Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

CEO of Richmond non-profit sentenced to 17 years in prison for bank and wire fraud, witness tampering, more

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Provided homes for parolees, probationers; used multiple aliases

Sought $34,655,437 in fraudulent PPP loans during COVID

Jury found former religious leader guilty on 44 felony counts

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Attila Colar, aka Dahood Sharieff Bey, aka Sharieff Dahood Bey, aka Sharieff Pasha, aka David Lee, aka Georgi Petrakov, was sentenced to serve 204 months (17 years) in prison after being convicted of forty-four (44) felonies including conspiracy, bank fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, false statements to a bank, destruction of property to prevent a search, possession of a firearm as a felon, making a false tax return, obstruction, and witness tampering. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr., U.S. District Judge.

Colar, 51, of Richmond, Calif., was convicted of the crimes by a jury on June 23, 2023, after a three-week trial. Colar is the former Chief Executive Officer of All Hands on Deck, a Richmond, Calif., company that held itself out as providing a residential reentry home for probationers, parolees, homeless persons, and persons with mild mental illness. In finding him guilty of the sundry crimes, the jury concluded Colar carried out multiple schemes to defraud, including defrauding organizations that placed residents at his company’s transitional housing facilities and defrauding several lenders that were participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The jury also found that Colar attempted to destroy evidence, obstructed the FBI’s and grand jury’s investigations into his crimes, and tampered with a witness by attempting to concealing the witness while law enforcement was taking steps to execute a material witness order.

According to opengovus.com the organization was incorporated in Hercules and is listed as a “Minority-Owned”, and “Black American Owned” non-profit in 2015 but the registration has expired. The only officer listed is Jamlia Pasha as Manager.

According to transitionalhousing.org, “All Hands on Deck Ink is a clean and sober living environment that offers a structured living program for recovering individuals, Homeless Veterans, Parolees, and Individuals with Mental Health Conditions. The environment creates good habits and healthy outlooks that will lead their residents to positive results. Offer all of the residents access to a clean and stable environment, life skill courses, 12 step program, educational opportunities, business and economic training, and resource referrals. There is a sliding scale fee. Accept self pay, vouchers and other housing rent assistance programs. Residents will have access to internet, washer and dryer, cable, a healthy meal, programs, resources and more. As accepting new residents now, call their housing managers today for placement.” It has a location at a home in El Sobrante. That information was last updated on July 13, 2023.

“In the wake of a national crisis, the government established programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program, to ease the pain inflicted by a global pandemic,” said Ismail J. Ramsey, United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. “Colar took this opportunity to defraud the government, while also defrauding several other initiatives intended to help the homeless, newly released prisoners, and those with drug problems, to name just a few of his victims. This sentence should serve as a warning that this office will pursue with vigor those who seek to line their own pockets by defrauding government efforts to address our communities’ needs.”

“Colar is now facing the consequences for his attempt to steal from a taxpayer-funded program designed to offer crucial relief to those businesses affected during the pandemic,” said Robert K. Tripp, Special Agent in Charge, San Francisco Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation. “We are proud to have worked in close coordination with our federal partners to ensure justice prevailed in this case.”

“This sentencing sends a clear warning that you will be brought to justice if you defraud the federal government of pandemic relief funds,” said Jon Ellwanger, Special Agent in Charge, Western Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold Mr. Colar accountable for his crimes.”

“Abusing SBA’s pandemic relief programs that are intended to provide critical relief to small businesses is unconscionable.” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “This sentencing further showcases that those who fraudulently take advantage of federal government programs will face justice for their selfish deeds. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.”

“Mr. Colar attempted to defraud the U.S. government by filing multiple false tax documents to further his Paycheck Protection Program scheme. Along the way, he harmed the members of the community those funds are designed to aid and protect,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Darren Lian of the Oakland Field Office. “This sentencing reinforces that people who abuse the U.S. tax system and victimize taxpayers will be held accountable. IRS Criminal Investigation agents work closely with multiple agencies to help ensure those who choose to break the law are caught and punished. I would like to thank the United States’ Attorney’s Office’s and its federal partners for working together to achieve a just result.”

