District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Washington, D.C. Man Sentenced to 54 Months in Prison for Downloading Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Man Apprehended After Using the Dark Web
WASHINGTON – John Green, 81, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 54 months in prison for accessing and downloading child pornography. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division.
Green pleaded guilty on October 25, 2022, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, before the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Green must also pay $18,000 in restitution to his victims. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years.
According to the government’s evidence, in May of 2019, Green used his computer to access a website on the Dark Web that offered individuals the opportunity to access and download child sexual abuse material, featuring children as young as infants. At the time of this criminal offense, Green was 78 years old. In July of 2021, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Green’s home. A laptop computer was seized which, when forensically examined, was found to contain over nine hundred images and videos of child pornography. Additionally, numerous DVDs and books were discovered which featured children in various states of undress, and in sexually explicit situations.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD’s Youth Investigations Division. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy E. Larson, who prosecuted the case.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty for Unlawfully Stealing over 712 Seized Bitcoin Subject to Forfeiture in Brother’s Pending Criminal CaseRead the Press Release
Defendant’s Brother Convicted of Running the Money Laundering Service Helix
WASHINGTON – Gary James Harmon, 31, of Cleveland, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to perpetrating a scheme to steal cryptocurrency that was pending criminal forfeiture from Harmon’s brother, now-convicted money launderer and proprietor of Grams-Helix, Larry Dean Harmon. Specifically, Harmon pleaded guilty to wire fraud and obstruction of justice for unlawfully taking more than 712 bitcoin that had been seized by law enforcement and was subject to forfeiture in the pending criminal prosecution of Larry Harmon.
The plea was announced by United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Divisions.
The wire fraud charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison; the obstruction of justice charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Howell scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 17, 2023.
According to court documents, in February 2020, the defendant’s brother, Larry Harmon, was arrested for his operation of Helix, a darknet-based cryptocurrency money laundering service, known as a “mixer” or “tumbler.” As Harmon later admitted, Helix laundered over 350,000 bitcoin – valued at over $300 million at the time of the transactions – on behalf of customers, with the largest volume coming from Darknet markets. As part of the arrest, law enforcement seized various assets, including a cryptocurrency storage device containing Larry Harmon’s illegal proceeds generated through the operation of Helix, which were subject to forfeiture in the criminal case. However, law enforcement was initially unable to recover bitcoin stored on the device due to the device’s additional security features.
Knowing that the government was seeking to recover the bitcoin stored on the seized device for forfeiture in Larry Harmon’s criminal case, Gary Harmon used his brother’s credentials to recreate the bitcoin wallets stored on the device and covertly transfer more than 712 bitcoin, valued at approximately $4.8 million at the time, to his own wallets – stealing those funds and obstructing the pending criminal forfeiture proceeding. Gary Harmon further laundered the proceeds through two online bitcoin mixer services before using the laundered bitcoins to finance large purchases and other expenditures.
In August 2021, Larry Harmon pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy in connection with his case.
As part of his plea today, Gary Harmon also agreed to the forfeiture of cryptocurrencies and other properties derived from the fraudulently taken proceeds, including more than 647.41 Bitcoin (BTC), 2.14 Ethereum (ETH), and 17,404,400.64 Dogecoin (DOGE). Due to the increase in market prices, the total value of these forfeitable properties exceeds $12 million.
- This matter was investigated by the IRS-CI District of Columbia Cyber Crime Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Waldon, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the IRS Criminal Investigation – Cyber Crime Unit and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown and Trial Attorney C. Alden Pelker, of the Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS), with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart and former Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron. Additional assistance has been provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Segev Phillips and Daniel Riedl of the Northern District of Ohio and CCIPS Trial Attorney S. Riane Harper.
District Man Sentenced to 16 Months for Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assaulting a MinorRead the Press Release
Defendant Assaulted Neighbors in an Apartment Building
WASHINGTON – Corey Keelin Bridges, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 16 months in prison for assaulting his neighbors, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Bridges pleaded guilty on October 19, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz sentenced Bridges today to 16 months in prison for one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, 180 days in prison for one count of simple assault, and 90 days in prison for one count of lewd, indecent, or obscene acts, all sentences to run concurrently. Bridges will be required to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
Bridges assaulted his neighbors in an apartment building in Washington, D.C., on two separate occasions. On May 4, 2022, Bridges assaulted a minor in the hallway of the building. He tried to pull down the minor victim’s sweatpants and pulled down his own shorts, exposing himself. The minor escaped from Bridges and managed to get into their apartment. On June 4, 2022, Bridges knocked on a neighbor’s door and, when the resident opened the door, Bridges held a knife and a screwdriver to the victim’s stomach. The victim managed to avoid injury.
Bridges was arrested on June 4, 2022 and remains in custody.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos A. Valdivia, Jared English, and Crystal Gaines, who investigated and prosecuted the matters.
Former Government Contractor Sentenced for Helping Himself to Electronic Devices That He Sold on eBayRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dennis Gamarra, 53, of Woodbridge, VA, was sentenced today to one year of probation, to include six months of home confinement, for stealing government property from the Department of Commerce and the Library of Congress, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
Gamarra pleaded guilty on September 26, 2022, in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of theft of government property. In addition to the term of probation and home confinement, U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb ordered $56,960 in restitution to the affected agencies and a forfeiture order for the same amount.
According to the government’s evidence and the defendant’s admissions when entering his guilty plea, Gamarra was employed as a contractor working at the United States Department of Commerce (“DOC”) within the International Trade Administration (“ITA”) beginning in October 2014, at an office in Washington, D.C. While there, Defendant Gamarra largely worked to provide information technology (“IT”) support to the ITA and through his employment had access to certain government-furnished equipment, including Microsoft Surface tablet devices belonging to DOC and issued to DOC employees. During his tenure, Defendant Gamarra stole at least one Microsoft Surface Tablet, worth USD $1,370, removing it from ITA’s offices, advertising it for sale online through his eBay account, and ultimately re-selling it to another individual through eBay. Defendant did so knowingly, with the intent to deprive the owner, in this case, DOC, of the right to use that property. Starting in November 2019, Defendant Gamarra began working as a contractor for the Library of Congress (“LOC”), at an office in Washington, D.C. While at LOC, he similarly worked to provide IT support services. As in his role at DOC, Defendant Gamarra had access to government-furnished equipment, including Dell Laptops that were the property of LOC and that were issued to LOC employees. While at LOC, Defendant Gamarra removed at least 29 separate Dell laptops from LOC that he knew to belong to LOC, cumulatively worth a total of approximately USD $55,590, advertised them on eBay, and ultimately resold them to different customers through that account. Defendant took these laptops knowingly, with the intent to deprive the owner, in this case, LOC, of the right to use them.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of the relevant investigators from the Library of Congress Office of Inspector General and the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Chad Byron and Michon Tart. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Nestler and Will Hart, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Second Anniversary of the January 6 Attack on the CapitolRead the Press Release
Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, will mark 24 months since the attack on the U.S. Capitol that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming the presidential election results.
Under the continued leadership of the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the attack continues to move forward at an unprecedented speed and scale.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland made the following statement:
“Two years ago, the United States Capitol was attacked as lawmakers met to affirm the results of a presidential election. Perpetrators attacked police officers, targeted and assaulted members of the media, and interfered with a fundamental element of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next.
“Since then, countless agents, investigators, prosecutors, analysts, and others across the Justice Department have participated in one of the largest, most complex, and most resource-intensive investigations in our history. I am extremely grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and integrity with which they have done this work. This investigation has resulted in the arrest of more than 950 defendants for their alleged roles in the attack. We have secured convictions for a wide range of criminal conduct on January 6 as well as in the days and weeks leading up to the attack. Our work is far from over.
“We will never forget the sacrifice of the law enforcement officers who defended the members of Congress and others inside the Capitol that day. And we will never forget the five officers who responded selflessly on January 6 and who have since lost their lives: Officer Brian Sicknick, Officer Howard Liebengood, Officer Jeffrey Smith, Officer Gunther Hashida, and Officer Kyle DeFreytag.
“The Justice Department remains committed to honoring them. We remain committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for the January 6 assault on our democracy. And we remain committed to doing everything in our power to prevent this from ever happening again.”
***
Based on the public court documents, below is a snapshot of the investigation as of Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023. Complete versions of most of the public court documents used to compile these statistics are available on the Capitol Breach Investigation Resource Page at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/capitol-breach-cases.
Arrests made: More than 950 defendants have been arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. (This includes those charged in both District and Superior Court).
Criminal charges:
- More than 284 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including approximately 99 individuals who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.
- Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted Jan. 6 at the Capitol, including about 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police and about 60 from the Metropolitan Police Department.
- Approximately 11 individuals have been arrested on a series of charges that relate to assaulting a member of the media, or destroying their equipment, on January 6.
- Approximately 860 defendants have been charged with entering or remaining in a restricted federal building or grounds. Of those, 91 defendants have been charged with entering a restricted area with a dangerous or deadly weapon.
- Approximately 59 defendants have been charged with destruction of government property, and approximately 36 defendants have been charged with theft of government property.
- More than 295 defendants have been charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding, or attempting to do so.
- Approximately 50 defendants have been charged with conspiracy, either: (a) conspiracy to obstruct a congressional proceeding, (b) conspiracy to obstruct law enforcement during a civil disorder, (c) conspiracy to injure an officer, (d) seditious conspiracy, or (e) some combination of the four.
Pleas:
- Approximately 484 individuals have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, many of whom faced or will face incarceration at sentencing.
- Approximately 119 have pleaded guilty to felonies. Another 364 have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors.
- A total of 52 of those who have pleaded guilty to felonies have pleaded to federal charges of assaulting law enforcement officers. An additional 22 individuals have pleaded guilty to felony obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder. Of these 74 defendants, 41 have now been sentenced to prison terms of up to 90 months.
- Four of those who have pleaded guilty to felonies have pleaded guilty to the federal charge of seditious conspiracy.
Trials:
- 40 individuals have been found guilty at contested trials, including three who were found guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Another 10 individuals have been convicted following an agreed-upon set of facts. 16 of these 50 defendants were found guilty of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers, a felony, including one who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sentencings:
- Approximately 351 federal defendants have had their cases adjudicated and received sentences for their criminal activity on January 6. Approximately 192 have been sentenced to periods of incarceration. Approximately 87 defendants have been sentenced to a period of home detention, including approximately 14 who also were sentenced to a period of incarceration.
Public Assistance:
- Citizens from around the country have provided invaluable assistance in identifying individuals in connection with the January 6 attack. The FBI continues to seek the public’s help in identifying approximately 350 individuals believed to have committed violent acts on the Capitol grounds, including over 250 who assaulted police officers.
- Additionally, the FBI currently has 14 videos of suspects wanted for violent assaults on federal officers and one video of two suspects wanted for assaults on members of the media on Jan. 6 and is seeking the public’s help to identify them.
- Some of the violent offenders about whom the FBI is seeking public tips to identify and locate Evan Neumann, Jonathan Daniel Pollock, AFOs #91, #292, #371, and #383. AFO #91 uses what appears to be a stick to strike multiple officers numerous times while in the doorway of the Lower West Terrace, commonly referred to as the tunnel. AFOs #292, #371, and #383 are all shown on video charging at and assaulting officers, and they appear to grab and attempt to take possession of the officers’ batons.
- For images and video of the attackers, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/capitol-violence. Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
- More than 284 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including approximately 99 individuals who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.
Two Colombian Nationals Plead Guilty to International Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
Defendants Had Ties to Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
WASHINGTON – Mauricio Mazabel-Soto, 45, and Alfredo Molina-Cutiva, 53, both citizens of Colombia, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute large quantities of cocaine for importation into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Regional Director Omar Arellano. Mazabel-Soto entered his plea on December 20, 2022. Molina-Cutiva entered his plea on November 28, 2022. U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta scheduled Molina-Cutiva’s sentencing hearing for March 31, 2023, and Mazabel-Soto’s for April 23, 2023.
