District of Alaska
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Leader of Multistate Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – On April 11, 2023, Judge Ralph Beistline of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska sentenced a Mexican national to 14 years imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release for his role as the head of a drug trafficking organization that spanned multiple states. Judge Beistline also sentenced a lower-level coconspirator based in Alaska to a term of seven years of imprisonment on April 12, 2023.
According to court documents, Rene Alejandro Pompa-Villa pleaded guilty to continuing criminal enterprise and money laundering conspiracy for his role in a drug trafficking and distribution enterprise that stretched from Alaska to Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. From 2016 through October 2020, Pompa-Villa, the leader of the organization, regularly mailed large amounts of drugs to distributors throughout the country, including mailing parcels to drug dealers in Anchorage, and deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds into various bank accounts. During the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement officers seized about six kilograms of heroin, four kilograms of methamphetamine and four kilograms of fentanyl sent through the mail. The Alaska drug distributor, Kyle Redpath, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for receiving drugs through the mail from the drug trafficking organization. Redpath also deposited thousands of dollars into bank accounts owned by the organization.
The continuing criminal enterprise statute that Pompa-Villa was convicted of violating applies to high-level leaders of large and organized criminal organizations.
Pompa-Villa and Redpath were indicted in April 2021 along with 8 other members of the enterprise located in Anchorage, San Diego, and Tucson. Dustin Noonan was sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on March 23, 2023. Tyler Landroche was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment on February 23, 2023. Kimberly Renee Mackey was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment on February 22, 2023. Jessica Twigg was sentenced to time served on May 16, 2022. Carlos Camacho, Christopher Pompa-Villa, and Heydimar Marrero are awaiting sentencing. Victor Pompa-Villa remains at large.
“Today’s sentence disrupts a continuing criminal enterprise that spanned coast-to-coast and border-to-border,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker. “The United States Attorney’s Office, in concert with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively prosecute and seek justice against traffickers of fentanyl and other illegal drugs that are poisoning our communities.”
“The sentence imposed today underscores the commitment of the DEA to tirelessly pursue, and go wherever an investigation leads, to ensure those who traffic poison into our communities are held accountable,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
“The US Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate individuals like Pompa-Villa who use the US Mail in support of their criminal activities.” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti, “This should also serve as a reminder to those who abuse our community by peddling dangerous narcotics; law enforcement will find you and bring you to justice. Cases like these don’t come together without teamwork and we thank all agencies involved.”
“A rockstar once said ‘I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police.’ Though not a rock star, Mr. Pompa-Villa, because of his drug trafficking, also has problems with the police,” said Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Illegal drugs are a tremendous plague on our communities. Because of that, IRS:CI will continue to work with our partners in the community and in law enforcement to stop the flow of drugs and cause as many problems for drug traffickers as possible, rockstar or not.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department are investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals had a significant role in making the arrests and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Tucson and San Diego played a critical role in the indictment of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Schroeder and Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Beware of pills bought on the street: One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs, but can be obtained at a lower cost. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl create huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily cause death. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies. For example, the counterfeit pills involved in this case, known as M30s, mimic Oxycodone, but when sold on the street they routinely contain fentanyl. These tablets are round and often light blue in color, though they may be made in many colors, and have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.
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usao/ak/23-025
6 Sentenced for Illegally Trafficking Corals from the PhilippinesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – On April 4, 2023, a Colorado man was sentenced on charges related to violations of the Lacey Act and smuggling protected marine corals from the Philippines into the United States for retail sale.
Veleriy V. Gorbounov, 45, of Morrison, Colorado was sentenced this week by U.S. District Court Judge Joshua Kindred to a term of probation of two years, the payment of a fine of $4,000 to a Philippines based organization dedicated to coral reef restoration and being prohibited from engaging in the sale of marine corals for his role in illegally importing endangered coral from the Philippines for sale. Gorbounov is one of 8 defendants charged in the District of Alaska for illegally importing corals from the Philippines for retail sale.
In April, 2022, prosecutors charged Jerome Anthony Stringfield, 43, of Kissimmee, Florida; Albert B. Correira, 35, of Westport, Massachusetts; and Allen William Ockey, 35, of Long Beach, California, with felony violations of conspiracy, violations of the Lacey Act and smuggling of corals from the Philippines. Ockey pleaded guilty to Wildlife Trafficking felony charges and was sentenced to a term of two years’ probation and required to pay a donation to a Phillipines organization dedicated to coral reef restoration in the amount of $5,000. Defendant Stringfield and Correira’s cases remains pending.
In separate filings, the following individuals were each charged with misdemeanor offenses related to violations of the Lacey Act: Derek M. Kelley, 31, of Elkhart, Indiana; James Knight, 47, of Newaygo, Michigan; Valeriy V. Gorbounov, 46, of Morrison, Colorado; Nathan C. Meisner, 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota; and Ricky A. Sprires, 34, of Gilbert South Carolina. Each of these defendants have plead guilty to Wildlife Trafficking under the Lacey Act and were sentenced to terms of probation of two years, required to pay contributions to a Philippine-based coral reef restoration organization in amounts varying from $2,000 to $4,000 and conditions that they do not import or sell corals for the term of probation.
The indictment and separate filings all alleged that between July 2017 and August 2018, the defendants paid a Philippine national to dive for and collect protected marine corals which they would then sell online to coral collectors and hobbyists. They further alleged that some corals were illegally sold in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which is an international treaty implemented to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international commercial trade. Additionally, Philippine law prohibits any person to gather, possess, commercially transport, sell or export corals commercially regardless of CITES status. In total, the defendants, through their Philippine supplier, illegally purchased and transported for sale more than 3,000 separate pieces of coral in violation of Philippines and United States law.
The charging documents in all cases states that the Republic of the Philippines is one of six countries straddling the Coral Triangle, a 5.4 million-square-kilometer stretch of ocean that contains 75% of the world’s coral species, one-third of the Earth’s coral reefs and more than 3,000 species of fish. Poaching for corals and other factors have left only 5% of coral reefs in the Philippines in “excellent” condition, with only 1% in a “pristine” state.
The supplier in the Philippines, Glenn Albert Binoya, a Philippines national, was charged by the Republic of the Philippines after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service contacted Philippine authorities about their investigation. Binoya, 47, died of unrelated medical issues prior to resolution of his case.
“This office and the Department of Justice will pursue state, national and transnational wildlife trafficking regardless of location,” said United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker, District of Alaska. “Through our partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Service these traffickers have been brought to justice.’
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Skrocki is prosecuting the cases.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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usao/ak/23-025
Former City Treasurer Indicted for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A former city treasurer was arrested this week after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him with wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion.
The indictment charges that from 2015 to 2022, Jess George Adams of Willow embezzled more than $1.16 million from the City of Houston in Alaska and from a Wasilla-based equipment company.
The indictment alleges that from 2015 through 2018, Adams was the Treasurer for the City of Houston, entrusted with bookkeeping responsibilities and administrative access to the City’s accounting records and software. Adams allegedly used this access to direct electronic transfers of funds from the City’s bank account to his personal account, maintained by Adams to hide the embezzled funds. It is further alleged that Adams used fictitious entries in the City’s accounting software to make it appear as though these payments were made for legitimate business expenses.
In October 2018, the City of Houston allegedly placed Adams on administrative leave, and he resigned his position in November 2018. A year later, Adams allegedly was employed as a bookkeeper by an equipment company, where he exercised control over the company’s accounting records and software. The indictment charges that, using this access, Adams directed electronic transfers of funds from the company’s bank account to his other personal accounts at multiple banks, maintained by Adams to hide the embezzled funds. To conceal his activity, Adams allegedly used fictitious entries in the company’s accounting software to make it appear as though these funds were transferred for the payment of legitimate business expenses.
Adams allegedly laundered the embezzled money he obtained from the equipment company by making several wire transfers from his personal bank account to other accounts, each at a value greater than $10,000.
The indictment further charges that in another attempt to conceal his embezzlement and evade the assessment of income taxes, Adams filed false individual income tax returns for tax years 2016 through 2021, which did not disclose the additional income he diverted to himself. According to the indictment, Adams was a former seasonal tax return preparer for a national tax advisory company.
Adams is scheduled to make his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, 10 years in prison for each money laundering count, 5 years in prison for each tax evasion count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with substantial assistance from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Tran for the District of Alaska and Trial Attorney Boris Bourget of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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usao/ak/23-024
Eagle River Man Sentenced for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Eagle River man was sentenced to a high-end guideline sentence of 78 months imprisonment followed by lifetime supervised release by Judge Timothy M. Burgess on Tuesday, March 28. John Daniel Brooks had previously pleaded guilty to one count of Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography.
In September of 2021, the State of Alaska contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Anchorage to report that a state employee was suspected of possessing images depicting child sexual exploitation. Two days later, the FBI conducted a search warrant at Brooks’ residence, where he worked for the state of Alaska remotely as an analyst programmer.
The FBI discovered that Brooks had installed an internal hard drive in his State of Alaska computer that was found to contain over 1.2 million images of suspected child exploitation. Those images included depictions of infants and toddlers being tortured and sexually assaulted by adults. All told, Brooks’ collection of child exploitation materials was one of the largest encountered to date by the FBI in Alaska.
“Large scale consumers of child sexual abuse materials like Mr. Brooks directly contribute to the exploitation of children worldwide,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker, District of Alaska. “The sentence imposed by the court reflects the seriousness of this type of abhorrent behavior and we will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law. Thanks to the hard work of the FBI and APD, in coordination with our State partners, Mr. Brooks has been brought to justice.”
“Our investigation revealed Mr. Brooks acquired and possessed one of the largest collections of child sexual abuse materials found in Alaska,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Possession of this material is not a victimless crime, and the FBI will use every legal authority we have to root out predators to protect children from these unconscionable offenses.”
The United States Attorney’s Office thanks the State of Alaska. The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case.
Eagle River Man Arrested for Trafficking FirearmsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Eagle River man was arrested today in Illinois on criminal charges related to his alleged trafficking of firearms from Alaska to California.
According to court documents, Cornelius Leon William Smith, 32, purchased 9 firearms on behalf of other individuals while falsely stating that he was the true purchaser, bought a gun in Alaska and then re-sold it to a California resident, and operated a firearms business, all without the proper license.
Smith is charged with one count of Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License, one count of Transferring a Firearm to an Out-of-State Resident, and nine counts of False Statement During Purchase of Firearms. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Anchorage Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Role in Multistate Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A federal District Court judge sentenced an Anchorage man to 21 years imprisonment followed by six years of supervised release on March 22, 2023, for his role in a drug trafficking organization that spanned multiple states.
According to court documents, Dustin Noonan pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy for his role in a lucrative drug trafficking and distribution organization that stretched from Alaska to Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. From March 2018 through October 2020, the leaders of the organization regularly mailed large amounts of drugs to distributors throughout the country, including mailing parcels to Noonan in Anchorage, and deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars of drug proceeds into various bank accounts. During the nearly three-year investigation, law enforcement officers recovered about six kilograms of heroin, four kilograms of methamphetamine, and four kilograms of fentanyl. Over several months in 2020, investigators intercepted five drug parcels intended for Noonan, which together contained one kilogram of fentanyl and nearly 800 grams of heroin that Noonan planned to distribute throughout Alaska. The kilogram of fentanyl that Noonan intended to distribute was enough to kill 500,000 people.
Anchorage Police arrested Noonan on June 12, 2020, after they responded to a call of a domestic disturbance. As detailed in court documents, Noonan barricaded himself inside his residence and refused officer commands to come outside. He then crawled out of a window, fled on foot, and struggled with the arresting officers. Inside his vehicle, officers found a Springfield Arms XD .45 caliber semiautomatic firearm in the center console. Noonan, who had been convicted of robbing a series of pharmacies at knifepoint in and around St. Petersburg, Florida in 2006, was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Noonan was indicted in April 2021 along with 9 other members of the conspiracy located in Anchorage, San Diego, and Tucson, Arizona. Tyler Landroche was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment on February 23, 2023. Kimberly Renee Mackey was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment on February 22, 2023. Jessica Twigg was sentenced to time served on May 16, 2022. Rene Pompa-Villa, Carlos Camacho, Christopher Pompa-Villa, Kyle Redpath, and Heydimar Marrero are awaiting sentencing. Victor Pompa-Villa remains at large.
