District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
District of Columbia Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in 2017 Shooting in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia man has been found guilty of first-degree (felony) murder while armed, with aggravating circumstances, and attempted robbery while armed in a 2017 shooting in Southeast Washington that led to the death of a swim coach.
Christopher Green, 36, also known as “Twin,” was found guilty on Dec. 2, 2021, following a month-long trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In addition to the murder charge, Green was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and attempted robbery while armed. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on federal racketeering and other charges.
The guilty verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Malik Aziz, Chief of the Prince George’s County, Maryland Police.
According to the government’s evidence, Green was a core member of a criminal organization that operated in the District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Maryland, and elsewhere, primarily making money through a series of armed robberies.
The jury found Green found guilty of murder in a shooting in Southeast Washington on April 9, 2017, that later led to the death of Zaan Scott, 25. Mr. Scott, a coach at the Eastern Market pool, was on his way home from swim lessons when Green intended to rob him at approximately 9:05 p.m. Mr. Scott died on May 17, 2017, of a blood clot that the medical examiner determined was a result of the shooting. Green also was found guilty of firing gunshots at another victim on Feb. 23, 2017.
Green has been detained since his arrest in April 2017.
The Honorable Randolph D. Moss scheduled sentencing for March 25, 2022.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Chief Contee, and Chief Aziz commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department.
They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen D’Angelo; former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth F. Whitted and Richard Barker; Paralegal Supervisor Mary Downing; Paralegal Specialists Candace Battle and Lornce Applewhite; Legal Assistant Latoya Wade; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Technology Specialist Paul Howell, and Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker.
Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Liebman and Nihar R. Mohanty, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Two District Men Charged in 98-Count Indictment for Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, Armed Kidnapping, and FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mekhi Truesdale, 19, and William Bell, 19, both of Washington, D.C., have been indicted on 98 charges, including conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed kidnapping, and fraud, for a series of armed robberies that took place during the fall of 2020 in Northwest Washington. A third individual, Jada Winder, 19, of Greenbelt, Md., was also indicted on fraud and receiving stolen property charges.
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, Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the U.S. Park Police, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The indictment was returned on Nov. 5, 2021. Bell was arrested yesterday in San Luis Obispo, Calif., by the U.S. Marshals Service. Winder was arrested in Greenbelt by the U.S. Marshals on Nov. 24, 2021. Truesdale was arrested in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 5, 2020, following a foot chase in the Georgetown area. Truesdale and Bell remain detained pending further court proceedings, and all three defendants are to appear for a hearing on Dec. 10, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The indictment follows an investigation by MPD, FBI, and the U.S. Park Police into a series of armed robbery‑related incidents that occurred in the District of Columbia and Maryland in October and November 2020. According to the government’s evidence, between Oct. 17 and Nov. 1, 2020, Truesdale and Bell robbed at least 20 people at gunpoint or knifepoint across Northwest Washington. Three of the victims were kidnapped and forced into a vehicle before or after they were robbed. Following many of the incidents, Truesdale and Bell used mobile applications such as Venmo and Cash App to transfer funds from the victims to themselves and, on at least two occasions, to Winder.
The indictment details a series of 11 armed robberies committed between Oct. 17, 2020 and Nov. 1, 2020, at various locations in Northwest Washington. Two took place at Fort Reno Park. In one stretch of approximately four hours, late Oct. 31, 2020, and early Nov. 1, 2020, Truesdale and Bell allegedly committed four robberies, at four different locations: Fort Reno Park, the 3100 block of P Street NW, the 1400 block of 22d Street NW, and the 2400 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW. These four robberies involved a total of nine victims.
Truesdale and Bell are charged with a number of offenses related to the series of crimes, including conspiracy to commit a crime of violence and 95 counts of armed robbery, armed kidnapping, assault with intent to rob, assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, as well as various fraud offenses. Winder is charged with two counts of first-degree felony fraud and two counts of receiving stolen property.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being 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 charges, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Chief Smith, and Chief Contee expressed appreciation for the work of those investigating the case from MPD, the FBI Washington Field Office, and U.S. Park Police, 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 are investigating and prosecuting the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, who investigated the case prior to indictment.
Maryland Woman Sentenced for Paying More than $6,500 in Bribes to Metropolitan Police Department EmployeeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michelle Cage, 46, of Temple Hills, Md., was sentenced today to five years of probation, including six months of home confinement, for paying more than $6,500 in bribes to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) employee in exchange for personal identifying information of traffic crash victims.
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, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Cage pleaded guilty in November 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of bribery of a public official. She was sentenced by the Honorable Emmett G. Sullivan. While on probation, Cage must complete 100 hours of community service.
According to the government’s evidence, dating back to at least 2012, Cage worked, in return for referral fees, to connect people in need of legal representation or medical services with providers of those services. In 2017, Cage started MC Referrals and Marketing L.L.C. to provide these referral services. To identify potential clients, Cage obtained from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Traffic Accident Reports, or “PD Form 10s,” which contained the names and contact information of individuals involved in traffic accidents.
Beginning in 2015, however, MPD General Order 401.03 limited the distribution of these reports to individuals involved in traffic accidents and their representatives. Cage admitted that, beginning at that time and continuing into 2017, she paid cash bribes in the amount of $50 to $200 per week to a clerk in MPD’s First District station, to influence the clerk to violate the General Order and provide Cage with the confidential reports, which Cage used to contact and solicit potential clients. Cage admitted that she paid the clerk at least $6,500 in bribes.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and MPD’s Internal Affairs Division. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Fraud Section, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein and Veronica Sanchez.
District Clergy Member Found Guilty of Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse of Adult ParishionerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Urbano Vazquez, 49, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday of sexually abusing an adult woman while he was employed as a priest in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Vazquez was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse. The Honorable Juliet McKenna returned the verdict following a one-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The case proceeded immediately to sentencing and, after hearing a victim impact statement, Judge McKenna sentenced the defendant to 180 days of incarceration, the maximum sentence. The time is to be served consecutive to the 15-year sentence he is already serving on four felony counts of child sexual abuse, of which he was convicted in 2019.
The government’s evidence established that in approximately April 2017, during a confession in a room in the parish rectory building at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, in Northwest Washington, Vazquez twice touched the adult parishioner’s breast, over her sweater, without her consent. He had previously made comments about her appearance and marital status. Following the assault, the adult parishioner immediately disclosed what happened to her mother, who encouraged her to stay away from Vazquez. In 2018, when reports came out that the defendant was accused of sexually molesting child parishioners, the woman disclosed the abuse to another priest at the church who notified law enforcement.
Vazquez was indicted on this charge when he was indicted on the child sexual abuse counts. The cases involving the child victims and the adult proceeded separately. In August 2019, a jury found Vazquez guilty of committing four counts of child sexual abuse against two children in his parish from 2015 to 2017. He was sentenced in that case to 15 years in prison.
In announcing the verdict and sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Forensic Sciences Leica Team. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Program Specialist Lezlie Richardson, former Victim/Witness Program Specialist Juanita Harris, and intern David Offit. They expressed appreciation for the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathleen Houck and Sharon Marcus-Kurn, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Williams, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
*
In October 2018, the Superior Court Division’s Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section and the Victim Witness Assistance Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia launched a hotline and e-mail address for survivors to report child sexual abuse by clergy.
Survivors of sexual abuse by a clergy member that took place in a house of worship, school, or other location in the District of Columbia can call the Clergy Abuse English and Spanish Reporting Line at 202-252-7008 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Survivors can access further information by visiting the following website: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/victim-witness-assistance/report-clergy- abuse.
All reports will be reviewed and a team of experienced criminal investigators, prosecutors, and victim advocates from the Superior Court Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will determine whether any criminal charges can be brought or victim services provided. The victim advocates, who are part of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit, are available to offer support and guidance to survivors who wish to report.
Depending on the nature of the report, some information may be referred to law enforcement or the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.
Individuals in need of police assistance or wishing to report any other criminal activity or sexual assault or abuse should call 911.
District of Columbia Man and Maryland Woman Indicted on Federal Charges in Real Estate SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two people have been indicted on federal charges stemming from a scheme in which they allegedly used fraudulent property deeds to steal residential real estate property in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division. All told, the indictment alleges, the scheme generated more than $500,000 in illegal proceeds.
Jeffrey M. Young-Bey, 65, of Washington, D.C., and Martina Yolanda Jones, 44, of Baltimore, Md., were indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury on one count each of conspiracy, mail fraud, and money laundering. Young-Bey was indicted on an additional count of mail fraud, an additional count of money laundering, and five counts of aggravated identity theft.
Young-Bey was arrested on Nov. 22, 2021, and Jones was arrested on Nov. 27, 2021. Both have made their initial appearances in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
As alleged in the indictment, beginning at least as early as November 2019, Young-Bey and Jones conspired to steal real estate and obtain a loan against the property or sell the property for profit. Specifically, the indictment states, Young-Bey identified a target property located in the District of Columbia. Young-Bey then prepared a fraudulent property deed, including forged signatures of the true owners. Young-Bey filed the deed with the District of Columbia Recorder of Deeds, transferring the title from the true owners to a corporate entity controlled by Young-Bey or Jones. The residential real estate property was then encumbered or sold through means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
As a result of the scheme, the indictment alleges, Jones and Young-Bey obtained $323,224 from a fraudulent loan taken out on one property.
In addition, according to the indictment, Young-Bey received $268,036 from the sale of a second property in the District of Columbia that he allegedly stole and sold through the same scheme. With these fraudulent proceeds, the indictment alleges, Young-Bey purchased a 2020 BMW 750XI worth over $106,000 and a 2016 BMW 328XI worth over $21,000.
In connection with Young-Bey’s activity, the Government has seized $269,239, as well as the 2020 BMW 750XI.
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.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Viviana Vasiu, both from the Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 30-Month Prison Term for Scam Involving Fake Sales of PuppiesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Maryland man who advertised the sale of pit bull puppies on various websites was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for a scheme in which he generated at least $158,000 in money transfers from more than 100 victims who never got the dogs.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington, D.C.
Fonjeck Eric Azoh, 42, of Mount Rainier, Md., pleaded guilty in August 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of wire fraud. He was sentenced by the Honorable Carl J. Nichols. In addition to the prison term, Azoh was ordered to pay $158,000 in restitution. He also must forfeit $67,000 seized by law enforcement during the investigation and pay an additional $92,000 forfeiture money judgment.
According to the government’s evidence, between January 2019 and October 2020, Azoh offered the pit bull puppies, using various websites. He agreed to sell these puppies to victims living throughout the United States even though he never intended to provide them. Azoh directed victims to send money to him through money transfer businesses, which he then collected at retail stores and elsewhere. Throughout the scheme, Azoh collected at least $158,000 from at least 119 victims who lived in 40 different states.
