Middle District of Alabama
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Eufaula Man Sentenced for Mail Theft, Bank Fraud, and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On April 26, 2022, Charles Andre Turner, 54, of Eufaula, Alabama, was sentenced to 44 months in prison for stealing mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Turner’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and information disclosed during his sentencing hearing, Turner was previously convicted in 2011 of destruction of letter boxes, theft of mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. After serving a 94-month prison sentence, Turner was on supervised release when his U.S. Probation Officer discovered that he had opened 33 new lines of credit, in violation of the terms of his supervised release. On May 10, 2021, agents searched his home pursuant to the search policy of the Court and discovered over 100 pieces of stolen mail and notes containing information about victims’ identities and credit or banking information.
Further investigation revealed that from October 2020, until May 2021, Turner stole mail from a Columbus, Georgia, post office and took it back home with him to Eufaula, where he began using identity and financial information from the mail to obtain credit cards, open bank accounts, and make financial transactions to benefit himself. Turner even obtained a victim’s Experian credit report and began noting the answers to the victim’s multiple choice security questions, and he altered another victim’s retirement account statement to make his own name appear on it rather than the victim’s. In one example, Turner used a victim’s identity to open a bank account, then deposited another victim’s credit card convenience checks into the account. In yet another extreme example, Turner was able to steal over $50,000.00 from a single victim’s bank account.
Turner pleaded guilty to possessing stolen mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft on January 6, 2022.
“Mr. Turner’s continued criminal conduct not only shows a blatant disregard for the law, but also for the immeasurable hardship that he caused his victims,” stated U.S. Attorney Stewart. “In the aftermath of these crimes, victims are forced to deal with the damage done to their credit card and bank accounts. Repairing the damage can be tedious and could take months, or even years. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute thieves that pray on vulnerable and unsuspecting victims.” U.S. Attorney Stewart would like to remind everyone to be vigilant and check your bank accounts and credit reports regularly. Discovering and reporting discrepancies quickly can help financial institutions and law enforcement limit potential losses.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, and the Sumter County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Indicted for Assaulting Inmates and Falsifying a ReportRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – The Justice Department today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Montgomery, Alabama, returned a four-count indictment charging former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Sergeant Lorenzo Mills, 55, with assaulting three compliant inmates with a wooden baton at ADOC’s Draper Correctional Facility. Mills is also charged with falsification of records for submitting a false written statement in connection with the incident.
The indictment alleges that, on Oct. 25, 2020, Mills, while acting in his official capacity as a Correctional Sergeant with ADOC, subjected three inmates to cruel and unusual punishment by striking them with a wooden baton and that assault caused bodily injury and involved the use of a dangerous weapon. The indictment further alleges that Mills submitted a false written statement in connection with the incident. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Mills falsely wrote in his statement that he had not used any force against the three inmate victims.
Mills faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each of the civil rights charges and 20 years in prison for the obstruction of justice offense. Mills is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama made the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama, and Trial Attorneys David Reese and Nikhil Ramnaney of the Civil Rights Division.
Man Receives Ten Year Prison Sentence for His Role in Prescription Drug Scheme Involving Montgomery PhysicianRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On April 11, 2022, Garren Charles Rogers, 36, of Slidell, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for his role in organizing a prescription drug scheme in Montgomery, Alabama, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Rogers’s prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, Rogers was part of a conspiracy involving numerous others to obtain illegitimate and unlawful prescriptions for oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance. These prescriptions were signed by a Montgomery physician, Dr. D’Livro Lemat Beauchamp, who received payment from organizers of the conspiracy, including Rogers, for each unlawful prescription he signed. In addition to receiving their own prescriptions, the organizers distributed prescriptions through various means to other co-conspirators whose names appeared on the prescriptions. In many cases, the prescriptions signed by Dr. Beauchamp were obtained by co-conspirators through Rogers and other organizers or managers without the co-conspirators actually going to Beauchamp’s office. After the co-conspirators filled their prescriptions for oxycodone, they gave the pills to Rogers or one of the other organizers or managers to distribute and collected payment for filling their prescriptions. The scheme operated from 2012 until in or around April 2020. In total, Rogers and the co-conspirators he organized illegally acquired approximately 41,430 30-milligram oxycodone tablets, which is equal to 1,243,700 milligrams of the drug. Rogers pleaded guilty to conspiring to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone on August 30, 2021.
For his part in the scheme, Dr. Beauchamp pleaded guilty on October 20, 2020, to the same offense. Another one of the organizers, Deandre Varnel Gross, pleaded guilty to the same offense on March 30, 2021. Dr. Beauchamp’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 14, 2022, and Gross’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 12, 2022.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad investigated this case, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Shelby County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Alice S. LaCour, and B. Chelsea Phillips are prosecuting the case.
Woman Sentenced to More Than 18 Years in Prison for her Role in Dothan Truck Bombing Targeting a Former BoyfriendRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Tuesday, April 12, 2022, Ashley Nicole Haydt, 36, from Taylor, Alabama, was sentenced to 220 months in federal prison for her role in instigating a Dothan truck bombing that targeted a former boyfriend and father to one of her children, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Following her prison sentence, Haydt will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at her trial, in 2017, Haydt worked at Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan with Sylvio Joseph King. The two became friends and Haydt told King about the troubled relationship she was having with her long-time boyfriend and father of her unborn child. Haydt was distraught because her boyfriend would not agree to marry her and that he ultimately ended their relationship. In June 2017, their child was born, and the ex-boyfriend filed for custody soon after. The jury saw numerous texts from Haydt to King during this time where she villainized her ex-boyfriend and she repeatedly expressed concern over losing custody of her infant child. Haydt told King that her life would be better if the ex-boyfriend were out of the picture. Those texts continued for several weeks until Haydt suggested they begin using an alternate app called Snapchat to communicate. One of the principal features of Snapchat is that pictures and messages are usually only available for a short time before they become inaccessible to their recipients.
With Haydt’s ongoing encouragement to eliminate her ex-boyfriend, King began to purchase materials needed to construct a pipe bomb. Haydt provided King with her ex-boyfriend’s address and, in the early morning hours of October 23, 2017, King placed the explosive device in the ex-boyfriend’s work truck that was parked at his home. King detonated the bomb while the ex-boyfriend was driving to work. Shrapnel from the device was blasted into the ex-boyfriend’s back and hip area, but thanks to the actions of a passing motorist and first responders, he survived. After the explosion, King sent Haydt a message that read, “boom, I felt that from 120 feet away.”
Law enforcement quickly became suspicious of Haydt’s involvement in the crime. Haydt gave numerous conflicting statements during multiple interviews and, when agents checked her cell phone, they discovered she had deleted text messages she exchanged with King the day of the bombing and before. She had also deleted the Snapchat app. However, significant evidence of their prior communications remained on King’s phone. King also testified during the trial confirming Haydt’s involvement. After the four-day trial, the jury found Haydt guilty of conspiracy, malicious use of an explosive, and concealing the commission of a felony. King was sentenced on November 4, 2021, to 108 months in prison for his role in the bombing.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dothan Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and B. Chelsea Phillips prosecuted the case.
Former Alabama Correctional Sergeant Sentenced for Assaulting InmatesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – The Justice Department today announced that Ulysses Oliver Jr., 47, a former Alabama Department of Corrections Sergeant, was sentenced in federal court to 30 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Oliver previously pleaded guilty to assaulting two inmates at ADOC’s Elmore Correctional Facility.
According to court documents, on Feb. 16, 2019, Oliver went to an observation room holding the two inmate victims, who were handcuffed and sitting quietly. Oliver pulled the first victim from the observation room into an adjacent hallway, where he struck the victim multiple times with his fists and feet, and then used his collapsible baton to strike the victim approximately nineteen times. After assaulting the first victim, Oliver returned to the observation room and pulled the second victim into the hallway. Oliver kicked the second victim and used his baton to strike the victim approximately ten times. During the assaults, the victims were handcuffed behind their backs, did not resist, and posed no threat. Afterward, Oliver returned to the observation room where the victims were being held and shoved the tip of his baton into the face of one of the victims, lacerating the victim’s face. Oliver assaulted the victims as punishment because he believed that the victims had brought contraband into the facility. Oliver assaulted the victims in the presence of, or within earshot of, other ADOC correctional officers, who did not intervene to prevent the assaults.
Two other former corrections officers have pleaded guilty in connection with this incident, and a third was convicted at trial. Former ADOC correctional officers Bryanna Mosley and Leon Williams pleaded guilty in May and July 2019, respectively, to failing to intervene to stop the assaults. Another officer, former ADOC correctional lieutenant Willie Burks, who was the shift commander during the Feb. 16, 2019 incident, was convicted by a federal jury on July 21, 2021, of failing to intervene to stop Oliver from assaulting the second inmate.
“The Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment, which includes malicious uses of force by correctional officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will hold to account officers who brutalize incarcerated persons.”
“The actions of Mr. Oliver and his co-defendants run completely counter to the responsibilities and trust given to correctional officers,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “Oliver knew that the use of force in this case was unnecessary and excessive, and so did the other officers involved. While I fully support the difficult and dangerous jobs that these officers undertake each day, my office remains committed to holding those that ignore their oaths accountable.”
"Corrections officers are expected to safeguard the civil rights of prisoners,” stated Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown with the FBI’s Mobile Division. “These officers ignored their duties and must be held to account for their actions. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate violations of people’s civil rights."
