Northern District of Alabama
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Eleven Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Excise Tax Evasion and Money Laundering Scheme Involving Illegal Sports-Betting OrganizationRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today, a federal grand jury indictment was unsealed charging eleven defendants from across the United States in a multi-million dollar wagering excise tax evasion scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Assistant Special Agent in Charge Lisa Fontanette, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger.
A 114 count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges these defendants stemming from their management of a multi-million dollar wagering excise tax evasion scheme involving an illegal sports-betting organization.
- Timothy J. Pughsley, 51, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with 38 counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering.
- Christopher Burdette, 30, of Chelsea, Alabama, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering.
- Nathanael Burdette, 36, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
- Jonathan Lind, 44, of Birmingham, Alabama, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
- Thomas V. Zito, 57, of Vestavia, Alabama, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and one count of money laundering.
- Christopher Donaldson, 46, of Trussville, Alabama, is charged with one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sport-betting organization and one count of conspiring to commit money laundering.
- Gary L. Rapp, Jr., 44, of Lakeland, Tennessee, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
- Mark Giaquinto, 50, of Upton, Massachusetts, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
- Matthew D. Voorhees, 47, of Englewood, Colorado, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
- David Richards, 38, of Las Vegas, Nevada, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
- Joshua Gentrup, 36, of Athens, Georgia, is charged with six counts of tax evasion, one count of conspiring to operate an illegal sports-betting organization, one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.
According to the indictment, Pughsley began operating a bookmaking business at least 17 years ago. The organization eventually became known as “Red44,” and bookmaking and betting activities occurred online via an offshore server located in Costa Rica. Defendants named within the indictment are alleged to be senior agents in the Red44 organization or original founding members.
Regarding the tax counts against the defendants, the indictment alleges that the organization was estimated to have accepted hundreds of millions of dollars in wagers from bettors from 2019 through 2021. In 2019, the Red44 Organization was alleged to have earned a gross profit of $14,930,787.00. The excise tax owed to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), or two percent of total wagers placed by bettors, would be $6,882,460.46 for 2019 alone. In 2020, the organization had income of approximately $24 million. The excise tax owed to the IRS for this year would total approximately $6 million. Further, in 2021, the organization had income of approximately $36 million. The excise tax owed to the IRS for 2020 would total over $7 million.
IRS Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine Crosby, Kristen Osborne, and Ryan Rummage are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a convicted felon to more than seven years in prison for illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Audrey Jerome Pruitt, 39, of Birmingham, to 90 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Pruitt pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm in September 2022.
According to court documents, in October and November 2020, Pruitt illegally possessed an American Tactical, Omni Hybrid, .223/.556 caliber pistol, and a Springfield .40 caliber pistol. Pruitt is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions. In April 2008, Pruitt was convicted in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County for Robbery, First Degree and Receiving Stolen Property, and in March 2019, he was convicted of Domestic Violence, Second Degree.
ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darius C. Greene and Michael Royster prosecuted the case.
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against Public Housing Authority and Property Owners in AlabamaRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Justice Department announced today that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama has approved a consent decree resolving the department’s Fair Housing Act lawsuit alleging race discrimination by the Housing Authority of Ashland, Alabama. The consent decree also resolves the department’s claims against Southern Development Company of Ashland, Ltd., Southern Development Company of Ashland #2, Ltd., and Southern Development Company LLC, the private owners and agent of two of the eight low-income housing communities managed by the Housing Authority.
“Racial steering is a patently unlawful practice that destabilizes communities, fuels racial tensions, and perpetuates modern day racial segregation in communities across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division. “Racial steering violates federal law, and runs contrary to the principles of equal housing opportunity that animated the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who fought to bring an end to practices that locked Black people out of certain communities. This resolution should send a strong message to housing providers — both public and private — that they will be held responsible when they engage in unlawful conduct that violates the Fair Housing Act.”
“The consent decree entered today ensures access to housing opportunities for individuals and families without fear of discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama. “My office will continue to devote resources to vigorously pursue housing providers who deny equal housing opportunities to applicants or separate tenants based on their race.”
The lawsuit, filed in December 2020, alleged that since at least 2012, the defendants maintained largely segregated housing and steered residents to different housing communities based on race. For example, the defendants steered Black applicants away from four overwhelmingly white communities (known as Ashland Heights I, Ashland Heights II, East Side, and Clay Circle) that are located in predominately white neighborhoods to two predominantly Black communities (known as West Side and Pine View) that are located in predominately Black neighborhoods.
In investigating and litigating this case, the department conducted over 100 interviews with former and current tenants and other longtime residents of the Ashland area. The tenants and residents repeatedly highlighted the deep psychological stigma and harm suffered by hundreds of Black families who have lived in segregated housing for generations.
Under the court-approved decree, the defendants are required to pay $275,000 in damages to 23 current or former tenants who were allegedly harmed by the defendants’ conduct and pay a civil penalty to the United States; implement policies and procedures to remedy the alleged segregation and to ensure nondiscrimination, transparency, and consistency in processing applications and offering units to applicants; contact a group of approximately 145 individuals who are disproportionately Black who applied to Ashland Heights I or II but were not placed on the waiting list(s), and offer them spots on the waiting list based on their original dates of application if they still qualify; undergo fair-housing training; and submit periodic compliance reports to the Justice Department.
This case was jointly litigated by attorneys in the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin, and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the civil rights laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, emailing [email protected], or submitting a report online. Individuals also may report discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777, or by filing a complaint online.
Birmingham Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Tax FraudRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The owner of a Birmingham business pleaded guilty today to tax fraud for failing to pay employment taxes to the Internal Revenue Service that he withheld from employees’ wages over a number of years, announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office James E. Dorsey.
JAMES MARK BURKETT, 65, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco to one count of failure to account for and pay over trust fund taxes to the IRS. As part of his plea, he agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $1,592,746.92. Burkett is scheduled for sentencing on April 23, 2023.
“Burkett willfully disregarded his tax obligation,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Payroll taxes fund Social Security and Medicare and are a large source of revenue for the federal government. My office will hold accountable anyone who fails to comply with their tax obligations.”
“Employers have a known legal duty to collect and turn over employment taxes from their employees to the IRS,” SAC Dorsey said. “James Burkett’s guilty plea today should be a warning to employers who willfully fail to comply with their tax responsibilities.”
According to the plea agreement, Burkett is the owner of Superior Coil Service, Inc., a company that manufactures coils for the electric motor repair industry. The IRS reviewed eight quarters for tax years 2016 and 2017. During that time, Superior Coil Service, Inc. paid wages of $1,411,677.23 to employees. From these wages, Burkett withheld federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes totaling $273,342.28—none of which were paid to the IRS on behalf of the company or its employees. Burkett also failed to file required forms 941, W-2, W-3, or Transmittal of Wage and Tax statements for the quarters under review.
The maximum penalty for tax fraud is five years in prison.
The IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Catherine Crosby is prosecuting the case.
Mississippi Resident Convicted of Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury today convicted a Mississippi resident for a carjacking that occurred in Moody, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Eric Lamar White, 24, of Jackson, Mississippi, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze. White was convicted of carjacking and carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a violent crime.
“The violent acts of these defendants put the lives of an innocent family in danger,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “I am grateful for the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners in Alabama and Mississippi to apprehend these defendants, and for the work of our prosecutors to ensure that justice was served.”
“These violent offenders repeatedly displayed total disregard for human life and personal property. Carjackings and the prevalence of guns on our streets continue to plaque our communities at alarming and unacceptable rates,” SAC Watson said. “The ATF will continue to work with our state, local, and federal partners to remove violent criminals from the communities that we serve.”
According to evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2021, White and his codefendant, Kendarian Toran, were traveling from Jackson, Mississippi, to Atlanta, Georgia, in a stolen vehicle with a switched tag. The stolen vehicle began to overheat so White and Toran decided to carjack the victim in this case while carrying a firearm. At the time of the carjacking, the victim was in her 2008 Acura TL, pumping gas with her two small children in the vehicle. White and Toran waited for the perfect opportunity to take her car. White repositioned the overheating stolen car so that Toran could easily jump out and get into the driver’s seat of the Acura with ease. Once Toran got into the driver’s seat of the victim’s vehicle, the victim attempted to stop him from taking her car by jumping into the driver’s seat on top of Toran. She did not want him to take her children and fought for them. Toran put the firearm to the victim’s pregnant belly, told her to get her kids out of the car, and quickly drove off with her 2008 Acura TL, just as the last child got out. White and Toran met at a nearby business parking lot where White abandoned the original stolen vehicle and got into the 2008 Acura TL with Toran. Hours later, White was driving the Acura back to Jackson, Mississippi, with Toran, when Mississippi law enforcement spotted them. A vehicle pursuit ensued for 29 miles on I-20 at speeds over 130 mph with multiple law enforcement officers. Officers had to spike and force the vehicle into the median on I-20. When White was arrested, he had his Glock .45 caliber pistol and an Alabama driver’s license belonging to a person matching the description of the victim. The evidence showed that the Glock .45 caliber pistol was purchased by White in October 2020.
On August 25, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Kendarian Lamonte Toran, 18, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, to 114 months in prison for carjacking and carrying and brandishing a firearm during and relation to a violent crime. Toran pleaded guilty to the charges in March.
The maximum penalty for carjacking is 15 years in prison. Brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence carries a mandatory penalty of not less than 7 years in prison.