Azoh was arrested in January 2021 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Agent in Charge Villanueva commended the work of those who investigated the case from HSI. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Borchert, who prosecuted the case.
Former Executive Director of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Husband Sentenced to Prison Terms for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jeanine Henderson Arnett, 44, the former Executive Director of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and her husband, Diallo Arnett, 47, have been sentenced to prison terms on bank fraud charges stemming from her embezzlement of more than $228,000.
The Arnetts, of Purcelville, VA., pleaded guilty in April 2021 and were sentenced on Nov. 23, 2021, by the Honorable Randolph D. Moss in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Jeanine Henderson Arnett was sentenced to 16 months in prison and Diallo Arnett was sentenced to 12 months and a day. Upon completion of their prison terms, they will be placed on five years of supervised release. They also must pay $228,357 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
According to the statements of offense submitted to the Court at the time of their guilty pleas, Jeanine Henderson Arnett was employed as the Executive Director of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a charitable organization located in the District of Columbia. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has a long history of community service and partners with programs and other charitable organizations to address issues such as food insecurity, domestic violence, and educational needs for students.
Jeanine Henderson Arnett and Diallo Arnett admitted that, between approximately Oct. 3, 2017 and Sept. 15, 2019, she misappropriated more than $228,000 from Delta Sigma Thetas’s bank accounts through, among other things, ACH money transfers and credit card transactions. This included unauthorized and fraudulent charges for personal items and expenses at, among other places, Amazon, Avis Rent a Car, Century Twenty-One, Coach, GEICO, and T-Mobile. In addition, the Arnetts used the Square Cash App to make nine transactions to transfer $14,162.50 to their account.
Delta Sigma Theta terminated Jeanine Henderson’s employment in August 2019 and discovered financial irregularities a month later. A criminal investigation followed.
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 Washington Field Office. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rothstein and David Kent, who investigated and prosecuted the matter, and the assistance provided by former Paralegal Specialist Angeline Thekkumthala.
Licensed Attorney Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Medicaid in Scheme Involving Personal Care ServicesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Susan Engonwei Tingwei, 44, of Silver Spring, Md., a licensed attorney, pleaded guilty today to defrauding the D.C. Medicaid program out of more than $100,000 in a scheme involving false claims about personal care services.
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.
Tingwei pleaded guilty to health care fraud, which carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Tingwei faces a likely recommended sentence of between 10 and 16 months in prison and potential financial penalties. She has agreed to pay $131,656.12 in restitution. The Honorable Carl J. Nichols scheduled sentencing for Feb. 22, 2022.
In court documents, Tingwei admitted that at various times between 2016 and 2018, she was employed by two different home health agencies in the District of Columbia. The home health agencies employed her to assist D.C. Medicaid beneficiaries in performing activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating.
Tingwei was supposed to document the care that she provided to Medicaid beneficiaries on timesheets and then submit the timesheets to the home health agencies, which would in turn bill Medicaid for the services that she rendered. As part of her guilty plea, Tingwei admitted that she submitted false timesheets claiming to provide services that she did not actually render.
Tingwei earned her Master of Laws degree from the University of Maryland in May 2017. She was admitted to the New York state bar in February 2018.
On 118 occasions between August 2016 and May 2017, Tingwei submitted timesheets claiming that she worked as a personal care aide in Washington, D.C., during the same hours when she either was scheduled to attend law school classes in Baltimore, or when she should have been traveling to or from Baltimore related to her law school program. For example, Tingwei submitted timesheets claiming that she provided services to two beneficiaries on April 13, 2017, one from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the other from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Records show Tingwei’s key card swiping in at the University of Maryland’s law school campus at 5:30 p.m. and swiping out at 9:29 p.m. Cell phone records also showed her cell phone being in Baltimore between 8:03 a.m. and 9:31 p.m. that day.
Tingwei admitted that her fraud scheme began no later than August 2016 and continued through September 2018. She acknowledged successfully defrauding the D.C. Medicaid program out of $131,656.
The FBI, the U.S. 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.
Tingwei is the eleventh former personal care aide since August 2018 to plead guilty to defrauding Medicaid in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Six of those aides were sentenced to 13 months in prison; a seventh was sentenced to serve 15 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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Simmonds, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Michon Tart and former Paralegal Specialists Angeline Thekkumthala and Brittany Phillips.
D.C. Woman Indicted for Scheme to Steal More Than $400,000 in Government Benefit FundsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia woman has been charged in a 35-count indictment with carrying out a scheme to steal more than $400,000 in government benefit funds provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) for the care and benefit of government beneficiaries.
Rosemary Ogbenna, 45, was arrested yesterday, following her indictment in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The indictment was unsealed yesterday. She was released following her initial court appearance and is to be arraigned on Nov. 30, 2021.
The indictment was announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA); Kim Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Field Office, and Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
According to the indictment, Ogbenna perpetrated a scheme in which she obtained and used SSA and VA benefit funds – which were intended for the care of elderly, mentally ill, disabled, and veteran beneficiaries – for her own personal use and benefit. The indictment alleges that Ogbenna stole more than $400,000 in government benefits funds intended for the benefit of others who had been tenants of her rooming house business.
The Social Security Administration administers benefit programs under federal law, including the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (“OASDI”) program, which provides monthly benefit funds to qualified retired and disabled workers and their dependents and to survivors of insured workers. Eligibility and benefit amounts under this program are determined by a worker’s contributions to Social Security. Under another program, qualifying individuals Disabled (“SSI”) and related programs.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs serves the needs of American veterans, including providing monthly government benefit funds through its Veterans Benefits Administration.
As alleged in the indictment, Ogbenna carried out a scheme from at least March 19, 2009 through on or about Feb. 23, 2020, in which she obtained and maintained control over SSA benefit funds for some tenants of her rooming house business by becoming the Representative Payee of their SSA benefit funds. Although a Representative Payee has a duty to use SSA benefits solely on behalf of the beneficiary, the indictment alleges that Ogbenna used a portion of those funds for her own personal use and benefit.
In addition, the indictment alleges that Ogbenna also gained control over tenants’ monthly VA benefits and used a portion of those VA benefit funds for her personal use and benefit without authority. The indictment further alleged that Ogbenna made false statements to agents investigating the fraud scheme and obstructed the investigation by providing altered documents.
Ogbenna is charged with 35 counts overall, including 12 counts of mail fraud, 16 counts of wire fraud, one count of theft of government property, two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of Representative Payee fraud, one count of making a false statement, one count of tampering with documents, and one count of first-degree theft. If convicted, Ogbenna faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of mail fraud, wire fraud or tampering with documents, ten years in prison for the counts of theft of government property or first-degree theft, two years in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft, to run consecutive to any sentence for wire fraud, and five years in prison for the count of Representative Payee fraud.
The indictment includes a notification of the United States’ intent to seek the forfeiture of any proceeds Ogbenna received as a result of the fraud scheme and theft of government property. If convicted of any of the charges, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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.
This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, of the Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, is prosecuting the case, supported by Financial Analyst Bryan Snitselaar and Paralegal Specialists Chad Byron and Mariela Andrade.
Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals.
The District of Columbia government and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were awarded $3,125,00.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Public safety is our highest priority at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “Our law enforcement partners show enormous dedication each and every day and we are pleased to support their mission through this grants program. By working with them and our community, we hope to make our neighborhoods more secure.”
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Two Men Indicted on Drug Distribution Charges Following Investigation of Fentanyl SalesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two men, both from Washington, D.C., have been indicted on federal charges following an investigation by federal and local law enforcement agencies into a drug operation that was selling Fentanyl and heroin in the Ivy City area of Northeast Washington.
Nathaniel Scruggs, 37, and Andrew Cooper, 46, were arrested on Nov. 10, 2021, and remain detained following hearings this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Scruggs is charged with six counts of unlawful distribution of Fentanyl and heroin, and, in a separate indictment, Cooper is charged with five counts of Fentanyl distribution. Both men are to appear Nov. 22, 2021, for a status hearing before the Honorable Amit P. Mehta.
The indictments were announced today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Division Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Kevin Davis, Chief of the Fairfax County, Va. Police.
The arrests followed an investigation into drug sales that allegedly were taking place near the defendants’ two residences in the 1900 block of Capitol Avenue NE. According to court documents, the joint law enforcement investigation began last spring after the defendants were linked to drug sales and pending overdose investigations by the Fairfax County Police Department. As noted by the DEA, because of its potency and low cost, drug dealers nationally have been mixing Fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, increasing the likelihood of a fatal interaction.
At the time of the arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants at the defendants’ residences. According to court documents, law enforcement seized more than 400 grams of suspected Fentanyl and other drugs from Cooper’s residence, along with counterfeit OxyContin pills that were actually Fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs, approximately $74,430 of bundled cash, three cell phones, and a firearm. From Scruggs’s residence, agents seized $1,200 in cash and four cell phones, according to the court filings.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the Washington Division Office of the DEA, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Fairfax County, Va. Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Henek, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
D.C. Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for Carrying Out Tax SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Yohanness Ayechew, 49, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 14 months in prison for aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return and causing at least $250,000 of loss to the Internal Revenue Service.
The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Darrell J. Waldon, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Washington Field Office.
Ayechew pleaded guilty in August 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. The judge also ordered him to pay restitution to the IRS as well as a $10,000 fine.
According to court documents, Ayechew, a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia, operated Endalk and Yohannes Associated, L.P. with a business partner, Endalkachew Asfaw, in the District of Columbia since 2011. From 2016 through 2019, Ayechew and Asfaw prepared approximately 10,000 tax returns.
According to court documents, Ayechew knowingly aided and assisted in the preparation of false income tax returns for years 2014 through 2017 on behalf of his clients. Ayechew did this by deliberately overstating unreimbursed employee business expenses on his clients’ Schedule A deductions, including uniforms and unreimbursed mileage expenses. As part of his plea, Ayechew also admitted to creating fraudulent Schedule C expenses and deducting exemptions for individuals that his clients were not entitled to claim. Ayechew admitted to fabricating these items to generate larger tax refunds for his clients.
As part of his plea, Ayechew admitted that he filed false tax returns resulting in a total tax loss of more than $250,000 to the U.S. government.
Asfaw, 38, of Alexandria, Va., also pleaded guilty in August 2021. Judge Bates sentenced Asfaw today to three years of probation, including a year to be spent on home detention. He also was ordered to pay restitution to the IRS.
In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Graves and Special Agent in Charge Waldon commended the work IRS Criminal Investigation, Washington Field Office, which investigated the case. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Mariela Andrade and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Goemaat, who prosecuted the matter.