“The ADOC has zero tolerance for violence within its facilities, including excessive use-of-force by staff. Excessive use-of-force is not acceptable under any circumstances, and preventing these incidents is a high priority for the Department,” said Chief Law Enforcement Officer Arnaldo Mercado of the Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division. “When an allegation of excessive force is made, or an incident of such nature is reported or discovered, the Department conducts a thorough investigation. Employees who are found to have violated the highest standards of law enforcement, to which the ADOC is steadfastly committed, will be referred for prosecution and the LESD will support prosecution to the full extent of the law.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorney David Reese of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Coosa County Man Sentenced to 280 Months in Prison Following FederalRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On April 5, 2022, Kilpatrick Cornelius McKinney, 38, from Kellyton, Alabama, was sentenced to 280 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. McKinney was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence is completed. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at McKinney’s October 2021 trial, on November 16, 2018, law enforcement was executing a search warrant at McKinney’s residence following his arrest and found two guns. In addition to the guns, investigators found approximately 452 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of powder cocaine, 27 tablets containing methamphetamine, and approximately $3,870.00 in cash. Because McKinney has multiple felony convictions, he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
After hearing the evidence during his trial, the jury found McKinney guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. McKinney received a lengthy sentence largely due to his extensive criminal history.
This case was prosecuted pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program in which U.S. Attorneys’ offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of its renewed focus on targeting armed violent criminals and gang members.
The United States Marshals Service, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
Chilton County Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On March 29, 2022, Bradley Shane Fisher, a 42-year-old Chilton County man, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. In addition to his prison sentence, Fisher was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to his plea agreement and other court records, on January 23, 2020, Chilton County deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with two occupants. During the stop, deputies observed a Colt, Model M4 carbine rifle next to the passenger, who they identified as Bradley Fisher. They soon learned that Fisher had previously been convicted of a felony and is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. During Fisher’s sentencing hearing, the prosecution pointed out that the rifle had been modified with what appeared to be a homemade and unregistered part designed to make it function as an automatic weapon and argued that this should be considered when determining the appropriate sentence.
Fisher was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm on August 17, 2021. He pleaded guilty to that charge on December 22, 2021.
This case was prosecuted pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program in which U.S. Attorneys’ offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of its renewed focus on targeting armed violent criminals and gang members.
The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Duraski and Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Tax Preparer Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison and Fined $100,000.00 for Filing False ReturnsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey with IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, announced that a Montgomery tax preparer was sentenced for aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. On Monday, March 28, 2022, Alisaya Danita Thompson-Dixon, 44, was sentenced to 37 months in prison to be followed by 12 months of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. In addition to her prison sentence, Thompson-Dixon was also ordered to pay a fine of $100,000.00 and $21,793.00 in restitution to the IRS.
According to her plea agreement and other court records, Ms. Thompson-Dixon operated a Montgomery tax preparation business under the name Magic Tax Service. In June of 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against Ms. Thompson-Dixon charging her with numerous counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false returns for clients from 2015 through 2017. During her plea hearing on October 14, 2021, Ms. Thompson-Dixon specifically admitted to assisting in filing false tax returns on at least two occasions. First, on February 15, 2016, Ms. Thompson-Dixon aided a client in filing a tax return that falsely claimed business income in the amount of $2,150.00 while claiming expenses in the amount of $67,107.00. Ms. Thompson-Dixon knew the client was not entitled to claim any business income or expenses and this deception resulted in a loss of $11,294.00 to the IRS. In addition, Ms. Thompson-Dixon also admitted to aiding a client in filing an illegal tax return on January 16, 2018. In similar fashion, she claimed false business revenue and expenses for a client that resulted in a tax loss of $10,499.00.
Far too many tax preparers attempt to make money by putting false information on the returns of others,” stated U.S. Attorney Stewart. “In doing so, they are not only committing a crime, but they are also subjecting their customers to potential future scrutiny by the IRS. Hopefully, Ms. Thompson-Dixon’s sentence will serve as a warning to other tax return preparers who are considering schemes like these. I applaud the Internal Revenue Service for their efforts to identify tax fraud like this and hold the offenders accountable.” U.S. Attorney Stewart also encourages all taxpayers to review their returns and confirm that they recognize the items on them. If a tax preparer refuses to let you examine your tax return before it is filed, or if you review your tax return and see a business that is not yours or expenses you do not recognize, ask for clarification or seek a second opinion from a different return preparer. For additional guidance, see the IRS fact sheet on their website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-10.pdf.
“Yesterday’s sentencing of Thompson-Dixon is further evidence that tax crimes do not pay in the long run,” said Special Agent in Charge Dorsey. “As we continue the 2022 tax filing season, those who might consider preparing false tax returns should be aware of the negative consequences as evidenced in this sentencing. The sentencing of Thompson-Dixon emphasizes, the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue aggressive pursuit of those who attempt to defraud America’s tax system.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Robbery and Discharging a Firearm While Committing the CrimeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Monday, March 28, 2022, John Adam Vinson, Jr., 32, from Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to bank robbery charges and discharging a firearm while committing the crime, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to the plea agreement and other court records, on December 14, 2020, Vinson entered the Regions Bank branch located near Eastdale Mall in Montgomery. Once inside, Vinson pulled out a handgun and fired a shot into the desk at an empty teller station. A bank employee in one of the offices heard the shot and came out of her office. Vinson immediately grabbed her and moved her to the door, which accesses the teller counters. When Vinson realized the employee could not open the door, he jumped over the counter and began opening the teller drawers. Vinson put money from the drawers into a bag, jumped back over the teller counter, and ran out of the bank. Vinson was spotted by a responding Montgomery Police officer across the street from the bank and was eventually arrested.
Vinson was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2021 for bank robbery, armed bank robbery, and discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence. A sentencing hearing will take place in the coming months. Because of the nature of his crimes, Vinson is facing a sentence ranging from 20 years to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Andreu is prosecuting the case.
Athens City School Administrator Found Guilty in Virtual Education Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On March 18, 2022, Athens City Schools administrator, William Richard (“Rick”) Carter, Jr., 46, was convicted for his role in a scheme to defraud the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), announced Acting United States Attorney Alice S. LaCour, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and Special Agent in Charge Reginald J. France of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southeastern Regional Office.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Carter, conspired with other school officials to fraudulently enroll students in public virtual schools and then falsely reported those students to the Alabama State Department of Education in order to illegally receive additional education funding. Carter’s co-conspirators include former superintendent of the Athens City Schools district Dr. William L. (“Trey”) Holladay, III; David Webb Tutt, of Uniontown, Alabama; Gregory (“Greg”) Earl Corkren, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; and former superintendent of the Limestone County School district Thomas Michael Sisk.
During Carter’s four-week trial, the jury heard evidence that he and his co-defendants obtained student identities to use in their scheme from various private schools located across the state—particularly private schools in the Black Belt region of Alabama. The defendants offered the private schools computers, direct payments, and access to online curriculum to persuade them to share their students’ academic records and personal identifying information with the public school districts. Multiple private school parents and former students testified that during the school years that the scheme occurred, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, they had little to no connection with the public-school districts in which they were supposedly enrolled. The parents continued to pay private school tuition and the students continued to attend the brick-and-mortar private schools each day, receiving instruction from teachers at those private schools.
There was also testimony provided about a meeting with the ALSDE in March of 2016 where the state notified Athens City School officials that private school students were being erroneously listed as public-school enrollees and directed the Athens School officials to correct the problem. However, evidence presented at trial showed that instead of following that guidance, Carter and his co-conspirators took steps to conceal and continue their scheme. For example, they created fake report cards, manufactured false addresses for the students of the private schools who lived outside of Alabama, and submitted falsified course completion reports to the state department of education. When shown the fake report cards and completion reports during the trial, the parents and former students testified that they had never seen them before and did not know any of the teachers listed on them.
The submission of this false documentation allowed payments to continue from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund to the Athens City Schools district and the Limestone County Schools district. Carter and his co-conspirators then received, for their own personal use, portions of the state funding. They skimmed the state money through direct cash payments and payments to third-party contractors owned by the various co-conspirators. During the course of the scheme, the total potential loss was approximately $10 million.
The jury found Carter guilty on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. At some upcoming date, Carter will be sentenced. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as substantial monetary penalties and restitution. He is also facing a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. Co-defendants William L. Holladay, III, Gregory Earl Corkren, David Webb Tutt, and Thomas Michael Sisk, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. Gregory Corkren also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
“We trust every educator to make teaching our children the top priority,” said Alice S. LaCour, acting United States Attorney for this case. “In this case, Mr. Carter violated that trust and put profit ahead of the well-being of students. I am proud of the work of the law enforcement agents who spent countless hours uncovering the disheartening fraud perpetuated by Mr. Carter and his co-conspirators.”
“Today's verdict is the result of hard investigative work by my office and our partners,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp. “The FBI will continue to work to hold accountable public officials who fail the citizens of their community by misusing their positions of trust for personal gain.”
“Today’s action shows that this former school official not only knowingly and willfully abused his position of trust for personal gain, but did so at the expense of the educational development of children. That is unacceptable," said USDOE-OIG Special Agent in Charge Reginald J. France. “Deservedly, Mr. Carter will be held accountable for cheating Alabama students and taxpayers."
“Integrity and trust are character traits common to teachers and administrators across Alabama,” stated Alabama State Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Eric G. Mackey. “As much as this case saddens educators everywhere, the State Department of Education is proud to have worked with the U.S Attorney’s Office, U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (OIG), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Alabama Attorney General’s Office to bring this fraud to light. When the Board selected me as Superintendent, I made it clear that core tenants of my administration would be integrity and transparency. The U.S. Attorney, FBI, and OIG, like us, are determined to make sure every taxpayer dollar is accounted for and every dollar intended for the classroom is spent on the classroom. We appreciate their hard work and dedication throughout the investigation and adjudication.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Alice S. LaCour, and Brett J. Talley prosecuted the case.
Three Men Arrested on Federal Gun and Drug Charges as a Part of DOJ Violent Crime Prevention InitiativeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announce that three individuals were arrested following federal indictments on gun and drug charges as part of an initiative to combat violent crime.
Jeremy Rishard Jackson, 28, from Montgomery, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Mahorace Laguaria Jackson, 39, from Montgomery, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Thomas Jamel Youngblood, 39, from Coosada, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jeremy Jackson and Thomas Youngblood were arrested yesterday. Mahorace Jackson’s arrest occurred today.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Youngblood made an initial appearance in federal court yesterday. Jeremy and Mahorace Jackson are set to make their initial appearances in court today. All three will remain in United States Marshals’ custody pending a detention hearing that will take place early next week.