“Preventing the influx of deadly fentanyl and heroin is integral to protecting this community,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker. “We will continue to aggressively target drug trafficking organizations to disrupt the flow of these dangerous drugs into Alaska.”“The shipment of illegal narcotics has no place in the U.S. Postal Service and the State of Alaska. This should serve as a reminder of the Inspection Service’s continuous efforts to bring large scale dealers like Noonan to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti. “Through the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved, this sentencing will have a clear and lasting impact on the communities of Alaska. We thank our state, local and federal partners for their support and efforts in this investigation.”
“The severe sentence handed down underscores the dangerousness of fentanyl and reaffirms the DEA’s commitment to tirelessly investigate and prosecute those who would traffic this poison in our communities,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.
“Learning the metric system should be a result of a good education, not because of drug trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI), Seattle Field Office. “Keeping the kilogram of fentanyl and additional heroin Mr. Noonan intended to distribute off of our streets is a win, but fighting the opioid crisis takes constant vigilance from all of us. IRS:CI will continue to work with our partners in the community and in law enforcement to help keep our communities safe.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Department of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Alaska State Troopers, and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals had a significant role in making the arrests, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Tucson and San Diego played a critical role in the indictment of this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Schroeder and Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Beware of pills bought on the street: One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs, but can be obtained at a lower cost. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl create huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily cause death. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies. For example, the counterfeit pills involved in this case, known as M30s, mimic Oxycodone, but when sold on the street they routinely contain fentanyl. These tablets are round and often light blue in color, though they may be made in many colors, and have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill.
Washington Man Sentenced for Combative Behavior on Flight to Anchorage, AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A Washington man was sentenced on March 9, 2023, for putting a flight crew in fear of being assaulted during a commercial airline flight.
According to court documents, on March 1, 2023, Marc Hetsler, 43, was a passenger aboard Aleutian Flight SRY 1102 with service from Dutch Harbor, Alaska to Anchorage, Alaska. While the aircraft was in flight, Hetsler laid down in the aisle and refused to let flight crew through. He then became combative and began behaving aggressively towards the crewmember. An off-duty police officer aboard the flight stepped in to assist the flight crew. Hetsler became confrontational with the officer as well. Other passengers then assisted in subduing Hetsler who was restrained for the remainder of the flight. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation placed Hetsler into federal custody upon the plane landing at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
Eight days after his arrest, on March 9, 2023, Hetsler pleaded guilty to an Information charging Fear Assault in the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46506 and 18 U.S.C. § 113. He was sentenced to time served for the eight days he spent in federal custody.
“The safety and security of air travel is paramount, and we will continue to prosecute offenders in order to ensure that all passengers are able to travel without fear of assault or harm,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker. “We hope that this case will serve as a warning to others who may consider committing similar acts in the future, and that it will encourage everyone to follow the rules and regulations designed to keep our skies safe and secure.”
U.S. Attorney Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Taylor and Karen Vandergaw prosecuted the case.
Anchorage Man Charged with Approximately $25 Million Dollar Wire Fraud Scheme Involving over 130 VictimsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – An information was filed yesterday charging Garrett Elder, owner of Tycoon Trading LLC, The Daily Bread Fund LLC, and other entities with executing an investment scheme that resulted in approximately $25 million in losses to over 130 victims.
According to the information, from about 2016 through October 2022, defendant Garrett Elder executed a scheme to raise between $30 and $34 million in investments from approximately 130 victims. The scheme began about early 2016 when defendant’s parents provided to defendant between $10,000 and $20,000 to invest in stocks and foreign currencies. Defendant deposited those funds into an entity he had created called Tycoon Trading, LLC (“Tycoon Trading”). Defendant lost all of those funds.
Despite the losses, defendant told his family and friends about his trading business, and some expressed an interest in investing. Defendant did not tell the potential investors that he had lost the money provided by his parents. Instead, defendant gave these victims the false impression that he was a successful trader.
Based on these omissions and false impressions, between 2016 and March 2018, investors transferred approximately $500,000 to Tycoon Trading for defendant to invest. Defendant again began losing money, but created false quarterly performance reports for his victim investors stating that the investments were earning positive returns. By March 2018, defendant had lost almost all the victims’ money while trading and only had approximately $10,000 to $15,000 left in his trading account. In March 2018, defendant disclosed to the victims that their investments had failed, but he did not disclose that he falsified the quarterly performance reports he had sent them.
Meanwhile, notwithstanding the near total losses, defendant continued to seek new investors, claiming to be a successful trader. By the end of 2018, defendant had approximately 30 new investors who were investing substantially more money than the original group of investors.
In 2019, defendant created an entity called The Daily Bread Fund, LLC.
From 2019 through 2022, defendant continued to solicit new investors through Tycoon Trading and the Daily Bread Fund by claiming to be a successful trader and paying a limited amount of distributions to select investors to provide the appearance of investment successes.
Defendant successfully solicited significant new investments; however, in reality, defendant continued to steadily lose money. Despite continued mounting losses, defendant again created and emailed to investors false reports indicating positive returns. Defendant also used some of the victims’ money on personal expenditures, including real estate investments, vehicles, a boat, a camper, bicycles, tools, and jewelry.
In total, the amount of funds transferred to defendant via Tycoon Trading, The Daily Bread Fund, and related entities is presently estimated to be approximately $30 million to $34 million from 138 victim investors.
By October 2022, although some money was distributed back to certain investors, defendant had lost the majority of investments while trading, resulting in approximately $25 million in losses to victims.
Garrett Elder agreed to the government filing an information charging him with wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The you believe you are a victim of Garrett Elder’s investment scheme, please contact the FBI at: (907) 276-4441.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Heyman and Seth Beausang of the Alaska United States Attorney’s Office are prosecuting the case.
An information is merely an allegation and defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Kenai Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Cristina Lynn Rifredi was sentenced on March 9, 2023, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms charges.
According to court documents, Cristina Lynn Rifredi, 42, of Kenai, Alaska, sold over 60 grams of methamphetamine, 1 gram of heroin, and a 12-gauge shotgun to another person between November 21, 2019, and December 8, 2020. When law enforcement executed a search warrant on Rifredi’s vehicle and residence, they found she possessed 27 firearms, a silencer, and additional quantities of methamphetamine and heroin. Rifredi was charged with drug trafficking and firearms crimes by a federal grand jury in November 2021 and pleaded guilty in December 2022.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Alaska State Troopers (AST), and the Kenai Police Department (KPD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey prosecuted the case.
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usao/ak/23-018
Sitka Man Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
JUNEAU – Joshua Kane Wehnes was sentenced on March 7, 2023, to 90 months in prison and five years of supervised release for federal drug trafficking and firearm charges.
According to court documents, Joshua Kane Wehnes, 34, of Sitka, was arrested by Sitka Police Department (SPD) in conjunction with an investigation involving the violation of a domestic protective order. In Wehnes’ possession at the time of his arrest was $954.00 in drug proceeds and heroin. As SPD continued their investigation, they obtained two search warrants for Wehnes’ residence and vehicle. Inside the residence, SPD located a loaded and chambered 9mm firearm in Wehnes’ bedroom drawer, as well as drug paraphernalia, dime bags, scales, an additional $882.00 in drug proceeds, over 400 grams of methamphetamine, and 8 grams of heroin. A subsequent search of Wehnes’ vehicle located a .40 caliber firearm.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Sitka Police Department, a member of Southeast Cities Against Drugs (SEACAD), which is a joint drug taskforce of various city, state, and federal law enforcement agencies who investigate drug trafficking cases in Southeast Alaska, investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
Anchorage Man Sentenced for 2022 Robbery of Wells Fargo BankRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Robert Marley Chapas was sentenced on March 8, 2023, to 60 months in prison for bank robbery.
According to court documents, on April 27, 2022, Chapas entered an Anchorage Wells Fargo branch. Chapas approached a teller window and passed a note to the teller that stated: “This is a robbery, I have a gun. Empty your drawer & let me leave like a normal transaction. I am not alone, there are other people with me. Do not try to be a hero & get someone hurt. Do not call police or alert anyone! Until I leave the building or I will shoot, This can be easy your choice.” Chapas then obtained $2,450 from the teller.
In sentencing Chapas to a term of 60 months, followed by 3 years of supervised release, Judge Timothy M. Burgess noted the terrifying nature of the crime and Chapas’ history of committing other serious crimes, including a 2018 assault conviction from the State of Alaska that involved Chapas pointing a gun at a fellow motorist. The Court also ordered Chapas to pay $2,450 in restitution for the loss to Wells Fargo.
Chapas was indicted along with co-defendant, Isiah Ishom Perry. In January 2023, Perry pleaded guilty to his part in the Wells Fargo bank robbery. Perry is set to be sentenced in April 2023.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Anchorage Police Department (APD) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey prosecuted the case.
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usao/ak/23-016
Former Anchorage Resident Sentenced for Federal Drug Conspiracy and Passport FraudRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Jose Luis Rodriguez-Vazquez was sentenced on February 23, 2023, to 46 months in prison for federal drug conspiracy and passport fraud charges.
According to a criminal complaint filed in September of 2010 by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Rodriguez-Vasquez distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover agent during a controlled purchase operation.
Following the operation in early 2010, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service received information from HSI that Rodriguez-Vasquez may have applied for a U.S. passport in a different name. Investigation found that Rodriguez-Vasquez applied for a U.S. Passport in 2002 in the name of Erik Ivan Cardiel and had received a United States visa in the Rodriguez-Vasquez name. Rodriguez-Vasquez was indicted in October of 2010 for passport fraud.
Rodriguez-Vasquez was able to evade law enforcement for over 10 years until he was located and arrested in 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana by the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Rodriguez-Vasquez signed a plea agreement in December of 2021, pleading guilty to drug conspiracy and passport fraud charges.
“Drug trafficking and identity theft are serious crimes, and we will work with our law enforcement partners in Alaska and across the country to bring these offenders to justice,” said S. Lane Tucker, United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. “If these offenders think they have escaped liability for their crimes, they are wrong. Like Mr. Rodriguez-Vazquez, they will be caught, they will be prosecuted, and they will be held accountable.”
“The successful outcome of this case is a result of the dedicated efforts of HSI and our partners to identify and combat individuals and transnational criminal organizations who pose a threat to public safety and national security,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “After ten years on the run, the subject in this case was held responsible for his drug trafficking and document fraud crimes based on the multi-jurisdictional cooperation across law enforcement agencies.”
"The Diplomatic Security Service is committed to investigating and pursuing anyone who applies for or obtains a United States passport using false documents," said Special Agent in Charge William Chang of the DSS San Francisco Field Office. "The U.S. passport is the most coveted travel document in the world. There are foreign nationals who attempt to fraudulently acquire U.S. passports to carry out criminal activities, including terrorism, inside our borders. These crimes threaten the national security of the United States."
This case results from a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and was prosecuted by James Klugman, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Alaska.
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usao/ak/23-015
Fairbanks U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Employee Charged with Fraud, Embezzlement for Falsifying Bank Records and Stealing over $100,000Read the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Fairbanks U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee with wire fraud and embezzlement of public funds for perpetrating a years-long scheme to steal money from her employer.
According to court documents, Kimberly C. Robinson was employed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 2003, and in 2020 was promoted to the role of Budget Analyst in charge of reconciling the budgets for each USFWS regional office. To perform her duties the federal government issued Robinson multiple credit cards to pay for official government expenses and travel.