Former Government Employee Sentenced to 17-Month Prison Term for Concealing Information During Application ProcessRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Chance Barrow, 32, of Lusby, Md., was sentenced today to 17 months in prison for concealing material information when he successfully applied to become a federal law enforcement officer, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
Barrow was found guilty by a jury in June 2021 of two counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a scheme to conceal material facts. The verdict followed a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Barrow to pay $77,000 in restitution. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, beginning in May 2018, Barrow perpetrated schemes to conceal and to defraud when he initiated and progressed through the application process for a law enforcement position with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Inspector General for Tax Administration. (TIGTA). In particular, at every point at which he was required to disclose the circumstances of his departure from his previous law enforcement position with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command, he failed to state that he resigned before he was fired. He also hid the fact that, at the time of the application, he was under criminal investigation; no charges ultimately were filed in that investigation.
As a result of Barrow’s actions, according to the evidence at trial, he was hired by TIGTA and drew a federal salary. Several months after he started work, in July 2019, investigating other people for crimes of fraud, his misrepresentations came to light.
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth A. Aloi and Amanda R. Vaughn, and assistance was provided by Paralegal Specialist Quiana Dunn-Gordon.
Stephen K. Bannon Indicted for Contempt of CongressRead the Press Release
Stephen K. Bannon was indicted today by a federal grand jury on two counts of contempt of Congress stemming from his failure to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Bannon, 67, is charged with one contempt count involving his refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce documents, despite a subpoena from the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol. An arraignment date has not yet been set in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Since my first day in office, I have promised Justice Department employees that together we would show the American people by word and deed that the department adheres to the rule of law, follows the facts and the law and pursues equal justice under the law,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s charges reflect the department’s steadfast commitment to these principles.”
“As detailed in the indictment, on Sept. 23, 2021, the Select Committee issued a subpoena to Mr. Bannon,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “The subpoena required him to appear and produce documents to the Select Committee, and to appear for a deposition before the Select Committee. According to the indictment, Mr. Bannon refused to appear to give testimony as required by subpoena and refused to produce documents in compliance with a subpoena.”
In its subpoena, the Select Committee said it had reason to believe that Bannon had information relevant to understanding events related to Jan. 6. Bannon, formerly a Chief Strategist and Counselor to the President, has been a private citizen since departing the White House in 2017.
Each count of contempt of Congress carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, as well as a fine of $100 to $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by 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.
Stephen K. Bannon Indicted for Contempt of CongressRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stephen K. Bannon was indicted today by a federal grand jury on two counts of contempt of Congress stemming from his failure to comply with a subpoena issued by the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 breach of the United States Capitol.
Bannon, 67, is charged with one contempt count involving his refusal to appear for a deposition and another involving his refusal to produce documents, despite a subpoena from the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. An arraignment date has not yet been set in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Since my first day in office, I have promised Justice Department employees that together we would show the American people by word and deed that the Department adheres to the rule of law, follows the facts and the law, and pursues equal justice under the law,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Today’s charges reflect the Department’s steadfast commitment to these principles.”
“As detailed in the indictment, on Sept. 23, 2021, the Select Committee issued a subpoena to Mr. Bannon,” said Matthew M. Graves, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. “The subpoena required him to appear and produce documents to the Select Committee, and to appear for a deposition before the Select Committee. According to the indictment, Mr. Bannon refused to appear to give testimony as required by subpoena and refused to produce documents in compliance with a subpoena.”
In its subpoena, the Select Committee said it had reason to believe that Bannon had information relevant to understanding events related to Jan. 6. Bannon, formerly a Chief Strategist and Counselor to the President, has been a private citizen since departing the White House in 2017.
Each count of contempt of Congress carries a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of one year in jail, as well as a fine of $100 to $100,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by 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.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Killing Man in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Joshua Young, 21, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man earlier this year in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Young pleaded guilty in August 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. He was sentenced by the Honorable Yvonne M. Williams. Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Young did not know the victim, Walter Rogers. In the early morning hours of Feb. 21, 2021, Young was riding a bike south on Minnesota Avenue NE while the victim, Mr. Rogers, was traveling north on the same sidewalk. After the two passed, Young dismounted his bike, tackled Mr. Rogers to the ground, and then stabbed him while Mr. Rogers was laying on his back on the sidewalk. After the stabbing, Young left Mr. Rogers on the sidewalk and continued riding his bike home. The Metropolitan Police Department responded minutes later at approximately 8:25 a.m., and Mr. Rogers, 50, was pronounced dead a hospital a short time later.
Young was arrested on March 1, 2021 and 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 assistance provided by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, Litigation Technology Specialist Aisha Keys, and Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Lonnie Leroy Coffman, 71, of Falkville, Alabama, pleaded guilty today to federal and local firearms offenses stemming from the discovery of weapons in his pickup truck parked near the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
According to his plea agreement, Coffman traveled from Alabama to the District of Columbia several days prior to Jan. 6 and parked his red GMC Sierra pickup truck at the 300 block of First Street, SE, on the morning of Jan. 6. Less than half a mile away in the U.S. Capitol Building, a joint session of the U.S. Congress was scheduled to meet in the afternoon to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
Coffman admitted in the plea agreement that he exited the pickup truck at 9:20 a.m. and walked in the direction of the U.S. Capitol Building, and towards a rally near the National Mall. Inside the pickup truck were several loaded firearms within arms-reach of the driver’s seat, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, a crossbow with bolts, machetes, camouflage smoke devices, a stun gun and a cooler containing 11 mason jars filled with ignitable ingredients for Molotov cocktail incendiary weapons. Coffman also carried a loaded handgun and a loaded revolver as he walked around the area that day. A search of Coffman’s residence in Alabama later that month led to the discovery of 12 additional mason jars containing ignitable substances, each constituting the component parts of Molotov cocktails.
Coffman did not have a license to carry a pistol in the District of Columbia and had not registered any firearms or destructive devices in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
Coffman has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 6.
Coffman pleaded guilty in two separate criminal cases, one brought in the District of Columbia on Jan. 6, and the other brought in the Northern District of Alabama and transferred to the District of Columbia for purposes of plea and sentencing. Coffman pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, a federal offense, regarding the component parts of Molotov cocktails discovered in his pickup truck in Washington, D.C., and at his residence in Alabama. Coffman also pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license, a District of Columbia offense.
The Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled sentencing for April 1, 2022. Coffman faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the federal offenses and faces up to five years in prison and a $12,500 fine for the District of Columbia offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Kidnapping, Assault, and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Maryland man has been sentenced to 151 months in prison for carjacking and kidnapping a grandmother and her 13-year-old granddaughter at gunpoint in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and driving them into Southeast Washington, where he then assaulted and threatened others, including a police officer.
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, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jamal Gilmore, 34, of Mount Rainier, Md., pleaded guilty in July 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to federal charges of kidnapping and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, as well as District of Columbia charges of assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a police officer while armed. He was sentenced on Nov. 8, 2021, by the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth. Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, the chain of events began at about 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, 2020. The woman and her granddaughter were utilizing a rental moving truck on Southview Drive in Oxon Hill, Md. The woman was in the driver’s seat and the teenager in the front passenger seat. Gilmore approached the passenger side of the vehicle, brandished a semi-automatic handgun, got into the vehicle, and demanded the woman drive or he would kill her. He took her cellphone and ordered her to drive to a police station. However, she made a wrong turn and entered a parking lot in the rear of a building in the 2200 block of Southern Avenue SE. The parking lot led into a dead end, and Gilmore left the vehicle with the woman’s cellphone and the gun that he was carrying.
At this point, Gilmore jumped a fence and ran into an apartment complex on 22nd Street SE. He attempted to gain access to one of the ground-floor apartments, where three people were inside—including a 10-year-old child. He demanded someone open the door. When no one complied, he fired a gunshot through the front window of the apartment. No one was injured by the shooting. Two of the apartment’s occupants fled out the back window, and one was injured while fleeing.
Gilmore then went back outside and flagged down a police officer, banging on the rear driver’s side window of the officer’s patrol car with the handgun he was carrying. He then fled into the hallway of another nearby apartment building as other MPD officers responded to the scene. As officers arrived, he made his way to the landing between the first and second floor. He used the firearm to break the glass window on the landing, jumped out the window, and fell to the ground – still with the firearm in his hand. Gilmore was arrested on the scene and has been detained ever since.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force, in partnership with MPD and the Prince George's County Police. The task force focuses on identifying, investigating, and bringing prosecutable cases against violent offenders in the Washington, D.C. region.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Prince George’s County, Md. Police Department. Finally, they commended the efforts of Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant, Paralegal Specialist Catherine O’Neal, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel A. Fletcher, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, who prosecuted the case.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Killing Woman in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Steven M. Robinson, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fatally shooting his girlfriend at point-blank range at her apartment in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Robinson pleaded guilty in June 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz accepted the plea on Nov. 9, 2021, and sentenced Robinson accordingly. Following his prison term, Robinson will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, Robinson was in a romantic relationship with the victim, Shanika Williams. In the early morning hours of July 12, 2020, Robinson was at Ms. Williams’s apartment in the 800 block of 19th Street NE; at the time, she was alone with her three children. While inside, he quarreled with Ms. Williams, and at one point, got his gun and shot her at close range. After shooting her, he fled, leaving Ms. Williams on the floor of her apartment. The Metropolitan Police Department responded at approximately 4 a.m., and Ms. Williams, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Robinson was arrested on Feb. 5, 2021 and 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 assistance provided by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, Litigation Technology Supervisor Leif Hickling, and Paralegal Specialist LaShone Samuels. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah C. Santiago, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Maryland Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Medicaid Out of Hundreds of Thousands of DollarsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Sikirat Adunni Brown, 60, of Upper Marlboro, Md., was sentenced today to 13 months in prison for defrauding the D.C. Medicaid program out of more than $340,000.
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, 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.
Brown pleaded guilty in July, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to health care fraud. In addition to the prison term, the Honorable Dabney L. Friedrich ordered Brown to pay $343,539 in restitution and $201,645 in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to the government’s evidence, at various times between January 2014 and June 2020, Brown worked as a personal care aide for at least eight different home health agencies in the District of Columbia. The home health agencies employed her to assist D.C. Medicaid beneficiaries in performing activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, and eating.
Brown was supposed to document the care that she provided to the Medicaid beneficiaries on timesheets and then submit the timesheets to the home health agencies, which would in turn bill Medicaid for the services that she rendered. In her guilty plea, Brown acknowledged that between 2014 and 2020, she caused the D.C. Medicaid Program to issue payments totaling $343,539 for services that she did not provide. As part of her scheme, she submitted false timesheets to different home health agencies claiming that she provided 20 hours or more of personal care aide services in a given day. She also claimed to provide services when she was traveling outside the D.C. metropolitan area. She paid kickbacks during the scheme to at least one beneficiary. She also acknowledged that she claimed to provide services to one beneficiary during the COVID-19 pandemic even though that beneficiary said she did not.