If convicted, Jeremy and Mahorace Jackson are facing sentences of five years to life in prison. Thomas Youngblood is facing a maximum sentence of ten years. There is no parole in the federal system.
These cases are being prosecuted pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program in which U.S. Attorneys’ offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of its renewed focus on targeting armed violent criminals and gang members.
United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart would like to thank the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for investigating these cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Jones, Joshua Wendell, and B. Chelsea Phillips are prosecuting the cases.
Coffee County Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Murder While Trafficking Drugs Along with Other Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On March 8, 2022, Jareece Edward Blackmon, 28, from Enterprise, Alabama, was sentenced to 40 years in prison on federal gun and drug charges, including a charge of committing murder in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at his December 2021 trial, in June of 2017, the Montgomery Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at a Montgomery business. When officers arrived, they found Blackmon suffering from a gunshot wound to one of his legs. Officers also found a stolen Ruger .380 in Blackmon’s car along with ammunition in a mesh bag that had Blackmon’s blood on it. Blackmon is a convicted felon and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Later, in August of 2017, Blackmon went to a house in Enterprise with multiple individuals to purchase a large quantity of marijuana. One of them went inside with Blackmon, was shot multiple times, and died. The next day, while officers were executing an arrest warrant for Blackmon, they found another gun. Further analysis determined that it was the same gun used in the murder and that it contained traces of Blackmon’s DNA. More than eighteen pounds of marijuana and other firearms were discovered as well.
Blackmon was found guilty of using and discharging a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to traffic marijuana, possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case was prosecuted pursuant to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program in which U.S. Attorneys’ offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of its renewed focus on targeting armed violent criminals.
This case was investigated by the Enterprise Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, the Dothan Police Department, the Level Plains Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Davidson, Justin Jones, and Greg Griffin Jr. prosecuted the case.
Pike Road Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On March 1, 2022, Jermaine Mizell Jones, a 38-year-old man from Pike Road, Alabama, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. In addition to his prison sentence, Jones was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in November of 2018, agents with the Central Alabama Drug Task Force initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driving in Elmore County. When agents approached, they requested that both the driver and passenger step outside of the vehicle. Once out of the car, agents could see a suspicious bulge in the passenger’s clothing, which turned out to be approximately 83 grams of crystal methamphetamine. The passenger stated that the drugs belonged to the driver, who agents identified as Jermaine Mizell Jones. Both Jones and the passenger were arrested. Jones told law enforcement that he was staying at a hotel in Montgomery and consented to a search of his room. Agents went to the hotel and found a vehicle parked outside Jones’ room that corresponded to a key found in his pocket at the time of arrest. Inside the vehicle, they found another 362 grams of crystal meth. Jones eventually admitted that both the meth found on the passenger and in the vehicle belonged to him.
At the time of the November 2018 arrest, Jones was serving a term of supervised release from a 2016 conviction for federal drug and gun violations. Jones had received and served a 26-month sentence for those previous charges.
Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance on July 14, 2021. He pleaded guilty to that charge on September 20, 2021.
The Central Alabama Drug Task Force, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bates prosecuted the case.
Opelika Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that Hyram Franklin Patton, a 38-year-old man from Opelika, Alabama, was sentenced to 57 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to his prison sentence, Patton was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on January 26, 2019, an Alabama State Trooper was patrolling Hwy. 51 in Opelika when he observed a black Ford Mustang cross the centerline and initiated a traffic stop. When the Trooper approached the vehicle, he made contact with the female driver and asked her to step out of the car to check for impairment, she complied. The Trooper observed a man in the in the passenger seat and when he attempted to identify him, the man gave conflicting information about his name. During this process, the Trooper noticed that the passenger was reaching around behind the seat in a suspicious manner and asked for him to exit the vehicle in case he might be reaching for a weapon. The vehicle was then searched and a 9mm handgun was found in the pocket on the back of the seat. The Trooper was finally able to positively identify the passenger as Hyram Franklin Patton, who had an outstanding felony warrant out of Macon County. Patton eventually admitted the gun belonged to him. Patton also has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Patton was arrested on the scene and the driver was issued a traffic citation and released.
Patton was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 15, 2021. He pleaded guilty to that charge on May 4, 2021 and was sentenced on February 25, 2022.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Bates prosecuted the case.
Union Springs Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On February 23, 2022, Christopher Lee Smith, a 24-year-old man from Union Springs, Alabama, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. In addition to his prison sentence, Smith was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on February 3, 2020, a Union Springs Police Officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Smith. During the stop, the officer discovered that Smith had two loaded handguns in a bag belonging to him despite being prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2018 state felony conviction for shooting into a vehicle. During the hearing, the court learned that it had been a mere four months after Smith’s state probation period was complete that he was found with the two guns in this case.
Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm on April 7, 2021. He pleaded guilty to that charge on October 8, 2021.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The Union Springs Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorney Russell Duraski prosecuted the case.
Four Men from the Enterprise Area Arrested on Federal Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Enterprise Police Department, announce that four individuals were arrested on February 23, 2022, following federal indictments on unrelated gun charges.
- Everett Santell Hornsby, 40, from Enterprise, Alabama was indicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Carneilrous Flucker, 30, from Daleville, Alabama was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Alex Tyrone McNair, 48, from Enterprise, Alabama was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and being in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
- Darrell Darnell Thomas, 39, from Enterprise, Alabama was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
All individuals named above made their initial appearance in federal court in Montgomery on the same day they were arrested. If convicted, each of the accused are facing a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart would like to thank the Enterprise Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for investigating these cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Jones, Russell Duraski, Stephen Moulton, and Eric Counts are prosecuting the cases.
Montgomery Woman Found Guilty of Lying to a Federal AgentRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Tuesday, February 8, 2022, Tressa Nile Jones-Arnold, 30, from Montgomery, Alabama, was convicted of making a false statement to a federal agent, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in March of 2020, Jones-Arnold bought a Glock, model 45, 9mm semi-automatic pistol at a pawn shop in Montgomery. As part of that transaction, Jones-Arnold completed an ATF form that required her to verify she was buying the gun for herself. Later, on September 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the residence of Lonnie Dontae Mitchell, who was in a relationship with Jones-Arnold and had a child with her. Agents were searching for evidence of suspected drug and human trafficking activity. During the search, law enforcement found a Glock 9mm along with a number of items related to the sale of illegal drugs. The 9mm handgun found was the same firearm previously purchased by Jones-Arnold. Mitchell has multiple felony convictions on his record and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
On October 13, 2020, federal agents interviewed Jones-Arnold. She told them she unintentionally left the gun at Mitchell’s house under the bed the weekend before the search was conducted and the gun was found. However, as early as May 2020, Jones-Arnold had sent text messages to Mitchell referring to the gun. In August, she texted him, “Well you need to get a gun registered to yourself cause I don’t feel comfortable with u having a gun registered to my name,” and “I’ll buy it back from u!”
Mitchell was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in July of 2021 and is facing a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. Following yesterday’s conviction, Jones-Arnold is facing up to five years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set for Jones-Arnold. Mitchell’s sentencing is still pending as well.
“Lying to federal investigators is a serious crime, and so is providing a firearm to a felon,” stated U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Violent crime is on the rise around the country and far too many criminals are using firearms to terrorize their communities. Ms. Jones-Arnold’s actions placed a gun in the hands of an individual who could not purchase one for himself because of his criminal history, then she lied to federal agents to cover for them both. I hope this conviction serves as an important reminder that those who lie to federal investigators or provide guns to felons will face criminal consequences.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James P. Lamb and Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Wetumpka Man Sentenced Following Federal Gun and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Wednesday, February 2, 2022, Richard Herbert Smith, 45, from Wetumpka, Alabama, was sentenced to 145 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. The judge also ordered that Smith serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence and pay a fine of $35,000.00. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented at his trial in June 2021, law enforcement learned that Smith was selling cocaine to a co-conspirator, Ronnie White, 51, from Montgomery. In December of 2017, officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Smith and found five ounces of cocaine and a firearm. The jury also heard testimony that White regularly purchased cocaine from Smith and that White was expecting to buy between five and nine ounces on the day of the traffic stop. Other testimony was provided indicating that Smith often carried a firearm during these transactions and that he would occasionally conduct the illegal drug sales while wearing his Air Force Reserve uniform.
Ronnie White, who is a convicted felon, previously pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison in July of this year.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the Prattville Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Alabama National Guard Counterdrug program. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Mark E. Andreu prosecuted the case.
Former Alabama Correctional Lieutenant Sentenced for Failing to Intervene in Unlawful Inmate AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department today announced that Willie M. Burks III, 41, a former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) lieutenant, was sentenced today in federal court to 108 months’ imprisonment, with two years of supervised release to follow. Burks was convicted by a federal jury on July 21, 2021 of failing to stop an officer under his command from assaulting an inmate at ADOC’s Elmore Correctional Facility.
The evidence at trial established that on Feb. 16, 2019, former Correctional Sergeant Ulysses Oliver Jr., Burks’ subordinate, went to an observation room holding two handcuffed and unresisting inmates. Oliver, intending to punish the inmates for bringing contraband into the prison, pulled the first inmate from the observation room into an adjacent hallway, where he struck the victim multiple times with his fists and feet, and then used his collapsible baton to repeatedly strike the victim. Burks came into the hallway after Oliver had finished beating the first inmate. Burks then stood and watched as Oliver pulled the second inmate from the observation room, threw him on the floor, and beat the inmate with his feet and his collapsible baton. Despite having the duty, ability and opportunity to intervene to stop Oliver from beating the second inmate, Burks only stood by and said, “it’s fair.” Other ADOC correctional staff who reported to Burks were present for some or all of the assaults, but none intervened to stop Oliver from beating the inmates.
