Maryland Man Convicted for Armed Robberies of Apple Delivery Drivers

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Khalil Kenyon Blackman, 31, of District Heights, Maryland, was convicted yesterday of conspiring to commit three armed robberies of truck drivers who were delivering Apple products to area stores.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ken Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of Virginia; Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Lt. Colonel James A. Morris, Acting Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after a bench trial before United States District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Blackman was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years, and brandishing a firearm, which carries a mandatory minimum of seven years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for April 26, 2013.
According to court records and evidence at trial, Blackman and others conspired to carry out three armed robberies of delivery truck drivers hauling Apple products. On February 11, 2011, Blackman and his co-conspirators robbed a delivery truck driver in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Thereafter, Blackman took the majority of the products and sold them to another person and then distributed the proceeds among his conspirators. Blackman also conspired with others to carry out two other robberies—on June 15, 2011, in Fairfax County, Virginia, and on October 30, 2011 in Prince George’s County, Maryland—and sold the stolen products from these robberies to others for the benefit of the conspirators. The total loss to Apple was more than $130,000.
The investigation was conducted by FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Fairfax County Police Department. Virginia Assistant Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marc J. Birnbaum and Assistant United States Attorney Adam B. Schwartz are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae.

Oceanside Man Arrested in Connection with Carlsbad Bank Robbery Investigation

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge, Daphne Hearn, announces the arrest of Edward Jones Inzunza, age 30, of Oceanside, California. Inzunza was arrested as a result of the investigation into the robbery of the Comerica Bank at 2626 El Camino Real, in Carlsbad, California, that occurred on Friday, January 4, 2013.
Inzunza was arrested on Friday, February 1, 2013, near the intersection of Lewis and Thunder, in Vista, California, by San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies during a vehicle stop. The deputies were working in coordination with the FBI and Carlsbad Police Department.
According to the federal complaint filed with the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, Inzunza is charged with one count of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), bank robbery. Inzunza is charged with robbing the Comerica Bank at 2626 El Camino Real in Carlsbad, California, on Friday, January 4, 2013.
According to the complaint, on Friday, January 4, 2013, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Comerica Bank, 2626 El Camino Real in Carlsbad, California, was robbed by an unknown male, subsequently identified as Edward Jones Inzunza. At the time of the robbery, Inzunza allegedly approached the victim teller and ordered the teller to raise his hands and to give him all the money he had in his drawer. Inzunza kept one hand in his sweat jacket pocket making some bank employees believe he had a gun in his pocket. Inzunza grabbed the money and placed it inside of his sweat jacket front pocket. Following the robbery, Inzunza walked across the parking lot and was observed entering an early 2000’s white Toyota T-100 extended cab pickup truck,
On Monday, January 7, 2013, the FBI issued a news release to the media and the public concerning the robbery of the Comerica Bank. This news release included bank surveillance photographs of the bank robber.
On Monday, January 28, 20103, an anonymous person reported to San Diego County Crime Stoppers that he/she saw bank surveillance photographs on the news and believed the Comerica Bank robber was Inzunza. This information, along with additional information developed through follow-up investigation, led to federal bank robbery charges being filed against Inzunza.
Following his arrest on Friday, February 1, 2013, Inzunza was booked into the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC), San Diego, California. Inzunza is expected to have his initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on or about Monday, February 4, 2013.
This robbery is being investigated by the Carlsbad Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California, and San Diego, California.
An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendant committed crimes charged. The defendant is presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

FBI, Technical Experts Now Four Weeks into Linden Excavation Effort

LINDEN, CA—Twenty-five days into excavation efforts on agricultural property in Linden, California, FBI personnel and technical experts have dug to a depth of approximately 65 feet below grade within the old well site. Thus far, no human remains have been discovered.
Progress has continued at a rate of approximately five to seven feet each day of operations. Excavation of the soft, sandy fill dirt within the well has proceeded relatively smoothly. All fill dirt is conveyed to the surface to be sifted, ensuring that no materials are overlooked. The hard, clay-laden soil of the native land surrounding the well has proved to be the most challenging. A safety area around the well must be excavated in tandem with well excavation to ensure that the teams have enough room to operate safely and respond to both possible evidence and emergencies.
“Despite the risks and challenges, the team involved in this effort remains focused on returning victims home to families,” said Herbert M. Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the Sacramento Division of the FBI. “The investment of time and resources in this extensive excavation effort was not made in haste or absence of thorough investigation and careful consideration of available information. We thank the public and the many families of the missing who have shown tremendous patience and support while we remain focused on the task at hand.”
This site is the second well site to be excavated along Flood Road. In January 2012, San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office excavated a well on an adjacent parcel. These efforts resulted in the recovery of three females and one fetus, victims of convicted killer Wesley Shermantine and Loren Herzog.
The collaborative team of FBI personnel and technical experts began preparation at the well site Linden on January 7, 2013, after several months of investigative work and coordination. Hand excavation of the well contents began on January 17, 2013, after the site was cleared and safety devices were set into place.

FBI, Marshals Service Announce Reward in Search for Missing Indiana Inmate

Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Darrel K. McPherson, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, have announced a reward offer in connection with the search for Steven L. Robbins, the individual serving time in Indiana for murder who was mistakenly released from custody earlier this week. The FBI and Marshals Service are offering a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the apprehension of Robbins.
The FBI and the Marshals Service have joined the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police in the ongoing manhunt for Robbins, who disappeared January 30 following a court appearance in Chicago on charges unrelated to those that resulted in his Indiana conviction.
The public is cautioned that Robbins should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call Cook County’s tip line at 847-635-1188 or local law enforcement.

