District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Texas Man Convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Trade SecretsRead the Press Release
A Texas man was convicted today by a federal jury in Washington D.C. of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets.
Following a nine-day trial, Shan Shi, 54, of Houston, Texas, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets. Shi was originally indicted in June 2017 for conspiracy to commit theft of trade secrets, and a superseding indictment containing one count of conspiracy to commit economic espionage and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering charges issued in April 2018. Shi was acquitted on the other charges.
“Shan Shi and his coconspirators went to great lengths to cash in on the Chinese government’s desire to obtain syntactic foam technology,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As this case demonstrates, the Department of Justice is and will remain on the front lines of defending U.S. companies against the theft of their trade secrets.”
“The jury’s verdict makes clear that Shan Shi conspired to steal trade secrets by poaching employees from a U.S. company and enticing them to bring technical data to his company,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “He did this against the backdrop of China’s strategic plan to close the gap between China and United States in buoyancy technology and with the benefit of millions of dollars of funding from China. Like our many other prosecutions implicating China’s economic aggression, this case exemplifies both the threat to American companies and our commitment to confront it.”
“We take very seriously the theft of intellectual property that was developed in the United States through long years of research, development, and innovation,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia. “Shi chose to steal the secrets of a U.S. company rather than do the hard work necessary to succeed honestly in the free market. He is now being held accountable for that choice.”
“Shan Shi attempted to obtain sophisticated U.S. technology with both military and civilian uses for the ultimate benefit of China,” said Assistant Director John Brown of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division. “It is no secret that China is determined to achieve superiority in virtually all high-tech areas, and the FBI is equally determined to stop individuals who commit illegal acts to help China achieve its goals. The stakes are high both for U.S. national security and for American companies who invest so much money and time on research and development.”
“FBI Houston’s elite counterintelligence investigators worked for years to dismantle Mr. Shi’s prolific network and bring him to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Field Office. “Our highly trained agents and intelligence analysts work every day to protect American businesses from unscrupulous foreign adversaries. We are pleased by today’s verdict, and we will continue to aggressively protect America's economic security and intellectual property from those who would do us harm.”
Evidence introduced at trial established that Shi conspired with others to steal trade secrets from a Houston-based company, Trelleborg Offshore, relating to syntactic foam, a strong, lightweight material with commercial and military uses that is essential for deep-sea oil and gas drilling. In public statements of its national priorities, China has made clear its desire to develop this technology. Shi sought to obtain information about syntactic foam for the benefit of CBM-Future New Material Science and Technology Co. Ltd. (CBMF), a Chinese company based in Taizhou, and for the ultimate benefit of the People’s Republic of China. Four of Shi’s codefendants—some of whom worked at Trelleborg—had pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal trade secrets, and two testified as cooperating witnesses at trial. From 2014 to 2017, CBMF sent Shi’s company in Houston approximately $3.1 million from China in order to promote Shi’s activity in the United States.
Sentencing has been set for Oct. 25, 2019.
The FBI’s Houston Field Office conducted the investigation. Senior Counsel Joss Nichols of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Pearlman and Luke Jones for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Intoxicated Woman and Aiding his Cousin in Doing the SameRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Omar Afzali, 29, of Woodbridge, Virginia, pleaded guilty today to sexually assaulting an incapacitated woman in July 2016, and then aiding his cousin in doing the same thing, at a hotel in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced today.
Afzali pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree sexual abuse, one for his own sexual assault, and the other for aiding and abetting the sexual assault committed by his cousin. The Honorable Todd E. Edelman scheduled sentencing for October 18, 2019. Afzali could face up to forty years in prison.
According to the government’s evidence, the victim first met Afzali after unsuccessfully attempting to hail a cab upon leaving a D.C. night club in the early morning hours of July 9, 2016. The victim, who became intoxicated while socializing with her friends earlier that night, accepted Afzali’s offer of a ride. Afzali ended up taking the woman to a hotel on Rhode Island Avenue, N.W. Security camera video at that hotel showed that the victim was so incapacitated by alcohol and other substances upon arriving at the hotel that, even with Afzali’s assistance, she was stumbling and bumped, face first, into a hallway wall. When Afzali and the woman got to the hotel’s front desk, Afzali had to hold her up so she would not fall down while he filled out the hotel’s paperwork. While Afzali signed them into the hotel, security cam video shows that the victim put her head down on the desk and did not lift her head again until Afzali pulled her away toward the hotel’s elevators.
Afzali took the victim to a hotel room where, he admitted, he engaged her in sexual acts, including anal intercourse. Afzali further admitted that at the time he had sex with the victim, she was so incapacitated that she was unable to decline, or even to communicate her unwillingness, to engage in sex with Afzali.
When Afzali finished sexually assaulting the victim, he left the hotel and immediately contacted one of his male cousins, telling his cousin about the victim and how he had just had sex with her. Afzali drove to pick up his cousin, and then drove his cousin back to the hotel, giving his cousin the card key to the hotel room in which Afzali had left the incapacitated victim. Afzali told his cousin that he would find both the victim, and some unused condoms, in that hotel room. Afzali’s cousin then went to the hotel room and engaged the victim in multiple acts of vaginal intercourse. The cousin later testified that, during his encounter with the victim, she could barely function and was only partially conscious.
Afzali admitted at the plea hearing that he aided and abetted his cousin’s sexual assault of the victim. He further admitted that, during the time his cousin was sexually assaulting the victim, both Afzali and his cousin knew, or had reason to know, that the victim was too incapacitated to know what was happening, let alone to consent to having sex with them.
Although the victim had no recollection of the sexual assaults or of being with either Afzali or his cousin that night, DNA analysis showed that both men’s DNA was on swabs taken of the victim’s intimate body parts.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the Sexual Assault Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the District of Columbia Forensic Nurse Examiners. She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation, and Forensic Operation/Program Specialist Elizabeth Marrero, who assisted with DNA issues; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Marcus-Kurn, Mark O’Brien, Amy Zubrensky and Sarah McClellan; Paralegal Specialists Brenda C. Williams and Tiffany Jones; Supervisory Victim Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; and Victim/ Witness Advocate Juanita Harris.
Finally, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Matt Williams and Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted this case.
District Man Sentenced for Stabbing and Beating Girlfriend, Then Trying to Get Her to Drop the CaseRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Preston Fultz, 45, of the District, was sentenced today to thirty (30) months in prison for stabbing and beating his former girlfriend in Northeast Washington, and then trying to get her to drop the case against him, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced today. Fultz was sentenced by the Honorable Todd E. Edelman. Once Fultz is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for three (3) years.
Fultz pleaded guilty in May 2019 to assault with a dangerous weapon – knife, assault with significant bodily injury and felony contempt of court. According to the government’s evidence, on November 5, 2018, during an argument with his then-girlfriend, he stabbed her in the thigh with a pocket knife. Then, on February 28, 2019, he hit her in the face with such force that her eyes swelled shut and she had to be hospitalized overnight at Medstar Washington Hospital Center so that ophthalmologists could try to assess the damage to her eyes. As a result of the beating, the woman had vision problems that lasted for at least several months. After his arrest on March 1, 2019, Fultz wrote a note to a friend, encouraging the friend to try to get another woman to persuade the victim to drop the case against him, even though the Court had previously ordered Fultz to have no contact – directly or indirectly – with the victim while the case was pending. Fultz’s note was found by Marshals when they searched the defendant as he was being transported from the D.C. Jail to the Superior Court.
In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the Sexual Assault Unit of the Metropolitan Police Department, the staff at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences. She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Michael Ambrosino, Special Counsel for DNA and Forensic Evidence Litigation; Paralegal Specialist Brenda C. Williams; Supervisory Victim Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; and Victim/ Witness Advocate Meshall Thomas.
Finally, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace B. Richards and Peter V. Taylor, who investigated and prosecuted this case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Loaded Firearm While Trafficking NarcoticsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thomas Washington, 66, of Northeast, D.C., pled guilty today to possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Washington pled guilty before the Honorable Randolph D. Moss in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Washington faces a mandatory minimum of five years of incarceration and up to life imprisonment. Judge Moss scheduled Washington’s sentencing for October 11, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 8, 2018, members of MPD’s Narcotics and Special Investigations Division observed Washington conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions. After arresting Washington, where he possessed a stun gun and $3,067, MPD officers executed a search warrant at Washington’s residence that was located in the 4900 block of Nash Street, Northeast. During the execution of the search warrant, MPD officers recovered a High-Point model CF380 semi-automatic handgun in the dresser of the bedroom. The firearm was loaded with nine rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered 6.5 grams of crack, a plate with residue, empty ziploc baggies, a digital scale, and $13,253.00.
When Washington was arrested for trafficking narcotics and possessing a firearm in the present case, he was on supervision with the U.S. Parole Commission following a 2012 D.C. Superior Court felony drug trafficking conviction. Washington also had two additional prior drug trafficking convictions and a prior involuntary manslaughter conviction.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle, Legal Assistant Peter Gaboton, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Macchiaroli of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Section, who conducted the underlying investigation, indicted the case, and prosecuted the defendant.
D.C. Man Plead Guilty for 2006 Sexual Assault of Woman in Northwest D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Harold Luckett, 52, of the District of Columbia, plead guilty today for sexually assaulting a woman in November 2006, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Luckett plead guilty to one count of first-degree burglary and one count of first-degree sexual abuse before the Honorable Milton C. Lee. Sentencing is scheduled for September 6, 2019. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a 15-year prison term. Luckett also will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
According to the government’s evidence, on November 10, 2006, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Luckett entered the victim’s apartment in the Woodley Park neighborhood of Washington D.C. Luckett was a stranger to the victim. Luckett pushed the victim to the floor and physically and sexually assaulted her. The victim yelled and fought back vigorously and, at some point, the defendant fled the apartment. The victim immediately called 911, and members of the Metropolitan Police Department responded promptly. In connection with the investigation, crime scene technicians clipped the victim’s fingernails for possible DNA evidence, and recovered the assailant’s baseball cap, which had fallen off during the struggle.
Luckett was identified as the perpetrator of this offense through a forensic match to the DNA profile that was developed from forensic testing of the baseball cap and the victim’s fingernail clippings. On January 17, 2018, the defendant was indicted on these charges and related offenses.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of MPD officers and detectives of the Second District, the K-9 Unit and the Sexual Assault Unit, and the continued efforts of detectives with the Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including paralegals Tiffany Fogle and TJ McPhail.
Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Zubrensky, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Former Washington Metro Transit Police Officer Charged with Civil Rights Offense for Assaulting an IndividualRead the Press Release
A former Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer, Andra Vance, 45, was indicted today on charges that he used unreasonable force on an individual, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, and Metro Transit Police Chief Ronald A. Pavlik.
According to the indictment, on Feb. 16, 2018, Vance, while on duty as a Metro Transit Police Officer, assaulted an individual by striking the individual with a baton multiple times on the head and then using the baton to choke the individual. Vance’s actions resulted in bodily injury to the individual.
Vance faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two civil rights violations. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Metro Transit Police Department conducted a routine review of Vance’s use of force within hours of the incident. Based on the review, the department immediately suspended Vance’s police powers, launched an internal investigation, and notified federal authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Briggs of the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Nicholas Reddick of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Former Washington Metro Transit Police Officer Charged with Civil Rights Offense for Assaulting an IndividualRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A former Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Police Officer, Andra Vance, 45, was indicted today on charges that he used unreasonable force on an individual, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, and Metro Transit Police Chief Ronald A. Pavlik.
According to the indictment, on Feb. 16, 2018, Vance, while on duty as a Metro Transit Police Officer, assaulted an individual by striking the individual with a baton multiple times on the head and then using the baton to choke the individual. Vance’s actions resulted in bodily injury to the individual.
Vance faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the two civil rights violations. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The Metro Transit Police Department conducted a routine review of Vance’s use of force within hours of the incident. Based on the review, the department immediately suspended Vance’s police powers, launched an internal investigation, and notified federal authorities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Briggs of the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Nicholas Reddick of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Large-Scale Narcotics Trafficking and Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Amir Gibreel, 30, of Northern Virginia, pled guilty yesterday for his role in a large-scale marijuana distribution enterprise, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Gibreel pled guilty before the Honorable Rudolph Contreras in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possessing with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person previously under felony indictment. Gibreel faces up to five years of prison, up to three years of supervised release; and a fine up to $250,000. As part of his plea, Gibreel accepted responsibility for running a marijuana business and possessing with intent to distribute over 80 pounds of marijuana. This conviction represents Gibreel’s third marijuana-related conviction. Judge Contreras scheduled sentencing for October 24, 2019.
According to the Government’s evidence, in the summer of 2018, law enforcement associated with the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force began investigating the defendant for the illegal distribution of marijuana. The FBI learned that Gibreel was operating a website called JetpackDC. The website specifically sells marijuana through an online distribution system. Much like Uber Eats or other internet delivery services, a user would obtain contact information from the internet, and then contact a telephone number to coordinate the sale and drop-off of various packages of marijuana, ranging from small sales in the low-dollar amount, or high sales in the hundreds of dollars. The FBI learned that Gibreel operated stash houses to prepare and market his product. Gibreel also utilized Airbnb, a housing internet rental company, to store his marijuana. Gibreel and his associates were making $80,000 to $100,000 monthly.