After the assault, Burks allowed Oliver to come back into the observation room where the victims were held. As Burks again stood by and did nothing, Oliver entered, stood over the victims, and shoved the tip of his baton into the face of one of the victims, lacerating the victim’s face.
Oliver and two other former corrections officers have pleaded guilty in connection with this incident. Oliver pleaded guilty to assaulting the two inmates on April 2, 2019. Former ADOC correctional officers Bryanna Mosley and Leon Williams pleaded guilty in May and July 2019, respectively, to failing to intervene to stop the assaults.
“Those working inside our jails and prisons have a duty to intervene in the face of unlawful and violent conduct being carried out by their colleagues,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Under the Constitution, correctional officers may not physically assault inmates for violations of prison rules, and any officials who see this happening must do what they can to stop it. The Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute officers who stand by and do nothing while other officers brutalize inmates in their charge.”
“The job of a correctional officer can be difficult and hazardous,” said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “A vast majority of them serve with honor and are dedicated to upholding their duty to protect and serve. Unfortunately, some choose to ignore their sacred oaths and engage in criminal conduct or turn a blind eye when others do so. This office will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s laws and hold officers who break the law accountable.”
“The unacceptable actions of Willie Burks in no way reflect the hard and tireless work of our corrections staff, who endeavor each day to provide a safe and rehabilitative environment for all incarcerated people,” said Arnaldo Mercado, the ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer. “We condemn in the strongest possible terms Burks’ behavior and blatant violation of his sworn oath to serve. Any and all incidents such as this are thoroughly investigated and, if appropriate, referred to the proper prosecuting authority. We extend our thanks to the DOJ for their assistance in bringing forth justice in this case.”
“The mission to protect the civil rights of American citizens is a priority of the men and women of the FBI and does not end after incarceration,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Duchene of the FBI’s Mobile Division. “The actions of the corrections officers in this case will not be tolerated and we are proud to be a part of bringing them to justice.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Katherine DeVar and David Reese of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On December 16, 2021, Taurus Lebron Green, 40, from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 84 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in early 2019, investigators suspected that Green and co-defendant, Daryl Tyrone Gray, were engaging in the sale of illegal drugs. Then, on April 11, 2019, agents discovered that Green and Gray had made arrangements to purchase cocaine in the parking lot of a Montgomery restaurant. Both men were arrested immediately after the illegal transaction took place. When law enforcement searched the vehicle Green and Gray were travelling in, they found two handguns. Green has multiple felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. Green pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms on January 14, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Chelsea Phillips prosecuted the case.
Former School Superintendent Pleads Guilty in Virtual Education Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On Thursday, December 16, 2021, William L. Holladay, III, 57, now a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to defraud the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) by falsely inflating the number of students enrolled in public virtual schools, announced the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama. Prior to October of 2020, Holladay was the superintendent of the Athens, Alabama City Schools System (ACS).
When he entered his guilty plea, Holladay admitted that he, along with co-defendant Thomas Michael Sisk, superintendent of the Limestone County Schools system (LCS), conspired to fraudulently inflate the number of students enrolled in their systems. According to court records and information contained in Holladay’s plea agreement, Holladay and Sisk did so when they submitted to the ALSDE lists of enrolled students who were, in reality, full-time students at private schools located in other parts of the state.
As a result of reporting these fraudulently enrolled students, the school systems received payments from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund as if the students actually attended public schools. Holladay, and his co-defendants, would then take portions of the money given to the school systems for their own personal use.
To obtain private school student information for use in the scheme, the defendants offered various benefits to private schools, most of which were located in Alabama’s Black Belt region. Those benefits included: laptop computers, access to online curriculum, standardized testing, and monetary payments. The students whose identities were used in the scheme had little to no connection to the public-school districts. Those students continued to attend brick-and-mortar private schools each day; they continued to participate in private school athletics; and their parents continued to pay tuition to the private schools.
At some upcoming date, Holladay will be sentenced. He faces a maximum five-year prison sentence, as well as substantial monetary penalties. Co-defendant William Richard Carter, Jr. is currently set for trial on February 7, 2022. Co-defendants Gregory Earl Corkren, David Webb Tutt, and Thomas Michael Sisk, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government. Gregory Corkren also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross, Alice S. LaCour, and Brett J. Talley are prosecuting the case.
Tuskegee Man’s Supervised Release Revoked After Being Involved in Shootout Resulting in Murder ChargeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On December 10, 2021, Cornelius Donte Bowen, 32, from Tuskegee, Alabama, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after violating the terms of his supervised release, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and statements made in court, in October of 2020, Bowen began serving a three-year period of supervised release following a prison sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Then, on June 12, 2021, Bowen was in the parking lot of a housing complex in Tuskegee and began arguing with others over a fender bender involving a car belonging to the mother of his children. During the argument, Bowen and at least one other person began shooting. One man died and Bowen himself was shot in the exchange. Bowen was arrested on June 13th and, the following day, the United States Probation Office petitioned the court to revoke Bowen’s supervised release. State charges of murder and attempted murder are still pending.
This case was investigated by the Tuskegee Police Department and the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama, with assistance from the Montgomery Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Headland Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On December 10, 2021, Dedric J. Dean, 44, from Headland, Alabama, was sentenced to 36 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on May 12, 2020, officers with the Ozark Police Department spotted a vehicle being driven by Dean that had been reported stolen and performed a traffic stop. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a 9mm handgun. Dean has several felony convictions on his record and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Dean pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on June 23, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Ozark Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski, Chelsea Phillips, and Joshua J. Wendell prosecuted the case.
Two Montgomery Men Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Two convicted felons from Montgomery were sentenced to federal prison for possession of firearms, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
On December 9, 2021, Darious Jamal Jackson, 25, was sentenced to 21 months in prison, and on November 19, 2021, Aaron Taki Gage, 21, was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Once their prison sentences are completed, both Jackson and Gage will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records and evidence presented in court, Gage broke into a vehicle outside a home in Prattville during the early morning hours of May 15, 2019. The homeowner confronted him, and Gage shot at the homeowner three times before fleeing in a Ford Focus. The Prattville Police Department identified the Ford Focus and its tag number using surveillance footage and asked local law enforcement to be on the lookout for the vehicle.
On May 17, 2019, officers with the Montgomery Police Department saw a Ford Focus with matching tag numbers linked to the Prattville shooting and performed an investigative stop in Montgomery. Jackson was the driver and Gage was the front seat passenger. During the stop, Jackson admitted to having a handgun under the driver’s seat, and Gage stated he had a firearm on his person. Both Jackson and Gage are convicted felons and are prohibited from possessing firearms. There was no evidence presented that connected Jackson to the Prattville shooting. However, related state charges were brought against Gage; he pleaded guilty in Autauga County Court and was previously sentenced for those charges.
This case was investigated by the Prattville Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Awards More Than $17.5 Million to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded more than $17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. Funding will support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs was awarded $352,153.00 to administer PSN grant funds for the entire state, with $98,291.00 being dedicated to the Middle District.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
“This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime threatening cities and towns all across our country,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have to work closely with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it provides allow us to do just that.”
“Project Safe Neighborhoods remains one of the most effective cooperative programs through which our office can assist law enforcement in taking violent and problematic felons off the streets,” said Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “I am pleased that the Department of Justice allocated PSN grant money again this year to combat violent crime in our state, and our district.”
Grant funds will support enforcement-related activities and investigations to reduce firearms violence. With approval from BJA, the fiscal agent will administer subawards for PSN grant projects.
“Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of Project Safe Neighborhoods,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP. “The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust.”
In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
This fall, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country have enhanced their violent crime reduction efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer for all.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to reduce violent crime.
For a list of all grantees, please visit: FY21-Project-Safe-Neighborhoods-Awards.pdf (ojp.gov).
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The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
Montgomery Man Sentenced for Committing a String of Bank Robberies in Central AlabamaRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Friday, December 3, 2021, Jamie Josuhnta Ryans, 27, from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
In September of this year, Ryans pleaded guilty to robbing banks in four different counties in central Alabama, including: BB&T Bank in Montgomery, Alabama, robbed on October 17, 2019; BanccorpSouth Bank in Hayneville, Alabama, robbed on October 25, 2019; Community Neighbor Bank in Greenville, Alabama, robbed on November 6, 2019; and First National Bank of Dozier in Dozier, Alabama, robbed on December 11, 2019.
During each of the robberies, Ryans entered the bank and gave the teller a note demanding money but did not produce a firearm or show that he had one. However, during the December 11throbbery, Ryans did imply to the teller that he had a gun in his pocket. While investigating the robberies, law enforcement learned that during the First National Bank robbery in Dozier, Ryans was assisted by Kendrick Deantay Flynn, a 31-year-old also from Montgomery, who served as Ryan’s getaway driver. Flynn was previously sentenced to 38 months for his role in that robbery.
Ryans’ prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release. The judge also ordered that Ryans pay $7,853.70 in restitution to the banks.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Hayneville Police Department, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Assistant United States Attorney Russell Duraski prosecuted the case.
Coffee County Man Found Guilty of Murder While Trafficking Drugs Along with Other Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On December 3, 2021, Jareece Edward Blackmon, 28, from Enterprise, Alabama, was convicted by a jury on federal gun and drug charges, including a charge of committing murder in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on June 15, 2017, officers from the Montgomery Police Department responded to a business after reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Blackmon, who had been shot in the leg. A stolen Ruger .380 was found in Blackmon’s car along with a mesh bag in the trunk containing ammunition with his blood on the outside and inside of the bag. Blackmon is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Later, on August 15, 2017, Blackmon went to a house in Enterprise with multiple individuals to purchase a large quantity of marijuana. One went inside with Blackmon, was shot six times, and died. The next day, law enforcement was executing an arrest warrant on Blackmon at his residence and found the gun used in the murder with Blackmon’s DNA on it. More than eighteen pounds of marijuana and other firearms were discovered as well.