As set out in court filings, from at least 2018 through June 2021, Robinson engaged in a scheme to defraud the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by using her government issued credit cards for unauthorized personal purchases and expenses. She then deleted and altered the unauthorized transactions on the credit card statements submitted to her supervisor for reconciliation to conceal the scheme and to cause USFWS to disburse public funds to pay the credit card balances. According to statements at court proceedings, Robinson embezzled over $100,000 through this scheme.
On February 28, 2023, Robinson was arraigned before the U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott A. Oravec in Fairbanks federal court. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of up to 20-years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey for the District of Alaska is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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usao/ak/23-14
Man Convicted, Fined for Operating a Guide Company on BLM Land Without a PermitRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal magistrate judge in Alaska sentenced a Fairbanks man to pay a fine for unlawfully selling and operating a tour on federal land without a permit. The land is owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
According to court documents and statements in court, Jun Liang, 40, is the sole owner of AK Aurora Travel Inc. Through that company, Liang sold and operated tours of various places in Alaska, including Castner Glacier Trail, located at milepost 217.3 on the Richardson Highway. In December 2022, Liang sold a tour to tourists without a Permit, despite having been told that he needed a permit to do so lawfully. Liang lacked the required Permit.
The law requires tour operators to have a Special Use Permit to sell or operate tours on BLM land. Castner Glacier trail has complex environmental and topographical challenges. Extreme winds, fast changing water levels, active glaciers, and rockfalls all present hazards.
Federal Magistrate Judge Scott Oravec commented that it was important to understand that it is unlawful to operate tours on BLM land without a permit. The Court warned Liang that there could be more serious penalties if he unlawfully operates more tours.
“Unlawful tours pose a threat to unwitting tourists and natural resources,” said BLM Law Enforcement Ranger Joseph Crane. “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that BLM and its partner agencies are committed to protecting federal land and pursuing those whose illegal acts threaten our natural resources and endanger visitors.”
The sentencing occurred on March 1, 2023. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Bureau of Land Management investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas M. Walker prosecuted the case.
For more information about Castner Glacier, see: https://www.blm.gov/visit/castner-glacier-trail
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usao/ak/23-013
Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Money from Alaska Native VillageRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Minto woman entered a guilty plea for embezzling, stealing, and obtaining by fraud money that was owned and under the care, custody, and control of an Indian tribal government.
According to court documents, Melanie Gail Titus, 52, of Minto, was employed as the bookkeeper for the Minto Village Council, which is the federally recognized native governing body for the Native Village of Minto. The Minto Village Council receives federal funding from various federal agencies. The defendant embezzled a total of $55,753.99 between January 2015 and June 2019 from the Minto Village Council. As its bookkeeper, she developed several schemes during her employ including issuing herself multiple payroll checks for the same pay periods, tendering duplicative deposits, and issuing duplicative reimbursements for work expenses.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2023, for the federal charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Lane S. Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Tran is prosecuting the case.
Chugiak Man Indicted for Sexually Exploiting ChildrenRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment on February 23, 2023, charging Jeremy Scott Daniels, 37, of Chugiak for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children.
The indictment and additional details set out in court documents filed by the government allege that, in December 2021, Daniels used social media to entice and induce a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity and produce child pornography with him. The filings further allege that in October 2010, Daniels communicated online with undercover law enforcement, unbeknownst to him, and attempted to entice a fictitious child, whom he believed to be an 8-year-old girl, to engage in sexually explicit activity with him. The same filings also allege that Daniels distributed, received, and possessed child pornography at various points throughout 2020 and 2022. Between May and June 2020, on ten occasions, Daniels used the messaging application Kik to transmit child pornography videos to other users. On January 28, 2022, the date of Daniel’s arrest, the FBI also recovered child pornography involving prepubescent minors on Daniel’s cellphone.
If the public has any further information regarding Daniels’s activities, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.
Daniels was previously taken into federal custody on January 28, 2022, following the government’s filing of a complaint. The indictment charges Daniels with production of child pornography; coercion and enticement; and distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography. The defendant previously made his initial court appearance on the complaint on February 2, 2022, before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, Daniels faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Lane S. Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Tran is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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usao/ak/23-011
Fish Hatchery Sentenced to Pay $1 Million in Fine and RestitutionRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Cordova corporation was sentenced today to a $450,000 fine, $550,000 in restitution, and 5 years of probation.
According to court documents, Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation (“PWSAC”) illegally disposed of hazardous waste at one of its hatcheries. On June 27, 2018, the maintenance manager at the Cannery Creek Hatchery instructed an employee to burn several 50-gallon drums containing hazardous waste, causing serious injury to the employee. Cannery Creek and other hatcheries had been accumulating hazardous waste for many years without an appropriate method of storage or disposal.
As part of its probation, PWSAC will follow an environmental compliance plan requiring it to prepare an environmental compliance manual and undergo site visits by a third-party auditor, among other requirements. In handing down the sentence, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason noted it was “regrettable that it took such a serious injury to bring about this change.”
“This crime caused lifelong consequences for the victim, not to mention the harmful impact to the environment,” said S. Lane Tucker, United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. “This office will continue to investigate and prosecute crimes affecting Alaska’s people and environment.”
“The defendant ignored environmental regulations for disposing of hazardous waste, resulting in an explosion on their property and injuries to their employee,” said Scot Adair of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in Alaska. “EPA and its law enforcement partners are committed to holding responsible parties accountable for actions that put people’s lives and the environment in danger.”
“The health of Alaska’s National Forests depends on all of us working together to do what is right for the environment and the many who call it home,” said Alaska Region Special Agent in Charge Tim Walther of the U.S. Forest Service. “We appreciate the value our federal, state, and local partners bring to help care for the land and protect the resources our forests provide.”
The EPA Criminal Investigation Division, U.S. Forest Service, and Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Russell prosecuted the case.
Federal Court Imposes Life Sentences on Man who Murdered Two, Shot a Third, and Set Crime Scene AblazeRead the Press Release
The defendant also sentenced for two other home invasion robberies.
ANCHORAGE – A federal district court judge in Alaska sentenced a Palmer man to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. In August 2022, a federal jury convicted John Smith of 10 felony charges including two counts of murder as well as robbery, drug, and firearm related charges following an eleven-day trial. The charges relate to a series of armed robberies in 2015 and 2016 that culminated in Smith murdering two people, attempting to kill a third, and burning the crime scene.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Pearl Smith, II, 36, developed a plan to rob people he believed were involved in trafficking drugs and carried out these crimes in September 2015, May 2016 and June 2016. He carried and brandished firearms during each of the three robberies.
In 2015, Smith identified a house off Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla as the location of a marijuana growing operation. Smith arrived at the house with a rifle, kicked in the door, fired a shot to frighten the resident, and stole drugs, firearms and jewelry.
In May 2016, Smith identified another house in Wasilla as the residence of a drug dealer. Smith forced his way in with a rifle, restrained the occupants with duct tape, and stole valuables including heroin, cash, and a .22 caliber revolver.
In June 2016, Smith traveled to a property on Cloudy Lake in Wasilla that was owned by Ben Gross, who was in a detached garage with Crystal Denardi and a second man. Smith kicked open the door and fired warning shots into the ceiling. When Gross threw a beer bottle at Smith, he shot Gross four times, killing him.
Holding the other victims at gunpoint, Smith searched the garage for drugs or other valuables. Smith then murdered Denardi by shooting her in the back of the head. The third victim was shot in the chest and in the head while trying to escape but managed to paddle a kayak to a nearby home across Cloudy Lake. Smith poured gasoline around the bodies of the victims and set the garage on fire.
Smith was arrested on June 28, 2016. In August, investigators were able to recover the murder weapon from a marshy area off Johnson Road in Wasilla where Smith buried it after the killings.
Investigators also recovered a map to the location of the weapon that Smith had drawn while in prison. A forensic document examiner confirmed that the handwriting on the map was Smith’s.
Smith was convicted of two counts of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to drug trafficking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery, three counts of attempted possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
“John Pearl Smith’s senseless and selfish choices caused untold harm to his victims and resulted in the tragic loss of two innocent lives.” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “This sentence ensures that Smith will never have the opportunity to harm another innocent person again.”
“This comprehensive investigation and the resulting two consecutive life sentences for Mr. Smith affirm the DEA’s commitment to hold those who traffic illegal narcotics — and use violence to further their illicit schemes—accountable for their actions,” said Jacob D. Galvan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The DEA will work relentlessly with all of our partners to protect our communities against the likes of Mr. Smith.”
“Mr. Smith’s premeditated, compounding crimes were heinous in nature,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “While this sentence will not bring the victims back to their families it is warranted for his vicious actions and will remove a clear danger from the community.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with extensive support from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Vandergaw, James Klugman, and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Anchorage Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Stealing 22 GunsRead the Press Release
Defendants fired weapons during police chase and used stolen vehicle in commission of crimes
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for stealing 22 firearms from an Anchorage gun store in 2019.
According to court documents, Gian Carlo Clemente Pangilinan aka “G,” 26, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to stealing 22 firearms from Granny’s Guns, a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Anchorage, on June 6, 2019, along with three co-conspirators.
Pangilinan and the three co-conspirators drove a stolen Chevy Trailblazer to Wrightway Auto Carriers in Anchorage where they broke into the building and stole license plates, filing cabinets and a GMC Sierra pickup. Pangilinan and a co-conspirator then got into another stolen vehicle, a Chevy Suburban, and drove it through the front window of Granny’s Guns. The two other co-conspirators drove the stolen pickup alongside the broken window and loaded 22 firearms into the back of the truck and drove away. They later transferred the stolen firearms from the truck into a black GMC Denali and lit the stolen GMC Sierra pickup on fire in an effort to destroy evidence.
Later the same day, officers with the Anchorage Police Department tried to stop the GMC Denali and an associated gold pickup when multiple shots were fired from the gold pickup, occupied by Pangilinan and a co-conspirator. On June 18, 2019, Pangilinan and two co-conspirators attempted to recover an impounded vehicle which contained one of the stolen firearms from the Granny’s Guns burglary. All four co-conspirators were indicted in October 2020 and subsequently arrested on the charges. Pangilinan is also facing charges in state court.
“Stolen firearms are a threat to the safety of all Alaskans,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The blatant disregard for public safety and law enforcement both during and after this series of violent crimes by Pangilinan and his co-conspirators show just how dangerous they are to our community. We will continue to work closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to fight violent crime and keep our communities safe from people who endanger our neighborhoods.”
“All of the involved defendants demonstrated a complete indifference to the safety of others through their actions in their violent crime spree,” stated Police Chief Michael Kerle. “From the theft of multiple vehicles, to firing shots in public, driving erratically on our streets, and stealing multiple firearms; it is imperative they are held accountable for their behavior. Pangilinan’s sentencing is a big part of that. We are grateful for the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who were involved in seeing this case through.”
Co-conspirators in this case include:
- Muna Junior Rode, 23, pleaded guilty to stealing firearms and is awaiting sentencing.
- Kao Chiang Saelee, aka “Robbie,” 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a licensed dealer and was sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment.
- Hans Mikaele Wells, aka “Mika,” 26, pleaded guilty to stealing firearms and was sentenced to 9 years’ imprisonment.
The Anchorage Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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usao/ak/23-08
Haines Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting MinorsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Haines man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors.
According to court documents, Christopher Panagiotou-Scigliano, 41, pled guilty to one count of Production of Child Pornography, involving coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.
In 2015 Panagiotou-Scigliano moved to a farm in Haines. After his arrival, Panagiotou-Scigliano arranged for several children he had been grooming and abusing in another state to visit his farm in Haines multiple times. When the children arrived Panagiotou-Scigliano continued grooming and sexually exploiting them by taking numerous sexually explicit images and videos of the victims.
Panagiotou-Scigliano is also charged with the sexual abuse of multiple child victims in another state. That case is still pending.