In 2018, DEA agents began investigating large-scale drug traffickers with ties to the terrorist group known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). During a long-term investigation, defendant Mazabel-Soto represented himself as someone authorized to enter into large cocaine production agreements on behalf of the FARC and portrayed co-defendant Molina-Cutiva as being responsible for FARC drug trafficking logistics in southwestern Colombia. Additionally, the defendants represented that defendant Molina-Cutiva was responsible for all FARC cocaine laboratories in Huila and Caqueta, Colombia as well as transferring cocaine across the border with Ecuador for exportation north by way of the Pacific Ocean.
During a series of recorded meetings, defendants Mazabel-Soto and Molina-Cutiva offered to produce large quantities of cocaine for an individual they believed was representing a major Mexican drug cartel. In one particular meeting, the defendants proposed a business agreement wherein the Mexican cartel would invest $2 milllion (USD) in their business and the FARC would construct a cocaine laboratory for the cartel, where they would have exclusive rights to the production. The defendants stated that the first 1,000 kilograms produced would be free and the FARC would then produce an additional 1,000 kilograms of cocaine for the cartel every few weeks, at a cost of $1,600 (USD) per kilogram. The defendants agreed to place designer stamps on each kilogram of cocaine, including the logo for the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team.
In April 2019, in Bogota, Colombia, defendant Mazabel-Soto provided another individual with a five-kilogram “sample” of cocaine to demonstrate the quality. Mazabel-Soto accepted $11,000 (USD) for this sample delivery. DEA lab results show that the cocaine was 96% pure.
On June 25, 2019, defendant Mazabel-Soto was arrested in Colombia and, on April 16, 2021, was extradited to the United States; co-defendant Cutiva was arrested in Colombia on August 8, 2019 and, on January 25, 2021, was extradited to the United States. An additional co-defendant (Aldemar Soto-Charry) was arrested in Colombia on August 8, 2019, and is pending extradition.
As part of their plea agreements, defendants Mazabel-Soto and Molina-Cutiva agreed that they were accountable for conspiring to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, which quantity represented the total amount involved in their relevant criminal conduct
Each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with the possibility of fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and DEA Acting Regional Director Arellano commended the work of those who investigated the case, including the DEA’s Bogota Country office, the FBI LEGAT Bogota, and the FBI Miami Field Office. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Rosenberg and Anthony Scarpelli, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Goddard, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, who prosecuted the case.
St. Augustine Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Patrick Joseph McAloon (67, St. Augustine) to 7 years and 2 months in federal prison for distributing videos and images of children being sexually abused. The court also ordered McAloon serve a 10-year term of supervised release and pay $15,000 to victims of his offenses. McAloon had pleaded guilty on July 28, 2022.
According to court documents, in November 2021, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information from two individuals who had found a cellphone in a public restroom at a home improvement store in St. Augustine. The individuals turned the phone on in an attempt to determine the owner and return the phone. Upon viewing the phone’s photo gallery, they observed an image of a child who appeared to be 3 years old being sexually assaulted by an adult male. The individuals observed hundreds of additional files showing children being sexually abused. Soon after, the found phone rang and it was McAloon, requesting the return of his phone. When the individuals confronted McAloon about the abusive content, he claimed it was a wake-up call and offered the individuals $2,000 for the return of his phone. McAloon met with the individuals, paid them $2,000, and retrieved the phone. The individuals later contacted law enforcement to report the incident.
After a thorough investigation, HSI agents made contact with McAloon. He reported that he had since obtained a new phone and said that he is in touch with an individual in the Philippines to whom he sends money and who sends McAloon files showing the sexual abuse of children. McAloon acknowledged that there was probably child sexual abuse material on his new phone.
A forensic search of McAloon’s cellphone, which was seized by agents, yielded at least 194 files of child sexual abuse material and more than 450 files of child exploitation/age difficult material. Forensic analyses revealed that McAloon used a social media app to distribute child sexual abuse material, to include a video file he had sent to a certain app user on December 5, 2021, using username “Patrick,” depicting an adult male sexually abusing a young child.
“This predator fed his perversion through a steady stream of explicit imagery and videos of children being sexually abused,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge K. Jim Phillips. “Thanks to the dedication of our special agents and the concern of citizens who discovered the imagery, justice is served. Our communities are made safer for children when citizens recognize deviant behaviors and reach out to law enforcement.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former MPD Officers Convicted in the Death of 20-Year-Old Karon Hylton-BrownRead the Press Release
Jurors Found Evidence of a Conscious Disregard of the Extreme Risk of Harm
A jury sitting in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia returned guilty verdicts against two former members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in connection with a fatal police pursuit, on Oct. 23, 2020, in Northwest Washington, that caused the death of Karon Hylton-Brown, announced Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Terence Sutton, 38, an officer, was found guilty of second degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct, and obstruction of justice. Andrew Zabavsky, 54, a former lieutenant, was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice. The trial was heard before the Honorable Paul L. Friedman in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
The jury found that Sutton caused Mr. Hylton-Brown’s death by driving a police vehicle in conscious disregard for an extreme risk of death or serious bodily injury to Mr. Hylton-Brown. The jury further found that Sutton and Zabavsky conspired and combined to hide from MPD officials the circumstances of the traffic crash leading to Mr. Hylton-Brown’s death.
At the time of the police pursuit, Sutton was assigned to the Crime Suppression Team in MPD’s Fourth Police District. Zabavsky supervised the Fourth Police District’s Crime Suppression Team officers, including Sutton. The pursuit began at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, after officers observed Mr. Hylton-Brown, 20, driving a moped on a sidewalk in the Brightwood Park area of Northwest Washington. The pursuit continued on neighborhood streets for more than 10 blocks and into an alley off the 700 block of Kennedy Street NW. Immediately upon exiting the alley and entering Kennedy Street, Mr. Hylton-Brown was struck by an oncoming civilian vehicle. He suffered severe head trauma and died on Oct. 25, 2020.
The charge of second-degree murder carries a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison. The conspiracy charge carries a statutory maximum of five years and the obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum of 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Indiana Man Ordered to Pay Restitution and Serve Probation for Defacing the Washington MonumentRead the Press Release
Defendant Was Arrested With Paint Brush In-Hand
WASHINGTON – Shaun Deaton, 44, of Bloomington, Indiana, was sentenced today to one year of probation and was ordered to pay $3034.99 in restitution to the National Park Service for vandalizing the Washington Monument. On September 20, 2022, Deaton traveled to Washington, DC, and defaced the Washington Monument by painting it using red paint. He was arrested with the paint brush still in his hand and red paint on his clothes and body.
On September 22, 2022, Deaton was charged with destruction of federal property. On October 17, 2022, Deaton pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves commended the work of the United States Park Police and the National Park Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Gold.
District Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Burglarizing Public School, Assaulting PoliceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jason Stroman, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Friday, December 16, 2022, to two and a half years in prison for a burglary at an elementary school in Southeast Washington, D.C., and for assaulting the police officers who arrested him, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Stroman was convicted at a jury trial in August 2022 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on one count of Second Degree Burglary and two counts of Assault on a Police Officer.
According to the government’s evidence, Stroman entered C.W. Harris Elementary school early in the morning on Sunday, July 26, 2020, and disguised himself as a construction worker while walking through the school and compiling items - including various school supplies - into a large trash bin near an exit door. When he was discovered by DCPS and MPD officers, he fled on foot before being apprehended hiding nearby. After being placed under arrest, he spat directly onto MPD officers throughout the course of a 20 minute transport ride, telling the officers he hoped they took the coronavirus home to their families.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Tonya Queen, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin DeRiso, Kristin Sourbeer, and Lisa Lindhorst who investigated and indicted the matter, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Forgie and Teddy Dunn, who tried the case.
D.C. Corrections Officer Charged with EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Defendant Accused of Stealing from Labor Union while Serving as its Chairman
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia Department of Corrections Officer was arrested today after being charged in federal court with embezzling tens of thousands of dollars from a D.C. Department of Corrections Labor Union.
Andra Parker, 64, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, is charged with wire fraud in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was arrested this morning at the District’s Central Detention Facility and will make his initial appearance this afternoon before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) .
Charging documents allege that between June 2018 and May 2019, Parker served as chairman of the D.C. Department of Corrections Labor Committee, a labor organization that represents all members of the D.C. Department of Corrections. As chairman, Parker had full access to the Labor Committee’s bank accounts and was issued a debit card. He is accused of defrauding the Labor Committee by using Committee funds to pay for personal travel, lodging, and entertainment expenses. For example, charging documents allege that he spent more than $7,000 on a trip to New York city for his friends and him, including $4,000 on rooms and expenses at a Times Square hotel, more than $370 on tickets to a New York Knicks game, and an additional $616 on tickets to Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct for purposes of establishing probable cause, but it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the DOL-OIG. Assistance was also provided by the DOL - Office of Labor-Management Standards.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and Gauri Gopal of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart.
Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Rafael Rondon, age 25, of Watertown, New York pled guilty today in federal court in Syracuse to possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Janeen DiGuiseppi, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
As part of his guilty plea today, Rafael Rondon admitted that on June 29, 2021, he possessed an unregistered sawed-off shotgun hidden at a relative’s property in Lewis County, New York. The sawed-off shotgun was recovered after FBI Agents, U.S. Capitol Police, and New York State Police executed a federal search warrant at Rondon’s residence in Watertown, New York on June 29, 2021, for evidence related to criminal activity at the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. During the search of the Rondon residence in Watertown, the cut barrel of a 12-gauge shotgun was discovered. While being questioned, Rondon admitted that he possessed a sawed-off shotgun, and later took Agents to a relative’s property in nearby Lewis County where the unregistered short-barreled 12-gauge firearm was recovered from an outbuilding.
Sentencing for his conviction for possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun is scheduled for April 21, 2023, in Syracuse, New York, at which time Rafael Rondon faces a maximum sentence of up to 10-years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
Rafael Rondon also pled guilty December 5, 2022, in United States District Court for the District of Columbia to Obstruction of an Official Proceeding (felony), for his activities inside the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. Sentencing on that case is scheduled for March 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C., at which time he faces a maximum sentence of up to 20-years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.
The Northern District of New York case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Capitol Police, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the New York State Police. The indictment charging Rafael Rondon in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Green and Richard Southwick. The case involving the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach charge is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Two Tennessee Men Arrested for Planning Attacks on Law Enforcement Personnel and the FBI's Knoxville Field OfficeRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging Edward Kelley, 33, of Maryville, TN, and Austin Carter, 26, of Knoxville, TN, with conspiracy, retaliating against a federal official, interstate communication of a threat, and solicitation to commit a crime of violence. Kelley and Austin made their initial appearance in federal court in Knoxville, TN, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook. Both defendants have been detained. Carter has a detention hearing scheduled for December 21, 2022.
According to court documents, Kelley, who is facing charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia related to his assault on a law enforcement officer during the breach of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, obtained a list of law enforcement personnel who participated in that criminal investigation. In conversations with a cooperating witness, Kelley and Carter discussed plans to kill the individual law enforcement personnel on the list. Those plans included an attack on the FBI’s Knoxville, Tennessee Field Office.
“Federal law enforcement agents put their lives on the line every day to protect the public,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Planning and threatening violence against them is among the most serious of crimes. It is absolutely unacceptable and will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.
“The FBI continually assesses the full spectrum of potential threats that come to our attention and that includes those whose intent is to harm bureau employees. The arrests were a result of an amazing team effort across the division along with our local, state, and federal partners. The partnership with the FBI Counterterrorism Division, the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Tennessee and the District of Columbia were instrumental in the success of the operation. We remind the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity regardless of the intended target,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Arrowood and Kyle Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Trial Attorneys David Smith and Jacob Warren from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
###
District Man Sentenced to Nine Years for ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Defendant Shot the Victim as the Victim Ran Away
WASHINGTON – John Philogene, 24, of Washington, DC, was sentenced to nine years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for shooting and killing a man in Southeast Washington following a fight, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Philogene pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Honorable Marisa J. Demeo.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 27, 2021, the decedent, Evan Shawntez Wood, and a friend entered an apartment building in the Cascade Park Apartments at 4281 6th Street, Southeast, Washington, DC, and were immediately confronted by the defendant with a gun. The victim, who friends said had been in the military, lunged at the defendant and they got into a fight that sprawled from the apartment building out into the courtyard. There, the victim broke free and ran from the courtyard. As the victim ran away, Philogene stood up, chambered a round in his handgun, and shot the victim in the back of the leg. Mr. Wood kept running, making it a couple of blocks to a yard alongside a house on Forrester Street, Southeast, Washington, DC, where he sat down and died.