The FBI, the U.S. 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.
Brown is the tenth former personal care aide in the last three years to plead guilty to defrauding Medicaid in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Five of those aides were sentenced to 13 months in prison; a sixth was sentenced to serve 15 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 was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman of the Fraud Section, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Mariela Andrade.
District of Columbia Couple Pleads Guilty to Child Cruelty ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A District of Columbia man and his fiancé have pleaded guilty to child cruelty charges stemming from an assault of a five-year-old girl in their care, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, announced today.
Dawub Balil, also known as Tyvez Jackson, 26, and Diamond Taylor, 24, pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Balil pleaded guilty to first-degree cruelty to children, a felony, and Taylor pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second-degree cruelty to children. Both also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice. Both defendants are to be sentenced Jan. 28, 2022, by the Honorable Marisa Demeo.
According to the government’s evidence, Balil and Taylor resided in the 2800 block of Pomeroy Road SE, with four children, including the 5-year-old, who is identified in court documents as “D.J.” Balil is the child’s father. He and Taylor, who was not “D.J.”’s biological mother, were the primary caregivers for her and had exclusive care and custody of her weeks prior to “D.J.’s” hospitalization.
On May 28, 2020, at approximately 1:30 p.m., Taylor called 911 and reported that “D.J.” fell from the top of her bunk bed, which she later admitted was untrue. The D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department arrived on the scene and found “D.J.” in the bathroom, face up in the tub. The shower was running, and the tub was filling up with cold water.
The girl was taken to Children's National Medical Center. A pediatrician noted that she suffered from a severe head trauma, a lacerated liver, old and new rib fractures, and fractures to her tibia and wrists, among other injuries. Several of those injuries were loop shaped and were concentrated on her thighs. The doctor believed the marks were consistent with being hit with a belt. The doctor also stated that she believed these injuries were consistent with repeated abuse.
After “D.J.” was taken to the hospital, Balil subsequently threatened his roommates and took their cell phone so that they would not be able to make a report about the child abuse to the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency or the Metropolitan Police Department. Taylor admitted that on May 28, 2020, she told her children not to tell the police that Balil beats the children.
In their guilty pleas, both defendants acknowledged inflicting injuries on “D.J.” on other occasions.
In announcing the pleas, 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 Children’s National Medical Center. They acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert, Meridith McGarrity, and Tasha Harris; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Supervisor Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wright, who prosecuted the case.
Matthew M. Graves Takes Office as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Matthew M. Graves took office today as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. He succeeds Channing D. Phillips, who had been serving as Acting U.S. Attorney since March 3, 2021.
President Biden nominated Mr. Graves on July 26, 2021, to serve as U.S. Attorney, and the nomination was confirmed on Oct. 28, 2021, by the Senate. Mr. Graves was sworn into office by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell this afternoon in a ceremony at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland made remarks at the ceremony, which was attended by numerous judges, and other dignitaries.
Mr. Graves, 45, is returning to the nation’s largest U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he worked for nearly a decade before going into private practice in 2016 as a litigation and compliance partner in DLA Piper’s Washington, D.C., office.
“Having lived in the District of Columbia for nearly two decades, it is a distinct honor to return to the United States Attorney’s Office and to, once again, have the opportunity to serve my fellow community members and to work with this incredibly talented team of public servants,” said Mr. Graves.
In his previous time with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Graves supervised and prosecuted a wide variety of cases as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and later as Chief of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section. He handled numerous high-profile matters, including successful prosecutions of public officials, international business organizations, government contractors, and defendants engaged in Ponzi schemes and other large-scale fraud. Additionally, he prosecuted scores of cases involving shootings, robberies, kidnappings, and other violent crimes.
Mr. Graves graduated from Washington and Lee University and obtained his juris doctorate from Yale Law School in 2001. He clerked on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for the Honorable Richard W. Roberts from 2001 to 2002 and was an associate at WilmerHale from 2002 to 2007, prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2007.
As he took on his new responsibilities today, U.S. Attorney Graves thanked Mr. Phillips for his decades of service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice, including commending him for his exceptional leadership over the past eight months.
District Man Sentenced to Prison Term for Fatal Stabbing in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Aaron Jackson, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a prison term of 9 ½ years for fatally stabbing a man in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Jackson pleaded guilty in June 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence of 9 ½ years of incarceration. The Honorable Milton C. Lee accepted the plea and sentenced Jackson accordingly. Following his prison term, Jackson will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence on Nov. 5, 2020, at about 2:30 a.m., Jackson and a group of acquaintances were hanging out on the sidewalk in the 600 block of Lamont Street NW. Jamaul Crockett joined the group in smoking K-2 (synthetic marijuana). According to the evidence, Mr. Crockett, 36, became belligerent and loud, and attempted to punch Jackson and missed. Mr. Crockett then pushed Jackson, causing Jackson to fall back and strike his head against a fence. Jackson took a knife that was in Jackson’s possession, and stabbed Mr. Crockett, inflicting the fatal wounds.
Jackson was arrested on Nov. 11, 2020 and has remained in custody since. He had admitted stabbing the victim when detectives canvassing the area approached him at his home and asked if he would agree to answer questions about the incident.
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 Lornce Applewhite; Victim/Witness Specialist Jennifer Clark, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney John Interrante, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
District Man Found Guilty by Jury of Fatally Stabbing Woman in Northeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Robert Dean, 63, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of a woman in Northeast Washington.
The verdict was returned yesterday in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and announced this morning by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The Honorable Marisa Demeo scheduled sentencing for Feb. 4, 2022.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 31, 2018, shortly before 5:04p.m., Dean stabbed his former girlfriend, Tamiya White, 38, at her parking lot in the 1000 block of Mount Oliver Road NE before she drove herself to the local McDonalds to seek help. Ms. White’s two children were in the apartment at the time.
Dean was arrested on April 5, 2018 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the verdict. Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips 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 handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Eric Hansford; Paralegal Specialists Grazy Rivera and Stephanie Siegerist; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Litigation Technology Specialist Taylor Davis; Forensic Child Interviewers Tracy Owusu and Karen Giannakoulias, and teams from the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit and the Litigation Technology Unit.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Trigoso and George A. Pace, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District of Columbia Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Daniel Gregory Johnston, 43, formerly of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a federal charge of possessing child pornography and was sentenced to 27 months in prison.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Johnston’s plea and sentencing took place before the Honorable James E. Boasberg in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on six years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for 15 years following his release from prison.
According to the government’s evidence, over the course of a few months in the spring of 2018, Johnston used his computer and a file-sharing software program to collect and distribute images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of very young children. Law enforcement, acting in an undercover capacity, were able to connect to Johnston’s computer and download over 200 images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Some of the victims depicted in these images and videos were as young as five years old.
In June of 2018, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Johnston’s home. Various digital devices were seized from his home, which were then forensically examined by a computer forensic specialist. Various sexually explicit file names were found on Johnston’s laptop. Other evidence found on the digital devices proved that Johnson downloaded and viewed videos showing children bound with ropes and metal restraints, being sexually assaulted by adult men.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
In announcing the plea and sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force and MPD’s Youth Investigations Division. The FBI 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 human trafficking.
Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kenny Nguyen. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy E. Larson, who prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Fatal Shooting in Southwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against two officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who were involved in the fatal shooting, in April 2021, of Terrance Parker in Southwest Washington.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) conducted a comprehensive review of the incident. This included interviews of civilian and law enforcement witnesses as well as a review of physical evidence, recorded radio communications, Body Worn Camera footage, medical reports, and reports from the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to the evidence, on April 30, 2021, at approximately 8:56 p.m., two MPD officers received a radio assignment to respond to a domestic assault in progress at an apartment in the 1100 block of 4th Street SW. The officers were working the evening tour of duty, in full uniform, and equipped with Body Worn Cameras. Upon arrival at the apartment, they paused briefly to listen for any sounds of distress or commotion. Hearing nothing, one officer knocked and announced “MPD.” A woman opened the apartment door, and immediately stated “get this bitch out my house,” as she turned and walked into a bedroom doorway that was located immediately to the right of the apartment door. The officers entered the apartment and directed their attention to the bedroom and observed Mr. Parker leaning across a mattress on his right side with his legs on the floor while holding a cell phone. The woman was standing next to Mr. Parker and neither responded to the officers as they inquired “what’s going on?”
The officers then attempted to separate the two parties. One of the officers observed Mr. Parker pulling his right hand from his side, and asked “what do you have there?” Mr. Parker then suddenly pulled his right hand from his side and produced a handgun. Mr. Parker pulled the handgun up and pointed it in the direction of the officers. They immediately yelled “gun” several times and drew their service weapons. One officer then discharged a service weapon, striking Mr. Parker three times. The other officer did not discharge a weapon.
After securing the scene, the officers attempted to render medical aid, as did additional officers who responded. Members of the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department subsequently transported Mr. Parker to a hospital. Mr. Parker was pronounced dead at 10:05 p.m.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland determined that Mr. Parker, 36, died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Parker also had graze wounds to the fingers on his left hand and left thigh.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers used excessive force under the circumstances.
Use-of-force investigations generally
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. To prove such violations, prosecutors must typically be able to prove that the involved officers willfully used more force than was reasonably necessary. Proving “willfulness” is a heavy burden. Prosecutors must not only prove that the force used was excessive, but must also prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Child Exploitation and Child Sexual Abuse OffensesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A 62-year-old man, of Southeast Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of federal child exploitation offenses, including production of child pornography, enticement of a minor, and possession of child pornography, as well as multiple counts of first- degree child sexual abuse and first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances.
The verdict took place on Oct. 27, 2021, following a six-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The announcement was made today by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The defendant, who is not identified here to protect the privacy of the victim, remains held pending his sentencing by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 25, 2022. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, the defendant repeatedly sexually abused his stepdaughter from May 2016 until April 2017. The victim was 12 and 13 years old at the time and living with her mother, younger sister, and the defendant at the defendant’s apartment. The defendant also directed the victim to take photographs of herself constituting child sexual abuse material and to transfer those photographs to the defendant’s cell phones. Additionally, he stored these sexually explicit photographs on his cell phones and computer. These photographs, as well as dozens of text messages to the victim corroborating the sexual abuse, were recovered from the defendant’s electronic devices by law enforcement.
The defendant was arrested in May 2019 and was subsequently detained pending trial.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
In announcing the verdict, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the FBI-Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Metropolitan Police Department’s Youth and Family Services Division, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. The FBI 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 human trafficking.