In September and October of 2018, the FBI conducted three separate controlled purchases to identify the defendant’s Airbnb safe house. Based on the controlled purchases and coordinated surveillance, FBI was able to identify two locations as possible premises associated with the distribution of marijuana: 18 N Street N.W. (an Airbnb apartment used by the defendant) and 230 Rhode Island Avenue N.E. (Gibreel’s leased apartment).
On October 30, 2018, FBI executed search warrants at both locations. The defendant was present at the 18 N Street apartment, along with four other individuals who stated that they did not reside at the location. Law enforcement identified one individual as one of the delivery drivers from the earlier controlled purchases.
During the search of 18 N St. N.W., law enforcement found several of Gibreel’s personal belongings in an upstairs bedroom, including a blue backpack with the JetpackDC label. Law enforcement found several documents, mail matter, and notebooks inside the backpack, which belonged to the defendant. In the same bedroom, law enforcement found approximately $17,230 in cash on the closet shelf, and another $1,939 in cash in the front right pocket of a pair of blue jeans that Gibreel identified as his own. On a folding table in the same room, law enforcement found Gibreel’s bankcard and $352 in cash. On the bed, law enforcement found two ledger books containing information pertaining to the sale of marijuana. In a second upstairs bedroom, law enforcement located multiple bins, cardboard boxes, and canisters containing various amounts of marijuana, a suitcase containing marijuana vape cartridges, and marijuana packaging materials, such as a label maker and heat-sealing equipment. In total, the approximate weight of the marijuana found in the second bedroom was 80 pounds, with a street value of over $100,000.
During the search of 230 Rhode Island Avenue N.E.—no one was present during the warrant’s execution—law enforcement found a black 9mm Springfield XD semi-automatic pistol (Serial No. US8499099), which contained 16 rounds of ammunition, in the sole bedroom. Underneath the firearm was mail matter addressed to the defendant, $15,000 in cash, and medical cannabis stickers. In the kitchen, law enforcement also seized an extended magazine, marijuana packaging materials, grinders, four ledgers (containing information pertaining to marijuana sales in the thousands of dollars per day), bank statements, nine cell phones, additional mail matter, four laptops, a money counter, three tablets, and a bag containing JetpackDC paraphernalia. Law enforcement also recovered approximately 900 grams of marijuana from the kitchen and living room.
Both the firearm and ammunition possessed by Gibreel had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce and in fact, the defendant had purchased the firearm through an intermediary in Northern Virginia.
Finally, on October 30, 2018, the defendant was aware that on April 30, 2018, he had been indicted by a grand jury in Arlington County, Commonwealth of Virginia, in case number CR18000582 (Sale/Distribute Marijuana) and CR18000583 (Possession of a Controlled Substance). Both of the indicted charges are felony offenses in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and are punishable by a prison term not exceeding one year.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Acting Special Agent in Charge Dayoub, and Special Agent in Charge Benedict commended the assistance provided by our joint law enforcement partners and the Arlington County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosen of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
U.S. Attorney’s Office to Host Meeting in the Community to Combat Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will host a D.C. Hate-Bias Crimes Task Force meeting today, at the Frank D. Reeves Center. The meeting will provide an opportunity for the community to come together to discuss hate-bias crimes in the District and share strategies for addressing such crimes.
The Hate-Bias Task Force comprises agency and community partners in the District that focuses on addressing crimes that impact various affinity groups in the city.
In 1995, the Office implemented the Community Prosecution Initiative, which involves not only prosecuting criminals and litigating cases, but connecting with stakeholders to understand and address the public safety needs of our local communities. This community-based strategy enables Community Prosecutors and Community Outreach Specialists to work directly with residents, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other community stakeholders to develop a comprehensive approach to fighting crime and protecting those who live and work in the District of Columbia.
The Office’s present community outreach strategy focuses on building bonds of trust between the Office and the community; enhancing public safety through education; and increasing community participation in the criminal justice system.
The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Frank D. Reeves Center, located at 2000 14th Street NW on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, at 7:00 p.m. U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Pohlhaus for External Affairs will be present to answer questions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community, and the D.C. Anti-Violence Project are partnering to organize the upcoming meeting. Please come learn about the law governing hate-bias crimes and how our Office prosecutes these crimes. For more information or special accommodations, please contact [email protected] or 202-252-6930.
Maryland Man Found Guilty of Drug Conspiracy in Which Narcotics, a Firearm, and Cash Were SeizedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gregory Cook, 48, of Waldorf, Maryland, was found guilty yesterday by a jury of four felony narcotics charges in regard to a conspiracy to traffic narcotics in Northeast, D.C. and Maryland. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Cook was tried before U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg and was convicted following a jury trial of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, cocaine, and heroin, as well as standalone charges for possession with the intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, heroin, and cocaine. A sentencing date has not been set. Cook faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison.
As established at trial, on June 7, 2017, MPD received reliable information that Cook and his partner Cornelia Rice were trafficking narcotics in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Based on the information provided, officers conducted surveillance of Rice, performed a stop on one of her vehicles, and recovered narcotics. During the stop, Rice, a D.C. Public School Bus Driver, asked an individual on the street to call “her mother,” to tell her that she was being stopped for tinted windows. Rice, in fact, had the passerby call Cook who was at home with Rice’s minor child. About six minutes after the call to Cook’s cellphone, with MPD officers surveilling Rice’s residence, Cook came to the front door and anxiously looked up and down the street outside of the apartment building. Almost immediately after Cook peered outside the door, Rice’s then 11-year-old son walked out the building with a backpack and headed down the street by himself. Officers ultimately stopped the child. Inside the backpack were large amounts of cocaine base, cocaine, heroin, a pistol, and $11,235.000 in U.S. currency. Officers then executed a search warrant at the apartment after finding Cook attempting to leave the location. Inside the apartment, officers recovered additional quantities of cocaine, and extensive drug paraphernalia for the manufacturing and packaging of narcotics. In total, law enforcement recovered approximately 50 grams of cocaine base, 270 grams of cocaine, 15 grams of heroin, 133 grams of marijuana, a .22 caliber pistol, $11,235.00.
In a subsequent search of Cook’s Maryland residence following his arrest, law enforcement recovered extensive drug paraphernalia that contained drug residue, a commercial money counter, and an extensive amount of jewelry as well as Rice’s D.C. Public School Bus Driver Identification Card. At the time of the offense, Cook had multiple prior drug trafficking convictions. During the trial, in addition to MPD officers, officers from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office assisted and testified regarding the items recovered from Cook’s Maryland residence.
On July 3, 2019, Judge Boasberg sentenced Cook’s partner and coconspirator Rice to five years in prison following her guilty plea to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of all of those involved in the case. 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 Kevin Rosenberg and Christopher Macchiaroli of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, Paralegal Specialists Katie Thomas, Rommel Pachoca, and Teesha Tobias, and Legal Assistants Kate Abrey and Emma Atlas.
District Man Sentenced to 34 Years for Murder of 15-Year-Old BoyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Derryck Decuir, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced yesterday to 34 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Ballou High School student Malek Mercer, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Decuir was found guilty by a jury in May 2019, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, following a jury trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to second-degree murder while armed with an enhancement for committing a crime against a minor, and related firearms offenses. He was sentenced by the Honorable Craig Iscoe on July 23, 2019, to 34 years in prison, concurrent to the time imposed by Judge Puig-Lugo for the obstruction of justice.
According to the government’s evidence, on June 16, 2015, at approximately 12:20 a.m., Decuir and Mr. Mercer, who did not know one another, found themselves at the same bus stop at L’Enfant Square. One of Decuir’s friends teased Decuir for looking at and commenting on Mr. Mercer’s belt, and Mr. Mercer snickered at Decuir. After riding the bus together for about 10 minutes, Decuir followed Mr. Mercer off the bus and, without saying anything, shot him once in the back of the neck. Decuir then fled from the area. MPD officers responding to a 911 call, found Mr. Mercer lying in the grass on the corner of 28th Street and Naylor Road, SE. Mr. Mercer suffered a gunshot wound to the neck and was bleeding profusely. He was transported to Washington Hospital Center, where he died on June 19, 2015. Decuir was arrested pursuant to a warrant on that same day and has been held in custody ever since.
In 2017, Decuir was convicted of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Obstruction of Justice. The obstruction charge was based on Decuir making phone calls from the jail to ask his friend to relocate the murder weapon out of his backyard so that the police would not find it. Despite those efforts, MPD officers located the murder weapon about a year later, and analysts with the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences linked that weapon to the shooting of Mr. Mercer.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Metro Transit Police Department, the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Misler and Nicholas Coleman; Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Victim/Witness Services Coordinator La June Thames; Victim/Witness Program Specialist Lesley Slade; Supervisory Security Specialist Laverne Perry; Contract Specialist Sallie Rynas; Administrative Services Specialist Karen Lee-Putt; Supervisory Paralegal Sharon Newman; Paralegals Kelly Blakeney and Debra Joyner; Criminal Investigators Durand Odom and Melissa Matthews; Victim Advocate Marcia Rinker; Supervisory IT Specialist Leif Hickling; and Investigative Analyst Zach McMenamin.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Nestler and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Anwar Graves, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Distribution of Cocaine BaseRead the Press Release
Devierre Cheppell, 28, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to the unlawful distribution of cocaine base, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Steven A. Sund, Chief of the United States Capitol Police.
Cheppell, who is designated a career offender due to his prior drug-related convictions, pled guilty before the Honorable Reggie B. Walton in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of unlawful distribution of cocaine base. Cheppell faces 75 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release and a fine up to $1,000,000 if a plea agreement is reached with the Government and accepted by the Court. As part of his plea, Cheppell accepted responsibility for possessing with intent to distribute 31.3 grams of cocaine base. Cheppell’s conviction will represent his third cocaine-related conviction. Judge Walton scheduled Cheppell’s sentencing for October 17, 2019.
According to the Government’s evidence, on October 1, 2018, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) First District Crime Suppression Team observed what appeared to be a hand-to-hand transaction between Cheppell and another individual. Cheppell handed the object to the man who then walked into a nearby alley near 35 E Street, N.W. Officers located the man in the alley and observed him in the process of smoking crack cocaine. Meanwhile, after the hand-to-hand transaction, Cheppell was observed riding his bicycle northbound into the 500 block of New Jersey Avenue, N.W. When asked to stop, Cheppell abandoned his bicycle and fled, running alongside the area of the Washington Court Hotel located at 525 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. He was apprehended and admitted to possessing cocaine inside of his undergarments. A search revealed the cocaine and 148 plastic zips containing a white rock-like substance, later determined to be 23.96 grams of cocaine base.
Cheppell was released on his personal recognizance under the supervision of pretrial services at presentment in D.C. Superior Court. Less than one month later, he was arrested again. On November 13, 2018, Cheppell was observed by United States Capitol Police officers driving a blue Infiniti sports utility vehicle in the area of G Street N.W. A traffic stop by the officers resulted in the recovery of 101 baggies containing a total of 7.34 grams of cocaine base, and $1,117.00 in U.S. currency from Cheppell.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the assistance provided by our joint law enforcement partners. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nurudeen Elias and Mervin A. Bourne, Jr. of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
D.C. Government Contractor Sentenced to 6 Months for Making Illegal Conduit Campaign Contributions to D.C. Council CandidatesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Keith Forney, 60, formerly of Clinton, Md., was sentenced on Friday to 6 months in prison for making 11 illegal campaign contributions to three different campaigns for D. C. Council. Forney was also sentenced to an additional 36 months, suspended, for fraud, perjury, and corrupt election practices.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and District of Columbia Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas.
Forney is the owner of Forney Enterprises, Inc. (FEI), a general contracting company located in the District of Columbia. In April 2019, he was convicted of the campaign finance violations, three counts of fraud, two counts of perjury, and one count of corrupt election practices following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The fraud and perjury convictions stemmed from Forney falsely claiming to live at a D.C. address in order to obtain preference points for FEI in bidding for D.C. government contracts.
The Honorable Michael O’Keefe sentenced Forney on July 19, 2019 to 6 months of incarceration for the conduit campaign contribution counts and imposed a 36 month suspended sentence in total for the fraud, perjury, and corrupt election practices counts. Forney was also placed on three years of probation and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service and pay a $11,500 penalty.
According to the government’s evidence, FEI was a general contractor located in the District of Columbia. The District government had a preference program for local businesses when bidding for D.C. government contracts. The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) certified that local businesses were eligible for preferences in certain categories. One of the categories was resident-owned business (ROB). The ROB category was worth five preference points, meaning that a bid was evaluated as if it was 5% less than the actual bid amount. On average, FEI bid for 15-30 D.C. government contracts per year using the ROB preference points. All of the contracts were worth over $1 million.