Philogene and another subject then warned the victim’s friend not to talk, both at the scene and again the next day by Facetime. Philogene also went to the building where the victim’s friend usually bought drugs, kicked in an apartment door, and pointed a gun at the people inside while asking where the victim and his friend were.
Philogene was arrested almost exactly a month later on April 27, 2021. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Siegerist and Victim/Witness Advocates Latrice Washington-Williams and Jenn Allen. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman and Deputy Chief Laura Bach, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Aiding and Abetting Murder in Online Robbery SchemeRead the Press Release
Defendant’s Co-conspirator Shot Victim After They Stole $225
WASHINGTON – Deandre Houston, 21, of Washington, DC, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for second-degree murder while armed for aiding and abetting the killing of a man in Southeast Washington as part of an online robbery scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Houston pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan.
According to the government’s evidence, Houston set up accounts on OfferUp, an online marketplace service similar to eBay, which targets local buyers and sellers and allows them to post items for sale and arrange for the sales transaction through the app. Through the app, Houston offered a non-existent 2012 MacBook Pro for sale. The decedent, Roderick Joseph Thomas, agreed to meet Houston and buy the laptop from him.
On October 11, 2018, Mr. Thomas waited in his car in the 3200 block of 12th St SE, Washington, DC to buy the laptop from Mr. Houston. Houston and an unknown co-conspirator went to meet Mr. Thomas. The co-conspirator brought a gun, which Houston knew about and had reason to believe would be used in the robbery. At the scene, Houston walked around Mr. Thomas’ car and got in the passenger seat while his co-conspirator approached the driver’s side door. They told Mr. Thomas to give them the cash, presumably intended for the laptop purchase. Houston stole the $225 from Mr. Thomas and then his co-conspirator told Mr. Thomas to get out of the car so that he could steal that too. Mr. Thomas got out of the car and fought back, but when he got back into the car, Houston’s co-conspirator shot Mr. Thomas and killed him. Houston and his co-conspirator then fled the scene with the cash.
Houston was arrested less than three weeks later, on October 31, 2018. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Siegerist and Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez. Finally, they commended the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Emile Thompson, Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman, and Deputy Chief Laura Bach, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty Mid-Trial to Hate Crimes ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Norman Wilson, 40, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, mid-trial, to charges stemming from two assaults in which he targeted Hispanic individuals based on their race and/or national origin, announced United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
Wilson pleaded guilty to two counts of simple assault with a bias-related enhancement for each count. The guilty plea followed a day and half of trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Peter Krauthamer immediately sentenced Wilson to 270 days of suspended time with time served for one charge, and 200 days of suspended time with time served for the second charge. The judge also imposed 1 year of supervised probation for each count.
Mr. Wilson assaulted the first victim on May 15, 2022, at the Dupont Circle Metro Station. During this assault, Mr. Wilson targeted the victim, hit the victim with a metal object, and then made derogatory statements directed at the victim being Hispanic. The second assault took place on May 22, 2022, when Mr. Wilson targeted a Hispanic victim inside of the Friendship Heights Metro Station, kicked the victim in the back while descending the escalator, followed the victim throughout the station, and assaulted the victim a second time, all the while making derogatory comments directed at the victim’s race and/or national origin. After Mr. Wilson was arrested, he was interviewed by detectives from the Metropolitan Transit Police Department. During this interview, Mr. Wilson stated his beliefs that there are too many foreigners in America, they are not humble enough, and other similar xenophobic statements.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metro Transit Police Department, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department. He also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Christopher Lionette, Daphne Teresa Nelson, and Wanda Trice, as well as Victim/Witness Coordinator Maria Sanchez-Garcia.
Finally, he commended the efforts of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Goldstein and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Derbish, who prosecuted the case, and AUSA Bonnie Lindemann, who investigated the case.
Jury Finds All Three Defendants Guilty in Murderous FeudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Following a nine-week long trial, a D.C. Superior Court jury returned verdicts finding Derek B. Turner, 31, Ronnika M. Jennings, 44, and Duan M. Hill, 33, guilty of multiple felony offenses arising out of a violent gang feud between two neighborhoods in Southeast Washington, D.C. in 2016-2017. The defendants were charged in a multiple-count conspiracy case that included two separate murders, multiple shooting offenses, and multiple obstruction of justice offenses.
Late Wednesday afternoon, the jury returned the following verdicts: against Turner for Conspiracy to Kill and Assault, Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice, two counts of First Degree Premeditated Murder While Armed, three counts of Assault With Intent to Kill While Armed, four counts of Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, seven counts of Obstruction of Justice, and four counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (Prior Conviction); against Jennings for four counts of Accessory After the Fact and one count of Obstruction of Justice; and against Hill for Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice and two counts of Obstruction of Justice.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2023.
In 2016-17, a dispute ensued between Wahler Place and Trenton Park crews, rival groups located in Southeast. In less than a year, 16 serious violent crimes, including four homicides, arose directly from the dispute, and at least 12 other serious crimes of violence, including at least three homicides, were part of the investigation. The government’s case showed that Wahler Place members engaged in a violent crime conspiracy targeting members of Trenton Park. Turner, also known as Fats, was a member of Wahler Place and was charged with the January 7, 2017 murder of Devin Hall and the March 1, 2017 murder of Andrew McPhatter, as well as several non-fatal shootings. The jury convicted Turner in both murders, as well as the February 17, 2017 attempted murders of rivals Raheem Osborne, Joseph Tyler, and Andrew McPhatter (before he was the victim of the later homicide). In the course of committing the charged offenses, defendant Turner utilized defendant Jennings, a civilian clerk in MPD’s Seventh District, to provide him with confidential police information to assist him and others in their criminal activities. Jennings was convicted of three counts of Accessory After the Fact in the February 17, 2017 attempted murder, as an Accessory After the Fact in McPhatter’s murder, and on one count of Obstruction of Justice. Hill was convicted of multiple counts of obstruction of justice in connection with a conspiracy to recruit an associate of Turner to take criminal responsibility for the firearm that Turner used to commit the two charged murders as well as three charged attempted murders.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, specifically Det. Charles Fultz and Det. Jeffrey Weber, as well as Special Agent Samuel Ward from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including: Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney, LaShone Samuels and Stephanie Siegerist; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Victim/Witness Security Specialist Robert Cephas; Supervisory Victim/Witness Security Specialist Lesley Slade; Supervisory Victim Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling; Litigation Technology Specialist Maisha Treadwell; Litigation Technology Specialist Thomas Royal; Special Agents Durand Odom and Mark Crawford; former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dineen Baker and Sara Vanore; Appellate Section Deputy Chief John Mannarino; Homicide Deputy Chief Laura Bach; and Assistant U.S. Attorney AUSA Erin DeRiso.
Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Truscott and Kevin Flynn, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Indicted in Firearms Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Defendant Allegedly Trafficked Firearms to Family Member in the District of Columbia
WASHINGTON – Two men were indicted today on federal charges stemming from a firearms trafficking investigation focused on the summer of 2021.
Demetrius Minor, 31, of Maryland and Donald Willis, 50, of Washington, D.C. were indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on federal charges related to the illegal transfer of firearms. Minor was indicted on a total of four charges including: engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license; illegal interstate transfer of firearms; sale of a firearm to a convicted felon; and conspiracy to commit an offense or defraud the United States. Willis was indicted on the charge of conspiracy.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Christopher Amon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Robert J. Contee, III, of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to traffic more than 30 firearms between April and October of 2021. Defendant Minor acted as the straw-purchaser of firearms from licensed gun stores (FFL’s) in the state of Maryland. After purchasing the firearms, Minor would transfer the guns to Willis in Washington, D.C., where Willis would pay Minor before reselling the guns.
The investigation began when two firearms purchased by Minor were recovered in a ten-day span within the District of Columbia. One of those firearms was recovered in November 2021, when Willis was arrested in an unrelated domestic violence incident. In that incident a handgun recovered from Willis had been reported stolen the same day by Minor, which triggered ATF to investigate Minor’s firearms purchases. The investigation revealed that Minor and Willis are related, and that Minor would legally purchase firearms in bulk from multiple gun stores in Maryland before transferring them to Willis, a prohibited person due to previous convictions, in exchange for cash.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
The charge of sale of a firearm to a convicted felon carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Each of the other charges carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the ATF’s Washington Field Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney’s Samuel Frey and Paul V. Courtney, of the Federal Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Colorado Man Sentenced to 8-Year Prison Term for Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Defendant Distributed Multiple Images of Child Pornography and Possessed Over 25,000 Images of Child Pornography
WASHINGTON –Shaun Marvin, 43, of Colorado, was sentenced today to an 8-year prison term on distribution of child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Marvin pled guilty on Dec. 9, 2021, in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia to one count of distribution of child pornography.
He was sentenced today by the Honorable Timothy J. Kelly. Following completion of his prison term, he will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, the defendant joined a chat group dedicated to trading child pornography. Marvin distributed multiple images depicting the sexual abuse of children to members of that group. After law enforcement agents seized Marvin’s digital devices, they discovered over 25,000 images of child pornography on his devices, including images depicting the rape and torture of infants and toddlers.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. He also thanked the FBI's Denver Field Office - Colorado Springs RA. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson, and Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.
Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Janani Iyengar, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
United States Settles False Claims Act Allegations Involving Medical Product Manufacturer for $14.5 MillionRead the Press Release
Company Self-Reported Violations of Contractual Provisions
WASHINBGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia reached an agreement with Coloplast, a medical product manufacturer, in the amount of $14,547,347 to settle claims that the company violated the Trade Agreements Act and the Price Reduction Clause in its business dealings with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The settlement was announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal.
Coloplast self-disclosed that it misapplied the Trade Agreements Act substantial transformation standard, which resulted in (a) Coloplast reporting incorrect countries of origin for several Coloplast-manufactured products and (b) some products remaining on the contract after switching manufacturing locations to nondesignated countries. Coloplast also self-reported that it misapplied the Price Reductions Clause by failing to provide the Government with discounts pursuant to the terms of the contract. This failure led to overbilling the United States for certain medical and pharmaceutical products sold to the United States.
“The United States government expects its business partners to act in good faith and follow the rules they agreed to follow,” said United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “We cannot overlook the great potential for harm when a company provides products from non-compliant countries.”
“This settlement is significant in both its monetary value and in the message it sends to other corporations who wish to do business with VA—our nation’s veterans deserve the highest quality products, at the best possible prices available, and that comply with all applicable laws and regulations,” said VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “We will continue to work with our partners at the US Attorney’s offices to ensure that VA is treated fairly and appropriately under the requirements of the law.”
The case was handled by the Civil Division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, in collaboration with the VA Inspector General’s Office of Investigations and Office of Audits and Evaluations, VA National Acquisition Center, and VA Office of General Counsel. U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Division Deputy Chief John C. Truong investigated the matter, with valuable assistance from VA Inspector General Supervisory Auditor Danielle Aguilar and Chief Investigative Counsel Katharine Brown.
The claims alleged here are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Pan Am Flight 103 Terrorist Suspect in Custody for 1988 Bombing over Lockerbie, ScotlandRead the Press Release
Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi (Mas’ud), 71, of Tunisia and Libya, made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on federal charges, unsealed today, stemming from the Dec. 21, 1988, civilian aircraft bombing that killed 270 people. The victims included 190 Americans, 43 citizens of the United Kingdom, including 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, and citizens from the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago.