“This office will continue to vigorously prosecute heinous predatory crimes such as this,” said S. Lane Tucker, United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. “Although no term of imprisonment can repair the harm caused to the victims, anyone engaging or thinking about engaging in grooming and sexual conduct with minors should take warning from this significant sentence.”
“In this unconscionable case, the defendant engaged in a years-long manipulation and grooming process to isolate and sexually abuse minors, all under the guise of being a trusted family friend,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify, aggressively pursue, and hold accountable those who commit these vile crimes against children.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case. The Haines Police Department, the Bonner County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office, the Bonner County Prosecutor’s Office and the Alaska State Troopers supported the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and James Klugman prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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usao/ak/23-07
Two Anchorage Women Indicted for Stealing Identities from over 200 Alaskans and Defrauding Elderly Victims and Habitat for HumanityRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – The Department of Justice on Friday unsealed a January indictment charging two Anchorage women with conspiracy, fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering for perpetrating a lengthy scheme to steal identities and defraud elderly victims and Habitat for Humanity.
According to court documents, Valerie Calip and Jennifer Haydu are accused of defrauding banks and individuals in Alaska, obtaining at least $150,000 through their illegal scheme. The pair stole mail, checkbooks, and identity documents from victims and used the information to create false identification documents. They signed up for credit cards and bank accounts under the victims' names and intercepted their mail, using the fake ID to access their bank accounts. Calip and Haydu also used cash transfer apps to conceal the source of the stolen funds by transferring money to third-party accounts.
Calip and Haydu stole more than 200 identity documents and thousands of dollars from victims, including over $100,000 from an elderly victim with dementia and thousands from a Habitat for Humanity bank account.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the most serious indictment counts and a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating this case and has received invaluable assistance from the Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey for the District of Alaska is prosecuting the case.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim of this scheme and entitled to restitution may contact the United States Attorney’s Office at 907-271-3661.
The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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usao/ak/23-05Nebraska Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Flight AttendantRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – A Nebraska man was sentenced on February 3, 2023, for assaulting a flight attendant during a commercial airline flight.
According to court documents, on January 29, 2023, Denis McCarville, 70, of Omaha, Nebraska was a passenger aboard Delta Flight 2236 with service from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Anchorage, Alaska. While the aircraft was in flight, McCarville assaulted a flight attendant by striking her with his hand. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested McCarville when the plane landed at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
Five days after his arrest, on February 3, 2023, McCarville pleaded guilty to an Information charging Assault in the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46506 and 18 U.S.C. § 113. He was sentenced to time served.
U.S. Attorney Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport Police investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey prosecuted the case.
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Halibut Cove Woman Indicted on Federal ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Homer woman
with attempted interference with the navigation of a seaplane and negligent operations of a vessel.According to court documents, Marian Beck, 68, operated her vessel in a reckless manner as she
made several close passing maneuvers in front of a seaplane full of passengers while it was taxiing
out of the waterway. Beck is a licensed mariner and operates commercially in Halibut Cove and the
surrounding area.The defendant was arraigned on February 3, 2023, before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew S.
Scoble. If convicted, she faces a maximum of 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will
determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) with the help of the Alaska State Troopers (AST) are
investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Gavelek are
prosecuting the case.An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty
beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Kodiak Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Kodiak man with possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and numerous firearms.
According to court documents, Mark Daniel Nason, 55, possessed over 400 grams of fentanyl, 500 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, five handguns, two revolvers, two rifles, one shotgun, and almost $60,000 in cash. Nason has five prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance on January 26, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) with the help of the Kodiak Police Department (KPD) are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana B. Weber is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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usao/ak/23-02
Five Members and Associates of White Supremacist Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering, Kidnapping, and MurderRead the Press Release
Five members and associates of a white supremacist gang were sentenced in Alaska this week to life in prison without the possibility of parole for racketeering, including murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping, and other offenses.
The person formerly known as Timothy Lobdell, 46, who legally changed his name to “Filthy Fuhrer” (Lobdell); Roy Naughton, aka Thumper, 46; Glen Baldwin, aka Glen Dog, 41; Colter O’Dell, 30; and Craig King, aka Oakie, 57, were convicted at trial of racketeering conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping conspiracy on May 2, 2022. Baldwin, O’Dell, and King were each also convicted of murder in aid of racketeering. Lobdell and Naughton were also convicted of an additional two counts each of kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping, and assault in aid of racketeering.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were leaders, members, and associates of the 1488s, a violent, prison-based Neo-Nazi gang that operated inside and outside of state prisons throughout Alaska. The 1488s use Nazi-derived symbols to identify themselves and their affiliation with the gang, including a 1488 “patch” tattoo which depicts an Iron Cross superimposed over a swastika. The tattoo can only be awarded to members who gained full membership by committing acts of violence on behalf of the gang. The gang enforced discipline through written rules and a code of conduct, including the boast that “the only currency we recognize is violence and unquestionable loyalty.”
Lobdell founded and led the 1488 gang from inside a state maximum-security prison, where he was serving a 19-year sentence for the attempted murder of an Alaska State Trooper. In addition to directing acts of violence aimed at establishing the gang’s dominance in the prison hierarchy, Lobdell ordered members of the gang to commit violent kidnappings and assaults in the “free world” outside of prison. As part of a plan to impose greater organization and structure among non-incarcerated members, Lobdell insisted on punishing members that he perceived to be defying the 1488 code of conduct, which he believed diminished the power, influence, and reputation of the gang. Lobdell sent out a trusted lieutenant with a list of directives, which culminated in the kidnapping and assault of two lower-level gang members on April 2, 2017, and July 20, 2017, and the kidnapping, assault, and murder of 1488 member Michael Staton on Aug. 3, 2017.
On April 2, 2017, Roy Naughton and other 1488 members, acting at the direction of Lobdell, lured a victim to a gang meeting at Naughton’s residence. Once there, the victim was taken into a basement where he was held at gun point, tied up, and assaulted. As part of the assault, the gang members shattered a lightbulb in his mouth and tattooed him with a racial epithet. The victim was threatened with more violence if the incident was reported to police.
On July 17, 2017, Lobdell called Naughton from prison. During the call, Naughton boasted about the April 2 assault, and reported to Lobdell that another member would be assaulted in the next few days. On July 20, 2017, a second victim was assaulted in a similar manner as the first victim and his 1488 membership “patch,” which is a tattoo, was burned off.
In 2016, Naughton asked for and received permission from Lobdell to impose exceptionally severe discipline on Staton, who had previously stolen from both the 1488s and Craig King, who held himself out as a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Naughton, King, Baldwin, and O’Dell worked with other 1488 members to locate, kidnap, and murder Staton. On Aug. 3, 2017, 1488 members, including Baldwin and O’Dell, lured Staton to Wasilla, Alaska, where they beat him and took him to King’s duplex. After arriving, Staton was taken to an empty room, which had been lined with plastic sheeting. Inside the room, King and the 1488s beat and tortured the victim, including cutting off his 1488 tattoo with a knife that had been heated with a propane torch. The co-conspirators wrapped Staton in the plastic and carpeting, and Baldwin and O’Dell drove him to a remote section of Wasilla, where they shot him and set fire to his body. O’Dell was awarded full membership in 1488s for his role in the murder.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Bureau of Investigation, investigated the case in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). Investigative assistance was provided by the IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Marshals Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Anchorage Police Department; and the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections.
Trial Attorney Jeremy Franker of the Criminal Division’s OCGS and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor, James Klugman, and Chris Schroeder for the District of Alaska prosecuted the case.
Five Members and Associates of White Supremacist Gang Sentenced to Life in Prison for Racketeering, Kidnapping, and MurderRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Filthy Fuhrer, formerly Timothy Lobdell, 46; Roy Naughton, aka Thumper, 44; Glen Baldwin, aka Glen Dog, 41; Colter O’Dell, 30; and Craig King, aka Oakie, 57, were sentenced this week in Alaska to life in prison without the possibility of parole. All five defendants were convicted of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping conspiracy. Fuhrer and Naughton were also each convicted of an additional two counts of kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping, and assault in aid of racketeering.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the defendants were leaders, members, and associates of the 1488s, a violent, prison-based Neo-Nazi gang that operated inside and outside of state prisons throughout Alaska. The 1488s used Nazi-derived symbols to identify themselves and their affiliation with the gang, including a 1488 “patch” tattoo that depicts an Iron Cross superimposed over a swastika. The tattoo was awarded to members who gained full membership by committing acts of violence on behalf of the gang. The gang enforced discipline through written rules and a code of conduct, including the boast that “the only currency we recognize is violence and unquestionable loyalty.”
The trial testimony established that Fuhrer founded and led the 1488 gang from inside a maximum-security prison, where he was serving a 19-year sentence for the attempted murder of an Alaska State Trooper. In addition to directing acts of violence aimed at establishing the gang’s dominance in the prison hierarchy, Fuhrer ordered members of the gang to commit violent kidnappings and assaults in the “free world” outside of prison. As part of a plan to impose greater organization and structure among non-incarcerated members, Fuhrer insisted on punishing members that he perceived to be defying the 1488 code of conduct thereby diminishing the power, influence, and reputation of the gang. Fuhrer sent out a trusted lieutenant with a list of directives, which culminated in the kidnapping and assault of two lower-level gang members on April 2, 2017, and July 20, 2017, and the kidnapping, assault, and murder of Michael Staton on Aug. 3, 2017.
According to the trial evidence, on April 2, 2017, defendant Roy Naughton and other 1488 members, acting at the direction of Fuhrer, lured a victim to a gang meeting at Naughton’s residence. Once there, the victim was taken into a basement where he was held at gun point, tied up, and assaulted. As part of the assault, the gang members shattered a light bulb in his mouth and tattooed him with a racial epithet. The victim was threatened with more violence if the incident was reported to police.
In addition, the evidence at trial demonstrated that on July 17, 2017, Fuhrer called Naughton from prison. During the call Naughton boasted about the April 2 assault and reported to Fuhrer that another member would be assaulted in the next few days. On July 20, 2017, a second victim was similarly assaulted and had his 1488 membership patch burned off.
Evidence also showed that in 2016 Naughton asked for and received permission from Fuhrer to impose exceptionally severe discipline on 1488 member Michael Staton, who held himself out as a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, for stealing from both the 1488’s and defendant Craig King. Naughton, King, and defendants Glen Baldwin and Colter O’Dell worked with other 1488 members to locate, kidnap, and murder Staton. On August 3, 2017, 1488 members, including Baldwin and O’Dell, lured Staton to Wasilla where they beat him and took him to King’s duplex. After arriving, Staton was taken to an empty room which had been lined with plastic sheeting. Inside the room King and the 1488s beat and tortured the victim, including cutting off his 1488 tattoo with a knife that had been heated with a propane torch. The defendants wrapped Staton in the plastic and carpeting, and Baldwin and O’Dell drove him to a remote section of Wasilla where they shot him and set fire to his body. O’Dell was awarded full membership in 1488s for his role in the murder.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will use every tool at its disposal to combat and dismantle violent criminal enterprises,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “These life sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ conduct in the maiming of two individuals and the brutal murder of a third, all in order to strengthen their hate-based criminal enterprise. We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state and local investigative partners to ensure those engaging in such loathsome crimes are caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“With federal life sentences imposed on five defendants who were associated with a violent, hate-driven gang, Alaska’s law enforcement community has delivered a devastating blow to the 1488 criminal enterprise,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Dismantling violent, criminal organizations is a priority for the FBI, and a goal that is shared among our law enforcement and prosecution partners across Alaska.”
The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Bureau of Investigation, investigated the case in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska and the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). Investigative assistance was provided by the IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Anchorage Police Department (APD), and the State of Alaska’s Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Taylor, James Klugman and Chris Schroeder and Trial Attorney Jeremy Franker of OCGS prosecuted the case.
