Clipper Shipping A.S. was convicted of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and sentenced to pay a fine of $1.5 million. Clipper admitted that oily bilge water was discharged from the Motor Tanker (M/T) Clipper Saturn and the discharges were omitted from the Oil Record Book.
On Sept. 27 and Oct. 1, 2021, while the M/T Clipper Saturn was anchored near Lome, Togo, the then-Chief Engineer directed that oily bilge water be transferred into the vessel’s gray water tank and then discharged directly overboard under the cover of darkness. In order to accomplish the discharge, the then-Chief Engineer ordered that a section of piping be removed and a hose installed onto the eductor system. This arrangement was used to discharge the gray water tank directly overboard. Personnel then re-installed and repainted the piping in the area in order to appear that none had been removed. During a Coast Guard inspection of the vessel in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 28, 2021, authorities learned about the discharges.
“We take seriously the crimes of illegally discharging oily bilge water at sea and falsifying records to obstruct the United States’ ability to investigate those discharges,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The U.S. Coast Guard must be able to rely on truthful records on board ships and the Department of Justice will continue to ensure polluters are held fully accountable.”
“Not only did this ship pollute waterways, but they tried to cover it up,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “To put it simply, Clipper Saturn wanted to get rid of dirty oily water from their ship. Instead of filtering out the hazardous elements, as required, they decided to cut costs and just release the whole contaminated mess into the sea. Unfortunately for them, they got caught when they docked in Houston. The fine imposed today tells them that there is a bigger cost to endangering our citizens and the environment in which they live, and that the SDTX will seek to hold those who harm oceans and waterways accountable.”
“The Coast Guard is committed to protecting our oceans and waterways from those who deliberately jeopardize the well-being and safety of the environment and the public,” said Coast Guard Capt. Keith Donohue, Commander, Sector Houston-Galveston. “The intentional pollution of U.S. waters is a serious violation that we simply will not tolerate. We will continue to work with the Department of Justice and our federal, state, and local partners to hold accountable those who choose to endanger our natural resources.”
As part of the plea agreement, Clipper Shipping A.S. will implement an enhanced Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) on nine vessels. The ECP requires independent auditing and monitoring of the vessels as well as imposing requirements to enhance the pollution prevention systems on the vessels.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Schammal for the Southern District of Texas and Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
Matthew D. Krueger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, today announced that two agencies in Wisconsin received nearly $1 million from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs and its component, the Office for Victims of Crime, to provide safe, stable housing and appropriate services to victims of human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a barbaric criminal enterprise that subjects its victims to unspeakable cruelty and deprives them of the most basic of human needs, none more essential than a safe place to live,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Throughout this Administration, the Department of Justice has fought aggressively to bring human traffickers to justice and to deliver critical aid to trafficking survivors. These new resources, announced today, expand on our efforts to offer those who have suffered the shelter and support they need to begin a new and better life.”
“The funds announced here will provide direct and much-needed aid to victims of human trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “Combatting human trafficking remains a top priority for my office, which is among the most active U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the country in fighting this scourge. From our experience, we know that providing safe, stable housing is essential to helping victims break away from their trafficker.”
The grant, awarded to Newcap, Inc. in the amount of $500,000, and to Pathfinders Milwaukee, Inc. in the amount of $499,000, will provide six to 24 months of transitional or short-term housing assistance for trafficking victims, including rental, utilities or related expenses, such as security deposits and relocation costs. The grant will also provide funding for support needed to help victims locate permanent housing, secure employment, as well as occupational training and counseling. Newcap, Inc. and Pathfinders Milwaukee, Inc. are among 73 organizations receiving more than $35 million in OVC grants to support housing services for human trafficking survivors.
“Human traffickers dangle the threat of homelessness over those they have entrapped, playing a ruthless game of psychological manipulation that victims are never in a position to win,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will empower survivors on their path to independence and a life of self-sufficiency and hope.”
Human trafficking offenses are among the most difficult crimes to identify, and the scope of human trafficking victimization may be much greater than the limited data reflect. A new report issued by the National Institute of Justice, another component of the Office of Justice Programs, found that the number of human trafficking cases captured in police reports may represent only a fraction of all such cases. Expanding housing and other services to trafficking victims remains a top Justice Department priority.