The ATF investigated the case along with assistance from the FBI Birmingham Division, Moody Police Department and multiple Mississippi law enforcement agencies, to include Rankin County Sherriff’s Office, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, and Madison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Plyler and Kristy Peoples are prosecuting the case.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man was sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
United States District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Joseph Ryan Byram, 39, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Byram received 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Byram is prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions. Byram was convicted in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, of the offenses of Burglary, First Degree in August 2001, and Theft of Property, Third Degree in April 2014, convicted in the Circuit Court of Bibb County, Alabama, of the offense of Robbery, First Degree in October 2014, and convicted in the Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, of the offense of Assault, Second Degree in April 2018.
On July 25, 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a home in Adger, AL, on a report that Byram was holding a victim against her will in the basement. Byram allowed the deputies inside the residence to verify. Deputies made contact with a female inside the residence, who was later identified as the victim. Deputies immediately observed the victim to have a swollen right eye along with bruises on several parts of her body. The victim began asking for help and informed deputies that Byram was in possession of a firearm up until their arrival and that he repeatedly beat her over the course of three days. After searching the residence, Jefferson County Sheriff detectives recovered a revolver.
The case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The ATF investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darius Greene, Brittany Byrd, and Daniel McBrayer prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge recently sentenced a Center Point man on drug and gun convictions to which he previously pleaded guilty, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
On November 29, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Torace Laster, 25, of Center Point, Alabama, to 30 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone and cocaine, and a consecutive 30 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, with credit being given for time already served while the charges were pending.
According to the plea agreement, on the evening of April 1, 2021, Gardendale Police officers encountered an SUV that had been stolen two days earlier in Birmingham. When they attempted to stop the driver, later identified as Laster, he sped onto a nearby street and then onto I-65. From there, he led the Gardendale officers on a high-speed chase that ended in eastern Birmingham. There, he exited the interstate and drove into a Birmingham neighborhood. Officers caught Laster there after he bailed out of the stolen vehicle and attempted to run.
Officers searched the stolen vehicle and found two backpacks, which contained a wallet with Laster’s identification card, multiple court notices addressed to Laster, a 9-millimeter pistol, two magazines loaded with ammunition and various controlled substances, including the cocaine and oxycodone to which he pleaded guilty. A Gardendale detective subsequently located a social media video posted by Laster on the day of his arrest. That video showed him sitting in what appeared to be the stolen SUV, discussing various drugs while holding one of the backpacks found after his arrest. On the video, Laster also had a conversation with someone off camera about the drugs he possessed.
Laster was prohibited from possessing the pistol because he had prior convictions for assault, second degree, receiving stolen property, first degree, and theft of property, first degree.
"In fleeing from officers, this defendant needlessly risked the lives of law enforcement and citizens traveling on the roads that night," U.S. Attorney Escalona said. "I appreciate the hard work of our law enforcement partners and their effort to safely apprehend this defendant."
“The individuals who knowingly and unlawfully possess firearms, distribute narcotics, and use illegal substances while possessing firearms are a huge concern,” SAC Watson said. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to swiftly remove violent criminals from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve safe.”
The ATF investigated this case along with the Gardendale Police Department. The Kimberly Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama State Troopers, and Birmingham Police Department provided support during the pursuit and at the arrest scene. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.
Two Individuals Indicted on Federal Crimes Committed in the Talladega National ForestRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury this week indicted two women in separate but related indictments for murder, kidnapping, robbery, and unlawful use of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
The four-count indictments filed in U.S. District Court charge Yasmine Marie Adel Hider, 20, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Krystal Diane Pinkins, 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, with murder, kidnapping, robbery, and unlawful use of a firearm during a crime of violence arising out of events that occurred in the Talladega National Forest on August 14, 2022.
The maximum penalty for murder, kidnapping, and unlawful use of a firearm during a crime of violence is life in prison. The maximum penalty for robbery is 15 years in prison.
The FBI and the Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigations- U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the cases, along with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alabama State Park Rangers, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, St. Clair Correctional Facility K9 Tracking Team, District Attorney of the 40th Judicial Circuit of the State of Alabama- Joseph “Joe” D. Ficquette (which includes Clay County), Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, Lineville Police Department, Ashland Police Department, Clay County Rescue Squad, Shinbone Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center, and Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Cross and John B. Felton are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Three Individuals Charged with Conspiracy to Steal Government Property from Anniston Army DepotRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three additional individuals have been charged with conspiracy to steal United States property from Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) in an ongoing investigation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones, Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General Assistant Deputy Inspector General Ronald Wesley, and United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Acting Special Agent in Charge D. Todd Outlaw.
In charging documents filed Thursday in United States District Court, Christopher Price, 54, of Childersburg, James Kenneth Scott, 71, of Sylacauga, and Eric Matraia, 43, of Munford are each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal United States property. Two civilian employees at ANAD, Stantillio Whitfield and Tevin Fletcher, were charged with conspiracy in October. Whitfield pleaded guilty before Judge Corey L. Maze on November 21, 2022, and Fletcher has agreed to plead guilty.
According to the charging documents, Matraia, who was a Security Guard at ANAD, and other civilian employees of the Department of Emergency Services stole military property from warehouses at ANAD. Scott acted as a middleman, delivering the stolen property to Price, who owned The Prepper Depot, a military surplus store in Sylacauga. Price sold the stolen property at deeply discounted prices at his store and gun shows. According to the documents, between 2015 and November 2021 Price received property stolen from ANAD valued at approximately $4 million. The stolen items included equipment that was designed to be attached to military weapon systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities and/or improved target acquisition.
"These cases demonstrate that insiders and their cohorts will be held accountable when they abuse their positions of trust and place personal gain above their duty and the safety of our military personnel, " United States Attorney Escalona said. "We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who steal government property."
“I’m proud of the great work done by the investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s office to bring these government employees and their co-conspirators to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin Jones of the Defense Department’s Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service. “Our office will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to make sure those who steal from our military Depots are held accountable.”
“Today’s court filings highlight the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s and partner agencies hard work and resolve to aggressively seek out and hold those who conspire to deprive the U.S. Government of sensitive property accountable for their actions,” said D. Todd Outlaw, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Southern Field Office, DACID.
According to the plea agreements, also filed Thursday, Price, Scott, and Matraia have each agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge. The plea agreements state that each defendant has agreed to pay restitution to the United States and forfeit the money they made from the conspiracy.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney George Martin is prosecuting the case.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Jacksonville Man Indicted on Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A grand jury this week indicted a resident of Jacksonville, Alabama, on child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
A two-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Skyler Joseph Weeks, 31, with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and possession of child pornography arising out of events that occurred from August 2022 to October 2022.
According to the indictment, from August 7, 2022, until October 13, 2022, Weeks attempted to coerce and entice an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in prostitution and other sexual activity. Weeks also illegally possessed child pornography that involved a minor that had not attained the 12 years of age.
The maximum penalty for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor is ten years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for child pornography is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Homewood Police Department. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Madison County Resident Indicted for Violating U.S. Sanctions Against IranRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An indictment was unsealed today charging Ray Hunt, 69, of Madison County, with federal offenses related to an illegal scheme to export U.S.-origin goods to Iran.
The 15-count indictment charges the defendant with conspiracy to defraud the United States, sanctions violations, smuggling goods from the United States, and submitting false or misleading export information.
According to the indictment, since at least November 2017, the defendant conspired to export U.S.-origin parts used in the oil and gas industry, including control valves and oil tubing, through his Alabama-based company, Vega Tools LLC, to customers in Iran. The defendant transshipped the goods to Iran through Turkey and the UAE to evade U.S. sanctions.
Hunt was arrested and made his initial court appearance earlier today. If convicted, Hunt faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine for violating U.S. trade sanctions against Iran. In addition, he faces up to five years for the conspiracy charge, 10 years for the smuggling offense, and up to five years for the false information offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) Miami Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security investigated the case in coordination with the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Cornelius and Jonathan “Jack” Harrington of the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Emma Dinan Ellenrieder and Adam P. Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Eutaw man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.
Chief United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Antawn Devonte Marshall, 25, of Eutaw, to 105 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition in February 2021. Marshall pleaded guilty to the charge in July. Marshall is prohibited from having a firearm because of prior felony convictions in Tuscaloosa County.
According to the plea agreement, on February 1, 2021, Tuscaloosa Police officers initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Antawn Devonte Marshall. As Marshall was gathering his driver’s license and proof of insurance, officers smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Officers found two boxes of Wolf brand 7.62x39mm ammunition in the center console of the vehicle. Underneath the driver’s seat, officers found a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol loaded with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
According to the plea agreement, on June 5, 2021, Tuscaloosa Police officers attempted to pull over the driver of a silver 2004 Ford Mustang for having no functional tag light. Marshall was the driver. Marshall refused to stop when officers initiated a traffic stop, and a vehicle pursuit followed. As Marshall’s vehicle entered the 2600 block of 21st Street in Tuscaloosa, Marshall lost control and left the roadway, striking a tree. The vehicle bounced back onto the roadway and the officers were unable to avoid striking the vehicle with the front of their unmarked vehicle. As the vehicles were about to collide, the officer noticed a silver item fly from the driver’s window. Officers found a silver 9mm magazine that was loaded with ten rounds of 9mm ammunition outside the car next to the driver’s door. As the officers were ordering Marshall from the vehicle, they noticed a Diamondback 9mm pistol in the driver’s floorboard under Marshall’s feet. The Diamondback 9mm pistol was loaded with nine rounds of 9mm ammunition.
ATF investigated the case along with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Alabama Man Indicted for Violating U.S. Sanctions Against IranRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today charging Ray Hunt, 69, of Madison County, Alabama, with federal offenses related to an illegal scheme to export U.S.-origin goods to Iran.