“When individuals corruptly obstruct the due administration of the Internal Revenue Code and file documents under false pretenses, they defraud and steal funds from taxpayer-funded programs intended to assist small businesses. TIGTA will always pursue these individuals and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” stated Special Agent in Charge Rod Ammari. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their joint efforts to hold these criminals accountable for their actions.”

Evidence at trial showed that starting in late 2018, Colar engaged in a scheme to defraud, among others, GEO Reentry, which provided treatment and supervision programs for adult probationers, parolees, and pretrial defendants in residential, in-custody, and non-residential reentry centers for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Specifically, in or about 2019, Colar fraudulently induced GEO Reentry to refer parolees to All Hands on Deck using falsified fire inspection clearance reports, a false letter of recommendation, false security clearance documents, and false and misleading information about its staff.

Additional evidence demonstrated that in April and June of 2020, Colar engaged in a second scheme to defraud lenders participating in the PPP lending plan authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Pursuant to the CARES Act, the SBA managed the PPP lending plan. Trial evidence established Colar submitted multiple loan applications on behalf of All Hands on Deck to lenders that were false and misleading. For example, the applications substantially overstated the number and payroll of All Hands on Deck employees—while Colar’s loan applications stated All Hands on Deck had approximately 73 to 81 employees, the business had, in fact, perhaps other than himself, no salaried employees.

Colar was also convicted of offenses related to the submission of multiple fraudulent loan applications in the name of other companies. The evidence demonstrated Colar hastily revived two dormant companies, and then submitted loan applications from the PPP lending plan for the bogus businesses. To carry out this scheme to defraud, Colar used, without legal authority, the names and identities of two persons living in his residential reentry facility. Colar falsely represented that the residents were “CEO”s of companies with hundreds of employees with million-dollar payrolls.

In all, the evidence at trial showed that Colar submitted a total of 16 fraudulent loan applications to the PPP lending plan seeking approximately $34,655,437 in PPP loans.

Colar also was convicted of obstruction and witness tampering relating to the investigations into his crimes. Colar has been found guilty of destroying documents during a search of his home, lying to the FBI about a firearm, falsifying records produced to the grand jury, interfering with the representation by counsel of a material witness by impersonating the witness’s Power of Attorney, coaching a witness to falsely state that the witness was the CEO of one of Colar’s bogus companies that submitted fraudulent loan applications, and concealing a witness in multiple hotels and other locations in the Bay Area to forestall or prevent the witness from providing testimony in the federal grand jury.

In sum, Colar was convicted of forty-four (44) federal criminal offenses for his conduct. The convictions include the following: one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; one count to commit conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; two counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; sixteen counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; eight counts of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A; two counts of false statement to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014; one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g); one count of destruction of property to prevent a search or seizure, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2232(a); one count of obstruction of justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2); two counts of falsification of records in a federal investigation, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519; six counts of making a false tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206; one count of conspiracy to tamper with a witness, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(k); one count of tampering with a witness, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(1); and one count of tampering with a witness, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(2).

In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam also ordered Colar to serve 60 months (five years) of supervised release, to begin after his prison term. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Colar is currently in federal custody and will begin serving his prison term immediately.

According to an Oct. 3, 2020 ABC7 News report, “Colar was the leader of a Black Muslim temple in Oakland and a group that was a spinoff of Your Black Muslim Bakery, after the leader of the bakery was arrested and later convicted of ordering the murder of Oakland journalist Chauncey Bailey.” He “was convicted in 2015 and sentenced to five years in state prison for submitting bogus documents to win security contracts with Alameda County, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara J. Valliere, Adam A. Reeves, and Ross D. Mazer are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Laurie Worthen and Legal Assistant Kathy Tat. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Internal Revenue Service: Criminal Investigation, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Brentwood officer in stable condition following stabbing by teen Wednesday

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By Lt. Mark Louwerens, Brentwood Police Department

On October 11, 2023, at about 5:35 p.m. officers responded to a report of a subject in the area of Brentwood City Park armed with a kitchen knife. The caller reported that, at times, the subject appeared to be taunting other people with the knife.

