Judgment in a Criminal Case — Denny Bhakta, No. 3:21-CR-03352-JLS (Dkt. 177, S.D. Cal.)
Summary
In this judgment, Judge Janis L. Sammartino of the Southern District of California sentences Denny Bhakta, after Bhakta was found guilty on counts 1, 2, 3, 4-20 and 21-25 of the Superseding Indictment following a plea of not guilty. The offenses listed are securities fraud, money laundering and bank fraud, each with criminal forfeiture. The sentence is a total of 235 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, the counts to run concurrent to one another, followed by a total of 5 years of supervised release. The court imposed a $100.00 assessment on each count, for a total of $2,500.00, no fine, and forfeiture under an order filed 1/21/2025. It recommended placement at FCI Butner for medical treatment, with no designation until after May 2, 2025, so that Bhakta can attend the restitution hearing.
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. Case 3:21-cr-03352-JLS Document177 Filed 03/04/25 Pagetb-<pagelD>
AO 245B (CASD Rev. 1/19) Judgment in a Criminal Case ofS
UNITED STATES DisTRicT Court) “A¥ 84 2025
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIAgoyqrem ee am
BY.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA JUDGMENT IN A DEPUTY
Vv (For Offenses Committed On or After November 1, 1987)
DENNY BHAKTA (1)
Case Number: 3:21-CR-03352-JLS
John Kirby
Defendant’s Attorney
USM Number 03692-506
THE DEFENDANT:
CL) pleaded guilty to count(s) -
was found guilty on count(s) 1, 2, 3, 4-20 and 21-25 of the Superseding Indictment
after a plea of not guilty.
Accordingly, the defendant is adjudged guilty of such count(s), which involve the following offense(s):
Title and Section / Nature of Offense
15:78J(b), 78ff; 17:240.10b-5; 18:981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(a), 982(b); 28:2461(c) - Securities Fraud; Criminal
18:1957; 18:981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(A), 982(b); 28:2461(c) - Money Laundering; Criminal Forfeiture
18:1344(2); 18:981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(A), 982(b); 28:2461(c) - Bank Fraud; Criminal Forfeiture
18:1344(2); 18:981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(A), 982(b); 28:2461(c) - BANK FRAUD; Criminal Forfeiture
18:1957; 18:981(a)(1)(C), 982(a)(1), 982(a)(2)(A), 982(b); 28:2461(c) - Money Laundering; Criminal Forfeiture
The defendant is sentenced as provided in pages 2 through 5 of this judgment.
The sentence is imposed pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.
L) The defendant has been found not guilty on count(s)
Count
4-20
21-25
XX] ~Count(s) Remaining are dismissed on the motion of the United States.
{X] Assessment: $100.00 as to each count 1-25 for a total of $2,500.00 imposed
[] JVTA Assessment*: $
*Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, Pub. L. No. 114-22.
Xl No fine Forfeiture pursuant to order filed 1/21/2025
, included herein.
IT IS ORDERED that the defendant must notify the United States Attorney for this district within 30 days of any
change of name, residence, or mailing address until all fines, restitution, costs, and special assessments imposed by this
judgment are fully paid. If ordered to pay restitution, the defendant must notify the court and United States Attorney of
any material change in the defendant’s economic circumstances.
February 28. 2025
Date of Imposition 2 a
ON. JANIS L. SAMMARTINO
ITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
AUTHENTICATED
US. GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION
GPO
Case 3:21-cr-03352-JLS Document177 Filed 03/04/25 PagelD.<pagelID> Page 2
AO 245B (CASD Rev. 1/19) Judgment in a Criminal Case ofS
DEFENDANT: DENNY BHAKTA (1) Judgment - Page 2 of 5
CASE NUMBER: 3:21-CR-03352-JLS
IMPRISONMENT
The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a total term of:
235 months as to count 1, 120 months as to counts 2 and 21-25, 235 months as to counts 3-20, to run concurrent
to one another for a total of 235 months
CL) Sentence imposed pursuant to Title 8 USC Section 1326(b).
{The court makes the following recommendations to the Bureau of Prisons:
1. Defendant is to not be designated until after May 2, 2025, to attend Restitution Hearing.
2. Placement at FCI Butner for medical treatment.
The defendant is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal.
The defendant must surrender to the United States Marshal for this district:
O at A.M. on
CL] as notified by the United States Marshal.
q The defendant must surrender for service of sentence at the institution designated by the Bureau of
Prisons:
O) onor before
O) as notified by the United States Marshal.
C) as notified by the Probation or Pretrial Services Office.
RETURN
I have executed this judgment as follows:
Defendant delivered on to
at , with a certified copy of this judgment.
UNITED STATES MARSHAL
By DEPUTY UNITED STATES MARSHAL
3:21-CR-03352-JLS
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AO 245B (CASD Rev. 1/19) Judgment in a Criminal Case
DEFENDANT: DENNY BHAKTA (1) Judgment - Page 3 of 5
CASE NUMBER: 3:21-CR-03352-JLS
SUPERVISED RELEASE
Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant will be on supervised release for a term of:
3 years as to count 1, 3 years as to counts 2 and 21-25, 5 years as to counts 3-20, to run concurrent to one another
for a total of 5 years.
2
3.
MANDATORY CONDITIONS
The defendant must not commit another federal, state or local crime.
The defendant must not unlawfully possess a controlled substance.
The defendant must not illegally possess a controlled substance. The defendant must refrain from any unlawful use of a
controlled substance. The defendant must submit to one drug test within 15 days of release from imprisonment and at least
two periodic drug tests thereafter as determined by the court. Testing requirements will not exceed submission of more
than 4 drug tests per month during the term of supervision, unless otherwise ordered by the court.