The evidence at trial established that in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016, Forney submitted applications to DSLBD falsely listing an address in the District of Columbia as his residence in order to obtain the ROB preference points. On the 2014 and 2016 applications, Forney certified under penalty of perjury that the applications were correct. Forney never lived at the address he provided. He had purchased the property in 2005 when it was being leased to a tenant. Forney continued to rent the property out while using the address for the ROB designation. Forney also obtained a D.C. driver’s license and a D.C. voter registration with the address of the rental property. He then submitted these documents to DSLBD to make it appear that he lived there.
Forney’s conviction for corrupt election practices was based on his July 2007 application for D.C. voter registration. The evidence at trial established that he falsely certified on the application that he was not registered to vote in any other jurisdiction when in fact he was registered to vote in Maryland. Forney continued to vote in Maryland after registering to vote in D.C. and did not cancel his Maryland registration until 2015. Forney also obtained Maryland and D.C. driver’s licenses on the same day.
The evidence at trial on the campaign finance charges established that Forney made the maximum allowable donations as an individual and on behalf of FEI to three candidates running for the D.C. council. Forney then directed associates to make personal contributions to these same candidates. Forney used FEI funds to reimburse the associates for the contributions.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Acting Special Agent in Charge Dayoub, and District of Columbia Inspector General Lucas commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Lenerz; Financial Analyst Bryan J. Snitselaar; Paralegal Specialists C. Rosalind Pressley, Joshua Fein, and Amanda Rohde; former Paralegal Specialists Toni Anne Donato and Kristy Penny; and former Criminal Investigator Juan Juarez. They also cited the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Saler and Andrea Duvall who prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Armed KidnappingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ethan Moye-Gordon, 22, of Maryland, pled guilty yesterday with respect to his participation in an armed kidnapping and robbery that began in the District of Columbia and continued into Maryland, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Moye-Gordon pled guilty before the Honorable Amy Berman Jackson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of kidnapping. He faces a sentence of up to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Jackson on October 4, 2019.
The government’s evidence established that late in the evening on November 10, 2018, and into the early morning hours of November 11, 2018, Moye-Gordon, along with two other men, abducted the victim at gunpoint near Logan Circle and forced the victim into their vehicle. The victim reported that during the course of the abduction, he was forced into the trunk of the vehicle; he ultimately was able to pull the latch in the trunk and attempted to escape, but was unable to obtain help before he was recaptured by his captors and forced back into the vehicle.
During the abduction, Moye-Gordon and his associates forced the victim at gunpoint to provide his ATM PIN code and made physical withdrawals from numerous ATMs in D.C. and Maryland. Moye-Gordon and his associates also withdrew funds from the victim’s accounts using online banking applications on the victim’s phone.
This case was investigated by the Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) in partnership with the Arlington County Police, Prince George’s County Police and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. The VCTF is composed of FBI Agents, along with local and county law enforcement agencies within the National Capital Region, and focuses on investigating the most egregious and violent offenders.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Acting Special Agent in Charge Dayoub, and Chief Newsham commended the work of FBI Agents from the Washington Field Office, MPD officers, Prince George’s County police officers, and Arlington County police officers who investigated the armed kidnapping. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane, Paralegal Specialist Rommel, and Legal Assistant Peter Gaboton.
Former District Government Employee Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for Scheme Involving over $1.4 Million in Fraudulently Issued BenefitsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Demetrius McMillan, 48, a former employee of the District of Columbia Department of Human Services (DHS), was sentenced today to 84 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme in which he defrauded the agency of more than $1.4 million by steering inflated food stamp and temporary assistance benefits to people who were entitled to receive them.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, Washington Field Office Charles A. Dayoub, District of Columbia Inspector General Daniel W. Lucas, and Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), for the region that includes Washington, D.C.
McMillan, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in March 2019. He was sentenced by the Honorable Senior Judge Paul L. Friedman. The judge also ordered McMillan to pay $1,456,985 in restitution and pay an additional $150,000 forfeiture money judgement. Upon completion of his prison term, McMillan will be place on three years of supervised release.
McMillan’s scheme targeted and defrauded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamps program, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which consists of cash benefits. Benefits in both programs were provided to clients via electronic benefit cards.
According to the government’s evidence, McMillan worked as a social service representative at a DHS service center in Southeast Washington. Social service representatives reviewed and processed applications for SNAP and TANF payments, as well as “underpayments.” Underpayments occurred when DHS clients did not receive the SNAP or TANF payments for which they were eligible. These could be caused by errors by DHS or by the clients. Social service representatives were permitted to authorize up to $2,000 in underpayments at a time without supervisory approval. As part of his work, McMillan also had access to the computer system used by DHS to manage services, including the creation of underpayments.
Between April 25, 2018, and July 25, 2018, McMillan used his access to the computer system to authorize approximately 779 fraudulent SNAP and TANF underpayments for approximately 305 beneficiaries, totaling approximately $1,456,985. According to the plea documents, he authorized these underpayments knowing that the beneficiaries were not entitled to them. In exchange for authorizing these fraudulent underpayments, he solicited more than $380,000 in cash kickbacks from the beneficiaries, and accepted at least $150,000 in cash kickbacks. McMillan also solicited and accepted sexual favors from some of the beneficiaries in exchange for issuing fraudulent underpayments.
In order to avoid detection, McMillan intentionally ensured that each fraudulent underpayment transaction fell below the $2,000 threshold for which supervisory approval was required. The average fraudulent SNAP underpayment he created was approximately $1,757, and the average fraudulent TANF underpayment was $1,986.
McMillan recruited beneficiaries to the scheme by soliciting D.C. DHS clients who were eligible for SNAP and TANF benefits and with whom he had a previous working relationship. He also used third parties to recruit beneficiaries to the scheme. For the most part, the agreement was that in exchange for authorizing fraudulent SNAP and TANF underpayments in a particular beneficiary’s name, McMillan would get approximately $1,000 out of each fraudulent TANF underpayment he authorized for that beneficiary.
All told, 296 of the 305 beneficiaries for whom Defendant McMillan authorized fraudulent underpayments were women. In addition to soliciting and accepting cash kickbacks from these female beneficiaries, McMillan engaged in texting of a sexual nature with at least 50 of them, frequently soliciting sexual favors in exchange for authorizing fraudulent underpayments. In his guilty plea, McMillan admitted that he accepted sexual favors from 10 to 20 female beneficiaries in exchange for authorizing fraudulent underpayments.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Acting Special Agent in Charge Dayoub, District of Columbia Inspector General Lucas, and Special Agent in Charge Dixon of U.S. HHS-OIG, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. They also expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily A. Miller who prosecuted the case and Paralegal Specialist Aisha Keys who assisted.
Former Background Investigator for Federal Government Sentenced for Making False StatementsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Justin T. Yarbrough, 37, a former background investigator who did work under contract for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), was sentenced today to five months in prison on one false statements charge in connection with his falsification of work on background investigations of federal employees and contractors.
U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Norbert E. Vint, Acting Inspector General for the Office of Personnel Management made the announcement today.
Yarbrough, of Tennessee, pled guilty on April 25, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of making false statements. He was sentenced by the Honorable Timothy J. Kelly. As part of his plea agreement, he is required to pay $126,693.17 in restitution to OPM. Following his prison term, Yarbrough will be placed on three years of supervised release, with special conditions that include but are not limited to five months of home confinement (with the exception of leaving for work/school/religious obligations/etc.)
According to court papers, Yarbrough was employed by USIS, formerly known as U.S. Investigations Services, Inc., as an investigator under contract to conduct background investigations on behalf of OPM’s Federal Investigative Services, which is now known as the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB). NBIB conducts background investigations to determine suitability for federal positions of public trust, including positions having access to classified information and impacting national security. NBIB also conducts investigations for federal employees and contractors seeking security clearances.
Yarbrough admitted that, in conducting these investigations between June 2013 and May 2014, he falsely claimed to have interviewed a source or reviewed a record regarding the subject of the background investigation in roughly 20 investigation reports. For example, court papers state that Yarbrough falsely represented that he had conducted a rental records check on an applicant for a position of public trust with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Yarbrough acknowledged at his guilty plea hearing that his false representations required OPM’s Federal Investigative Services to reopen and rework background investigations that were assigned to him during the time period in which he falsified reports. The government estimated the cost of the recovery effort at more than $125,000 to the U.S. government.
NBIB, through its workforce of approximately 5,400 field investigators, is responsible for conducting background investigations for numerous federal agencies and their contractors, on individuals either employed by or seeking employment with those agencies or contractors. NBIB conducted more than 2.6 million investigations during the 2018 fiscal year. More than 787,557 of these investigations involved applicants for access or continued access to classified information.
NBIB has a robust integrity assurance program, which utilizes a variety of methods to ensure the accuracy of reported information. The falsification of investigative case work by Yarbrough was detected through the program. This is one of numerous cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia since 2008 involving false representations by background investigators and record checkers working on federal background investigations. Approximately 25 other background investigators and record checkers have been convicted of charges similar to those brought against Yarbrough.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu and Acting Inspector Vint praised the efforts Special Agent Natalie Bloom, of the OPM Office of the Inspector General, as well as Lead Investigator Jeffrey Addicks, Special Investigations Branch Chief Kevin Cassidy, and Integrity Assurance Executive Program Director Philip Kroop, of OPM-NBIB. They also acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn L. Rakoczy of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section, who investigated and prosecuted this matter, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Chubin Epstein and former OPM OIG Special Agent Samuel Peyton, who both previously worked on the investigation of the matter.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen Loaded Firearm in Broad DaylightRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Delonte Bridges, 28, of Northwest, D.C., pled guilty today to possessing a stolen loaded firearm in broad daylight in Northwest, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Bridges pled guilty before the Honorable Amy Berman Jackson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The Defendant faces up to ten years of prison. Judge Jackson scheduled Bridges’ sentencing for October 2, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on October 21, 2018, at approximately 4:30 p.m., officers of MPD’s Gun Recovery Unit were on patrol in two vehicles in the First Police District at approximately 4:30 p.m. As officers turned south into the 1100 block of First Place, Northwest, an area known for narcotics and firearms offenses, an announcement that law enforcement was entering the area was broadcasted by individuals standing in the street. In response to the announcement, Bridges initially began walking away from law enforcement and then engaged in an unprovoked flight. In response, law enforcement officers exited their vehicle, activated their body camera video, and followed in pursuit. Body camera video of responding officers showed that a firearm was visible on the waistband of Bridges after he gave up running from law enforcement and was on the ground. Upon his arrest, officers recovered from Bridges’ waistband a Glock 27 .40 caliber firearm with one round of .40 caliber ammunition in the chamber and five rounds of .40 caliber ammunition in the magazine. MPD officers subsequently learned that the firearm had been reported stolen during a theft that occurred on July 23, 2018 in the 900 block of Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast.
In 2011, Bridges was convicted in the D.C. Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in the same location that he was found with the stolen loaded firearm in this case.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham, commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Macchiaroli of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Section, who prosecuted the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Large-Scale Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Artinis Winston, 43, of Northeast, D.C. pled guilty yesterday to his role in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Winston pled guilty before the Honorable Amit P. Mehta in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin on July 11, 2019. Winston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years of incarceration and a maximum period of incarceration of forty years. Winston will also be placed on four years of supervised release after completing his sentence. As part of his guilty plea to engaging in the conspiracy, Winston accepted responsibility for trafficking 360 grams of heroin and 40 grams of buprenorphine (commonly referred to as suboxone). Winston’s conviction in the case represents his fourth felony conviction. Judge Mehta scheduled Winston’s sentencing for September 25, 2019.
According to the Government’s evidence, in June 2017, ATF began investigating the trafficking of narcotics from the Next Level Cuts barbershop located in the 2400 block of MLK, Jr., Avenue, SE and adjoining property above. Law enforcement discovered a coordinated drug trafficking operation that was centered at the barbershop and extended into Maryland through surveillance, controlled purchases from inside and outside the barbershop, residential search warrants, cellphone searches, arrests, jailhouse calls, pleas, and cooperating witnesses. The investigation established that drug traffickers used the barbershop and adjoining property as a stash location.
The investigation led to a series of arrests beginning in February 2018. These arrests led to the recovery of three firearms from the barbershop, one firearm in a residence, the seizure of more than $7,000 in cash, and without packaging, the seizure of more than 300 grams of PCP, more than 150 grams of heroin, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, boxes of suboxone strips, and more than 100 grams of a cutting agents.
While multiple conspirators had been arrested in 2018, Winston was a fugitive for approximately nine months. Coconspirators Lonnell Tucker, 42, of Temple Hills, Md., Anthony Fields, 45, of Washington, D.C., and Abdul Samuels, 45, of Washington, D.C., were found guilty on March 21, 2019, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Amit P. Mehta.
During the trial, officers and agents of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor, testified regarding separate arrests of coconspirators during the course of ATF’s investigation, which resulted in the seizure of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and U.S. currency.