They also expressed appreciation for those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Specialist Lezlie Richardson, Paralegal Specialist Alexis Spencer-Anderson, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elana Suttenberg, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Loeb, and Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section Intern David Offit.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Sedky, who prosecuted the case.
District Man Indicted for Murder in Investigation of Woman Who Has Been Missing Since 2010Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Isaac Moye, 44, of Washington D.C., was indicted today on one count of second-degree murder, stemming from the October 2010 disappearance of Unique Harris, a 24-year-old woman who disappeared from her home in October 2010 and whose body has never been found, Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee, III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.
The indictment was returned by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Moye, who is detained, is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 16, 2021.
Ms. Harris was reported missing on Oct. 10, 2010, disappearing from her apartment in the 2400 block of Hartford Street SE, with three children still inside. According to the indictment and related court documents, Moye was an acquaintance of the victim, and his GPS device placed him in her home overnight on the night she went missing, contrary to his assertions that he had never spent the night at the residence. Although he has vacillated between admitting and denying any sexual contact between them, according to the government’s evidence, the defendant’s semen was identified on furniture, which had been mutilated, arguably in an attempt to remove evidence of his presence in Ms. Harris’s apartment. Moye was arrested and charged with the murder on Dec. 19, 2020. He has been in custody ever since.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Moye faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and five years of supervised release.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being investigated and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Vinét Bryant.
District Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for 2018 Killing Near Union StationRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - MacArthur Venable, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for killing a man near Union Station in October 2018.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Venable pleaded guilty in February 2020, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentence between 15 and 18 years. The Honorable Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring accepted the plea and sentenced Venable accordingly. Following his prison term, Venable will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Oct. 31, 2018, at approximately 9:50 p.m., Venable was walking down Massachusetts Avenue with another individual when he came upon the victim, James Ferrell, near the intersection of North Capitol Street NW. Venable then began to speak to Mr. Ferrell and an argument ensued. The argument escalated and Venable walked up to the individual who he was walking with, reached into his waistband, and pulled out a firearm. Venable then pointed and fired the firearm at Mr. Ferrell. Mr. Ferrell was struck in his chest twice and subsequently ran across the street and collapsed in front of the National Postal Museum. A witness called 911 and police and paramedics arrived at the scene. Mr. Ferrell, 34, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon afterward.
Venable was arrested on Dec. 20, 2018 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department and also the U.S. Capitol Police. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuel, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Former Payroll Administrator Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Stealing over $1.6 Million from Former EmployerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Eleanor R. Milligan, 61, a longtime payroll administrator from Laurel, Md., was sentenced today to eight years in prison for carrying out a scheme in which she embezzled more than $1.6 million from her former employer.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
Milligan was found guilty by a jury in July 2021, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and first-degree theft. She was sentenced by the Honorable Timothy J. Kelly. The Court also ordered Milligan to pay restitution in the amount of $1,618,082 as well as a forfeiture money judgment in the same amount. Following her prison term, she will be placed on at least three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, except for brief periods, Milligan worked from 1998 to 2016 for a company based in Washington, D.C. Beginning in at least or about August 2009, and continuing until in or about March 2016, Milligan used her fellow employees’ names and personal identifying identification without authority to transmit false payment requests to herself through the employer’s payroll processing system.
In total, Milligan stole money on more than 500 occasions, totaling $1,618,082. In addition, when she was nearly caught, Milligan created a fake email and mailing address in the name of another employee, whose identity she used to hide her scheme and that she was actually receiving the fraudulent payments herself.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Chad Byron and Michon Tart, Victim-Witness Service Coordinator Tonya Jones, Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Litigation Technology Specialist Jeanie Latimore-Brown, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Lucas and Christine Macey, who prosecuted the case.
Two Maryland Men Plead Guilty to Charges in Armed Robbery of Unlicensed Marijuana DispensaryRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two Maryland man have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an armed robbery of an unlicensed marijuana dispensary in Northeast Washington in which four employees were bound with zip ties, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Dexter T. Brown, 43, and Gregory Sharps, 42, both of Severn, Md., pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to kidnapping, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and a firearms offense. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon prison sentence in the estimated range of 72 to 88 months. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz scheduled sentencing for Dec. 22, 2021.
According to the government’s evidence, on Feb. 12, 2019, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Brown, Sharps, and a third man arrived at “Higher Limits,” an unlicensed marijuana dispensary in the 500 block of H Street NE. They pretended to be normal customers perusing the shop’s wares before each of them brandished a firearm at the employees minding the store and announced the robbery. Over the next several minutes, they proceeded to round up the employees and placed four of them in zip ties. One other employee was ordered to open the cash register and a sixth escaped. The assailants gathered marijuana, merchandise, and cash.
They then fled in a van. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were called to the scene and gave chase to the van. The suspects ultimately bailed out of the van and fled. Three weapons were eventually recovered along with a bag containing proceeds of the armed robbery. Brown and Sharps were arrested in October 2019 and have been in custody ever since.
A third defendant previously pleaded guilty to related charges.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips 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 Paralegal Specialist Allison Gregory Daniels. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Felice Roggen, William Hart, and Tamara Rubb, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
National Labor Organization Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from UnionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donnell Owens, a former employee of the American Federation of Government Employees, pleaded guilty today to one count of embezzlement and theft of labor union assets stemming from a scheme in which he stole more than $275,000.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Mark Wheeler, Director of the Washington District Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards.
Owens, 34, of District Heights, Md., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The charge carries a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Owens faces a likely range of 24 to 30 months in prison, a fine of up to $95,000, and restitution. The Honorable Judge Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2022.
According to the statement of offense submitted to the Court and admitted by Owens, from October 2014 through June 2018, Owens worked as a Secretary to the Director of Communications at the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a labor organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. which represents workers in various functions of the private sector and the government affecting commerce throughout the United States and overseas. During this period, Owens embezzled approximately $275,524 in AFGE funds for his use and the use of others.
As detailed in court documents, throughout the scheme Owens abused and misused his position and employment at AFGE in order to seek and obtain illegal monetary gains at the expense of the labor organization. For example, Owens submitted false and fraudulent check requests for payments related to services, such as photography and videography, that were purportedly provided by alleged vendors. As a result of these submissions, AFGE funds were subsequently disbursed. These check requests listed fictitious dollar amounts for fake work assignments supposedly performed by vendors, who were not actually hired by AFGE. In fact, the purported vendors who allegedly performed the fake work assignments were really friends and associates of Owens, who he recruited as part of his illegal scheme.
As Secretary to the Director of Communications, Owens also had access to an Amazon account and a union credit card linked to it. During the scheme, Owens also used this account and linked credit card to embezzle items and make dozens of unauthorized personal purchases, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, and party supplies. Additionally, Owens used union credit cards to purchase items from other online retailers for personal use, including T-shirts for his online business, microphones, and flowers.
To avoid detection and cover up the fraud, Owens provided falsified signatures, fraudulent expense vouchers, and altered receipts for these items. However, the investigation revealed photos of Owens, his family members, and associates wearing the clothing purchased on Amazon with the union credit card on social media accounts belonging to the defendant.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne P. McNamara of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Miller and Paralegal Specialists Amanda Rohde and Mariela Andrade.
Two Men Sentenced to Decades in Prison for 2017 Killing of Man in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Two Maryland men were sentenced today to decades in prison for first-degree felony murder while armed and other charges in the 2017 killing of a man in Southeast Washington, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Nyekemia Everett, 36, of Greenbelt, was sentenced to 33 years in prison and Malik Hewitt, 41, of Capitol Heights, was sentenced to 30 years of incarceration. Both were found guilty in July 2021 by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of the murder charge, as well as conspiracy, attempted robbery while armed, and related offenses. They were sentenced by the Honorable Neal E. Kravitz.
According to the government’s evidence, beginning on April 26, 2017, Everett, Hewitt, and a third individual plotted to rob the victim, Christopher Heard. Over the phone, they lured him to the 2300 block of Ainger Place SE, on the pretense of a drug deal. At approximately 3:30 a.m. on April 27, 2017, Everett, Hewitt and the third individual drove together to the area and parked. In the meeting that followed, roughly 15 minutes later, Everett pointed a gun at Mr. Heard and announced a robbery. Mr. Heard lunged toward Everett, who shot him twice. Mr. Heard, 37, died at the scene. Everett and Hewitt fled the area and were arrested in May 2017.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips 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 FBI, Bode Technology, and the crime scene search unit from the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Services. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alyse Constantinide and Richard Barker; Paralegal Specialists Lornce Applewhite, Debra Forte, Nicole McGhee, and Lashone Samuels; Victim Witness Specialist Jennifer Allen; Robert Cephas, La June Thames, Katina Adams-Washington, M. LaVerne Perry, Lesley Slade, and Maenylie Watson, all of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, and Homicide Section Intern Jack Holt.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Liebman and Shehzad Akhtar, who prosecuted the case.
Former Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Danielle Bartley, 26, a former Capital One Bank employee from Silver Spring, Md., pleaded guilty today to taking part in a conspiracy that compromised the account information of at least nine bank account holders and sought at least $253,000 in fraudulent withdrawals and transfers.
The announcement was made by Channing D. Phillips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew R. Stohler, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service, and Daniel A. Adame, U.S Postal Inspector in Charge for the Washington Division.
Bartley pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, she faces a likely range of between 27 and 33 months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. The plea agreement requires her to pay $50,000 in restitution to Capital One and a forfeiture money judgment of the $3,750 she individually received. The Honorable Thomas F. Hogan scheduled sentencing for Jan. 20, 2022.
As Bartley admitted in entering her guilty plea, at the time of the conspiracy in 2017, she was a branch associate in Washington, D.C. Between June and August 2017, Bartley and her co-conspirators, including Krishna Jannor-John Marsh, posed as nine different actual bank account holders and sought at least $253,000 in fraudulent withdrawals and transfers. They succeeded in obtaining one $50,000 wire transfer using personal identifiers of an account holder that Marsh purchased on the dark web. Other attempts were stopped, including one by an alert teller.
In September 2018, as part of his broader conspiracy, Marsh, 25, of New York, N.Y., was sentenced to 46 months in prison, ordered to pay $338,100 in restitution, and had a forfeiture money judgment of $50,000 entered against him. Despite agreeing to plead guilty in 2018, Bartley fled to Jamaica and was extradited back to the United States earlier this year.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Stohler, and Inspector in Charge Adame commended the work of those who investigated the case from the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. including former Paralegal Specialists Joshua Fein and Kristy Penny. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Arvind Lal and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Murder in Road Rage Incident Inside Third Street TunnelRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Daquon Brooks, 24, of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a man in the Third Street Tunnel in July 2019, as well as shooting another person in a separate domestic violence incident the same month, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brooks pleaded guilty on Oct. 18, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to second-degree murder while armed in the killing of Leon Williams. He also pleaded guilty to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and stalking, stemming from a domestic violence incident. His guilty plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of 13 to 17 years in prison, to be followed by up to five years of supervised release. The Honorable Juliet J. McKenna scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2022.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, on July 30, 2019 at 2:50 p.m., Brooks was riding in the passenger seat of his girlfriend’s car; she was driving the car and her minor child sat in the backseat. As the vehicle entered the Third Street Tunnel, Mr. Williams 52, rear-ended her car. Both cars stopped and Brooks’ girlfriend got out of her car, walked over to the driver’s side door of Mr. Williams’ vehicle, and confronted him for rear-ending her.