The Office for Victims of Crime, for example, hosted listening sessions and roundtable discussions with stakeholders in the field in 2018 and launched the Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center. From July 2018 through June 2019, 118 OVC human trafficking grantees reported serving 8,375 total clients including confirmed trafficking victims and individuals showing strong indicators of trafficking victimization.
For a complete list of individual award amounts and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/htvictimsfactheet.pdf
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Philip D. Kuehnl (age 42) of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced in federal court for mail fraud and filing false tax returns.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Kuehnl to 14 months in prison and ordered him to pay more than $289,000 in restitution.
During the period from approximately 2005 through April 2011, Kuehnl, who has also used the names Mike Hilton, Phil Kay, and Michael Helton, devised and carried out a scheme to defraud and to obtain money by means of material false and fraudulent pretenses and representations. Using various business names, including Premium Discount Pharmaceutical Services, Scrip Saver, Script Saver, Medico, Medico Alliance, and Medione, Kuehnl illegally marketed and sold medical devices, including devices purporting to be Synvisc, Orthovisc, and Hyalagan, to physicians, medical clinics, and other related businesses in the United States.
Kuehnl falsely represented to his customers that he was associated with the manufacturers and legitimate distributions of these devices. In fact, Kuehnl acquired the devices from unknown sources in Europe and smuggled them into the United States, where he re-packaged and re-labeled the devices to appear to come from domestic sources. During his scheme, Kuehnl sold more than 100,000 devices for more than $5.6 million. At the same time, Kuehnl reported virtually none of this income and paid little or no taxes.
In December 2010, federal agents searched Kuehnl’s home in Pleasant Prairie and later interviewed Kuehnl. During that interview, Kuehnl lied repeatedly about his business and concealed the fact that he had a bank account in Hong Kong. Shortly after being interviewed, Kuehnl fled the United States and remained a fugitive until he was arrested in Thailand in 2018. He has been in custody since that time.
“Kuehnl’s greed led him to sell counterfeit medical devices, cheat on his taxes, and then flee from authorities,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FDA, and the prosecutor in this case showed outstanding persistence to ensure Kuehnl faces the consequences of his corruption.”
Chicago Field Office Special Agent in Charge Kathy Enstrom stated, “Kuehnl’s sentencing demonstrates that IRS – Criminal Investigation is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting those who line their pockets using fraudulent business practices and then victimize all taxpayers by continuing their schemes and not paying taxes on their profits.”
This matter was investigated by the Office of Criminal Investigations of the Food and Drug Administration and Criminal investigation Division of the Internal Revenue and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs.
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, issued a statement reminding all Wisconsin residents to file accurate federal income tax returns as the deadline for filing is Monday, April 15. Although the filing season is nearing the end, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division work year round to protect the integrity of our nation’s tax system by investigating and prosecuting individuals who violate the tax laws.
“The funding of our government—and the vital protection and services it renders—depends upon taxpayers voluntarily complying with the tax laws,” said U.S. Attorney Krueger. “The millions of taxpayers who pay their taxes accurately deserve to know that cheating on taxes will not be tolerated. The Department of Justice and the IRS are committed to prosecuting dishonest individuals who seek to hide income, claim false deductions, or engage in other schemes to avoid their tax obligations. These prosecutions send a clear warning: Federal prison awaits those who cheat on their taxes.”
“Taxpayers thinking about participating in fraudulent tax schemes, such as failing to report all forms of income or falsifying deductions should take a good look at the serious and detrimental consequences of taking the next step,” stated Special Agent in Charge Gabe Grchan of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. “Those who might consider preparing false and fraudulent tax returns should be aware of the extremely negative consequences that could result in prison time, large tax bills, including substantial fines, interest and penalties.”
As the tax filing season winds down, the following prosecutions over the last four month in the Eastern District of Wisconsin serve as a warning against filing a false or fraudulent tax return, and as a reminder to be wary of any schemes that would falsify income or deductions.
Alma Ramirez, formerly of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was sentenced March 5, 2019 to four years in prison, and ordered to pay $301,370 in restitution. Ramirez, and others working with her and at her direction, prepared and filed more than 60 false federal income tax returns in the names of various individuals. These tax returns included false information concerning the taxpayer’s employment, wages, the amount of federal taxes that had been withheld from those wages, dependents, and the taxpayer’s eligibility for various tax credits. Ramirez also committed identity theft by illegally using the names and social security numbers of unwitting individuals to commit her fraud offense.