On June 13, 2019, Fields was sentenced to 16 years of incarceration to be followed by eight years of supervised release. On June 14, 2019, Tucker was sentenced to five years of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release. Samuels has not yet been sentenced for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Three other defendants – Darryl Smith, 41, of Washington, D.C., James Venable, 47, of Fort Washington, Md., and Lacy Hamilton, 42, of Suitland, Md. – pled guilty earlier to federal charges. Smith managed the barbershop and was sentenced to 80 months in prison relating to his possession of narcotics in the barbershop on February 1, 2018, and for his possession of packaged fentanyl and a loaded firearm following an arrest by MPD in December 2017 outside of the barbershop. Venable, another conspirator, was sentenced to a 37-month prison term following his possession of narcotics and a firearm in both Washington, D.C. during a December 2017 arrest by MPD and at his residence in Maryland on February 1, 2018. Venable also acknowledged selling narcotics to an ATF confidential informant in July 2017. Hamilton was sentenced to a 15-month prison term for selling narcotics outside the barbershop and in Maryland as part of the charged narcotics conspiracy.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the assistance provided by officers and agents of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor, and the United States Marshal Service who assisted in trying to apprehend Winston. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Macchiaroli and Gregory Rosen of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, and Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Trafficking Aggravated Assault While ArmedRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jonathan Webb, 22, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a long-term multi-jurisdictional firearm trafficking investigation as well as a shooting that occurred in Southeast Washington, D.C. that left a teenager severely injured.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police.
On July 10, 2019, Webb pleaded guilty to a two-count Information charging Conspiracy to Engage in the Trafficking of Firearms and Aggravated Assault While Armed. Webb will be sentenced by United States District Court Judge Amit Mehta on September 5, 2019.
Yesterday’s plea agreement is the result of a long-term investigation by ATF, MPD, and the Virginia State Police into a firearms trafficking ring operating in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. Members of the conspiracy traveled from D.C. into Virginia to illegally purchase firearms, and then returned to the District to file-off the serial numbers and resell the guns.
According to court documents, during the summer of 2018, Webb, who was prohibited from lawfully purchasing a gun, traveled with his co-conspirators to a licensed firearms dealer in Virginia to acquire a firearm. After Webb selected a pistol, he handed money to a co-conspirator who purchased the firearm on his behalf. Webb and his co-conspirators then returned to Washington, D.C., where they filed-off the serial number and Webb took possession of the firearm. Webb’s co-conspirators trafficked approximately 31 firearms during the course of this conspiracy. On at least one occasion, Webb and other members of the conspiracy posed for photographs while holding firearms and filmed a music video using firearms purchased during the course of this conspiracy.
According to court documents, on October 8, 2018, a teenager, identified in court records by the initials “E.L.”, was walking down the sidewalk in the Congress Heights area of the city, when E.L. saw Webb standing on a porch. E.L. continued walking, but encountered Webb again on the block when Webb walked out from between two houses and approached the teenager. Webb immediately drew a firearm and fired repeatedly at E.L. The teenager was hit multiple times, suffering a pelvic fracture, a left arm fracture, right thigh fracture, and a spinal injury; E.L. suffered from paralysis because of the spinal injury.
Finally, they commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin L. Rosenberg, of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emile Thompson, of the Homicide Section, who prosecuted the case.
Additional Taxpayer Indicted in Schemes to Corrupt and Defraud District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and RevenueRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Davoud Jafari, 68, of Washington, D.C., was arrested yesterday on a federal indictment for participating in corruption and fraud schemes centered at the District of Columbia’s Office of Tax and Revenue announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu
Last week, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment alleging that Jafari, the owner of Zeba, a bar located at 3423 14th Street, N.W., Vincent Slater, 41, of Temple Hills, MD, the former supervisor of OTR’s Compliance Administration Adjustment Unit, and Anthony Merritt, 44, of Washington, D.C., a former employee of the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), conspired to fraudulently reduce Zeba’s tax liabilities by paying bribes to Slater.
According to the indictment, on a monthly basis between October 2012 and December 2017, Slater used his position at OTR to provide Jafari with documents fraudulently representing that Zeba had filed and paid its monthly sales and use taxes when in fact no taxes had been paid. Slater also intervened when other OTR employees sought to make collection efforts against Jafari’s business, and created false tax credits that could be applied against the business’s outstanding tax liabilities. Slater relied upon Merritt to communicate with Jafari and to collect bribe payments.
This is the second indictment alleging a bribery scheme centered at OTR involving Slater and Merritt. Slater and Merritt were also arrested and charged with bribery and related offenses involving additional District business owners in May 2019.
Jafari was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and was released on personal recognizance. Slater and Merritt are expected to be arraigned at a future court date. The defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371; Slater and Jafari are each charged with one count of bribery, and Merritt is charged with two counts of bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201; and all three defendants are charged with three counts of money, property, and honest services wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton. The next court date has not been set.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The statutory maximum penalty for Conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, is five years; for Bribery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201, the statutory maximum penalty is 15 years; and for Money, Property, and Honest Services Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1346, the statutory maximum penalty is 20 years.
These cases are being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Office of Integrity and Oversight. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Miller and Molly Gaston of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section are prosecuting the case.
Former State Department Employee Sentenced for Conspiring with Chinese AgentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Candace Marie Claiborne, a former employee of the U.S. Department of State, was sentenced today to 40 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $40,000, for conspiracy to defraud the United States, by lying to law enforcement and background investigators, and hiding her extensive contacts with, and gifts from, agents of the People’s Republic of China, in exchange for providing them with internal documents from the U.S. State Department.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia, Acting Assistant Director in Charge John P. Selleck of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
“Chinese intelligence agents convinced Candace Marie Claiborne to trade her integrity and confidential information of the United States government for cash and other gifts for herself and her family,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Claiborne withheld information and lied repeatedly about these foreign intelligence contacts. Violations of the public’s trust are an affront to our citizens and to all those who honor their oaths. With this sentencing, justice has been imposed for these dishonorable criminal acts.”
“Candace Claiborne received gifts from foreign officials and lied to investigators repeatedly about her role in defrauding the U.S. government,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “Claiborne violated her oath as a State Department employee, and we will continue to hold accountable those abuse their positions of trust.”
“Claiborne was entrusted with privileged information as a U.S. government employee, and she abused that trust at the expense of our nation’s security,” said John P. Selleck, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The targeting of U.S. security clearance holders by Chinese intelligence services is a constant threat we face, and today’s sentencing shows that those who betray the trust of the American people will be held accountable for their actions. I would like to thank the men and women of the FBI Washington Field Office and our partners at the Department of Justice for their work in investigating and prosecuting this case.”
“This sentence makes a strong statement to those who would attempt to commit crimes that violate the public trust and damage our national security. The Diplomatic Security Service is dedicated to working with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that those who commit these crimes are brought to justice,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Colón.”
Claiborne, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in April 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. She was sentenced by the Honorable Randolph D. Moss.
According to the plea documents, Claiborne began working as an Office Management Specialist for the Department of State in 1999. She has served overseas at a number of posts, including embassies and consulates in Baghdad, Iraq, Khartoum, Sudan, and Beijing and Shanghai, China. As a condition of her employment, Claiborne maintained a TOP SECRET security clearance. Claiborne also was required to report any contacts with persons suspected of affiliation with a foreign intelligence agency.
Despite such a requirement, Claiborne failed to report repeated contacts with two intelligence agents of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), even though these agents provided tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and benefits to Claiborne and her family over five years. The gifts and benefits included cash wired to Claiborne’s USAA account, Chinese New Year’s gifts, international travel and vacations, tuition at a Chinese fashion school, a fully furnished apartment, and a monthly stipend. Some of these gifts and benefits were provided directly to Claiborne, while others were provided through a co-conspirator.
In exchange for these gifts and benefits, Claiborne provided copies of internal documents from the Department of State on topics ranging from economics to visits by dignitaries between the two countries.
Claiborne noted in her journal that she could “Generate 20k in 1 year” working with one of the PRC agents, who tasked her with providing internal U.S. Government analyses on a U.S.-Sino Strategic Economic Dialogue that had just concluded.
Claiborne, who confided to a co-conspirator that the PRC agents were “spies,” willfully misled State Department background investigators and FBI investigators about her contacts with those agents, the plea documents state. After the State Department and FBI investigators contacted her, Claiborne also instructed her co-conspirators to delete evidence connecting her to the PRC agents.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas A. Gillice, John L. Hill, and Deputy Chief Julie Edelstein and Trial Attorney Evan Turgeon of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
Former State Department Employee Sentenced for Conspiring with Chinese AgentsRead the Press Release
Candace Marie Claiborne, a former employee of the U.S. Department of State, was sentenced today to 40 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $40,000 for conspiracy to defraud the United States, by lying to law enforcement and background investigators, and hiding her extensive contacts with, and gifts from, agents of the People’s Republic of China, in exchange for providing them with internal documents from the U.S. State Department.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu of the District of Columbia, Acting Assistant Director John P. Selleck of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and Deputy Assistant Secretary Ricardo Colón, Domestic Operations, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
“Chinese intelligence agents convinced Candace Marie Claiborne to trade her integrity and confidential information of the United States government for cash and other gifts for herself and her family,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Claiborne withheld information and lied repeatedly about these foreign intelligence contacts. Violations of the public’s trust are an affront to our citizens and to all those who honor their oaths. With this sentencing, justice has been imposed for these dishonorable criminal acts.”
“Candace Claiborne received gifts from foreign officials and lied to investigators repeatedly about her role in defrauding the U.S. government,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “Claiborne violated her oath as a State Department employee and today’s sentence should send a message to those who abuse their positions of trust. We will continue to seek prosecution and hold those accountable for their illegal actions.”
“Claiborne was entrusted with privileged information as a U.S. government employee, and she abused that trust at the expense of our nation’s security,” said Acting Assistant Director Selleck. “The targeting of U.S. security clearance holders by Chinese intelligence services is a constant threat we face, and today’s sentencing shows that those who betray the trust of the American people will be held accountable for their actions. I would like to thank the men and women of the FBI Washington Field Office and our partners at the Department of Justice for their work in investigating and prosecuting this case.”
“This sentence makes a strong statement to those who would attempt to commit crimes that violate the public trust and damage our national security,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Colón. “The Diplomatic Security Service is dedicated to working with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that those who commit these crimes are brought to justice.”
Claiborne, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty in April 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. She was sentenced by the Honorable Randolph D. Moss.
According to the plea documents, Claiborne began working as an Office Management Specialist for the Department of State in 1999. She has served overseas at a number of posts, including embassies and consulates in Baghdad, Iraq, Khartoum, Sudan, and Beijing and Shanghai, China. As a condition of her employment, Claiborne maintained a TOP SECRET security clearance. Claiborne also was required to report any contacts with persons suspected of affiliation with a foreign intelligence agency.
Despite such a requirement, Claiborne failed to report repeated contacts with two intelligence agents of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), even though these agents provided tens of thousands of dollars in gifts and benefits to Claiborne and her family over five years. The gifts and benefits included cash wired to Claiborne’s USAA account, Chinese New Year’s gifts, international travel and vacations, tuition at a Chinese fashion school, a fully furnished apartment, and a monthly stipend. Some of these gifts and benefits were provided directly to Claiborne, while others were provided through a co-conspirator.
In exchange for these gifts and benefits, Claiborne provided copies of internal documents from the Department of State on topics ranging from economics to visits by dignitaries between the two countries.
Claiborne noted in her journal that she could “Generate 20k in 1 year” working with one of the PRC agents, who tasked her with providing internal U.S. Government analyses on a U.S.-Sino Strategic Economic Dialogue that had just concluded.
Claiborne, who confided to a co-conspirator that the PRC agents were “spies,” willfully misled State Department background investigators and FBI investigators about her contacts with those agents, the plea documents state. After the State Department and FBI investigators contacted her, Claiborne also instructed her co-conspirators to delete evidence connecting her to the PRC agents.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas A. Gillice John L. Hill for the District of Columbia, and Deputy Chief Julie A. Edelstein and Trial Attorney Evan Turgeon of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
District Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison on Federal and D.C. Sexual Offenses and Other ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Donnell Pollard, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 23 years in prison on a series of sexual assault and other felony offenses stemming from an April 2017 crime spree following his escape from a halfway house in which he was serving time for a another sexual offense, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Pollard pled guilty on June 12, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one federal offense, the commission of a crime of violence while failing to register as a sex offender, and five D.C. Superior Court offenses, including kidnapping while armed and third degree sexual abuse while armed. He was sentenced by the Honorable James E. Boasberg. Following release, he will be placed on supervised release for life. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life.
According to the Government’s evidence, in 2012 Pollard pled guilty in D.C. Superior Court to Assault with Intent to Commit First Degree Sexual Abuse and was sentenced to a term of incarceration. In addition, as a result of his conviction, Pollard was required to register a sex offender for life. On or about July 8, 2016, the defendant was residing at a halfway house in Baltimore, Maryland as part of his sentence, when he escaped that facility. Pollard then moved to D.C. He failed to update his sex offender registration information with his new residence and, in fact, did not register at all until the time of his arrest in April 2017. In April 2017, while the defendant was in violation of his sex offender registration requirements, he committed five offenses against a total of five victims, including sexually assaulting two victims and kidnapping and stabbing another.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the members of the U.S. Marshals Service, MPD Criminal Investigations Division, Special Investigations Branch Sexual Assault Unit, and MPD Sixth District. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Hertzfeld, Nicholas Miranda, and Marisa West; Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Jones and Leah Welch; and Victim/Witness Advocates Lezlie Richardson and Yvonne Bryant.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Multiple Firearms While Trafficking NarcoticsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Fields, 38, of Southeast, D.C., pled guilty yesterday to possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office.