After hearing the evidence presented at trial, the jury found Blackmon guilty of using and discharging a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to traffic marijuana, possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Due to the seriousness of his crimes, Blackmon is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. In the coming months, a federal district court judge will determine Blackmon’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the Enterprise Police Department, the Montgomery Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, the Dothan Police Department, the Level Plains Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Davidson, Justin Jones, and Greg Griffin Jr. prosecuted the case.
Dothan Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Federal Gun and Drug CrimesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On November 9, 2021, Jimmy Lamar Berry, 36, from Dothan, Alabama, was sentenced to 188 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to the factual basis contained in the plea agreement and other court records, on August 28, 2017, the Dothan Police Department executed a search warrant on Berry’s residence. During the search, cocaine and a digital scale were found in the kitchen, along with a handgun. Officers also located various amounts of marijuana, cocaine, and other controlled substances in one of the cars in the back yard of Berry’s house.
Later, on July 11, 2019, the Dothan Police Department and the United States Marshals Service executed an arrest warrant for Berry relating to a federal indictment that stemmed, in part, from evidence discovered during the August 2017 search. While making the arrest, officers smelled the odor of marijuana inside Berry’s residence. Law enforcement then obtained a search warrant and found more cocaine and marijuana, a digital scale with cocaine residue on it, and another firearm. Based on evidence found during this search, additional charges were brought in a superseding federal indictment in September of 2019. Berry pleaded guilty on July 1, 2021 to three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Based on Berry’s criminal history, the district court judge determined that he qualified as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines and was subject to sentencing enhancements under the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984. These rulings increased the guidelines range for Berry and resulted in a significant sentence.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Dothan Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Justin Jones prosecuted the case.
Dothan Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Truck BombingRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced the sentencing of a Dothan man for detonating a truck bomb in an attempt to kill the driver. On November 4, 2021, Sylvio Joeseph King, 48, was sentenced to 108 months in prison, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. King previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and the malicious use of an explosive device in October of 2020.
According to the factual basis contained in the plea agreement and court records from his co-defendant’s trial, King worked at Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan with co-defendant Ashley Nicole Haydt, 36, from Taylor, Alabama. King developed a friendship with Haydt during their time working together and she told King of her relationship and custody issues with a former boyfriend. Haydt would frequently communicate to King her hatred of the ex-boyfriend and how the custody dispute was impacting her and her other children.
Evidence presented at Haydt’s trial showed that she provided King with her ex-boyfriend’s address and, in the early morning hours of October 23, 2017, King placed an explosive device in the ex’s work truck and detonated the bomb while the victim was driving to work. Thankfully, the victim survived. Haydt was convicted for her role in the conspiracy after a four-day trial in October 2021. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 1, 2022.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dothan Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Bates and Chelsea Phillips prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison Following Federal Gun and Drug ConvictionsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 27, 2021, Daryl Tyrone Gray, 38, from Montgomery, Alabama, was sentenced to 78 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and the factual basis contained in the plea agreement, on February 20, 2019, the Montgomery Police Department responded to a shots-fired call. When officers arrived, they made contact with Gray and found him in possession of a .40 caliber handgun. Gray is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Later in 2019, law enforcement suspected Gray was engaging in the illegal sale of controlled substances. On April 11, 2019, agents discovered that Gray had made arrangements with another individual to purchase a quantity of cocaine in the parking lot of a Montgomery restaurant and was subsequently arrested.
Gray pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance on November 19, 2020.
This case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Russell T. Duraski prosecuted the case.
Coosa County Man Found Guilty on Federal Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On October 26, 2021, Kilpatrick Cornelius McKinney, 38, from Kellyton, Alabama, was convicted by a jury on federal gun and drug charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, the United States Marshals Service, along with Alabama State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents, were attempting to locate McKinney to serve an outstanding arrest warrant. On November 16, 2018, agents discovered that McKinney was at his home in Coosa County and upon entering the house, they found McKinney hiding in his bedroom closet. During the arrest, agents noticed a distinct odor of marijuana and saw narcotics and drug paraphernalia in plain view.
Agents then obtained a search warrant for McKinney’s residence based on their observations. While executing that search warrant, investigators located a variety of McKinney’s personal effects in his bedroom, along with a Taurus .38 caliber revolver that was in a Crown Royal bag inside a larger black bag with approximately one pound of marijuana. McKinney has multiple felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. In total, agents seized two guns, approximately 452 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of powder cocaine, 27 tablets containing methamphetamine, and approximately $3,870.00 in cash.
After hearing the evidence presented at trial, the jury found McKinney guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.
McKinney has a significant criminal history and is facing a sentence of at least 20 years in prison if he qualifies as an armed career criminal under federal law. In the coming months, a federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, including his potential status as an armed career criminal.
The United States Marshals Service, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case, with assistance from the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.
Former Air War College Professor Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements About Relationship with Government Official in ChinaRead the Press Release
A civilian professor at the Air War College on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent.
According to court documents, Xiaoming Zhang, 69, a naturalized citizen of Chinese descent living in Montgomery, Alabama, began working as an Air War College (AWC) professor in July 2003. During his tenure at the AWC, Zhang would travel to China on a regular basis for work-related purposes, research and to visit family living there.
Beginning sometime in 2012, Zhang developed a relationship with a known foreign official working with the Shanghai Municipal Government. Records indicate that Zhang met with the official in person on approximately six occasions and exchanged approximately 40 emails with him from December 2012 to January 2017. At some point during this period, Zhang became aware that the official was using, or attempting to use, their relationship to gain access to sensitive information in Zhang’s possession, as well as to make contact with other potentially valuable individuals.
As part of his employment at the AWC, Zhang held a “secret” security clearance and attended annual security training that informed him of reporting requirements about suspicious foreign contacts and relationships with foreign government officials, along with other briefings concerning reporting requirements. Despite all the trainings and briefings, Zhang failed to report the relationship with the foreign official even after he came to understand that the official was attempting to gather sensitive information from Zhang.
According to the factual basis contained in the plea agreement, Zhang made multiple misleading or false statements to authorities in an attempt to hide his relationship with the Chinese official. In August of 2017, Zhang denied knowing the foreign official when questioned by U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) investigators who were verifying his continued eligibility for a security clearance. When the FBI interviewed Zhang in July of 2020, he initially made more false statements, but eventually admitted to meeting with the official in China on numerous occasions and to being untruthful concerning that information. Zhang also acknowledged that he had concealed the relationship with the official because he knew it was improper.
Zhang pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent and faces a maximum of five years in prison at sentencing. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Department of the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and the Department of Defense.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Talley of the Middle District of Alabama is prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Former Air War College Professor Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements About Relationship with Government Official in ChinaRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – A civilian professor at the Air War College on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent, Announced Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
According to court documents, Xiaoming Zhang, 69, a naturalized citizen of Chinese descent living in Montgomery, Alabama, began working as an Air War College (AWC) professor in July 2003. During his tenure at the AWC, Zhang would travel to China on a regular basis for work-related purposes, research and to visit family living there.
Beginning sometime in 2012, Zhang developed a relationship with a known foreign official working with the Shanghai Municipal Government. Records indicate that Zhang met with the official in person on approximately six occasions and exchanged approximately 40 emails with him from December 2012 to January 2017. At some point during this period, Zhang became aware that the official was using, or attempting to use, their relationship to gain access to sensitive information in Zhang’s possession, as well as to make contact with other potentially valuable individuals.
As part of his employment at the AWC, Zhang held a “secret” security clearance and attended annual security training that informed him of reporting requirements about suspicious foreign contacts and relationships with foreign government officials, along with other briefings concerning reporting requirements. Despite all the trainings and briefings, Zhang failed to report the relationship with the foreign official even after he came to understand that the official was attempting to gather sensitive information from Zhang.
According to the factual basis contained in the plea agreement, Zhang made multiple misleading or false statements to authorities in an attempt to hide his relationship with the Chinese official. In August of 2017, Zhang denied knowing the foreign official when questioned by U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) investigators who were verifying his continued eligibility for a security clearance. When the FBI interviewed Zhang in July of 2020, he initially made more false statements, but eventually admitted to meeting with the official in China on numerous occasions and to being untruthful concerning that information. Zhang also acknowledged that he had concealed the relationship with the official because he knew it was improper.
Zhang pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent and faces a maximum of five years in prison at sentencing. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the Department of the Air Force’s Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and the Department of Defense.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Talley of the Middle District of Alabama is prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Woman Found Guilty for Her Role in Dothan Truck Bombing Targeting A Former BoyfriendRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On Thursday, October 21, 2021, Ashley Nicole Haydt, 36, from Taylor, Alabama, was convicted by a federal jury for her role in a Dothan truck bombing that targeted a former boyfriend and father to one of her children, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in 2017, Haydt worked at Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center in Dothan with Sylvio Joseph King. Testimony presented at trial showed that the two became friends and that Haydt began to tell King about her troubled relationship with her long-time boyfriend and father of her unborn child. Haydt was upset that her boyfriend would not agree to marry her and that he ultimately ended their relationship. In June 2017, the child was born and, soon after, the ex-boyfriend filed for custody. The jury saw numerous texts from Haydt to King during this time where she villainized her ex-boyfriend. She repeatedly expressed concern over losing custody of her infant child and how her life would be better if the ex-boyfriend were out of the picture. Those texts continued for several weeks until, at the suggestion of Haydt, they began using an alternate app to communicate called Snapchat. One of the principal features of Snapchat is that pictures and messages are usually only available for a short time before they become inaccessible to their recipients.
Based on the ongoing encouragement from Haydt to eliminate her ex, King began to purchase materials needed to construct a pipe bomb. Haydt provided King with her ex-boyfriend’s address and in the early morning hours of October 23, 2017, King placed the explosive device in the ex’s work truck that was parked at his home. King detonated the bomb while the victim was driving to work and shrapnel from the device was blasted into the victim’s back and hip area. Thanks to the actions of a passing motorist and first responders, the victim survived. After the explosion, King sent Haydt a message that read, “boom, I felt that from 120 feet away.”
