U.S. Attorney Damian Williams
Recent News About U.S. Attorney Damian Williams
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Adult film actor Austin Wolf charged with distribution of child pornography
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today the arrest of Justin Heath Smith, an adult film actor who uses the stage name "Austin Wolf." Smith is charged with sending and receiving hundreds of videos of child pornography via the Telegram application. Those videos depicted children as young as infants, including a video showing a 10-year-old child bound and raped. In addition to sharing child...
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New York man arrested for trafficking guns machinegun conversion devices narcotics
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced today the arrest of Caleb Eccles-Gonsalves in connection with his sale and distribution of firearms, machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), silencers, ammunition, and narcotics. Eccles-Gonsalves was arrested this morning in St. Petersburg, Florida, and will be presented later today in the...
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Settlement reached in civil fraud lawsuit against VNS Health
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Naomi Gruchacz, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), announced today that the United States has settled a civil fraud lawsuit against Visiting Nurse Service of New York d/b/a VNS Health, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care II d/b/a Visiting Nurse Service of New York Home Care, and VNS Health Behavioral Health, Inc. (collectively, “VNS”).
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Man charged with defrauding criminal defendants through unauthorized practice of law
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that a grand jury has returned an indictment charging Christopher Reese, also known as “Christopher Eugene Thomas,” with federal crimes related to defrauding federal criminal defendants and their family members. Reese is accused of tricking these individuals into paying him for unlicensed legal services in federal courts. Reese is already in federal custody concerning a separate case. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni.
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Bronx man convicted for December 2021 murder during attempted robbery
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the conviction of Ricardo Ferguson, also known as "Maybach," for the December 5, 2021 murder of Robert Brown, Sr. inside the Aqueduct Park walkway in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx. Ferguson shot Brown in the head and attempted to steal crack cocaine and money from Brown’s pockets during a dispute over drug sales. The defendant was found guilty following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.
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Brooklyn church leader sentenced nine years for fraud extortion false statements
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Lamor Whitehead was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield to nine years in prison for wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, attempted extortion, and making false statements to federal law enforcement agents. Whitehead was previously convicted on all charges following a two-week trial.
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Charity founder charged with embezzling millions intended for low-income families
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging Keith Taylor with defrauding a charity he ran by embezzling approximately $2.5 million in donations meant for low-income families. The funds were allegedly spent on personal expenses including rent in a luxury apartment building in midtown Manhattan, food delivery services, cosmetic surgery, and...
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Founder charged with securities fraud over AI company's financial misrepresentation
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Ilit Raz, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Joonko Diversity, Inc. (Joonko), with securities fraud and wire fraud. The charges pertain to defrauding investors and misleading them about core aspects of her company, including customer identity and revenue figures. On May 24, 2024, Joonko filed for...