Father and Son Sentenced for Their Roles in Fraud Scheme

TAMPA—U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced John Henley Fowler (64, Ft. Myers) to five years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. The court also sentenced his son, Jeffrey Robert Fowler (35, Ft. Myers), to three years and one month in federal prison on a similar charge. As part of the sentence, the court also ordered the forfeiture of bank accounts, vehicles, real property, computer equipment, a big screen television, an iPad, and an iPhone, which are traceable to proceeds of the fraud scheme. In addition, the court ordered a money judgment in the amount of $3,771,701.88, the proceeds of the fraud scheme. In a related civil forfeiture proceeding, the government had already forfeited more than $2 million in fraudulent proceeds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek approval to have these funds distributed to the victims of this crime.

John Fowler pleaded guilty on September 19, 2012. Jeffrey Fowler pleaded guilty on September 18, 2012.

According to court documents, from about December 2010 through November 2011, conspirators developed a plan to use false and fraudulent representations to solicit victim-investors to wire funds into bank accounts, which they controlled, for investment in a purported gold futures program. The investment program was supposedly run by an existing New York-based investment firm called Paulson & Co. Inc. To further the fraud scheme, the Fowlers caused the incorporation of a Florida corporation named Paulson & Co. Inc. (Paulson-Florida), leased office space for the corporation in Ft. Myers, and opened bank accounts in the name of the corporation, all for the purpose of making Paulson-Florida appear to be legitimate. The Fowlers and their co-conspirators fraudulently represented that Paulson-Florida was a branch office of the real Paulson & Co. Inc. In fact, there was no connection whatsoever between the two entities.

The Paulson-Florida bank accounts and other accounts were used to receive more than $4 million in funds from victim-investors who wanted to invest in the purported gold futures investment program. The Fowlers and their co-conspirators used the funds to perpetuate the fraud scheme for the personal enrichment of themselves, their family members, and friends.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke.

Former Maryland National Guard Employee at Aberdeen Proving Ground Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme with Losses of More Than $107,000

BALTIMORE—Lynn Carol Williams, age 56, of Middle River, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to misuse the corporate purchasing card and cause losses of more than $107,000 to the Freestate Challenge Academy, a Maryland National Guard program located at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Stephen E. Vogt of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agent in Charge Robert Craig of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service-Mid-Atlantic Field Office; and Chief Chip Honan of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Police Department.

According to her plea agreement, from October 2007 through February 2011, Williams worked as an administrative aide at Freestate Challenge Academy, a Maryland National Guard youth training program located at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Williams was authorized to use the Academy’s corporate credit card to make purchases for the Academy and was required to prepare a monthly expense report, which included the purchasing card billing statement, original receipts, copies of the approved requisition forms, and a log of activity on the purchasing card. Once her supervisor approved the expense report, it was forwarded to the State of Maryland Military Department, which paid the account balance on the corporate purchasing card.

Williams admitted that from February 2008 through October 2010, she used the corporate credit card to buy gift cards and items over the Internet for her personal use. For example, on May 18, 2010, Williams paid for two airline tickets for her and a friend to travel to Los Angeles, California, with six gift cards purchased with the corporate credit card. To conceal her fraud, Williams prepared false logs of the card activity and fictitious receipts, purportedly for office supplies, snacks for program participants, and other legitimate items purchased from local stores.

Williams faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2013, at 3:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Aberdeen Proving Ground Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce K. McDonald, who is prosecuting the case.

Real Estate Developer Sentenced to Three Years for Making False Statements

ANCHORAGE—U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that an Anchorage man was sentenced in federal court in Anchorage for 12 counts of false statements to a credit union.

Lee E. Baker, Jr., 57, from Anchorage, Alaska, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline, to 36 months in prison.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Retta Randall, who prosecuted the case, Baker made false statements to Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union (DAFCU) while drawing down the proceeds of a $9.2 million construction loan obtained for a proposed 85 unit apartment project, “Bryn Mawr,” located on Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage. Baker, as president of Discovery Construction Inc., submitted 12 draw requests certifying each time that certain work had been completed on the Bryn Mawr project, when actually, very little work had been done and the total amount Baker verified as completed was false. The Bryn Mawr project was never completed. As a result of his false statements, approximately $4.3 million was disbursed to Baker by DAFCU before he defaulted on the loan.

Judge Beistline, after imposing sentence, stated, “Ultimately the success of the banking industry and the construction industry depends on integrity.” Judge Beistline went on to acknowledge that the construction industry in Alaska faces challenges, but insisted that, “when facing challenges, the highroad must be taken.” He further indicated that fundamental principles of honesty and integrity are necessary to deal with problems before others get hurt and that the community cannot tolerate this kind of deception. Giving Discovery Construction credit for work completed on the Byrn Mawr project, Baker was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution.

United States Attorney Karen Loeffler noted, “Financial crimes such as those committed by Baker create significant and lasting harms on the community as well as the businesses affected. The Alaska federal law enforcement community is dedicated to working together to investigate and prosecute these serious crimes.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Mary Rook stated, “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to address significant financial crimes which impact a wide range of individuals, businesses, and industries. As is frequently the case, the impact of this crime was more widespread than just those immediately identified as victims, as the losses sustained by Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union were also felt by its members.”

Ms. Loeffler commends the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division for the investigation of this case.