On Dec. 21, 2020, the Department of Justice made public a criminal complaint charging Mas’ud with destruction of aircraft resulting in death, and destruction of a vehicle used in foreign commerce by means of an explosive resulting in death. The United States subsequently requested the publication of an INTERPOL Red Notice – as is typical in cases involving foreign fugitives – requesting all INTERPOL member countries to locate and arrest the defendant for the purpose of his extradition or lawful return to the United States to face the charges. On Nov. 29, 2022, a federal grand jury formally indicted Mas’ud on the same charges contained in the criminal complaint. That indictment was unsealed today.
From the time the tragic events occurred in 1988 through the present, the United States and Scotland have jointly pursued justice for all the victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing. The partnership will continue throughout the prosecution of Mas’ud.
“Nearly 34 years ago, 270 people, including 190 Americans, were tragically killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Since then, American and Scottish law enforcement have worked tirelessly to identify, find, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this horrific attack. Those relentless efforts over the past three decades led to the indictment and arrest of a former Libyan intelligence operative for his alleged role in building the bomb used in the attack,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The defendant is currently in U.S. custody and is facing charges in the United States. This is an important step forward in our mission to honor the victims and pursue justice on behalf of their loved ones.”
“Today’s action is another crucial step in delivering justice for the victims of the senseless terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Our thoughts are with the victims’ families, whose tireless work to honor the lives and legacies of their loved ones has inspired the Department of Justice and our Scottish partners throughout our investigation for the last 34 years. Let this be a reminder that the men and women of the Department of Justice will never forget the loss of innocent lives or waver in our commitment to holding terrorists accountable – no matter how long it takes.”
“While it has been nearly 34 years since the tragic bombing of Pan Am 103, the FBI and our partners throughout the U.S. government have never forgotten the Americans harmed and we will never rest until those responsible are brought to justice,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Our reach and our memory are long, as this investigation shows. The progress we have made would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of the men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department, and the assistance of our Scottish partners. My thoughts today are focused on those lost and their loved ones as the work to achieve justice continues.”
“The Justice Department has worked for more than three decades to seek justice for the 270 innocent victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today, Mas’ud is charged for his alleged role in this heinous act of terror and he will appear in an American courtroom to answer for those crimes. To those who would seek to harm Americans anywhere in the world, know that we will find you however far you run and we will hold you accountable however how long it takes.”
“We never forget an act of terrorism against American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “This defendant is charged with making the fateful decision to carry out a callous, cold-blooded act of terrorism, one that left behind devastation and despair for so many. Thanks to the vigilance, skill, and dedication of this team of investigators and prosecutors, and so many who preceded them in working on this case, the families of the victims will finally see a defendant face charges in a U.S. courtroom for his role in this heinous attack. This prosecution may bring little solace to those who have lost a child, a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a relative, or a friend. But we hope, today, the victims feel the embrace of the people who have poured their hearts and souls into bringing them a few steps closer to achieving some sense of justice for them and their loved ones.”
“We cannot heal the wounds left nearly 34 years ago, but we can and will continue to work to bring the justice that we can to the families of the victims of Pan Am 103. The lawful arrest and presentment in court of the alleged bombmaker, Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, is the product of hard work and partnerships across the globe,” said Acting Assistant Director in Charge Michael H. Glasheen of the FBI Washington Field Office. “He will now face justice in the U.S. for the crimes he is charged with having committed decades ago against citizens of 21 countries. Thank you to the investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates who have diligently and tirelessly continued to work for decades and across the globe to find answers about the horrific bombing of Pan Am 103. Most importantly, thank you to the families of the victims for showing us your perseverance and strength for decades. The U.S. government will also persevere in our quest to bring justice, on your behalf, for those we so tragically lost.”
December 21, 1988
At 7:03 pm (GMT), on Dec. 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed, almost instantaneously, 38 minutes after takeoff, when a bomb in the forward cargo area exploded. The plane was at 31,000 feet over Lockerbie, Scotland. It had taken off from London-Heathrow and was en route to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Citizens from 21 countries were killed. Among the 190 Americans lost were 35 Syracuse University students returning home to the United States for the holidays after a semester studying abroad. Of the 43 victims from the United Kingdom, eleven residents of Lockerbie, Scotland perished on the ground as fiery debris from the falling aircraft destroyed an entire city block of homes. The international terrorist attack, planned and executed by Libyan intelligence operatives, was considered the largest international terrorist attack in both the United States and the United Kingdom at the time.
Immediately after the disaster, Scottish and American law enforcement undertook a joint investigation that was unprecedented in its scope and, in November 1991, it led to criminal charges filed in both countries charging two Libyan intelligence operatives – Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi (Megrahi) and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah (Fhimah) – for their roles in the bombing. They were tried in a Scottish court sitting in The Netherlands. Fhimah was acquitted. Megrahi was found guilty.
Planning and Executing the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
The December 2020 criminal complaint alleged that from approximately 1973 to 2011 Mas’ud worked for the External Security Organization (ESO), the Libyan intelligence service which conducted acts of terrorism against other nations, in various capacities including as a technical expert in building explosive devices. In the winter of 1988, Mas’ud was directed by a Libyan intelligence official to fly to Malta with a prepared suitcase. There he was met by Megrahi and Fhimah at the airport. Several days later, Megrahi and Fhimah instructed Mas’ud to set the timer on the device in the suitcase for the following morning, so that the explosion would occur exactly eleven hours later. Megrahi and Fhimah were both at the airport on the morning of Dec. 21, 1988, and Mas’ud handed the suitcase to Fhimah after Fhimah gave him a signal to do so. Fhimah then placed the suitcase on the conveyor belt. Subsequently, Mas’ud boarded a Libyan flight to Tripoli schedule to take off at 9:00 a.m.
According to the allegations in the complaint, three or four days after returning to Libya, Mas’ud and Megrahi met with a senior Libyan intelligence official, who thanked them for a successful operation. Approximately three months after that, Mas’ud and Fhimah met with then-Libyan leader Muamar Qaddafi, and others, who thanked them for carrying out a great national duty against the Americans, and Qaddafi added that the operation was a total success.
If convicted, Mas’ud faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case along with prosecutors from the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. National Central Bureau provided valuable assistance in this matter.
Victims of this crime and their families may contact the Department of Justice on the VNS website at https://www.notify.usdoj.gov or the VNS Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968) (TDD/TTY: 1-866-228-4619) (International: 1-502-213-2767).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Pan Am Flight 103 Terrorist Suspect in Custody for 1988 Bombing over Lockerbie, ScotlandRead the Press Release
Defendant Arrested by FBI and Brought to US for Court Appearance
WASHINGTON, DC - Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi (“Mas’ud”), 71, of Tunisia and Libya, made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on federal charges, unsealed today, stemming from the December 21, 1988 civilian aircraft bombing that killed 270 people. The victims included 190 Americans, 43 citizens of the United Kingdom, including 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, and citizens from the following countries: Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Trinidad and Tobago.
On December 21, 2020, the Department of Justice made public a criminal complaint charging Mas’ud with destruction of aircraft resulting in death, and destruction of a vehicle used in foreign commerce by means of an explosive resulting in death. The United States subsequently requested the publication of an INTERPOL Red Notice - as is typical in cases involving foreign fugitives – requesting all INTERPOL member countries to locate and arrest the defendant for the purpose of his extradition or lawful return to the United States to face the charges. On Nov. 29, 2022, a federal grand jury formally indicted Mas’ud on the same charges contained in the criminal complaint. That indictment was unsealed today.
From the time the tragic events occurred in 1988 through the present, the United States and Scotland have jointly pursued justice for all the victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing. The partnership will continue throughout the prosecution of Mas’ud.
“Nearly 34 years ago, 270 people, including 190 Americans, were tragically killed in the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Since then, American and Scottish law enforcement have worked tirelessly to identify, find, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this horrific attack. Those relentless efforts over the past three decades led to the indictment and arrest of a former Libyan intelligence operative for his alleged role in building the bomb used in the attack,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The defendant is currently in U.S. custody and is facing charges in the United States. This is an important step forward in our mission to honor the victims and pursue justice on behalf of their loved ones.”
“Today’s action is another crucial step in delivering justice for the victims of the senseless terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Our thoughts are with the victims’ families, whose tireless work to honor the lives and legacies of their loved ones has inspired the Department of Justice and our Scottish partners throughout our investigation for the last 34 years. Let this be a reminder that the men and women of the Department of Justice will never forget the loss of innocent lives or waver in our commitment to holding terrorists accountable – no matter how long it takes.”
“While it has been nearly 34 years since the tragic bombing of Pan Am 103, the FBI and our partners throughout the U.S. government have never forgotten the Americans harmed and we will never rest until those responsible are brought to justice,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Our reach and our memory are long, as this investigation shows. The progress we have made would not have been possible without the hard work and determination of the men and women of the FBI and the Justice Department, and the assistance of our Scottish partners. My thoughts today are focused on those lost and their loved ones as the work to achieve justice continues.”
“We never forget an act of terrorism against American citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “This defendant is charged with making the fateful decision to carry out a callous, cold-blooded act of terrorism, one that left behind devastation and despair for so many. Thanks to the vigilance, skill, and dedication of this team of investigators and prosecutors, and so many who preceded them in working on this case, the families of the victims will finally see a defendant face charges in a U.S. courtroom for his role in this heinous attack. This prosecution may bring little solace to those who have lost a child, a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a relative, or a friend. But we hope, today, the victims feel the embrace of the people who have poured their hearts and souls into bringing them a few steps closer to achieving some sense of justice for them and their loved ones.”
“The Justice Department has worked for more than three decades to seek justice for the 270 innocent victims of the Pan Am 103 bombing,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today, Mas’ud is charged for his alleged role in this heinous act of terror and he will appear in an American courtroom to answer for those crimes. To those who would seek to harm Americans anywhere in the world, know that we will find you however far you run and we will hold you accountable however how long it takes.”
“We cannot heal the wounds left nearly 34 years ago, but we can and will continue to work to bring the justice that we can to the families of the victims of Pan Am 103. The lawful arrest and presentment in court of the alleged bombmaker, Abu Agila Mas’ud Kheir Al-Marimi, is a product of hard work and partnerships across the globe,” said Acting Assistant Director in Charge Michael H. Glasheen of the FBI Washington Field Office. “He will now face justice in the U.S. for the crimes he is charged with having committed decades ago against citizens of 21 countries. Thank you to the investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates who have diligently and tirelessly continued to work for decades and across the globe to find answers about the horrific bombing of Pan Am 103. Most importantly, thank you to the families of the victims for showing us your perseverance and strength for decades. The U.S. government will also persevere in our quest to bring justice, on your behalf, for those we so tragically lost.”
December 21, 1988
At 7:03 pm (GMT), on Dec. 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed, almost instantaneously, 38 minutes after takeoff, when a bomb in the forward cargo area exploded. The plane was at 31,000 feet over Lockerbie, Scotland. It had taken off from London-Heathrow and was en route to John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Citizens from 21 countries were killed. Among the 190 Americans lost were 35 Syracuse University students returning home to the United States for the holidays after a semester studying abroad. Of the 43 victims from the United Kingdom, eleven residents of Lockerbie, Scotland perished on the ground as fiery debris from the falling aircraft destroyed an entire city block of homes. The international terrorist attack, planned and executed by Libyan intelligence operatives, was considered the largest international terrorist attack in both the United States and the United Kingdom at the time.
Immediately after the disaster, Scottish and American law enforcement undertook a joint investigation that was unprecedented in its scope and, in November 1991, it led to criminal charges filed in both countries charging two Libyan intelligence operatives - Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi (Megrahi) and Lamen Khalifa Fhimah (Fhimah) - for their roles in the bombing. They were tried in a Scottish court sitting in The Netherlands. Fhimah was acquitted. Megrahi was found guilty.