The 15-count indictment charges the defendant with conspiracy to defraud the United States, sanctions violations, smuggling goods from the United States and submitting false or misleading export information.
According to the indictment, since at least November 2017, the defendant conspired to export U.S.-origin parts used in the oil and gas industry, including control valves and oil tubing, through his Alabama-based company, Vega Tools LLC, to customers in Iran. The defendant transshipped the goods to Iran through Turkey and the UAE to evade U.S. sanctions.
Hunt was arrested and made his initial court appearance earlier today. If convicted, Hunt faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine for violating U.S. trade sanctions against Iran. In addition, he faces up to five years for the conspiracy charge, 10 years for the smuggling offense and up to five years for the false information offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona for the Northern District of Alabama and Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Carson of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) Miami Office made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security investigated the case in coordination with the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Cornelius and Jonathan “Jack” Harrington for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Emma Dinan Ellenrieder and Adam P. Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Birmingham Woman Found Guilty of Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury today convicted a Birmingham woman for kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Derick Irisha Brown, 32, after three days of testimony before Chief U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler. Brown was convicted of one count of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim arising out of events which occurred in October 2019. The jury further found that the minor victim’s death resulted from the kidnapping and that Brown conspired with Patrick Stallworth. Stallworth faces life in prison.
According to evidence presented at trial, on October 12, 2019, Brown traveled in a Toyota Sequoia with co-conspirator Stallworth to the Tom Brown Village Housing Development located in Birmingham, Alabama and kidnapped 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney. Her body was found 10 days later.
“Last month, a jury convicted Patrick Stallworth and today, the jury convicted the other defendant charged with kidnapping this young child. Kamille McKinney’s loss is felt not only by her family, but also by our entire community,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “While these prosecutions cannot bring her back, Stallworth and Brown will never be able to threaten or harm another child. We thank our local, state, and federal partners for their efforts to remove the threat posed by these dangerous criminals.”
“While I applaud today’s verdict, the only proper outcome in this matter would be to have Kamille returned to her family.” Acting SAC Rivera said. “Brown’s heinous actions cut short a precious life that can never be replaced. I continue to be grateful to the men and women in my office, along with our state, local and federal partners who worked tirelessly to bring Brown to justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Birmingham Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Chief of the Criminal Division Lloyd C. Peeples and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Blake Milner and Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.
Jefferson County Law Enforcement Actions to Combat Gun Crime Lead to Charges Against Seven MenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Seven defendants charged in separate and unrelated gun and drug cases appeared in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Katrina Berger.
Last month a federal grand jury indicted seven individuals in Jefferson County on firearm charges. These indictments are the result of continued collaborative work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to remove drivers of violence from our communities. The majority of these individuals facing gun charges have at least two prior felony convictions. The total number of prior felony convictions among these individuals is 18. Of the seven, there is one individual who has seven felony convictions.
A second superseding indictment charges Cantrell Dehardric Harris, 33, of Birmingham, with two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of illegally possessing a Glock 10mm pistol and two rounds of Barnaul 7.62 caliber ammunition, one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to this indictment, Harris persuaded an individual to write an affidavit wherein she falsely claimed ownership of the Glock 10mm pistol that Harris was charged with illegally possessing. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristy M. Peoples and Alan Baty are prosecuting the case.
A three-count indictment charges that on July 7, 2022, Kiavante Montiez Green, 27, of Birmingham, possessed a firearm, that is, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a felony. The indictment also charged that he possessed with the intent to distribute a controlled substance containing a detectable about of heroin and carried the Glock .40 caliber pistol in connection with a drug trafficking crime. ATF investigated the case, along with the Trussville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John G. Camp is prosecuting the case.
A two-count indictment charges Elijah Javon Rockette, 19, of Birmingham, with illegally possessing a machine gun, that is, a Glock .40 caliber pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” – an after-market device designed to illegally convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. Rockette was also charged with receipt of an unregistered firearm. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on July 27, 2022, Dantrell Dujuan Purifoy, 29, of Warrior, illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm, after having been previously convicted of a felony. ATF investigated the case, along with the Warrior Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Royster is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on September 19, 2022, Robert Ivan Salgado, 25, an undocumented individual and unlawfully in the United States, illegally possessed 138 rounds of Aguila ammunition. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on September 10, 2022, Cedric Rozell Thomas, 33, of Birmingham, illegally possessed a High-Point .45 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a felony. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius C. Greene is prosecuting the case.
A one-count indictment charges that on October 3, 2020, Will David Parr, 23, of Birmingham, illegally possessed a Taurus .380 caliber pistol, after having been previously convicted of a felony. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Simpson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Gadsden Marketer and Huntsville Businessman Plead Guilty in Multi-Million-Dollar Kickback and Health Care Fraud CasesRead the Press Release
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two individuals pleaded guilty to charges today in related cases involving multi-million-dollar health care fraud conspiracies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles.
James Ewing Ray, 51, of Gadsden, pleaded guilty before Chief United District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Ray owned Integrity Medical, LLC, a company through which he marketed health care items and services to medical providers. According to his plea agreement, between 2012 and 2018, Ray conspired with others to pay and receive kickbacks to induce medical providers to issue medically unnecessary prescriptions and order medically unnecessary goods and services, which were then billed to Medicare and other health insurers. One of those services was electro-diagnostic testing provided by a Huntsville-based electro-diagnostic testing company called QBR, or Diagnostic Referral Community. Ray received per-patient payments from QBR for inducing medical providers to order tests from QBR.
John Hornbuckle, 52, of Huntsville, also pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to receive kickbacks. Between 2012 and 2018, Hornbuckle owned QBR. According to the plea agreement in Hornbuckle’s case, QBR billed insurers millions of dollars for electro-diagnostic testing that its technicians performed, regardless of whether there was a medical need for them. Hornbuckle caused QBR to pay medical providers a per-patient fee for the tests they ordered from QBR that were reimbursed by insurers, including Medicare and other government health care programs. The payments were disguised as hourly payments for the provider’s time and the time of the provider’s staff, but the provider was actually paid a fee per patient who received a test.
The Ray and Hornbuckle cases are related to another case that resulted in convictions earlier this year. After a multi-week trial in February, a jury convicted a Tennessee doctor and his wife of kickback and health care fraud charges (among others). Dr. Mark Murphy, 65, and his wife Jennifer Murphy, 65, both of Lewisburg, Tennessee, owned and operated North Alabama Pain Services, which closed its Decatur and Madison offices in early 2017. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Murphys took kickbacks from QBR of more than a million dollars. In return, Dr. Murphy ordered electro-diagnostic tests from QBR for his patients, regardless of whether there was a medical need for those tests. Before the Murphys went to trial, a co-defendant, Brian Bowman, 41, of Attalla, pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy. According to Bowman’s plea agreement, Bowman marketed QBR’s electro-diagnostic testing to medical providers, and was paid a fee for each test they ordered. Bowman received nearly a million dollars in fees from QBR. Dr. Murphy, Jennifer Murphy, and Brian Bowman are all awaiting sentencing.
The maximum penalty for kickback conspiracy is five years in prison. The maximum penalty for health care fraud conspiracy is ten years in prison.
Sentencing dates for Ray and Hornbuckle have not yet been scheduled.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J.B. Ward and Don Long are prosecuting the case.
Correctional Officer Charged with Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Contraband into William E. Donaldson Correctional FacilityRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A former corrections officer at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility has been charged for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle cell phones, controlled substances, and other contraband items to inmates at the facility, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
A two-count information filed in U.S. District Court yesterday charges former Alabama Department of Corrections (“ADOC”) Correctional Officer Wilson Brian Clemons, also known as “Mario Lopez” and “My Granddaddy Otis,” 32, of Jasper, with one count of conspiracy and one count of using a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of an unlawful activity.
According to the charging document, between November 7, 2021, and November 23, 2021, Clemons abused his position as a corrections officer and agreed to accept bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband items into Donaldson. The charging document alleges that Clemons used a fake name to create an account with the mobile payment service Cash App so that he could accept bribe payments from inmates and their associates anonymously.
According to the plea agreement, also filed yesterday, Clemons has agreed to plead guilty to both charged counts. The plea agreement states that Clemons was stopped outside of Donaldson on November 23, 2021, after he attempted to bring cell phones, marijuana, Xanax, cigars, and scales into the facility. Clemons has agreed to forfeit the money he made from the conspiracy.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy and use of a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of illegal activity is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the case. The ADOC Law Enforcement Services Division assisted in the investigation.
An information contains only charges. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.
Tuscaloosa Man Sentenced to Seven Years on COVID-19 Program Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Tuscaloosa man for defrauding the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Quincy T. Doss, age 41, to 60 months in prison for the underlying PPP loan fraud and an additional 24 months for having committed the offense while on supervised release for other unrelated federal crimes. Doss will serve his terms consecutively, resulting in a total custodial sentence of 84 months followed by three years of supervised release. Doss pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June 2022.
According to the plea agreement, between April 2021 and November 2021, Doss submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications and received two separate PPP loans totaling more than $220,000. In the loan applications, Doss falsely represented that his business was in operation and had employees for whom it paid salaries, that the funds would be used to retain workers, and that the information provided in the loan applications was true and accurate.
“The defendant defrauded a program intended to assist small business owners and their hard-working employees who suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “My office remains committed to investigating, prosecuting, and seeking stiff custodial sentences for those who took advantage of a national crisis to line their own pockets.”