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Anchorage Man Indicted on 8 Counts of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with eight counts of sexual exploitation of a child – production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, between July 2018 and August 2021, Michael Vernon Ross, 31, allegedly used and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography.
If the public has any further information regarding Ross’s activities, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.
minimum sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison on each count of production of child pornography. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The FBI and Anchorage Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Brickey-Smith and Adam Alexander are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Kodiak Man’s Murder Convictions Upheld by Court of AppealsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld James Wells’ murder convictions which were handed down by a trial jury in October 2019 for the April 2012 murders of two U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) employees, Electrician’s Mate First Class James Hopkins and retired Chief Boatswain’s Mate Richard Belisle at a United States Coast Guard base on Kodiak Island, Alaska.
In February 2013, Wells was arrested for the murders of Hopkins and Belisle, who were both Wells’ co-workers at the USCG antenna maintenance facility, located at the USCG Communication Station (COMMSTA) on Kodiak Island. Wells was convicted in 2014 and the case was reversed for retrial by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in December 2017. After a three-week retrial that ended in October 2019, a federal jury quickly convicted Wells of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of murder of an officer or employee of the United States and two counts of possession and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Wells appealed. In a ruling issued last week, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Wells’ murder convictions, thus Wells sentence of life imprisonment remains in place. The court of appeals issued two separate rulings: 1) affirming the convictions and dismissing Wells’ arguments for a new trial and 2) the court remanded the sentencing court’s decision on valuing how restitution to the spouses of the men Wells murdered would be paid, along with upholding that Wells interview by investigators was done lawfully.
“The court’s ruling, solidly affirming Wells two murder convictions at trial, puts an end to this saga for the wives of Messrs. Belisle and Hopkins, the colleagues of the murdered men, the community of Kodiak and the United States Coast Guard,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker. “Justice has been served. James Wells took the stand and attempted to explain away what he did that day, an explanation that was quickly rejected by the trial jury and by the court of appeals. Wells will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of these two men.”
“We are all relieved to bring final closure on this heinous and heartless crime. Our hearts continue to go out to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the community of Kodiak for having the strength to endure this lengthy process,” said Paul Shultz, CGIS Special Agent in Charge, CGIS Northwest Region.
"I'm proud of the trial team's tireless efforts in the pursuit of justice on behalf of the Hopkins and Belisle families. Now with the Appellate Court's decision, comes a sense of some closure for all," said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
Evidence at trial established that on April 12, 2012, between 7:09 a.m. and 7:14 a.m., Wells had shot and killed Hopkins and Belisle with a .44 revolver while working at their duty stations in the Rigger Shop at COMMSTA. First responders noted no evidence of a break-in or robbery and both men appeared to be victims of a targeted killing. Wells was due to arrive at the Rigger Shop the same time as Hopkins and Belisle, but instead left two phone messages for Hopkins and Belisle, noted to be after the victims’ time of death, stating Wells was running late due to a flat tire. Wells arrived to the Rigger Shop over an hour after his normal start time, immediately claiming to have had a flat tire.
USCG security videos captured Wells passing the Main Gate at Base Kodiak at 6:48 a.m. in his white Dodge truck on his way toward the Kodiak Airport, and returning toward his residence at 7:22 a.m. However, a small blue SUV, owned by Wells, was captured on USCG security videos passing the Rigger Shop front entrance. The evidence showed Wells drove his white Dodge truck to the airport, where he swapped vehicles and drove Nancy Wells’ blue Honda CR-V to COMMSTA to commit the murders. There was a 34-minute period of time for which James Wells could not account and that unexplained discrepancy captured the attention of the interviewing agents. Additionally, a tire with a nail in it was seized and through extensive testing, the examiner concluded that the nail had been manually inserted into the tire, undermining the foundation of Wells’ alibi that he had picked up a nail while driving to work on the morning of the murders.
At Wells’ sentencing hearing after the second trial in 2019, U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason made specific findings for the record that Wells threatened or unlawfully interfered with witnesses and that during the trial, Wells testified on several occasions in a “materially false manner.” The ruling of the Ninth Circuit equally found that Wells’ alibi at trial was not credible.
“I want to thank all of our partner agencies that were involved in the prosecution of this case through the decade of sentencing, retrial, and appeals,” said Rear Adm. Nathan Moore, 17th Coast Guard District, Commander. “Your continued dedication to this case ensured justice was met, and that James’ and Richard’s loved ones and our Coast Guard family can move one step closer to closure.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of this case, with support from the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), and the Alaska State Troopers (AST).
In 2019 the Deputy Criminal Chief Steven Skrocki prosecuted the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Sherman, and U.S. Coast Guard Commander Kelly Stevens, who was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
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Federal Prosecutors in Alaska and Los Angeles Charge 6 Defendants with Operating Websites that Offered Computer Attack ServicesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of 48 internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services, as well as criminal charges against six defendants who allegedly oversaw computer attack platforms commonly called “booter” services.
The FBI is now in the process of seizing the websites that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service, or DDoS, attacks that flood targeted computers with information and prevent them from being able to access the internet. Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including educational institutions, government agencies, gaming platforms and millions of individuals. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and can completely disrupt internet connections.
The websites targeted in this operation were used to launch millions of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that could purportedly be used for network testing, the FBI determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites.
The coordinated law enforcement action comes just before the Christmas holiday period, which typically brings a significant increase in DDoS attacks across the gaming world.
In conjunction with the website seizures, the FBI, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cyber criminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, as well as to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities.
“Communities in Alaska have become increasingly dependent on access to broadband internet for essential services,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker, District of Alaska. “Cyber criminals are not concerned with borders between states or nations but they should be on notice that we will work with law enforcement partners nationally and internationally to pursue and disrupt cybercrime services targeting Alaskans.”
“These DDoS-for-hire websites, with paying customers both inside and outside the United States, facilitated network disruptions on a massive scale, targeting millions of victim computers around the world,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Potential users and administrators should think twice before buying or selling these illegal services. The FBI and our international law enforcement partners continue to intensify efforts in combatting DDoS attacks, which will have serious consequences for offenders.”
The law enforcement actions this week include the filing of charges against six defendants across the United States who allegedly offered booter services. Each defendant allegedly operated at least one website that offered one-stop services and subscriptions of various lengths and attack volumes. In each of these criminal cases, the FBI posed as a customer and conducted test attacks to confirm that the booter site functioned as advertised.
District of Alaska
The defendants charged in criminal informations filed in Alaska are:
- John M. Dobbs, 32, of Honolulu, Hawaii, is charged with aiding and abetting violations of the computer fraud and abuse act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named IPStressor.com, also known as IPS, between 2009 and November 2022.
- Joshua Laing, 32, of Liverpool, New York, is charged with aiding and abetting violations of the computer fraud and abuse act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named TrueSecurityServices.io between 2014 and November 2022.
The two defendants have been informed of the charges against them and are expected to make their initial court appearance early next year.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the Alaska cases.
Central District of California
Prosecutors in Los Angeles this week filed four criminal informations charging four defendants with running booter services.
The defendants charged in Los Angeles are:
- Jeremiah Sam Evans Miller, aka “John The Dev,” 23, of San Antonio, Texas, who is charged with conspiracy to violate and violating computer fraud and abuse act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named RoyalStresser.com (formerly known as Supremesecurityteam.com).
- Angel Manuel Colon Jr., aka “Anonghost720” and “Anonghost1337,” 37, of Belleview, Florida, who is charged with conspiracy to violate and violating the computer fraud and abuse act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named SecurityTeam.io.
- Shamar Shattock, 19, of Margate, Florida, who is charged with conspiracy for allegedly running a booter service known as Astrostress.com.
- Cory Anthony Palmer, 22, of Lauderhill, Florida, who is charged with conspiracy for allegedly running a booter service known as Booter.sx.
The four defendants have been informed of the charges against them and are expected to make their initial court appearances in United States District Court in Los Angeles early next year.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cameron L. Schroeder, Chief of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, and Aaron Frumkin, also of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, are prosecuting the Los Angeles cases. Assistant United States Attorney James Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the seizure of the domains.
In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet. For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks.
The cases announced today are being investigated by the FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices.
Invaluable assistance was provided by the FBI field offices in Albany, Honolulu, Miami, Philadelphia and San Antonio; the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; the Netherlands Police; EUROPOL; and the Brandon Police Service in Manitoba, Canada. Akamai, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Entertainment Software Association, Google, Oracle, Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, PayPal, Unit 221B, University of Cambridge, Yahoo and other valued private sector partners provided additional assistance.
These law enforcement actions were taken as part of Operation Power OFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services.
In a previous law enforcement action involving prosecutors and investigators in Anchorage and Los Angeles four years ago, the Justice Department charged three defendants who facilitated DDoS-for hire services and seized 15 internet domains associated with DDoS-for-hire services. The multi-prong investigation announced today builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign.
Criminal informations contain allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Anchorage Woman Sentenced to 20 Years for KidnappingRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage woman was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred to 20 years in prison for kidnapping an 18-year-old victim.
According to court documents, Nellie Sherry Serradell, 28, attempted to stop multiple vehicles as she walked in and out of traffic on Dimond Boulevard in the early morning hours of November 17, 2019. The 18-year-old-victim was driving to work at 5:48 a.m. when Serradell ran in front of her vehicle at Dimond and C Street. The victim agreed to give Serradell a ride to her workplace. When they arrived in the parking lot, Serradell grabbed the victim and told her she had a gun and that she needed to keep driving. After punching the victim in the face several times, Serradell directed her to drive to a trailer park on Muldoon Road where she sexually assaulted the victim. In an effort to get Serradell to stop, the victim offered to give her money and Serradell agreed they could drive to an ATM machine. As they drove, Serradell fell asleep and the victim pulled into a gas station on 15th Ave., quietly got out of the car, went inside and called 911. Serradell woke up, saw the victim in the gas station, and drove off in the victim’s car. Serradell was arrested the next day in a nearby motel, wearing the victim’s brown Bearpaw boots. Investigators recovered the victim’s car abandoned on Boniface Parkway and found Serradell’s DNA in two places inside the passenger compartment. She pleaded guilty to the federal kidnapping charge on July 25, 2022.
“The victim was trying to be a good Samaritan, helping someone who was flagging down cars in the street,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The defendant took advantage of the victim’s kind nature by kidnapping and assaulting her. When individuals such as the defendant threaten the safety our community, they will be met with certain justice.”
The FBI and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Schroeder prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Former Federal Contractor Sentenced to 42 Months and $172,500 fine for Bribery Involving Millions in U.S. DOD ContractsRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A former government contractor and owner of Best Choice Construction LLC (Best Choice) was sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release and a criminal fine of $172,500 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline for conspiracy and bribery of a public official.
According to court documents, Ryan Dalbec, 44, of Mesa, Arizona, agreed to pay over $460,000 in bribes to former U.S. Air Force contracting official, Brian Lowell Nash II, in exchange for confidential bidding information on over $8,250,000 in U.S. Department of Defense contracts at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). The confidential bidding information Nash provided helped Dalbec and Best Choice win some of those contracts, including a $6,850,000 construction contract related to the F-35 aircraft program at Eielson Air Force Base. Dalbec and his wife, Raihana Nadem, also helped Nash launder the bribery proceeds through family members and third-party bank accounts to conceal the nature and source of the funds. Dalbec previously pleaded guilty to the charges on September 2, 2022.
Judge Beistline commented that Dalbec’s conduct was motivated by greed and his activity was premediated and likely would have continued had he not been caught. In addition to the other penalties, Judge Beistline ordered Dalbec to pay $16,296.80 in restitution to Eielson Air Force Base.
Nash was previously sentenced in November to serve 30 months imprisonment and ordered to forfeit $47,000 in unlawful gains.
Nadem pleaded guilty to a felony for related misconduct and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
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Alaska Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Years-Long Fraud and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – Jared Wilkes Post, 26, of Fairbanks was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline to 78 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay at least $100,000 in restitution for defrauding banks and other victims of over $100,000 through a sophisticated check kiting and identity theft scheme.
