm during an attempted robbery of a drug trafficker.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department, and Virginia State Police.  Assistant United States Attorneys Howard Zlotnick and Robert Bradenham II prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. May pled guilty on Oct. 18, 2010.

“Today’s tough sentence ensures that a dangerous predator like Justin May spends many years behind bars where he can’t prey on young victims,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “It is shocking that a college professor manipulated a young girl for his own sexual gratification. This case is a wake-up call to parents and kids alike that the face of evil is often the ordinary and the familiar, including people in positions of trust.”

According to court documents, in April 2010 a juvenile located in Ohio posted a picture of herself on a modeling internet website. Shortly after posting her picture she was contacted by “Justin Marx,” who claimed to have inside knowledge of the modeling industry. “Marx” sent the juvenile an email inviting her to contact him if she wished to talk more about modeling and asked her age.  The juvenile, 13, was then referred to one of his models, “Nikki.”  The next day the juvenile contacted “Nikki” who asked the juvenile if she would be comfortable modeling in a nude photo shoot and suggested she take some nude pictures of herself. “Nikki” then told the juvenile that a professional photographer could take pictures of her in exchange for various sex acts.  The juvenile took nude photos of herself and sent them to “Nikki.”

May was initially identified after an FBI administrative subpoena tracked the subscriber information for both “Marx” and “Nikki” back to IP Addresses owned by Cox Communications and the College of William and Mary. Additional subpoenas for the dates of email exchanges between the juvenile, “Marx,” and “Nikki” revealed the IP addresses belonged to Justin May at a location in Williamsburg, Va. Specifically, the College of William and Mary requires users of their network to register the MAC addresses of their computers.  According to the registration database at the College of William and Mary, the MAC Address was in use by Justin May during the time of the chats with the juvenile.  May was a faculty member in the Department of Economics with an office located in Williamsburg.  Records also show that May had a home at a location in Williamsburg.

This case was investigated by the FBI Innocent Images Task Force and the Department of Homeland Security and Customs Enforcement.  Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Yusi and Lisa R. McKeel prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

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.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the verdicts were accepted by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.  Lingenfelter faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder-for- hire, and 10 years for each murder-for-hire count.  Lingenfelter will be sentenced on May 18, 2011.

“Mr. Lingenfelter tried to settle a custody battle by hiring a friend to murder his ex-wife,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “Thanks to the good work of law enforcement and the jury’s verdict today, he will be held accountable for his failed plans and his wife and daughters will be protected.”

Lingenfelter was indicted on Sept. 22, 2010, on three counts relating to his scheme to murder his ex-wife in order to avoid paying child support and to obtain custody of his triplet daughters.  According to court records and evidence at trial, Lingenfelter hired his childhood friend Joseph Frampton to kill his ex-wife, the mother of his young triplet daughters.  The agreement was for Lingenfelter to pay Frampton for committing the murder through inflated invoices for home improvement work done to Lingenfelter’s Portsmouth home.  From March until June of 2010, the pair sought opportunities in Virginia and Texas for Frampton to commit the murder.  Twice, Lingenfelter provided money to Frampton to travel to Texas to kill the mother who was serving in the United States Army at Ft. Hood.

Joseph Frampton pled guilty to murder-for-hire on Nov. 4, 2010, and will be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Norfolk office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Portsmouth, Virginia and Harker Heights, Texas police departments.  Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Haynie and Special Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Fitzwater prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Andre Martin, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, made the announcement after Mendoza’s initial appearance in court.  If convicted, Mendoza faces a maximum penalty of 66 years in prison and a fine of $2,200,000.

According to the indictment, Mendoza operated a part-time tax preparation business from his Virginia Beach residence.  From 2002 through 2008, Mendoza prepared thousands of federal and state individual income tax returns for clients using his services.  In preparing the 22 federal individual income tax returns identified in the indictment, Mendoza allegedly overstated and falsified his clients’ itemized deductions for items such as medical expenses, unreimbursed employee expenses, investment expenses, and other miscellaneous expenses.  By itemizing these false deductions, Mendoza allegedly reduced his clients’ federal tax obligations and enabled most of them to receive substantial tax refunds which they were not entitled to receive.  As a result, the United States suffered losses.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Krask is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McDonnell said, “Keeping TRG Customer Solutions in Hampton and accommodating the company’s growth was our goal with this project. An available facility was identified and up-fitted in a timely manner to allow TRG to be operational quickly. Staying in Virginia allowed the company to maintain its well-trained workforce of 300 employees, as well as add 120 new positions.”