As officers arrived on scene, they contacted the male, a 16-year-old juvenile. After numerous attempts to de-escalate the situation, an officer moved in to detain the juvenile. As he did, the juvenile stabbed the officer. A bystander assisted other officers in physically detaining the juvenile, who was subsequently taken into custody.

The officer sustained a non-life-threatening injury and was transported to a local hospital.

We have determined that there are no outstanding subjects and there is no threat to the general public.

The officer is stable and recovering and our Investigations Unit will be meeting with the District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges will be filed against the juvenile.

This case is currently under investigation. Anyone with information, please contact Detective Goold at 925-809-7872.

Antioch teen among 3 charged by U.S. Attorney, Postal Inspector for alleged mail delivery interference

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Participated in at least two armed robberies of letter carriers, one in Antioch and one in San Francisco

Enforcement actions are coupled with announcement of $150,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of additional suspects

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

OAKLAND – U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez announced today that multiple arrests have been made in cases involving the interference with delivery of the U.S. mail. The announcement was made at a press conference held this morning at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.

The theft of postal keys, break-ins of postal vehicles, assaults on letter carriers, and various other criminal acts involving interference with delivery of the mail and the alleged illegal possession of personally identifying information were all discussed at the press conference. According to U.S. Attorney Ramsey, defendants in each case now are facing severe federal penalties that make clear their alleged crimes were not worth the consequences.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service released the following surveillance videos of the alleged suspects:

 

“In each of the cases I will discuss,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey, “the government alleges the defendants have violated federal criminal laws and, as a consequence, federal agents and local law enforcement has tracked them down . . .. The penalties for these crimes can be sobering.”

Inspector in Charge Nuñez reinforced the U.S. Attorney’s remarks and announced that the reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of any individual who robs or assaults a postal worker is now $150,000.

“There is no more important mission for us as federal agents than protecting postal workers from crime and violence,” said Inspector in Charge Nuñez. “To any copycats or wannabes out there who might consider robbing a postal worker, I ask you to consider the years you will face in federal prison, the price on your head, and that postal inspectors will not stop hunting you. The proceeds of this crime are not worth your freedom.”

U.S. Attorney Ramsey stated that most of the cases involved the theft of specialized postal keys that often grant access to large mailboxes or mail storage facilities. Holding one such postal key in his hand, U.S. Attorney Ramsey explained that federal laws have been “carefully crafted to protect the sanctity of the mail, including the sensitive information we entrust to the mail system; the safety of the federal employees and contractors who deliver the mail; and the federal property that is used to ensure mail delivery.”

He then went on to describe how three of the defendants are alleged to have violated the law as follows:

  • Robert Devon Nicholson Bell, Jr., 19, of Antioch, Calif., is alleged to have participated in at least two armed robberies of letter carriers, one in Antioch and one in San Francisco. Allegations in the criminal complaint filed against the defendant describe Bell’s use of mail keys to steal mail from blue mailboxes. According to a criminal complaint, Bell was found in Antioch in possession of robbed postal keys, a substantial quantity of stolen mail, a fraudulent USPS ID with his picture, and stolen and counterfeit checks. He now faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of the postal key, as well as 25 years for each of the armed robberies. (Case No. 23-mj-71439 MAG)
  • Anthony Medina, 42, of American Canyon, Calif., is alleged to have unlawfully possessed seven mail keys. According to the complaint, officers with the San Francisco Police Department were attempting to perform a traffic stop when the defendant attempted to flee. Officers arrested the defendant and, in addition to the keys, defendant is alleged to have possessed credit cards in the names of other individuals, images of suspected stolen mail, and access codes for an apartment complex in San Francisco. Medina now faces 10 years in prison for each violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1704—the unlawful possession of the postal keys, as well as possible prosecution for unlawful possession of mail and credit cards. (Case No. 23-mj-71443 MAG)
  • Derek Hopson, 33, of Oakland, Calif., is alleged to have stolen mail and postal keys in two separate incidents that occurred in June of 2023. The complaint alleges the San Francisco Police Department responded to a burglary in progress at a residence in the Mission District of San Francisco when officers encountered the defendant in possession of several postal keys. Hopson also allegedly used a mailbox key to gain access to mailboxes at a residential complex in the Presidio of San Francisco. He now faces a statutory maximum of 15 years in prison for violating 18 U.S.C. sections 1704 and 1706. (Case No. 23-mj-71403 MAG)

