A Springfield man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography. The defendant faced a mandatory minimum sentence due to a prior state conviction for statutory rape.

Alex Germaine, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. In September 2017, Germaine pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

After Germaine accessed a Russian child pornography website, law enforcement executed a search warrant on July 29, 2016, and seized Germaine’s cell phone, which revealed multiple images of child pornography, including one involving a sex act perpetrated by an adult male against a prepubescent female. A subsequent search warrant was executed on Nov. 10, 2016, at Germaine’s residence in Springfield, where law enforcement seized computer discs containing child pornography.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

The case was 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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/.

An MS-13 member pleaded guilty Friday, January 12, in federal court in Boston to racketeering conspiracy involving the murder of a 15-year-old boy in Lawrence.

Josue Alexis DePaz, a/k/a “Gato,” 21, a Salvadoran national formerly residing in Lawrence, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 6, 2018.

DePaz was identified as a member of MS-13’s Everett Loco Salvatrucha (ELS) clique, which operated in the greater Boston area. When interviewed by law enforcement officers, DePaz admitted that on July 5, 2015, he was one of two men who stabbed a 15-year-old boy to death in O’Connell Park in Lawrence. In conversations recorded by law enforcement during the investigation, MS-13 members identified DePaz as one of the men who murdered the victim. DePaz was subsequently arrested in a house in Somerville with several other MS-13 members. A search warrant at the house resulted in the recovery of a firearm, several large knives, photographs of MS-13 members flashing gang signs, and a large volume of MS-13 paraphernalia, including blue and white hats, bandanas and rosary beads. According to court documents, MS-13 members frequently wear blue and white items of clothing to signify their membership in the gang.

After a three-year investigation, DePaz was one of 61 individuals named in a superseding indictment targeting the criminal activities of alleged leaders, members, and associates of MS-13 in Massachusetts. DePaz is the 28th defendant to plead guilty in this case.

DePaz faces up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, and will be subject to deportation upon the completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Two central Massachusetts men were charged in separate indictments yesterday in federal court in Worcester in connection with marijuana grow operations. The defendants allegedly cultivated marijuana after federal search warrants were executed.

Peter Molle Jr., 35, of Holland, was charged with two counts of manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of money laundering. Eric Vallee, 38, of Sutton, was charged with two counts of manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. Molle and Vallee were arrested in December 2017 after being charged by criminal complaint.

Vallee and Molle were featured in a magazine article that noted that Vallee harvested 10 pounds of marijuana based on a cultivation timetable that would result in his harvesting hundreds of pounds of marijuana per year. According to court documents, Vallee and Molle’s bank activity included large cash deposits, which is consistent with the proceeds of drug sales.

Search warrants were executed in February 2017 at Vallee’s home in Auburn; a home in Sutton where Vallee previously resided; and Molle’s residence in Holland where commercial-style marijuana grow operations were discovered. More than 100 marijuana plants were found at Vallee’s Auburn residence, more than 100 marijuana plants at Molle’s Holland residence, and more than 30 marijuana plants were found at the residence in Sutton.

Following the execution of the search warrants, Vallee and Molle allegedly continued to engage in substantial marijuana cultivation. On Dec. 12, 2017, additional search warrants were executed at Vallee’s house in Sutton and at Molle’s house in Holland. At both locations, significant commercial-style marijuana grow operations were found and marijuana packaged for sale was recovered at Vallee’s residence.

Each defendant faces a mandatory sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are each presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Nine men – eight of whom are alleged gang members and associates – have been charged in connection with committing drug and firearms violations around the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain. Seven were arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston this afternoon.

“Gangs are an organized, long-term threat to our neighborhoods,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “All of us have the right to live in safe communities – without fear of getting hurt, being subjected to drug dealing on our street corners, or our children being recruited into a life of crime. I will use the considerable resources of the Justice Department to afford every resident the right to live, work and play in a safe environment. I applaud the police officers and federal agents who spend their days identifying and building cases against the gangs in Boston’s neighborhoods.”