L)The above drug testing condition is suspended, based on the court's determination that the defendant poses a low
risk of future substance abuse. (check if applicable)
C)The defendant must make restitution in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §§ 3663 and 3663A or any other statute authorizing
a sentence of restitution. (check if applicable)
&IThe defendant must cooperate in the collection of DNA as directed by the probation officer. (check if applicable)
LIThe defendant must comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (34 U.S.C. §
20901, et seq.) as directed by the probation officer, the Bureau of Prisons, or any state sex offender registration agency in
the location where the defendant resides, works, is a student, or was convicted of a qualifying offense. (check if
applicable)
LIThe defendant must participate in an approved program for domestic violence. (check if applicable)
The defendant must comply with the standard conditions that have been adopted by this court as well as with any other
conditions on the attached page.
3:21-CR-03352-JLS
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AO 245B (CASD Rev. 1/19) Judgment in a Criminal Case
DEFENDANT: DENNY BHAKTA (1) Judgment - Page 4 of 5
CASE NUMBER: 3:21-CR-03352-JLS
STANDARD CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION
As part of the defendant’s supervised release, the defendant must comply with the following standard conditions of |
supervision. These conditions are imposed because they establish the basic expectations for the defendant’s behavior
while on supervision and identify the minimum tools needed by probation officers to keep informed, report to the
court about, and bring about improvements in the defendant’s conduct and condition.
1. The defendant must report to the probation office in the federal judicial district where they are authorized to reside within 72
hours of their release from imprisonment, unless the probation officer instructs the defendant to report to a different probation
office or within a different time frame.
2. After initially reporting to the probation office, the defendant will receive instructions from the court or the probation officer
about how and when the defendant must report to the probation officer, and the defendant must report to the probation officer
as instructed.
3. The defendant must not knowingly leave the federal judicial district where the defendant is authorized to reside without first
getting permission from the court or the probation officer.
4. The defendant must answer truthfully the questions asked by their probation officer.
5. The defendant must live at a place approved by the probation officer. If the defendant plans to change where they live or
anything about their living arrangements (such as the people living with the defendant), the defendant must notify the
probation officer at least 10 days before the change. If notifying the probation officer in advance is not possible due to
unanticipated circumstances, the defendant must notify the probation officer within 72 hours of becoming aware of a change or
expected change.
6. The defendant must allow the probation officer to visit them at any time at their home or elsewhere, and the defendant must
permit the probation officer to take any items prohibited by the conditions of their supervision that he or she observes in plain
view.
7. The defendant must work full time (at least 30 hours per week) at a lawful type of employment, unless the probation officer
excuses the defendant from doing so. If the defendant does not have full-time employment the defendant must try to find full-
time employment, unless the probation officer excuses the defendant from doing so. If the defendant plans to change where the
defendant works or anything about their work (such as their position or their job responsibilities), the defendant must notify the
probation officer at least 10 days before the change. If notifying the probation officer at least 10 days in advance is not possible
due to unanticipated circumstances, the defendant must notify the probation officer within 72 hours of becoming aware of a
change or expected change.
8. The defendant must not communicate or interact with someone they know is engaged in criminal activity. If the defendant
knows someone has been convicted of a felony, they must not knowingly communicate or interact with that person without
first getting the permission of the probation officer.
9. Ifthe defendant is arrested or questioned by a law enforcement officer, the defendant must notify the probation officer within 72 hours.
10. The defendant must not own, possess, or have access to a firearm, ammunition, destructive device, or dangerous weapon (i.e.,
anything that was designed, or was modified for, the specific purpose of causing bodily injury or death to another person such
as nunchakus or tasers).
11. The defendant must not act or make any agreement with a law enforcement agency to act as a confidential human source or
informant without first getting the permission of the court.
12. If the probation officer determines the defendant poses a risk to another person (including an organization), the probation
officer may require the defendant to notify the person about the risk and the defendant must comply with that instruction.
The probation officer may contact the person and confirm that the defendant notified the person about the risk.
13. The defendant must follow the instructions of the probation officer related to the conditions of supervision.
3:21-CR-03352-JLS
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AO 245B (CASD Rev. 1/19) Judgment in a Criminal Case
DEFENDANT: DENNY BHAKTA (1) Judgment - Page 5 of 5
CASE NUMBER: 3:21-CR-03352-JLS
//
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SUPERVISION
Report all vehicles owned or operated, or in which you have an interest, to the probation officer.
Submit your person, property, house, residence, vehicle, papers, computers (as defined in 18
U.S.C. § 1030(e)(1)), other electronic communications or data storage devices or media, or office, to a
search conducted by a United States probation officer. Failure to submit to a search may be grounds for
revocation of release. The offender must warn any other occupants that the premises may be subject to
searches pursuant to this condition. An officer may conduct a search pursuant to this condition only
when reasonable suspicion exists that the offender has violated a condition of his supervision and that
the areas to be searched contain evidence of this violation. Any search must be conducted at a
reasonable time and in a reasonable manner.
Provide complete disclosure of personal and business financial records to the probation officer as
requested.
. Notify the Collections Unit, United States Attorney's Office, of any interest in property obtained,
directly or indirectly, including any interest obtained under any other name, or entity, including a trust,
partnership or corporation.
. Notify the Collections Unit, United States Attorney's Office, before transferring any interest in
property owned, directly or indirectly, including any interest held or owned under any other name, or
entity, including a trust, partnership or corporation.
Be prohibited from opening checking accounts or incurring new credit charges or opening additional
lines of credit without approval of the probation officer.
. Not enter any casinos or gambling establishments.
3:21-CR-03352-JLS
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