Planning and Executing the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
The December 2020 criminal complaint alleged that from approximately 1973 to 2011 Mas’ud worked for the External Security Organization (ESO), the Libyan intelligence service which conducted acts of terrorism against other nations, in various capacities including as a technical expert in building explosive devices. In the winter of 1988, Mas’ud was directed by a Libyan intelligence official to fly to Malta with a prepared suitcase. There he was met by Megrahi and Fhimah at the airport. Several days later, Megrahi and Fhimah instructed Mas’ud to set the timer on the device in the suitcase for the following morning, so that the explosion would occur exactly eleven hours later. Megrahi and Fhimah were both at the airport on the morning of Dec. 21, 1988, and Mas’ud handed the suitcase to Fhimah after Fhimah gave him a signal to do so. Fhimah then placed the suitcase on the conveyor belt. Subsequently, Mas’ud boarded a Libyan flight to Tripoli schedule to take off at 9:00 a.m.
According to the allegations in the complaint, three or four days after returning to Libya, Mas’ud and Megrahi met with a senior Libyan intelligence official, who thanked them for a successful operation. Approximately three months after that, Mas’ud and Fhimah met with then-Libyan leader Muamar Qaddafi, and others, who thanked them for carrying out a great national duty against the Americans, and Qaddafi added that the operation was a total success.
If convicted, Mas’ud faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case along with prosecutors from the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. National Central Bureau provided valuable assistance in this matter.
Victims of this crime and their families may contact the Department of Justice on the VNS website at https://www.notify.usdoj.gov or the VNS Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4YOU (1-866-365-4968) (TDD/TTY: 1-866-228-4619) (International: 1-502-213-2767).
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
##
Jury Finds Washington, D.C. Man Guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Road Rage ConfrontationRead the Press Release
Defendant Pointed Firearm at Mother and Daughter
WASHINGTON – Jacobi Williams, 36, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury on felony assault charges, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Williams was found guilty on Thursday, December 8, 2022 of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm) following a two-week trial in D.C. Superior Court. The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for March 14, 2023.
On April 26, 2018, Williams began honking his horn at a mother and daughter sitting in the vehicle ahead of him in traffic at the intersection of 4th and I Street NW. Mr. Williams tried to drive around them but was unable to do so. He reversed his vehicle and threatened the mother and daughter at gunpoint before driving away when the traffic cleared. Williams was identified from surveillance footage in the immediate moments before and after the assault.
Mr. Williams is currently in custody on an unrelated 2021 homicide offense. This case is set for trial in June 2023. Mr. Williams is facing another homicide offense in Charles County, Maryland.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Omeed Assefi and Anna Forgie, who tried the case.
District Man Sentenced to Three Year Prison Term for Attempted Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
Defendant attempted to assault man with a firearm during argument inside a McDonald’s
WASHINGTON – Charles Epps, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Thursday, December 8, 2022, to 36 months in prison for a shooting inside a McDonald’s restaurant in September, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Mr. Epps pleaded guilty, in October 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of attempted assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm.
According to the government’s evidence, Epps was in an argument with another male in McDonald’s, located on 14th Street NW, in the late evening hours of September 3, 2022, when he retrieved a firearm from his waistband and held it at his side during the argument. A struggle over the firearm ensued during which the firearm discharged, injuring a restaurant patron. The shooting victim was later transported to the hospital for treatment of the injury. Epps was on supervised release at the time of the incident for attempted robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington and Paralegal Specialist Crystal Waddy.
Finally, they commend the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Keefer who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Jury Finds D.C. Men Guilty of Murder and Other Charges in August 10, 2017 Slaying of Jamahri SydnorRead the Press Release
Defendants Convicted of Daylight Shooting on Busy D.C. Street Corner, Killing and Wounding Innocent Bystanders
WASHINGTON – Robert Moses, 23, of Washington, D.C., and James Mayfield, 22, of Washington, D.C., have been found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and other charges in a mid-day shooting that took place on a Northeast Washington corner on August 10, 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Moses and Mayfield were found guilty by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed (premediated), two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed (one with aggravating circumstances) one count of aggravated assault while armed (with aggravating circumstances), assault with a dangerous weapon, and related charges. Moses was also convicted with obstructing justice for his attempts to have another friend alibi him. Additionally, Mayfield is charged in a separate multiple-count indictment, including two counts of murder, for a three-day crime spree that occurred December 24-27, 2017. The verdict was returned on Dec. 8, 2022, following a seven-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing before the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan has not been scheduled. Moses and Mayfield face a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty years of incarceration for the crimes.
On Aug. 10, 2017, at about 3:30 p.m., Moses and Mayfield, each armed with firearms, approached on foot the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenues Northeast. Numerous people were outside at the time, in and around the busy neighborhood intersection. Both Moses and Mayfield opened fire across Montana Avenue towards the people on Saratoga Avenue, collectively firing over ten rounds. As they did, Jamahri Sydnor, 17 years-old and the daughter of retired MPD Homicide Detective and Sgt Que Wallace, was driving through the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenues with her 12-year-old nephew, on the way to run an errand before her sister’s wedding rehearsal dinner. Ms. Sydnor, who was days away from beginning her college education at Florida A&M University, was struck in the head by a bullet. Incapacitated, she lost control of the car, and it crashed into another parked car. Her 12-year-old nephew was injured by the shattering glass when the bullet traveled through the front passenger window before striking Ms. Sydnor. A third victim was shot as he stood on the corner speaking with friends, while yet another innocent bystander shattered his leg, after throwing himself from his wheelchair, attempting to take cover from the hail of gunfire.
Following the attacks, Moses and Mayfield fled the scene. Moses was arrested on October 26, 2017, and Mayfield was arrested on December 27, 2017. Both have been in custody since their respective arrests.
At the time of the alleged offenses, Moses was on release in a pending gun case in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Victim/Witness Security Specialists Robert Cephas and Lesley Slade; former Victim/Witness Security Specialist Wanda M. Queen; Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert, Lashone Samuels, and Grazy Rivera; former Paralegal Specialist Alesha Matthews-Yette; Lead Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; and Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling.Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Lenerz who provided Appellate support, Deputy Chief Sharon Donovan, who provided extensive forensic and DNA litigation assistance, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah Sines and Glenn Kirschner, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Santiago and Kimberley Nielsen, who investigated, indicted, and prosecuted the case.
Fraudster Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Multiple Crimes Against Senior Citizens in Northwest Washington, D.C.Read the Press Release
Defendant Also Set Fire to One Victim’s Apartment
WASHINGTON – Peter R. Dorney, 42, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for arson and fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, D.C. Fire and EMS Office of the Fire Marshal, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Dorney pleaded guilty in April 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to felony destruction of property for a February 2021 arson, and first-degree felony fraud charges. He was sentenced by the Honorable James A. Crowell IV. Following his prison term, Dorney will be placed on supervised release for three years.
According to the government’s evidence, Dorney targeted elderly women in the commission of his crimes. On February 4, 2021, at approximately 6:10 p.m., Dorney was inside the Gateway Georgetown Apartment Complex when he used a key to enter Apartment 332, the then-vacant apartment of the 92-year-old victim. Dorney used an open flame source to set a fire inside the apartment. The fire spread, causing over $1,000 in damage to the victim’s property, including walls, furniture, and papers. Then, between March 2021 and April 2021, Dorney made more than 70 unauthorized charges on an 80-year-old victim’s credit card, obtaining a total of $4,628.06 of her money by fraudulent means. On some occasions, Dorney brazenly treated mutual friends to expensive dinners using the victim’s credit card without her knowledge. Dorney has been in custody since his May 13, 2021 arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Fire and E.M.S., especially Investigator Paul Gunshol. They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold, who investigated and prosecuted the case, Paralegal Specialist Debra McPherson, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Torabzadeh, on detail from the Office of the Attorney General to handle financial crimes cases involving elderly victims.
Jury Finds Washington, D.C. Man Guilty of Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Defendant was Convicted of Illegal Possession of a Loaded Semi-Automatic Pistol By a Felon
WASHINGTON – Ronnard Williams, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury on a federal firearms charge, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Williams was found guilty by a jury yesterday of illegal possession of a weapon by a felon following a four-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for March 10, 2023.
On May 10, 2020, at approximately 11:05 p.m., officers of the Metropolitan Police Department patrolled the 2600 block of Birney Place in Southeast, Washington, D.C. Officers initiated a traffic stop of Williams’ vehicle. While conducting the stop, an officer observed a firearm in the rear passenger side of the vehicle, which was recovered and determined to be a Glock, Model 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with one round in the chamber and 12 rounds in the magazine. Williams had prior convictions, including for armed robbery.
Following his arrest in this case, Williams was placed on pre-trial release subject to various conditions. After a tamper alert on his monitoring device in November 2020, he did not return to Court until he was re-arrested in October 2021. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the valuable assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals Service in the course of the investigation. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who prosecuted the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Hart and Kimberly Paschall and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian W. Lynch, as well as Paralegal Specialist Peter Gaboton.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Prison Term for Stalking Former Co-WorkerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ranjith Keerikkattil, 34, of Catonsville, Maryland, who left the United States after he was found guilty of stalking a junior co-worker, and was finally re-arrested four years later, has been sentenced to an 11-month prison term.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Keerikkattil was found guilty of the stalking charge on July 9, 2018, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Robert A. Salerno released Keerikkattil following the verdict, pending sentencing. The judge ordered him to appear the next morning to have a GPS monitoring device installed. However, he failed to appear, and left the United States, ending up in Australia, where he remained a fugitive for over four years. A grand jury subsequently indicted him on July 11, 2018, on a felony charge of violating the Bail Reform Act. He was finally arrested on Oct. 4, 2022, at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. He has pleaded not guilty to the felony Bail Reform Act charge and faces trial on Jan. 4, 2023.
The Honorable Judge James A. Crowell IV sentenced the defendant on Nov. 29, 2022, to the maximum of 12 months of incarceration; however, all but 11 months of the time was suspended on the condition that Keerikkattil successfully complete five years of supervised probation. Keerikkattil will also be required to stay away from the victim, her family, trial witnesses and the consulting firm, as well as be prohibited from possessing a firearm while serving the five years of supervised probation.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, the criminal conduct began in May 2015, while Keerikkattil was a senior consultant at a consulting firm in Rosslyn, Virginia. The victim, who resided at the time in the District of Columbia, had begun her first job out of college in 2015 as a business technology analyst for the firm. Keerikkattil was her first mentor on her first project. After the victim performed countless evening and weekend hours on the project, Keerikkattil, told her that he only brought her onto the project to get close to her and that he was merely giving her busy work. He ignored her wishes to keep their relationship strictly professional and continued to pursue her. After she repeatedly tried to resolve the matter herself, she reported Keerikkattil, on June 1, 2015, to her human resources counselor.
Keerikkattil was fired on June 19, 2015, for not being forthcoming about his conduct during the firm’s internal investigation of the matter. He blamed the victim for his termination and then began a stalking campaign in retaliation. His acts included publishing false allegations about the victim on the Internet and through mass e-mails to the victim and former company employees in order to seriously frighten and defame her. When ignored, he escalated his actions. Almost two months after being fired, he sat in a café that was frequented by company employees, including the victim. He was able to obtain eye contact with the victim on one occasion inside this café, frightening her even more. The victim’s attorney notified Keerikkattil, instructing him not to have any further contact with her, but he continued to text her.
With the victim continuing to ignore him, Keerikkattil decided to take a plane almost 3,000 miles to Seattle and then rent a car and travel an additional three hours to pay an unannounced visit to the victim’s parents in a remote suburb of Portland, Oregon. On Oct. 24, 2015, he knocked on the door to the victim’s childhood home, which was at the bottom of a long driveway, and asked her father for directions to the nearby parks. It took a moment for the father to piece things together. Once he was able to figure out whom the defendant was, he slammed and locked the door and called 911. Keerikkattil texted the victim shortly thereafter, “Was nice meeting your dad today.” An arrest warrant was obtained shortly thereafter, and Keerikkattil was arrested on Dec. 19, 2015, and charged with stalking.