“Greed drove Doss to enrich himself by defrauding a government program intended to provide relief and ease the pain of COVID-19 economic restraints on working Americans,” Acting SAC Rivera said. “The sentence handed down today should serve as a message that the FBI and our partners will not relent in holding accountable those who exploit the PPP and other federal programs for personal gain.”
FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan “Jack” Harrington prosecuted the case.
Throughout the country, federal, state, and local law enforcement are on high alert to investigate reports of individuals and businesses engaging in a wide range of fraudulent and criminal behavior related to coronavirus assistance programs. For more information about these scams visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Convicted Felons Sentenced for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge this week sentenced three men for being felons in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acting Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
United States District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced the following defendants:
Jonathan Peter Smith, 44, of Lincoln, was sentenced to 59 months in prison for illegally possessing a Ruger .38 caliber revolver, and a Ruger 9mm pistol in November 2021 in Calhoun County after having been previously convicted of a felony. Smith pleaded guilty to the charge in July.
Timothy Richard Muncey, 29, of Gardendale, was sentenced to 55 months in prison for illegally possessing a .223 caliber Arsenal Defense rifle and a Sig Sauer .45 caliber pistol in August 2021 in Jefferson County after having been previously convicted of a felony. Muncey pleaded guilty to the charge in July.
Teddricko Lytez Armstrong, 26, of Anniston, was sentenced to 114 months in prison for illegally possessing a Glock .40 caliber pistol in September 2018 in Calhoun County after having been previously convicted of a felony. Armstrong pleaded guilty to the charge in July.
ATF investigated the case along with the Ohatchee Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Anniston, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Civilian Employees at Anniston Army Depot Charged with Conspiracy to Steal Government PropertyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two civilian employees at the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) have been charged with conspiracy to steal property of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Bruce, Defense Logistics Agency Office of the Inspector General Assistant Deputy Inspector General Ronald Wesley, and United States Army Criminal Investigation Division Acting Special Agent in Charge D. Todd Outlaw.
In charging documents filed today in United States District Court, Stantillio Whitfield, 43, of Anniston and Tevin Fletcher, 32, of Oxford are each charged with one count of conspiracy to steal property of the United States.
According to the charging documents, Whitfield was a Material Examiner and Identifier for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Fletcher was a Material Expeditor for DLA. The documents allege that between October 2020 and September 2021, Whitfield and Fletcher conspired to steal approximately 50 AN/PVS-30 scopes and other government property valued at approximately $546,750.00 from DLA facilities at ANAD. AN/PVS-30 scopes are designed to be attached to military weapons systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities. The charging documents also allege that Whitfield and Fletcher sold the stolen property at substantially discounted prices and shared the proceeds.
“The allegations against these defendants show they placed personal gain above their duty and the safety of our military personnel,” said United States Attorney Escalona. “We continue to work with our law enforcement partners to track and prosecute those who violate positions of public trust.”
"This is an initial step toward eradicating corruption within the ranks at the Anniston Army Depot,” Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Bruce of the Defense Department’s Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service said. “This investigation uncovered trusted government employees involved in a multi-year conspiracy to steal government property and convert it for their own personal gain.”
“The tireless efforts of the dedicated men and women of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and our Law Enforcement partners ensures individuals are held accountable for their actions and army assets are properly accounted for and maintained,” said, D. Todd Outlaw, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Southern Field Office.
According to the plea agreements, also filed today, Whitfield and Fletcher have each agreed to plead guilty to the conspiracy charge. The Plea Agreements state that Whitfield received approximately $160,524.61 from the sale of government property stolen from ANAD and sent approximately $34,840.00 to Fletcher. Each defendant has agreed to pay restitution of $546,750.00 to the United States and forfeit the money they made from the conspiracy.
The maximum penalty for conspiracy is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Logistics Agency Office of Inspector General are investigating the case, and Assistant United States Attorney George Martin is prosecuting it.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day October 29Read the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Alabama.
For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has provided an easy, no-cost opportunity to dispose of medicines stored in the home that are susceptible to misuse and theft.
Opioid misuse remains at epidemic levels in the United States. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a majority of people who misused a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend.
“The national opioid epidemic devastates families every day,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “We can help protect our loved ones by properly disposing of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs in our possession. It’s free, easy, and anonymous.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley said, “Drug poisoning deaths continue to climb at record rates. Sadly, the majority of the misuse and addiction starts with prescription drugs found in home medicine cabinets. DEA’s Take-Back event provides citizens a convenient and safe way to rid their homes of unneeded medications, protecting the health and safety of our communities. I urge you to do your part to keep prescription drugs off the streets and help spread awareness in your community.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, approximately 107,622 people died as the result of a drug poisoning last year. This means that someone in the United States is dying of a drug poisoning every five minutes.
On Saturday, October 29, 2022, DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. The event will also continue to accept vaping devices and cartridges provided lithium batteries are removed.
A location finder and partner toolbox are available at www.DEATakeBack.com for easy reference to nearby collection sites. Beyond DEA’s Take Back Day, there are also opportunities to regularly and safely dispose of unneeded medications at close to 15,000 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses prescription disposal locations. In addition, many police departments provide year-round drop boxes.
Birmingham Man Sentenced on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man was sentenced today for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Randy Hasan Abdurrahim, 37, to 121 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. Abdurrahim pleaded guilty to the charge in June.
According to the plea agreement, on September 2, 2021, while two Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies on patrol were at a Shell gas station on East Lake Boulevard, a Lexus pulled up to the gas pump with the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Deputies ran the tag, and it came back as belonging to a Nissan Altima. Abdurrahim, driving the Lexus, left the gas station and deputies attempted to perform a traffic stop, but he refused to stop. Abdurrahim hopped out of the Lexus and fled on foot as the vehicle rolled down the hill. Deputies pursued Abdurrahim on foot for a couple of blocks and took him into custody.
Deputies searched the vehicle and recovered 4 grams of cocaine, 9 grams of fentanyl, 6.16 grams of marijuana, 107 grams of methamphetamine, 2 grams of heroin, and drug paraphernalia.
The case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The ATF investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius Greene prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona Appoints District Election Officer for the Northern District of AlabamaRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Jason Cheek will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Cheek has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Northern District of Alabama, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen has the right to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
“The FBI is the primary investigative agency responsible for election-related crimes, like voter fraud and voter suppression,” FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra said. “We will not tolerate criminal activity that threatens the sanctity of your vote or undermines public confidence in the outcome of the election.”
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Cheek will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at 205-244-2001.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 205-326-6166.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
Three Defendants Charged in Separate and Unrelated Gun and Drug CasesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal indictments have been unsealed charging three defendants in separate and unrelated gun and drug cases, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
Last month a federal grand jury indicted three individuals in Northwest Alabama on gun and drug charges. These indictments are the result of continued collaborative work with our state prosecutors, and federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.
A one-count indictment charges Mario Jerrell Prewitt, 34, of Fayette, with illegally possessing a Taurus 9mm pistol on January 21, 2020, in Fayette County. ATF investigated the case, along with the Alabama Drug Enforcement Task Force (ADETF) Regions C and E, ALEA SWAT, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Berry Police Department, and the 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius C. Greene is prosecuting the case.
A two-count indictment charges that on December 5, 2019, in Morgan County, Terry Wayne Thomason, 47, of Falkville, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessed a firearm, a Braztech 20-gauge shotgun, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. DEA investigated the case, along with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Stuart Burrell is prosecuting the case.
A six-count indictment charges that in October 2021 and March 2022, in Limestone County, Eric Cordelle Bass, 34, of Athens, possessed with the intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessed firearms, that is, a Hi-Point .380 pistol, a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol and a Charter Arms .44 SPL revolver, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Bass was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. FBI investigated the case, along with the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John M. Hundscheid is prosecuting the case.
Combatting Domestic Violence Remains a Law Enforcement Priority Beyond October’s Domestic Violence Awareness MonthRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The month of October is nationally recognized as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” Across North Alabama, numerous victim service providers and community-based agencies daily serve as advocates, protectors, and healers for victims of domestic violence. Their ongoing commitment to serve victims of domestic violence is shared by federal and local law enforcement agencies in North Alabama, which prioritize addressing domestic violence year-round.
In October 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama launched Operation Safe Families to bring federal law enforcement alongside local victim service providers, local law enforcement, and local prosecutors to better respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence and the threats presented to the community by domestic violence offenders. Not only do domestic violence offenders often terrorize former intimate partners, national and local crime data confirms that domestic violence offenders present extreme risks to law enforcement officers and are often responsible for significant amounts of violent crimes in Alabama communities.
In Jefferson County, offenders with a domestic violence history are responsible for the vast majority of homicides committed each year, while nationally domestic violence offenders present the greatest lethal threat to law enforcement officer safety. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has identified that more than 70% of homicide offenders in Jefferson County for 2021 and 2022 had previously committed acts of domestic violence. While also, according to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund’s 2022 mid-year report for law enforcement officer deaths, more law enforcement officers have been killed by firearms responding to domestic disturbance issues than in any other line of duty capacity in the United States.
“People who commit violence within their homes are often also the same people who commit violent crimes across our community,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity for our community to recognize the victim service providers and law enforcement agencies that serve and protect victims of domestic violence each day. It also serves as an opportunity to refocus local efforts on how to better to protect victims of violence and how best to prevent the continual escalation of harm that often accompanies domestic violence.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) leverage federal law enforcement resources to prioritize the prosecution of people that unlawfully possess firearms following prohibited crimes of domestic violence. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, and the Alabama Office of Prosecution Services provide training and guidance to local law enforcement, prosecutors, and community-based service providers on how best to remove guns from the hands of domestic abusers. During 2022, Operation Safe Families law enforcement partners conducted more than 30 trainings to more than 1,000 law enforcement and community partners across Northern District of Alabama counties.