“The Governor’s Senior Economic Advisor Bob Sledd worked closely with TRG Customer Solutions to ensure that the company remained in Hampton and the Commonwealth,” said Jim Cheng, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “I am pleased with the team that pulled together to successfully accommodate TRG’s needs.”

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, TRG Customer Solutions is a leading global business process outsourcing (BPO) provider of customer relationship management (CRM) solutions and technologies. The company supports more than 175 global clients from 13 operations centers in six countries. The company maintains over 5,000 workstations that support multi-channel inbound and outbound communications via phone, Web, e-mail, direct mail and fax. TRG Customer Solutions’ goals for its clients are to accelerate revenue growth, improve operational effectiveness, increase customer satisfaction and reduce costs.

“We’re very excited about this opportunity to expand our operations in the City of Hampton,” said Frank Kelly, CEO of TRG Customer Solutions. “The talent and work ethic of employees in the area is one of the reasons we chose to remain in Hampton. It is a demonstration of our commitment to the people and state of Virginia.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Hampton to secure the project for Virginia. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance will provide funding and services to support the company’s recruitment and training activities.

“TRG Customer Solutions’ expansion represents the unlimited business opportunities available to existing and new companies in Hampton. We are pleased with their decision to remain a strong component of our business community,” notes Molly Joseph Ward, City of Hampton Mayor.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Darryl Vaughn pled guilty on Sept. 28, 2010.

According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, between 2001 and 2009, Vaughn was a member of the “Dump Squad” street gang, a criminal organization that operated primarily in the Ridley Circle, Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court areas of Newport News. Members engaged in drug distribution and violence including murder, attempted murder and robbery. They often carried firearms to intimidate others and protect themselves from rival gangs. On April 26, 2006, in the area of 18th Street and Roanoke Avenue, Vaughn, along with other members of the “Dump Squad” were in a vehicle that passed a rival gang member walking on the street.  They turned the car around and began firing at the individual as he attempted to flee.   The victim was later treated at a local hospital for a gunshot wound to the head.

On September 3, 2006, Vaughn was involved in a second confrontation with an individual in the parking lot of the Atmosphere Club. Vaughn brandished a firearm and shot the victim in the abdomen.  Vaughn was identified by security officers at the club.  The victim was treated at a local hospital and continues to suffer from his injuries.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Newport News Police Department, the Hampton Police Department, and Virginia State Police.  Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Tayman and Robert Bradenham II prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement today after Jacobs and Rice made their initial appearance in the United States District Court in Norfolk.

Jacobs and Rice were charged in a 20-count indictment on Dec. 14, 2010, of conspiring to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from illegal activity. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison except the illegal monetary transactions counts, which carry a maximum of 10 years.

According to the indictment, in 1997, Jacobs established JBS, Inc., a corporation that owned and operated low-power television stations that broadcast throughout the Tidewater area.  Jacobs served as the president of JBS, and he hired Rice in 2003.  JBS often broadcasted local religious programming, and its clients included a number of local churches that both advertised on JBS stations and provided programming from their weekly services.

JBS struggled to make a profit in its years of operation, and Jacobs and JBS incurred large personal and business debts.  JBS also incurred a federal tax lien for unremitted payroll taxes in or around 2000, which transferred over to Jacobs in or around 2005.  In or about June 2000, Jacobs filed for bankruptcy.

About five years later, Jacobs approached several local Tidewater area pastors, many of whom were clients of JBS, about creating an investment company, with the eventual goal of establishing a bank or credit union.  In December 2005, Jacob, together with a group of pastors, formed Alliance Financial Services Company, Inc. The pastors became members of the board of directors of Alliance, with Jacobs as the president and Rice as the secretary.

Jacobs encouraged the pastors to invest additional personal and church funds in Alliance and to solicit investments from their congregations.  Jacobs promised the pastors that Alliance investors would receive interest rates greater than those paid by a bank or credit union.  The offered interest rates varied with the size of the investment.  Jacobs offered a number of explanations as to how Alliance would make money, including that Alliance would loan its funds out to others at an interest rate higher than that paid to the Alliance clients, similar to the manner in which a bank operates.  At no time prior did Jacobs inform either the Alliance board of directors or individuals providing funding that their funds would be provided to JBS.