Fields pled guilty before the Honorable Paul L. Friedman in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The plea agreement, which was accepted and approved by the Court, requires a sentence of ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Friedman scheduled Fields’ sentencing for October 8, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on February 9, 2019, MPD officers executed a search warrant at Fields’ residence located in the 1900 block of Naylor Road, Southeast. After entering the apartment, MPD officers located Fields in the back bedroom. In that same room, officers located three loaded firearms, a Glock 21 .45 caliber firearm, a Ruger LC95 9mm caliber firearm, and an Intratec AB-10 firearm. An additional magazine with ammunition was also recovered. Law enforcement also discovered crack cocaine, heroin, multiple digital scales, razor blades, extensive drug packaging material, and U.S. currency in the residence. As part of his plea agreement, Fields acknowledged that all three firearms belonged to him and that he possessed them in furtherance of his drug trafficking. As part of the government’s investigation, the FBI and ATF assisted law enforcement by investigating the history of the firearms and their connection to other crimes committed in the District.
When Fields was arrested for trafficking narcotics and possessing firearms in the present case, he was on supervision with the U.S. Parole Commission following a 2012 D.C. Superior Court felony drug trafficking conviction. Fields also had a prior 2002 D.C. Superior Court conviction for assault with intent to kill, where he was incarcerated for twelve years.
This case was investigated in support of the Felon in Possession initiative, a joint partnership between MPD and federal law enforcement agencies including FBI, ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia, in an effort to reduce gun violence within the District of Columbia.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu, Chief Newsham, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Dayoub, commended the work of those who investigated the case. They also cited the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle, Legal Assistant Peter Gaboton, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Macchiaroli of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Section, who conducted the underlying investigation, indicted the case, and prosecuted the defendant.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thomas Moir, 37, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to distribution of child pornography stemming from his actions sharing child pornography with users on a social networking site from October 2018 –January 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Moir pled guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of distribution of child pornography. He will be sentenced on October 1, 2019, by the Honorable John D. Bates. Moir faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years. Following release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender.
Moir was chief of staff for the D.C. Mayor’s Office of Legal Counsel at the time of the offense, though there is no evidence that he used Government property to commit the offense or that his role had anything to do with the offense.
According to the Government’s evidence, beginning on or about October 10, 2018, Moir uploaded multiple images depicting child pornography to a social networking site in order to share and discuss these images with other users. He used multiple accounts to upload and share child pornography and did so on multiple occasions from October 2018 to January 2019. Images that Moir uploaded from at least one account were flagged as child pornography by the social networking site and sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for review. These images were then sent to the FBI, which traced them back to devices used by Moir.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the FBI’s Washington Field Office and members of the FBI-MPDC Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force who investigated the case. She acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Hertzfeld and Nicholas Miranda; Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Jones and Leah Welch; and Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant. She also thanked the Mayor’s Office for its assistance throughout the investigation.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation into Fatal Shooting of Armed Man Near Northeast Washington Recreation CenterRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that it has completed its review of the actions of an off-duty Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officer, who fatally shot Mr. D’Quan Young, who was armed with a firearm that he fired at the officer, on May 9, 2018, in Northeast Washington. After a careful review of all of the evidence, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against the officer.
According to the evidence, on May 9, 2018, at approximately 6:45 p.m., an MPD officer drove his personal vehicle to the 2300 block of 15th Street, Northeast, near the Brentwood Recreation Center, to attend a personal gathering at a residence in the area. The officer was off duty and dressed in civilian clothing, but he possessed his MPD issued service weapon in a holster located underneath a jacket. Because the officer was off duty, he was not wearing his body-worn camera. The evidence indicates that, while the officer walked up and down the block looking for the home of his host and looking at a cell phone, Young walked from the other side of the street, confronted the officer, and asked the officer who he was calling. The confrontation escalated into a verbal altercation and Young pulled out a firearm and pointed it at the officer. The officer removed his service weapon from his holster and pointed it back at Young while commanding him to drop his weapon. Young fired at the officer, who responded by shooting Young two times in the torso and three times in the leg. Young ran into the street and fell while the officer fired additional shots. Young dropped his firearm on the ground. A Special Police Officer at the Brentwood Recreation Center called 911. Young was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting. The investigation uncovered no evidence that the officer and Young had ever met each other before this encounter.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and MPD conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, including interviews of civilian and law enforcement witnesses; video footage and audio transmissions; autopsy, toxicology, and Department of Forensic Sciences’ reports; and physical evidence collected on the scene, to include an operable firearm and a loaded magazine from the street near where Young fell to the ground after being shot, along with a cartridge casing near where Young was standing before he was shot.
After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the off-duty officer acted under color of law or used excessive force under the circumstances, and therefore that civil rights charges cannot be filed. Federal prosecutors have also found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the off-duty officer did not act in self-defense, and therefore that District of Columbia homicide charges cannot be filed.
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 be able to prove that the involved officer acted under color of law—meaning that he exercised power possessed by virtue of his authority as an officer under the law—and 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. A conclusion that “there is insufficient evidence” is not meant to suggest anything further about what evidence, if any, exists.
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.
Maryland Man Indicted for Interstate Kidnapping and Sexual Assault of a 13-year-old GirlRead the Press Release
A 21-year-old man, of Oxon Hill, Maryland was charged in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a seven-count indictment on Friday. The announcement was made by Jessie K. Liu, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office.
On June 28, 2019, a seven-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury charging the man with two counts of kidnaping, four counts of sexual abuse, and violation of a protection order. The charges carry a mandatory-minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and lifetime sex offender registration. The defendant has not been named because this is an intra-family offense against a minor victim.
In 2017, the defendant inappropriately touched the victim’s breasts and tried to further sexually assault her. As a result, a protection order was signed by a Maryland judge. At that time, the defendant was a special police officer and had recently applied for a position as an armed police officer. That application was rejected because of the pending protection order. On December 18, 2018, the defendant waited for the then 13-year-old victim to return from school, and abducted her from Maryland. The defendant forced the victim into his car, handcuffed her, and drove into D.C. to an abandoned home. The defendant forcibly raped the victim. The defendant released the victim three hours later, and the victim immediately reported the attack to family members. Forensic testing revealed that the defendant’s DNA was on the victim. A search warrant executed on the defendant’s vehicle recovered the handcuffs and other items.
U.S. Attorney Liu stated that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is deeply committed to the prosecution of those who commit sexual assaults in the District of Columbia, particularly those who commit such crimes against children. Liu commended the work of the entire team of individuals who assisted with the investigation including Marisa West, Jodi Lazarus, and Elana Suttenberg, AUSAs in the Office’s Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section (SODV), Anthony Scarpelli, an AUSA in the Office’s Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, Victim/Witness Program Specialist Yvonne Bryant, SODV Paralegals Tiffany Jones and Tiffany Fogel, and Forensic Child Interviewer Tracy Owusu.
Finally, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the MPD’s Youth and Family Services Division and the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.
District Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Hold-Up of Northwest Washington DinerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Willie Quinones, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 12 years in prison on charges stemming from a hold-up robbery that took place in October 2016 at a diner in Northwest Washington.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Quinones pled guilty in March 2019 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to charges of interference with interstate commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and using, carrying, brandishing, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a sentencing maximum of 20 years in prison for the robbery charge and a mandatory minimum of seven years for the firearms offense. The Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan accepted the plea and Quinones was sentenced on July 02, 2019, to 70 months on the robbery charge and 84 months on the firearm charge. Following his prison term, Quinones will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to plea documents, on Oct. 17, 2016, at approximately 3:12 a.m., Quinones and an accomplice entered the Steak-N-Egg restaurant in the 4700 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW. Quinones approached employees to gain access to the cash register while his accomplice
pointed a gun at them. The employees raised their hands into the air and kneeled on the floor. Quinones then took money from the cash register before demanding access to a safe.
When an employee insisted that they did not have a key to the safe, Quinones yelled to his accomplice to shoot them. The accomplice, meanwhile, held the gun and pointed it around the room at people inside the restaurant. The accomplice asked which person to shoot, and Quinones responded that the accomplice could shoot all of them.
No shots were fired, and Quinones then approached and robbed three customers in the establishment. The two then fled the diner.
At the time of the robbery, Quinones was on probation for an armed robbery in Prince George’s County, Md., and was wearing a GPS tracking device. He was located at 11 a.m., hours after the crime, by MPD officers at an apartment building in Northeast Washington. He was arrested and has remained in custody ever since. No others have been arrested in the case.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the U.S. Park Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory P. Rosen, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kara Traster.
Former HUD Employee Sentenced to 24 Months for Accepting Bribes from Government ContractorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kevin Jones, 48, a former contract oversight specialist with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was sentenced today to 24 months in prison on a federal bribery charge stemming from a scheme in which he provided non-public information about pending HUD contracts to a business owner in exchange for tickets to sporting events, travel, and cash.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Charles A. Dayoub, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and Reginald O. Sessoms, Special Agent in Charge, Special Investigations Division, HUD Office of Inspector General.
Jones, of Laurel, Md., pled guilty in March 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of federal bribery. He was sentenced by the Honorable Randolph D. Moss. As part of his plea agreement, he is required to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $50,302.75 representing the value of the gifts and benefits he received. Following his prison term, Jones will be placed on three years of supervised release and complete 100 hours of community service.
According to a statement of offense signed as part of the plea, Jones began work at HUD in 1999. His responsibilities included serving as the technical point of contact for certain contracts and reviewing contractor performance. By virtue of his position, he had access to bid, proposal, and source selection information about a number of HUD contracts.
The bribery charge involves Jones’s dealings with Charles Thomas, the sole owner and president of a company in Maryland that provided technology services to agencies of the federal government and educational services to public school children in the Washington, D.C. area.
Between at least 2010 and 2018, according to the statement of offense, Thomas provided Jones with tickets to sporting events, travel, and cash in exchange for Jones providing Thomas and his company with non-public information about pending HUD contracts. In particular, the information and recommendations that Jones provided gave Thomas an unfair competitive advantage in obtaining two contracts valued at more than $4.5 million. Jones himself approved invoices totaling nearly $3.8 million for work done under one of the two contracts.
According to the statement of offense, from 2010 through 2017, Thomas and his company provided Jones with a variety of gifts and benefits, including more than $17,000 worth of tickets to Washington Redskins games and three Super Bowls; $1,700 in Washington Wizards tickets, more than $3,200 in hotel accommodations; more than $3,600 in travel expenses, more than $13,000 in cash and checks, meals, a camera, and a pair of basketball shoes.
In a related prosecution, another former HUD employee, LaFonda Lewis, 57, of Lusby, Md., was sentenced to a year and a day in prison in April 2019, for providing non-public information about pending HUD contract to Thomas in exchange for money, tickets to sporting events, and other things of value. As part of her plea, she agreed to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $23,055, representing the illegal proceeds. Lewis was a former supervisory contract oversight specialist.
Thomas, 45, of Lusby, Md., pled guilty in May 2018 to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and two counts of conspiracy to pay gratuities and violate the Procurement Integrity Act. Thomas is awaiting sentencing. In his guilty plea, Thomas admitted to paying bribes to the two HUD employees as well as to an employee of the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in return for payments on contracts involving that agency.
The former District of Columbia employee, Shauntell Harley, 49, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in July 2018 to 56 months in prison for accepting bribes in return for clearing the way for payments to be made to Thomas and another businessman.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Acting Special Agent in Charge Dayoub, and Special Agent in Charge Sessoms commended the work of those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, HUD’s Office of the Inspector General, and the Office of the Inspector General for the District of Columbia.
They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Joshua Fein and former Paralegal Specialist Kristy Penny. Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter C. Lallas, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
U.S. Attorney to Host Annual Youth Summit on June 28 at Catholic UniversityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia teams up with our local and federal law enforcement partners and community-based organizations to host the Ninth Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence Youth Summit,” on Friday, June 28, 2019, at The Catholic University of America in the Hartke Theater.
The free Summit will focus on gun violence and drug prevention and feature dynamic speakers, entertainment, prizes, invaluable information and resources.
For the past eight years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has collaborated with its partners to host the Youth Summit. Past Summits have included sessions that highlight the causes and consequences of youth violence, challenge youth participants to make better decisions, and emphasize the importance of cooperating with law enforcement. The breakout sessions focus on public safety issues facing our youth, such as teen domestic violence, heroin and opiate abuse, and human trafficking. The Summits have concluded with an educational entertainment segment to reinforce the positive messages of the Youth Summit.