Indictments and criminal complaints merely allege that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Further, in addition to the prison terms described, as part of any sentence following conviction the court may order defendants to serve an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term, additional fines, and restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The prosecution of these cases are the result of investigations by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

 

 

 

 

Richmond parents face 25 years to life in child abuse case that caused death of infant son

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Jury returns guilty verdict for 2021 crime

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

Yesterday, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, after four days of deliberation, a jury in Contra Costa County returned guilty verdicts against the parents who abused their infant son – which caused his death.

38-year-old Rayray Andrederral Darn and 31-year-old Marilyn Northington were charged with Murder [PC187(a)], assault on a child causing death [PC273ab(a)], child abuse [PC273a(a)], with a special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death [PC12022.95]. (See related article)

On February 4th, 2021, the couple’s actions led to the death of their 5-week-old son while they were residing at a hotel in Richmond. A hotel employee called Richmond police after witnessing Darn and Northington running out of their room with a baby reportedly not breathing. Officers responded to a local hospital after confirming there was an infant in the emergency room who was not breathing. During an investigation – and later after an autopsy by the Coroner’s Office – it was determined the infant died from injuries inflicted by his parents. The injuries to the baby included a broken femur, burn marks on his face and other parts of his body, fractured ribs, a skull fracture, and bleeding inside his skull. Additionally, the child suffered from severe malnutrition, and dehydration – as well as testing positive for methamphetamine.

The jury found the couple guilty of involuntary manslaughter [PC192(b)], assault on a child under 8-years-old causing death, and child abuse with the special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death.

The penalty Darn and Northington face is 25 years to life. Both defendants will be sentenced on December 15th at 8:30 a.m. by Judge Terri Mockler.

Lafayette man arraigned on armed home invasion, kidnapping, child abuse charges

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By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

A Lafayette man faces a 12-count felony complaint related to an armed home invasion incident wherein the victims were held hostage for hours.

31-year-old Kenneth David Mcisaac was arraigned today at 1:30 pm in Martinez for kidnapping, false imprisonment by violence, second-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, criminal threats, and child abuse. He entered a plea of not guilty in front of Judge Rebecca Hardie.

The charges stem from when Mcisaac pulled a gun on a mother and her daughter on September 24th around three o’clock in the afternoon. The victims were walking back to their apartment complex in Lafayette when Mcisaac forced them into their residence at gunpoint and proceeded to hold the entire family of four hostages for over five hours.

At one point during the ordeal, an adult victim was able to break free and physically overpower Mcisaac. Police and emergency crews arrived after a 911 call was placed, and Mcisaac was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries. Three days later on September 27th, he was booked into the West County Detention Facility where he remains in custody. His next court date is November 30, 2022, at 8:30 am with Judge Mary Ann O’Malley.

According to localcrimenews.com, Mcissac was also arrested in October 2020 by Oakland Police for battery with serious bodily injury and elder or dependent adult abuse.

01-22-01678 | The People of the State of California vs. McIsaac, Kenneth David

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Rodeo couple charged with murder in toddler’s death, abuse of infant

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By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has charged a Rodeo couple with murder, child abuse resulting in death, and torture in the death of a toddler — and the abuse of an infant.

22-year-old Destiny Deboe and 21-year-old Tyshawn Haywood are currently in custody in the Martinez Detention Facility awaiting their arraignment. (See related article)

On Monday, October 2nd at approximately 8:50 PM, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched after receiving a report of a 2-year-old child who had drowned in a bathtub. When emergency personnel arrived at the residence, they began life-saving measures on the child. The victim was then transported to a local hospital — but was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.

