U.S. Department of Justice

‘Operation Nor’easter’ Nets 13 Defendants

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced that “Operation Nor’easter,” a heroin and opioid centered Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Operation headed up by the Federal Bureau of Investigation resulted in the indictment of twelve (12) defendants for outstanding federal charges in a coordinated warrant enforcement operation. In addition, several defendants related to this operation were found to be in the custody of the State of North Carolina. Federal detainers have been filed against those subjects.

This operation was conducted as part of the Eastern District’s Take Back North Carolina Initiative designed to focus federal resources on the alarming level of opioid use and the deaths associated with it. This initiative is bringing the full weight of the federal court system in the fight against crime in Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrell, and Gates Counties in partnership with District Attorneys’ Offices and federal, state, and local law enforcement.

The following individuals were charged by way of Criminal Indictment. The individual charges for each defendant are contained in the parenthesis following the personal information.

• Rasheen Jerome Arnold 24, of Edenton, NC (Felon in Possession of Firearm; Possession of Stolen Firearm)

• Alvin Johnson, 41, Pasquotank County, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base) (crack)

• Samuel Rawlins, 39, Elizabeth City, NC, (Possession of Firearm by Felon)

• Devon Lee, 36, Perquimans County, NC, (Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine)

• Willie Person, 54, Grandy, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base) (crack)

• Glenn Mitchell, 49, Edenton, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin)

• Clarence Chestnutt, 40, Hertford, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine)

• John James Taylor, 37, Elizabeth City, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and heroin; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by felon)

• Nathan Lamonte Silver, 44, Elizabeth City, NC, (Hobbs Act robbery)

• Mykel Levant Davis, 37, Elizabeth City, NC, (Possession of firearm by felon)

• Marvin Johnson, 41, Elizabeth City, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute heroin)

• Ross Domina Spruill, 33, Dare County, NC, (Possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base) (crack)

The charges and allegations contained in the Indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

The cases are being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, (ATF), the United States Marshal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, Chowan County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth City Police Department, Edenton Police Department, Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Tyrell County Sheriff’s Office, Gates County Sheriff’s Office, Manteo Police Department, North Carolina First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Probation Office.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on twitter: @USAO_EDNC

Lake Devin to be Site of Granville Co. Library’s Summer Reading Finale

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— courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com and the Granville County Library System website

The Granville County Library System announces the grand finale of their 2018 summer reading program. The celebration will be held at Lake Devin, off Old Hwy 75, on Saturday, August 4, 2018, from 12 – 2 p.m.

“Join the library for fun, games and a free hot dog cookout to celebrate the end of the summer reading program.”

For more information, please call (919) 693-1121 or visit the Granville County Library System website at  www.granville.lib.nc.us

McGregor Hall

R&B Legends “The Manhattans” to Perform at McGregor Hall

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R&B legends “The Manhattans” featuring Henderson-native Gerald Alston bring their smooth sound with hits like “Kiss and Say Goodbye” and “Shining Star” to the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 3, 2018. The performance also features a pre-show meet and greet with Gerald Alston.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Tickets are $37.36* or $32.03* and price variation is dependent on the seat section of the theater. Tickets are not general admission, rather, seat selections are made in advance and are based on availability. See below for Meet & Greet Tickets.

All seats are expected to sell out. Advance ticket purchases recommended. Tickets may be purchased anytime online by using McGregor Hall’s trusted eTix website available at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11557/mcgregor-hall-performing-arts-center

Tickets can also be purchased at the Box Office located at McGregor Hall – 201 Breckenridge Street, Henderson, NC, or by calling the Box Office at (252) 598-0662. The Box Office is open Monday – Friday from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. (closed on Holidays & Observances).

[SOLD OUT] MEET & GREET with GERALD ALSTON
Enhance your experience with PREMIUM MEET & GREET TICKETS that include front-row seats to the concert as well as admission to a private catered reception with Gerald Alston prior to the show at 6:30 p.m.