A short time later, Brooks got out of the car, walked over to Mr. Williams’ driver’s side door, and pointed a loaded gun at his head. Brooks fired one shot into Mr. Williams’ neck. Both Brooks and his girlfriend ran back to the girlfriend’s car and fled the scene. Mr. Williams was paralyzed and never recovered from his injuries. He died of his injuries on Oct. 18, 2020.
The other shooting incident occurred on July 15, 2019, roughly two weeks before the tunnel gunfire. According to the proffer of facts, Brooks sent numerous messages via Instagram and text between July 9, 2019 and July 15, 2019 threatening to kill his former girlfriend after she began a relationship with another man. On July 15, 2019, at approximately 6:10 p.m., Brooks approached his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in the 4800 block of Benning Road SE and fired multiple bullets with a pistol at the new boyfriend, striking him in the leg and foot.
Brooks has been in custody since his arrest on Aug. 5, 2019.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Chief Contee commended the work of the officers, detectives and other personnel who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen Kukowski, Kenya Wells, Jason Feldman, and Dana Joseph; Paralegal Specialists Tasha Harris, Michelle Wicker, and Cynthia Muhammad; Special Agent Mark Crawford, of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit; Victim/Witness Security Specialist Ashli Tolbert, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Victim/Witness Program Specialist Lan Lu.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian L. Hinson, who investigated and prosecuted the homicide case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Drummey and Danielle White, who prosecuted the domestic shooting case.
District Man Sentenced to 40-Year Prison Term for Killing Man in the Parking Lot of Recreation CenterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Herman Cook, 50, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 40 years in prison on first-degree murder while armed and other charges for an early evening shooting in Northwest Washington in August 2016, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Cook was found guilty by a jury in February 2020 of murder and related firearms offenses. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Juliet J. McKenna.
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 8, 2016, shortly after 7 p.m., Cook was standing in the parking lot behind the Emery Recreation Center in the 5700 block of Georgia Avenue NW. The homicide victim, Donald Johnson, Jr., drove into the parking lot to meet a friend. Cook and Mr. Johnson had been close friends decades earlier but became estranged at some point in the early 1990s. As captured on video surveillance, after Mr. Johnson got out of his car to talk to the friend, Cook walked up to him slowly and, without any provocation, shot him multiple times at point blank range. Mr. Johnson was struck four times, including twice in the back and once in the neck. Cook then calmly walked away in the direction of Cook’s home on 13th Street NW. Mr. Johnson, 45, was pronounced dead later that evening.
Cook fled the area on foot. Evidence indicated that he fled to Baltimore that night. He was arrested on Feb. 21, 2017, in Baltimore and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips 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 Baltimore Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels; Special Agent Nelson Rhone of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Melissa Jackson, who prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Woman in Burst of Gunfire in Southeast WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Nequan Carthens, 21, of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to opening fire last year with a handgun on a Southeast Washington street and killing a woman who was walking in the area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Carthens pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to voluntary manslaughter while armed. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a 10-year prison term. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7, 2022.
According to the government’s evidence, on March 20, 2020, at approximately 9:55 p.m., Carthens exited from the rear passenger door of a blue-colored, four door sedan as it turned into an alley alongside the 1900 block of 16th Street SE. He was holding a handgun and shot into the 1900 block of 16th Street approximately nine times in the direction of a group of individuals who were congregating across the street. He then ran back into the waiting vehicle and fled the scene.
An innocent bystander, Lagoria Brinkley, 36, was walking southbound on 16th Street towards U Street SE and was struck in the head by one of the fired bullets. Medical personnel arrived at the scene and were unable to revive her. Carthens was arrested on March 26, 2020 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips 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 Specialist Lashone Samuels; Victim/Witness Program Specialist Jennifer Allen, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Former Controller Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Defrauding George Town ClubRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Isabelle Garcia, 56, former controller for the George Town Club, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison on a federal charge of wire fraud stemming from a scheme in which she defrauded the establishment of more than $300,000.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
Garcia pleaded guilty in July 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Following her prison term, she will be placed on three years of supervised release. She also is required to pay $300,422 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment.
According to a statement of offense submitted to the Court at the time of her guilty plea, Garcia began work in 2006 as the controller for the George Town Club, a private dining club located in the District of Columbia. She was responsible for maintaining the club’s financial affairs and had a great deal of discretion. From December 2006 to September 2013, Garcia used her control over financial accounts to make payments to herself and to third parties for her personal benefit. Through her scheme, Garcia wrongfully obtained $300,442.
An investigation led to Garcia’s indictment in 2018 and her subsequent arrest.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Jacobs commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Frijas. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Lallas and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Saler, who prosecuted the case.
New York Man Sentenced for Threatening President and White HouseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jean-Paul Gamarra, 45, of Copiague, N.Y., was sentenced today on federal charges of threatening the President of the United States and the White House complex during an incident in March 2017, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Matthew R. Stohler, Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service.
Gamarra was found guilty on May 27, 2021, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, of one count each of threats to the President and threatening and conveying false information concerning the use of an explosive. He was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Gamarra already had been in custody for 41 months, and the judge sentenced him to the time already served, which is an effective sentence at the higher end of the applicable guidelines range. Under the sentencing order, Gamarra will be placed on three years of supervised release. During that time, he must meet a number of conditions, including staying away from the White House, maintaining mental health treatment, cooperating with the Secret Service in assessing his future risk, and avoiding all physical and online contact with any Secret Service protectee.
As established at trial, on March 28, 2017, at about 10:17 a.m., Gamarra approached a uniformed, on-duty officer of the U.S. Secret Service at a pedestrian access gate l on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, within 100 yards of the White House. He presented the officer with a priority mail package, stating it contained a “nuclear bomb detonator” that was being presented for “safekeeping.” Written on the package, in what appeared to be Gamarra’s handwriting, were the words: “Warning this is a tre threat on the President and Senator life” and “Warning 100% threat Brand New Electronic Detonator Device,” as well as Gamarra’s name and address.
In response to Gamarra’s claims, the U.S. Secret Service cleared the surrounding area, including the north fence line of the White House, Lafayette Park, and other areas near 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. People inside nearby buildings were instructed to shelter in place while the Metropolitan Police Department Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit evaluated the package. After approximately 90 minutes, the package was declared “safe,” and the area reopened. Inside the package was a Bluetooth keyboard and letter. Gamarra was arrested at the scene and was in custody until August 2020.
Gamarra was previously interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service in 2014 regarding threats to then-President Barack Obama. In 2014, Gamarra admitted to Secret Service agents that he had threatened President Obama in order to gain the “attention” of the Secret Service so he could “expose” “corruption.” During that interview, agents warned Gamarra that threats on the President of the United States are not protected speech and counseled Gamarra that such conduct was taken seriously by the Secret Service.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips and Special Agent in Charge Stohler commended the work of those who investigated the case from the U.S. Secret Service and those who provided assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Nicholas Coleman, and Daniel Lenerz, and Paralegal Specialists Genevieve De Guzman and Jorge Casillas. They expressed appreciation for the work of former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Hutchinson and Mary Freeman, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Pearlman, who handled prior stages of the matter.
Former Hawaii Public Official Pleads Guilty to Embezzling from AmeriCorps and Offering a Bribe in Return for CARES Act GrantsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Stacy Higa, 58, a former public official from Hilo, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $38,000 from AmeriCorps and also to offering a bribe in return for grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
The announcement was made by Channing D. Phillips, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Deborah Jeffrey, Inspector General of AmeriCorps, and Steven Merrill, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office.
Higa pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count each of embezzlement and bribery. Both charges carry statutory maximums of 10 years in prison and financial penalties. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, Higa faces a likely range of between 46 and 57 months in prison and a fine of up to $200,000. The plea agreement requires him to pay $38,642 in restitution to AmeriCorps and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2022.
“This defendant has admitted taking money from programs that were designed to help the most vulnerable Americans,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips. “The United States Department of Justice will aggressively prosecute and seek to hold accountable those individuals who choose to abuse their positions of power to enrich themselves at the cost of the American people.”
“Again and again, Stacy Higa betrayed his neighbors, the people of Hawaii, and American taxpayers to serve his greed and vanity by embezzling funds set aside to help communities in need,” said Inspector General Jeffrey of AmeriCorps. “OIG will vigorously pursue allegations of fraud in AmeriCorps programs and will work tirelessly to see that those responsible are brought to justice. I want to thank the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office for its partnership in pursuing this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. for overseeing the prosecution.”
“Our communities place great trust and responsibility in our public figures. Stacy Higa ultimately betrayed this trust when he abused his power to embezzle federal funds and participate in bribery,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Merrill. “The FBI will not tolerate these crimes and will hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of the hard work and dedication the FBI and our law enforcement partners put towards obtaining justice.”
AmeriCorps is a federally funded network of national service programs that address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters, and more. AmeriCorps’ national service members commit to service for a set period, usually a year, in exchange for a living allowance, funding to be used for college tuition, and other benefits.
From June 2011 until May 2020, Higa, a former Hawaii County council member and mayoral candidate, served as the Executive Director of the Hawaii Commission for National and Community Service, the state service commission responsible for administering AmeriCorps programs in Hawaii. From February 2018 through his resignation from the Commission, Higa embezzled more than $38,000 in AmeriCorps funds by signing and authorizing contracts and purchase orders between the Hawaii Commission and two companies that he owned or controlled, without disclosing his control of the companies. Higa spent the embezzled funds on personal expenses including paying for approximately $20,000 of elective aesthetic dental care.
In his plea today, Higa also admitted to carrying out a scheme involving the CARES Act, which was signed into law in March 2020 to provide financial relief to individuals, businesses, states, and localities suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other relief programs, the CARES Act created a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to be distributed to states, localities, and tribal governments to support expenditures incurred due to COVID-19. Government entities that received money from the CRF could use the funds, among other things, to make grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures and to provide economic relief for those suffering employment interruption.