Randy Usow of Mequon, Wisconsin, owner and operator of Randy Usow Accounting was sentenced February 21, 2019, to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $600,000 in restitution. From 2011 to 2015, Usow filed at least four false federal income tax returns, fraudulently seeking more than $800,000 in federal income that he diverted to himself.
Deily Veras of Newark, New Jersey, was sentenced December 13, 2018, to 52 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $2.7 million in tax refund checks. Veras was also ordered to pay $2,766,926.15 in restitution. Veras committed the theft by fraudulently obtaining the identities and Social Security Numbers (“SSNs”) primarily of Puerto Rican residents.
Karen Tompkins, of Milwaukee was the Manager of a Liberty Tax Service in Milwaukee and was sentenced March 25, 2019, to 12 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $384,528 in restitution. Tompkins and her co-conspirators artificially inflated tax filer’s claimed income, by inventing Schedule C business income for non-existent business, such as "hair braiding" or "dancing" businesses. They also claimed false W-2 income and Additional Child Tax Credits causing the IRS to pay out larger tax refunds than it otherwise would have. In return for these inflated tax refunds, Tompkins and her co-conspirators received kickbacks.
Susan Wenszell of Milwaukee was the president and owner of J. Wenszell Enterprises Inc., and pleaded guilty February 15, 2019 to failing to account for and pay federal payroll taxes to the IRS. From the second quarter of 2012 through fourth quarter of 2015, Wenszell withheld more than $1.2 million from employee wages but paid only $13,966.69 to the IRS. In addition, during the years 2010-2015, Wenszell failed to pay the employer’s share (or matching share) of payroll taxes that totaled almost $530,000.
# # # #
Matthew D. Krueger, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 8, 2019, Susan Wenszell (57) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to one count of failing to account for and pay federal payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202.
According to documents filed in court, Wenszell was the president and owner of J. Wenszell Enterprises Inc., an outdoor electrical construction company formed by Wenszell’s husband and his brother. The payroll taxes in question consisted of federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, and Medicare taxes withheld from the wages of employees of J. Wenszell Enterprises.
From the second quarter of 2012 through the fourth quarter of 2015, Wenszell withheld more than $1.2 million from employee wages but paid only $13,966.88 to the IRS. In addition, during the years 2010 - 2011, Wenszell withheld and failed to pay an additional $394,000. Wenszell also failed to pay the employer's share (or "matching share") of payroll taxes during the years 2010-2015, which totaled almost $530,000. Throughout this period, Wenszell failed to file any quarterly payroll tax returns with the IRS.
During the years 2012-2015, despite paying almost none of the required payroll taxes, Susan Wenszell and her husband withdrew more than $1.1 million from their business to pay personal expenses.
Wenszell faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. She is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Jacobs.
# # # #
Matthew D. Krueger, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that Susan Wenszell (age 57) of Milwaukee has been charged in an indictment with failing to pay over payroll taxes withheld from the wages of employees of a business she and her husband operated in Milwaukee.
Specifically, the indictment charges that during the period from April 2012 through December 2015 Ms. Wenszell, who is the president and owner of J. Wenszell Enterprises Inc., failed to pay over the payroll taxes withheld from the wages of the employees of the business. During this period, Ms. Wenszell withheld more than 1.6 million dollars in payroll taxes from employee wages and failed to pay those taxes to the IRS. Each of the offenses with which Ms. Wenszell is charged carries a maximum possible penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
This matter was investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew L. Jacobs.
The public is cautioned that an indictment is merely the formal method of issuing charges against an individual. A person is presumed innocent until such time, if ever, as the government establishes his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY
Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5
Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15
Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1
Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2
Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5
Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8
Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10
Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2
Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Aurora Health Care, Inc. (“Aurora”) has agreed to pay $12 million to the United States and State of Wisconsin to settle allegations that Aurora violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid in violation of the Stark Law. Aurora and its affiliates (“Aurora”) are part of Advocate Aurora Health, Inc., an integrated health care system that serves patients throughout eastern Wisconsin, Illinois, and the upper peninsula of Michigan.
The Stark Law provides that the government will not pay for designated health services ordered by physicians who have improper financial relationships with entities to whom they refer patients because such financial relationships can compromise the physicians’ professional judgment. The False Claims Act prohibits an entity from knowingly submitting claims for payment for such services.