Shortly after its formation, Alliance began accepting investor deposits and continued to do so until in or about October 2008.  Approximately 80 to 100 individuals invested funds; in total, approximately $752,000 was invested with Alliance.  The majority of the invested funds were deposited into a bank account opened by Alliance in or about February 2006 at TowneBank.  Rice served as the sole signature authority on the account.

The indictment alleges that from in or about February 2006 through August 2008, approximately $548,550 was transferred from Alliance’s TowneBank account to a bank account of JBS maintained at TowneBank, via checks and bank transfers.  Each check provided from the Alliance account was signed by Rice on behalf of Alliance.  The indictment further alleges that contrary to representations made to the investors, Jacobs and Rice used the funds from Alliance that were transferred to the JBS account for various personal and business purposes of JBS unrelated to the business of Alliance, including payments to Rice, payments to a company that owned Jacobs’ house, payments towards the various debts held by Jacobs or JBS, and more than $30,000 in payments for a Trojan Tricabin boat, purchased in 2006.

In addition to the transfer of funds from Alliance to JBS and the personal use of Alliance funds, the indictment alleges that Jacobs and Rice also used deposits from recent investors to make interest payments to existing investors.

This case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.  Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Samuels is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

On Dec. 16, 2010, Shanda L. Gilyard, 40, of Portsmouth, Va., was sentenced to 192 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Earlier this week, on Dec. 13, 2010, Cynthia Simmons, 66, and Ollie A. Waters, 56, also of Portsmouth, Va., were sentenced, respectively, to 56 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and 10 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.  Each defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $55,182.39.  Both Gilyard’s and Simmons’ sentences were made to run consecutive to other state terms of imprisonment on unrelated charges.

In June 2010, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging all three defendants with a conspiracy to commit bank fraud, substantive counts of bank fraud, possession of counterfeit securities and aggravated identity theft. According to the evidence introduced at trial, from 2007 through 2010, Gilyard, Waters and Simmons engaged in a scheme to create and pass counterfeit company checks at various banks throughout the Tidewater area.  The scheme extended for over two years and involved banks and companies in James City County, Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk, Portsmouth and other cities in the Tidewater area.

Gilyard and Simmons recruited dozens of individuals to provide copies of legitimate checks that were then used by Gilyard to create counterfeit checks on a computer.  Gilyard also recruited individuals, including Waters, to present and cash these counterfeit checks at various financial institutions and other businesses, including TowneBank, Wal-Mart, Food Lion and V-Com, causing losses in excess of $50,000.  Gilyard also recruited individuals to open bank accounts at TowneBank that were used to cash counterfeit checks. Gilyard promised and provided payment to these individuals and others for their participation in cashing counterfeit checks. Gilyard was also charged with aggravated identity theft as she used other individuals identities to cash counterfeit checks.

Waters pled guilty to the conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Aug. 27, 2010.  Simmons pled guilty to one count of production of counterfeit securities of an organization on Sept. 2, 2010.  Gilyard proceeded to trial and was convicted of all 15 counts of the superseding indictment on Sept. 15, 2010.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Samuels and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kate Albrecht prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.  Alberts will be sentenced on March 21, 2011, and faces up to 30 years in prison.

According to court documents, Alberts was involved in a conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud on various properties located in the Cape Charles area of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  The court records indicate Alberts was a co-owner of Creative Property Development, a company involved in the purchase, development, and sale of real estate property in Northampton County, Virginia.  The court documents state that Alberts sold real estate developed by Creative Property Developments to his fellow co-conspirators.  To effect the sales, Alberts provided the co-conspirators with the necessary funds to make the down payments and qualify for mortgage loans, but did not disclose this arrangement on the mortgage loan applications.  As a result of these sales, Creative Property Developments earned hundreds of thousands of dollars of profit on these properties.  Because of his actions, Alberts’ co-conspirators fraudulently obtained mortgage loans valued in excess of $2.8 million.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and Virginia State Police.  Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Seidel, Jr. and Joseph L. Kosky are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Michael Jerome Parker, 30, of Hampton, Va., pled guilty yesterday to Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Robbery and to Carrying and Discharging a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge Tommy E. Miller.