In that scheme, Higa admitted to offering financial benefits to Hanalei Aipoalani, who was hired in August 2020 as Honolulu City and County’s Department of Community Service’s CARES Program Administrator. Aipoalani was responsible for administering CRF programs. From August 2020 through October 2020, Higa offered to provide financial benefits to Aipoalani in order to influence the approval of Higa’s applications for two grants totaling $845,000 under the CARES Act. Higa then directed an employee to draft and submit false and backdated invoices under the grants. Higa and Aipoalani discussed opening LLCs on Oahu and using their wives as principals in order to launder the money. As part of his plea agreement, Higa admitted to expecting to receive at least $250,000 in profit from the CARES Act funds.
Aipoalani, 42, of Waianae, Hawaii, separately pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to embezzling from AmeriCorps and agreeing to accept a bribe under the CARES Act. Aipoalani was sentenced on June 30, 2021 to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay over $532,730 in restitution to AmeriCorps.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Additionally, anyone who is aware of fraud, waste, or abuse affecting AmeriCorps or any of its programs, is encouraged to contact the AmeriCorps Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-452-8210 or [email protected].
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Inspector General Jeffrey, and Special Agent in Charge Merrill commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Inspector General for AmeriCorps and the FBI’s Honolulu Field office. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the investigation from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Lallas and Amanda Vaughn and Paralegal Specialist Mariela Andrade. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie A. Goemaat, also of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, who is prosecuting the case.
District Man Sentenced to 10 ½ Years in Prison for Armed Robbery and Earlier ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Davon Robinson, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 10 ½-year prison term for robbing a fast-food restaurant in Northeast Washington at gunpoint earlier this year and shooting a man at close range on a busy street in Southeast Washington last year, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips.
Robinson pleaded guilty in June 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms offenses. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon sentence of 10 ½ years. The Honorable Robert D. Okun accepted the plea and sentenced Robinson accordingly. Following his prison term, Robinson will be placed on five years of supervised release.
The armed robbery took place at about 12:05 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2021, at a Chick-fil-A in the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue NE. According to the government’s evidence, Robinson entered the restaurant while holding a pistol with an extended magazine. He then brandished the weapon at multiple employees and forced them back. He grabbed the arm of one employee and ordered the worker to open the cash register, threatening to kill the worker if his orders were not followed. Robinson then grabbed a handful of bills and attempted to flee. However, as Robinson exited the restaurant, he was shot by an on-duty Special Police Officer. Robinson was apprehended and taken to a hospital for a gunshot wound to the face. Police recovered the pistol, which was later determined to be a 9 mm “ghost gun” loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition.
The shooting took place on Aug. 21, 2020, in front of a gas station in the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. According to the government’s evidence, Robinson approached the victim at approximately 8 p.m. They began a conversation and, soon afterward, Robinson stepped back, pulled out a pistol, and shot the victim once at close range. The victim was struck in the hip and was admitted to the hospital for a gunshot wound. The incident was captured on surveillance video and Robinson was identified through DNA that was recovered from a hat he dropped while fleeing the scene.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alesha Matthews and Assistant U.S. Attorney Miles E. Janssen, who is prosecuting both matters.
Police Officer Indicted on Federal Bank Fraud Charge Involving Paycheck Protection Program LoansRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer was indicted today on a federal bank fraud charge stemming from a scheme involving $18,345 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division.
Roberto Adams, 34, was indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was arrested on Aug. 13, 2021, following the filing of a criminal complaint in the case and remains free on personal recognizance pending further proceedings. The indictment includes a forfeiture count seeking an $18,345 money judgment.
According to the indictment, Adams made false and fraudulent claims last year to take advantage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a federal law that is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set timeframe and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.
As alleged in the indictment, Adams sought and received approximately $18,345 in PPP loans through an application to a participating financial lender on behalf of SUPERKLEAN LLC, a Maryland corporation. On loan documents submitted to an FDIC-insured financial institution, Adams claimed to be an eligible self-employed individual with a monthly payroll of $7,338 and sought a forgivable loan to cover payroll expenses. Adams further certified that his business was in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, and “had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes or paid independent contractors, as reported on Form(s) 1099-MISC.” He also certified that all loan proceeds would be “used only for business-related purposes as specified in the loan application.” Adams submitted a false and fraudulent 2019 Form 1040 Schedule C reporting $94,250 in gross income, $4,120 in expenses, and $88,060 in profits for SUPERKLEAN (which calculates to net profits of $7,338 per month). The Schedule C form indicated that Adams was the sole proprietor and that the business provided janitorial services. Tax records confirm that this 2019 Form 1040 Schedule C was never filed with the Internal Revenue Service, as was falsely and fraudulently claimed in the PPP loan application.
The loan application was approved, and the funds were electronically deposited in Adams’s bank account on Aug. 4, 2020.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein of the Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
District Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Killing One Woman and Wounding AnotherRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Vaughn Kosh, 50, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for killing one woman and shooting another after breaking into a neighbor’s apartment in Northeast Washington, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Kosh pleaded guilty in July 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of second-degree murder while armed, aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and simple assault. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon prison term of 15 to 20 years. The Honorable Marisa Demeo accepted the plea and sentenced the defendant accordingly. Following his prison term, Kosh will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Dec. 7, 2019, at approximately 5:15 a.m., Kosh accosted a man who was entering an apartment building in the 1700 block of Capitol Avenue NE. He then forced his way into an apartment unit that the man was entering. During this assault, Kosh fired a shot at the man and then stabbed him with a knife. The man then raced outside to summon police.
In addition to the man, three people were inside the apartment at the time that Kosh barged inside: Alayna Howard, who was an amputee, her 12-year-old son, and Ms. Howard's female relative. Kosh first shot the female relative – who was sitting in a wheelchair in the living room – in the face and neck and then went to the bedroom and fatally shot Ms. Howard. The child pleaded, “Please don’t get me,” and Kosh responded, “If I wanted to get you, I would like I did your mom.”
Ms. Howard, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kosh was arrested soon after the shootings in another apartment in the building.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips 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 worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Forensic Interviewer Tracy Owusu, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcey Rinker, and Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Siegerist. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Trigoso and Prava Palacharla, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Four Men Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Including Two Charged with Possession of Machine Gun and Conspiracy to Commit RobberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging four men with taking part in a drug trafficking conspiracy, including two who were charged with conspiring to rob pharmacies and unlawful possession of a machine gun.
The indictment was announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
All four defendants were arrested yesterday. They include Juwuan Champion, 22, of Bowie, Md., also known as “Big Money;” Fitzgerald Hunt, 24, of Washington, D.C., also known as “GMoney;” Joshua Johnson, 18, of Capitol Heights, Md., also known as “Lil Josh,” and Keyshawn Lavender, 20, of Washington, D.C., also known as “Key.” They made their initial appearances this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and all remain detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment follows an investigation by ATF and MPD into a crew operating from approximately January 2021 through October 2021 in the Potomac Gardens area of Southeast Washington. As described in the indictment, members of the crew are alleged to traffic in Oxycodone, Alprazolam, and other illegal narcotics. Champion and Hunt are accused of conspiring to rob pharmacies and the driver of a truck delivering narcotics to a pharmacy, and of unlawful possession of a machine gun. Champion and Hunt also are alleged to have possessed a “converter switch” device designed and intended to convert a semiautomatic Glock-style handgun into a machine gun capable of fully automatic fire, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.
“Drug trafficking and the prevalence of guns on our streets continue to plaque our community at alarming and unacceptable rates,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips. “Working together with our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who are terrorizing and making our neighborhoods unsafe with their armed drug trafficking activities, such as those alleged in this indictment.”
“This investigation is focused on armed robberies, possession of machine guns, illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of ATF and our valued law enforcement partners; we are making every effort to collaborate and work collectively to take violent criminals off our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Patterson. “We will continue to do as such until people feel safe to live and enjoy life. We will not tolerate violent crime, especially gun violence on our streets.”
The ongoing investigation has focused on violent crimes, including a series of pharmacy robbery-related incidents in the District of Columbia and Maryland, culminating in the March 30, 2021 robbery of a pharmaceutical delivery van driver outside a pharmacy in Waldorf, Md.
ATF and other law enforcement partners yesterday executed search warrants for four residences in the District of Columbia, two residences in Maryland, and one vehicle. Agents recovered three firearms, including one with an obliterated serial number, ammunition, multiple bags of apparent marijuana, and cash currency totaling approximately $75,000.
Champion and Hunt are charged with a number of offenses related to these crimes, including conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery. All told, Champion was indicted on 12 felony counts, including conspiracy, narcotics, and weapons offenses. Hunt was indicted on 11 similar charges. Lavender faces three felony counts, and Johnson, one. The indictment also includes a forfeiture count seeking all proceeds from the crimes.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Critical support was provided by the Charles County, Md. Sheriff’s Office, and additional assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Prince George’s County, Md. Police Department, and Anne Arundel County, Md. Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Candice Wong of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Jacobs.
Maryland Woman Pleads Guilty to Paying Bribes in Return for Non-Public Information About Traffic Crash VictimsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Maryland businesswoman pleaded guilty today to paying cash bribes to an officer with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in return for information contained in non-public police paperwork identifying individuals involved in traffic accidents.
Raquel DePaula, 43, of Beltsville, Md., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of bribery of a public official. The Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan did not schedule a sentencing date. Under federal sentencing guidelines, she faces a likely range of 18 to 24 months in prison, as well as financial penalties. As part of her plea agreement, she must pay $15,001 in a forfeiture money judgment.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
DePaula and the police officer were indicted in June 2021. The officer has pleaded not guilty to charges and is awaiting further court proceedings.
DePaula owns RD Legal Solutions, LLC, a corporation that, among other things, acts as a “runner” providing contact information for traffic accident victims to attorneys in exchange for referral fees. According to a statement of offense submitted as part of the plea, from approximately April 2019 through August 2019, she paid cash to the officer to get confidential information from MPD Traffic Accident Reports. An MPD General Order limited the distribution of these reports to individuals involved in traffic accidents and their representatives.
In the statement of offense, DePaula admitted paying the officer between approximately $600 and $1,300 per week, though the amount varied, in exchange for the victim contact information. Over the course of the scheme, she admitted to paying over $15,000 to the officer and receiving contact information for 2,667 victims.
In announcing the plea, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who are investigating the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and MPD’s Internal Affairs Division. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Rothstein, who is prosecuting the matter.
Former Police Department Employee Sentenced in Bribery and Insurance Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former employee of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was sentenced today to 78 days in jail, to be spent on weekends, for accepting more than $40,000 in bribes in exchange for providing personal identifying information of traffic crash victims and for carrying out a separate scheme involving insurance fraud.