The Summits have also included a youth informational fair in which numerous non-profits provide information on youth development programs, mentoring programs, and educational youth activities. More than 500 youths participated in the event last year, and thousands have participated in the activities since the first event in 2011.
The ninth annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence Summit” will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Catholic University of America in the Hartke Theater at 3801 Harewood Road, NE Washington, D.C. 200017. All youth between the ages of 8-18 are welcome.
The Summit is a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime.
This year’s partners include Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, East of the River Family Collaborative, Hillcrest Children Family Center, the Metropolitan Police Department, Collaborative Solutions for Communities, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, D.C. Department of Behavioral Health, Kids Eat Free, D.C. Prevention Centers, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, and a Foundation for a Drug-Free World.
For more information, contact Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for External Affairs, Wendy Pohlhaus (202)252-6930 or [email protected].
District Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Identity Thefts in Years-long Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Unemployment BenefitsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thelmiah Lee, 68, of Southeast Washington, D.C., pled guilty last week to charges stemming from his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits from the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Lee pled guilty, mid-trial, on June 18, 2019, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two felony counts of first degree identity theft, and admitted to his conduct in fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits from the District of Columbia over a four-year period.
As part of his plea, Lee agreed to a term of incarceration between 42 and 96 months and agreed to return more than $16,000 in cash that law enforcement seized at the time of his arrest. The cash will be delivered to his victims as partial compensation for their losses.
According to the government’s evidence, beginning in 2012 and continuing until his arrest in July 2016, Lee stole the identities of two victims: his own brother, and another man. Lee used those identities and his victims’ personal identifying information to fraudulently submit and obtain nearly $25,000 in unemployment benefits from the District of Columbia. Lee took steps to mask his identity as the actual recipient of those funds, and he received the benefits on debit cards—which he used at various businesses. Over the course of a multi-year investigation, detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department, agents from the D.C. Office of Inspector General, and claims examiners from the D.C. Department of Employment Services worked together to interview victims, identify Lee, and gather evidence of his identity thefts—as well as his submission, receipt, and use of the unemployment benefits. On July 22, 2016, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lee’s residence, which he had fraudulently rented using the name of his brother. During the search, law enforcement recovered more than $16,000 in cash, along with multiple licenses, tax documents, and other confidential materials belonging to Lee’s victims.
On June 17, 2019, the trial for this case began in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. The following day, after opening statements and the testimony of multiple victims, Lee entered a negotiated guilty plea to two felony counts. The Court ordered that Lee be detained pending sentencing, scheduled for September 13, 2019.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department, Office of Inspector General, and D.C. Department of Employment Services detectives, agents, and claims examiners who investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Liu also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney William Schurmann, who investigated and tried the case, as well as Paralegal Rommel Pachoca, Legal Assistant Emma Atlas, and Litigation Technology personnel Paul Howell and Leif Hickling.
District Man Found Guilty of First Degree Burglary and Other Charges in Home Invasion in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tremaine McDowell, 37, Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury yesterday of burglarizing an apartment in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
McDowell was found guilty of one count of first-degree burglary and two counts of theft. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. McDowell will remain in custody pending his sentencing on August 20, 2019, by the Honorable Judge Robert Okun.
According to the government’s evidence, on September 26, 2018, McDowell entered an apartment located at 3003 Van Ness Street NW at approximately 3:45 a.m. McDowell was in the apartment for 45 minutes while the victims, a married couple and their 2-year-old child, were asleep in a back bedroom. The victims were unaware of the burglary until they viewed footage from their home security camera two days later. The security footage showed McDowell entering the apartment from the front door. McDowell then proceeded to search a desk, which was located next to the front door and then moved to the kitchen area. He used a flashlight to search the kitchen area and as he went through the victim’s purse. After McDowell left the kitchen, he went to the living room, which was out of the security camera’s view. When McDowell returned to the kitchen area, he was seen carrying an item. He left the apartment through the front door, and it was later determined that McDowell had stolen a laptop and an I-Phone 6Plus.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also applauded the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rachel Forman and Colleen Kukowski who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Role in Armed Robbery SpreeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jharrod Armstrong, 21, of Capitol Heights, Md., was sentenced today to seven years in prison stemming from his role in several armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Armstrong was found guilty on January 22, 2018, following a plea in the D.C. Superior Court before the Honorable Todd E. Edelman. Armstrong was convicted of one count of armed robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, stemming from three different incidents that occurred in 2016 and 2017. Following his prison term, Armstrong will be placed on three years of supervised release.
On September 16, 2016, law enforcement stopped Armstrong in the 1400 block of Columbia Road, N.W., Washington, D.C and discovered a Glock 23 .40 caliber firearm in his undergarments (case 2016-CF2-15164).
Less than a year later, Armstrong committed two armed robberies on July 2, 2017 (case 2017-CF3-13635). At approximately 12:35 a.m., Armstrong encountered one victim in the 4500 block of Arkansas Avenue N.W., pointing a firearm at him and forcing him to give Armstrong his cell phone and change the phone’s password. Armstrong fled in a recently stolen silver BMW SUV. Less than 10 minutes later, Armstrong pointed a firearm at a different victim in the 1400 block of Fort Stevens Drive, N.W., forcing the victim to hand Armstrong his wallet. Armstrong fled in the same silver BMW SUV. The BMW was located the following day parked in a handicapped parking spot in front of 1127 Girard Street N.W. Inside of the vehicle, law enforcement later located a BMW manual, which had a fingerprint on it that belonged to Armstrong. Armstrong was identified by the first victim through a presented nine-person photo array.
Law enforcement also learned that Armstrong had a pending arrest warrant issued on July 19, 2017, from Prince George’s County, Md. for first-degree murder. MPD apprehended Armstrong on the same day. Police found a Taurus .45 caliber firearm underneath Armstrong’s compression shorts.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, and Chief Newsham commended the assistance provided by officers of MPD and the Prince George’s County Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who prosecuted the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosen of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar of the Felony Major Crimes Section.
Case Numbers:
17-CF3-13635
17-CF2-12397
16-CF2-15164
District Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree MurderRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Malik Morris, 20, of Washington, D.C. pled guilty to second degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill on Friday stemming from a shooting where he struck and killed one D.C. man and injured another, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Morris pled guilty on June 21, 2019, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is subject to the Court’s approval, calls for an agreed-upon sentence of 15 years in prison. He will be sentenced by the Honorable Ronna Beck on August 30, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on November 26, 2018, at approximately 1:49 p.m. in the 1800 block of Benning Road, Northeast, Morris observed several people, including the decedent in a convenience store. Morris did not enter the store, instead, he went to an adjacent parking lot where he adjusted his pants and moved an object consistent with a firearm around his waistband. Shortly thereafter Morris ran past the convenience store and toward the decedent and another individual who were walking on Benning Road. Morris fired several shots in the direction of the decedent striking him and injuring another victim. After the shooting, Morris fled the scene. He was subsequently arrested in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania on December 6, 2018, before he was extradited back to the District of Columbia to face charges.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham, commended the work of the MPD officers who investigated the case. They also acknowledge the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels, and Victim/Witness Advocate Marcy Rinker.
Finally, they commend the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Santiago, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Andrew T. Maliska, 27, of Nashville, Tennessee, pled guilty on Monday, June 17 to cyberstalking in the District of Columbia following an investigation into the creation and circulation of doctored images, related postings, and the personal information of the victim.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and John P. Selleck, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Maliska was indicted by a grand jury on one count of cyberstalking and indicted on two counts of identity theft. The indictment was unsealed on May 24, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
According to the government’s evidence, Maliska resided in the District of Columbia from September 2009 until June 2013, where he studied at a local university and met the victim. The indictment alleges that during the course of his friendship with the victim, Maliska without authorization, accessed and obtained non-sexual images from the victim’s social media accounts. According to the indictment, Maliska then doctored those images to sexualize them and posted them on various online forums.
The indictment alleges that Maliska also posted the victim’s name, phone number, and address on an escort website in May of 2015. This posting resulted in the victim receiving multiple inquiries from individuals seeking escort services from her. The indictment further alleges that the nature of the other postings were pornographic, racist, and defamatory.
The victim and her family filed a civil suit against Maliska in October of 2015. The following year, the victim and her family obtained a civil settlement in which Maliska acknowledged the postings and content were authored by him, stated he would remove the content, and agreed that he would refrain from engaging in further defamatory postings of the victim.
As alleged in the indictment, in August 2017, after Maliska entered into the civil settlement, he continued to commission sexual images of the victim, posted about the victim, and reactivated a fake social media account in her name. The indictment alleges that Maliska used the victim’s name, biographical information, and images to create the fake social media account. Maliska used the fake social media account to befriend and communicate with others online.
The charge of cyberstalking carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison and potential financial penalties.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Youli Lee and Charles Willoughby, paralegal Diane Brashears, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sumit Mallick, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Jones of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Middle District of Tennessee and Bianca Evans, formerly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
District Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud and Money Laundering SchemesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Michael A. Orji, 40, formerly of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison on federal charges stemming from his role in at least seven bank fraud schemes, involving at least 10 victims and more than $5.7 million in intended losses.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, John P. Selleck, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Jay N. Lerner, Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Orji, a Nigerian national, pled guilty on Oct. 26, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was sentenced by the Honorable Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell. Orji also was ordered to pay a restitution judgment in the amount of $905,274.98 divided among five victims with uncompensated losses. As part of his plea agreement, Orji additionally agreed to forfeit $75,254 in previously seized funds and pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1,705,320.03. Following his prison term, he is required to surrender himself to ICE and cooperate with the deportation proceedings to Nigeria.
According to a statement of offense and related conduct acknowledged by Orji, he participated in an ongoing conspiracy from August 2015 through November 2017 to commit a variety of financial frauds, primarily involving stolen checks and business e-mail compromise (BEC) schemes. He then laundered the resulting proceeds through a network of fraudulent bank accounts, shell corporations, and co-conspirators in the District of Columbia and elsewhere. In a typical BEC scheme, a co-conspirator working online tricks a company or individual using “spoofed,” or fake, e-mails into transferring large sums of money into bank accounts controlled by those participating in the crime. Soon after the wire transfers are completed, the co-conspirators drain the bank accounts and launder the criminal proceeds.
In total, Orji participated in at least seven bank fraud schemes involving 10 victims and 15 fraudulent accounts opened and/or controlled by the defendant under false names. The schemes generated a total of $905, 274.98 in actual losses and $5,717,596.23 in intended losses.
He used false aliases and forged driver’s licenses in carrying out the crimes.
The victims of the defendant’s frauds included a public school system, a medical center, several small and medium-sized companies, an individual who happened to call the bank in order to take precautions before an international trip, an individual attempting to purchase a new home, and an individual saving for retirement. Meanwhile, according to the government’s evidence, Orji frequented casinos, which he also used to launder money, and lived in a luxury apartment under a borrowed name.
Orji was arrested on Nov. 20, 2017, and has been in custody ever since. On that day, federal agents executed a search warrant on Orji’s residence in the District of Columbia. During the search, , they found 14 fraudulent driver’s licenses corresponding to the defendant’s false aliases, 1 fraudulent Social Security card in the name of false alias, a printed-out copy of the Wikipedia article on “Bank Fraud,” a copy of a journal article on online banking fraud with handwritten markings, a book on creating false identities, and multiple burner phones.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, the District of Columbia Office of the Inspector General, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Brown, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist C. Rosalind Pressley. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section Trial Attorney W. Joss Nichols, former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marston, and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman also assisted in investigating and prosecuting the case.
District Man Pleads Guilty to First Degree Murder for Fatally Stabbing RunnerRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony Crawford, 23, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to first degree murder for fatally stabbing a D.C. woman as she ran in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced.
Crawford pled guilty on June 21, 2019, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of first degree murder while armed. The plea agreement, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence of 30 years and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of the plea deal, Crawford will also have to contribute between $100 and $5,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund. The Honorable Judge Craig Iscoe scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2019.
According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of September 18, 2018, Crawford stole a kitchen knife from a local grocery store. Twenty minutes later, Crawford encountered the victim who was out for an evening run. Crawford attacked the victim at the intersection of 11th Street and P Street, stabbing her seven times; twice in the head, once in her face, three times in the neck, and once in the back, with the stolen knife. The victim was able to get away and ran into a nearby Chinese restaurant to escape Crawford’s attack. Crawford fled the area and threw the knife on the ground. Crawford also discarded several clothing items covered in his and the victim’s blood.
Several good Samaritans attempted to save the victim as she lay on the floor of the restaurant bleeding. The victim was transported to a local hospital to receive further medical treatment for the stab wounds. Over the course of the evening, her condition deteriorated and she died from the injuries.
Crawford has been in custody since his arrest on September 19, 2018.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as paralegals Alesha Matthews and Kelly Blakeney, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin. She also expressed appreciation for the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Earnest who prosecuted the matter.
Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Assault with a Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Maxim R. Smith, 25, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury yesterday of assault with a dangerous weapon, for beating a man approximately ten months ago in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced today.