At the sentencing hearing, the court also considered a statement from another female victim who had claimed that Keerikkattil had stalked her in 2012-2013, where he filed similar lawsuits against her and “doxed” her on the Internet. The Government referenced this prior alleged stalking behavior during its argument, drawing the court’s attention to the striking similarities between the two victims and how Keerikkattil chose to torment them.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Contee 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 Paralegal Specialists Lynda Randolph and Stephanie Siegerist, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen, and Victim/Witness Services Coordinator La June Thames. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ethan Carroll and Kristina Wolf, who assisted in investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Giovannelli, who prosecuted and tried the case to verdict and through sentencing.
Former Officers of Non-Profit Dedicated to Helping Children Plead Guilty to Using Organization’s Funds for Personal GainRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The former Executive Director and the former Director of Operations and Finance of the now-defunct non-profit organization DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (DC Trust) each pleaded guilty today to one felony charge relating to their personal use of the non-profit’s funds, which were intended for youth scholarship programs.
Edward Davies, 51, of Columbia, Maryland, and Earl Hamilton, 53, of Riviera Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to credit card fraud. They are to be sentenced on April 7, 2023, by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton. The plea agreements call for both defendants to make restitution for their criminal acts.
The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, and Terry Harris, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Region, U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.
According to the plea documents, from at least November 2015 to February 2016, Davies and Hamilton perpetrated a scheme in which they obtained and used for personal benefit, DC Trust credit cards and a check card – whose bills were paid for by DC Trust funds. The DC Trust was a non-profit organization, created in 1999, to serve as an intermediary to connect philanthropists, government leaders, youth advocates, and representatives from the business community in order to support programs to benefit the children of the District of Columbia. Davies was the Executive Director and Hamilton was the Director of Operations and Finance. The organization was dissolved in late 2016.
The diverted funds, provided to the non-profit by the government of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Department of Education, were intended to provide scholarship programs for D.C. youth. According to the plea documents, Davies and Hamilton used DC Trust credit cards and a check card to make hundreds of personal purchases, for expenses such as meals, automobile repairs, and personal travel for themselves, their family members, and their friends. In total, Davies admitted to stealing at least $111,000 and Hamilton admitted to stealing at least $44,000 by using DC Trust credit cards and a check card for personal expenses.
The D.C. Office of the Inspector General, the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General have been investigating this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Rakoczy and Diane Lucas, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Amanda Rohde and Lisa Abbe.
Former D.C. Corrections Officer Charged with a Federal Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Handcuffed InmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment that was unsealed today charging a former District of Columbia Department of Corrections officer with using unreasonable force.
According to court documents, former D.C. corrections officer Marcus Bias, 26, pushed a handcuffed pre-trial detainee’s head into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the Department of Corrections on June 12, 2019, causing injury to the detainee.
Bias faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for his use of unreasonable force, a term of supervised release, and fines.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division and Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono of the FBI’s Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Anna Gotfryd and Rebekah Bailey of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
District of Columbia Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Burglaries in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rayshonne Marbley, 48, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to an eight-year prison term on charges stemming from a series of break-ins and thefts in Northwest Washington in June 2022.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Marbley pleaded guilty in October 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of second-degree burglary. The Honorable Michael O’Keefe sentenced Marbley today to an aggregate term of eight years’ imprisonment. Following his prison term, Marbley will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 6, 2022, shortly after 3:00 p.m., Marbley entered an occupied home in the 3000 block of 11th Street NW. The resident’s child was awoken to the sound of her bedroom doorknob being turned and observed Marbley looking at her from another bedroom door. Marbley took various electronics before leaving the house. Marbley then entered another occupied home in the area before being chased out by the resident. Marbley again took various electronics on his way out of the house. A short time later, police were able to locate and apprehend Marbley. In his possession were various electronics taken from the two residences.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee expressed appreciation for the work of those investigating the cases from MPD. They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Debra McPherson and Victim Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shalin Nohria, who investigated and prosecuted the cases.
District Woman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Assaulting Deputy United States Marshal in CourthouseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Annabelle Liebsch, 38, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for assaulting a Deputy United States Marshal during a court proceeding in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert Dixon, U.S. Marshal for the U.S. Marshals Service for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Liebsch was found guilty by a jury in September 2022, of felony assault of a law enforcement officer. She was sentenced by the Honorable Jason Park to a total of 36 months of incarceration; however, all but 18 months of that sentence was suspended pending the successful completion of an 18-month term of probation that will begin after Liebsch’s incarceration.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 2, 2022, the defendant was physically present in a Superior Court courtroom, before the Honorable Judge Thomas J. Motley, in a criminal hearing. At the conclusion of that hearing, Judge Motley ordered that she would remain detained. In response, Liebsch stated that she would like to “defect.”
She then got up from the defense table and walked towards a door at the back of the courtroom. Judge Motley ordered Liebsch to sit back down. When she refused, a Deputy U.S. Marshal and a Court Security Officer in the courtroom attempted to calm her down and restrain her. Their efforts continued into a small vestibule immediately behind the courtroom at which point Liebsch repeatedly head-butted the Deputy Marshal, striking the top of his head with such force that it caused a severe laceration that bled profusely. The Deputy Marshal subsequently had to be taken to a hospital, where five staples were required to close the wound.
Liebsch has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Marshal Dixon commended the work of those who investigated the case from the United States Marshals Service. They expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Richard Cheatham and Theresa Nelson.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alec Levy and Shakinah Douglas, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Medicaid of More than $700,000 in Scheme Involving Personal Care ServicesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joseph Tamjong, 51, of Lanham, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to defrauding the D.C. Medicaid program out of $733,405.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General for the region that includes Washington, D.C., and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
Tamjong pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to health care fraud, which carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Tamjong faces a likely recommended sentence of between 27 and 33 months in prison. He has agreed to pay $733,405 in restitution and $396,155 in a forfeiture money judgment. The Honorable Christopher R. Cooper, who accepted Tamjong’s guilty plea, scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2023.
In court documents, Tamjong admitted that between December 2014 and February 2022, he was employed as a Personal Care Aide and/or a Participant-Directed Worker to provide personal care aide services to residents of the District of Columbia who needed assistance performing activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating. Tamjong admitted that he submitted false timesheets that claimed he provided these personal care services when in fact he did not.
As part of his scheme, he even caused Medicaid to be billed for approximately 3,400 hours of services that he purportedly provided when he actually was traveling internationally. On 156 separate occasions, he also caused Medicaid to be billed for 24 hours of services that he allegedly provided in one day.
The FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who defraud the D.C. Medicaid program.
Tamjong is the twelfth former personal care aide since August 2018 to plead guilty to defrauding Medicaid in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Six of those aides were sentenced to 13 months in prison; a seventh and eighth were sentenced respectively to 15 months and 10 months.
The government urges the public to provide tips and assistance to stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, please call the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) HHS‑TIPS [(800) 447-8477] or the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at (800) 724-TIPS [(800) 274-8477].
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart.
District Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison for Killing Man on Street in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Cecil Smith, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years and nine months in prison for fatally shooting a man last year in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Smith pleaded guilty on April 1, 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for the sentence of 10 years and nine months in prison. The Honorable Milton C. Lee, Jr. accepted the plea and sentenced Smith accordingly. Following his prison term, Smith will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 23, 2021, at approximately 11 p.m., Smith was standing immediately adjacent to a parking lot in the 3900 block of South Capitol Street SE, next to a vehicle along with Harold Castle. Mr. Castle then grabbed a bottle that Smith placed on the hood of the vehicle. Mr. Castle held the bottle in the air and looked at the contents of the bottle. He poured a portion of the remaining contents into his cup, then handed the bottle to the Smith. Smith reached towards his right pocket, turned away from Mr. Castle, and fired a gun towards him. Mr. Castle, 29, struck by the bullet, turned and ran towards the parking lot, where he collapsed and died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Smith was arrested on Sept. 1, 2021. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, former Victim/ Witness Specialist Marcia Rinker, Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin.
Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
D.C. Government Employee Charged with Submitting False Documentation Claiming District Residency to Obtain BenefitsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Social Services Representative with the District of Columbia Department of Human Services (DHS), has been charged with falsely claiming District of Columbia residency to obtain D.C. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid benefits, and free tuition for her two children to attend a D.C. Public Charter School.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia, and Karl A. Racine, Attorney General for the District of Columbia. This matter was initially discovered by the D.C. Department of Human Services and promptly referred to the D.C. Office of the Inspector General for investigation.
Michia Pardlow, 29, of Arlington, Virginia, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia with first-degree fraud, first-degree theft, and false statements in connection with applying for and obtaining District of Columbia resident benefits. She was arrested on Nov. 22, 2022, made her initial court appearance later that day, and was released pending trial.
According to court documents, Pardlow, from 2016 through at least 2019, was a resident of Arlington, Virginia. The charging documents allege that she submitted signed applications, residency verification forms, and other documents to the District of Columbia’s Department of Human Services and Public Charter School Board claiming and verifying District residency.
As a result, the documents allege, Pardlow was able to obtain District benefits to which she was not entitled. Non-District residents are ineligible to receive District SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid benefits. Non-District residents who enroll their dependents in D.C. schools must apply as a non-resident and pay non-resident tuition. The charging documents allege that she received more than $149,000 in fraudulent benefits.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General. The case is being jointly prosecuted by the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Public Corruption Section of the D.C. Office of the Attorney General.
Three District of Columbia Men Indicted on Federal Charges for Armed Robberies and Carjackings in D.C. and MarylandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three men, all from Washington, D.C., have been indicted on federal charges stemming from a series of armed robberies and carjackings that took place in Maryland and the District of Columbia over a period of less than two months earlier this year.
Tyrell Jordan Stewart, 24, Joenathan Nelson, 25, and Azriel Echavarria, 20, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, conspiracy to commit carjacking, and various related offenses. The indictment was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Stewart was arrested today and made his initial court appearance this afternoon. Nelson and Echavarria previously were in custody.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Christopher Amon, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Malik Aziz, Chief of the Prince George’s County, Maryland, Police Department, and Marcus G. Jones, Chief of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department.
According to the indictment, the defendants wore dark clothing and often wore masks or other clothing over their faces while committing the crimes. As alleged in the indictment, they used various vehicles, including stolen vehicles, to facilitate the robberies or flee from scenes. The crimes typically took place in the early morning, between 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. In addition to stores, targets included people accosted while in their cars, at work, or on the street.
The indictment includes charges related to crimes from Jan. 19 through March 4, 2022. They include three robberies at convenience stores, 14 robberies of individuals, an armed carjacking, and three car thefts. On Feb. 18, 2022, for example, four armed robberies were carried out within 95 minutes in Northwest and Northeast Washington. On Feb. 20, 2022, two armed robberies took place within 10 minutes at convenience stores in Rockville and Kensington, Maryland. On March 4, 2022, four armed robberies took place within 35 minutes in Northeast and Northwest Washington.
Stewart was indicted on a total of 14 charges, including conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, conspiracy to commit carjacking, six counts of armed robbery, one count of robbery, five counts of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, and a firearms offense.
Nelson was indicted on a total of 21 charges, including conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, conspiracy to commit carjacking, 11 counts of armed robbery, one count of robbery, six counts of interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, and a firearms offense.
Echavarria was indicted on a total of five charges, including conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, conspiracy to commit carjacking, two counts of armed robbery, and a firearms offense
Nelson has been detained pending other court proceedings in Montgomery County. Echavarria is incarcerated after pleading guilty in the District of Columbia on April 28, 2022, to a charge of carrying a pistol without a license.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the ATF’s Washington Field Division, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department and the Prince George’s County, Maryland Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lynch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Kinskey, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
District Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Stalking and Posting Sexual Images of Woman and Stalking and Threatening WitnessesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kyle Alexander Jackson, 25, of Chicago, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to five years in prison for stalking and unlawfully publishing graphic, sexual images of a woman, and for stalking and threatening witnesses to these offenses.