*Ticket prices include local & state sales tax. Additional fees are charged for online purchases.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

Downtown Oxford to Hold Annual Sidewalk Sale This Fri. & Sat.

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-Information courtesy Mary Yount, Downtown Development Director, City of Oxford

Downtown Oxford is holding its annual Sidewalk Sale this Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4, 2018, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (regular store hours).

This Downtown Oxford merchant-driven event has traditionally been the kickoff to “Back to School” sales as well as a last push for heavily discounted summer items.

“It has been a successful way for new customers to find ‘bargains’ and visit Historic Downtown Oxford,” said Downtown Development Director Mary Yount. “Most all retail merchants downtown are participating.”

Downtown Oxford merchants hope to see you there!

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U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Court Awards Nearly $3 Million in Damages for N.C. Medicaid Fraud

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced today that a federal court awarded a nearly $3 million judgment against Compassionate Home Care Services, Inc., Carol Anders, and Ryan Santiago for their participation in a fraud on the North Carolina Medicaid program in violation of the federal and North Carolina False Claims Acts.

The evidence at trial showed that between 2008 and 2013, Compassionate Home Care Services, Inc. billed the North Carolina Medicaid program $585,082.73 in fraudulent claims, including not only claims for services provided in violation of Medicaid policies but also claims for services that were never provided at all. Anders ran the company and was responsible for the false billings. Worse, when the government began investigating, Anders and her son, Santiago, falsified hundreds of documents in an effort to conceal the fraud.

The federal and North Carolina False Claims Acts mandate that the government recover three times the damages caused by the fraud, plus civil penalties for every false or fraudulent claim. Applying those provisions and other applicable law, Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III awarded the government a judgment of $2,921,248.19.

Before the trial, Chief Judge Dever found that the defendants were liable for their participation in the scheme, concluding that the defendants “knowingly billed for services not rendered, knowingly billed for certain services provided to patients by unlicensed, non-certified aides, and knowingly billed for services provided to patients by close family members.” Chief Judge Dever also found that the defendants “falsified documents to conceal their obligation to repay the government and used false documents to support false claims previously submitted.”

“These defendants,” U.S. Attorney Higdon stated, “defrauded taxpayers of this State and this Country out of more than $500,000. They bilked a Medicaid program that is designed to protect children, the elderly, and the poor.” Mr. Higdon warned that “we will not tolerate providers who seek to fill their coffers with funds allotted to help people in need. We will not allow providers to undermine the solvency of our government programs to satiate their greed. We will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to aggressively pursue health care fraud, and to recover the taxpayer dollars lost to it.”

“When North Carolina’s taxpayers pay into the Medicaid program, they expect that money to be used correctly for people’s health care,” said North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. “Instead, these defendants defrauded taxpayers by charging for services that were not provided. My office takes Medicaid fraud seriously, and we will continue to fight against misuse and waste.”

The investigation of this case was conducted by Financial Investigators and sworn agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation assigned to the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and Special Agents with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The Robeson County Sheriff’s Department provided substantial assistance in the investigation. The investigation and prosecution of this matter were handled in a partnership between the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Medicaid Investigations Division of the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Special Deputy Attorney General Stacy Race and Assistant Attorney General Lareena Phillips, both of whom also serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael Anderson, represented the United States of America and the State of North Carolina in this case.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s webpage at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_EDNC

Families Living Violence Free

New Domestic Violence 101 Class Starts Tues., Aug. 14

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-Information courtesy Peggy Roark, Sexual Assault Advocate & PREA Coordinator, Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free announces the beginning of a new Domestic Violence 101 class on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Domestic Violence 101 is a six-week course with classes to be held on Tuesdays from 6 – 7 p.m. at the office of Families Living Violence Free, 125 Oxford Outer Loop, Oxford.

Receive your DV 101 certificate upon completion of the six-week course.

It’s not too late to register! Missed a class? That’s okay! You can take the class you missed in the next DV 101 course and still earn your certificate.

Please call (919) 693-3579 to register.