“Domestic violence is a complex crime that affects everyone involved and eventually affects the community,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French said. “It is the ATF’s duty to enforce the law and charge the individuals who unlawfully possess firearms and inflict undue harm on others. The ATF along with our state, local, and federal partners will continue to serve the public by utilizing our combined resources to bring justice to those who willingly and unlawfully harm the citizens in our communities.”
Over the last year, the Department of Justice has committed nearly $1 million of funding for new projects to address domestic violence within the Northern District of Alabama. The Office of Violence Against Women has awarded $500,000 to One Place Metro Family Justice Center to facilitate and implement the Domestic Violence and Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) in Jefferson County, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Birmingham approximately $340,000 to enhance the response of local law enforcement and prosecutors in Jefferson County. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has dedicated Project Safe Neighborhoods grant resources to enhance protections for domestic violence victims within the district.
New efforts are also being implemented locally to address the trauma children suffer after witnessing or experiencing family violence. One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center has partnered with Camp Hope America to serve trauma-impacted youth in Jefferson County. The U.S. Attorney’s Office participates in and supports Camp Hope and its year-round Pathways program, which seeks to break the generational cycle of family violence by offering healing and hope to children who have witnessed and been impacted by family violence. For more information on Camp Hope America, please contact Kelly Klehm at [email protected].
In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will join partners from law enforcement and community agencies in a variety of domestic violence education and service events across North Alabama. Included in these events, on October 11th the Jefferson County Firearms Technical Assistance Project had its first meeting with law enforcement and community partners, as well as representatives from the Office of Violence Against Women and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. Also, on October 13th the Birmingham Bar Association hosted a CLE and tour of One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center.
If you would like more information on Operation Safe Families, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndal/operation-safe-families-protecting-families-gun-violence or to receive training or resources related to domestic violence, please contact the U.S Attorney’s Office at 205.244.2015.
Birmingham Attorney Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Chase Tristian Espy, 36, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography arising out of events that occurred from March 2021 to August 2021, announced United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
U.S. District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon accepted the plea and set sentencing for January 24, 2023, at 9:00 a.m.
The plea agreement filed states the investigation was initiated when Espy engaged in online chats with undercover law enforcement whom Espy believed was a 15-year-old girl. Upon being arrested, Espy’s cell phone was seized, and a search warrant was obtained. From this search, approximately 69 videos and four images of child sexual abuse material were found.
“The hard work of the agents involved in this case reflect how local, state, and federal law enforcement are committed to protecting children from predators,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Possessing child pornography is not a ‘victimless’ crime. Each time images of the innocent are shared or viewed, the child is re-victimized.”
“The FBI is committed to protecting our children from sexual abuse and exploitation, and we will continue to work with our partners to bring to justice those who would prey on our most vulnerable,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Rivera said. “I want to thank the members of the FBI Birmingham Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force and our partners for their outstanding work in this case.”
Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek imprisonment of Espy consistent with the high end of the advisory United States Sentencing Guideline range as calculated by the Court at the time of sentencing.
The FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF), the Homewood Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) participated in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Leann White and Jonathan Cross are prosecuting the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Birmingham Man Found Guilty of Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal jury today convicted a Birmingham man for kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Patrick Devone Stallworth, 42, after three days of testimony before Chief U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler. Stallworth was convicted of one count of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to kidnap a minor victim arising out of events which occurred in October 2019. The jury further found that the minor victim’s death resulted from the kidnapping. Stallworth faces life in prison.
According to evidence presented at trial, on October 12, 2019, Stallworth traveled in a Toyota Sequoia with a co-conspirator to the Tom Brown Village Housing Development located in Birmingham, Alabama and kidnapped 3-year-old Kamille “Cupcake” McKinney. Her body was found 10 days later.
“Today, the jury held the defendant accountable for his actions in victimizing one of the most vulnerable victims in our community, a 3-year-old child. This office remains dedicated to prosecuting those criminals who prey on children,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Just as the search for the victim involved many of our local, state, and federal partners, the trial this week also would not have been successful without these agencies. I am grateful for their hard work and dedication.”
“While today’s verdict does not take away the pain for Kamille’s family, or the void in their life that they can never fill, they at least know we are one step closer to justice being served on those responsible,” Acting SAC Rivera said.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Birmingham Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Chief of the Criminal Division Lloyd C. Peeples and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Blake Milner and Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.
Northern District of Alabama Takes Part in Department’s Wide-Ranging Efforts to Protect Older AdultsRead the Press Release
Birmingham, Ala. – The Justice Department announced today the results of its efforts over the past year to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation. During the past year, the Department and its law enforcement partners tackled matters that ranged from mass-marketing scams that impacted thousands of victims to bad actors scamming their neighbors. Substantial efforts were also made over the last year to return money to fraud victims. Today, the Department also announced it is expanding its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to amplify efforts to combat scams originating overseas.
“We are intensifying our efforts nationwide to protect older adults, including by more than tripling the number of U.S. Attorneys’ offices participating in our Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force dedicated to disrupting, dismantling and prosecuting foreign-based fraud schemes that target American seniors,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This expansion builds on the Justice Department’s existing work to hold accountable those who steal funds from older adults, including by returning those funds to the victims where possible.”
“Crimes against older adults target some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously pursue individuals who target older adults in the Northern District of Alabama.”
During the period from September 2021 to September 2022, Department personnel and its law enforcement partners pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants, both bringing new cases and advancing those previously charged.
Cases prosecuted in the Northern District of Alabama included several defendants that fraudulently targeted the elderly in a number of different schemes, including business email compromise scams, romance scams, and unemployment benefits fraud. Notable cases include:
In United States of America v. Benjamin, et al., multiple defendants pled guilty in a business email compromise, account takeover, and check fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. The attempted loss amount in the case exceeded $13.3 million. One vulnerable victim sent more than $870,000 to a bank account opened by defendants in the scheme that represented the equity of her home. Multiple defendants convicted in the scheme were sentenced to several years of incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons for their crimes.
In United States to Afolabi, et al., the defendant pled guilty to stealing the identities of elderly victims residing in the state of Illinois to file fraudulent unemployment benefits applications during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated amount attributed to the defendant’s conduct totaled between $550,000 and $1.5 million. Victims harmed in the scheme were innocent third parties who now have had their personally identified information compromised and exploited, and face the difficulties associated with managing this theft going forward.
As part of the Northern District of Alabama’s elder fraud efforts, it engages in outreach to the community and industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization. This year, Assistant United States Attorneys participated in numerous community events designed to increase awareness of potential elder fraud and abuse, including programs for the North Alabama Institute of Internal Auditors and AARP. On June 15, 2022, United States Attorney Prim Escalona appeared on Good Day Alabama on Elder Abuse Awareness Day, to continue the district’s efforts to combat elder fraud and abuse.
The Department also highlighted three other efforts: expansion of the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, success in returning money to victims and efforts to combat grandparent scams.
The Department announced that as part of its continuing efforts to protect older adults and bring perpetrators of fraud schemes to justice it is expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force, adding 14 new U.S. Attorney’s Offices. Expansion of the Strike Force will help to coordinate the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat largest and most harmful fraud schemes that target or disproportionately impact older adults.
In the past year, the Department has notified over 550,000 people that they may be eligible for remission payments. Notifications were made to consumers whose information was sold by one of three data companies prosecuted by the Department and were later victims of “sweepstakes” or “astrology” solicitations that falsely promised prizes or individualized services in return for a fee. More than 160,000 of those victims cashed checks totaling $62 million, and thousands more are eligible to receive checks. Also notified were consumers who paid fraudsters perpetrating person-in-need scams and job scams via Western Union. In the past year, the Department has identified and contacted over 300,000 consumers who may be eligible for remission. Since March of 2020 more than 148,000 victims have received more than $366 million as a result of a 2017 criminal resolution with Western Union for the company’s willful failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and its aiding and abetting of wire fraud.
Over the past year, the Department pursued cases against the perpetrators of “grandparent scams,” otherwise known as “person-in-need scams.” These scams typically begin when a fraudster, often based overseas, contacts an older adult, and poses as either a grandchild, other family member or someone calling on behalf of a family member. Call recipients are told that their family member is in jeopardy and is urgently in need of money. When recently sentencing one of eight perpetrators of a grandparent scam indicted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a federal judge described such scams “heartbreakingly evil.” The Department is working with government partners and others to raise awareness about these schemes.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.
Some of the cases that comprise today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Birmingham Teacher Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Last week, a federal judge sentenced a Birmingham teacher for transferring obscene material to a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Richard Pope, 57, of Birmingham, to 54 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. As a condition of his supervised release, Pope must register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Pope previously pleaded guilty to three counts of transmission of obscene material to a minor.
According to the plea agreement, Richard Pope was a graphics art teacher and baseball coach at G.W. Carver High School in Birmingham. In March 2020, Pope messaged a minor on Facebook. During the chats, Pope engaged the minor in sexually explicit conversations and sent the minor obscene images.
“This sentence sends a strong message that those who abuse their positions of trust with our children will be prosecuted and punished,” U.S Attorney Escalona said. “My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will work to ensure that our schools are always safe for our children.”
“Pope betrayed the trust granted to him in his position as a teacher and now will pay the consequences for his actions,” SAC Rivera said. “The public can rest assured that the FBI will always be vigilant in pursuing those who choose to prey on our most vulnerable, especially our children. I am proud of the work done by the FBI Birmingham Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force and our partners at ALEA for bringing Pope to justice.”
FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Hundscheid and R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Inmates and Family Members Indicted for Role in Nationwide Phone Scam Targeting Home DepotRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury last week indicted eight individuals for their roles in a prison-based phone scam that targeted retailers throughout the country, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
A twelve-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Ricardo Poole Sr., aka “Raoul,” 48, of Bessemer, Kortney Jovan Simon, 43, of Harvest, Otis Lee Bowers, aka “Big O,” 44, of Bessemer, Terry Ray Bradshaw, aka “Skitzo,” 39, of Remlap, Rennita Renee Perry, 28, of Bessemer, Kiara Reshell Anderson, 30, of Bessemer, Ricardo Poole, Jr., 25, of Birmingham, and Rhonda Thompson Poole, 47, of Bessemer with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy, as well as substantive wire fraud counts. Poole Sr., Simon, and Bradshaw are also charged with aggravated identity theft; and Poole Sr., Bowers, Perry, and Anderson are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to the indictment, from September 2020 through May 2022, the defendants tricked retailers into activating gift cards under fraudulent pretenses and then used those fraudulently obtained gift cards to purchase merchandise and make other expenditures. The indictment alleges that, while incarcerated at Donaldson, Bradshaw called Home Depot stores throughout the country and used spoofing technology and social engineering techniques to pose as Home Depot executives so that he could trick employees into activating gift cards. Poole Sr, Simon, and Bowers then purchased products using those gift cards, which were received by co-conspirators and converted to cash. The indictment also alleges that from September 2020 through August 2022, Poole Sr., Bowers, Perry, and Anderson engaged in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically mixtures and substances containing detectable amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, marijuana, and synthetic cathinones.
The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the case. The Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division provided assistance in the investigation.
An indictment contains only charges. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty.
Gadsden Man Charged with Multi-Million-Dollar Kickback and Health Care Fraud ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Tuscaloosa, Ala. – A federal grand jury last week indicted a Gadsden man for conspiring to pay and receive kickbacks and commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles.
A six-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges James Ewing Ray, 51, of Gadsden, Alabama, with one count of kickback conspiracy, four substantive kickback counts, and one count of health care fraud conspiracy.
Ray owned Integrity Medical, LLC, a company through which he marketed health care items and services to medical providers. According to the indictment, between about 2012 and 2018, Ray conspired with others to pay and receive kickbacks to induce medical providers to issue medically unnecessary prescriptions and order medically unnecessary goods and services, which were then billed to Medicare and other health insurers.
One of those services was electro-diagnostic testing by QBR, a Huntsville-based testing company whose owner, John Hornbuckle, is under indictment in a related case. The indictment against Ray alleges that QBR billed insurers millions of dollars for electro-diagnostic testing that its technicians performed, regardless of whether there was a medical need for them. QBR is alleged to have paid Ray a fee for every patient his doctors referred, and to have paid those doctors a per-patient fee for their referrals. Federal insurers were billed millions of dollars for these tests, the indictment alleges.
The maximum penalty for kickback conspiracy is five years in prison. The maximum penalty for health care fraud conspiracy is ten years in prison. Each of the four substantive kickback counts carries a maximum of ten years in prison.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J.B. Ward and Don Long are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Two Men Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing U.S. Postal Service Key and Possession of Stolen MailRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A federal grand jury this week indicted two Birmingham men with possession of stolen mail and the unlawful possession of Postal Service keys, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Scott D. Fix, Houston Division, and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Khory Deontay Lowe, II, 18, and Dejuan Alexander Wallace, 41, both of Birmingham, with one-count of possession of stolen mail. Lowe was also charged with one-count of unlawful possession of a Postal Service key. The incident occurred in Madison County on September 6, 2022.
If you like to report United States Postal Service mail theft or other crimes committed through or towards the United States Postal Service, please contact the United States Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or https://www.uspis.gov/report.
U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Secret Service investigated the case, along with the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Barlow is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man Extradited from Germany Appears in Federal Court on Charge of International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A former Madison County resident charged with international parental kidnapping was arraigned today in federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix Rivera-Esparra.
Igor Slobodskyi, 51, a non-U.S. Citizen, formerly of Huntsville, was extradited from Germany to the United States to answer federal charges of international parental kidnapping. U.S. Magistrate Judge Herman N. Johnson, Jr. arraigned Slobodskyi on a one-count indictment charging him with removing two children under the age of 16 years old from the United States and retaining those children outside the United States with the intent to obstruct the lawful exercise of another’s parental rights.
The maximum penalty for international parental kidnapping is three years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The FBI investigated the case, along with the Huntsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Germany to secure the arrest and extradition of Slobodskyi to the United States.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Northport man for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acting Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
Chief United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Dedrick Dawon McDowell, 24, of Northport, to 240 months in prison on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
“This young defendant continued to engage in dangerous and illegal activities even after being convicted of a felony. The result is that he must now spend many years in prison,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “We are grateful for the work of the Tuscaloosa and Northport Police Departments, in cooperation with the ATF, in bringing this repeat offender to justice.”
“ATF’s top priority is to reduce violent crime.” SAC French said. “This individual continuously ignored the law in several ways that cause harm to the community. Narcotics distribution and the prevalence of guns on our streets continue to plague our community at alarming rates. Individuals who illegally possess firearms and distribute narcotics will be held accountable for their actions. The ATF will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and apprehend those individuals.”
According to the plea agreement, on November 18, 2020, Northport Police officers responded to a 911 call at mobile home park on Hunter Creek Road in Northport, Alabama. An agent with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force heard the police radio traffic and advised the responding officers that McDowell had numerous outstanding felony warrants. Officers observed McDowell lying down in the back seat of a vehicle. McDowell was ordered out of the vehicle and was arrested on the outstanding warrants. Officers found two small bags of marijuana and $3,700 cash in McDowell’s pockets. The officers recovered a digital scale with cocaine residue, four bottles of Promethazine, most often mixed with a controlled substance to form the popular drug known as “lean”, from a backpack in the front passenger’s seat, orange pills that were confirmed to be Adderall, and a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol on the back floorboard where McDowell had been hiding. The pistol was fully loaded with a round in the chamber.
On June 8, 2021, Tuscaloosa Police officers conducted a traffic stop on McDowell for speeding and failing to signal a lane change. Officers found hydrocodone pills, alprazolam pills, a small bag of marijuana, and $2,000 in McDowell’s possession. Officers then searched the vehicle and found a large bag of marijuana and a Glock .45 caliber pistol under the driver’s seat. The pistol was loaded with a high-capacity extended magazine. The pistol had been reported stolen to the Tuscaloosa Police Department in 2017.
ATF investigated the case along with the Northport Police Department and Tuscaloosa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy Peoples prosecuted the case.
Alabama Man Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Prison for Defrauding Jefferson County Retirement PlanRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge on Monday sentenced an Alabama man for devising a scheme to defraud Jefferson County’s retirement plan, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Felix A. Rivera-Esparra.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Gary Dean Gibbs, Jr., 52, to one year and one day for wire fraud. Gibbs was also ordered to pay $132,646.12 restitution to the General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County. Gibb’s pleaded guilty to the charges in May.
According to the plea agreement, Gibbs’ father was a former employee of Jefferson County, Alabama, who was receiving benefits from The General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County (“GRS”). GRS is a retirement plan that provides benefits to retired and disabled employees of Jefferson County, Alabama. Beginning in September 2017 and continuing until February 2022, Gibbs concealed his father’s death from GRS and collected money from GRS to which he was not entitled. Gibbs used his father’s personal identifiers and forged his father’s signature on documents submitted to GRS to further his scheme. Additionally, Gibbs assumed his father’s identity during telephone calls with GRS employees. Gibbs collected approximately $132,646.12 to which he was not entitled.
“The defendant’s theft of money from the GRS was detrimental to the hard-working employees and retirees of Jefferson County, who contributed for years to the retirement plan, and was appropriately punished by time in federal prison.” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The United States Attorney’s Office appreciates the work of the FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the cooperation of the GRS during the investigation and prosecution of this matter.”
“Gibbs' fraudulent scheme took money away from the Jefferson County retirement system intended for those who have saved for their later years,”. Acting SAC Rivera said. The sentence handed down today holds him accountable for his actions and allows for restitution to the victims. I want to express my thanks to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for their partnership and assistance in this investigation.”
The FBI investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney George Martin prosecuted the case.
North Alabama Law Enforcement Actions to Combat Fentanyl Distribution Leads to Five Men Charged in Federal IndictmentsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal grand jury indictments have been unsealed charging five men, in separate and unrelated incidents, for possessing and/or distributing fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley.
Working with state and local law enforcement, last month a federal grand jury indicted five individuals on federal charges related to possession or distribution of fentanyl, including distribution of fentanyl that resulted in death:
- A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Theophylis Rayvon Pride aka OPI, 33, of Huntsville, with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death in July 2021 in Madison County.
- A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges JT Toombs, III, 37, of Alexander City, and Demarcus Leon Hill, 40, of Hoover, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in August 2021 in Talladega County.
- A six-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Azarious Taron Williams, 25, and Darien Avante Arnold, 22, both of Florence, with conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and a substance containing fentanyl between November 2020 and June 2022 in Lauderdale County.
DEA investigated the cases along with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Huntsville Police Department, Lauderdale County Drug Task Force, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert J. Becher, M. Blake Milner, and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison on Drug ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a convicted felon on a drug charge, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley.
U.S. District Court Judge Karon O. Bowdre sentenced Terry Roshaun Pruitt, 37, of Birmingham, to 180 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine.