This case involves the “Criminalization of Non-Consensual Pornography Act of 2014” a District of Columbia law that codifies the offense of “unlawful publication” and prohibits the publication or disclosure of explicit photos without the consent of the person depicted in them, even if the photos were taken or given to the defendant consensually by the victim.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jackson pleaded guilty on Aug. 4, 2022, to two counts of first-degree unlawful publication, one count of unlawful disclosure, two counts of stalking, and one count of felony threats. He was sentenced by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz. Upon completion of his prison term, Jackson will be placed on three years of supervised release. He also will be required to stay away from the victims and is barred from talking about them on social media.
“Kyle Jackson subjected the primary victim in this case—his ex-girlfriend—to years of torment,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “This case demonstrates the importance of the law that expressly prohibits such unlawful publication of explicit photos without consent. Now Kyle Jackson is being held accountable for his reprehensible acts.”
According to the government’s evidence, Jackson and the victim were romantically involved for a period several years ago while students at a Washington, D.C. area university. After the conclusion of their relationship, in 2018, Jackson showed sexually explicit images of the victim to other individuals, prompting a Title IX investigation. His behavior escalated when, over the course of several months in 2019, he created multiple fake GroupMe accounts, which he used to post the victim’s sexually explicit images. He often impersonated the victim as well, soliciting others to contact her at her social media accounts. In 2020 and 2021, Jackson continued to post the images on GroupMe and began to post them on Kik and other platforms as well. Often, he would then send text messages to the victim from TextNow numbers, pretending to be other individuals who had seen the explicit images on the internet. Jackson also used these numbers to send a variety of harassing and unwanted text messages. At one point in 2021, Jackson mailed sexually explicit images to the victim’s employer.
In June 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed criminal charges against Jackson for this conduct. While the criminal case against Jackson was pending, he began to harass potential witnesses in the case. In the first several months of 2022, Jackson sent numerous harassing emails, many containing racist and sexist slurs, to these victims. Jackson used the victims’ professional email addresses and contacted their co-workers as well. The conduct eventually escalated to include violent threats of sexual assault and murder. In April 2022, Jackson was arrested in relation to this conduct and has remained held since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Chicago Police Department.
They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Special Agent Nelson Rhone of the Criminal Investigations Unit; Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan, and Paralegal Specialist Tiffany Jones.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marco Crocetti and Kathleen Houck, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
District Man Sentenced to 8 ½-Year Prison Term for 2019 Killing in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lavelle Watts, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a prison term of 8 ½ years for killing a man in Northeast Washington in September 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Watts pleaded guilty in June 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence between 7 ½ and 9 years. The Honorable Maribeth Raffinan accepted the plea and sentenced Watts accordingly. Following his prison term, Watts will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Sept. 3, 2019, at approximately 10:50 p.m., the victim, Kailin Middleton, was the front seat passenger in a vehicle that stopped in front of a building in the 900 block of Division Avenue NE. Watts then got out of his vehicle and fired multiple rounds into the passenger side of Mr. Middleton's vehicle. Mr. Middleton and the driver of the vehicle were both shot multiple times. Mr. Middleton, 28, was pronounced soon afterwards at a local hospital.
Watts was arrested on Dec. 14, 2021. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Grave and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera and Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington-Williams. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
District Man Sentenced to 14-Year Prison Term in 2021 Slaying in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Brian Foster, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 14-year prison term for shooting and killing a man in Southeast Washington while the victim sat in his car, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Foster pleaded guilty in August 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to second-degree murder while armed. The plea agreement, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon sentence of 14 years in prison. The Honorable Rainey R. Brandt accepted the plea and sentenced Foster accordingly. Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 18, 2021, at approximately 12:40 p.m., the victim, Anthony Mitchell, 44, parked his car in the 3700 block of First Street SE. Shortly thereafter, Foster and two friends got into a nearby car and started smoking marijuana and PCP while listening to music. After about eight minutes, Foster got out of the car, walked over to where Mr. Mitchell sat in his car on First Street, pulled out a handgun, and, at around 12:58 p.m., shot Mr. Mitchell twice, through the closed door of Mr. Mitchell’s car. The shots hit Mr. Mitchell in the left side of his face and in his left arm, left lung, and spine, killing him. Foster then walked back to his own car, got in, and drove away, passing Mr. Mitchell’s car on the way.
Foster was arrested on Oct. 26, 2021. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Siegerist and Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman and Deputy Chief Laura Bach of the Homicide Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Assaulting Woman at Southeast Washington LoungeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donnell Peterson, 46, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to a 14-month prison term for assaulting a woman last summer at a lounge in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Peterson pleaded guilty in September 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to assault with significant bodily injury. He was sentenced on Nov. 17, 2022, by the Honorable James A. Crowell to a total of 32 months of incarceration; however all but 14 months of that sentence was suspended pending the successful completion of an 18-month term of probation that will begin after Peterson’s incarceration.
According to the government’s evidence, on the night of Aug. 3, 2022, Peterson and the victim were both present at a lounge in the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. The two knew one another casually from being patrons at the bar. While at the bar, they became engaged in a verbal argument. Peterson was standing next to the victim, who was sitting on a barstool. At some point during the argument, the victim stood up in front of Peterson. Peterson then grabbed her by her neck and threw her to the floor.
While the victim was on the floor, Peterson picked up a barstool and struck her in the head with it. When she attempted to get up, Peterson shoved her toward the bar, causing her head to hit the edge of the bar. After she had fallen to the floor again, Peterson picked up another barstool and again struck her in the head. The attack caused a large laceration to the head and required hospital treatment. Peterson turned himself in on Aug. 11, 2022.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim /Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Shooting Woman in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nikko Drake, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 13 years in prison for shooting a woman outside a Northwest Washington nightclub, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Drake was found guilty by a jury in June 2022, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and related firearms offenses. He was sentenced by the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan. Following his prison term, Drake will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at 11:25 p.m. on Jan. 23, 2020, Drake got into an argument with the female victim, who was then 21, outside a nightclub in the 1900 block of 9th Street NW, in the Shaw area. Drake punched the victim, knocking her to the ground. After a physical struggle, Drake shot her twice at close range in the body. The victim was taken to Howard University Hospital, where she required emergency trauma surgery. She suffered numerous gunshot injuries to the right inner thigh, right hip, stomach, and lower back, and continues to have physical limitations from the injuries.
MPD officers spotted Drake in the area in response to a look-out and apprehended him within 15 minutes of the offense. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Chrisellen Kolb, Chief of the Appellate Division; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Long, Mark Hobel, and Daniel Lenerz; former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fretto Lingwood; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist R. Renee Prather; Lead Paralegal Specialist Tameka S. Garcia; Paralegal Specialists Crystal L. Waddy and Debra McPherson; Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Victim/Witness Services Coordinator La June Thames; Victim/Witness Program Specialist Karina Hernandez; Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialist Maisha Treadwell.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Nicole G. H. Conte, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Two Members and Associates of the 18th Street Gang Sentenced to Prison Terms for Violent Crimes Committed in Aid of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two members and associates of the 18th Street gang operating within Washington, D.C. were sentenced today to over five years each in prison for their roles in an attack on rival gang members on the platform of the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro station on Sept. 17, 2019.
Christopher Molina-Garcia, 21, and Christian Figueroa-Gutierrez, 22, both of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty earlier this year in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering – assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of unlawful possession, brandishing, and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The pleas were contingent upon the Court’s approval. Molina-Garcia’s plea called for a 5 ½-year prison term, and Figueroa-Gutierrez’s plea called for a range of 60 months to 72 months in prison. The Honorable Randolph D. Moss accepted the pleas and sentenced Molina-Garcia to 5 ½ years in prison, and Figueroa-Gutierrez to 5 years and 4 months in prison. Following their prison terms, each will be placed on three years of supervised release.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, Robert Dixon, U.S. Marshal for the U.S. Marshals Service for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Michael Anzallo, Chief of the Metro Transit Police Department, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to the government’s evidence, Molina-Garcia and Figueroa-Gutierrez were members of associates of the international criminal street gang known as 18th Street, which operates in the District of Columbia, and other jurisdictions both within the United States and internationally. The 18th Street gang engages in a variety of criminal activities to include acts of assault, robbery, kidnapping, murder, and firearms trafficking. The 18th Street gang is particularly violent because members are required to commit acts of violence to further the interests of the gang.
On Sept. 17, 2019, at approximately 3:31 p.m., Molina-Garcia and Figueroa-Guiterrez went to the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro Station in Northwest Washington as part of a group of 18th Street gang members. Metro station surveillance captured the defendants as they engaged in an altercation with another group of rival gang members on the train station platform. The 18th Street gang members began to run towards the rival gang members and Molina-Garcia was seen pulling a large knife out of his waistband while Figueroa-Gutierrez pulled out a meat cleaver from his backpack. The rival gang members then pulled out a set of weapons of their own. Another 18th Street gang member then pulled a handgun from his backpack and fired two gunshots towards the rival crew. The two gangs immediately dispersed as a Metro train pulled into the station. The defendants admitted to participating in the attack in order to gain entrance to, or to maintain or increase their position in the 18th Street gang.
Molina-Garcia was arrested on May 11, 2021, in Loudoun County, Virginia. Figueroa-Gutierrez was arrested on May 10, 2021, in Irving, Texas. They have been detained ever since.
This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from the District of Columbia area. The United States Marshals Service, the Metro Transit Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department also provide valuable collaboration and assistance in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack F. Korba, Gilead Light, and Christopher Marin, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Latoya Wade.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Burglary and Other Charges for Multiple Domestic Violence Incidents at Same HomeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Devon Kelly, 43, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty of burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, and other property-related offenses involving multiple domestic violence incidents against the same victim on March 14, 2022, in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Kelly was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 15, 2022, of second-degree burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of second-degree theft, and two counts of destruction of property following a five-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of March 14, 2022, Kelly drove to his ex-girlfriend’s house in Southeast Washington, stole her front license plate, backed his car into her car, causing damage, and then drove away. Later that day, while his ex-girlfriend was at work, Kelly returned to her home, rammed his car into her garage, entered the garage, and then unsuccessfully tried to force his way into her locked home with a knife. Kelly then stole his ex-girlfriend’s surveillance video camera and drove away.
Two days later, Kelly’s vehicle was found in Alexandria, Virginia, and police officers recovered the missing license plate and surveillance video camera, as well as a shotgun. Kelly was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of a firearm-related felony offense. Kelly was arrested on March 24, 2022.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee 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 Zach Horton, Lisa Kreeger-Norman, and Amy Zubrensky; Paralegal Specialists Cynthia Muhammad, Renee Prather, ReShawn Johnson, and Tiffany Jones; Victim/Witness Advocate Roger Dickerson; Victim/Witness Service Coordinators Katina Adams-Washington, LaJune Thames, and Maenylie Watson, and Criminal Investigations Unit Special Agent Nelson Rhone.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Sellinger and Sara Hanson, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District of Columbia Man Sentenced to 10-Year Prison Term for Role in Series of Armed Robberies in Fall 2020Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mekhi Truesdale, 20, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in a series of armed robberies that took place during the fall of 2020 in Northwest Washington.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, Christopher Stock, Acting Chief of the U.S. Park Police, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Truesdale pleaded guilty in August 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia., to two counts of armed robbery. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence of eight to 10 years in prison, consistent with the Court’s voluntary sentencing guidelines. The Honorable Michael O’Keefe accepted the plea and sentenced Truesdale accordingly yesterday. Following his prison term, Truesdale will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to plea documents, on Oct. 22, 2020, at approximately 9:45 p.m., a woman was walking in the area of Belt Road and Harrison Street NW when Truesdale and an accomplice approached her. Truesdale told the woman he had a gun and demanded her cellphone and phone passcode. He lifted his sweatshirt to reveal a black semi-automatic handgun. The woman handed over her cellphone, passcode, and wallet. About 45 minutes later, the cellphone was used to transfer $500 to Truesdale via a Venmo account. The next morning, an unsuccessful attempt was made to transfer more than $12,000 to various Venmo accounts held by Truesdale and others.