Parker was indicted on July 7, 2010, on the Hobbs Act robbery charges and the firearm charge.   Parker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years on the robbery charge and a consecutive ten years to life sentence for the use and discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He is to be sentenced on March 2, 2011, by United States District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

In a statement of facts filed with the plea agreement, Parker admitted receiving a Smith and Wesson firearm from an associate for the purpose of committing a robbery of an individual who had arranged to supply Parker with crack cocaine.  On March 12, 2010, in the course of the robbery in the parking lot of a Hampton condominium complex, Parker exchanged gun fire with the drug supplier.  More than 25 shots were fired during which both Parker and the drug supplier were wounded.  Ballistic and DNA evidence tied Parker to the firearm used in the robbery. Two other individuals were previously convicted and sentenced in relation to this crime.

This case was investigated by the Hampton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy R. Murphy prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Boynton was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr.  Boynton previously pled guilty to the charge on June 7, 2010.

According to court documents, Boynton initially was identified by the FBI during an investigation of individuals trading child pornography over the internet.  Boynton was identified as being an active service member of the United States Navy stationed in Norfolk, Va., and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) became the lead agency in the investigation.  In April 2009, upon returning from deployment and entering port, Boynton’s computer and computer media was seized by the NCIS.  A computer forensic analysis of Boynton’s computer and other media revealed numerous images of child pornography, some depicting prepubescent children engaged in sex acts with adults.

This case was investigated by NCIS.  Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth Yusi is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

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.

NORFOLK, Va. – James A. Metcalf, 35, of Virginia Beach, Va., was sentenced today in Norfolk federal court to 87 months in prison, followed by supervised release for life, for possession of child pornography.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after Metcalf was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark S. Davis.  Metcalf previously pled guilty to the charge on August 18, 2010.

According to court documents, Metcalf, who is currently serving a 25-year state sentence for charges involving child sexual abuse, was a former active duty member of the U.S. Navy.  After Metcalf’s abuse came to the attention of the Virginia Beach Police Department, agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service executed a search onboard the USS Laboon to which Metcalf was assigned and seized computers and other electronic media from Metcalf’s home in Virginia Beach.  An analysis of the seized media revealed in excess of 150 images of child pornography.  Some of the computer files contained images of children under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The court documents further state that Metcalf possessed child pornography images of known victims whose identities are kept in a database at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Virginia Beach Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth M. Yusi and Joseph L. Kosky prosecuted the case for the United States.

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.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Iraj a/k/a “Roger” Ahmadian, 54, of Collierville, Tenn., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison, followed by three years supervised release for embezzling more than $500,000 from his former employer, Dillon Stone Corporation, a Virginia Beach-based retail marble and granite tile company. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $508,998.99.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Judge Jerome B. Friedman. Ahmadian pled guilty on August 6, 2010, to one count of bank fraud and one count of income tax evasion.

From October 2003 to January 2007, Ahmadian was an executive at Dillon Stone who oversaw the day-to-day operations of the company, including project estimating, sales and project management.  Dillon Stone paid its subcontractors through weekly draws and reported these payments to the Internal Revenue Service on Forms 1099.  To initiate payment, a project manager and/or Ahmadian would submit a subcontractor pay request, which operated as a vendor invoice, to the accounting department in Virginia Beach. Ahmadian had the authority to approve these subcontractor pay requests.

At the time Ahmadian began his employment with Dillon Stone, Ahmadian owned and operated his own company called National Marble Tile & Terrazzo, Inc. (NMTT), a corporation registered in Georgia, but operated out of Memphis, Tenn.  NMTT was also engaged in the commercial tile business. NMTT was assigned an Employer Identification Number (EIN) by the IRS, and this number was used to open two bank accounts at First Tennessee Bank in Memphis.

On or about September 10, 2004, Ahmadian opened a nominee bank account at the First Tennessee Bank in the name of Phoenix Tile and Marble Company, Inc.  On the account opening signature card, Ahmadian listed himself as the secretary/CEO of Phoenix Tile and indicated that the company was a corporation in good standing organized under the laws of Tennessee.  Ahmadian provided the same IEN for Phoenix Tile that the IRS assigned to NMTT. The IRS does not assign the same EIN to multiple entities, regardless of ownership.  At the time of this bank account’s opening and throughout Ahmadian’s tenure at Dillon Stone, Phoenix Tile was not an entity that was registered or licensed to operate in Virginia or Tennessee.  The IRS did not issue an EIN for Phoenix.

From October 2004 to January 2005, Ahmadian caused Dillon Stone to issue approximately $53,026 in payments to the non-existent entity Phoenix Tile.  From February 2004 to January 2007, Ahmadian also caused Dillon Stone to issue approximately 200 paychecks to subcontractors totaling over $500,000.  Ahmadian caused the subcontractors’ endorsements to be forged and the money to be deposited into the NMTT and Phoenix Tile bank accounts for his own use, including for paying his mortgage, medical expenses, travel, and making payments to his wife and others.