The United States and State of Wisconsin allege that, during certain periods from 2008 to 2012, Aurora entered into compensation arrangements with two physicians that did not comply with the Stark Law because the compensation arrangements were not commercially reasonable and because the compensation exceeded the fair market value of the physicians’ services, took into account the physicians’ anticipated referrals, and was not for identifiable services. The United States and the State of Wisconsin allege that Aurora nonetheless submitted claims for services ordered by those physicians to Medicare and Medicaid, in violation of the False Claims Act.
“Each year, Federal and State governments spend over a trillion dollars on healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid,” said United States Attorney Krueger. “This settlement reflects the U.S. Department of Justice’s commitment to using all available legal tools to ensure those healthcare dollars are spent wisely.”
“Healthcare entities need to ensure that compensation arrangements with physicians are clear and appropriate,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region (“HHS OIG”). “The practice of self-referring presents a conflict of interest and can lead to the overutilization of services which ultimately drives up the cost of health care. The OIG will continue to examine and investigate those relationships that violate federal statutes in an effort to protect vital taxpayer dollars.”
“This $12 million dollar settlement demonstrates how these violations have a significant and direct economic impact on the health care industry,” said FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Justin Tolomeo. “Our priority is to protect consumers and hold accountable those in the healthcare system who misuse the Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
The investigation that discovered the allegedly improper compensation arrangements resulted from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Consequently, the whistleblowers will recover a share of the settlement amount. The whistleblowers’ complaint alleged different claims that are not the basis for the settlement agreement being announced today. The United States and the State of Wisconsin is not intervening in the whistleblowers’ lawsuit to pursue those claims. As part of the settlement, the United States, the State of Wisconsin, and the whistleblowers will ask the district court to dismiss the qui tam complaint.
The investigation was assisted by the FBI, HHS OIG, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control & Elder Abuse Unit. The settlement agreement states allegations only; Aurora does not admit liability for the allegations.
# # # # #
For Additional Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig 414-297-1700
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced on January 23, 2020, that former attorney Mark A. Ruppelt (age: 50) was charged in a three-count information with devising and executing a scheme to defraud his client, in violation of the federal wire fraud statute.
The information alleges that Ruppelt’s scheme was to obtain money from his client by falsely claiming he had arranged to pay a bribe to an Assistant United States Attorney (“AUSA”) and other officials, in exchange for their assistance in obtaining a sentence reduction for the client. In fact, none of those officials were aware of Ruppelt’s representations to his client, and none had been offered or agreed to accept a bribe.
According to the information, Ruppelt asked for, and received, a total of $30,000 from his client. In a series of phone conversations, Ruppelt, among other things:
falsely told his client that a specific AUSA was willing to accept a bribe;
falsely told his client that the $30,000 would “100% secure” the AUSA’s assistance in obtaining a sentence reduction;
falsely told his client that Ruppelt had already “taken care of” bribing a probation officer and only had to finish paying the AUSA;
put the client off by falsely telling the client that the AUSA, while still on board with accepting the bribe, wanted to wait several weeks so that the political climate was more conducive to getting away with the bribe arrangement; and
attempted to conceal his scheme by directing his client to avoid “putting anything in writing,” explaining that “there can’t be any trace of this.”
If convicted, Ruppelt faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a maximum term of three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
An information is a formal method of charging an individual with a criminal offense. The charges contained in the information are merely allegations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad.