According to court documents, in September 2021, Pruitt ignored officer commands and drove through a license and insurance checkpoint being conducted by Birmingham Police officers. A brief chase ensued in which Pruitt crashed his vehicle into a tree and fled on foot. Officers pursued and caught him in an alley after he tripped over brush. In attempting to handcuff him, an officer found him holding a grocery bag under his body that contained crack cocaine weighing 291 grams.
In October 2008, Pruitt pleaded guilty to trafficking 50 grams or more of cocaine base and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama and was sentenced to 151 months in prison. Pruitt was on supervised release at the time of his arrest on the new charge.
“Arising from a simple traffic enforcement checkpoint, Pruitt was caught again with dangerous drugs he intended to distribute in our communities,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “We are grateful for the coordinated work of our federal and local law enforcement partners in taking this dealer off the street.”
“The sentencing today of Terry Roshaun Pruitt sends a message to all who engage in the distribution of illegal drugs: we will work together to see that anyone involved in this illicit trade will be brought to justice,” Byerley said.
The DEA investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.
Lauderdale County Man Sentenced to 70 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Lauderdale County man for sexually exploiting a young child, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Michael Tays, 36, of Florence, to 840 months in prison followed by lifetime of supervised release for producing and possessing child pornography. On March 21, 2022, Tays pleaded guilty to 20 counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to statements made in open court, Tays sexually abused an eight-year-old child repeatedly, and he recorded the brutality through photographs and videos. This conviction will require Tays to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
“There is no place in our communities for those who prey on vulnerable children,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “This sentence effectively ensures that Tays will spend the rest of his life in prison. Through collaborative law enforcement efforts, we continue to investigate and prosecute those responsible for these horrific crimes.”
“Children are among the most vulnerable victims, and individuals, like Tays, who exploit them must be held accountable for their reprehensible actions,” SAC Sharp said. “Thanks to the efforts of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force and our partners, this predator will be held accountable for his actions and be identified as a sex offender.”
FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case, along with the St. Florian Police Department and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s office. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
Audrey Jerome Pruitt, 39, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, in October and November 2020, Pruitt illegally possessed an American Tactical, Omni Hybrid, .223/.556 caliber pistol, and a Springfield .40 caliber pistol. Pruitt is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions. In April 2008, Pruitt was convicted in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County for Robbery, First Degree and Receiving Stolen Property, and in March 2019, he was convicted of Domestic Violence, Second Degree.
The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.
ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius C. Greene is prosecuting the case.
Birmingham Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Guns and DrugsRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a Birmingham man on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Terry Lee Skanes, Jr., 22, to 120 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during and in relation to that drug trafficking crime.
According to the plea agreement, in October 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Skanes. When Skanes exited the vehicle, a deputy smelled marijuana and saw drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. In searching the vehicle, deputies recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol, a 5.56 American Tactical pistol, approximately 31 grams of methamphetamine, and other controlled substances.
“Guns in the hands of a drug dealer is a frequently deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Our law enforcement partners focus their efforts on offenders whose activities threaten our communities with illegal drugs and the violence associated with drug dealing. We are grateful for the work of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and ATF in taking this dealer off the street.”
“Illegal firearm possession and the distribution of narcotics in our communities is dangerous and damaging to everyone involved in the criminal activity,” said SAC French. “The ATF along with our local, state, and federal partners work tirelessly to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics, and other acts of violence within our community. ATF will remain in lockstep with our local, state, and federal partners in our continuing effort to combat violent crime and maintain public safety.”
ATF investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.
Former New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union Manager Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham man has been charged with devising a scheme to embezzle from his employer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.
A one-count information filed today in United States District Court charges Phillip Brian Topping, 42, of Birmingham, with embezzlement by a credit union employee.
According to the information, between August 2016 and August 2021, while employed at New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union as a Manager, Topping embezzled approximately $268,000 from an on-site ATM and from a teller cash drawer at New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union. Topping used the unauthorized funds for personal expenses.
The maximum penalty for embezzlement by a credit union employee is 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case and received assistance from the National Credit Union Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan S. Rummage is prosecuting the case.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Leader of a Large-Scale Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization Sentenced to More Than 15 Years on Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Birmingham, Ala. – A federal judge on September 1, 2022, sentenced the leader of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization, who operated in the Ross Bridge neighborhood of Hoover, on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James.
U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Robert Alan Ozment, 49, of Hoover, to186 months for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing several firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Previously sentenced for conspiring with Ozment to distribute and possess with intent to distribute were Gary Daniel Mitchell, 34, of Empire, Alabama, to 72 months; Nikolas Lee Wilson, 43, of Cullman, Alabama, to 60 months; and Donald Thomas Kimbrough, 37, of Bessemer, Alabama, to 70 months. Rodney David Russell, 45, of Birmingham, Alabama, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and awaits sentencing on September 22, 2022.
According to court documents, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation was initiated in early spring of 2020, of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization operated by Ozment from his home in the neighborhood of Ross Bridge in Hoover, Alabama.
On March 19, 2020, A search warrant was executed at 2283 Abbeyglen Circle in Hoover, Alabama, a house owned by Ozment. Ozment is a radiology scan technician. Police officers seized in excess of one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine, 5 firearms and $11,676. The firearms included a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, a Double Tap Defense LLC .45 caliber pistol, a Micro Draco 7.62 caliber rifle, a Spikes Tactical .223 caliber rifle, and a Browning .308 caliber rifle.
Also seized was an oscillating fan with a hidden video camera which was recovered from Ozment’s bedroom. A search warrant was obtained for the video and audio footage. The video captured multiple hand to hand transactions wherein Ozment was engaged in the sale of methamphetamine. The quantities ranged from the sale of multiple ounces of methamphetamine to kilogram quantities. Also observed on the video recordings were instances wherein Ozment possessed firearms while conducting drug transactions. In addition to drug sales captured on video was an instance in which Ozment retrieved his stash of four to six kilograms of methamphetamine. Among the individuals captured in the videos conducting drug transactions were Russell, Mitchell, and Wilson.
On July 13, 2020, agents received information that Ozment had traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to purchase more methamphetamine to sell. Agents executed another Jefferson County search warrant on July 14, 2020, at Ozment’s home in Ross Bridge in Hoover. Ozment was present when agents arrived at the residence. Agents found and seized approximately 142 grams of methamphetamine, a small quantity of cocaine, and four more firearms: an American Tactical Omni Hybrid .223 caliber rifle, a Ruger LCP .380 caliber pistol, a Double Tap .45 caliber pistol, and a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol.
On October 4, 2021, Ozment’s home located at 2283 Abbeyglen Circle, Hoover, Alabama 35226, was forfeited to the United States. The property was valued at $274,000 and encumbered by a mortgage valued at $164,174.
This investigation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The FBI and DEA investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Cross prosecuted the case.
Convicted Sex Offender Charged with Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury last week charged a convicted felon with illegal firearm possession, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Edward Olin Jones, 66, of Hanceville, with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the indictment, on March 16, 2022, Jones unlawfully possessed a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver, a Röhm .22 caliber revolver, a Winchester 12-gauge shotgun, a Weatherby .300 Weatherby Magnum rifle, a Remington .300 Winchester Magnum rifle, and a Remington .22 caliber rifle. Jones is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. In December 2017, Jones was convicted in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County for Sodomy, First Degree and Sexual Abuse, First Degree.
The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison.
ATF investigated the case along with the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Convicted Felon Found Guilty on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A federal jury this week convicted a New York resident on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
The jury returned its guilty verdict against Jerrelle Quintrez Gladden, 38, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze. Gladden was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, and felon in possession of a firearm.
“Citizens should feel safe in their communities, families should feel safe in their homes, and children should feel safe while playing in their backyards,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “Gladden committed serious crimes which could have resulted in the loss of life. He now faces serious penalties. I want to commend the ATF, 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit, the Anniston Police Department, and the prosecution team for their work on this case.”
”There is one less criminal off of our streets,” SAC French said. “We at ATF work tirelessly to keep our communities safe from people who endanger our neighborhoods. We will continue to work collaboratively with all of our law enforcement partners to combat violent crimes in an effort to maintain public safety.”
According to evidence presented at trial, in January 2020, law enforcement officers executed a state search warrant on a residence in Anniston. Police officers searched the house and found Gladden, a convicted felon, in a bedroom where officers also found digital scales with white crystal-like residue, small plastic baggies consistent with distribution, Gladden’s personal items, and 2 baggies of methamphetamine. Behind the door in the bedroom next to Gladden’s room, officers found a folded chair that contained a clear baggie of methamphetamine, a brown paper bag of U.S. currency, and two loaded firearms: a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, and a Taurus .380 caliber pistol. The Sig Sauer was reported stolen 8 days prior to finding it during the execution of the search warrant.
The penalty for possession with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine is not less than 5 years, but not more than 40 years. However, the jury also found in Phase II of the trial that Gladden had been previously convicted of a serious drug felony, which enhances his punishment for this charge to not less than 10 years but no more than life in prison. The minimum penalty for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime is five years in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence. The maximum penalty for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is 10 years.
The ATF investigated the case along with the 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit and the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Plyler and Kristy Peoples are prosecuting the case.
Birmingham Man Indicted on Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand this week indicted a man on gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
A two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges David Jermaine Lake, 31, of Vance, with possession of a machine gun and receipt of an unregistered firearm.
According to the indictment, in March 2022, Lake illegally possessed a Glock 9mm pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” – an after-market device designed to illegally convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machine gun.
The maximum penalty for possession of a machine gun is 10 years in prison.
The maximum penalty for receipt or possession of an unregistered firearm is 10 years in prison.
ATF investigated the case, along with the Hoover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Royster is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The conversion of the semiautomatic Glock pistol to a fully automatic machine gun causes the firearm to become inaccurate, spraying bullets everywhere, and increasing danger to innocent bystanders. If you know someone who has a Glock switch, you are asked to call law enforcement. Information about Glock switches can be reported to ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or 1-888-283-8477.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Ten-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge this week sentenced a convicted felon for illegally possessing firearms on separate occasions, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
United States District Judge Annemarie Carney Axon sentenced Richard Alexander Coleman, of Bessemer, to 73 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm on two occasions in 2021. Coleman pleaded guilty to the charges in May 2022.
According to court documents, on January 14, 2021, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies stopped Coleman’s vehicle because it had an obscured tag. After smelling marijuana coming from the vehicle and learning that Coleman had an outstanding warrant, deputies arrested him. During a search of the vehicle, a deputy retrieved a prescription pill in the front seat area and from under the driver’s seat, a loaded 9 millimeter pistol and a bag of marijuana.
After Coleman made bond for state charges related to the January 14th traffic stop, Gardendale police officers encountered Coleman on a March 21, 2021, during a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex. While investigating the incident, an officer saw a pistol in plain view in the front seat of Coleman’s vehicle. After Coleman was given a trespass warning for the property, officers retrieved the 9 millimeter pistol and arrested him for not having a pistol permit. Officers found a small amount of marijuana, 24 Xanax pills, and six counterfeit $100 bills in Coleman’s pockets.
Prior to the above arrests, Coleman incurred ten felony convictions: two for Theft of Property, Second Degree; one for Burglary, Third Degree; two for Theft of Property, First Degree; two for Unlawful Breaking and Entering a Vehicle; two for Identity Theft; and one for Receiving Stolen Property, Third Degree.
“This defendant is a prime example of the effectiveness of using federal firearms laws to remove habitual offenders from our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “He now has six years to think about whether he’ll pick up another firearm.”
“This individual is another example of a person who repeatedly and intentionally violates local, state and federal laws,” said SAC French. “The ATF will continue to work diligently with our local, state and federal partners to remove these individuals from the communities that we serve and protect in order to create safer environments.”
ATF investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Gardendale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty prosecuted the case.
Ex-Bank Branch Manager Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a former BBVA branch manager for embezzling funds from the bank where she was employed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick M. Davis.
U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Dorinda Lynn Lumpkin, 48, of Gadsden, to twelve months and one day in prison for embezzlement. Lumpkin pleaded guilty to the charge in January.
According to the plea agreement, Lumpkin was employed as a branch manager at a BBVA bank in Gadsden. Between January 2017 and June 2020, Lumpkin stole at least $184,250.00 from BBVA accounts associated with a deceased customer and her daughter. To do so, she prepared and approved debit tickets authorizing the transactions, which were purportedly signed by the deceased customer’s daughter. The defendant then withdrew the funds from those accounts and converted them to her own use.
“The defendant abused her position as a bank employee and used it to steal money from a grieving family,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “We thank our outstanding law enforcement partners at the United States Secret Service for bringing her to justice and for their continued efforts to safeguard America’s financial systems.”
“For more than three years, the defendant violated the trust that had been bestowed upon her by her employer and those customers she served,” SAC Davis said. “It is appalling that an individual would take advantage of a family during their darkest time. The U.S. Secret Service is committed to bringing these types of individuals to justice.”
The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced a convicted felon this week for illegally possessing firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Acting Special Agent in Charge Mickey French.
United States District Judge Abdul K. Kallon sentenced Ervin Deangelo Fields, 31, of Birmingham, to 46 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. Fields pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in June 2022.
“Felons who possess illegal firearms have a negative effect on the work we are doing to drive down violent crime,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to do all that we can to protect our communities and to prevent firearms from coming into the possession of prohibited people.”
“This individual knowingly and willingly continues to illegally possess firearms,” SAC French said. “The ATF along with our local, state and federal partners will continue to remove these individuals from the communities that we serve.”
According to court documents, on two separate occasions Fields illegally possessed firearms. On January 8, 2021, Fields possessed a Canik 9mm pistol and on June 11, 2020, Fields possessed a Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol. Fields is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, including theft and possession of a controlled substance.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The ATF investigated the case, along with Birmingham Police Department and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius C. Greene prosecuted the case.
Shelby County Woman Sentenced to More than Three Years in Prison for Stealing from HOAs and EmployerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Shelby County woman was sentenced yesterday for embezzling from her employer and the homeowners’ associations they managed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr.
United States District Judge Karon O. Bowdre sentenced Aimee Louise Statham, 47, of Chelsea, to 40 months in prison for wire fraud. Statham pleaded guilty to the charge in April.
According to the plea agreement and evidence presented in advance of sentencing, between January 2018 and August 2021, Statham embezzled from her employer, Rouland Management Services (RMS), and the homeowners’ associations that RMS managed. Statham issued hundreds of unauthorized checks made payable to herself from the bank accounts of various HOAs, and she made unauthorized interbank electronic money transfers of funds between HOA bank accounts and RMS’ bank account, which she would then transfer to herself. To perpetuate and conceal her scheme, Statham altered the HOAs’ monthly bank statements by removing the unauthorized transactions. Statham used the stolen funds to feed her gambling addiction. The total loss exceeded $1.4 million.
“This defendant stole money from thousands of innocent homeowners for more than three years,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “I am hopeful that this sentence sends a message to our community that this office will not tolerate those who steal from innocent victims for personal gain.”
“For over three years Statham chose to steal money intended for the upkeep of neighborhoods to feed her gambling addiction,” SAC Sharp said. “She will now have over three years behind bars to think about the gamble she took. My advice: don’t bet against the FBI to bring you to justice.”
FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Pelham Police Department and the United States Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Rummage prosecuted the case.
Last of 18 Defendants Charged in a Birmingham-Based Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine SentencedRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM – A federal judge yesterday sentenced the last of 18 defendants charged in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Atlanta Field Office Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey.
United States District Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Adrien Hiram Taylor, aka “Slim,” 33, of Bessemer, Alabama, to life in prison and Leanthony Martez Gillins, aka “Fatman,” 35, of Bessemer, Alabama, to 232 months for managing a multi-million dollar conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana; distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana; using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and using a communication facility to commit drug trafficking crimes. Co-defendant Janaya Lenise Bibb, 36, of McCalla, Alabama was sentenced to 40 months in prison. Bibb was convicted of conspiring to distribute or possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
A total of eighteen people were charged in the indictment returned on October 29, 2019. The indictment was the result of a three-year Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) investigation into the drug-trafficking enterprise based in Western Jefferson County. The task force identified acts in furtherance of the conspiracy committed by members of the organization over a period of six years. All 18 defendants have now been sentenced. U.S. District Judge Axon sentenced the Rolando Antuain Williamson, aka “Baldhead” and “Ball Head,” 37, of Bessemer, Alabama, to life in prison plus 120 months as the Kingpin of the multi-million dollar continuing criminal enterprise on August 9, 2022, and ordered a money judgment of $36,615,000 against Williamson.
The OCDETF agencies involved in this investigation are the FBI, IRS, member agencies of the FBI North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bessemer Police Department.
The North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force arrested Williamson the morning of August 22, 2019, in the parking lot of a grocery store located in Homewood, Alabama. Williamson was driving a 2016 Dodge Hellcat worth $80,000. At the time of arrest, Williamson was armed two loaded pistols, additional loaded magazines, and was carrying almost $14,000 in cash. All other members of the conspiracy were arrested on or about November 13, 2019.
At the time of Williamson’s arrest, law enforcement officers seized from him and three of his stash houses, 366 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 109 grams of suspected cocaine, 573 grams of pure methamphetamine, 52 kilos of marijuana, over $97,000 in cash, multiple firearms, and over 1700 rounds of ammunition.
“As a result of the sustained and extensive investigation by our many law enforcement partners, this Birmingham-based drug trafficking network has been dismantled,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “We are thankful for the collaboration of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in working diligently to disrupt the pipeline of deadly drugs into our communities. These sentences should send a clear message that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in our district.”
“The sentencing of these three drug traffickers puts the final nail in the coffin of their drug organization,” SAC Sharp said. “I continue to be proud of the great work of the FBI’s North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force and our partners that work every day to disrupt, dismantle and destroy the criminal organizations that bring their poison and violence to our neighborhoods.”
“The sentencing of these individuals is just another step in multiple agencies working together to keep the citizens of Jefferson County safe and to further our fight to remove illegal drugs from our streets,” said Sheriff Mark Pettway.
“These convictions and sentencings of all of those involved send a strong message to the criminal element in western Jefferson County and beyond,” Bessemer Police Chief Michael Roper said. “It is my hope that other criminals will have second thoughts before they engage in this type of activity. It is time for individuals to learn that these drugs are very harmful to the community. These dangerous drugs are accompanied by other crimes in the community. I say thanks again to all of the agencies involved in this successful operation.”
Forfeiture was obtained for two of Williamson’s high-end vehicles: a $46,000 Ford F-250 King’s Ranch and $37,000 Cadillac Escalade; over $100,000 dollars in cash; $45,000 in jewelry; and all firearms and ammunition used to facilitate the drug trafficking enterprise.
This investigation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice. Established in 1982, OCDETF is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized-crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to enforcement. OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term enterprise investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service investigated the case along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Cross and Gregory R. Dimler prosecuted the case.