Smith was found guilty on June 19, 2019, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Smith was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant injury while armed. The Honorable Judge Kimberley S. Knowles scheduled sentencing for August 30, 2019. Smith faces a statutory maximum of 10 years of incarceration.
According to the government’s evidence, on August 6, 2018, the victim was driving in his vehicle through Georgetown after a friend’s gathering. As he drove toward Wisconsin Avenue NW on M Street NW, he encountered Smith stopped on his bicycle in the middle of the right turn lane. The victim honked his horn, and Smith yelled expletives at the victim and did not move. The victim then passed the defendant on the left side in his vehicle, and at that point heard a loud thump on the back of his car. Assuming the defendant had hit his car with an object, the victim turned right onto Wisconsin Avenue NW and pulled his car to the side of the road. The victim got out of his car to inspect for damage and to call the police. Smith also turned right onto Wisconsin Avenue NW and rode his bike to Prospect Street. As soon as Smith turned back and saw the victim on the phone, he shouted to the victim, “Are you really calling the police?” and directed a racial slur at him. The victim is a black male from Cameroon, and the defendant is a white male. Smith then rode aggressively back toward the victim and got into a physical altercation with him. Smith then struck the victim on the head with a metal u-lock while yelling racial slurs at him. The victim required 21 stiches to his head as a result of the assault.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Korba and Alyse Constantinide.
District Man Sentenced to Four Years for Stealing Senate Information and Illegally Posting Restricted Information of U.S. Senators on WikipediaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jackson A. Cosko, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years in prison for stealing Senate information and posting illegal restricted information of five U.S. Senators on the Wikipedia website.
The announcement was made by Alessio Evangelista, the Acting U.S. Attorney in this case, and Steven A. Sund, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police.
Cosko, a former staff member of a United States Senator, pled guilty in April 2019, to five federal offenses: two counts of making public personal information; one count of computer fraud; one count of witness tampering, and one count of obstruction of justice, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In addition to his sentence term, Cosko had to forfeit computers, cellphones, and other equipment used in the crimes, which was part of his plea agreement. He was sentenced by the Honorable Senior District Judge Thomas F. Hogan.
According to the government’s evidence, the U.S. Capitol Police began an investigation on Sept. 27, 2018, after it was determined that the Wikipedia pages of three U.S. Senators had been edited to include restricted personal information without their knowledge or permission. This information included home addresses and personal telephone numbers. These edits took place roughly contemporaneously with public – and highly publicized – Senate proceedings related to a nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. On Oct. 1, 2018, similar information was posted on the Wikipedia pages of two additional Senators.
“Doxxing” is the act of gathering, by licit and illicit means, and posting on the Internet personal identifying information (“PII”) and other sensitive information about an individual.
Cosko admitted that he was angry about his termination in May 2018 from his employment as a computer systems administrator in the office of another U.S. Senator (described in court documents as Senator #1). As a result, from July 2018 to October 2018, he engaged in an extensive computer fraud and data theft scheme. Cosko admitted that he carried out the scheme by breaking into Senator # 1’s office on at least four occasions and accessing Senate-owned computers for the express purpose of stealing proprietary electronic information, including the personal contact information for numerous other Senators. He then published the contact information for five U.S. Senators (identified as Senators #2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) using Wikipedia and Twitter, with the intent to threaten and intimidate these five Senators and their families.
On the night of Oct. 2, 2018, according to the affidavit, a witness saw Cosko at a computer in Senator # 1’s office. The witness confronted Cosko, who left the office. Later that evening, according to the statement of offense, Cosko sent a threatening e-mail to the witness, titling it, “I own EVERYTHING” and warning that, “If you tell anyone I will leak it all.” Additionally, that evening Cosko attempted to delete electronic evidence from items including a laptop computer that he used to obtain and download the stolen data.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Demian S. Ahn, Tejpal S. Chawla, and Youli Lee. Assistance was provided by Paralegal Specialists Diane Brashears and Matthew Ruggierio and Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant, all of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Libyan National Found Guilty of Terrorism Charges in 2012 Attack on U.S. Facilities in BenghaziRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mustafa al-Imam, a Libyan national approximately 48 years old, was found guilty of terrorism charges for his participation in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Special Mission and Annex in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty died in the attack at the Mission and the nearby CIA Annex in Benghazi.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu, Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division., and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
“We will never forget those we lost in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012 – Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Ambassador Christopher Stevens,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “And we will not rest in our pursuit of the terrorists who attacked our facilities and killed these four courageous Americans – they must be held accountable for their crimes. I want to thank the agents, analysts, and prosecutors – and all of their partners in the U.S. government – who are responsible for this important investigation.”
“Mustafa al-Imam was found guilty and will be held accountable for his role in the terrorist attack that destroyed the U.S. Mission in Benghazi,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “Four American heroes lost their lives and others were seriously wounded during the attack on two U.S. facilities. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against those who commit terrorist acts against the United States no matter how far we must go or how long it takes.”
“Mustafa Al-Imam has been found guilty for his role in a brutal terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans,” said Assistant Director Michael McGarrity. This case shows the FBI's commitment to bring to justice those who commit acts of terror against the United States and our citizens—no matter how far away those acts take place or how long an investigation may take.”
“Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives,” said Assistant Director William F. Sweeney, Jr. “While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, today’s verdict is a reminder that the safety of Americans—whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise—will always be our top priority. If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice."
Al-Imam was captured in Libya on October 29, 2017. He was found guilty by jury on June 13, 2019, of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists and maliciously destroying and injuring a dwelling and placing lives in jeopardy. The former charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 15 years in prison, while the latter charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 20 years in prison. The jury failed to reach a verdict on 15 other charged counts, leading the court to declare a mistrial on those counts today, June 17, 2019. The government has not yet announced whether it plans to retry Al-Imam on the remaining counts. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court after considering the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The trial began with opening statements on May 8, 2019, before a jury in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Over the next four weeks, the government presented testimony from 29 witnesses. The witnesses included those who were wounded in the attack, as well as others who survived the attacks.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office with substantial assistance from various other government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the two victim agencies, the CIA and the Department of State. The National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section provided significant assistance.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Cummings and Karen Seifert of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Coleman and Jolie Zimmerman, Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo, detailed Paralegal Specialist Ashley Davis, Intelligence Research Special Dustin Powell, contract Document Management Analyst Michael Watts, Victim-Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant, Tonya Jones, Laverne Perry and Wanda Queen, and Litigation Technology Chief Leif Hickling. Earlier stages of the prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Opher Shweiki and Julieanne Himelstein.
Libyan National Found Guilty of Terrorism Charges in 2012 Attack on U.S. Facilities in BenghaziRead the Press Release
Mustafa al-Imam, a Libyan national approximately 48 years old, was found guilty of terrorism charges for his participation in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Special Mission and Annex in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty died in the attack at the Mission and the nearby Annex in Benghazi.
The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu, Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office.
“We will never forget those we lost in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012 – Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Ambassador Christopher Stevens,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “And we will not rest in our pursuit of the terrorists who attacked our facilities and killed these four courageous Americans – they must be held accountable for their crimes. I want to thank the agents, analysts, and prosecutors – and all of their partners in the U.S. government – who are responsible for this important investigation.”
“Mustafa al-Imam was found guilty and will be held accountable for his role in the terrorist attack that destroyed the U.S. Mission in Benghazi,” said U.S. Attorney Liu. “Four American heroes lost their lives and others were seriously wounded during that attack. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue justice against those who commit terrorist acts against the United States no matter how far we must go or how long it takes.”
“Mustafa Al-Imam has been found guilty for his role in a brutal terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans,” said Assistant Director McGarrity. “This case shows the FBI's commitment to bring to justice those who commit acts of terror against the United States and our citizens — no matter how far away those acts take place or how long an investigation may take.”
“Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives,” said Assistant Director in Charge Sweeney. “While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, today’s verdict is a reminder that the safety of Americans — whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise — will always be our top priority. If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
Al-Imam was captured in Libya on Oct. 29, 2017. He was found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists and maliciously destroying and injuring a dwelling and placing lives in jeopardy by a jury on June 13, 2019. The former charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 15 years in prison, while the latter charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 20 years in prison. The jury failed to reach a verdict on 15 other charged counts, leading the court to declare a mistrial on June 17, 2019. The government has not yet announced whether it plans to retry Al-Imam on the remaining counts. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court after considering the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The trial began with opening statements on May 8, 2019, before a jury in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Over the next four weeks, the government presented testimony from 27 witnesses. The witnesses included those who were wounded in the attack, as well as others who survived the attacks.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office with substantial assistance from various other government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the two victim agencies, the CIA and the Department of State.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Cummings and Karen Seifert of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Coleman and Jolie Zimmerman, Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo, detailed Paralegal Specialist Ashley Davis, Intelligence Research Special Dustin Powell, contract Document Management Analyst Michael Watts, Victim-Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant, Tonya Jones, Laverne Perry and Wanda Queen, and Litigation Technology Chief Leif Hickling. Earlier stages of the prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Opher Shweiki and Julieanne Himelstein. The National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section provided significant assistance.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Five Years for Role in Large-Scale Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lonnell Tucker, 42, of Temple Hills, Md., was sentenced today to five years in prison stemming from his role in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Tucker, Anthony Fields, 45, of Washington, D.C., and Abdul Samuels, 45, of Washington, D.C., were found guilty on March 21, 2019, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Amit P. Mehta. Tucker was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin from on or about June 1, 2017 through February 1, 2018. Judge Mehta sentenced Tucker to a prison term of five years. Following his prison term, Tucker will be placed on 36 months of supervised release.
In June 2017, ATF began investigating the trafficking of narcotics from the Next Level Cuts barbershop located in the 2400 block of MLK, Jr., Avenue, SE and adjoining property above. Law enforcement discovered a coordinated drug trafficking operation that was centered at the barbershop and extended into Maryland through surveillance, controlled purchases from inside and outside the barbershop, residential search warrants, cellphone searches, arrests, jailhouse calls, pleas, and cooperating witnesses. The investigation established that drug traffickers used the barbershop and adjoining property as a stash location.
The investigation led to a series of arrests beginning in February 2018. These arrests led to the recovery of three firearms from the barbershop, one firearm in a residence, the seizure of more than $7,000 in cash, and without packaging, the seizure of more than 300 grams of PCP, more than 150 grams of heroin, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, boxes of suboxone strips, and more than 100 grams of a cutting agents.
During the trial, officers and agents of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor, testified regarding separate arrests of coconspirators during the course of ATF’s investigation, which resulted in the seizure of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and U.S. currency.
Tucker was previously prosecuted in the D.C. Superior Court and convicted of drug trafficking felony offenses on three separate occasions. In 2010, he was convicted of two counts of distributing PCP. In 1999 and 2000, he was convicted of possessing crack cocaine with an intent to distribute.
On June 13, 2019, Fields was sentenced to 16 years of incarceration to be followed by eight years of supervised release. Samuels has not yet been sentenced for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Three other defendants – Darryl Smith, 41, of Washington, D.C., James Venable, 47, of Fort Washington, Md., and Lacy Hamilton, 42, of Suitland, Md. – pled guilty earlier to federal charges. Another defendant remains at large as a fugitive. Smith managed the barbershop and was sentenced to 80 months in prison relating to his possession of narcotics in the barbershop on February 1, 2018, and for his possession of packaged fentanyl and a loaded firearm following an arrest by MPD in December 2017 outside of the barbershop. Venable, another conspirator, was sentenced to a 37-month prison term following his possession of narcotics and a firearm in both Washington, D.C. during a December 2017 arrest by MPD and at his residence in Maryland on February 1, 2018. Venable also acknowledged selling narcotics to an ATF confidential informant in July 2017. Hamilton was sentenced to a 15-month prison term for selling narcotics outside the barbershop and in Maryland as part of the charged narcotics conspiracy.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the assistance provided by officers and agents of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Macchiaroli and Gregory Rosen of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, and Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle.
District Woman Found Guilty of Aggravated Assault While Armed for Slashing Victim’s Face at Bus StopRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Camille Covington, 34, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury yesterday of aggravated assault while armed after violently attacking a woman at a bus stop in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced.
Covington was found guilty on June 11, 2019, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District before the Honorable Ronna L. Beck. Covington was convicted of aggravated assault while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. The Honorable Judge L. Beck scheduled sentencing for August 16, 2019, and Covington will be detained in jail pending the sentencing date.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, on October 31, 2016, the victim first encountered Covington near Truesdell Elementary School. Both women’s children attend the school. The victim was headed to a bus stop located at the intersection of 9th and Kennedy Street NW to catch a bus to her English-language classes, when Covington forcefully bumped into the victim on the sidewalk. Minutes later, Covington violently attacked the victim while she stood at the bus stop, slashing her face and neck with a knife. The victim lost a significant amount of blood, and has permanent injuries to her face. During the assault, Covington yelled several times: “I don’t like Hispanic Women.” The victim is a Hispanic woman. The jury found that Covington’s aggravated assault on the victim was not a “biased-related” crime.