“ATF’s priority is keeping communities and its citizens safe by detecting and stopping the trafficking of firearms and narcotics. Today is another example of how ATF accomplishes that goal,” said Mickey Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. “Firearms and narcotics trafficking continue to be a priority for ATF and our law enforcement partners. We are committed to identifying and disrupting the sources of trafficking illegal firearms and narcotics which endanger our communities.”

“These arrests come as a result of a two-year investigation working closely with our federal law enforcement partners,” said Boston Police Commission William Evans. “Public safety in Boston is my number one priority and I will continue to use all the resources available to target individuals driving violence in our city. I commend the work of my officers and all those involved in taking these dangerous individuals off the streets and the work they do every day to keep Boston safe.”

Following a two-year investigation, federal and local law enforcement arrested seven individuals this morning in connection with illegal drug distribution and firearm possession within and near the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain, formerly known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development. The development, one of the largest owned by the Boston Housing Authority, has been severely impacted by the prevalence of drug trafficking, shootings and other crimes, much of which is instigated by gangs. According to the Boston Regional Intelligence Center, over a 10-month period in 2017, there were 36 incidents of shots fired, eight non-fatal shootings, one homicide, 20 drug-related arrests and 25 robberies in and around the development. According to court documents, the investigation and arrests aim to reduce violence and improve the quality of life for residents by removing individuals who traffic drugs and who are actively involved in violence and gang disputes.

The following individuals are alleged members of the Heath Street Gang and are charged with distribution of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility:

Cerone Davis, a/k/a “Jp,” 25, of Boston;
Joe Simmons, a/k/a “Profit,” 30, of Boston; and
Jarrod Simmons, a/k/a “Rizz,” 21, of Boston.

The following individuals are alleged members of the Heath Street Gang and are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base within 1000 feet of a public housing facility:

Dominique Finch, a/k/a “Heff,” 27, of Boston;
James Finch, 32, of Boston, remains a fugitive;
Javonte Robinson, a/k/a “Biggie,” “Big Dog,” 21; and
Kevin Smith, a/k/a “Works,” 27, of Boston.

Franklin Safo-Agyare, a/k/a “Frankie So So Smooth,” 25, of Worcester, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Kendrick Tate, a/k/a “K-Roc,” 25, of Chelsea, is an alleged member of the Health Street Gang and is charged with distribution of cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Tate is currently serving a three-and-a-half-to-four-year sentence for unrelated state drug and firearm convictions.

The charge of distribution of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a public housing development provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of one year and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $2 million. The charge of distribution of cocaine base provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

A former postal employee pleaded guilty today to embezzling over $22,000 from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

Dennis Reis, 37, of Taunton, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft of public money, property or records before U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, who scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2018.

Reis had been employed by the USPS since approximately 2000, and was the Lead Sales & Service Associate at the East Taunton Post Office since 2014. In that capacity, Reis sold stamps to customers and maintained accountability for the funds and stamp stock. From January 2015 to March 2017, Reis engaged in a scheme to embezzle funds by voiding cash transaction sales of stamps so that the system did not account for the cash paid by customers. Reis then entered a “no sale” transaction into the system, causing the cash drawer to open and taking the cash paid by customers for his own use. Through this scheme, Reis embezzled at least $22,773 from the USPS.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“I understand that there are people and groups looking for additional guidance from this office about its approach to enforcing federal laws criminalizing marijuana cultivation and trafficking. I cannot, however, provide assurances that certain categories of participants in the state-level marijuana trade will be immune from federal prosecution.

This is a straightforward rule of law issue. Congress has unambiguously made it a federal crime to cultivate, distribute and/or possess marijuana. As a law enforcement officer in the Executive Branch, it is my sworn responsibility to enforce that law, guided by the Principles of Federal Prosecution. To do that, however, I must proceed on a case-by-case basis, assessing each matter according to those principles and deciding whether to use limited federal resources to pursue it.