Law enforcement quickly became suspicious of Haydt’s involvement in the crime. Haydt gave numerous conflicting statements during multiple interviews and when agents checked her cell phone, they discovered she had deleted text messages she exchanged with King the day of the bombing and before. She had also deleted the Snapchat app. However, significant evidence of their prior communications remained on King’s phone and he also testified during the trial confirming Haydt’s involvement. After a four-day trial, the jury found Haydt guilty of conspiracy, malicious use of an explosive, and concealing the commission of a felony. King had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and malicious use of an explosive device in October of last year. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the next few months for each of them. At that hearing, they will be facing a minimum of 7 years, and a maximum of 40 years, in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart would like to thank the following agencies for their diligent work on this case: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dothan Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Alabama Fire Marshal’s Office also assisted. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Bates and Chelsea Phillips prosecuted the case.
Two Montgomery Tax Preparers Plead Guilty for Their Roles in Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart and IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey announced that two Montgomery women, operating separate tax preparation businesses, have pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. On October 14, 2021, Alisaya Danita Thompson-Dixon, 43, entered a guilty plea to for her role in filing false tax returns. Last month, Lashunda Deann Crittenden, 42, pleaded guilty to the same charge.
According to court records, Ms. Thompson-Dixon operated a tax preparation business under the name Magic Tax Service in Montgomery. In June of 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against Ms. Thompson-Dixon charging her with numerous counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false returns for clients from 2015 through 2017. During her plea hearing, Ms. Thompson-Dixon specifically admitted to assisting in filing false tax returns on at least two occasions. First, on February 15, 2016, Ms. Thompson-Dixon aided a client in a tax return that falsely claimed business income in the amount of $2,150.00 while claiming expenses in the amount of $67,107.00. Ms. Thompson-Dixon knew the client was not entitled to claim any business income or expenses and this deception resulted in a loss of $11,294.00 to the IRS. In addition, Ms. Thompson-Dixon also admitted to facilitating an illegal tax return on January 16, 2018. In similar fashion, she claimed false business revenue and expenses for a client that resulted in a tax loss of $10,499.00.
In the second case, Lashunda Deann Crittenden operated a tax preparation service located on South Court Street in Montgomery, Alabama where she prepared federal income tax returns for others. During her plea hearing, Ms. Crittenden admitted that on February 26, 2018, she electronically transmitted a return prepared by her that claimed a client incurred $8,726.00 in qualified solar electric property costs, $6,358.00 in medical and dental expenses, and $8,364.00 in gifts to charity despite knowing that the client was not entitled to claim these items for calendar year 2017. The IRS subsequently paid a larger refund to the taxpayer based on Ms. Crittenden’s misrepresentations.
“By aiding in the completion and filing of these fraudulent tax returns, both defendants stole taxpayers’ hard-earned money,” stated Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. “I applaud the Internal Revenue Service for their efforts to identify tax fraud like this and hold the offenders accountable.” Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart also encourages all taxpayers to review their returns and confirm that they recognize the items on them. If a tax preparer refuses to let you examine your tax return before it is filed, or if you review your tax return and see a business that is not yours or expenses you do not recognize, ask for clarification or seek a second opinion from a different return preparer. For additional guidance, see the IRS fact sheet on their website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/fs-08-10.pdf.
“Thompson-Dixon and Lashunda Crittenden knowingly manipulated taxpayers’ returns for the sole purpose of generating large refunds and preparer fees,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “Please be advised, if you file false tax returns for others, it is illegal, and you will face the consequences.”
A sentencing hearing will be held for Ms. Thompson-Dixon and Ms. Crittenden in the coming months. At their hearings, they will be facing up to 3 years in prison for each count along with significant fines. They will also be subject to an order of restitution to the IRS after the total losses are determined by the court.
These cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the cases.
Montgomery Man Pleads Guilty to String of Bank Robberies in Central AlabamaRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, Jamie Josuhnta Ryans, 27, from Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to robbing four banks during a two-month period in 2019, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
During the plea hearing, Ryans admitted to robbing banks in four different counties in central Alabama. Information on the banks and dates are as follows:
- BB&T Bank in Montgomery, Alabama, robbed on October 17, 2019.
- BanccorpSouth Bank in Hayneville, Alabama, robbed on October 25, 2019.
- Community Neighbor Bank in Greenville, Alabama, robbed on November 6, 2019.
- First National Bank of Dozier in Dozier, Alabama, robbed on December 11, 2019.
According to court records and statements made in open court, on each occasion Ryans entered the bank and gave a teller a note demanding money but did not produce a weapon or show that he had one. However, during the December 11th robbery, Ryans did imply to the teller at the First National Bank of Dozier that he had a firearm in his pocket. Tellers at all four locations ultimately complied with Ryans’ written demands and gave him money from their bank drawers. After the First National Bank Robbery in Dozier, Ryans entered a waiting vehicle being driven by Kendrick Deantay Flynn, a 31-year-old also from Montgomery. Flynn previously pleaded guilty to his involvement in the Dozier bank robbery and on March 31, 2021, was sentenced to 38 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled for Ryans in the coming months. At this hearing he will be facing up to 20 years in prison. Ryans will also be subject an order of restitution to the banks after their total losses are determined by the court.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Hayneville Police Department, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, and the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Assistant United States Attorney Russell Duraski is prosecuting the case.
Eleven More Individuals Plead Guilty to Oxycodone Distribution Offenses Involving Montgomery PhysicianRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Over the past several weeks, eleven individuals have appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to unlawfully possess oxycodone with intent to distribute and for illegally distributing the prescription drug, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Information about the defendants and the dates on which they pleaded guilty are as follows:
- July 16, 2021- Joseph Anthony Coleman, 37, of Montgomery, Alabama.
- August 3, 2021- Kambria Symone Robinson, 29, of Atlanta, Georgia.
- August 4, 2021- Rubin Sanders, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia.
- August 5, 2021- Towanna Lorrell Chapman, 36, of Montgomery, Alabama.
- August 5, 2021- Jamal Anthony Thomas, 37, of Montgomery, Alabama.
- August 24, 2021- Maurice Daughtry, 38, of Marietta, Georgia.
- August 26, 2021- Melodie Donne Armer Cheatham, 38, of Savannah, Georgia.
- August 30, 2021- Carlos D’Angelo Jones, 34, of Memphis, Tennessee.
- August 30, 2021- Garren Charles Rogers, 35, of Houston, Texas.
- September 1, 2021- Geniece Chadell Maxon, 33, of Lynwood, Illinois.
- September 1, 2021- Robert Lee Thompson, 32, of Madison, Alabama.
According to court documents, these defendants agreed among themselves and with others to obtain illegitimate and unlawful prescriptions for oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, signed by a Montgomery, Alabama physician, Dr. D’Livro Lemat Beauchamp. In many cases, this was facilitated through a third-party without actually going to the physician’s office. The defendants would then fill those prescriptions at pharmacies located in and around Montgomery, give the oxycodone tablets to organizers of the conspiracy, and collect payment. Additionally, the organizers of the conspiracy and Beauchamp agreed that Beauchamp would receive $350.00 per unlawful prescription he signed. Statements made at the various plea hearings, indicated that defendants Daughtry and Rogers were among the organizers of the conspiracy. The scheme operated from 2012 until April of 2020. However, each defendant did not necessarily participate for all or even most of that period.
In total, these eleven defendants unlawfully obtained, possessed with the intent to distribute, and, in most cases, did distribute, approximately 38,780 30-milligram oxycodone tablets, which is equal to 1,163,400 milligrams of the drug.
For his part in the scheme, on October 20, 2020, Dr. Beauchamp pleaded guilty to the same offense. Likewise, on March 30, 2021, another one of the organizers, Deandre Varnel Gross, entered a guilty plea. Finally, two other defendants in the case, Shayla Denise Moorer and Naaman Rashad Jackson, pleaded guilty earlier this summer. As noted in their press release, Moorer and Jackson each unlawfully received payments for filling oxycodone prescriptions and transferring oxycodone tablets.
In the coming months, United States District Judge Myron H. Thompson will conduct a sentencing hearing for each of the defendants discussed above. At his or her sentencing hearing, each defendant will face a maximum sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, a maximum fine of $1,000,000.00, and other monetary penalties.
Cases against other co-conspirators named in the indictment are still pending. Those defendants are presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“It is disturbing how so many are willing to jeopardize the well-being of the community simply to make a few extra dollars,” stated Acting United States Attorney Stewart. “The drugs distributed through the work of this conspiracy were powerful opioids, capable of destroying lives and families. We will never be able to account for the harm caused by the collective action of this group. I am glad that, after many years and many pills pouring into our communities, these defendants are being held to account for their actions.”
"Those who choose to violate laws designed to ensure the safe and legal dispensation of pharmaceutical drugs will not escape the scrutiny of DEA by attempting to hide criminal activity and placing unbridled greed before health and safety,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad investigated this case, assisted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Shelby County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross and Alice S. LaCour are prosecuting the case.
Florida Man Sentenced for Stealing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Florida man has been sentenced for stealing guns from a licensed firearms dealer in Dothan, Alabama. On August 24, 2021, 30-year-old Tevin Michael Coffman was sentenced to 72 months in prison for unlawfully taking a firearm from a federal firearms licensee, possession of stolen firearms, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Following his prison sentence, Coffman will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Coffman pleaded guilty to all three charges on March 3, 2021.