In the course of the investigation by Contra Costa County Sheriff’s detectives, it was determined that the child did not die from drowning but rather from injuries sustained as a result of prolonged abuse. It was also discovered that a second child in the care and custody of the defendants suffered life threatening injuries sustained as a result of abuse. The seriousness of these allegations has led to both individuals being held in lieu of $1,070,000 bail. The District Attorney’s Office reviewed the evidence from police authorities and filed charges with Superior Court this afternoon.

District Attorney Diana Becton said: “The loss of a young life deeply impacts us all. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of the victim during this incredibly difficult time. We are committed to seeking justice and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.”

The People of the State of California vs Deboe, Destiny

The People of the State of California vs Haywood, Tyshawn Leontray

Danville woman sentenced to 22 months in federal prison for embezzling $1.7 million from Men’s Warehouse

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Gina Lonestar in happier times. Source: Her Facebook page posted May 27, 2022.

Former VP of Construction, Maintenance and Facilities at parent company Tailored Brands invented fake vendor and submitted false invoices over eight-year period

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Gina Suzanne Lonestar was sentenced to 22 months in federal prison in connection with a wire fraud scheme pursuant to which she embezzled over $1.7 million from her former employer, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Jon S. Tigar, United States District Judge.

Lonestar, 52, of Danville, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on May 19, 2023. According to her plea agreement, Lonestar admitted that, in December 2010, she devised a scheme to create a fake vendor to defraud Men’s Wearhouse and later Tailored Brands (Men’s Wearhouse’s parent company) of money by submitting and approving false invoices for the fake vendor to the accounts payable department. Lonestar created a document stating the vendor was a sole proprietorship associated with a family member and then began submitting and approving invoices falsely claiming the vendor was performing work at Men’s Wearhouse stores throughout California, such as inspections and handyman work. Lonestar admitted that she submitted and approved false invoices in the name of the fake vendor for approximately eight years, defrauding her employer of over $1.7 million, which was paid to her joint checking account. Lonestar admitted that the vendor did not exist and the family member with whom she co-owed the company performed none of the work for which she provided invoices.

At the time Lonestar devised the scheme, she was a Director in the Facilities Department of Men’s Wearhouse. During the relevant time period she was promoted to Senior Director of Facilities and Corporate Services and then to Vice President of Construction, Maintenance, and Facilities. In all of her roles, she had the authority to approve invoices for work done by vendors. Lonestar’s scheme ended in 2019 when the company discovered the conduct during an internal audit.

On September 8, 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Lonestar charging her with six counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Pursuant to her plea agreement, Lonestar pleaded guilty to one count and the court dismissed the remaining counts during her sentencing hearing.

In addition to the 22-month sentence, Judge Tigar ordered Lonestar to pay a $1,736,216 forfeiture money judgment and to serve three years of supervised release which will begin after she leaves prison. Judge Tigar ordered that Lonestar begin serving her sentence on January 5, 2024. In addition, Judge Tigar scheduled a hearing for December 1, 2023, to determine issues regarding restitution.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah Stern with assistance from Elizabeth Kim and Kathleen Turner. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.

Alamo telecommunications consultant pleads guilty to violating sanctions on Iran

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70-year-old faces 20-25 years in prison, as much as $1.25 million in fines

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – The U.S. Attorney’s Office today announced charges against and guilty pleas by Farhad Nafeiy for violating sanctions by exporting software upgrades for commercial-grade telecommunications servers to the Islamic Republic of Iran (“Iran”), and for tax evasion. The plea was accepted by the Honorable Araceli Martínez-Olguín, United States District Judge. The announcement was made by United States Attorney for the Northern District of California Ismail J. Ramsey, Assistant Attorney General Mathew G. Olsen, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King, and Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Oakland Field Office Darren Lian.