Another robbery took place on Nov. 1, 2020. At approximately 1:05 a.m., a man and woman were getting into a vehicle that was parked in the 1400 block of 22nd Street NW. Truesdale and an accomplice approached them and demanded their cellphones, phone passcodes, wallets, and keys. The accomplice pointed a silver revolver, and the man and woman turned over their cellphone, wallets, and keys. The woman also turned over her Apple AirPods. Truesdale and the accomplice then ordered the man and woman to get into the car, which they locked using the stolen car keys. They then fled. Less than 15 minutes later, $20 was transferred from one of the victims’ accounts and an attempt was made to transfer another $50.
Three others pleaded guilty on July 13, 2022, to charges in the investigation:
-- William Bell, 20, of Washington, D.C. Bell pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of attempted robbery for two hold-ups on Oct. 17, 2020, and Oct. 21, 2020. The first took place near the intersection of 22nd Street and Virginia Avenue NW, and the second in the area of the 1200 block of W Street NW. He was sentenced yesterday to 54 months in prison, with all but two years suspended on the condition that he successfully complete three years of supervised probation.
-- Dave Harding, 20 of Washington, D.C. Harding pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of robbery, for two hold-ups, both on Oct. 31, 2020, including one at Fort Reno Park and another in the 3100 block of P Street NW. He was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
-- Jada Winder, 20, of Greenbelt, Maryland. She pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving stolen property involving the transfers from victims’ accounts. She was sentenced in August 2022 to 360 days of incarceration, but all of that time was suspended on the condition she successfully complete one year of supervised probation.
Truesdale was arrested in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 5, 2020, following a foot chase in the Georgetown area. Bell was arrested Nov. 30, 2021, in San Luis Obispo, Calif., by the U.S. Marshals Service. Harding was arrested on April 8, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Winder was arrested in Greenbelt on Nov. 24, 2021.
This case was investigated by MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force, and the U.S. Park Police. Valuable assistance was provided by the Metro Transit Police Department and the Montgomery County, Md., Police Department.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Acting Chief Stock, and Chief Contee expressed appreciation for the work of those investigating the case from MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, and USPP, as well as for the assistance of the Deputy U.S. Marshals involved in locating the defendants. They also acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Alesha Matthews Yette.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Gold and Charles R. Jones, who investigated and prosecuted the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, who investigated the case prior to indictment.
District of Columbia Man Charged with Obstruction of Justice for Illegally Recording and Publishing Grand Jury ProceedingsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A criminal complaint was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging a Washington, D.C. man with contempt and obstruction of justice under federal and District of Columbia law, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Alexander Hamilton, 28, was arrested today and made his initial appearance this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was released on personal recognizance, with restrictions on social media use, pending a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 11, 2023.
According to an affidavit in support of the complaint, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) observed a public Instagram account with approximately 10,400 followers posting multiple videos, with sound, that recorded the proceedings within the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Grand Jury room located at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Personnel from the U.S. Attorney’s office recognized the individual in the video as Hamilton, a grand juror. During a consensual interview with law enforcement, Hamilton admitted to recording grand jury proceedings and posting them to his Instagram Story. Hamilton indicated that he filmed the proceedings using one of two phones that he owns. A forensic extraction of Hamilton’s phone identified videos of live grand jury testimony. Hamilton also sent dozens of messages via text message and Instagram sharing the videos or discussing his grand jury service. Additionally, Hamilton demonstrated an awareness in numerous messages that he is not permitted to have his cellphone in the room during presentations before the grand jury.
Hamilton had been sworn in as a grand juror on Sept. 9, 2022. During orientation, he took an oath to, among other things, keep secret the information learned during grand jury service. A video taken on Hamilton’s phone on Sept. 9, 2022, depicts Hamilton recording himself (i.e., a selfie). Specifically, the video shows him standing with his right hand raised as the oath described above was read to him aloud. In the video, Hamilton looks down at the phone and states, “I’m about to lie.”
All grand jurors are instructed that grand jury proceedings are secret and must remain secret permanently unless and until the Court determines that the proceedings or a portion of them should be revealed in the interest of justice. Grand jurors are admonished to preserve the secrecy of the proceedings by abstaining from communicating with family, friends, representatives of the news media or any other person concerning that which transpires in the grand jury room. Moreover, grand jurors are required to place their phones and any other potential recording devices into lockers located in the lobby of the U.S. Attorney’s Office prior to proceeding to the grand jury rooms.
Charges in criminal complaints are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The contempt charge is a federal offense, and the obstruction charge is a District of Columbia offense. If convicted of any offense, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court based on the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is being investigated by the Criminal Investigations Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistance was provided by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by the Federal Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder While Armed in Triple Homicide in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rakeem Willis, 31, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of charges stemming from the fatal shooting of three men, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The verdict was returned on Nov. 16, 2022, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The jury found Willis guilty of three counts of first-degree murder while armed and fleeing law enforcement. The Honorable J. Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for Feb. 10, 2023.
According to the government’s evidence, on Jan. 26, 2019, at approximately 10 p.m., Willis lured the three victims -- Sean Shuler, 26, Javon Abney, 26, and Tyrik Hagood, 24 -- to a quiet, dead-end street in the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place SE, where they were shot numerous times by gunmen. The three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. A stolen Lexus sedan used in the murders was later found burning just across the Maryland state line off of I-295.
Willis was arrested on June 11, 2019, after a vehicle pursuit, and has been in custody since that time.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team. They acknowledged the efforts of those who provided assistance in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Chrisellen Kolb, Chief of the Appellate Division; Lindsey Merikas, Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section; Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels; Lead Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Victim/Witness Coordinators LaJune Thames and Maenylie Watson; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Ariel Dean, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Former Metro Transit Police Officer Found Guilty of Civil Rights Violation for Using Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A jury in the District of Columbia found former D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer Andra Vance, 48, guilty today of a civil rights violation for his unlawful beating of an unarmed transit rider with a metal baton without legal justification on Feb. 16, 2018.
In 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned a two-count indictment alleging that Vance violated the civil rights of a victim identified in court documents as “D.C.” by striking and then choking D.C. with a metal baton. Vance was found guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of one count of deprivation of rights involving the beating and acquitted of the second charge alleging the choking.
During the week-long trial, the government introduced evidence that the victim, D.C., attempted to use an invalid Metro card to board a train at the Anacostia Metro station. When the card was confiscated by Metro Transit personnel, D.C. became angry. As D.C. complained to Vance, Vance used his metal baton to hit D.C. in the head. As D.C. fled, Vance chased D.C. from the Metro station and continued striking D.C. in the head and neck area. D.C. fell to the ground and Vance climbed on top of D.C., put the metal baton to his neck, and pressed down as D.C. bled onto the sidewalk below. A fellow officer helped to handcuff D.C. and was present when medical personnel responded to treat D.C. for his injuries. At least one fellow officer who witnessed the assault testified that D.C. was not a threat to Vance or anyone else at the Anacostia Metro station.
“People in the District of Columbia have the right to be free from excessive force at the hands of law enforcement, and that includes transit officers working for the D.C. Metro,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of our community members.”
“As members of law enforcement, it is our sworn duty to uphold the law,” said Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “A crime like this betrays that duty and the badge with which the defendant was entrusted. When officers violate the civil rights of District citizens through unreasonable and unjustified violence, we will hold them accountable.”
“Our commitment to transparency is key in our efforts to support and build trust with the communities we serve,” said Chief Michael Anzallo of the Metro Transit Police Department. “We value our partner agencies and appreciate the opportunity to hold this former officer accountable for his actions.”
Sentencing has been set for March 10, 2023. Vance faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Graves, and Chief Anzallo made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Maura White of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gauri Gopal for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Found Guilty of Charges for Assaulting Law Enforcement Officers During 2020 DemonstrationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Maryland man has been found guilty by a jury of assaulting two police officers during a demonstration that took place in December 2020 in downtown Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Michael Patschak, 31, of Frederick, Maryland, was found guilty on Nov. 10, 2022, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of two counts of assaulting a police officer and one count of robbery. He is to be sentenced on Jan. 20, 2023, by the Honorable Jason Park.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, Patschak attended a demonstration at 16th and I Streets NW on Dec. 12, 2020. He was wearing a black military-style helmet, ski goggles, and a backpack with a camera mounted upon it. Amidst the chaos of the demonstration, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department conducted several arrests of protesters who were assaulting officers and other demonstrators. At approximately 4:30 p.m., Patschak observed police officers making an arrest, and he injected himself into the confrontation by shoving the main arresting officer. A fight ensued between Patschak and the police officer, and Patschak ripped the Body-Worn Camera (BWC) from the officer’s chest. The camera fell to the ground, and Patschak quickly snatched it up and put it in his pocket.
Several minutes later, Patschak approached a retreating police line, raising a middle finger and throwing water at the officers. Another MPD officer moved in to arrest Patschak, but Patshak resisted by punching the officer in the head several times. Eventually, officers were able to detain Patschak. During a search at the time of the arrest of Patschak, officers discovered the officer’s still-recording BWC in Patschak’s backpack.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty on all charges in an indictment.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua L. Hall and Alec Levy of the Case Initiation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chip Willoughby, Paralegal Specialists Tonya Queen and Theresa Nelson, and Litigation Technology Specialist Maisha Treadwell.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Assaulting Family with Handgun and AR-15 RifleRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donald Willis, 50, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for assaulting multiple family members attending a housewarming party with an AR-15 rifle and handgun, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Willis pleaded guilty in July 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced by the Honorable William W. Nooter. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of Nov. 26, 2021, Willis attended a housewarming party in the 2300 block of Chester Street SE with numerous people, including children. Over the course of the evening, Willis got into an argument with another attendee. In the early morning hours of Nov. 27, 2021, after a brief physical altercation outside the residence, Willis retreated to his car and retrieved a handgun. Willis then fired one round at the home while guests filtered back inside. Armed with the handgun, Willis entered the home and began waving it around and threatening to kill everyone inside. Two house guests, including a 15-year-old boy, wrestled the handgun away from Willis. The juvenile then brought the handgun to his room in the basement.
Willis returned to his vehicle and retrieved an AR-15 rifle. Willis then fired the weapon as he walked back towards the home. Once back in the residence, Willis found the 15-year-old boy and pointed the AR-15 at him as he demanded the return of his handgun. Willis then made his way upstairs, where he pointed the AR-15 at three additional houseguests who were hiding in a closet. Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department arrived on the scene and observed Willis leaving the home with the AR-15 in his hands. Officers gave several commands to drop the gun, but Willis ignored their commands and continued to walk toward his vehicle. Officers fired several shots as Willis dropped the AR-15 in the street and fled from the scene in his vehicle. While fleeing, Willis struck a police car before abandoning his vehicle and fleeing on foot. Willis was arrested on Nov. 27, 2021. He has remained in custody ever since. No one was injured by the shots that Willis fired.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee 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 Robert Platt, Danielle White, and Yasmin Emrani.
District Man Sentenced to 10-Year Prison Term for Armed Robbery and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon of a Senior Citizen in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –James Clark, Jr., 43, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 10-year prison term for an early evening armed robbery and assault of a senior citizen in the Columbia Heights area of Northwest Washington last New Year’s Eve, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Clark was found guilty by a jury in August 2022 of robbery while armed of a senior citizen, assault with a dangerous weapon of a senior citizen, and related firearms offenses. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before Judge Michael O’Keefe, who also sentenced the defendant. Following his prison term, Clark will be placed on a period of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2021, the victim, 77, tried to go into a market at 14th Street and Spring Road NW, but it had closed early on New Year’s Eve. Clark approached the victim, cornered him, and assaulted, threatened, and robbed him at gunpoint as the victim lay on the ground.
Clark was identified from surveillance footage of the robbery and a nearby convenience store. He was arrested on an arrest warrant in April 2022. He has been in custody since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee 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 former Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Braskich, Paralegal Specialist Debra McPherson and Kelly Brown, Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Litigation Technology Specialists Charlie Bruce and Ron Royal.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Prins and Colin Cloherty, who investigated and prosecuted the case.