Deciding, in advance, to immunize a certain category of actors from federal prosecution would be to effectively amend the laws Congress has already passed, and that I will not do. The kind of categorical relief sought by those engaged in state-level marijuana legalization efforts can only come from the legislative process.” – U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling

On January 5, 2018 at approximately 7:50 p.m. the Barnstable Police responded to the area of Route 28 Centerville near the Bell Tower Mall for a fatal hit and run motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian.

Officers arrived on scene with COMM Fire Department and began rendering aid to John Pina, a 62 year old Centerville resident, who had been crossing the street prior to being struck by a motor vehicle. Pina was transported to Cape Cod Hospital by ambulance and shortly thereafter was pronounced dead.

The Cape Cod Regional Motor Vehicle Crash Reconstruction Team was called to the scene and began an investigation into the accident. Witness accounts described the suspect vehicle that fled the scene as a light brown Toyota sedan driven by a white female with black hair. The female reportedly got out of her car and checked on the victim before fleeing the scene.

On Saturday January 6 at approximately 3:00 pm Sarah Hunt, a 33 year old resident of Centerville came into the Barnstable Police Station to report that she was the suspect driver in the fatal hit and run. Hunt then had conversation with Barnstable Detectives and admitted to being the driver during the accident and leaving the scene. Barnstable Detectives recovered the damaged tan 2000 Toyota Camry used in the accident from the garage of Hunt’s home.

Hunt was subsequently arrested and charged with Motor Vehicle Homicide by Negligent Operation, Leaving the Scene of an Accident after Death and Operating a Motor Vehicle with an Open Container. Hunt was bailed on personal recognizance and is scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Monday January 8, 2018.

A Malden woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for collecting over $166,000 in government benefits by providing false information about her family.

Julie Mijal, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to one month in prison, two years of supervised release – with the first six months to be served in home confinement – and ordered to pay approximately $166,487 in restitution. In September 2017, Mijal pleaded guilty to three counts of theft of public money and three counts of making false statements.

Mijal has lived in Malden with her children and their father since at least 2003. During that time, Mijal and her children’s father owned a house together and used the same address on their driver’s licenses, tax returns and other records.

During those same years, however, Mijal collected needs-based Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits on behalf of her child by telling the Social Security Administration that her child only lived with her and a sibling, and not with the child’s father. Social Security uses the household’s total income to determine whether someone is eligible for SSI benefits. As a result, Social Security did not count the father’s income when determining whether Mijal’s child was eligible for benefits. Mijal collected $87,053 in SSI benefits that she would not have received if she had reported that her children’s father was also part of the household. In a similar manner, Mijal collected $47,745 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and $31,688 in MassHealth benefits by failing to disclose that her children’s father lived with them.

On Monday, January 1, 2018, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Dartmouth Police arrested a homeless woman identified as Ashley Lynn REIS (32) after responding to a domestic disturbance at the Dartmouth Motor Inn.

An extended check on REIS revealed that she had an active extraditable warrant out of Rhode Island for trafficking/possession of dangerous drugs. REIS was subsequently arrested and charged with being a fugitive from justice.

On Saturday, December 30, 2017 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Dartmouth Police responded to the North Dartmouth Mall parking lot regarding a puppy left unattended inside of a vehicle.

When they arrived, officers spoke with the reporting party who informed them that the puppy’s owner had left it unattended in the vehicle for at least twenty (20) minutes without any heat. Further investigation determined that the length of time that the puppy was left unattended was closer to one (1) hour.

Upon viewing the puppy, Officer Justin AMARAL documented that it was “shivering and rolled up in a ball” on the seat.

The puppy was subsequently seized by Dartmouth Animal Control and transported to a local veterinary hospital for evaluation.

The owner is being charged with cruelty to animals, and his name will not be released until his arraignment.