Nafeiy, 70, of Alamo, Calif., was charged with and pleaded guilty to a violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”). Under IEEPA, the President of the United States is granted authority to address unusual and extraordinary threats to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States. Under that law, the President has issued orders prohibiting certain activities and transactions with Iran and the Government of Iran. The Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued regulations, referred to as the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), implementing those orders. These sanctions on Iran generally prohibit, among other things, exporting or facilitating the export of U.S.-origin products to Iran and providing services to Iran.

Nafeiy obtained licenses—or approvals—from OFAC for advising non-Iranian telecommunications companies on doing business with Iran. However, those licenses did not authorize Nafeiy to provide any hardware, software, or technology directly to Iran. Nafeiy exceeded his OFAC licenses, thereby violating the ITSR and IEEPA, by directly providing software upgrades to telecommunications equipment in Iran. Nafeiy admitted in his plea agreement that he knew he exceeded these licenses when he did so. In his plea agreement, Nafeiy further admitted that the total amount of sales of such software upgrades to Iran was approximately $400,000. Nafeiy separately was charged with, and admitted to, evading his federal income taxes, and specifically not paying income tax on some of the proceeds of these sales.

On August 10, 2023, Nafeiy was charged by information with one count of violating IEEPA, in violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705, and one count of tax evasion, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to both charges.

Judge Martínez-Olguín scheduled Nafeiy’s sentencing hearing for January 29, 2024. For the 50 U.S.C. § 1705 violation, Nafeiy faces a maximum statutory prison term of 20 years, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and restitution, if appropriate. For the tax evasion charge, Nafeiy faces a maximum prison term of five years, a maximum fine of $250,000, and restitution of at least $79,124 to the IRS. As part of any sentence, the court may also order Nafaiy to serve a period of supervised release and to pay additional assessments, however, the court will impose a sentence only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Kingsley and Trial Attorney David Ryan of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with the assistance of Kathleen Turner of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Former Trial Attorney Elizabeth Abraham provided valuable assistance in prior phases of the prosecution. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.

 

Rodeo couple arrested for murder, torture in bathtub drowning of 2-year-old

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Held on $1,070,000 bail

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Contra Costa County Sheriff

On Monday, October 2, 2023, at about 8:48 PM, Bay Station deputies were dispatched to the 300 block of California Street in Rodeo for a call of a two-year-old who had reportedly drowned in a bathtub.

The fire department arrived at the same time as deputies and started life-saving measures on the child. He was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Detectives investigating this incident have made two arrests in connection to the child’s death: Destiny Rose Deboe, 22 (born April 5, 2021) of Rodeo and Tyshawn Haywood, 21 (born May 16, 2002) of Rodeo. Deboe is described as 5-feet 8-inches tall and 140 pounds and Haywood is described 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Both have been booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: murder, felony infliction of injury to a child, and torture. Each is being held in lieu of $1,070,000 bail.

This case remains under investigation.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Brentwood party call leads to gun arrest of Antioch woman

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Zyann Martin. Source: her Facebook page posted on Jan. 1, 2018.

Charged with 1 felony, 2 misdemeanors for being drunk, on probation for DUI, carrying concealed, loaded stolen weapon

By Brentwood Police Department

Last week, Brentwood Officers responded to the 1600 block of Ceylon Drive for a party complaint. Our Dispatch received additional calls reporting there was a fight and someone had a gun.

When officers arrived, they saw several partygoers in the street, including an adult female who matched the description of the suspect with a gun.

The female, identified as 24-year-old Zyann Chablis Martin of Antioch, was found to be in possession of a loaded stolen gun. Martin who was heavily intoxicated at the time officers contacted her, was also on probation for DUI. According to unicourt.com her DUI occurred early last year.

Martin was placed under arrest and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility. According to recentlybooked.com, Martin was charged with one felony and two misdemeanors: 25400(C)(2) PC – carrying a concealed stolen weapon (F), 496(A) PC – receiving/etc. known stolen property (M) and 647(F) PC – disorderly conduct alcohol (M). According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, as of Monday, October 2, 2023, she bonded out of custody.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.