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US attorney Joshua Levy

Worcester man sentenced for COVID relief fraud

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WORCESTER  — A senior district court judge sentenced a 33-year-old Worcester man to nearly 11 years in prison for wire fraud with respect to COVID business and unemployment relief, in addition to drug trafficking.

Augustus “Bobo” Kormah was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy Hillman to 131 months in prison and three years of supervised release in a federal court in Worcester on Wednesday. Kormah was also ordered to pay $258,705 in restitution. In June 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of wire fraud.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy announced the sentencing this past week and said the case began in 2020 as the result of a police drug investigation.

On Sept. 11, 2020, Kormah was arrested during suspected drug trafficking activity and a search of his apartment resulted in the discovery and seizure of about 26 grams of cocaine, a Polymer 80 9 mm firearm without no serial number as well as a black magazine loaded with 30, 9 mm cartridges.

An investigation that followed eventually revealed that, between May and October 2020, Kormah used the personal identifying information of over 50 individuals to submit about 125 fraudulent claims for COVID unemployment benefits as well as 15 fraudulent claims for COVID small business loans.

As a result of the fraud scheme, Kormah obtained about $100,000 in fraudulent unemployment benefits and about $170,000 in fraudulent small business loans.

In addition to Levy, the announcement was made by ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson, Boston Field Division. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Andrew Murphy, Boston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Jonathan  Mellone, Office of Inspector General, and Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun of the Criminal Division and Daniel Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy contributed to this article.

Three of the last in Fitchburg drug ring get prison time

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FITCHBURG — Three of the four remaining defendants convicted as a result of the investigation into a Fitchburg drug network were sentenced to prison time this past week in Worcester District Court. Of the 18 individuals convicted in this case, only one more individual is left to be sentenced, scheduled to take place Nov. 16.

The 18 convictions were the result of the monumental effort on the part of an organized crime task force that “identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the U.S., using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach,” according to a statement from Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy.

The three men were sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman and represent the 15th, 16th and 17th individuals Judge Hillman has sentenced as a result of the investigation.

According to court documents, following a fatal fentanyl overdose in fall of 2018, multiple levels of law enforcement began an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in the Fitchburg area. Over the course of the investigation, police seized over 1.8 kilos of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilos of cocaine and roughly 50 grams of crack cocaine. Law enforcement also seized a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000 in cash.

During the past week, Judge Hillman sentenced Pedro Villot-Santiago, Jonathan Villot and Adiangel Paredes.

Villot-Santiago, 33, was referred to by law enforcement as a “large-scale cocaine supplier.” Villot-Santiago was sentenced to over nine years in prison and four years of supervised release. In March 2023, Villot-Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. In release, law enforcement referred to Villot-Santiago as a large-scale cocaine supplier.

Villot, 32, was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2023, Villot pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Paredes, 37, had intended to distribute nearly two pounds of a heroin-fentanyl mixture that police seized in 2018 and 2019. Investigators said he’s responsible for the distribution of an additional 2.8 pounds of fentanyl and 1.2 pounds of the heroin-fentanyl mixture.

Paredes was sentenced to over 11 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In October 2022, Paredes was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine.

Between September 2018 and November 2019, Paredes conspired to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine as well as a fentanyl and heroin mixture. Nearly 850 grams of the fentanyl and heroin mixture supplied by Paredes in three controlled purchases was seized during the investigation. In addition, Paredes is responsible for distributing an additional 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.6 kilograms of cocaine and at least 550 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture.

Between January and July 2020, Villot distributed cocaine to a cooperating witness on three occasions. For two of those deals, Villot sent co-conspirator Ivan Torres to deliver the cocaine. Torres pleaded guilty to the indictment and was sentenced in September 2023 to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In addition to the sales to the cooperating witness, Villot is responsible for distributing an additional two kilograms of cocaine in February 2020.

Beginning in July 2019, court authorized interceptions of wire and electronic communications between members of the DTO and its suppliers revealed Villot-Santiago as a large-scale cocaine supplier.

On the day of his arrest in July 2023, Villot-Santiago was found in possession of a stolen, loaded handgun, as well as over $252,000 in cash.

All 18 defendants have been convicted – either by guilty plea or jury conviction following trial. The remaining defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16, 2023.

The announcement of the sentencings was made on Wednesday, Nov. 1 by Levy, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, Boston Division, Commissioner Carol Mici of the state Department of Correction, and Interim State Police Col. John Mawn Jr.

The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Mass. State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter, of the Criminal Division, prosecuted the case.

This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The Office of Acting U.S. District Attorney Joshua Levy to this article.

Shrewsbury man arrested for child pornography offenses

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WORCESTER — A mentor for the Shrewsbury High School Robotics Team was arrested today for allegedly possessing and transporting child pornography.

Brian Lingard, 60, of Shrewsbury was charged with transportation of and possession of child pornography. He was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Worcester at 3:45 p.m. on Monday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.

According to the complaint affidavit, on Oct. 19, 2023, Lingard flew from Paris to Boston. During a customs screening, it is alleged that Lingard was found to possess images depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone. A subsequent search of devices stored at Lingard’s residence revealed an additional collection of alleged CSAM.

Data extracted from the SD card of Lingard’s phone allegedly revealed approximately 23 images of CSAM depicting minors who appear to be under 10 years old. At least two of the images depict minors who have previously been identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as child sexual abuse victims.

It is further alleged that the SD card also contained multiple images of fully clothed minor females who appear to be in a school setting. The images appear to have been taken surreptitiously and are focused on the buttocks of the minor females. A review of the metadata associated with these photos allegedly revealed that some were taken at Shrewsbury High School.

The charge of transportation of child pornography provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

The announcement was made on Monday by Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, Special Agent in Charge Michael Krol at Homeland Security Investigations in New England, and Acting Director of Field Operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection Michael McCarthy, Boston Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. The details contained in the criminal complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

(Courtesy Office of Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy)

Fitchburg man sentenced in local drug conspiracy

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BOSTON — A Fitchburg man was sentenced to over three years in prison yesterday in federal court in Worcester for his role in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin, crack, and cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

Ivan Torres, 32, of Fitchburg, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy Hillman to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

On March 10, 2023, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

According to court documents, following a fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization in the Fitchburg area.

Beginning in July 2019, court authorized interceptions of wire and electronic communications to and from telephones used by members and suppliers of the drug trafficking organization revealed that Torres was a cocaine dealer who supplied cocaine to the drug trafficking organization.

Over the course of the investigation, over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine, over 50 grams of crack cocaine, a stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment and over $376,000 in U.S. currency were seized.

Torres is one of 18 defendants to be sentenced in this case. All 18 defendants have been convicted – either by guilty plea or jury conviction following trial. The remaining convicted defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in September and October 2023.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy; FBI Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the state Department of Correction; and Interim State Police Col. John Mawn Jr. made the announcement today.

The Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and state State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

(COURTESY ACTING US ATTORNEY JOSHUA LEVY)