Kendra Coles, 46, of Beltsville, Md., pleaded guilty in March 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count each of bribery of a public official and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud. She was sentenced by the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan. The judge also placed her on three years of probation. She is also required to pay more than $6,000 in restitution to an insurance carrier as well as a $40,0001 forfeiture money judgment.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division, and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
According to the government’s evidence, Coles began work for the Metropolitan Police Department in 2006 as a customer service representative. In late 2012, she became a staff assistant and was assigned to the Patrol Services and School Safety Bureau. Coles was in that position when, in approximately 2015, she conspired with two individuals who were “runners.” These “runners” were in the business of connecting lawyers and accident victims.
These “runners” were able to identify potential clients by obtaining police reports of recent traffic accidents, referred to as Traffic Crash Reports. Before 2015, these reports were publicly available and could be obtained from a clerical office at MPD. In January 2015, however, MPD issued a general order restricting the distribution of Traffic Crash Reports to persons involved in a crash and certain family members and representatives. The order aimed to protect crash victim confidentiality and limit solicitations by “runners.”
To circumvent the general order, the “runners” began paying Coles cash in exchange for her providing Traffic Crash Reports, to which she had access by virtue of her employment at MPD. Specifically, one “runner” paid Coles approximately $400 to $500 per week and another “runner” paid her approximately $350 per week. Over the two years she engaged in the scheme, Coles received more than $40,000 from at least two “runners.”
In exchange, Coles accessed the reports and created handwritten ledgers. These ledgers contained the reports’ essential information, including crash victims’ identity and contact information. Coles would also provide information regarding the nature of the crash, including whether it included an injury, property damage, or was a hit and run. Coles would then take a picture of the ledger and send them to “runners” via email or text.
An audit conducted by MPD revealed that between June 1, 2017 and October 6, 2017, alone, Coles had accessed Traffic Crash Reports 3,367 times.
The investigation is continuing. One of the "runners," Marvin Parker, 62, of Silver Spring, Md., pleaded guilty to a bribery charge and was sentenced in January 2020 to 18 months in prison.
In a separate scheme, Coles committed insurance fraud. In late June 2017, her car required between $1,000 and $2,400 for parts and an additional $700 for labor. In addition, Coles owed $1,505 to the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles for unpaid parking tickets and fees. Rather than incur these costs, Coles conspired with a family friend to have the car “disappear” so she could file an insurance claim. In furtherance of her scheme, on July 31, 2017, Coles abandoned her car and her co-conspirator set it on fire. After filing a false theft report, Coles collected more than $1,000 from her insurance carrier.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, and Chief Contee commended the work of those who assisted the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and MPD’s Internal Affairs Division. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Angeline Thekkumthala, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rothstein, Katherine Rakoczy, and Veronica Sanchez, who investigated and prosecuted this matter.
Former Office Manager Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Defrauding Medicaid Through a Dental PracticeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mahsa Azimirad, the former office manager for Universal Smiles, a Washington, D.C.-based dental practice, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison on a federal charge of health care fraud stemming from a scheme in which she was paid over $813,000 by defrauding the District of Columbia’s Medicaid program.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Washington Field Office, 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.
Azimirad, 41, of Rockville, Md., was indicted in January 2019, along with Bilal Ahmed, the dentist who ran the dental practice. She pleaded guilty in May 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable Colleen Kollar-Kotelly. Following completion of her prison term, Azimirad will be placed on three years of supervised release. The Court entered a $813,184 forfeiture money judgment and also ordered her to pay $813,184 in restitution.
According to the statement of offense submitted to the Court and admitted by Azimirad, she was the marketing and operations manager for Universal Smiles, a dental practice in Northwest Washington. Through Universal Smiles, she and Ahmed engaged in a scheme to enrich themselves by defrauding D.C. Medicaid, a health care benefits program jointly funded by the federal government and the District of Columbia to provide health care services to residents who meet the income qualifying requirements. As part of the scheme, Ahmed applied to be a Medicaid provider. Once approved to bill Medicaid, Azimirad and Ahmed then billed D.C. Medicaid for thousands of provisional crowns, a significant number of which were not provided to the Medicaid patients. From Aug. 9, 2012, through Feb. 26, 2014, D.C. Medicaid paid Universal Smiles approximately $5.4 million for provisional crowns. Of the $5.4 million that D.C. Medicaid paid for provisional crowns, Azimirad received approximately $813,184.
In a related case, Ahmed, 49, pleaded guilty in 2017 to sexually assaulting five former dental patients and one former employee and improperly touching another former employee. The victims were attacked in separate incidents between 2010 and 2014. He was sentenced to 16 ½ years in prison for those offenses and is serving a concurrent sentence after pleading guilty in 2019 to a federal health care fraud charge in this case.
In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillips, Special Agent in Charge Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge Dixon, and Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Paralegal Specialist Chad Byron and Forensic Financial Analyst Bryan Snitselaar. Finally, they commended the work of Criminal Division Trial Attorney Gary Winters, Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Jackson, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Miller, and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise A. Simmonds, Michelle Bradford, and Lionel André, who prosecuted the case.
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. The government relies on the public for tips and assistance in helping 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.
U.S. Swiss Dual National Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Charges in Connection with Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lawrence Paul Schmidt, aka Lawrence Schmid, 61, formerly of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to bank fraud after being extradited from the United Kingdom to the District of Columbia in late 2020 in connection with federal charges related to an investment fraud scheme.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips and Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division.
Schmidt was indicted in November 2018 on two counts of bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and six counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. He pleaded guilty to a bank fraud charge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The remaining charges will be dismissed at sentencing. Bank fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and potential financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Schmidt faces a likely range of 41 to 51 months in prison, a fine of up to $150,000, and restitution. The Honorable Amy Berman Jackson scheduled sentencing for Dec. 17, 2021. Schmidt remains in custody pending sentencing.
According to the statement of offense submitted to the Court and admitted by Schmidt, beginning in 2008, Schmidt created several investment entities and related corporations, including Commercial Equity Partners, Ltd. (“CEP”) and FutureGen Company (“FGC”), through which he solicited funds. Between June 2008 and April 2014, Schmidt raised over $22 million in funds, which he then comingled and transferred between the various entities and his personal accounts. Schmidt knew that by January 2014, the bank accounts for the various CEP and FGC entities contained insufficient funds to meet the companies’ financial obligations. By March 2014, the approximate combined balance of all the entities’ bank accounts was just $8,600.
As a result, over a roughly four-month period in early 2014, Schmidt masterminded a scheme to defraud and attempt to defraud Bank of America and SunTrust Bank of approximately $746,885.59 in funds controlled by the banks. Specifically, using various methods, Schmidt deposited fraudulent and forged checks into investment fund bank accounts that he controlled, then transferred and used the money for, amongst other things, his own benefit and use. In doing so, according to the government’s evidence, Schmidt abused his position of private trust with the investors of the various CEP and FGC-related entities.
As the scheme continued to unravel, on April 10, 2014, Schmidt boarded a one-way flight from the United States to London, where he remained until his arrest and extradition. Prior to leaving the United States, Schmidt wrote two letters to family members in which he stated, among other things, “[a]t this point in my life I have three choices, suicide, prison more than likely or to try and start over and make right by everyone.” Thereafter, on or about July 24, 2015, in responding to a message sent to him on LinkedIn from one of his investors, Schmidt wrote, “I know the federal government would like to prosecute me and I cannot blame them.”
On June 1, 2014, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in Civil Action No. 14-cv-1002 (CRC), against Schmidt, CEP, FGC, and the entities Schmidt controlled. The court entered final judgment against Schmidt on Oct. 3, 2018, and entered final judgment against CEP, FGC, and the additional entities that Schmidt controlled on March 11, 2019.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division. The Office of International Affairs in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the United States Marshals Service, and the government of the United Kingdom provided substantial assistance in securing Schmidt’s arrest and extradition. The SEC also provided substantial assistance in this investigation.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne P. McNamara and David B. Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Two District Men Indicted on Federal Charges Involving Illegal Possession and Sale of FirearmsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Two men, both from Washington, D.C., have been indicted on federal charges alleging that they conspired for nearly two years to deal firearms -- including “ghost guns” -- to people in the District of Columbia who were prohibited or otherwise unable to legally obtain them.
The indictment was returned yesterday and announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips, Charlie J. Patterson, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Milique Wilson, 37, and Joseph Vincent Smith, 36, were each indicted on charges of conspiracy, engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Both are detained pending further proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
According to the indictment, Wilson, Smith, and others conspired to obtain firearms from outside of the District of Columbia, including in locations in Maryland and Virginia, and transfer and transport these firearms to the District of Columbia and elsewhere. The indictment alleges that, on multiple occasions, Wilson and Smith contacted individuals prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms and sold at least five firearms -- including two unserialized privately manufactured firearms (also known as “PMFs” or “ghost guns”) -- to buyers. PMFs are unserialized and untraceable firearms that can be bought online and assembled at home with a kit. In addition to firearms trafficking charges, Wilson and Smith are each charged with possessing firearms and ammunition as convicted felons.
Wilson was arrested on Aug. 27, 2021 by officers with the Metropolitan Police Department after he was allegedly seen brandishing a firearm in Southeast Washington. Officers located him in a vehicle in the drive-through of a fast-food restaurant in the 1400 block of Maryland Avenue NE and recovered an unserialized firearm (PMF) and ammunition. He has been in custody ever since. Smith was arrested at his residence on Sept. 22, 2021 for allegedly possessing a firearm and 20 rounds of ammunition. He also has been in custody since his arrest.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office, with support from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Fletcher and David Henek, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Two Officers Indicted on Charges in Death of 20-Year-Old Karon Hylton-BrownRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging two members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with offenses stemming from the Oct. 23, 2020, police vehicular pursuit in Northwest Washington that caused the death of Karon Hylton-Brown.
Terence Sutton, 37, an officer, was indicted on a District of Columbia charge of second-degree murder and federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Andrew Zabavsky, 53, a lieutenant, was indicted on federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
“Police officers are sworn to uphold the law and ensure the safety of the community. The vast majority of officers execute their duties in an exemplary manner, and we are grateful for their dedicated service,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips. “But when a select few violate their oath by engaging in criminal conduct, they cannot do so with impunity and must be held accountable. This indictment seeks to do just that.”
“As alleged in the indictment, these sworn law enforcement officers showed a careless disregard for Mr. Hylton-Brown’s life and then conspired to obstruct the investigation of their actions,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “The FBI has an obligation to ensure that law enforcement officers do not abuse their positions of trust and authority to the detriment of the communities they serve.”
The indictment was returned by a grand jury yesterday and unsealed today. Sutton and Zabavsky made their first appearances this afternoon before the Honorable Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. They were released under certain conditions set by the Court, with the next hearing set for Oct. 4, 2021.
According to the indictment, 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 indictment alleges 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. It also alleges 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.
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.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.