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY
Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2
Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3
Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5
Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18
Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15
Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1
Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2
Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5
Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: The number of days from the earlier of filing date or first appearance date to proceeding date
Format: N3
Description: The number of days from proceeding date to disposition date
Format: N3
Description: The number of days from disposition date to sentencing date
Format: N3
Description: The code of the district office where the case was terminated
Format: A2
Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant at the time the case was closed
Format: N2
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense that carried the most severe disposition and penalty under which the defendant was disposed
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE1
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE1
Format: A3
Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE1
Format: N2
Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE1
Format: N4
Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N4
Description: A code indicating whether the probation sentence associated with TTITLE1 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4
Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE1
Format: N3
Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE1
Format: N8
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense under which the defendant was disposed that carried the second most severe disposition and penalty
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE2
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE2
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE2
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE2
Format: A3
Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE2
Format: N2
Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE2
Format: N4
Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE2
Format: N4
Description: A code indicating whether the probation sentence associated with TTITLE2 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4
Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE2
Format: N3
Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE2
Format: N8
Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense under which the defendant was disposed that carried the third most severe
disposition and penalty
Format: A20
Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with TTITLE3
Format: N2
Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with TTITLE3
Format: A4
Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with TTITLE3
Format: A4
Description: A code indicating the severity associated with TTITLE3
Format: A3
Description: The code indicating the nature or type of disposition associated with TTITLE3
Format: N2
Description: The number of months a defendant was sentenced to prison under TTITLE3
Format: N4
Description: The number of months of probation imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE3
Format: N4
Description: A code indicating whether the probation sentence associated with TTITLE3 was concurrent or consecutive in relation to the other counts in the indictment or information or multiple counts of the same charge
Format: A4
Description: A period of supervised release imposed upon a defendant under TTITLE3
Format: N3
Description: The fine imposed upon the defendant at sentencing under TTITLE3
Format: N8
Description: The total probation time for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and probation was imposed
Format: N4
Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8
Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1
Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1
Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10
Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2
Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD
Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger announced today that Jonathan Tilman Lane, from Kiel, Wisconsin, was arrested and appeared in federal court in Milwaukee to face charges of tampering with a consumer product.
The criminal complaint alleges that on two separate occasions during March 25-28, 2018, Lane, an employee at Johnsonville Sausage, LLC, placed foreign objects into sausage links. Video surveillance, determined that on March 25, 2018, Lane placed a cigarette paper in a sausage link and on March 28, 2018, Lane placed a wire connector in a sausage link while the items were on the processing line. Both times, the items were removed before the sausage links were packaged. Due to the public risk of Lane’s behavior, Johnsonville closed down the operation and discarded all products that they believed could have been affected.
Lane is charged with two counts of tampering with a consumer product and acting with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily harm and manifesting an extreme disregard to such a risk. As to each count, the Lane face a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release.
According to a representative of Johnsonville, none of the tampered products left their facilities. United States Attorney Krueger stated, “We commend Johnsonville Sausage, LLC for its security measures and quick action to prevent any harm to consumers.”
The case is being investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA/OIG). Assistant United States Attorney Karine Moreno-Taxman is assigned to the prosecution of this case.
This case was charged by a criminal complaint. The public is reminded that the complaint contains only allegations of criminal conduct, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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For additional information contact:
Public Information Officer Dean Puschnig, 414-297-1700
United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin today announced that more than $65 million in Department of Justice grants is available to help communities combat human trafficking and serve adults and children who are victimized in trafficking operations.
“Our nation is facing difficult challenges, none more pressing than the scourge of human trafficking. Human traffickers pose a dire threat to public safety and countering this threat remains one of the Administration’s top domestic priorities,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. “The Department of Justice is front and center in the fight against this insidious crime. OJP is making historic amounts of grant funding available to ensure that our communities have access to innovative and diverse solutions.”
The funding is available through OJP, the federal government’s leading source of public safety funding and crime victim assistance in state, local and tribal jurisdictions. OJP’s programs support a wide array of activities and services, including programs that support human trafficking task forces and services for human trafficking survivors.
A number of funding opportunities are currently open, with several more opening in the near future.
Missing and Exploited Children Training and Technical Assistance Program
United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on April 19, 2022, an indictment was returned charging Deandre L. Rodgers (age 36) of Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin, and Viridiana Garcia-Ramirez (age 24) of Los Angeles, California, with conspiring to violate the laws of the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, dealing in firearms without a license, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 922(a)(1)(A), making a false statement to a federal firearms licensee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6), unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), distribution of a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A), and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).
According to court documents, Rodgers and Garcia-Ramirez engaged in a conspiracy to purchase firearms from local gun stores in Wisconsin, alter or obliterate the serial numbers on those firearms, and sell those firearms to others. As part of the conspiracy, Rodgers and Garcia-Ramirez purchased 11 handguns and 1 rifle from local gun stores between December 2021 and March 2022. On April 5, 2022, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) executed a warrant at a hotel in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin, where Rodgers and Garcia-Ramirez were staying. Inside the hotel room, agents found 29-individually wrapped plastic bags containing crack cocaine, two digital scales, and approximately $800, but none of firearms. Rodgers is prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of a prior felony conviction.
This case was investigated by the ATF and will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip T. Kovoor.
An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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For further information, contact Public Information Officer:
