District of Columbia

WASHINGTON – Ravel Mills, 29, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 29 years in prison for the murder of Toussaunt Strong on April 18, 2020, in the 3400 block of 24th Street SE. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            On October 3, 2023, a jury convicted Mills of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license.

            According to the evidence presented at trial, Toussaunt Strong, 28, of Clinton, Maryland, was outside of his father’s home in the Shipley Terrace neighborhood shortly before 7:00 pm on April 18, 2020. The defendant encountered Mr. Strong after he exited a nearby home and then pointed a weapon at him. In response, Mr. Strong ran away. The defendant then began to chase Mr. Strong up the 3400 block of 24th Street SE. As Mills got closer to Mr. Strong, he pulled his jacket hood over his head before shooting Mr. Strong. Video cameras captured the chase however, the shooting was not captured on camera. There were no eyewitnesses to the murder. The government presented video surveillance, circumstantial, and motive evidence in securing the conviction.

            Under the Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, Mills faced a sentencing range of 144 to 288 months for second-degree murder while armed, 36 to 84 months for the possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and six to 24 months for the carrying a pistol without a license. The Honorable Michael K. O’Keefe sentenced Mills to 288 months for second degree murder while armed, 60 months for possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and 24 months for the carrying a pistol without a license. He further ordered that the time for the possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence run consecutive to the murder.

            In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Sharon Donovan, Deputy Chiefs of the Homicide Section; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark and former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcey Rinker; Supervisory Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Paralegal Specialists Mabry Johnson, Meridith McGarrity, Grazy Rivera and Stephanie Gilbert; and Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling, Maisha Treadwell, and Charlie Bruce.     

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Korba who investigated and indicted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Miles Janssen and Andrea Antonelli who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON – A superseding indictment, unsealed today, charges Vladislav Osipov, 52, a Russian national who resides in Switzerland, with five counts of bank fraud, in addition to charges previously lodged, in connection with the operation of a 255-foot luxury superyacht owned by the sanctioned Russian oligarch, Viktor Vekselberg.

            The superyacht, registered in the Cook Islands, is known as the Motor Yacht (M/Y) Tango (International Maritime Organization number 1010703). The Tango was the first superyacht to be seized by the U.S. government under court order following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

            The new charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin Winston of the Minneapolis Field Office, and Task Force Klepto-Capture Co-Directors Michael Khoo and David Lim.

            Osipov remains at large. The U.S. State Department today offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. The reward is offered under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program.

            Osipov was previously indicted in November 2022 on multiple charges in connection with operating the superyacht that included conspiracy to defraud the United States; violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; and money laundering. The superseding indictment brings the total number of charges to 17, and seeks the forfeiture of Tango and all fees, payments, and monies derived from services performed on its behalf.

            According to the superseding indictment, despite U.S. sanctions that had been previously issued against Vekselberg in 2018, Osipov and a co-conspirator facilitated the operation of the Tango through the use of U.S. companies and the U.S. financial system, attempting to obfuscate Vekselberg’s involvement in the vessel.

            “Facilitators of sanctions evasion enable the oligarchs supporting Vladimir Putin’s regime to flout U.S. law,” said U.S Attorney Graves. “The United States will not allow its financial institutions and persons to be manipulated or defrauded for the purposes of benefitting those who support tyranny.”

            “The security of our financial systems and protection of our nation's economic integrity are of utmost importance,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI will not relent in ensuring that U.S. law is upheld and that our financial institutions remain impervious to exploitation by those who support tyranny.”

            Osipov served in senior positions in multiple companies controlled by Vekselberg. Among his many roles, Osipov functioned as Vekselberg’s personal manager of Tango. Osipov designed a complicated ownership structure of shell companies to hide Vekselberg’s ownership of the superyacht, despite that Vekselberg designed the vessel, was its sole user, and was the ultimate beneficial owner. The conduct enabled Vekselberg to evade the Treasury Department’s “Know Your Customer” regulations applicable to U.S. financial institutions and the reporting of transactions to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

            Vekselberg is described by the Treasury Department as the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Renova Group, which is comprised of asset management companies and investment funds that own and manage assets in several sectors of the Russian economy, including tech and energy.

            As alleged, after Vekselberg was sanctioned in April 2018, he hired a yacht management company in Palma de Mallorca, Spain to take over the management of Tango. Osipov and his employees instructed the yacht management company to avoid doing business with banks in Tango’s true name. The management company, thereafter, devised a scheme to use a false name for the yacht, “the Fanta,” to hide from financial institutions that payments were ultimately for the benefit of Tango and Vekselberg, a practice to which Osipov and his employees assented. The bank account for Tango thereafter bore the reference name “Fanta” on the bank records. Additionally, Osipov instructed employees of the superyacht, to include its captains, that they could continue to do business with U.S. companies despite sanctions, as it was up to the U.S. companies to decide what to do. Osipov further instructed the same employees that the yacht management company could organize payments for the superyacht in dollars, and then be reimbursed by Vekselberg (through Osipov) in Euros.

            Thus, due to these instructions from Osipov, Vekselberg’s personal yacht manager, the superyacht’s management company and its employees conveyed false information to U.S. financial institutions and conducted business with U.S. companies, in an effort to avoid the impact of U.S. sanctions against Vekselberg. Tango employees used their own credit cards to purchase an array of items from U.S. companies on behalf of the superyacht, only to be reimbursed by the yacht management company. Tango employees ordered goods through use of a U.S. internet service provider as an intermediary, who then billed the same items back to the yacht management company. Items purchased included navigation and computer software, luxury monogramed bath robes, leather basket magazine holders, weather forecasting software, internet computing systems, satellite television, and teleconferencing software, all products of U.S.-origin products or services supplied by U.S. companies.

            As a result of the obfuscations, U.S. financial institutions unknowingly processed hundreds of thousands of dollars of transactions for Tango that they otherwise would not have permitted had they known of Vekselberg’s involvement in the financial transaction. The financial institutions received information, all done in furtherance of the scheme designed by Osipov, that the goods were sold to the Tango employees, the U.S. internet service provider, and to “the Fanta.” Further, these payments and Vekselberg’s involvement in them were not reported to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

            On April 4, 2022, Spanish law enforcement executed a Spanish court order freezing Tango. The Spanish acted following a request from the Department of Justice that it assist with the execution of a seizure warrant, issued in March 2022 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which alleged that Tango was subject to forfeiture based on violations of U.S. law.

            The case is part of the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with its allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The task force leverages all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

            The charges are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of any offense, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Spanish Guardia Civil - Jefatura de Informacion - Unidad Especial Numero III (UCE-III).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert and Maeghan Mikorski and Paralegal Brian Rickers, with valuable assistance provided by Paralegal Jorge Casillas and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick, all of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in working with the Spanish authorities throughout this matter.

WASHINGTON – A superseding indictment charges Darnell Lamont Savoy, 24, of Washington D.C., with charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, and second-degree cruelty to children.

            The charges contained in a federal indictment, docketed on February 15, 2024, are in addition to a case charged in Superior Court in connection with the 2018 shooting of a 14-year-old child, and a subsequent 2022 stabbing that Savoy allegedly committed while under indictment –  and on pretrial release – for the shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            An arraignment for Savoy is scheduled for April 26, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly.

            In 2021, Savoy was released from custody, over the government’s written and oral objections, and put on home confinement while awaiting trial on assault with intent to kill while armed and related offenses stemming from the 2018 shooting. According to court documents, on October 11, 2022, Savoy allegedly stabbed a person during an argument and fled the scene. Investigators tracked Savoy to the 3900 block of Southern Avenue, SE. On the morning of October 21, 2022, MPD officers and FBI agents executed a search warrant at an apartment unit on the block, where Savoy was staying with a woman and a 3-year-old child. During the search, law enforcement found a plastic bag containing 4.55 grams of an off-white powder, a digital scale with white powder residue, a red cut straw with white powder residue, and a two-pack of naloxone. The powder and the residues tested positive for fentanyl.

            In a blue camo jacket, investigators discovered 27 zip baggies with an off-white powder weighing a total of 7.3 grams, 29 blue bills stamped M30, 16 red zip baggies containing an off-white powder weighing nearly 5 grams, and $473 in U.S. currency. The powders tested positive for fentanyl. The jacket also contained Savoy’s driver’s license, Visa credit card, and Costco membership card. In a hall closet, on top of a dryer, officers discovered a loaded, unregistered, semi-automatic Glock 30, with 23 rounds in a 30 round capacity magazine. DNA testing linked Savoy to the firearm. DNA from the woman living in the apartment could not be linked to the firearm. The fentanyl recovered during the search warrant was located in a common area of the apartment that the three-year-old had access to, which could have led to the overdose of the child.

            The charges of assault with intent to kill while armed with a firearm and other counts stem from the 2018 shooting of a 14-year-old. The victim had been sitting in a car with his father, when Savoy drove up with two other men who began shooting, believing the vehicle contained individuals involved in the murder of a member of Savoy’s crew. Trial in that case is scheduled to begin in April of 2024.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Long and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Stempel. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney William G. Hart and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam.

            The charges are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Miliki Lee, 19, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in Superior Court in the District of Columbia to carjacking and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

            According to court documents, the victim was driving in the 1000 block of Buchanan St NE at approximately 9:30 p.m. on October 27, 2023, when Lee and two other juveniles, who were driving another vehicle, drove in front of her, blocking her path. Lee and his co-conspirators got out and surrounded the victim’s vehicle, and eventually forced her out of her car at gunpoint. Within minutes MPD officers responded to the victim’s call and used the MPD helicopter to track the stolen vehicle into Prince George’s County Maryland. Prince George’s County police followed Lee back into the District, where Lee crashed the vehicle. Prince George’s County police and MPD officers apprehended Lee after he ran from the car. Police also recovered a Glock handgun that was loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition.

            Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 17, 2024. Lee faces a mandatory minimum term of seven years in prison for carjacking, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison for possessing and using the firearm during the carjacking.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Prince George’s County Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Bartz.

WASHINGTON – Jann Jousten Aponte-Rivera, 27, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to 50 years in prison for the drug-related murder of Shantay Myisha Butler, 42, of Frederick, MD, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Inspector in Charge Ajay Lall, of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg.

            Aponte-Rivera was convicted after a jury trial on November 8, 2023 of all three counts charged, including: conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; continuing criminal enterprise – causing the intentional death of Shantay Butler; and causing the death of Shantay Butler through the use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking offense. Aponte-Rivera was part of a large-scale drug trafficking organization based in San Juan that was sending kilogram quantities of cocaine to the mainland United States, including the Washington D.C. region, via the U.S. Postal Service. Law enforcement identified more than 50 parcels of cocaine shipped by the organization from Puerto Rico to the area with a wholesale street value of at least $2 million. Once the drugs arrived in the metropolitan area, a local drug trafficking organization distributed the cocaine to mainland dealers.

            The drug trafficking organization’s members, including Aponte-Rivera, traveled from San Juan to the Washington, D.C. area to collect drug proceeds, and then surreptitiously traveled on commercial airliners with the proceeds. Aponte-Rivera was indicted with co-defendants Rey Rivera Ruiz, Nomar Medina Diaz, and Michael Gabriel Rivera Hernandez.

            According to the facts introduced at trial, the leader of the Washington, D.C.-area drug trafficking organization owed several thousand dollars to the Puerto Rico drug trafficking organization and had been ordered to pay for several kilograms of cocaine which did not arrive in the Washington, D.C.-area. On October 14, 2020, Aponte-Rivera lured the leader of the Washington, D.C. area drug trafficking organization and Shantay Butler to a desolate part of Toa Baja in Puerto Rico. When the leader of the Washington, D.C.-area drug trafficking organization arrived with Ms. Butler in a car, Aponte-Rivera ambushed them, but pulling out a firearm and firing on the vehicle. The leader of the Washington, D.C.-area drug trafficking organization was shot five times, remained in a coma for several weeks, but survived. His girlfriend, Ms. Butler, died of her wounds.

            The FBI arrested Aponte-Rivera on April 15, 2021, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

            Rivera Ruiz pleaded guilty on May 26, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and is set to be sentenced before Chief Judge Boasberg on February 22, 2024. In total, 10 individuals have been convicted for their roles in this drug trafficking conspiracy.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Montgomery Co. Police Department (MCPD), and the Frederick City Police Department (FCPD).

            The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Scarpelli and David T. Henek, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Fletcher and Dineen Baker assisted in the investigation and charging of this case.

WASHINGTON – Haotian Sun, 33, and Pengfei Xue, 33, both Chinese nationals, were found guilty today by a federal jury for participating in a sophisticated scheme to defraud Apple out of millions of dollars’ worth of iPhones, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood, of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Washington Division; and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon, of Homeland Security Investigations, Washington Field Office.

            Sun, of Baltimore, and Xue, of Germantown, MD, were found guilty by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, which carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly scheduled sentencing for June 21, 2024.

            According to the government’s evidence, between May 2017 and September 2019, Sun, Xue, and other conspirators defrauded Apple Inc. by submitting counterfeit iPhones to Apple for repair to get Apple to exchange them with genuine replacement iPhones. Sun and Xue received shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong at UPS mailboxes throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area. They then submitted the fake iPhones, with spoofed serial numbers and/or IMEI numbers, to Apple retail stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers, including the Apple Store in Georgetown. Trial evidence showed that conspirators submitted more than 5,000 inauthentic phones to Apple during the conspiracy, intending to cause a loss of more than $3 million to Apple.

            Sun and Xue used various aliases during the scheme. They were arrested on December 5, 2019. 

            This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations.

            It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi J. Kleinman, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Trial Attorney Ryan Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. Essential work was provided by Paralegal Specialists Sona Chaturvedi, Liliana Villamizar, Mariela Andrade, and Amanda Rohde, as well as former Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart, all of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A federal jury in the District of Columbia convicted two Chinese nationals today for participating in a sophisticated scheme in which they submitted more than 5,000 inauthentic phones to Apple Inc., intending to cause a loss of more than $3 million to Apple.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from May 2017 to September 2019, Haotian Sun, also known as Hao Sun, Jack Sun, and Frank Sun, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, and Pengfei Xue, 33, of Germantown, Maryland, along with their co-conspirators, submitted counterfeit iPhones to Apple for repair to get Apple to exchange them with genuine replacement iPhones. Sun and Xue received shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong at UPS mailboxes throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area. They then submitted the fake iPhones, with spoofed serial numbers and/or IMEI numbers, to Apple retail stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers.

In 2017, Sun opened eight UPS Store mailboxes using his Maryland driver’s license and university identification card. U.S. postal inspectors arrested Sun and Xue in December 2019.

The jury convicted Sun and Xue of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 21 and each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Inspector in Charge Damon Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Washington Division, and Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington Field Office made the announcement.

USPIS and HSI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ryan Dickey of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi J. Kleinman for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON – Franklin A. Olaitan, 51, of Beltsville, Maryland, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for stealing a residential property in Northwest Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. The sentence was handed down on Friday, February 16, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman who also ordered Olaitan to serve three years of supervised release, to not buy or lease any properties during the period of supervised release, to pay at least $580,663.73 in restitution and a $111,159.63 criminal forfeiture money judgment and pay a $100 assessment.

            Olaitan pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols on Aug. 15, 2023, to one count of wire fraud. As part of the plea, Olaitan admitted he caused the filing of a false deed transferring the property, which he immediately resold to a third-party, pocketing the sale proceeds. As a result of the fraudulent scheme, Olaitan caused over $600,000 in losses to the various victims.

            According to the government’s evidence, between September 23, 2016, through March 22, 2017, Olaitan stole a real property on First Street, NW, using a fake deed and other falsified documents in order to rapidly sell the property, pocketing the sale proceeds, and defrauding the true owner of the property, settlement company, mortgage lenders, title company, and the buyer. Olaitan impersonated the victim owner through false documents which enabled him to get away with his theft for a significant time during which the buyer of the property spent over $600,000 renovating the property.

            Olaitan was arrested Dec. 15, 2021, in the District.

            The FBI’s Washington Field Office conducted the investigation.

          Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Lucas and Christopher Howland prosecuted the case with valuable assistance from Paralegal Specialists Lisa Abbe and Liliana Villamizar, Victim-Witness Service Coordinator Tonya Jones, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Litigation Technology Specialist Jeanie Latimore-Brown, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derrick Williams and Veronica Sanchez.

WASHINGTON – Jamaarr Morgan, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was sentenced in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to 12 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Jacques Russ, on December 14, 2021, in the Unit block of 61st Street Northeast, Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Morgan pleaded guilty, on July 12, 2023, to voluntary manslaughter while armed. Under the District of Columbia Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines, Morgan faced a sentencing range of 90 to 180 months of incarceration. On Friday, February 16, 2024, the Honorable Marisa Demeo sentenced Morgan to 144 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on December 14, 2021, Morgan encountered Mr. Russ in the Unit block of 61st Street Northeast on December 14, 2021, around 6:50 a.m., as the victim was on his way to work. Morgan proceeded to shoot the victim once in the head before fleeing the scene. Mr. Russ’s body was found lying in the street a short time later by a passerby.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Dean, who prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance by Paralegal Specialists Tasha Harris and Lauren Douglas and Victim Witness Program Specialist Karina Hernandez.

WASHINGTON – Sasha McCoy, 27, of Washington, D.C., was arrested on February 15, 2024, on the charge of first-degree felony murder in the death of her three-year-old daughter on October 28, 2022, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.  

            Defendant McCoy was arraigned on February 16th in D.C. Superior Court where she entered a plea of not guilty to first-degree murder and first-degree cruelty to children for allegedly allowing her child to ingest a lethal dose of fentanyl. The Honorable Renee Raymond found probable cause that the defendant committed the murder and held her without bond pending her preliminary hearing on March 8, 2024, before Judge Brandt in Courtroom 201.   

            In announcing the arrest, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Assistant United States Attorney Emma McArthur for her efforts in prosecuting this case.   

            An arrest on a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. 

WASHINGTON – Georgy Kavzharadze, 27, pleaded guilty today to being a prolific vendor of stolen financial information, login credentials, and other personally identifying information (PII) on a criminal internet marketplace called Slilpp, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division.

            Kavzharadze pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who scheduled sentencing for July 19, 2024.

            Kavzharadze is also known as “George” and “Georgii” and went by online monikers of “TeRorPP,” “Torqovec,” and “PlutuSS.” In Cyrillic his name is ГЕОРГИЙ КАХОВИЧ КАВЖАРАДЗЕ.

            According to court documents, between July 2016 and May 2021, Kavzharadze, using the name “TeRorPP,” listed for sale over 626,100 stolen login credentials on Slilpp and sold more than 297,300 of them on the illegal marketplace. Those credentials were subsequently linked to $1.2 million in fraudulent transactions, or attempted transactions. On May 27, 2021, Kavzharadze's account on Slilpp listed 240,495 login credentials for sale that would allow the buyer to use the information to steal money from the victim’s online payment and bank accounts. The credentials included access to bank accounts in New York, California, Nevada, and Georgia. Kavzharadze only accepted Bitcoin as payment for the credentials. An FBI analysis connected Kavzharadze to withdrawals of more $200,000 in Slilpp profits from his Bitcoin account.

            In June 2021, the FBI, in a coordinated action with international law enforcement partners, disrupted Slilpp by seizing its infrastructure and domain names. The Slilpp database contained a wealth of historical information about Slilpp vendors, customers and transactions, including subscriber and payment information for individual accounts that have been used to buy and sell login credentials over Slilpp. The database accurately reflected known Slilpp transactions and subscriber records, including FBI undercover purchases.

            On August 19, 2021, Kavzharadze was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, bank fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was subsequently extradited to the United States. He had an initial appearance in the U.S. District Court on May 18, 2022.

            This case was investigated by the FBI.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Macey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph “Tony” Misher. Valuable assistance was provided by Paralegal Specialist Lisa Abbe, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Demian S. Ahn, and former Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart. 

 

WASHINGTON – Charles F. McGonigal, 55, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office, was sentenced today to 28 months in prison for his undisclosed receipt of $225,000 in cash from an individual with ties to the Albanian government while McGonigal was supervising counterintelligence investigations.  

            The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the Los Angeles Field Office; and FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office.

            In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered McGonigal to serve three years of supervised release. McGonigal pleaded guilty on September 22, 2023, to one count of concealing material facts. In imposing the sentence, the Court found that McGonigal’s conduct involved substantial interference with the administration of justice. 

            According to papers filed with the court, McGonigal was responsible for overseeing counterintelligence and national security matters when he served as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s New York Field Office from August 2017 through his retirement from the FBI in September 2018. During this time, McGonigal concealed from the FBI the nature of his relationship with a former foreign security officer and businessperson who had ongoing business interests in foreign countries and before foreign governments. Specifically, McGonigal hid from the FBI that he received at least $225,000 in cash from the individual and traveled abroad with him and met with foreign nationals, in-part to advance their private business interests.  

            The FBI arrested McGonigal on January 21, 2023, at J.F.K. International Airport in New York. He was simultaneously indicted on charges by DDC and Southern District of New York. In December 2023, McGonigal was sentenced to 50 months in prison and ordered to pay a $40,000 fine for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to commit money laundering in an unrelated case being prosecuted in the Southern District of New York.

            Today’s sentence of 28 months will be served consecutively with McGonigal’s previous sentence of 50 months out of the Southern District of New York.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices.

            The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Stuart D. Allen, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with assistance from Deputy Chief Evan N. Turgeon of the DOJ’s National Security Division Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs.

 

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Charles F. McGonigal, 55, a former FBI Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office, was sentenced today to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his undisclosed receipt of $225,000 in cash from an individual with ties to the Albanian government while McGonigal was supervising counterintelligence investigations. 

McGonigal pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2023, to one count of concealing material facts. In imposing the sentence, the court found that McGonigal’s conduct involved substantial interference with the administration of justice. 

According to papers filed with the court, McGonigal was responsible for overseeing counterintelligence and national security matters when he served as Special Agent in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office from August 2017 through his retirement from the FBI in September 2018. During this time, McGonigal concealed from the FBI the nature of his relationship with a former foreign security officer and businessperson who had ongoing business interests in foreign countries and before foreign governments. Specifically, McGonigal hid from the FBI that he received at least $225,000 in cash from the individual and traveled abroad with him and met with foreign nationals, in-part to advance their private business interests. 

The FBI arrested McGonigal on Jan. 21, 2023, at J.F.K. International Airport in New York. He was simultaneously indicted on charges by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Columbia and the Southern District of New York. In December 2023, McGonigal was sentenced to 50 months in prison and ordered to pay a $40,000 fine for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and to commit money laundering in an unrelated case being prosecuted in the Southern District of New York.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the Los Angeles Field Office and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Los Angeles and Washington Field Offices investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Stuart D. Allen and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Friedman for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case, with assistance from Deputy Chief Evan N. Turgeon of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

WASHINGTON – Hahqwon Beale, 25, of Greenbelt, MD, was found guilty yesterday of armed carjacking and related firearm offenses following a jury trial in Superior Court. The offenses were committed in Northwest DC on May 7, 2018. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Beale was convicted of armed carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony conviction. Judge Anthony C. Epstein ordered that Beale be held without bond pending sentencing. Beale has been detained since his arrest on May 8, 2018. The sentencing date for the armed carjacking offenses is yet to be determined. Beale is also facing charges of first-degree murder while armed and related offenses for the murder of George Johnson, Jr., which was committed the same night as the May 7, 2018 carjacking. The homicide trial is scheduled to begin on June 10, 2024.

            According to the government’s evidence, on May 7, 2018, at approximately 10:55 p.m., Beale and a female co-conspirator called a Pizza Boli’s restaurant to order food to be delivered to the 400 block of Farragut Street in Northwest DC. When the delivery driver arrived at the location, he walked to the trunk of his vehicle to retrieve the order. Beale approached the driver from behind, put a gun to the driver’s back, and demanded money. The driver gave Beale around $300 to $400 of cash from his pocket, which belonged to Pizza Boli’s. Beale and the co-conspirator then entered the victim’s vehicle and drove away. MPD officers located the stolen vehicle approximately 4.5 hours after the carjacking, with Beale and the co-conspirator asleep inside. Law enforcement officers took both suspects into custody. Following his arrest, Beale used a D.C. Jail phone to call an associate and arrange for a third person to retrieve and conceal the Glock 26 handgun that Beale had used to commit the carjacking. The firearm was recovered during a search warrant executed at the home of Beale’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator previously pleaded guilty to robbery for her role in the charged crimes.

            This case is being investigated by MPD’s Homicide Branch. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Ganjei and Charles R. Jones. 

WASHINGTON – Andre Smith, 27, and Malachi McFarland, 24, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 18 years and 14 years of incarceration, respectively, for the April 2021 shooting death of Kerry Odoms, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They were sentenced by the Honorable Robert Okun of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

            Both defendants pleaded guilty to second degree murder while armed on October 30, 2023.

            According to the government’s evidence, just prior to the homicide, Kerry Odoms, 29, of Washington, D.C., was socializing on Apr. 15, 2021 with a group of people that included McFarland, in the parking lot of 3319 10th Place SE, in the Congress Heights neighborhood.

            Smith approached the group and moments later, at 9:54 p.m., lunged toward Odoms while firing multiple gunshots. As Smith began shooting at Odoms, McFarland ran a short distance away, returned, and fired a second round of gunshots directly at Odoms. The gunfire from both defendants killed Odoms, who suffered eight gunshot wounds. 

-            In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Antonelli, Jin Park, and former AUSA Steven Rickard, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

 

WASHINGTON – Ryan Parker, 24, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced today to 12 years of incarceration for the March 2023 shooting of a man outside of Malcolm’s Liquors on Minnesota Avenue NE, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            On August 8, 2023, Parker pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to charges of aggravated assault while armed and carrying a pistol without a license.  The Honorable Erik Christian sentenced the defendant to 10 years for the aggravated assault charge and two years for the carrying a pistol without a license charge, with those sentences to run consecutively to each other.

            According to the government’s evidence, with which Parker agreed, on March 6, 2023, Parker fired 14 gunshots at the victim, and hit him twice while the two were standing outside of Malcolm’s Liquors on Minnesota Avenue. At the plea hearing, Parker admitted that the underlying argument was over the victim’s refusal to give him a cigarette. As a result of the shooting, the victim sustained injuries to his hand and leg.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department officers who investigated the case. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.

 

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, February 14, 2024, Terri Ross (aka Terri Rosser), 38, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on December 31, 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Ross is to be arraigned on February 26, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.

            According to the government’s evidence, on December 31, 2023, Ross took clothing items without paying from the Ross Dress for Less store in Northeast, Washington, D.C. Ross was later located and arrested after investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department.    

            Ross has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted.

            Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 24 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaskin.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. 

 

 

WASHINGTON – Between February 5 and February 13, 2024, in the District of Columbia, six people were arrested and charged with felony strangulation under D.C. Code 22-404.04 which was created through the Prioritizing Public Safety Emergency Amendment Act of 2023. They are among 26 people charged since the D.C. Council created this new criminal offense in the D.C. Code which went into effect in July of 2023.

            The recent cases include:

            On February 13, 2024, Lontez Williams, 40, of D.C. was arrested and charged with strangulation and child cruelty, for allegedly squeezing the neck of a three-year-old child by wrapping his arm around it, and then hurling the child victim into a couch when his family intervened to stop him. Williams was presented to a magistrate judge on February 13, 2024 and was ordered held*. 

            On February 12, 2024, Leonel Bonilla, 27, of D.C., was arrested and charged with strangulation and aggravated assault, for an alleged attack on a female victim in D.C. The victim reported that Bonilla escalated a verbal altercation occurring in a car when he pulled over and grabbed her around the neck so that she could not breathe and eventually lost consciousness.  Bonilla was presented to a magistrate judge on February 12, 2024, and was ordered held*.

            On February 10, 2024, Marc Gatling, 40, of D.C., was arrested for simple assault and charged with strangulation for an alleged attack on a female victim on February 9, 2024, in D.C., that started as a verbal altercation. The victim left the premises but returned to retrieve personal belongings. While she was there, Gatling allegedly tried to prevent her from leaving, eventually pushing her down and strangling her. Gatling was presented to a magistrate judge on February 10th and was released.

            On February 7, 2024, Ronald McKinnon, 63, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with strangulation and one count of kidnapping for an alleged attack on a female in his home. The victim called 911 after the defendant allegedly assaulted and strangled her and confined her in the basement. McKinnon was presented to a magistrate judge on February 9, 2024, and was ordered held*.

            On February 5, 2024, Michael Alston, 58, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with strangulation and assault with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly punched a 72-year old female, strangled her, and threatened her with a knife. The victim managed to escape. Alston was presented to a magistrate judge and was later released on GPS monitoring.

            On February 5, 2024, Deangelo Dunn, 27, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with strangulation, after allegedly strangling a female victim because she refused to give him money. Dunn was later released.

            “The data shows that people strangled by an intimate partner are 800% more likely to be the victim of a homicide,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Recognizing this danger, we advocated for a felony charge for strangulation, and we are grateful that the Council passed, and the Mayor signed, emergency legislation temporarily creating a specific felony. We have aggressively charged this crime since it was enacted in July 2023. Now is the time to make the legislation permanent and to create a presumption that people who engage in this life-threatening conduct will be held in jail after their arrest.”

            In addition to those cases, on January 19, 2024, Joseph Coles, 34, was arrested and charged with simple assault, a misdemeanor, involving a woman he met thru an online dating app. The victim went to Coles’s D.C. home on January 19th to bring him food. During the visit, the defendant became upset and allegedly began strangling the victim while holding her pinned against a wall. He was released on the simple assault charge and, after further investigation, was charged by superseding complaint with felony strangulation.

            These cases were investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Strangulation is widely recognized as one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence. A major strangulation study in San Diego, which is frequently cited, found: “Many victims suffer internal injuries, including permanent brain damage. Signs and symptoms do exist and can be documented even without visible injury… Most abusers do not strangle to kill. They strangle to show they can kill.  Victims often suffer major long-term emotional and physical impacts. Surviving victims are much more likely to die later if their abuser has strangled them.” The study also noted that “…..the odds of becoming a victim of attempted homicide increased by 700%, and the odds of becoming a homicide victim increased by 800%, among women who had been strangled by their partner.”

            *Defendants that were ordered held had an additional hold-eligible offense since felony strangulation is currently not hold eligible.

WASHINGTON – Milomir Desnica, 34, a national of Serbia and Croatia, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for operating the Monopoly Market, a dark net website that provided a vast online marketplace for the sale of illicit narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.

            In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Desnica to forfeit cash and cryptocurrency obtained from his involvement in operating Monopoly. Desnica pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2023, to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

            According to the government’s evidence, Desnica, of Smederevska Palanka, Serbia, entered into a conspiracy in 2019 to develop and operate a website that became Monopoly Market. According to the indictment, Monopoly grew into an international marketplace for the sale of illicit narcotics including opioids, stimulants, psychedelics, and prescription medications, among other drugs. The products were sold by individual vendors on Monopoly with Monopoly admins typically taking a 5% cut for each facilitated sale. Vendors were required to prove they had sufficient stock of their product. Monopoly would accept photographic proof of the inventory.

            In 2021, law enforcement within the United States placed and received numerous orders on Monopoly for narcotics from various vendors. Authorities ordered more than 100 grams of methamphetamine on Monopoly. Through its investigation, the FBI determined that Monopoly facilitated over $18 million in narcotics sales around the world, including the sale of over 30 kilograms of methamphetamine to customers in the United States.

            In December 2021, in coordination with foreign law enforcement partners in Germany and Finland, law enforcement seized the computer server hosting Monopoly and took it offline. Law enforcement analyzed the seized server and identified records of the narcotics sales, financial records documenting cryptocurrency payments on Monopoly, an online forum associated with Monopoly, communications from the Monopoly operators to vendors, commission payment invoices, and more. Desnica was identified as an operator of Monopoly through the analysis of the records. The FBI identified Bitcoin wallets used by administrators to collect commissions. 

            In November 2022, in coordination with the Austrian Fugitive Active Search Team (FAST) and the Public Prosecutors Office Vienna, Desnica was located and arrested in Austria. Law enforcement conducted a search of his residence and vehicle and seized electronics and cash.

            On June 23, 2023, Desnica was extradited from Austria to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.

            This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force and Germany’s Zentrale Kriminalinspektion (ZKI) Oldenburg Cybercrime Unit. The Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force is composed of FBI agents, analysts, and task force partners, including special agents and officers of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and detectives from local assisting police agencies. The task force is charged with identifying and investigating the most egregious darknet marketplaces and the vendors operating on the marketplaces who are engaged in the illegal acquisition and distribution of controlled substances, including methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other opioids.

            The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked to secure the arrest and extradition from Austria of Desnica and provided significant assistance. Valuable assistance was also provided by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation; Europol; Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt; Austria’s Bundeskriminalamt Cybercrime Competency Center, FAST team, and Public Prosecutors Office Vienna; and the Republic of Serbia High-Tech Crimes Special Prosecutor.

            The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nihar Mohanty and former U.S. Attorney Andy Wang of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

WASHINGTON – Stephen Claude Rattigan, also known as Julius James, 48, of Washington, D.C., has been charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, assault on a police officer while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence following the shooting of three Metropolitan Police Department officers and an hours-long standoff in Southeast DC. He is also being charged with misdemeanor cruelty to animals. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Rattigan made his initial appearance before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond today, where he was ordered held without bond pending a preliminary hearing on February 29, 2024 before Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

            According to court documents, on February 14, 2024, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department responded to Rattigan’s residence in the 5000 block of Hanna Place Southeast to execute an arrest warrant because of a complaint of animal cruelty. That warrant stemmed from an incident in April 2023 in which Rattigan was captured by a security camera beating one of his dogs several times in the face. On January 12, 2024, an Animal Control Investigator visited the residence to address the issue of the number of animals on the property and the need for a permit. Previously on January 8, 2024, a Humane Society Officer visited Rattigan’s residence to address the issue of inhumane living conditions for the animals based on complaints received.

            On the day of arrest, law enforcement officers approached Rattigan’s residence and identified themselves as police officers, in an attempt to arrest Rattigan on the outstanding arrest warrant. Upon law enforcement’s entry into the home, Rattigan opened fire, shooting and striking several officers. Rattigan barricaded himself inside the residence for more than 12 hours until he was taken into custody later in the day. After the arrest, authorities removed 31 dogs from his home. The law enforcement officers who were struck are all currently in stable condition.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Goldstein.

             A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Today, a jury sitting in Superior Court found Terrell Poe, 37, of Washington, D.C., guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm, in the September 2020 shooting death of Christopher Washington. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for April 19, 2024.

           According to the government’s evidence, at 2:24 p.m. in the afternoon on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, Christopher Washington, 30, of Washington, D.C., was waiting at the bus stop on Southern Avenue, SE when Poe pulled up in a stolen white pickup truck, got out of the truck with an assault rifle, and shot him to death. Just minutes earlier, in a local church parking lot, Poe had switched from his girlfriend’s car into the stolen pickup truck and gone looking for Mr. Washington.  Poe passed Mr. Washington as he walked up Indian Head Highway in Maryland, then turned around and followed Mr. Washington, apparently losing sight of him, and then finding him again at the bus stop.  After the murder, Poe returned to the church parking lot, dropped off the stolen truck and drove off in his girlfriend’s car.

            Poe was arrested on October 5, 2020.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter V. Roman and Wes Faulkner.

WASHINGTON – Neal Pitt, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release by D.C. Superior Court Judge Erik Christian following Pitt’s conviction at trial for assault with significant bodily injury. 

            Pitt was convicted for an attack that took place on the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station platform on March 9, 2021. The verdict was returned on October 30, 2023, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

            According to the government’s evidence, on March 9, 2021, at approximately 7:45 a.m., Daniel Olsen was traveling on his way to work. Without provocation, Pitt followed Mr. Olsen on the Branch Avenue bound platform, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him to the ground. Mr. Olsen landed on his right shoulder, resulting in a broken humerus that required surgery and months of physical therapy to repair. Pitt fled the scene but was identified based on CCTV footage, SmarTrip records, and his own statements that placed him at the scene of the crime. 

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metro Transit Police Department Chief Michael Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kraig Ahalt and Shaniqua Butler, who investigated and prosecuted the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Coates Huether, Travis Wolf, Bonnie Lindemann, Sandra Braschi, and Benjamin Bleiberg, who initially investigated the case. 

WASHINGTON- James Jackson, 30, of Silver Spring, MD, pleaded guilty, on February 14, 2024, to second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Christian Monje, 29, of Fairfax, VA, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 31, 2024. Jackson faces a sentencing range of 19 to 23 years in prison. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on May 30, 2022, at approximately 4:30 a.m., officers of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District responded to the 1700 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW, in response to the sounds of gunshots. Officers located Mr. Monje on the steps of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to the hospital and died from his injuries a few weeks later.

            Detectives recovered surveillance footage from nearby cameras which showed an individual approaching Mr. Monje while he sat on the steps of the church. Cameras also captured the individual fleeing down a nearby alley and ducking behind a dumpster. Detectives searched the area around the dumpster and located a 9mm Polymer80 “ghost gun” that was later determined to be the murder weapon.

            The case remained unsolved for months until law enforcement received notice of a CODIS link between a DNA profile obtained from the magazine of the murder weapon and Jackson’s reference DNA profile. CODIS, or the Combined DNA Index System, is a web of federal, state, and local indexes that allows laboratories to exchange DNA profiles electronically, linking crimes to each other and known offenders. With this valuable investigative lead, and other evidence obtained in the case, detectives confirmed the defendant’s identity as the murderer.

            The case was investigated by the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miles Janssen.

            WASHINGTON –Sterling McLaughlin, 30, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on October 20, 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Sterling is to be arraigned on February 22, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.

            According to the government’s evidence, on October 20, 2023, and January 3, 2024, Sterling took packages from two locations in the Capitol Hill area, one from a residential home and the other from church. Sterling was later located and arrested after investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department.  

            Sterling has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted.

            Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 24 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chorong Song.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. 

 

 

WASHINGTON – Jordan Tyler Alexander, 20, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty today to illegal possession of a firearm, a charge that resulted after police discovered a Glock 27 in a stolen car that had crashed following a high-speed chase in a vehicle that the defendant was driving. The plea agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

            Alexander, a previously convicted felon, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to a count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term of over one year. The sentencing date is pending. Alexander also faces trial for armed robbery and weapons counts in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

            According to court documents, a Prince George’s County police officer was on patrol at 2 a.m. on August 9, 2023, when he watched a white Honda Accord pull into the parking lot of a convenience store in Suitland, MD, and then immediately leave. The officer suspected that the vehicle drove away after spotting his marked police cruiser. The police officer later saw the Honda pull into the parking lot of a tobacco store. The officer ran the vehicle’s license plate number and learned the car had been stolen in an armed robbery on July 24, 2023, in Southeast Washington, D.C.

            The officer followed the white Honda and witnessed it run a red light. The officer switched on his flashers and siren. The white Honda sped off. The officer received authorization to pursue the Honda and followed it into the District at speeds that reached 100 m.p.h. before the white Honda crashed into a guardrail at I-295 Northbound near the exit for Minnesota Ave., NE.

             Alexander jumped out of the driver’s side door and began running down I-295 as cars drove past him.  A second individual, who was sitting in the front passenger side of the vehicle jumped out as well and ran away from the highway and into the grass. The officer exited the vehicle and began chasing the defendant. As the defendant was running, he ran towards a vehicle on I-295 and attempted to enter the vehicle. The operator of that vehicle was an off-duty law enforcement agent who was still in uniform. The defendant then continued running down the street. As the police officer ran past the agent’s vehicle, the agent offered to help and the officer jumped into the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The agent caught up to the fleeing Alexander and maneuvered in front of him. The officer exited the vehicle and Alexander subsequently gave up and was arrested.

            Inside the crashed white Honda, investigators discovered, in plain view, a Glock 27, 40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine on the driver’s side floorboard. Next to the firearm was a cell phone. On the front passenger seat, there was an additional black Glock 22, 47 caliber handgun lying in plain view. The Glock on the floorboard was loaded with 17 bullets and had one in the chamber.

            A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Alexander has been held since Aug. 10, 2023.

            This case was investigated by the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Washington Field Division, and the Metropolitan Police Department as part of Project Safe Neighborhood

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar with valuable help provided by paralegal Karla Nunez.

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today completed enforcement of a final order for forfeiture of a U.S.-manufactured Boeing 747 cargo plane, previously owned by Mahan Air, a sanctioned Iranian airline affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

            On February 11, 2024, the government of Argentina transferred physical custody of the aircraft to the United States pursuant to the final order of forfeiture, which was issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on May 3, 2023, which rests all right, title, and interest in the aircraft in the United States of America. The Boeing 747 cargo plane arrived in the Southern District of Florida where it will be prepared for disposition.

            “Using a whole-of-government approach, we have worked with our international partners to forfeit a plane transferred by Iranian entities in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Foreign adversaries - seeking to illegally use American-made products to further their endeavors - need to know that the United States government will work with the international community to hold them accountable for their illegal conduct. The United States appreciates the collaboration with our Argentinian law enforcement and judicial partners.” 

            “The United States’ forfeiture of the Boeing 747 cargo plane culminates over 18 months of planning, coordination, and execution by the United States government and our Argentine counterparts,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Bad actors – both near and far – are on alert that the United States will use all its tools to hold those who violate our laws to account.  The successful seizure of the Boeing 747 underscores our commitment to prevent the illegal exportation of U.S. technologies and enforce U.S. export control laws.”

            “The seized American-built aircraft was transferred by a sanctioned Iranian airline in a transaction that violated U.S. export control laws and directly benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is a designated terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that the full force of U.S. laws deny hostile state actors the means to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security.”

            “Mahan Air – known to ferry weapons and fighters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hizballah – violated our export restrictions by selling this airplane to a Venezuelan cargo airline.  Now, it’s property of the United States government,” said Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement’s Matthew S. Axelrod. “This seized airplane’s arrival in the United States is a powerful example of our unceasing efforts to prevent Iran and its proxies from leveraging and profiting from U.S. technology.”

            The plane was previously detained by Argentine law enforcement. On July 19, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a seizure warrant for the aircraft, which Argentine authorities promptly enforced. On Oct. 20, 2022, in support of its ongoing criminal investigation, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that the aircraft’s transfer from Mahan Air to Empresa de Transporte Aéreocargo del Sur, S.A. (EMTRASUR), a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos, S.A (CONVIASA), a Venezuelan state-owned company, violated U.S. export control laws. As alleged, Mahan Air was subject to a Department of Commerce Temporary Denial Order, which prohibited, among other things, Mahan Air from engaging in any transactions involving any commodity exported from the United States that is subject to the Export Administration Regulations. The complaint further alleged that the unauthorized transfer of this aircraft directly benefited the IRGC-QF.

            According to court documents, the registered captain of the aircraft was an ex-commander for the IRGC and a shareholder and member of the board of a second sanctioned Iranian airline, Qeshm Fars Air, affiliated with the IRGC-QF. Argentinian law enforcement also recovered a Mahan Air flight log documenting the aircraft’s flights after the unlawful transfer to EMTRASUR and confirmed additional violations of U.S. export control laws between February and May 2022 when EMTRASUR reexported the aircraft between Caracas, Venezuela; Tehran, Iran; and Moscow, Russia, without U.S. Government authorization. 

            This matter is being investigated by the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Miami Field Office and the FBI Miami Field Office.

            Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajbir Datta for the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy R. Camacho for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the seizure and investigation, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. Senior Trial Attorney John Beasley and Trial Attorney Jesse Ormsby of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; Special Agent Adam Mastriani and Task Force Officer Robert Cunniff of the FBI Miami Field Office; and Ricardo Hernandez of the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Buenos Aires provided significant assistance in working with the Argentine authorities, led by Argentine Federal Judge Federico Villena and the U.S. Marshals Service to manage the difficult logistics and coordination of the physical transfer of the Boeing aircraft from Argentina to the United States.

The Department of Justice today completed enforcement of a final order for forfeiture of a U.S.-manufactured Boeing 747 cargo plane, previously owned by Mahan Air, a sanctioned Iranian airline affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

On Feb. 11, the government of Argentina transferred physical custody of the aircraft to the United States pursuant to the final order of forfeiture, which was issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on May 3, 2023, which rests all right, title, and interest in the aircraft in the United States of America. The Boeing 747 cargo plane arrived in the Southern District of Florida where it will be prepared for disposition.

“The seized American-built aircraft was transferred by a sanctioned Iranian airline in a transaction that violated U.S. export control laws and directly benefited the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is a designated terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that the full force of U.S. laws deny hostile state actors the means to engage in malign activities that threaten our national security.”

“Mahan Air – known to ferry weapons and fighters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hizballah – violated our export restrictions by selling this airplane to a Venezuelan cargo airline.  Now, it’s property of the United States government,” said Assistant Secretary of Export Enforcement’s Matthew S. Axelrod. “This seized airplane’s arrival in the United States is a powerful example of our unceasing efforts to prevent Iran and its proxies from leveraging and profiting from U.S. technology.”

“The United States’ forfeiture of the Boeing 747 cargo plane culminates over 18 months of planning, coordination, and execution by the United States government and our Argentine counterparts,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Bad actors – both near and far – are on alert that the United States will use all its tools to hold those who violate our laws to account.  The successful seizure of the Boeing 747 underscores our commitment to prevent the illegal exportation of U.S. technologies and enforce U.S. export control laws.”

“Using a whole-of-government approach, we have worked with our international partners to forfeit a plane transferred by Iranian entities in violation of U.S. sanctions and export control laws,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Foreign adversaries – seeking to illegally use American-made products to further their endeavors – need to know that the United States government will work with the international community to hold them accountable for their illegal conduct. The United States appreciates the collaboration with our Argentinian law enforcement and judicial partners.” 

“The transfer of this plane to U.S. custody is the final step in the long process to bring this case to its rightful conclusion,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch “The FBI, along with our federal government and international partners, used every tool under our authorities to hold the Iranian government and their affiliates accountable for violating U.S. laws.”

The plane was previously detained by Argentine law enforcement. On July 19, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a seizure warrant for the aircraft, which Argentine authorities promptly enforced. On Oct. 20, 2022, in support of its ongoing criminal investigation, the United States filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that the aircraft’s transfer from Mahan Air to Empresa de Transporte Aéreocargo del Sur, S.A. (EMTRASUR), a Venezuelan cargo airline and subsidiary of Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos, S.A (CONVIASA), a Venezuelan state-owned company, violated U.S. export control laws. As alleged, Mahan Air was subject to a Department of Commerce Temporary Denial Order, which prohibited, among other things, Mahan Air from engaging in any transactions involving any commodity exported from the United States that is subject to the Export Administration Regulations. The complaint further alleged that the unauthorized transfer of this aircraft directly benefited the IRGC-QF.

According to court documents, the registered captain of the aircraft was an ex-commander for the IRGC and a shareholder and member of the board of a second sanctioned Iranian airline, Qeshm Fars Air, affiliated with the IRGC-QF. Argentinian law enforcement also recovered a Mahan Air flight log documenting the aircraft’s flights after the unlawful transfer to EMTRASUR and confirmed additional violations of U.S. export control laws between February and May 2022 when EMTRASUR reexported the aircraft between Caracas, Venezuela; Tehran, Iran; and Moscow, Russia, without U.S. Government authorization.  

This matter is being investigated by the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s Miami Field Office and the FBI Miami Field Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rajbir Datta for the District of Columbia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy R. Camacho for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorney Alexander Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the seizure and investigation, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick. Senior Trial Attorney John Beasley and Trial Attorney Jesse Ormsby of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; Special Agent Adam Mastriani and Task Force Officer Robert Cunniff of the FBI Miami Field Office; the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and Ricardo Hernandez of the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Buenos Aires provided significant assistance in working with the Argentine authorities, led by Argentine Federal Judge Federico Villena and the U.S. Marshals Service to manage the difficult logistics and coordination of the physical transfer of the Boeing aircraft from Argentina to the United States.

WASHINGTON - Jeffrey M. Young-Bey, 67, of Washington, D.C was found guilty today on twelve federal charges stemming from a scheme in which he used a fake notary stamp, forged signatures, and fraudulent property deeds to steal residential real estate property. The scheme generated more than $850,000 in fraudulent loans obtained through mortgages taken out against the value of the stolen real estate.

            The jury verdict, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.

            Young-Bey was found guilty before the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and bank fraud, two counts of bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud, two counts of money laundering, and five counts of aggravated identity theft. A sentencing date is pending. Young-Bey’s conspiracy and fraud convictions carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The money laundering counts carry a maximum sentence of 10 years. The aggravated identity theft charges call for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.

            According to the government’s evidence, beginning in November 2019, Young-Bey conspired to steal a residential townhome located in LeDroit Park in order to obtain mortgage financing against the stolen property. Specifically, Young-Bey identified a target property owned free and clear by an elderly homeowner located in the District. Young-Bey then prepared a fraudulent property deed, including forged signatures of the true owners and used a fake notary stamp to make the deed appear legitimate. Young-Bey filed the deed with the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds, transferring the title from the true owners to a corporate entity. Young-Bey passed a check to the D.C. Recorder of Deeds to pay for the transfer taxes but put a stop payment order on the check before the D.C. government could cash the check.  Young-Bey caused the fake deed to be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds and then falsely told a mortgage services business that another individual had inherited the property and wanted to take a large loan against the value of the home. Young-Bey created a fake rental lease on Rocketlawyer.com and sent the lease to the mortgage company to convince them that his associate owned the home and rented the property for profit. The mortgage company was deceived into loaning Young-Bey’s associate approximately $360,000 against the value of the home they did not own, which was split evenly between the two. Young-Bey used his half of the proceeds to buy a BMW 3-Series valued at approximately $23,000.

            After succeeding on the first scam, Young-Bey executed a second fraudulent scheme on a Shephard Park property in the District, forging the names of the two owners, using the fake notary stamp, and recording the deed at the D.C. Recorder of Deeds Office. Young-Bey again put a stop payment order on the transfer tax check before it could be cashed. Young-Bey used the recorded deed to obtain a construction loan in excess of $500,000 against the value of the house.  Young-Bey took a portion of the loan and purchased a BMW 7-Series worth approximately $120,000. He promptly sold the home to a legitimate real estate company for an additional $42,000 in profit. The fraud was discovered when the real estate company began performing renovations on the home and the rightful owners were alerted to the construction and demolition by their neighbors.

            This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher R. Howland and Kevin L. Rosenberg of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Gina Torres. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham, former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Viviana Vasiu, and Paralegal Specialist Lisa Abbe who investigated the case. The prosecution team was also assisted by Tonya Jones from the Victim Witness Assistance Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Lenerz from the Appellate Section.

WASHINGTON – Eric Lemus, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of assault with intent to kill while armed and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his role in shooting two minor victims on March 22, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            U.S. Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan set a sentencing date of June 7, 2024. Lemus faces a maximum sentence of up to 30 years for assault with intent to kill while armed, and up to 15 years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The prison term will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

            According to the government’s evidence, on March 22, 2023 at approximately 5:00 p.m., Lemus encountered the two minor victims, ages 15 and 17, at Park Road Park in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Northwest D.C.  Lemus then produced a handgun and opened fire on the two victims, who were both struck and later treated for gunshot wounds. After firing multiple rounds at the two victims until the magazine was empty, Lemus attempted to flee the scene but was immediately apprehended by officers with the Metropolitan Police Department. The handgun that Lemus used to commit the shooting was located inside of his sweatshirt pocket when he was stopped, and the crime was captured on video by a bystander who had witnessed the incident. 

            Lemus has been in custody since March 22, 2023, where he will remain until sentencing.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Coates Huether and Carlos A. Valdivia. 

            WASHINGTON- Dallas McKinney, 19, of the District of Columbia, was arraigned yesterday on an indictment returned by a Superior Court grand jury that charged him with armed carjacking, possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, and other charges arising from a series of armed carjackings through several neighborhoods in Southeast DC, committed in just 35 minutes. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            The 11-count indictment charges McKinney with three counts of armed carjacking; four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence; one count of assault with a dangerous weapon; two counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle during a crime of violence; and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. The Honorable Judge Jason Park ordered that McKinney be held without bond pending trial.

            On September 29, 2023, McKinney carjacked an Uber driver at gunpoint in the Eastern Market neighborhood, threatening both the Uber driver and his passenger. About 20 minutes later, McKinney and a co-conspirator used the stolen Uber to try to commit another armed carjacking near Branch and Pennsylvania Avenues SE. Fifteen minutes later, McKinney and his co-conspirator then committed a third armed carjacking at the corner of Alabama and Massachusetts Avenues SE. Police arrested McKinney that afternoon in the 1300 block of Congress Street SE, not far from the two stolen vehicles. At the time, McKinney had a tan Glock 19X 9mm pistol loaded with an extended magazine and equipped with a “giggle switch” or “auto sear,” a device used to make a semi-automatic weapon automatic.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Lawrence and Erica Rudolf. 

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

 

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, January 31, Antoine Harvell, 36, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft and unlawful entry stemming from events occurring on January 24, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Harvell is to be arraigned on February 15, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.

            According to the government’s evidence, on January 24, 2024, Harvell went into Macy’s—having previously been barred from the store—and concealed store merchandise before walking out of the store past all points of sale without paying. Harvell was then arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department.   

            Harvell  has more than two prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for the count of theft for which he is indicted.

            Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 21 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mulvey.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. 

 

 

            WASHINGTON – This week, Leon Johnson, 50, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of felony second-degree theft stemming from events occurring on January 6, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Johnson is to be arraigned on February 15, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.

            According to the government’s evidence, on January 6, 2024, Johnson went into a CVS in Northwest Washington, D.C., took merchandise from the store shelves, and walked out of the store past all points of sale without paying. Johnson was arrested soon thereafter by the Metropolitan Police Department.   

            Johnson has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for the count of theft for which he is indicted.

            Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 21 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mulvey.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. 

 

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WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, January 31, Rodrigo Miranda, 43, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on 35 counts of felony second-degree theft, seven counts of unlawful entry, and one count of destruction of property stemming from events occurring between July 19, 2022, and April 4, 2023, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Miranda was arraigned on, February 8, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.

            According to the government’s evidence, between July 19, 2022, and April 4, 2023, Miranda took packages from several locations in the Adams Morgan area. In doing so, Miranda unlawfully entered areas he was not legally allowed to be in and destroyed property to gain access. Miranda was later located and arrested after investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Miranda has more than two prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for each count of theft for which he is indicted.

            Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 21 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mulvey.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. 

            WASHINGTON – This week, Miguel Demonis, 30, of Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on one count of Felony Second-Degree Theft stemming from events occurring on February 1, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            Demonis is to be arraigned on February 20, 2024, at a hearing before a Superior Court judge.

            According to the government’s evidence, on February 1, 2024, Demonis went into a CVS in Northwest Washington, D.C., took merchandise from the store shelves, and walked out of the store past all points of sale without paying.  Demonis was arrested minutes after walking out of the store by the Metropolitan Police Department.   

            Since September 1, 2023, including the aforementioned case, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has indicted 21 cases involving a felony second-degree theft charge based on a defendant’s two or more prior theft convictions, not from the same occasion.

            Demonis has two or more prior theft convictions, though not from the same occasion, and therefore is subject to enhanced penalties for his alleged theft, including a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for the count of theft for which he is indicted.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rana Wahdan.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

 

 

 

WASHINGTON – Vernon Pernell Hedrick, a four-time convicted felon, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for carrying a Springfield Armory model 1911 semi-automatic handgun, one of the most powerful handguns on the market, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Hedrick, 33, pleaded guilty April 6, 2023, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. In addition to the 30 month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras ordered Hendrick to serve 36 months of supervised release.

            According to court documents, Hedrick was on active supervised release when police attempted to question him on October 15, 2022, at a supermarket parking lot on the 1500 block of Alabama Ave., Southeast. Officers noticed an L-shaped protrusion from an object tucked in Hendrick’s black satchel. Hedrick became wide-eyed, wiped sweat from his forehead, then tore off in a sprint. Police chased after Hendrick on foot and caught him in 20 seconds. Inside the satchel was the semi-automatic military-grade handgun loaded with nine rounds. Also in the satchel were two additional magazines with another 13 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Hedrick told officers he kept the gun for “protection.”

            On Oct. 17, 2022, Hedrick was indicted on a charge of felon in possession. On April 6, 2023, Hedrick pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment.

            Hedrick’s record includes two 2018 convictions in the District for assault with significant bodily injury; a 2012 conviction in Maryland for conspiracy to commit carjacking, and a 2011 District conviction for robbery. A Superior Court jury acquitted Hendrick in 2018 on a first degree murder charge.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared English, Emory V. Cole, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mullin.

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WASHINGTON – Keenan Smith, 42, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of second-degree cruelty to children and one count of felony strangulation for an assault on a child which took place in Washington, D.C., on November 17, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves.

            U.S. Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz set a sentencing date of April 5, 2024. Smith faces a sentence of up to five years for felony strangulation and up to 10 years for second-degree child cruelty to children. The prison term will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

            According to the government’s evidence, on November 17, 2023, Smith grabbed the child by his throat, using both of his hands, and slammed the child to the floor, causing the child to hit the back of his head.  The defendant strangled the child by squeezing the child’s throat with both of his hands, restricting the normal circulation of blood, and breathing of the child.  Smith strangled the child until he lost hearing and vision and blacked out. 

            Smith fled the scene and was arrested the next month pursuant to an arrest warrant.  He has been in custody since January 23, 2024, where he will remain until sentencing.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly K. Smith of the Domestic Violence Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

WASHINGTON - Mysire Poge, 23, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

            Poge entered the guilty plea in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Carl Nichols. Judge Nichols scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2024. The defendant has been detained since November 9, 2023.

            According to the government’s evidence, on June 16, 2023, law enforcement officers were on the 300 block of 51st Street, NW when Poge rode by on a moped.  Poge spotted the officers heading in his direction. He stopped, turned around, and jumped a sidewalk curb to flee southbound down a walkway on the 200 block of 51st St. NE. The defendant pulled into an alleyway and jumped off his moped.  On the sidewalk on Division Avenue, Poge saw a uniformed police officer who was following him and again, ran towards an alley. Poge darted between two houses on Division Avenue and jumped over a chain-link fence. As Poge ran he threw a firearm that landed in a backyard. He continued to run in a circle before officers arrested him. Law enforcement recovered a Glock 27, 40 caliber semi-automatic pistol in the backyard with a 22-round capacity magazine.

            The case was investigated by the MPD and ATF as part of Project Safe Neighborhood.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.

WASHINGTON – Matthew Norman Ballek, 31, of Saskatchewan, Canada, was taken into custody today following an indictment charging him with distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            According to the indictment, unsealed today, on January 23, 2024, Ballek distributed three video files depicting adult males engaging in sexually explicit conduct with minors via a social media communication application.

            On January 23, 2024, a member of the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force was monitoring an online application in an undercover capacity. Law enforcement has come to learn that the application is used by some individuals who have a sexual interest in children. The undercover agent encountered Ballek, who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile. Ballek later sent the undercover agent three video files depicting adult males sexually abusing minor children. On February 1, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Ballek with one count of distribution of child pornography. The case is assigned to the U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton.  

            Earlier today, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ballek’s residence in the District of Columbia and took him into custody. Ballek will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, February 12, 2024.

            Distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guideline and other statutory factors.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Shinskie and Paul V. Courtney.

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Jackson Green, 27, of Sandy, Utah, was taken into custody today following an indictment charging him with Damage to National Gallery of Art Property for his attack on the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial in the National Gallery of Art’s West Wing.

            According to the indictment, unsealed today, on November 14, 2023, Green, a member of the Declare Emergency climate group, entered the National Gallery of Art, carrying red paint.  He then proceeded to smear the words “Honor Them” in red paint on the wall next to the patinated plaster work. The attack was videotaped by supporters of Declare Emergency and released online. Green caused more than $700 in damages.

            The oversized piece, created by American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens in the late 1880s, commemorates one of the first Civil War regiments of African Americans enlisted in the North, which drew recruits from many states and included Frederick Douglass’ own sons.

            This is the third member of Declare Emergency charged in relation to attacks on the National Gallery of Art.  In April 2023, Joanna Smith, 54, and her alleged co-conspirator, Timothy Martin, 54, of North Carolina, smeared paint on the case and base of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Age Fourteen, at times smacking the case with force. Prior to the attack, members of the conspiracy had alerted the Washington Post, and two reporters from the Post recorded and photographed the offense. Following the action, the National Gallery was required to remove the sculpture from public display for 10 days. Gallery officials said it cost over $4,000 to repair the damage to the Degas sculpture.

            In December, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of causing injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit in the April 27, 2023, defacement of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Age Fourteen. U.S. District Court Judge Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for April 3, 2024.  A trial for Ms. Smith’s co-conspirator Timothy Martin is scheduled for August 26, 2024.

            The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with assistance from National Gallery of Art Police, and U.S. Park Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Tepfer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Corenzo Mobery, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 180 months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking network (the “MLK Crew”) based in Southeast Washington that sold cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, PCP, and marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            In addition to 15 years in prison, U.S. District Court Judge Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Mobery to serve three years of supervised release. Mobery, aka “Snowman,” pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on October 16, 2023, to five counts that included conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine; unlawful possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Mobery was sentenced January 31, 2024.

            “Targeting the limited number of people driving violence in our community—either because they are directly using violence or engaging in criminal conduct that is a magnet violence—is a tried-and-true, evidence-based strategy for combatting violence,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “The defendants operated a drug trafficking network that preyed upon the neighborhood where it operated.  Immediately after these defendants were arrested, this neighborhood saw a substantial reduction in instances of violent crime.  And, more than two years after their arrest, the neighborhood is still experiencing less violent crime than it was experiencing before their arrest.  Those driving violence in other neighborhoods in our community need to know that we are currently working with federal law enforcement partners and MPD to ensure they are brought to justice, just as these defendants were.”

            “The defendants in this case turned to gun violence to control the neighborhood where they trafficked illegal drugs,” said FBI SAC Scott, “but as this investigation demonstrates, dismantling street crews disrupts the cycle of violence. Through collaboration with our partners and help from public tips, the FBI will continue to target and fracture groups driving violent crime in the nation's capital.”

            “Criminal networks thrive in the shadows of our communities, preying on the vulnerable and perpetuating violence. The successful prosecution of Corenzo Mobery and his associates underscores the vital importance of safeguarding our neighborhoods,” said Chief Smith. “By dismantling such networks, we create safer spaces where families can thrive, and children can grow without fear. Let this be a testament to the power of collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the community in creating a brighter, safer future for all.”

            The investigation into the MLK Crew began in response to numerous citizen complaints about rampant drug trafficking and accompanying incidents of violence in and around the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE, Washington D.C. In addition to numerous citizen complaints, MPD targeted this area as one of the most notorious in the city in terms of recent shootings and shots fired, as well as for the area’s high numbers of arrests—particularly offenses involving drugs and firearms. As part of its investigation, MPD and FBI began conducting surveillance, obtaining search warrants, and making controlled buys of narcotics from suspected members of the conspiracy.

            The investigation revealed that MLK Crew members openly engaged in the sale of various drugs (including PCP, crack, fentanyl, and marijuana) and took over the area and, effectively, some of the neighborhood’s businesses. MLK Crew members would often go into the neighborhood businesses to complete sales and constantly loitered outside of these businesses to engage in sales. As part of its investigation, MPD and FBI obtained video of defendants openly conducting narcotics transactions in these businesses and even displaying firearms. Throughout the case, law enforcement seized at least 10 firearms (many of which were privately manufactured firearms or “ghost guns”) from MLK crew members and/or stash houses and a sizeable quantity of various narcotics.

            The MLK Crew’s drug trafficking contributed to numerous incidents of drug-related violence in and around the 2900 Block of MLK Ave., including multiple assaults, shootings, robberies, and murders—most notably, the murder of a six-year-old girl who was the daughter of one of the co-defendants in this case. In July 2021, a few months after opening the investigation, MPD and FBI arrested 11 initial defendants and seized 10 firearms, along with PCP, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, heroin, pills, and over $2,500 in cash. The additional six defendants were charged in September 2021 and were arrested shortly thereafter.  

            Mobery was indicted with 16 co-defendants (listed below), who have all pleaded guilty and received prison sentences ranging from 24 months to 180 months based on their criminal conduct and criminal histories. The violent crime landscape around the 2900 Block of MLK Avenue improved immediately after these 17 defendants were taken off our streets.  MPD has documented a 63% reduction in violent crime when comparing the six months after these defendants’ arrest to the six months prior.   Similarly, nearly a year later, there was a 60% reduction in violent crime. And, even at the two-year mark, there was a 23% decrease in overall violent crime, which included a 56% decrease in homicides specifically, when comparing this period to the two years prior.

DEFENDANT

STATUS

Ricky ‘Fatz’ Lyles, Accokeek, MD

Sentenced to 114 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm

Nico ‘Cheese’ Griffin,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 37 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Dandre ‘Freckles’ Shorter, Washington, DC

Sentenced to 37 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Wesley ‘E-Bug’ Leake,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 40 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Leon ‘L’ Lindsay,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 57 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Dezmond ‘Juice’ Cunningham, Washington, DC

Sentenced to 48 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Divine ‘Newcomb’ Chappell,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 76 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Shawn ‘Black’ Wooden,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 92 months for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
 

Barry ‘B-Dot’ Tyson,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 73 months for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Delonta ‘Meathead’ Chappell,  Washington, DC 

Sentenced to 48 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Anthony ‘Ant’ Graves,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 27 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Deshawn ‘Dey Dey’ Loggins,  Temple Hills, MD 

Sentenced to 42 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Kevonte ‘Key Tay’ Randall,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 46 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm

Corenzo ‘Snowman’ Mobery,  Washington, DC 

Sentenced to 180 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon

Rico ‘Ric’ Griffin,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 66 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Shahborne ‘Shyboon’ Scales,  Washington, DC 

Sentenced to 66 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

Luther ‘Tank’ McDuffie,  Washington, DC

Sentenced to 24 months for conspiracy to distribute cocaine

            The case stems from a joint investigation by the MPD Violent Crime Suppression Division’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross Border Safe Streets Task Force. This partnership targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Park Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

          The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Henek and Matthew W. Kinskey of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang provided valuable assistance.

WASHINGTON – A civil forfeiture complaint was unsealed today in the District of Columbia, alleging that more than 500,000 barrels of Iranian fuel oil valued at over $25 million previously onboard the Oil Tanker “Abyss” is forfeitable under the terrorism financing statutes as property of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

            The document alleges a scheme to facilitate the shipment and sale of Iranian fuel oil for the benefit of the IRGC and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). The IRGC and its facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the oil as Iraqi, including manipulating the vessel’s automatic identification system reporting and presenting falsified documents.

            “The complaint unsealed today is the latest in a series of actions our Office has taken to seize and to forfeit oil that Iran has attempted to illegally sell,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.  “Forfeiture actions like this one disrupt Iran’s efforts to illegally sell oil.  The proceeds from these illegal sales are the lifeblood of the Iranian’s efforts to sew war and terror around the globe, disrupting these sales is critical to our national security.”

            “Today’s civil forfeiture action exemplifies our unwavering dedication to advancing our shared goal of protecting the homeland from terrorist organizations attempting to circumvent U.S. sanctions,” said Erin Keegan, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New York. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to utilizing its full authority to disrupt the efforts of hostile countries seeking to profit from illicit oil sales used to support terrorism and the proliferation and delivery of weapons of mass destruction. Today’s action underscores our message that HSI and our partners will not stand by idly as Iran and the terrorist groups it supports use unlawful means to threaten our national security.”

            "Today’s civil forfeiture demonstrates our commitment to protecting the U.S. from organizations seeking to evade U.S. sanctions," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI remains dedicated to working with our partners to protect the sanctity of our financial infrastructure and disrupt the attempts of hostile regimes to generate profits from oil sales used to support terrorism."

            The civil forfeiture action further alleges that the fuel oil constitutes the property of the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), which has provided material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF.  As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

            This enforcement action is the most recent in a series of efforts made by the Justice Department to combat the illicit trafficking of Iranian oil in violation of U.S. law. On September 8, 2023, the Department announced a seizure of oil onboard the tanker Suez Rajan, a criminal plea by its ownership company, and a deferred prosecution agreement by its operating company, all arising out of the tanker’s transport of illicit Iranian oil. The oil was sold for $74 million and the proceeds of the sale are now subject to the civil forfeiture process. 

            These recent actions build on prior enforcement cases the Department of Justice has brought in the District of Columbia related to seizures of illicit Iranian oil since 2019. For example, on July 1, 2020, the Department filed a civil asset forfeiture complaint against all the petroleum seized onboard the four oil tankers, the Bella, Bering, Pandi, and Luna, which were carrying Iranian petroleum to Venezuela. The petroleum onboard these four tankers was sold for approximately $45 million.

            Similarly, on February 2, 2021, the Department of Justice filed a civil asset forfeiture against all petroleum seized onboard the oil tanker Achilleas, which was transporting NIOC petroleum. The petroleum on the Achilleas was sold for approximately $111 million. 

            During October and November 2021, the Department of Justice filed a civil asset forfeiture complaint against all the petroleum seized onboard the tankers Arina and Nostos, which was of Iranian origin. The petroleum onboard was sold for approximately $51 million.

          All the above matters were handled by the Threat Finance Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. These oil seizure actions are in addition to multiple seizures and criminal forfeiture actions for funds associated with the transfer of illicit Iranian oil and the laundering of U.S. dollar payments. All told, these actions have deprived Iran of more than 5,300,000 barrels of petroleum products and $294 million attributable to IRGC.  

          Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

          The FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York are investigating the Abyss case related to Iranian fuel oil, and other cases were investigated by these offices as well as the HSI Washington, D.C. and Colorado Springs offices.

          Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, Brian Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Erika Oblea for the District of Columbia are litigating the case related to Iranian fuel oil aboard the Abyss, with support from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. They received assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers. The U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in this matter.

            A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

WASHINGTON – Two foreign nationals are charged in a scheme to export Iranian petroleum to China and use the proceeds to benefit Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated terrorist organization. Shaoyun Wang, 54, of China, and Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi, 39, of Oman, are charged in a 12-count indictment unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the Minneapolis Field Office, and HSI Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. Also unsealed today was a warrant for a related seizure of approximately $8.5 million.

             Wang and Al Habsi are charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, conspiring to commit money laundering, and money laundering stemming from an alleged scheme to export Iranian petroleum to Chinese government-owned refineries. The indictment alleges that Wang and Al Habsi, together with their co-conspirators, illegally used the U.S. financial system to facilitate the sale of over a hundred million dollars’ worth of oil to benefit the IRGC-QF, Iran’s primary conduit for providing lethal support to terrorist organizations abroad.

            “The only way that Iran can illegally sell oil is if people and business organizations outside Iran help it to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.  “The indictment unsealed today demonstrates that the U.S. government will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly help Iran sell oil illegally —wherever in the world they are located.”

            “Shaoyun Wang and Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi defrauded the U.S. financial system to facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in oil sales in order to support terrorists,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek W. Gordon of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.  “Their actions aided a foreign terrorist organization, which uses such proceeds to fund their malicious activities abroad, including actions against U.S. military personnel.  HSI Washington, D.C. will continue our efforts to dismantle such networks that support the heinous actions of Iran and their Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.”

            “Those who choose to conspire with terrorist organizations will face the full force of justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The FBI remains committed to disrupting financial networks that fund and support terrorism. We will continue to collaborate with our partners to prevent the exploitation of legitimate industries for unlawful purposes, protecting global security and stability."                                                           

            According to the indictment, between December 2019 and July 2021, Wang, Al Habsi, and unnamed co-conspirators negotiated and completed sales of sanctioned oil from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the People’s Republic of China utilizing the services and funds of U.S. persons and financial institutions, without prior authorization or a license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. They allegedly obtained the oil from Iran using surreptitious means, which included AIS spoofing and engaging in multiple transfers between tankers. The alleged scheme relied on the use of the U.S. financial system and was facilitated by Turkish, Omani, and U.S. persons and entities, all in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

            The indictment further alleges that Wang and Al Habsi used fraudulent documents to mask that the oil originated from Iran, used electronic communications to arrange the sales, utilized shell corporations to launder the proceeds through the U.S. financial system, and misled U.S. financial institutions about the source of the money generated by the transactions. In addition, the scheme allegedly used U.S. companies as a “trust” to hold the profits for the IRGC-QF.

            The indictment also alleges that Al Habsi, acting through one of his companies, procured a $16.5 million loan in June 2020 from U.S. financial companies to purchase an oil tanker, later named M/T Oman Pride. Beginning in July 2020, M/T Oman Pride transferred Iranian oil to third-party vessels for sale to Chinese government-owned refineries and companies in China.

            Wang allegedly used a U.S. front company, a U.S. facilitator, and U.S. financial institutions to facilitate the sale of Iranian oil to China. Wang, who served as a director of a Chinese oil refinery, was also the chair of a U.S. company in Las Vegas, Nevada, and general manager of the U.S. company’s Hong Kong-based parent company, which allegedly acted as a front for oil transactions. Wang allegedly engaged with senior IRGC officials to affect the purchases. The alleged scheme resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions that were processed by U.S. banks and facilitated by U.S. persons.

            This case is being investigated by the HSI Washington D.C. and FBI Minneapolis field offices. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Maeghan Mikorski, Rajbir Datta, and Prava Palacharla, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Chris Magnani of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the United States Department of Justice.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Three men from the District and Maryland -- Derrico Johnson, 19, Ronald Henderson, 18, and Daveon Robinson, 17 -- were arraigned today on first-degree murder, conspiracy, and other charges in connection with two murders and a drive-by shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Johnson and Robinson are residents of D.C.; Henderson is a resident of Maryland. Henderson and Robinson were charged under Title 16.

            The 26-count indictment charges each defendant with conspiracy. Derrico Johnson was charged with two counts of first degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the April 12, 2022 murder of 32-year old Clayton Marshall and May 26, 2022 murder of 16-year old Justin Johnson; Ronald Henderson was charged with one count of first degree murder while armed and four counts of assault with intent to kill stemming from the May 26, 2022 murder of Justin Johnson and a January 2, 2023 drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store that injured two bystanders; and Daveon Robinson was charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed stemming from the January 2, 2023 drive-by shooting at Alabama Convenience Store. Ronald Henderson and Derrico Johnson were also indicted for firearms-related offenses from March and April of 2023, respectively. All three defendants were ordered held without bond. A trial date is scheduled for August 18, 2025.

             According to the indictment, the three defendants are members of a crew called “Get Back Gang,” which is associated with the Henson Ridge neighborhood in 7D and a broader group driving violence in DC known as “Fox 5 Gang.” Over the past two years, the defendants and others participated in several homicides and non-fatal shootings, including:

•             On April 12, 2022, Derrico Johnson was picked up in a stolen vehicle and driven to the 2200 block of Savannah Street SE. At about 12:20 p.m., Derrico Johnson briefly exited the vehicle and fired several rounds in the direction of Shipley Market. Clayton Marshall, who does not appear to have been the intended target, was shot and killed and another individual was injured.

•             On May 26, 2022, Derrico Johnson, Ronald Henderson, and another individual walked to the Savannah Terrace Circle, where16-year-old Justin Johnson (aka “23 Rackz”), the victim, had posted as his location to Instagram earlier that morning. About 11:20 a.m., Derrico Johnson and Ronald Henderson fired several shots from 200 feet away in the direction of Justin Johnson, who was shot and killed while standing feet away from an infant child on a scooter.

•             On January 2, 2023, Ronald Henderson and Daveon Robinson were riding in the back seat of a vehicle. At about 4:48pm, as the vehicle approached the Alabama Convenience Store, Henderson and Robinson fired several rifle and handgun rounds in the direction of the store, wounding two people. Armed Special Police Officers in the area witnessed the shooting and pursued the suspects through the Henson Ridge neighborhood to a home, where Henderson and Robinson were subsequently arrested.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Sellinger and Jessica Keefer.  

 

WASHINGTON – Joseph Brown, 34, was sentenced today for second degree murder while armed, and Rondell McLeod, 30, was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter while armed in the shooting death of 21-year-old Amari Jenkins, on August 18, 2015, in front of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, located at 4925 East Capitol Street, N.E. The sentencings were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  

            The defendants, both of Washington, D.C., admitted that on the day of the murder, they emerged from a blue van that pulled in front of the church, and fired 28 rounds at Mr. Jenkins, before reentering the van and making their escape. 

            In a separate case, Joseph Brown was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter while armed for the shooting of 29-year-old Antwan Baker, on November 12, 2015, in the 5300 block of Clay Terrace, N.E.  In that homicide, Brown admitted he emerged from a vehicle and shot Mr. Baker six times in the back of the head and neck before fleeing the scene.

            Judge Marisa J. Demeo sentenced Brown to 25 years of incarceration for his role in both homicides.  She sentenced McLeod to 10 years of incarceration to run consecutively to an 11-year sentence for federal robbery charges brought in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.

            Finally, Judge Demeo sentenced Alicia N. McCoy, 28, to two years of incarceration for lying in the grand jury during its investigation of the murder of Amari Jenkins.  Her sentence will run consecutively to a number of felony sentences McCoy is serving in Maryland for violent crimes committed there.

            In announcing the sentencings, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the officers and detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated the case. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Spence and Andrea Coronado and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Gilead I. Light, who prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as Intelligence Analyst Zachary McMenamin, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen and former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker.

The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of three federal cases, across two U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, as the most recent in a series of efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of Iranian oil that funds Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and its Qods Force (IRGC-QF), Iran’s primary mechanism for cultivating and providing lethal support to terrorist organizations abroad.

In the Southern District of New York, seven defendants, including a leader within Iran’s IRGC and officers of a Turkish energy group, are charged with terrorism, sanctions-evasion, fraud, and money laundering offenses in connection with their trafficking and selling of Iranian oil to government-affiliated buyers in China, Russia, and Syria, in order to finance the IRGC-QF. Additionally, the United States seized $108 million used as part of these defendants’ scheme to fund the IRGC-QF.

In a related action, in the District of Columbia, a Chinese woman and Omani man are charged with sanctions-evasion and money laundering offenses in connection with the trafficking and selling of Iranian oil to Chinese government-owned refineries. Additionally, in the District of Columbia, a forfeiture complaint for the seizure of illicit Iranian oil was unsealed, alleging that more than 500,000 barrels of Iranian fuel is forfeitable under terrorism laws as property that provides a source of funding to the IRGC and IRGC-QF.

“Iran utilizes the proceeds of its black-market oil sales to fund its criminal activities, including its support of the IRGC, Hamas, Hizballah, and other Iranian aligned terrorist groups,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department is targeting this funding source by seizing over $108 million and 500,000 barrels of fuel that would otherwise have enabled Iran to further its destabilizing activities that threaten our national security. In addition to disrupting Iran’s unlawful funding streams, the Justice Department has also charged nine individuals for their roles in supporting Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. The Justice Department will continue to use every authority we have to cut off the illegal financing and enabling of Iran’s malicious activities, which have become even more evident in recent months.”

“While Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Qods Force are the regime’s terrorist strongarms, oil is its lifeblood,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s enforcement actions show that the Justice Department is committed to using every tool – from criminal prosecutions to the lawful seizures of Iranian oil and oil profits – to shut down Iran’s pipeline of petroleum and profits. The charges and seizures announced today strike at the core of the global oil smuggling network that Iran has built to fund its regime of terror and repression, and deny the regime millions of dollars in proceeds to further its nefarious agenda.”

“Iran presents a constant threat to the United States – trying to murder Americans right here within our borders, conducting a cyber-attack on a children’s hospital, supporting terrorists around the world, and more,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “All of Iran’s crimes cost money. And the FBI will remain committed to enforcing U.S. sanctions that keep money out of its coffers.”

“Today’s cases are part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to cut off the flow of black-market Iranian oil that funds the regime’s malign activity, threatening the United States and our interests around the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.  “We remain focused on holding accountable those involved in these smuggling schemes, from the officials who oversee the laundering operations, to the network of shadowy businesses that enable them, to the brokers who help facilitate these unlawful transactions.”

United States v. Shahriyari et al. (SDNY)

Note: view the indictment here

Seven defendants – including a senior IRGC-QF official, the son of Rostam Ghasemi, a former IRGC Commander and Iranian Minister of Petroleum, an Iranian shipping official, an agent of the IRGC-QF – are charged in a five-count indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court. In connection with these charges, the United States has seized $108 million that China Oil & Petrolium Company Limited, an IRGC front company, attempted to launder through correspondent transaction accounts at U.S. financial institutions in furtherance of the scheme to fund the IRGC-QF’s malign activities through the illicit sale of Iranian oil. In addition, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) announced today that it has sanctioned China Oil & Petroleum Company Limited for its role in the oil trafficking network.

“For years, the IRGC and its Qods Force have been instrumental in the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of political dissent, targeting of Iranian dissidents living abroad, and support of international terrorism — including groups like Hamas, Hizballah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Today’s charges show how, as alleged, the IRGC’s Qods force built a sprawling international network of front companies to launder sanctioned Iranian oil using lies, forgery, and threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “This alleged scheme to finance the Qods Force succeeds through the complicity of wealthy businessmen in countries like Turkey who are eager to turn a corrupt profit from supporting terror groups. The Qods Force oil-laundering network allegedly delivered millions of barrels of Iranian oil to government-affiliated buyers in Russia, China, and Syria, and transferred billions of dollars through the U.S. financial system. This office has long served at the forefront of law enforcement efforts to fight terrorism and terror finance and to protect the integrity of the U.S. banking system. I commend the tireless and outstanding efforts of our law enforcement partners in unraveling and disrupting the IRGC’s scheme.”

The indictment charges:

• Behnam Shahriyari, 58, an Iranian national, is a publicly identified IRGC-QF senior official. In 2011, OFAC designated Shahriyari as a Specially Designated National (SDN).
• Morteza Rostam Ghasemi, 32, an Iranian national and SDN since 2019, is the son of IRGC-QF Commander Rostam Ghasemi.
• Mohammadreza Aliakbari, an Iranian national and SDN since 2019, is a senior officer with Safiran Payam Darya Shipping Company, which acts on behalf of the Government of Iran.
• Mohammad Sadegh Karimianl, 36, an Iranian national and SDN since 2022, acts as an IRGC-QF agent.
• Sitki Ayan, 61, a Turkish national and SDN since December 2022, is the chairman of the ASB Group of companies, which includes Som Petrol Ticaret A.S., Baslam Petrol Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., and Baslam Nakliyat Ve Dis Ticaret Ltd. Sirketi, all of which have been designated by OFAC as SDNs since December 2022.
• Bahaddin Ayan, 35, a Turkish national, is the son of Sitki Ayan and a vice president of the ASB Group of companies and SDN since December 2022.
• Kasim Oztas, 41, a Turkish national and SDN since December 2022, has been managing director of the ASB Group of companies.

According to the indictment, following the imposition of U.S. sanctions against Iran’s petroleum sector in 2018, the Government of Iran’s ability to finance itself through sales of crude oil and petroleum products – Iran’s most important economic sector – was severely diminished. In response, the IRGC-QF built a large-scale global oil laundering network to give Iran’s government-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) illicit access to global markets to sell crude oil and petroleum products and to use the proceeds to finance the IRGC-QF.

To sell NIOC crude oil to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the network used an intermediary company in Lebanon to conceal the Government of Iran’s involvement in the oil sales and a ship management company based in India to buy, lease, and manage oil tankers to use in the scheme. The oil tanker fleet was supervised by Aliakbari, and the key agreements between the Government of Iran and its foreign partners were authorized and approved by IRGC-QF Commander Rostam Ghasemi, who previously served as Iran’s Minister of Oil, Minister of Transportation and Urban Development, and the Iranian chair of the Iranian-Syrian Economic Relations Development Committee.

To sell NIOC crude oil to government-affiliated buyers in China, the network used the ASB Group of companies in Turkey, owned by Sitki Ayan, as well as intermediary companies in Oman, Greece, and elsewhere. Commander Ghasemi again authorized and approved key agreements between the Government of Iran and its foreign partners and resolved financial disputes that arose among the participants in the scheme. Companies in the ASB Group acted as intermediaries in the oil sales to conceal the Government of Iran’s role and the Iranian origin of the oil and leased oil tankers that were operated by co-conspirators. Sitki Ayan’s son and senior ASB Group officer, Bahaddin Ayan, assisted Sitki Ayan in the scheme and caused millions of dollars of wire transfers through the U.S. banking system for the leasing and operation of oil tankers. Oztas, who was a manager of the ASB Group of companies, also assisted Sitki Ayan in carrying out the scheme and finalizing agreements with ASB Group’s partners. Shahriyari, Karimian, and Aliakbari participated in negotiations among the participants and monitored the progress of the oil sales, oil shipments, and the IRGC-QF’s receipt of the oil proceeds.

To sell NIOC crude oil to government-affiliated buyers in Russia, the network again used the ASB Group of companies, along with other companies in the United Arab Emirites, Cyprus, Russia, and Turkey. Shahriyari and Karimian organized a complex web of companies, with Sitki Ayan’s ASB Group of companies at the center, to launder NIOC oil and the proceeds through layered transactions with a Cypriot company and to launder the oil sales through bulk cash smuggling and trade-based money laundering involving Russian agricultural products. Commander Ghasemi and his co-conspirators, including Karimian, controlled the proceeds of the oil sales, which were collected in Russia and transferred through cash couriers, Sitki Ayan’s companies, or the Iranian Embassy in Moscow.

In furtherance of the oil-laundering scheme, the defendants used a myriad of deceptive techniques including: 1) the use of front companies and intermediaries in countries outside of Iran to disguise the IRGC’s role in the oil transactions and the Iranian source of the oil; 2) the use of falsified documentation to misrepresent the source of the oil and deceive unwitting companies and banks and cause them to provide services in furtherance of the scheme; and 3) the use of ship-to-ship transfers and the manipulation of location and shipping data for vessels used in furtherance of the scheme in order to obscure the loading and unloading of their Iranian oil cargoes and avoid the identification of the vessels used to facilitate the oil laundering.

One of the key IRGC-QF front companies involved in the scheme was China Oil and Petroleum Company Limited (China Oil and Petroleum), which, despite its name, was controlled from Iran by Commander Ghasemi and his associates, including Karimian. China Oil and Petroleum acted as an intermediary in sales of NIOC oil, including deals involving Sitki Ayan’s ASB Group of companies, in order to facilitate the ultimate delivery to government-affiliated buyers in China. Between at least 2019 and the present, China Oil and Petroleum has been involved in the transfer of more than $2 billion through the U.S. financial system in furtherance of the scheme to finance the IRGC-QF.

Each of the defendants is charged with: (i) conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; (ii) conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against the Governments of Iran and Syria, global terrorists and proliferators of weapons of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; (iii) conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; (iv) conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and (v) conspiring to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Lockard, David W. Denton Jr., and Nicholas S. Bradley are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorneys David Lim, Beaudre Barnes, and Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Trial Attorneys Joshua Champagne and Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

United States v. Wang et al. (DDC)

Note: View the indictment here.

Two defendants – Shaoyun Wang, 54, of China, and Mahmood Rashid Amur Al Habsi, 39, of Muscat, Oman – are charged in a 12-count indictment that was unsealed today in the District of Colombia. The indictment charges the defendants with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and sanctions against Iran; conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering stemming from their scheme to sell Iranian petroleum to Chinese government-owned refineries and illegally use the U.S. financial system to facilitate the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of oil to benefit the IRGC. Also unsealed today was a warrant for a related seizure of $8.5 million connected to this network.

“The only way that Iran can illegally sell oil is if people and business organizations outside Iran help it to do so,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The indictment unsealed today demonstrates that the U.S. government will seek to hold accountable those who knowingly help Iran illegally sell oil – wherever in the world they are located.”

According to the indictment, between December 2019 and July 2021, Wang, Al Habsi, and other co-conspirators negotiated the sale of and sold illicit Iranian oil to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). They allegedly obtained the oil from Iran using surreptitious means which included AIS spoofing and multiple transfers between ocean-going tankers. The scheme relied on the use of the U.S. financial system and was facilitated by Turkish, Omani, and U.S. persons and entities, all in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

The indictment further alleges that Wang and Al Habsi created fraudulent documents to mask that the oil originated from Iran, used electronic communications to arrange for Chinese buyers of the Iranian oil, used shell corporations to launder the proceeds through the U.S. financial system and provided false information to the U.S. companies about the source of the money generated by the transactions. In addition, the defendants used U.S. companies as a “trust” to hold the profits for the IRGC.

Al Habsi, acting through one of his companies, procured a $16.5 million loan in June 2020 from U.S. financial companies to purchase an oil tanker, later named M/T Oman Pride. Beginning in July 2020, the Oman Pride transported Iranian oil, which was ultimately transferred to third-party vessels for sale to Chinese government-owned refineries and companies in China.

As alleged, Wang used a U.S. front company, worked with a U.S. person, and relied on U.S. financial institutions to facilitate the sale of the Iranian oil to China. Wang – who served as a director of a Chinese oil refinery – was also the chair of a U.S. company in Las Vegas, Nevada, and general manager of the U.S. company’s Hong Kong-based parent company. The Hong Kong company acted as a front for transactions. Wang engaged with senior IRGC officials to effect the purchases. The scheme resulted in millions of dollars’ worth of transactions that were processed by U.S. banks and facilitated by U.S. persons.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington D.C. and the FBI Minneapolis Field Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Maeghan Mikorski, Rajbir Datta, and Prava Palacharla for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorneys David Lim, Beaudre Barnes, and Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Trial Attorneys Joshua Champagne and Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

U.S. v. Approximately 523,507 Barrels Aboard Crude Oil Tanker Abyss (DDC)

A civil forfeiture complaint was unsealed today in the District of Columbia, alleging that more than 500,000 barrels of Iranian fuel oil valued at over $25 million previously onboard M/T Abyss is forfeitable under terrorism laws as property that provides a source of funds to the IRGC and IRGC-QF.

“The complaint unsealed today is the latest in a series of actions our Office has taken to seize and to forfeit oil that Iran has attempted to illegally sell,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Forfeiture actions like this one disrupt Iran’s efforts to illegally sell oil. The proceeds from these illegal sales are the lifeblood of the Iranian’s efforts to sew war and terror around the globe, disrupting these sales is critical to our national security.”

The document alleges a scheme to facilitate the shipment and sale of Iranian fuel oil for the benefit of the IRGC and the IRGC-QF. The IRGC and its facilitators used deceptive practices to masquerade the oil as Iraqi, including manipulating the vessel’s automatic identification system reporting and presenting falsified documents.

The civil forfeiture action further alleges that the fuel oil constitutes the property of the NIOC, which has provided material support to the IRGC and IRGC-QF. As alleged, profits from petroleum product sales support the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and both domestic and international human rights abuses.

Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

The FBI Minneapolis Field Office and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York are investigating the Abyss case related to Iranian fuel oil, and other cases were investigated by these offices as well as HSI’s Washington, D.C. and Colorado Springs offices.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen P. Seifert, Maeghan O. Mikorski, Brian Hudak, Rajbir S. Datta, and Erika Oblea for the District of Columbia are litigating the case related to Iranian fuel oil aboard the Abyss, with support from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. They received assistance from Paralegal Specialist Brian Rickers. The U.S. Marshals Service provided significant assistance in this matter.

A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

***

These enforcement actions are the latest in Justice Department efforts to combat the illicit trafficking of Iranian oil in violation of U.S. law. On Sept. 8, 2023, the Department announced a seizure of oil onboard the tanker Suez Rajan, a criminal plea by its ownership company, and a deferred prosecution agreement by its operating company, all arising out of the tanker’s transport of illicit Iranian oil. The oil was sold for $74 million, and the proceeds of the sale are now subject to the civil forfeiture process.

These recent actions build on prior enforcement cases the Department of Justice has brought in the District of Columbia related to seizures of illicit Iranian oil since 2019. For example, on July 1, 2020, the Department filed a civil asset forfeiture complaint against all the petroleum seized onboard the four oil tankers, the Bella, Bering, Pandi, and Luna, which were carrying Iranian petroleum to Venezuela. The petroleum onboard these four tankers was sold for approximately $45 million.

Similarly, on Feb. 2, 2021, the Department of Justice filed a civil asset forfeiture against all petroleum seized onboard the oil tanker Achilleas, which was transporting NIOC petroleum. The petroleum on the Achilleas was sold for approximately $111 million.

***

In December 2023, the Department of Justice joined with the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, State, and Treasury to issue a joint “Know Your Cargo” compliance note highlighting common tactics deployed by malign actors in the maritime and other transportation industries as well as recent enforcement actions taken in response to alleged violations.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

WASHINGTON – Delonte Stevenson, 28, and Vorreze Thomas Jr., 26, both of Washington, D.C., have been found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed, and related charges in the January 2021 shooting of Terrance Allen, 32, in Southeast Washington, D.C. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Stevenson and Thomas were also found guilty yesterday of conspiracy, two counts of assault with intent to kill, and various firearms related charges. The jury returned a verdict after less than a day of deliberations following a 13-day trial before the Honorable Marisa J. Demeo in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for April 19, 2024.

            According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, on the morning of January 18, 2021, Stevenson and Thomas’ vehicle intercepted a vehicle driven by Allen as it was leaving the Stanton Glen Apartments. Stevenson fired thirty-four shots with a rifle, while sitting in the front passenger’s seat, into the back of Allen’s vehicle. As a result, Allen was killed and two other passengers in Allen’s car were wounded. Allen was not the intended target; rather, Stevenson and Thomas were attempting to kill one of the other men in the car with Allen with whom they had a dispute.

            Following the shooting Stevenson and Thomas attempted to flee the scene. A nearby MPD officer heard the shooting, observed Stevenson and Thomas fleeing the scene and was given authorization to pursue. Stevenson and Thomas eventually crashed their vehicle at the intersection of 29th and Erie Street SE and successfully fled on foot. However, officers later located the murder weapon in the flight path. Police also recovered a cell phone belonging to Thomas from the crashed vehicle.

            Both men were arrested on February 17, 2021, and have been in custody since that time. The government’s evidence at trial included video surveillance, cell site records, ShotSpotter audio, body worn camera footage, ballistics evidence, and DNA evidence.

            This case is being investigated by Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Korba, Miles Janssen and Zach Horton.

 

A federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted a Kenyan national yesterday for perpetrating an advance fee and investment fraud scheme that defrauded numerous victims.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Paul Maucha, 58, who resides in Washington, D.C., along with a co‑conspirator, engaged in a scheme through a shell company Maucha controlled, American Eagle Services Group Inc. (AESG), to make numerous misrepresentations to victims about AESG, its assets, and its access to money and capital.

In particular, Maucha — through AESG — promised victims who were seeking loans that AESG would provide them with these loans, so long as victims first provided AESG with an advanced fee while misrepresenting the purpose of that fee. AESG also told victims falsely that these advance fees could be refunded if AESG did not fund the loan. As proven at trial, however, Maucha and his co-conspirator knew that AESG did not have the capital to make these loans at the time the lending agreements were executed, and refunds to victims could not be assured because Maucha and his co-conspirator were splitting the fees between themselves and spending them, such that there was no money left to be refunded.

The jury convicted Maucha of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the conspiracy and wire fraud counts and 10 years in prison for each count of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case, with substantial assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.

Trial Attorneys Tian Huang and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine M. Macey for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.  Assistant Chief William E. Johnston of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein for the District of Columbia previously provided valuable assistance in the investigation.

WASHINGTON – Joshua Dorsey, 29, a D.C. resident, was sentenced today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to 96 months of incarceration, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, and Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Pamela A. Smith.

            Dorsey was convicted of one count of aggravated assault while armed following his guilty plea on November 17, 2023, before the Honorable Anthony J. Epstein. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on September 26, 2023, the defendant approached the victim near the intersection of MLK Jr. Avenue Southeast and Good Hope Road Southeast and immediately began striking the victim with his fists.  The defendant then took out a knife and began stabbing the victim eight to nine times in the chest and back, causing the victim to suffer from a collapsed lung. The defendant also stabbed the victim in the right eye. It is unclear whether the victim will ever be able to see again. Following the completion of his term of incarceration, the defendant will serve five years of supervised release.

            On March 1, 2024, the defendant will be sentenced in a separate case in Superior Court following his convictions of second-degree cruelty and attempted strangulation.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith acknowledged the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.  In addition, they commended the work of Assistant United States Attorney Omeed A. Assefi, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

 

WASHINGTON – Antwon Haynie, 26, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 15 years of incarceration after pleading guilty to crimes related to two armed carjackings committed in 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

          On July 26, 2023, Haynie approached a parked vehicle at a gas station and began to enter the driver’s side. When he noticed a passenger seated in the backseat of the car, Haynie pointed a firearm at him and ordered him to exit. The passenger complied and when the vehicle’s owner attempted to stop Haynie, Haynie fought him off, got in the car, and drove away. Haynie was not immediately identified as the suspect following the incident.

          Approximately two weeks later, on August 10, 2023, Haynie, while working with an accomplice, committed another armed carjacking. A family of four were seated in their vehicle eating ice cream, when Haynie approached and opened the driver’s side door while brandishing a firearm.  Haynie ordered the driver to exit the vehicle while his accomplice opened the passenger side door, pointed a firearm at the passenger, and ordered the passenger to exit the vehicle. The two remaining family members also exited.

          MPD officers quickly responded to the scene and mobilized a helicopter to locate the car, which they successfully tracked until they observed Haynie and his accomplice flee from the vehicle. More officers responded to the flight location, and they were able to successfully apprehend both men. Following the August arrest, MPD’s continued investigation confirmed that Haynie had committed the July 26, 2023, carjacking as well.

            During the sentencing for Haynie, the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz commented on his complete disregard for the victims and the lasting impact his conduct had on their lives. She then sentenced Haynie to eight years in prison for the August 10, 2023, carjacking, and seven years in prison for crimes related to the July 26, 2023, carjacking. The sentences are to run consecutively for a total of 15 years of incarceration.

          In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.  They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Yarbro, who prosecuted the case.

WASHINGTON -- Kenneth Hart, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty on January 30, 2024,  to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

            Hart entered the guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 17, 2024.  The defendant has been detained since November 1, 2023.

            According to the government’s evidence, on November 1, 2023, at approximately 5:30 p.m. law enforcement were at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. and Mellon Street, Southeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant, Kenneth Hart was inside a restaurant, exited and started walking towards Malcolm X Ave., Southeast. Law enforcement followed behind and the defendant then turned a corner and entered into a liquor store.  Law enforcement entered the store saw the defendant at the rear in front of a refrigerator with the door open. The defendant’s hand were inside the refrigerator as he was placing a firearm on the left side of the refrigerator. The defendant was placed under arrest and officers recovered a Springfield Armory XDS-9 firearm that was loaded with 9 millimeter ammunition.  There was one round in the chamber and there were six bullets in the magazine.

            The case was investigated by the MPD and ATF as part of Project Safe Neighborhood. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shehzad Akhtar.