According to court records and statements made in court, on March 22, 2020, Gander Outdoors, a business authorized to sell firearms in Dothan, Alabama, was burglarized and multiple guns were stolen. Surveillance footage showed someone entering the store, smashing the glass casing of a firearm display counter, and removing thirteen handguns. The suspect then placed the guns into a black bag and left the store. The Dothan Police Department began an investigation and, after reviewing video footage along with other evidence, developed Coffman as a suspect. Shortly afterwards, Coffman was spotted driving a recreational vehicle (RV) that had also been stolen from Gander Outdoors. Officers conducted a traffic stop of the RV and took him into custody. When they searched the vehicle, officers discovered the stolen firearms and other items used during the burglary. Coffman has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Dothan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Andreu prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Banker Sentenced for Informing Customer of Grand Jury SubpoenaRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Montgomery, Alabama banker was sentenced for disclosing the existence of a grand jury subpoena to one of his customers. On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Charles Gregory Hardy, Jr., 37, was sentenced to three years’ probation and fined $10,000.00 for obstructing a criminal investigation as an officer of a financial institution.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Hardy was an employee of Valley National Bank during the spring of 2020. In April of that year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sent the bank a federal grand jury subpoena seeking records pertaining to the accounts of bank customer D’livro Beauchamp. Hardy learned about the subpoena and sent a text message to Beauchamp that read, “I got a subpoena for your financial records.” A few days later, Hardy went to Beauchamp’s office and, while there, sent a photo of a part of the grand jury subpoena from his personal telephone to Beauchamp.
Grand jury subpoenas are confidential documents and bank employees are, in most cases, prohibited by federal law from disclosing a subpoena’s existence to the customer whose records are being sought. By sending the subpoena to Beauchamp, Hardy informed the former physician of the existence of an otherwise confidential federal grand jury investigation.
Despite the disclosure of confidential information by Hardy, Beauchamp was eventually charged with conspiring to unlawfully distribute oxycodone on July 22, 2020. Beauchamp pleaded guilty to that charge in October of 2020. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2021 and he will be facing up to 20 years in prison.
“Safeguarding the integrity of our judicial system is critical when investigating crimes,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart. “The disclosure of confidential grand jury information can derail an investigation by allowing a target to destroy evidence or threaten witnesses. My office considers this bank employee’s disclosure a serious crime and is dedicated to holding anyone unlawfully sharing confidential information accountable for their actions.”
"This investigation has shown the unfortunate reality that people in all professional positions can become involved in criminal activity,” stated DEA Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Towanda Thorne-James. “People who commit such crimes will be held accountable.”
The DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad investigated this case, with assistance from the Shelby County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross and Alice S. LaCour prosecuted the case.
Phenix City Man Sentenced for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Phenix City, Alabama man has been sentenced for distribution of child pornography. On August 10, 2021, 37-year-old Richard Ryan Jazek was sentenced to 151 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in the Fall of 2020, the FBI received information about a Kik messenger app user who was sharing images and videos of suspected child pornography. Law enforcement discovered that the suspected Kik account and username was linked to Jazek, along with the IP address. Further investigation revealed that Jazek’s Kik account had in fact uploaded multiple images and videos containing child pornography. In his plea agreement, Jazek admitted specifically sharing a video on September 22, 2020, and then sharing an image on October 4, 2020. After both of these Kik postings, Jazek responded to other users viewing the video and image in the chat section and made disturbing comments. In addition to his prison sentence, Jazek was ordered to pay $27,000.00 in restitution, or $3000.00 each to nine victims identified in the videos and images he was sharing.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys James P. Lamb and MaryLou E. Bowdre prosecuted the case.
Former Montgomery High School Assistant Principal Sentenced for Scamming School System Out of More Than $300,000.00Read the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On Tuesday, August 10, 2021, Walter James, III, a 50-year-old from Montgomery, Alabama, and former Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) employee, was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart, FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell, and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Following James’ prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. James was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $314,867.55 to MPS for the monetary losses his scheme cost their system.
According to court documents and testimony provided in open court, James held himself out to be the owner of a consulting company, "ED-ONE Professional Development Services,” while he was employed by the MPS system. He then worked in partnership with others at his high school and the MPS central office to submit fraudulent invoices for consulting or professional development services. The invoices that were submitted listed vague descriptions of the types of services that had been supposedly provided. For example, the invoices would include descriptions such as “books & materials,” “consulting,” or “three-day workshop.” In reality, James did not provide any professional development services or products of any kind to MPS, nor did any of the purported consulting companies on the corresponding invoices that James submitted for payment. During the sentencing hearing, the court determined that the scheme, which occurred from August 2016 to April 2019, created a loss of $314,867.55 to MPS. James was ordered to pay restitution in that amount to MPS.
“It is such an outrageous violation of the public trust when people responsible for the education of our children cheat taxpayers and line their own pockets instead of benefitting students who, in this great country, are entitled to a public education,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Stewart. “Now, more than ever, it is critical that funds allocated to public schools make it to the classroom and are used to educate students. In this case, James ignored his responsibility to spend government funds on the children and he deprived both students and teachers of much needed resources. I hope this prosecution sends a strong message to all those educators who put themselves above the needs of our children and their teachers that they will be held accountable.”
“Employees of our nation’s educational system must hold themselves to a higher standard,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Jewell. “The strong partnerships we enjoy with our state and local partners ensure this type of criminal activity will be detected and dealt with accordingly.”
“Public employees are entrusted to be stewards of taxpayer funds,” said Attorney General Marshall. “When that trust is broken, not only are public resources diminished but the community’s faith in our government is undermined. Mr. James repeatedly stole considerable funds from the Montgomery Public School System and his acts have eroded citizens’ confidence in their local schools. His sentence should send an unmistakable message that those who violate the public trust will be held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, the Alabama Ethics Commission, and the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan and Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Ross prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing A FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On Monday, August 9, 2021, Timothy Jerome Russell, 43, from Montgomery, Alabama, was convicted by a federal jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on August 16, 2018, Montgomery police officers were patrolling an area near Ann Street when they saw a vehicle with a suspended tag. When the driver of the car pulled into a gas station, the officers followed and made contact with Russell, who was the driver and only person in the vehicle. When officers ran his driver’s license through dispatch, they learned that Russell had several outstanding arrest warrants. Officers then had Russell exit the car and he was detained. When officers asked if anything illegal was in the car, Russell said he had marijuana and a pistol in the center console. The car was searched, and they found a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, along with marijuana and other controlled substances. Russell has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing firearms. He was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm by a federal grand jury on February 12, 2020.
Russell’s sentencing hearing will be schedule in the next few months and he faces a sentence of up to ten years in prison.
This case was investigated by the Montgomery Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Bates and Brett Talley prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing A Firearm During A Geneva Pawn Shop BurglaryRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Dothan, Alabama man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 4, 2021, 32-year-old Jeffrey B. Wilson was sentenced to 100 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on September 16, 2019, security cameras at the River City Pawn Shop in Geneva, Alabama captured a vehicle driving around to the back of the business. The driver, later identified as Wilson, got out of the vehicle and seemed to inspect the rear of the building. Video showed Wilson return to his vehicle and drive around the pawn shop a few times before leaving. Later that same day, Wilson returned and used power tools that he brought with him to cut a hole in the building’s rear wall. He then armed himself with a .22 caliber revolver and crawled through the hole he had created. While inside, Wilson grabbed two cases, exited through the back door, and placed them in his vehicle and left the premises. One of the cases taken contained an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, MULTI caliber semiautomatic rifle.
Law enforcement quickly developed Wilson as a suspect and obtained a search warrant for his residence. Wilson was home when law enforcement arrived to execute the warrant and, initially, he barricaded himself inside. Fortunately, officers were able remove Wilson from the residence without serious injury. During the subsequent search, agents recovered the revolver Wilson carried into the pawn shop as well as the stolen rifle. Wilson has previous felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case was investigated by the Geneva Police Department, the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Brett Talley and Joshua Wendell prosecuted the case.
Montgomery Man Convicted for Being A Felon in Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, Lonnie Dontae Mitchell, 36, from Montgomery, Alabama, was convicted by a federal jury for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on September 16, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a Montgomery residence to search for evidence of suspected drug and human trafficking activity. While clearing the house, law enforcement made contact with Mitchell in the kitchen and ordered that he get on the floor. Mitchell complied and when agents approached him, they discovered a Glock .9mm handgun on the floor where he had previously been standing. While searching the residence, law enforcement seized a number of items related to the sale of illegal drugs, including a batch of small plastic bags and three scales located on the kitchen table, and an additional scale in one of the back bedrooms. In the bedroom next to the kitchen, officers found a black glove next to a wallet containing Mitchell’s driver's license. When agents looked inside the glove, they found multiple bags containing suspected narcotics. Mitchell has multiple felony convictions on his record, including two for first degree robbery and one for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from possessing firearms.
Following this conviction, Mitchell is facing a maximum sentence of ten years in prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. In addition, court documents also show that on July 14, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Mitchell on multiple sex trafficking charges. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Mitchell is scheduled to be arraigned on the sex trafficking charges on August 2, 2021.
This case was investigated by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Montgomery Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James P. Lamb and Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.
Federal Escapee Sentenced After Hitting Law Enforcement Vehicle During ArrestRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Montgomery, Alabama man has been sentenced for failing to report back after his work release assignment and running his car into a U.S. Marshals’ vehicle during his arrest. On July 22, 2021, 29-year-old D’Anthony Marquez Dillard was sentenced to 27 months in prison for escaping from federal custody. Following Dillard’s prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, in February of 2016 Dillard was sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was placed in Bureau of Prisons custody to serve out his term of imprisonment. In June of 2020, Dillard was transferred to a halfway house in Montgomery to complete his sentence where he was allowed to work during the day, then return to the facility in the evening. On September 12, 2020, Dillard failed to report back as required and an arrest warrant was issued for him. On October 15, 2020, the U.S. Marshals Service received a tip concerning Dillard’s location and went to execute the warrant. When Marshals arrived, they spotted Dillard at a gas station in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. The Marshals surrounded Dillard’s vehicle with their own to block him in and prevent escape. Dillard placed his car in reverse and struck the law enforcement vehicle behind him, but quickly gave up when the other vehicles closed in to prevent further movement. Fortunately, no injuries were sustained and there was minimal property damage.
This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Joel Feil and Joshua Wendell prosecuted the case.