According to court documents, between 2017 and 2021, Post and his co-conspirator committed bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and defrauded multiple banks and individuals of at least $100,000. Post contacted individuals he called “Plays” via social media and convinced them to share their bank account information under the false pretense that Post needed to deposit a legitimate check into the “Play’s” account. Post then offered the “Play” a portion of the deposited check in return for use of their bank account. Once the check posted in the account, Post would withdraw or transfer the funds electronically or direct the “Play” to transfer the funds to him via a cash app or Western Union.
In reality, the checks Post and his co-conspirator deposited were stolen and fraudulently altered, and they withdrew the funds prior to the banks’ flagging the checks as fraudulent. Post and his co-conspirator discussed stealing the checks from the elderly and other victims they viewed as susceptible to “scams.” Once Post withdrew the cash the banks, the “Plays,” and the initial victim whose checks were stolen were left paying losses and overdraft fees.
“Elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker, District of Alaska. “Today’s sentence sends a strong message that fraudulent conduct on this scale will be met with serious consequences. Predators who target older citizens for fraud and financial scams are especially abhorrent and my office will continue to take aggressive action, pursuing all legal means to bring these criminals to justice.”
“Motivated by greed, the defendant and his co-conspirator operated a sophisticated check fraud scheme, targeting victims they perceived as vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This scheme led to prison time and should serve as a message to anyone who would engage in this conduct to reconsider. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable those who commit such offenses.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks Police Department, Anchorage Police Department and the Vancouver, Washington, Police Department are investigating the case. The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office also assisted in the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim of this scheme and entitled to restitution may contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441. The District Court will hold a restitution hearing in 90-days to enter a final restitution order.
The Justice Department has established a National Elder Fraud Hotline to provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline is staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
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Wasilla Man Indicted on Federal Kidnapping and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Wasilla man with kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Anderson was arrested on November 3 by Alaska State Troopers and remains in custody at Anchorage Correctional Complex. He is a registered sex offender based on a 2001 conviction for sexual assault in the first degree in Kenai.
Anderson also faces State of Alaska charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, robbery, assault, misconduct involving a controlled substance and tampering with evidence.
If the public has any further information regarding Anderson’s activities, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Alaska State Troopers and FBI are investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI's Joint Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (J-CARD) Team. The FBI’s J-CARD Team consists of specially trained investigators and intel personnel from the FBI, Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department who are experienced in child abduction cases and can rapidly deploy anywhere in the state. The team is designed to provide investigative, technical, and resource assistance to state and local law enforcement during the most critical time period following a child abduction.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schroeder and Adam Alexander are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Second Anchorage Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Kidnapping and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A second Anchorage man was sentenced late yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason to 35 years in prison for kidnapping and drug trafficking.
According to court documents, Faamanu Vaifanua, aka “Junior,” 31, and his brother Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, aka “Mac,” 35, distributed heroin in the Anchorage area through the kidnapped victim between January 2015 and August 2017.
Believing that the victim had stolen drugs from them, Mac lured the victim to his home on August 13, 2017. As the victim was leaving the residence, he was led instead into the garage where he was forcibly bound and gagged. The victim was then beaten and tortured for nearly an hour by Junior and Mac and two other co-defendants in an assault that was captured on Mac’s home video surveillance system. The Vaifanua brothers and their co-defendants used an aluminum baseball bat, a metal broom stick and their hands and feet to beat the defendant into unconsciousness, causing severe injuries and permanent disability. After a certain point, believing that the victim was either dead or near death, they placed the victim inside a metal dog kennel while still bound and gagged.
The Vaifanua brothers and co-defendants then threatened a person in the area at gunpoint to back his pickup truck to the garage door. The group loaded the kennel into the back of the truck with the victim still in it. The driver was told at gunpoint to leave and never be seen again. After driving away from the area, the driver stopped to see what had been loaded into his truck. Upon seeing the victim, he immediately drove to a hospital emergency room where the victim received life-saving medical attention including brain surgery.
“Junior” Vaifanua pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping and drug trafficking charges in June 2021.
“This was a calculated act of savagery against another human being, not a random act of violence,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The Vaifanua brothers will spend decades in federal prison for their complete disregard for human life. Drug dealers across the state should take note – vicious attacks will not be tolerated for any reason. My office is committed to working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served.”
“The defendant’s cruel disregard to human life and suffering is appalling,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Donald W. Lee II of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “When individuals, such as the defendant and his co-conspirators, threaten the safety of our neighborhoods and communities, they will be met with a certain justice.”
“The abuse suffered by the victim is heinous,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Michael Kerle. “The physical, emotional, and psychological effects of this magnitude of trauma are incomprehensible. It is our sincere hope today’s sentencing will aid in the victim’s life-long healing process.”
Co-defendants in this case include:
- Macauther Christmas Vaifanua, 35, aka “Mac” was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on kidnapping and drug trafficking charges.
- Jeffrey Ahvan, 33, pleaded guilty to kidnapping in October 2019 and is awaiting sentencing.
- Rex Faumui, 28, pleaded guilty to kidnapping in October 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.
- Tamole Lauina, 25, was sentenced to seven years in prison on being an accessory after the fact charge.
The Anchorage Police Department (APD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S Marshals Service (USMS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan A. Collins and Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Former Air Force Contracting Specialist Sentenced to 30 Months for Bribery Scheme Involving Millions in DOD Contracts in AlaskaRead the Press Release
FAIRBANKS – A former U.S. Air Force Contract Specialist assigned to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and forfeiture of $47,000 in unlawful gains by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline for conspiracy and agreeing to accept nearly half a million in bribes from a private contractor.
According to court documents, Brian Lowell Nash II, 33, of Washington, agreed to accept more than $460,000 in bribe payments in 2019 from a government contractor, Ryan Dalbec, who, along with his wife, Riahnna Nadem, owned a construction company called Best Choice Construction LLC. In exchange, Nash provided Dalbec and Nadem with confidential bidding information on over $8,250,000 in U.S. Department of Defense contracts at Eielson AFB and JBER, which helped Best Choice win some of the contracts, including a construction contract related to the F-35 aircraft program at Eielson Air Force Base and contracts to perform construction and related services at JBER. At the time Nash was caught he had received approximately $47,000 of the agreed upon bribe payments, much of which he laundered through family members to conceal the nature and source of the funds. The defendants committed multiple overt acts in furtherance of the bribery conspiracy, and between March and October 2019 Dalbec, Nadem and Nash laundered payments and proceeds from the bribery scheme to conceal their unlawful activities. Nash previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and acceptance of bribes by a public official.
“My office is committed to protecting the integrity of the Department of Defense (DoD) procurement system in Alaska,” said U.S Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “This case demonstrates our resolve, along with our law enforcement partners, to bring to justice those who subvert the DoD contracting process for their own gain. This sentence sends a strong message that bribery and fraud will be met with serious consequences.”
“In a severe violation of the public’s trust, the defendant chose to line his own pockets at the expense of taxpayers, and undermined the government’s competitive contracting practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate and disrupt such schemes and hold accountable those who seek to use taxpayer dollars for private gain.”
Dalbec and Nadem previously pleaded guilty to felonies related to this conduct and are scheduled for sentencing at the end of 2022.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan D. Tansey.
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Co-Owners of Arm Rippin Toys Plead Guilty to Clean Air Act ViolationRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – The three co-owners of Arm Rippin Toys, Inc., an Anchorage vehicle repair shop specializing in modifying, repairing and maintaining diesel vehicles, each pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Clean Air Act.
According to court documents, Zachary Czubak, Patrick Fleming and Michael Hanzuk, II, tampered with federally mandated monitoring devices on private and commercial diesel vehicles and removed required air pollution control equipment on at least 37 vehicles between July 2019 and September 2020.
In July 2019 the co-owners of Arm Rippin Toys, entered into an agreement to engage in “tuning and deleting” customers’ diesel vehicles. This process involves the removal of emissions control systems which are designed to reduce pollutants being emitted from the vehicles. Under normal operating conditions, an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system will detect any removal and/or malfunction of a vehicle’s emissions control equipment. By modifying OBDs on vehicles, Arm Rippin Toy’s co-owners and employees falsified, tampered with and rendered inaccurate the vehicles’ monitoring devices so that the modified vehicle could continue to function despite the removal or deletion of emissions control equipment. In total Arm Rippin Toys collected approximately $100,000 for performing unlawful deletes and tunes on diesel vehicles.
“We take protecting the environment seriously in Alaska and we won’t hesitate to prosecute individuals committing environmental crimes,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The defendants in this case knowingly and repeatedly installed ‘defeat devices’ to remove emissions controls in dozens of vehicles violating the Clean Air Act which protects the nation’s air quality by, among other things, reducing vehicle emissions that pollute the air.”
“Installing emissions defeat equipment in passenger vehicles results in a massive increase in air pollution from even a single vehicle,” said Special Agent in Charge Scot Adair of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Alaska. “EPA and its law enforcement partners will continue to hold accountable those who jeopardize human health and the environment for the sake of profit.”
Defendants in this case are:
- Zachary John Czubak, 25, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Air Act and was sentenced to five years’ probation, a $66,000 fine and 180 hours of community service as a condition of probation.
- Patrick Fleming Thomas Fleming, 29, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Air Act and is awaiting sentencing.
- Michael Wayne Hanzuk, II, 30, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Clean Air Act and was sentenced to five years’ probation, a $66,000 fine, 180 hours of community service as a condition of probation and a public statement acknowledging wrongdoing.
The removal or disabling of a vehicle’s emissions control system can increase particulate matter (PM) by a factor of about 40 times; nitrogen oxides (NOx) by a factor of about 310 times; carbon monoxide (CO) by a factor of about 120 times; and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) by a factor of about 1,100 times.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charisse Arce and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Karla Perrin prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney Tucker Appoints District of Alaska Election OfficerRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Kelly Cavanaugh will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Cavanaugh has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Alaska and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Tucker said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Tucker stated that: “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise that right if they choose, and that any who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Cavanaugh will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 907-271-5071.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 907-276-4441 or online at tips.fbi.gov.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
United States Attorney Tucker said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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Alaska Businesswoman Indicted on Tax Evasion and Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An indictment was unsealed charging an Alaska businesswoman with tax evasion and filing false tax returns that underreported income from the business she owned.
The indictment charges that from approximately 2014 through 2018, Tina H. Yi, of Nome and Anchorage, evaded approximately $1.5 million in federal income taxes and filed false personal tax returns with the IRS. Yi was the sole owner and operator of SJ Investment LLC, a hotel, bar and liquor store that did business as Polaris HBL. According to the indictment, Yi created the business in approximately April 2007 and operated it in Nome until approximately October 2017, when the physical property was destroyed in a fire.
Yi allegedly maintained two sets of books and records relating to the business’s income and expenses for 2014 through 2017 – one of which accurately captured SJ Investment’s income and expenses, and one that understated the company’s income. Yi allegedly provided the false records to her accountant to use to prepare her tax returns for each year. By allegedly providing business records to her accountant that falsified SJ Investment’s income, Yi ensured that her personal tax returns – on which she reported SJ Investment’s income – would be false for each year. For 2018, Yi allegedly used a different tax preparer. She allegedly provided that preparer with false information as well, ensuring that her 2018 tax return also was false. In total, Yi allegedly did not report to the IRS more than $3.2 million in income from SJ Investment.
Yi made her initial court appearance yesterday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew M. Scoble of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, she faces a maximum of five years in prison for each of five counts of tax evasion and three years in prison for each of five counts of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska made the announcement.
IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Allen and George Tran and Trial Attorney Ahmed Almudallal of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Eagle River Nurse Practitioner Guilty on All CountsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Eagle River nurse practitioner on 10 felony counts, including five counts of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death, four counts of distribution and dispensing of a controlled substance and one count of maintaining a drug involved premises. The conviction follows a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Kindred.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jessica Joyce Spayd, 51, operated Eagle River Pain and Wellness where she prescribed nearly 4.5 million opioids between January 2014 and October 2019 causing addiction, suffering and death. She did so with little to no medical justification or treatment plan; minimal, if any, tests or physical examinations; and little if any considerations of non-opioid treatment.
Spayd’s opioid prescriptions were excessive and drastically exceeded medical norms, routinely five to 15 times higher than the maximum safe daily dosage recommended by state and federal health guidelines and combined with other narcotics known to exacerbate the risk of addiction and overdose death.
When she was out of the office, Spayd routinely pre-signed and pre-dated prescriptions and instructed non-medical staff to distribute the prescriptions to patients for a cash fee. And, in addition to her “patients,” she illegally prescribed nearly 5,000 opioid pills to her opioid-addicted, live-in ex-boyfriend by writing the names of other individuals on those prescriptions. She also created false appointment records for those other individuals, who the evidence showed were outside of Alaska or out of the United States when those appointments purportedly occurred.
For years, dozens of pharmacists throughout Alaska told the defendant to stop the dangerous prescribing and to lower the dosages for her patients. Emergency room doctors who treated her patients for opioid overdoses told her to stop. Insurance companies sent thousands of letters telling her to stop. Concerned family members of her patients pleaded with her to stop. Her prescribing was so far outside the normal course of medical practice that multiple major pharmacy chains like Walmart and Safeway, and the Chief of Pharmacy at Joint Base Elmendorf, enacted unprecedented policies refusing to fill her narcotic prescriptions.
Between May and July 2019, Spayd prescribed nearly 200 opioid pills in just three appointments to an undercover DEA agent posing as an opioid addict with no current pain symptoms in exchange for large cash payments. She specifically acknowledged in a recorded conversation with the undercover agent that what she was doing was a felony and she could go to jail.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
Spayd was initially charged by indictment in October 2019 and then with a superseding indictment in January 2021 by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska.
These offenses carry mandatory minimum of 20 years to life in federal prison for the most serious charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Tansey and Michael Heyman are prosecuting the case.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted the investigation leading to the charges in this case, with invaluable assistance from members of the North Slope Borough Police Department, the Alaska Health Care Fraud Task Force, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Office of Law Enforcement and Security, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Alaska State Parks Rangers, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, Alaska Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the State of Alaska Division of Insurance.
The Alaska Health Care Fraud Task Force (AHCFTF) is a partnership of local, state, federal, and private agencies focused on the investigation of health care fraud, waste, and abuse in Alaska or affecting Alaskan interests. For more information: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/alaska-health-care-fraud-task-force
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Anchorage Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Stealing 22 GunsRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced today to nine years in federal prison for stealing 22 firearms from an Anchorage gun store in 2019. In handing down the sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason noted this was a series of criminal acts that “put so many people at risk.”
According to court documents, Hans Mikaele Wells, aka “Mika,” 26, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to stealing 22 firearms from Granny’s Guns, a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Anchorage, on June 6, 2019, along with three co-conspirators.
Wells and the three co-conspirators drove a stolen Chevy Trailblazer to Wrightway Auto Carriers in Anchorage where they broke into the building and stole license plates, filing cabinets and a GMC Sierra pickup. Wells and a co-conspirator then got into another stolen vehicle, a Chevy Suburban and drove it through the front window of Granny’s Guns. The two other co-conspirators drove the stolen pickup alongside the broken window and loaded 22 firearms into the back of the truck and drove away. They later transferred the stolen firearms from the truck into a black GMC Denali and lit the stolen GMC Sierra pickup on fire in an effort to destroy evidence.
Later the same day, officers with the Anchorage Police Department tried to stop the GMC Denali and an associated gold pickup when multiple shots were fired from the gold pickup, occupied by Wells and a co-conspirator. On June 18, 2019, Wells and two others attempted to recover an impounded vehicle which contained one of the stolen firearms from the Granny’s Guns burglary. All four co-conspirators were indicted in October 2020 and subsequently arrested on the charges.
“Stolen firearms are a threat to the safety of all Alaskans,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “The blatant disregard for public safety and law enforcement both during and after this series of violent crimes by Wells and his co-conspirators show just how dangerous they are to our community. We will continue to work closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to fight violent crime and keep our communities safe from people who endanger our neighborhoods.”
“All of the involved defendants demonstrated a complete indifference to the safety of others through their actions in their violent crime spree,” stated Police Chief Michael Kerle. “From the theft of multiple vehicles, to firing shots in public, driving erratically on our streets, and stealing multiple firearms; it is imperative they are held accountable for their behavior. Wells’ sentencing is a big part of that. We are grateful for the efforts of all our law enforcement partners who were involved in seeing this case through.”
Co-conspirators in this case include:
- Muna Junior Rode, 23, pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a licensed dealer and is awaiting sentencing.
- Gian Carlo Pangilinan, aka “G,” 26, pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a licensed dealer and is awaiting sentencing.
- Kao Chiang Saelee, aka “Robbie,” 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a licensed dealer and is awaiting sentencing.
The Anchorage Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Anchorage Man Sentenced to 45 Years for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced to 45 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of production of child pornography.
According to court documents, Timothy Swensen, Jr., 30, sent sexually explicit text messages, including a series of images depicting his ongoing sexual abuse of a female toddler, to a vulnerable young adult whom he had previously sexually assaulted. During the interview with detectives, the adult victim shared the texts and images. Following an investigation, Swensen was arrested by the FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force in May 2021. Swensen was previously convicted of sexual assault in the second degree by the State of Alaska in 2011.
“Swensen is a predatory danger to society who will now spend 45 years behind bars for actively and directly exploiting some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Although nothing can erase the indescribable trauma inflicted on the victims and their families, we hope this sentence will bring some accountability for his actions. It is also a signal to others that we will use all means at our disposal to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit and harm children.”
“This sentence reflects the severity and depravity of the defendant’s crimes, which have no place in our society,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Protecting the most vulnerable, and removing child predators from our community, will always be a priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners.”
As part of the sentence, Swensen was also ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution and will be on supervised release for the rest of his life.
The FBI and APD, as part of the FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force, conducted the investigation leading to Swensen’s arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Anchorage Man Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to Pay $4,000 Fine for Violating Marine Mammal Protection ActRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally trafficking in walrus ivory in U.S. District Court and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and sentenced to two years probation.
Uzi Levi, 71, of Anchorage purchased six non-handicrafted Pacific walrus tusks and one three-tusked non-handicrafted Pacific walrus head mount from an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent, all of which is in violation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, it is unlawful for a non-Alaskan native to transport, purchase, sell, export or offer to purchase, sell or export any marine mammal or marine mammal product for any purpose other than public display, scientific research or enhancing the survival of a species or stock or any marine mammal part that has not been made into an authentic native article of handicraft.
In June 2020, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service observed what appeared to be an Alaskan Native male carrying a two-tusked, non-handicrafted walrus head mount into the car rental business office owned by Levi and then leave without it. A few weeks later, an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent went to Levi’s car rental business and inquired about renting a vehicle. He explained that he didn’t have a lot of money and asked if there were other ways to rent a vehicle, such as trade or barter. The unidentified person at the business called Levi and handed the phone to the undercover agent. During this call and over the next eight months, Levi and the agent exchanged numerous phone calls and texts about the purchase of non-handicrafted, or raw, walrus ivory, which resulted in Levi purchasing six non-handicrafted Pacific walrus tusks on July 13, 2020, and one non-handicrafted, three tusked walrus head mount on September 29, 2020
Levi pleaded guilty to both counts and was sentenced before Chief United States District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason. In handing down the sentence regarding Levi’s trafficking in raw ivory, Judge Gleason stated, “the defendant’s actions really impact Alaska Native artists who are trying to market their products.”
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska made the announcement. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Skrocki prosecuted the case.
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Bangladeshi National Arrested in Malaysia for Operating an International Child Exploitation EnterpriseRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has unsealed a 13-count indictment charging Zobaidul Amin, 24, for his role in operating a child exploitation enterprise following his arrest in Kuala Lumpur by Malaysian authorities.
Amin, a Bangladeshi national, is charged in the District of Alaska with offenses related to his alleged abuse and exploitation of hundreds of minor victims in the District of Alaska and elsewhere in the United States and abroad in one of the most malicious, digitally facilitated sextortion and child pornography production schemes investigated to date by the FBI.
According to federal court documents, Amin used the Snapchat application to identify and coerce child victims to produce images and videos of sexually explicit and sadistic conduct.
Following coordination with FBI Anchorage, Amin was taken into custody in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Unit D11 of the Royal Malaysia Police on September 19, 2022, and subsequently charged by Prosecutors with the Malaysia Attorney General’s Chambers on 12 counts related to the possession and production of child pornography.
“There are few crimes as damaging and traumatic to a young person as sextortion,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “It is especially evil to target impressionable children using social media apps such as Snapchat to exploit their innocence for pictures and videos. These children have been robbed of their childhood; and their lives and the lives of their families forever altered. This case highlights the immense collaboration and dedication of law enforcement partners across the country who are working tirelessly to identify the victims.”
“Seen as one of the most prolific and malicious sextortion schemes investigated by the FBI to date, this child exploitation enterprise targeted hundreds of minors in the United States and abroad through popular social media platforms,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Children would then be coerced into producing sexually explicit material and terrorized with threats of exposure if they did not continue. The protection of our children extends beyond borders, and this case demonstrates the multi-jurisdictional approach among local, state, federal, and international law enforcement partners to maximize our efforts in the pursuit of justice."
If the public has any further information regarding Amin’s activities, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office made today’s announcement. The District of Alaska would like to thank the prosecutors of the Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their efforts to apprehend Amin.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is investigating the case. Also supporting the investigation are the following agencies:
Royal Malaysia Police; Alaska State Troopers; Anchorage Police Department; Laramie Police Department (Wyoming); Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation; Wyoming Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office (Oregon)[; Mercer County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia); Raleigh County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia); Kanawha County Sheriff's Office (West Virginia); Guernsey County Sheriff's Department (Oregon); Clay County Sheriff's Office (Florida); Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (Oregon); HSI Wenatchee, WA/Bend, OR; and the FBI Field Offices in Portland, Minneapolis, Seattle, Salt Lake, Denver, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Detroit, Atlanta, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Newark, and Oklahoma City.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Alexander and Jennifer Ivers are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Anchorage Man Convicted by Jury on Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man for possessing heroin, pure methamphetamine and a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Anchorage Police Department officers responded to a 911 call about a man spray painting cars when they encountered Michael Delpriore, Jr, 41 attempting to leave the area in his vehicle. Delpriore refused to obey officer’s commands to stop and exit his vehicle. While refusing to exit the vehicle, Delpriore kept rolling his driver’s window up and down to obscure officers’ view inside the vehicle and continued reaching down towards the floor.
Eventually Delpriore exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. During a pat-search, officers found a digital scale with drug residue, a knife, and over $1,000 cash. After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, officers found four grams of methamphetamine, numerous syringes, and two loaded 9mm magazines. Officers also found a loaded semi-auto 9mm pistol and 140 grams of heroin hidden behind the dash near the steering wheel of the vehicle. In total there were 49 live 9mm rounds found in Delpriore’s vehicle.
“Michael Delpriore’s conviction is another step forward in helping make Alaska’s communities and streets safer for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “My office and our law enforcement partners are using every tool at our disposal to hold individuals accountable for the destructive drugs they sell that ruin so many Alaskan lives.”
“This case represents the importance of the public being committed to helping law enforcement fight crime,” said APD Police Chief Michael Kerle. “This entire investigation started because a citizen witnessed criminal behavior and took the time to alert police. Collaboration between law enforcement entities is important; but the involvement of the community we serve is equally important. Police and citizens working together is the only way successful prosecutions such as this one will continue to happen.”
Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason, who presided over the trial, ordered that Delpriore be detained pending sentencing. Delpriore faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Anchorage Police Department investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charisse Arce and Seth Brickey are prosecuting the case.
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Media AdvisoryRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) will host nearly 600 participants, including a record 55 tribal leaders, for the 17th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation, September 21 – 23, 2022.
Throughout the consultation, tribal government leaders will provide recommendations on administering tribal funds and programs; enhancing the safety of Alaska Native and American Indian women from domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, homicide, stalking and sex trafficking, along with strengthening the federal response to these crimes; and improving access to local, regional, state, and federal crime information databases and criminal justice information systems.
The consultation is required by law to address the federal administration of tribal funds and programs established under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and its subsequent reauthorizations.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta will deliver pre-recorded remarks.
WHO: Office on Violence Against Women
Office of Justice Programs
Office of Tribal Justice
Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Indian Health Service
Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services
WHEN: September 21 –22, from 8:30am – 5pm Alaska Standard Time
September 23rd, from 8:30am – 12 pm Alaska Standard Time
WHERE: Hotel Captain Cook, 939 West 5th Avenue Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Join virtually: https://www.ovwconsultation.org/Attend/Register
CONTACT: Media with any question regarding the consultation should reach out to Lisa K. Houghton at 907-350-0408 or [email protected]
NOTES:
OVW Acting Director Allison Randall; OVW Tribal Affairs Division Deputy Director Sherriann Moore; and U.S. Attorney Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska are available for interviews. Please contact Lisa Houghton for more information.
For more information about the consultation schedule, please visit: https://www.ovwconsultation.org/Agenda/Agenda.
Child Sex Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – An Anchorage man was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason to 20 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for sex trafficking a minor and production and possession of child pornography. He was also ordered to pay $23,070 in restitution.
According to court documents, Jayshon Moore, aka “China,” 39 began having sexual encounters with the minor victim when she was 15 years old. In 2018, he created numerous sexually explicit videos of the minor which were saved on social media. Moore possessed two videos of child pornography in his Snapchat account. In the spring of 2019, Moore sex trafficked the minor victim – then 16 – setting prices, arranging transactions, and taking the money she earned from commercial sex acts.
Moore was previously convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses, and he was arrested in June 2019 after violating terms of his supervised release. Law enforcement executed a search of Moore’s residence and found additional evidence of sex trafficking. Moore was convicted by a federal jury in April 2022.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. The task force marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children through sex trafficking, as well as to identify and recover victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Michael Ebell prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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For more information about the myths and facts of human trafficking and how to get help:
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 or Text 233733
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/what-human-trafficking/myths-misconceptions
Office on Trafficking in Persons
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/about/myths-facts-human-trafficking
Polaris Project
https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/
Wasilla Drug Dealer Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A Wasilla, Alaska, man was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison followed by eight years of supervised release for possessing heroin with the intent to distribute it.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Sedric Williams, 43, led the Alaska State Troopers on a high-speed chase through Wasilla at 2:25 a.m. on September 14, 2018, in a reckless attempt to avoid getting caught with heroin in his vehicle. Weaving in and out of oncoming traffic at more than 110 mph, Williams lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a pole. He then climbed out of the vehicle’s window and ran down an ATV trail, ignoring orders from the Trooper to stop. After being tasered, Williams threw away a plastic baggie containing 122 grams of heroin into the nearby bushes.
Evidence at trial established that Williams intended to sell the heroin as part of an ongoing drug dealing business. Information contained on three cell phones found in Williams's wrecked car indicated that he had many clients who frequently texted him for a wide variety of drugs. The 122 grams of heroin Williams had in his possession when arrested had a street value of up to $61,000 and represented more than 1,000 individual doses.
Williams has a long history of drug and firearm-related convictions. In 2010, Williams was convicted in a previous federal jury trial of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. Within just a few months of his release from federal prison in 2018, he resumed selling drugs.
“Illegal narcotics are a cancer in our society and the removal of Williams from the Mat-Su Valley and Anchorage streets will help make our communities safer,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker, District of Alaska. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to ensure drug dealers face stiff consequences for their illegal activities and that justice is served.”
“The Alaska State Troopers are committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold anyone that deals illicit drugs accountable for their actions,” said Colonel Maurice Hughes, Director of the Alaska State Troopers. “Overdose claimed the lives of hundreds of Alaskans in 2021, and law enforcement will continue to do our part to disrupt the tidal wave of illegal narcotics flowing into Alaska.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison O’Leary and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
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Victim Assistance AdvisoryRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Today, Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline issued an order directing the government to employ alternative victim notification procedures in a 31-count indictment case charging two Fairbanks men with conspiracy, bank and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundry.
According to federal court documents, Jared Post, 25, and Levi Skulstad, 26, defrauded multiple banks and individuals they viewed as vulnerable to scams between 2017 and 2021, obtaining at least $500,000. Post and Skulstad contacted individuals who they called “Plays” via social media or in person and convinced the “Play” to share their bank account information under the pretense they needed to deposit a check into the “Play’s” account. Post or Skulstad then offered the “Play” a portion of the deposited check in return for use of the “Play’s” bank account.
Once the check posted in the “Play’s” account, Post or Skulstad logged in via the “Play’s” remote banking app and withdrew or transferred the funds electronically or directed the “Play” to transfer the funds to one of them via a cash app or Western Union. In reality, the checks Post and Skulstad deposited were stolen and fraudulently altered; and they withdrew the funds prior to the bank flagging the checks as fraudulent and reversing the transaction. The involved banks, the “Plays,” and the initial victim whose checks were stolen, were left paying losses and overdraft fees while Post and Skulstad made off with the cash.
Anyone who believes they may be a victim in these schemes may contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441.
The victim-witness program of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska, provides information, services and support to individuals during federal prosecution. Case updates will be provided on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/case-updates. Please also be aware of these free, confidential resources that may be of assistance:
- Identity Theft Resource Center, 888-400-5530 or https://www.idtheftcenter.org/ is a non-profit organization and provides information about preventing, recovering and protecting from identity theft.
- Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft website to report identity theft and a recovery plan https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/
- Federal Trade Commission website provides consumer advice about what to do if you were scammed https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed.
- Federal Trade Commission webpage sharing about different types of scams https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/pass-it-on
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office made today’s announcement.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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U.S. Attorney Tucker Issues Savanna’s Act Guidelines for AlaskaRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced the completion of the Savanna’s Act Guidelines for Alaska following hundreds of hours of consultation with Alaska Tribes and tribal agencies, federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and victim service providers.
“Generations of Alaska Natives have experienced violence or mourned a murdered or missing loved one for far too long,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “A top priority for my office and the Department of Justice is to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by Alaska Natives and American Indians and, relatedly, the high rates of Indigenous persons reported missing. In Alaska we are fortunate to have strong working relationships across law enforcement, and these guidelines will help us to further strengthen our partnerships and push ourselves to constantly improve our response to bring answers and justice for the victims and families.”
Savanna’s Act, co-sponsored by Alaska’s Senior Senator Lisa Murkowski, aims to improve the government’s response to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons through increased coordination and the development of best practices. Specifically, it directs the U.S. Department of Justice to develop guidelines to continually improve communication and coordination among tribal, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in response to MMIP situations. It also provides guidance on the collection, reporting and analysis of MMIP data; offers resource information for Tribal governments; and provides best practices for culturally appropriate victim services and for returning a loved one home. These guidelines are evergreen with ongoing opportunities for input and recommendations.
“The U.S. Marshals will continue to partner with our federal, state, local and tribal partners to strengthen our response to missing and murdered Indigenous people. The shared commitment of each agency’s resources and expertise will increase our ability to make our communities safer,” said Rob Heun, U.S. Marshal for the District of Alaska.
If you know someone who is missing, it’s critical that you report it right away to 9-1-1 or your closest law enforcement. The first hours of someone missing can be vitally important. If you have questions about the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP program, please contact MMIP Program Coordinator, Ingrid Cumberlidge at [email protected] or [email protected] or call 907-271-3314.
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Note for Editors:
- Department of Justice Savanna’s Act page: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip/SavannasAct
- Link to Savanna’s Act law: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/227/text
- Department of Justice MMIP page: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip
- Not Invisible Act page and Commission members: https://www.doi.gov/priorities/strengthening-indian-country/not-invisible-act-commission
In March President Biden signed into law the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2022 as part of a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending package. The Office of VAWA will continue to work with Tribes to address challenges in protecting survivors and responding to offenders in their communities and encourage Tribal leaders and designees to attend the 17th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation in Anchorage in September.
The Alaska MMIP Working Group is a multi-disciplinary team led by the United States Attorney’s Office MMIP Coordinator, Ingrid Cumberlidge, and comprised of tribal representatives, federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and social and victim service providers, including:
- BIA Missing and Murdered Unit
- BIA Health and Human Services
- FBI
- U.S. Marshals
- U.S. Coast Guard
- Alaska Department of Law
- Alaska State Troopers, MMIP Investigator, Missing Persons & Cold Case Clearinghouse and VPSOs
- Anchorage Police Department
- Fairbanks Police Department
- Kotzebue Police Department
- Nome Police Department
- North Slope Police Department
- Tanana Chief’s Conference VPSO supervisors
- Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska VPSO supervisors
- Tanana Chief’s Conference
- Tribal representatives from Ahtna Region, Orutsararmiut Native Council, Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Arctic Slope Native Association, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Native Village of Kotzebue, Maniilaq Association, Native Village of White Mountain Village
- Victim Service Providers
- Advocates from Victims for Justice
- Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center
- MMIP Tribal Community Response Plan Pilot Sites: Curyung Tribal Council of Dillingham, the Native Village of Unalakleet, and Koyukuk Native Village
Palmer Man Convicted on Federal Murder Charges and String of Armed Home Invasion RobberiesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE – A federal jury in Alaska convicted a Palmer man on 10 felony counts, including two counts of murder, as well as robbery, drug and firearm related charges following an 11-day trial.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Pearl Smith, II, 36, attempted to rob people he believed were involved in trafficking drugs in September 2015, May 2016 and June 2016. He carried and brandished firearms during each of the three robberies.
In 2015, Smith identified a house off Knik Goose Bay Road in Wasilla as the location of a marijuana growing operation. Smith arrived at the house with a rifle, kicked in the door, fired a shot to frighten the resident, and stole drugs, firearms and jewelry.
In May 2016, Smith identified another house in Wasilla as the residence of a drug dealer. Smith forced his way in with a rifle, restrained the occupants with duct tape, and stole valuables including heroin and cash, as well as a .22 caliber revolver.
On June 5, 2016, Smith traveled to a property on Cloudy Lake in Wasilla owned by Ben Gross, who was in a detached garage with Crystal Denardi and a second man. Smith kicked open the door and fired warning shots into the ceiling. Gross threw a beer bottle at Smith and in response Smith fired multiple shots at Gross, killing him.
Holding the other victims at gunpoint, Smith searched the garage for drugs or other valuables, but was unable to find any. Smith then murdered Denardi by shooting her in the back of the head. The third victim was shot in the chest and in the head while trying to escape but managed to paddle to a nearby home across Cloudy Lake in a kayak, where the homeowner called 911. At the crime scene, Smith poured gasoline around the bodies of the victims and set the garage on fire.
Smith was arrested on June 28, 2016. In August of that year, investigators were able to recover the revolver from a marshy area off Johnson Road in Wasilla where Smith had concealed it after the murders. Investigators also recovered a map to site of the weapon that Smith had drawn while in prison; an expert forensic document examiner was able to confirm that the writing on the map was Smith’s.
Smith was convicted of two counts of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to drug trafficking, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of attempted interference with commerce by robbery, three counts of attempted possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, and two counts of brandishing a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. These offenses carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 34 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with extensive support from the Alaska State Troopers.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Vandergaw, James Klugman and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
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