Ahmadian filed no individual or corporate federal income tax returns, declaring income from Dillon Stone or any other source, for the years 2004 through 2006, until February
2009.  After becoming aware of a criminal investigation being conducted by the FBI and IRS in February 2009, Ahmadian, filed with the IRS, Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 on the dates and showing taxable income and tax due and owing.  At the time of filing, Ahmadian made no payments toward this admitted tax due and owing.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

(Newport News, Va) – Yvonne L. Robertson, 44, of Hampton, Va., was convicted late Wednesday afternoon by a federal jury of engaging in a mortgage fraud scheme.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement.  Robertson faces a maximum penalty of 30 years on the conspiracy and mail and wire fraud counts, 10 years on the counts charging engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity and 10 years on the false statement count.

Robertson was first indicted on Feb. 9, 2010, along with, Maria Henderson, 41, of Virginia Beach, Va., on charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as 11 separate mail and wire fraud counts.  Joseph M. Garner, Jr., 49, of Virginia Beach, Va., was charged separately by criminal information on Feb. 8, 2010, with mail fraud.  A superseding indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in May, 2010, added charges of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, as well as making materially false statements to an agent of the United States.

According to the superseding indictment, from November 2006 through May 2009, Robertson operated a real estate investment and property management business known as Angel’s Touch Real Estate Investments, LLC located in Virginia Beach, Va.  In the course of business, Angel’s Touch would identify investment properties in the Tidewater area for purchase.  Robertson signed contracts for the purchases but often assigned the contracts to other individuals (“strawbuyers) for purchase with promises that she would arrange for the down payment funds and closing costs, that she would then manage the properties by finding renters, collecting rental payments, and making mortgage payments, and that individuals would received cash back from loan proceeds of the property.  Robertson caused false information to be presented to lenders in order to obtain the mortgage loans for the straw buyers.  Robertson also failed to deliver on her promises to the borrowers, but fraudulently obtained proceeds from the closings for herself and her company.  Robertson routed these proceeds, by wire transfer, into the accounts of various other individuals and, on one occasion, caused money returned to a strawbuyer to be given to Robertson through a cashier’s check.

Henderson was a loan officer for a number of companies engaged in mortgage brokering services, including Yourturn Finances and Mortgage Star, Inc.  Henderson was responsible for taking mortgage loan applications and seeking a mortgage lender for which she received commissions based on the loans she processed.  Garner submitted false mortgage documents, through Henderson, to purchase a property for Robertson indicating that he would be the primary occupant. Instead, following closing, the property was occupied by a renter. After a short period of time the property went into default and the renter was evicted.

Henderson pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud on April 6, 2010, and was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $230,000.00. Garner pled guilty to a criminal information alleging mail fraud on March 16, 2010 and was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $29,600.00 in restitution. Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Brian J. Samuels and Special Assistant United States Attorney Eric Olshan prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement.  Brown faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

According to the indictment, Brown was involved in robberies on July  15, 2010 at the Raceway Gas Station, July 19, 2010 at the BP Miller Mart Gas Station, July 20, 2010 at Dollar General Store, and on July 24, 2010, at the Dollar General Store, Dodges Chicken, and the Raceway Gas Station.  In all but the last robbery, Brown brandished and pointed a knife at employees of the business and demanded cash during the robbery.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Hurt is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Trooper Hughes was finishing up a crash investigation at that location Friday morning (Nov. 5) at approximately 6:35 a.m., when a 1997 Mazda lost control and crashed into a VDOT pickup truck that was also at the scene. The VDOT truck had positioned itself, with its amber lights activated, to protect Trooper Hughes from oncoming traffic as he worked the original crash.

When the VDOT truck was struck, Trooper Hughes immediately went to secure this second crash scene and check on the parties involved to make sure they were safe and determine the extent of their injuries. It was at this point that a 1991 Toyota lost control, spun around, and struck Trooper Hughes. The Toyota then struck the VDOT truck.

Moments before being struck, Trooper Hughes observed the Toyota lose control and attempted to move out of the way. Trooper Hughes was transported by ambulance, along with the VDOT employee, to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, neither one suffered life-threatening injuries.

The drivers of the Mazda and Toyota were both charged with reckless driving and failure to maintain proper control of a vehicle.