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F-G-V Smart Start Seeking Sponsors for 9th Annual Ducky Derby Fundraiser

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-Information courtesy Sandra Wilkerson, Director of Admin and Events, Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce

Franklin-Granville-Vance Smart Start, Inc. will hold its 9th annual Ducky Derby fundraiser in downtown Henderson on Saturday, September 15 at 2 p.m.

Garnett Street will be filled with a river of rubber ducks and a fun time for everyone. Tickets will be sold to purchase ducks and the chance to win the Grand Prize – $1,000; 2nd Prize – $500; 3rd Prize – $250. Even the last duck wins a $100 prize!

There will also be a drawing at the end of the race for Chick-fil-A for a year (must be present to win this prize).

FGV Smart Start needs sponsors to assist with the cost of our event. Sponsorship levels are: Super Duck – $500; Top Duck – $250; Feathered Friend – $100; Quacker Backer – $50.

All sponsors for this year’s event will be recognized on Ducky Derby posters throughout the three-county area, radio advertisements, newspaper articles, the FGV Smart Start website and Facebook page and the Smart Ducky Derby website. We hope that you will consider being a sponsor for our newest event. Together, we are “Building Brighter Futures for Children.”

For information about being a sponsor, please call Garry Daeke at 252-433-9110, extension 227.

(This is not a paid advertisement)

U.S. Department of Justice

Man Sentenced for Pretending to be U.S. Army General

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

Robert J. Higdon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announces that CHRISTIAN GERALD DESGROUX, age 58, of Raleigh, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle to 6 months imprisonment followed by 1 year of supervised release. On June 26, 2018, DESGROUX pled guilty to pretending to be a United States Army Lieutenant General in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912.

On November 6, 2017, DESGROUX, while dressed in a military battle dress uniform (BDUs) with U.S. Army rank and insignia, disembarked a private helicopter that landed at the headquarters of Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) located in Cary, North Carolina. SAS security officers approached DESGROUX who claimed that he was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army and was authorized by the President of the United States to land the helicopter there in order to pick up a female employee of SAS for a classified debriefing at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After the female and the defendant entered the helicopter, they flew around the area, refueled at a local airport, and returned to SAS.

When questioned by law enforcement, the female stated she was unaware that DESGROUX would be picking her up via helicopter. She believed that although they were not in a romantic relationship, DESGROUX was trying to impress her by flying her around. Her understanding was she would be meeting with the defendant to assist with a design project, but she had no knowledge of DESGROUX’s claims of a debriefing or joint special assignment involving the U.S. President. An investigation revealed DESGROUX had never been in the U.S. military.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Jason Kellhofer and Eleanor Morales prosecuted the case for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_EDNC.

U.S. Attorney’s Office to Hold Press Conference on ‘Operation Nor’easter’ Indictment

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-Press Release, U.S. Department of Justice

WHEN: Wednesday, August 1, 2018, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Pasquotank County Public Safety Building, 200 East Colonial Avenue, Elizabeth City, NC 27909

The United States Attorney’s Office announces a press conference to discuss the indictment of 12 defendants on narcotic distribution and gun charges in a coordinated warrant enforcement operation. This operation is part of the Take Back North Carolina Initiative that is targeting violent crime and drug distribution throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina.

United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr., 1st Judicial District Attorney Andrew Womble and law enforcement partners from federal, state, and local agencies will be present at this event.

Credentialed members of the media are invited to attend.

For additional information please e-mail Don Connelly at usance.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov. Please RSVP your intentions to attend the event.

Diaper Drive for Granville County Senior Services Center

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— courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce | Ginnie Currin, Executive Director ~ 919-693-6125 ~ ginnie@granville-chamber.com

Rogers Property Management has proudly teamed up with Creedmoor’s Fidelity Bank and Creedmoor’s Women-In-Network Chapter to support the Seniors in Granville County. A donation box has been set up at the Fidelity Bank, 2538 E Lyon Station Road in Creedmoor for adult diapers and Ensure/Boost. The drive is running until Wednesday, August 1, 2018! 

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