Spectracare Health Systems, Inc. Agrees to Pay $1 MillionRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Alabama – On July 23, 2021, a notice of dismissal was filed indicating that SpectraCare Health Systems, Inc. (“SpectraCare”) agreed to pay $1 million dollars to resolve a federal qui tam lawsuit alleging that it violated the False Claims Act, announced Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. The Government’s multi-year investigation, which spawned from a whistleblower complaint, investigated whether SpectraCare knowingly violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Alabama Medicaid for Basic Living Skills services, and by failing to return overpayments to the Alabama Medicaid Agency, which constitutes a “reverse false claim” actionable under 3729(a)(1)(G) of the False Claims Act.
SpectraCare Health Systems, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Dothan, Alabama, which provides integrated healthcare services, including developmental disability services, intermediate care medical services, behavioral health services, and preventative programs to a range of patients. The company is contracted by the Alabama Department of Mental Health to provide services, which are paid for by the Alabama Medicaid Agency.
This lawsuit was initially filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama by a former SpectraCare employee under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act. Pursuant to these provisions, a private citizen can bring suit on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. The United States will receive $743,193.00 of the $1 million dollar settlement, 19% of which will go to the relator as her share of the Government’s recovery in the matter. The remaining $256,807.00 will be paid to the Alabama Medicaid Agency.
The settlement resolves allegations that, from October 1, 2012 through December 31, 2019, SpectraCare (1) knowingly submitted to Medicaid claims for reimbursement for services that were billed without complete and correct documentation, billed in duplicate, over-billed, or otherwise improperly billed, and/or (2) knowingly made, used, or caused to be made or used, false records or statements material to SpectraCare’s obligation to return overpayments to Medicaid based on such improper billing procedures, and/or (3) knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly failed to repay, or to exercise reasonable diligence to determine whether it was obligated to repay, Medicaid for SpectraCare’s improper claim submissions and their attendant overpayments.
This Affirmative Civil Enforcement matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha R. Miller and the Civil Health Care Fraud Investigator of the United States Attorney’s Office, with assistance from Assistant Attorney General James Hartin of the Office of the General Counsel for the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The case was investigated in conjunction with the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Former Alabama Correctional Supervisor Convicted for Allowing Inmate AbuseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – After a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted former Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) shift commander Willie M. Burks III, 42, of failing to stop an officer under his command from assaulting an inmate at ADOC’s Elmore Correctional Facility. The jury rendered its guilty verdict on July 21, 2021.
The evidence at trial established that Burks watched calmly as his subordinate, Sergeant Ulysses Oliver, took a handcuffed and compliant inmate out of an observation room, threw him onto the ground, and then punched, kicked, and beat him with a baton. Rather than intervene, as Burks had been trained to do, Burks stood silent until the end of the beating, at which time he commented, “that’s fair.” When Oliver turned himself in for using excessive force, triggering an investigation, Burks instructed Oliver to write in his report that Burks had told him to stop, even though that was not true, in order to cover up his failure to intervene.
“The Constitution requires officers to take reasonable steps to stop excessive force when they know of it and have the power to stop it,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Defendant Burks defied the Constitution, and ignored his oath as a law enforcement officer, when he casually watched a handcuffed and defenseless inmate in his custody being assaulted by an officer under his command. We stand ready to hold officers who commit federal civil rights violations inside of jails and prisons accountable for their misconduct.”
“Correctional officers have an incredibly difficult and important job,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. “Although a vast majority of them serve with honor, cases like this damage public trust and make the job they do more difficult. When officers abandon their oath to protect and serve, and turn a blind eye to criminal conduct, they must be held accountable. This office is committed to prosecute anyone who violates the law.”
“When a law enforcement officer accepts his or her oath of office they also accept the higher standard they must adhere to,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Jewell of the FBI’s Mobile Division. “The abuse of prisoners should not, and will not, be tolerated by the men and women of the FBI and their work in this case was exemplary. The cooperation of the multiple agencies involved in this case, and most specifically the Alabama Department of Corrections, is a testament to their dedication to the administration of justice.”
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms Burks’ behavior and blatant violation of his sworn oath to serve, said Chief Law Enforcement Officer Arnaldo Mercado for the Alabama Department of Corrections’ Law Enforcement Services Division. “We extend our thanks to the DOJ for their assistance in bringing forth justice in this case.”
Burks is the fourth correctional officer to be convicted in federal court in connection with this assault. Former ADOC Sergeant Ulysses Oliver previously pleaded guilty for assaulting the inmate, and former Corrections Officers Briana Mosley and Leon Williams, who were also present during the assault, previously pleaded guilty for failing to intervene.
Burks will be sentenced in November. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Mobile Division and ADOC’s Law Enforcement Services Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Counts of the Middle District of Alabama, and Trial Attorneys Katherine DeVar and David Reese of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division.
Separately, the Department of Justice is prosecuting a civil case against Alabama and ADOC that alleges a pattern or practice of excessive force by ADOC security staff in violation of the United States Constitution. United States v. Alabama, No. 2:20-cv-01971-RDP (N.D. Ala.).
Prattville Woman Sentenced for Possession of Meth with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that a Prattville, Alabama woman has been sentenced for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. On July 15, 2021, 40-year-old Mary Elizabeth Griffin Wilson was sentenced to 60 months in prison after pleading guilty to the crime in March of this year. Following her sentence, she will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on March 1, 2019, Wilson was stopped by law enforcement while driving in Autauga County for a traffic violation. As deputies approached the vehicle, they saw movements from Wilson indicating she was trying to conceal something from them. She was asked to exit the vehicle, and when she did, deputies observed methamphetamine in the seat where she had been sitting. After being taken into custody, she also told officers she had more meth in her pants pockets. Deputies also discovered approximately $20,000.00 in cash in her purse.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted the case.
Three Dothan Residents Sentenced for Stealing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that three Dothan, Alabama residents have been sentenced for their roles in stealing guns from licensed firearms dealers. On July 8, 2021, 19-year-old Michael T. Taylor was sentenced to 26 months in prison. Previously, on June 9, 2021, 20-year old Jamir Y. Baxter was sentenced to 36 months and, lastly, on May 12, 2021, 21-year old Michaela R. White, was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment. Following each of their prison sentences, they will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on August 6, 2019, Baxter, acting alone, burglarized Performance Machine Works in Dothan, Alabama and stole five firearms, including a Glock, model 27, .40 caliber pistol; a Glock, model 20, 10mm pistol; a Glock, model 48, 9mm pistol; an FN, model 509T, 9mmm pistol; and, a Remington, model 1911 R1, .45 caliber pistol. Then, on September 6, 2019, Baxter, Taylor, and White all conspired to burglarize The Outpost, a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Dothan, Alabama, in order to steal guns. They made entry into the building by using hand tools to remove material and breach the business’ back wall to avoid setting off the alarm. A total of nine firearms were taken from The Outpost, including a BCM, model BCM4, 5.56 mm rifle; a Caracal, model F, 9mm pistol; an I.O. Inc., model BSR-74, 5.45mm rifle; a Kel-Tec, model P11, 9mm pistol; a Romarm/Cugir, model WASR-10, 7.62mm rifle; a Romarm/Cugir, model WASR-10UF, 7.62mm rifle; a Taurus, model 24/7 G2, 9mm pistol; and, two (2) Taurus, model G2C, 9mm pistols.
The three defendants were indicted for unlawfully taking firearms from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) and conspiracy to steal from an FFL in connection with the September 6, 2019 burglary. Baxter was indicted on an additional charge of stealing from an FFL for the August 6, 2019 gun thefts. All three pleaded guilty to the charges contained in the indictment.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Dothan Police Department, and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuted the case.
Georgia Woman and Montgomery Man Plead Guilty to Their Part in Drug Distribution Conspiracy Involving Montgomery PhysicianRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – Today, Acting United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart announced that two individuals have pleaded guilty to conspiring to unlawfully distribute a controlled substance. On July 8, 2021, Shayla Denise Moorer, 39, of Suwanee, Georgia entered her guilty plea. Last week, on June 30, 2021, Naaman Rashad Jackson, 33, from Montgomery, Alabama admitted his guilt in federal court.
Moorer’s and Jackson’s guilty pleas follow an April 2021 indictment charging them and thirteen others with conspiring to unlawfully distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II opioid controlled substance. The overall conspiracy began at an unknown date and continued through April 2020. Both Moorer and Jackson operated in the scheme with Deandre Varnel Gross, who previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy. According to court records, Moorer and Jackson entered into an agreement with associates of theirs to obtain prescriptions of oxycodone from Montgomery, Alabama physician, D’livro Lemat Beauchamp, despite there being no medical reason to do so. They would then fill those prescriptions at a pharmacy. Once they had the oxycodone tablets, Moorer and Jackson would sell some or all of them to others. Often, they would receive the prescriptions without actually seeing Beauchamp. Instead, Moorer and Jackson would obtain the prescriptions from other co-conspirators.
In Moorer’s plea agreement, she admitted to first receiving a prescription as part of the scheme on or about April 18, 2014. Jackson’s agreement states his first prescription was received on or about July 3, 2013. Thereafter, they both received prescriptions for either 60 or 90 30-milligram oxycodone tablets made out to them and signed by Beauchamp approximately once a month. Moorer continued in the scheme until March of 2020 and Jackson continued until April 2020. Over the course of Moorer’s involvement, she admitted to receiving and filling 63 oxycodone prescriptions which resulted in approximately 5,100 illegally obtained tablets and a total of 153,000 milligrams of the highly addictive and abused drug. During Jackson’s participation in the scheme, he obtained 47 prescriptions for 4,230 pills, equaling 126,900 milligrams of oxycodone.
Moorer’s and Jackson’s sentencing hearings will take place on September 28, 2021 and they are both facing a maximum of 20 years in prison. The cases against the other thirteen named in the indictment are still pending.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the United States Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross and Alice S. LaCour are prosecuting the case.