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Feb. 8, 2024 ¡ª As a result of a law enforcement operation on February 7, 2024, 10 defendants were arrested at locations throughout Maryland and three search warrants were executed related to an alleged money laundering conspiracy involving more than $9.5 million in proceeds from fraud schemes. Law enforcement agents from IRS Criminal Investigation, the Homeland Security Investigations Mid-Atlantic El-Dorado Task Force, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service participated in yesterday¡¯s searches and arrests. Additional defendants are currently fugitives.

March 20, 2024 ¡ª Andrew Chmiel, of Mt. Pleasant, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison yesterday for his role in a nearly $100 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) orders.

March 22, 2024 ¡ª A federal grand jury returned a 58-count superseding indictment Thursday adding new charges for Shahrir ¡°Sean¡± Loloee of Granite Bay, and charging Sacramento residents Mirwais Shams and Ahmad ¡°Shah¡± Shams, for their participation in the fraud conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

April 2, 2024 ¡ª Yesterday a federal jury convicted two Louisville men and a Louisville woman of numerous felony offenses, including kidnapping, robbery, drug trafficking, and money laundering after a ten-day jury trial. Several other defendants previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

April 12, 2024 ¡ª The final two members of a massive conspiracy to bilk TRICARE, the military¡¯s healthcare program, out of more than $65 million have been sentenced in federal court.

October 19, 2023 ¡ª Joseph Harding, of Williston, Florida, was sentenced to 4 months in federal prison for wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

November 16, 2023 ¡ª United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Gloria Byars of Aldan, PA and Carlton Rembert of Hampton, VA were both found guilty for their roles in a scheme to defraud elderly, incapacitated people of over $1 million. Byars entered a guilty plea on the eve of trial, pleading guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and tax fraud. Her co-conspirator and brother Carlton Rembert proceeded to trial and after a four-day trial, a jury found Rembert guilty of conspiracy, bank fraud, and wire fraud.

April 20, 2023 ¡ª Five individuals, including two certified nurse midwives, one licensed practical nurse and two health care business owners, have been charged for their participation in separate schemes that fraudulently distributed more than 2,600 fake COVID-19 vaccination records cards and defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program of more than $1.7 million. The charges filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, are part of a nationwide COVID-19 enforcement action led by the Criminal Division¡¯s Fraud Section, which resulted in criminal charges against 18 individuals for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $490 million in fraudulent claims.

May 3, 2023 ¡ª Wilbert Jean Stanley, III, and Felicia Jackson Stanley, both of Tallahassee, Florida, were sentenced, after previously pleading guilty to one count each of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and making false statements in connection to COVID-19 pandemic relief. Wilbert Stanley was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison, and Felicia Stanley was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentences.

IR-2024-213, Aug. 15, 2024 ¡ª The Internal Revenue Service urged businesses that have received Employee Retention Credit payments to recheck eligibility requirements and consider the second Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Voluntary Disclosure Program (VDP) to resolve incorrect claims without penalties or interest.