When a passerby saw Covington attacking the victim and tried to intervene, Covington threatened him with a knife. The jury convicted Covington of assault with a dangerous weapon for that assault.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Police Department. She also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Litigation Technology Specialist William Henderson; Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; interns Ashley Young, Holly Tripp, and Elliott Riches; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Rosen and Ethan Carroll for investigating the case; and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole McClain and Janani Iyengar for prosecuting the case at trial.
District Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Being the Leader of a Large-Scale Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Anthony Fields, 45, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 16 years in prison stemming from his leadership role in a large-scale narcotics conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Fields, Abdul Samuels, 45, of Washington, D.C., and Lonnell Tucker, 42, of Temple Hills, Md., were found guilty on March 21, 2019, following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before the Honorable Amit P. Mehta. Fields was convicted of engaging in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, phencyclidine (pcp), fentanyl, suboxone, marijuana, and synthetic cannabinoids, in various amounts, and maintaining a residence for drug trafficking purposes. Judge Mehta sentenced Fields to a prison term of 16 years. Following his prison term, Fields will be placed on eight years of supervised release.
In June 2017, ATF began investigating the trafficking of narcotics from the Next Level Cuts barbershop located in the 2400 block of MLK, Jr., Avenue, SE and adjoining property above. Through surveillance, controlled purchases from inside and outside the barbershop, residential search warrants, cellphone searches, arrests, jailhouse calls, pleas, and cooperating witnesses, law enforcement discovered a coordinated drug trafficking operation that was centered at the barbershop and extended into Maryland. The investigation established that drug traffickers used the barbershop and adjoining property as a stash location.
The investigation led to a series of arrests beginning in February 2018 which led to the recovery of three firearms from the barbershop and one firearm in a residence, the seizure of more than $7,000 in cash, and without packaging, the seizure of more than 300 grams of PCP, more than 150 grams of heroin, more than 100 grams of fentanyl, boxes of suboxone strips, and more than 100 grams of a cutting agents. In addition to being convicted of conspiring to distribute narcotics, Fields was convicted of possessing 100 grams or more of PCP and 100 grams or more of heroin and using the residence above the barbershop as a location to traffic narcotics.
During the trial, officers from the Prince George’s County Police Department and the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor testified regarding a separate arrest of Fields in 2017 in Maryland, in which cutting agents, false bottom containers, and over $7,000 in U.S. currency were recovered from a vehicle that Fields was operating after law enforcement observed him purchasing items from a location that was well known for the selling of drug paraphernalia.
During the sentencing, Judge Mehta found that Fields obstructed justice during the course of the Government’s investigation.
The Defendant was previously convicted of assault with intent to kill while armed in D.C. Superior Court in 2002, following the shooting of a victim on a public street and was on supervised release for that offense with the U.S. Parole Commission at the time the present conspiracy took place. The Defendant also has additional firearms and drug trafficking convictions from separate cases.
Samuels and Tucker have yet to be sentenced for their roles in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Three other defendants – Darryl Smith, 41, of Washington, D.C., James Venable, 47, of Fort Washington, Md., and Lacy Hamilton, 42, of Suitland, Md. – pled guilty earlier to federal charges. Another defendant remains at large as a fugitive. Smith managed the barbershop and was sentenced to 80 months in prison relating to his possession of narcotics in the barbershop on February 1, 2018, and for his possession of packaged fentanyl and a loaded firearm following an arrest by MPD in December 2017 outside of the barbershop. Venable, another conspirator, was sentenced to a 37-month prison term following his possession of narcotics and a firearm in both Washington, D.C. during a December 2017 arrest by MPD and at his residence in Maryland on February 1, 2018. Venable also acknowledged selling narcotics to an ATF confidential informant in July 2017. Hamilton was sentenced to a 15-month prison term for selling narcotics outside the barbershop and in Maryland as part of the charged narcotics conspiracy.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the assistance provided by officers and agents of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Macchiaroli and Gregory Rosen of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section, and Paralegal Specialist Candace Battle.
District Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Federal Firearms and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricardo Burnette, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison on firearms and narcotics offenses stemming from an investigation in which law enforcement recovered three firearms and numerous types of narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Burnette pled guilty on March 22, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. He was sentenced by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on October 30, 2018, MPD and ATF executed a search warrant at Burnette’s residence in Northwest Washington, D.C., and recovered numerous items, to include an assault rifle, a revolver, and a semiautomatic pistol, as well as ballistic vests and numerous types of ammunition, including four high-capacity magazines loaded with more than 90 rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered a number of different types of narcotics, to include opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, liquid PCP, as well as numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Burnette was arrested at his residence when the search warrant was executed and has been detained since the time of his arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from ATF and MPD. They also commended the efforts of those who worked in the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Willis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane, and Paralegal Specialists Rommel Pachoca and Teesha Tobias.
District Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Federal Firearms and Narcotics ChargesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Ricardo Burnette, 54, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 60 months in prison on firearms and narcotics offenses stemming from an investigation in which law enforcement recovered three firearms and numerous types of narcotics, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu, Ashan M. Benedict, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Burnette pled guilty on March 22, 2019, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, to one count of using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. He was sentenced by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Following his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on October 30, 2018, MPD and ATF executed a search warrant at Burnette’s residence in Northwest Washington, D.C., and recovered numerous items, to include an assault rifle, a revolver, and a semiautomatic pistol, as well as ballistic vests and numerous types of ammunition, including four high-capacity magazines loaded with more than 90 rounds of ammunition. Officers also recovered a number of different types of narcotics, to include opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, marijuana, liquid PCP, as well as numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Burnette was arrested at his residence when the search warrant was executed and has been detained since the time of his arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, Special Agent in Charge Benedict, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those who investigated the case from ATF and MPD. They also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney's Office including Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Willis, Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane, and Paralegal Specialists Rommel Pachoca and Teesha Tobias.
Three Individuals Indicted in Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Apparel and AccessoriesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three individuals were indicted today for trafficking in counterfeit goods through their operation of a retail store and warehouse used to sell apparel and accessories under unauthorized trademarks announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Today a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment alleging that Zi Yu Zheng, 57, Xiao Ling Wei, 56, and Ling Wu Wei, 50, all from Maryland, conspired to sell apparel and accessories with counterfeit trademarks that appeared to be items that were manufactured by brand-name designers. According to the indictment, the three individuals operated a retail store, The Guang Da Group, and a warehouse in Northeast, D.C., from which they sold counterfeit clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories that were virtually indistinguishable from legitimate merchandise produced by designer companies such as Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, North Face, and Timberland.
According to the indictment, the defendants kept a filing cabinet of logos trademarked by these companies, which they attached to apparel and accessories sold from their warehouse and The Guang Da Group retail store. The indictment alleges that the three individuals openly displayed the counterfeit merchandise in the retail store, while engaging in various security and counter-surveillance measures to prevent detection by law enforcement, including limiting access to their warehouse to individuals and customers they knew, prohibiting cell phones in the warehouse, and maintaining a secret showroom of counterfeit merchandise behind a false emergency door. According to the indictment, law enforcement penetrated the conspiracy through controlled purchases executed by confidential sources and an undercover agent.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Zi Yu Zheng and Xiao Ling Wei are also each charged with one count, and Ling Wu Wei is also charged with two counts, of trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a). The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation. The case has not yet been assigned to a U.S. District Judge and an initial appearance date has not been set.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The statutory maximum penalty for conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, is five years; for trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a), the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section is prosecuting the case.
Three Individuals Indicted in Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Apparel and AccessoriesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Three individuals were indicted today for trafficking in counterfeit goods through their operation of a retail store and warehouse used to sell apparel and accessories under unauthorized trademarks announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.
Today a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment alleging that Zi Yu Zheng, 57, Xiao Ling Wei, 56, and Ling Wu Wei, 50, all from Maryland, conspired to sell apparel and accessories with counterfeit trademarks that appeared to be items that were manufactured by brand-name designers. According to the indictment, the three individuals operated a retail store, The Guang Da Group, and a warehouse in Northeast, D.C., from which they sold counterfeit clothing, shoes, jewelry, handbags, and other accessories that were virtually indistinguishable from legitimate merchandise produced by designer companies such as Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Michael Kors, Nike, Polo, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, North Face, and Timberland.
According to the indictment, the defendants kept a filing cabinet of logos trademarked by these companies, which they attached to apparel and accessories sold from their warehouse and The Guang Da Group retail store. The indictment alleges that the three individuals openly displayed the counterfeit merchandise in the retail store, while engaging in various security and counter-surveillance measures to prevent detection by law enforcement, including limiting access to their warehouse to individuals and customers they knew, prohibiting cell phones in the warehouse, and maintaining a secret showroom of counterfeit merchandise behind a false emergency door. According to the indictment, law enforcement penetrated the conspiracy through controlled purchases executed by confidential sources and an undercover agent.
All three defendants are charged with conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Zi Yu Zheng and Xiao Ling Wei are also each charged with one count, and Ling Wu Wei is also charged with two counts, of trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a). The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation. The case has not yet been assigned to a U.S. District Judge and an initial appearance date has not been set.
The charges in an indictment are merely allegations and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The statutory maximum penalty for conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, is five years; for trafficking in counterfeit goods, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2320(a), the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Marando of the Fraud and Public Corruption Section is prosecuting the case.
District Man Indicted on 29 Counts for Sexually Assaulting Three Women in Separate Attacks in Columbia Heights in 2003 and 2007Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Levi Ruffin, 41, of Washington, D.C., was indicted yesterday by a Superior Court grand jury for sexually assaulting three women in separate attacks that occurred in 2003 and 2007, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Ruffin was indicted on 15 counts for the first attack, which occurred on July 2, 2003, including burglary while armed, kidnapping while armed, and first-degree sexual abuse while armed with aggravating circumstances. He was indicted on nine counts for the second attack, which occurred on June 3, 2007, including burglary, kidnapping, and first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. He was indicted on five counts for the third attack, which occurred on September 8, 2007, including burglary while armed, kidnapping while armed, and first-degree sexual abuse while armed with aggravating circumstances. Cold case detectives linked the defendant to two of the three attacks by DNA evidence.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of release and, if convicted, Ruffin will be required to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender. The charges are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 2, 2003, the defendant displayed a knife, violently attacked and sexually assaulted the victim in her home, and demanded money before fleeing. On June 3, 2007, the defendant violently attacked and sexually assaulted the victim in a stairwell of her apartment building. On September 8, 2007, the defendant displayed a knife, violently attacked and sexually assaulted the victim in her apartment building. The defendant was a stranger to all three victims.
Ruffin was identified as a suspect in these offenses by MPD’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit in June, 2018. On June 27, 2018, a D.C. Superior Court judge signed a complaint and warrant authorizing Ruffin’s arrest, five days before the statute of limitations would have run on the first case. Ruffin is currently in custody serving a sentence on a 2013 violent armed sexual assault and robbery of a woman in the 6900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.
In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of the detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit, Deputy Marshals from the U.S. Marshals Service, and forensic examiners from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Veronica Vaughan and Juanita Harris, and Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Fogle and TJ McPhail.
Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Zubrensky and Marisa S. West, who are investigating and prosecuting the case.
District Man Indicted on 29 Counts for Sexually Assaulting Three Women in Separate Attacks in Columbia Heights in 2003 and 2007Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Levi Ruffin, 41, of Washington, D.C., was indicted yesterday by a Superior Court grand jury for sexually assaulting three women in separate attacks that occurred in 2003 and 2007, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Ruffin was indicted on 15 counts for the first attack, which occurred on July 2, 2003, including burglary while armed, kidnapping while armed, and first-degree sexual abuse while armed with aggravating circumstances. He was indicted on nine counts for the second attack, which occurred on June 3, 2007, including burglary, kidnapping, and first-degree sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances. He was indicted on five counts for the third attack, which occurred on September 8, 2007, including burglary while armed, kidnapping while armed, and first-degree sexual abuse while armed with aggravating circumstances. Cold case detectives linked the defendant to two of the three attacks by DNA evidence.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of release and, if convicted, Ruffin will be required to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender. The charges are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 2, 2003, the defendant displayed a knife, violently attacked and sexually assaulted the victim in her home, and demanded money before fleeing. On June 3, 2007, the defendant violently attacked and sexually assaulted the victim in a stairwell of her apartment building. On September 8, 2007, the defendant displayed a knife, violently attacked and sexually assaulted the victim in her apartment building. The defendant was a stranger to all three victims.
Ruffin was identified as a suspect in these offenses by MPD’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit in June, 2018. On June 27, 2018, a D.C. Superior Court judge signed a complaint and warrant authorizing Ruffin’s arrest, five days before the statute of limitations would have run on the first case. Ruffin is currently in custody serving a sentence on a 2013 violent armed sexual assault and robbery of a woman in the 6900 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.
In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney Liu and Chief Newsham commended the work of the detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Cold Case Sexual Assault Unit, Deputy Marshals from the U.S. Marshals Service, and forensic examiners from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Veronica Vaughan and Juanita Harris, and Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Fogle and TJ McPhail.
Finally, they expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Zubrensky and Marisa S. West, who are investigating and prosecuting the case.