LAWFUEL – Criminal law, US Attorney, law, legal, law firm news Marcos D. Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Jonathan Sall, Special Agent in Charge, Coast Guard Investigative Service, SE Region; Michael S. Clemens, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and William T. Sims, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, announced today that defendant, Roberto Martin, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages in Miami, Florida, to one (1) count of conspiring with co-defendant, Christopher A. Johnson, to unjustly enrich themselves by falsely personating federal officers, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; two (2) counts of mail fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section, 1341; one (1) count of falsely personating a federal officer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 912; and one (1) count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Trial had been scheduled to begin on Monday, November 1, 2004.
Martin’s sentencing hearing is scheduled before Judge Ungaro-Benages on January 14, 2005, at 1:30 p.m. On the conspiracy count, Martin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years on each of the mail fraud counts. On the false personation count, Martin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three (3) years. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years on the felon in possession of a firearm count. Each count also carries a maximum fine of up to $250,000.
As set forth in the Indictment, Martin was charged with participating in a scheme in which he sought to unjustly enrich himself by falsely representing to certain individuals that he was working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on an alleged “secret operation” that involved obtaining money that had been stolen from Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and that those individuals could receive a share of the money if they provided the him with money to finance the “secret operation.” As part of the scheme, Martin would claim that he was a former Cuban intelligence officer who had defected from Cuba, and would falsely represent that he was now working for the CIA on the alleged “secret operation” to recover money that he had helped steal from Castro. Co-defendant Johnson would falsely represent to others that he was “Special Agent Chris McClenic” of the United States Secret Service, and that he was assisting Martin with the alleged “secret operation.” At meetings with participants in the alleged “secret operation,” Martin would carry a firearm and a law enforcement-style badge case, and Johnson would carry a firearm, wear an ear-piece style radio, and use a Secret Service business card in the name of “Chris McClenic.”
On May 7, 2004, co-defendant Johnson pleaded guilty to one (1) count of falsely personating a federal officer, and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2004 at 2:30 pm., before Judge Ungaro-Benages.
Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Coast Guard Investigative Service, and United States Secret Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher J. Clark and Alicia Valle.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls