District of Columbia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
District Man Sentenced to More Than Four Years in Prison for Stabbing Man at Southeast Washington Apartment Building-Defendant Was on Probation for A Drug Offense-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – David E. Harris, 32, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to a prison term of four years and two months for stabbing a man earlier this year at an apartment building in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Harris, also known as “Bam Bam,” was found guilty by a jury in August 2013 of charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, carrying a dangerous weapon, and felony threats. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Harris was sentenced Oct. 22, 2013 by the Honorable Robert I. Richter. Upon completion of his prison term, Harris will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 8:30 p.m. on March 9, 2013, Harris approached the victim, who was entering an apartment building in the area of 16th and V Streets SE. Harris grabbed the victim by the shirt, brandished a knife, and stabbed him twice. The victim, who managed to flee, received more than 20 stitches for his stab wounds. Earlier in the day, Harris had unfairly accused the victim of stealing a drug stash he hid in the area and threatened to kill him. The victim notified police and returned to the area. Harris, who was on probation at the time for a drug conviction, was arrested four days after the stabbing.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised those who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Lynette Briggs, Lynda Randolph, Tony Griffith and Todd McClelland; Information Technology Specialists Claudia Gutierrez and Anisha Bhatia; former intern Taylor Jones, and David Foster, James Brennan, Michael Hailey, and M. Laverne Forrest, all of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Selden, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-366District Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Killing A Man by Setting Him on Fire-Attack Took Place in June 2013 in Southeast Washington-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Shawn Lewis, 42 of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for killing a man in June 2013 by setting him on fire at an apartment building in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Lewis pled guilty in July 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second-degree murder. He was sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan. Upon completion of his prison term, Lewis will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 6:25 p.m. on June 28, 2013, Lewis returned to the apartment building where he was living in the 1600 block of 21st Place SE. He then went to the back porch of the building, holding a lit piece of newspaper and a container of ignitable liquid. Lewis threw the liquid on the victim, Douglas Farley, 38, who was on the back porch. He ignited the liquid with the lit newspaper, engulfing Mr. Farley in flames. Lewis was arrested on the scene at about 9:25 that evening.
Mr. Farley was taken to the Washington Hospital Center, where he died on July 3, 2013. A post-mortem examination determined that Mr. Farley died as a result of complications from thermal and inhalation injuries sustained by the flames.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Debra Joyner, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Intelligence Specialist Sharon Johnson. Finally, he recognized the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Selden, Kathryn Rakoczy, and Jonathan Kravis, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-369District Man Sentenced to 10-Year Prison Term for Drug Distribution and Gun Charges-Traffic Stop Led to Defendant’s Arrest-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Guthrie Wright, 47, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 10-year prison term on federal narcotics distribution and weapon charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Wright pled guilty in July 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to charges of unlawful possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. The plea, which called for a 10-year sentence, was contingent upon the approval of the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Judge Howell accepted the plea agreement today and sentenced Wright accordingly. Upon completion of his prison term, Wright will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 1:45 a.m. on Nov. 9, 2012, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers stopped Wright’s vehicle for traffic violations in the 2400 block of 9th Street NW. The officers then arrested Wright for possession of an open container of alcohol.
During a search of Wright, MPD officers recovered several narcotics packaged for sale, including about 3.9 grams of cocaine. The officers later conducted a consensual search of Wright’s belongings at his mother’s apartment in Northwest Washington, where he had been staying. During the search, they found additional packaged drugs, including about 48.9 grams of cocaine, drug distribution paraphernalia, and two fully loaded handguns. One handgun was found in a backpack that also held the recovered narcotics and a document addressed to Wright.
Wright has seven previous convictions. His last conviction, which occurred in 2001, was for possession with the intent to distribute heroin.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the MPD officers who participated in Wright’s arrest and recovered the drugs and firearms. He also acknowledged the efforts of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nalina Sombuntham, who prosecuted the case.
13-368District Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Woman at Apartment Complex in Northwest Washington-Defendant Was Identified Through Video Surveillance-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jahlani Brown, 21, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge stemming from the recent sexual assault of a rental office employee at an apartment building in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Brown pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to first-degree sexual abuse. The Honorable John Ramsey Johnson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2014. In addition to prison time, Brown will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to the government’s evidence, on Sept. 17, 2013, at about 9 a.m., the victim reported to her office in the Shaw area of Northwest Washington and began preparing for her workday. Brown, who was captured on video surveillance, entered the office and locked the door. He sexually assaulted, threatened, and robbed the victim before leaving the office.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released surveillance images to the media in hopes of generating information, and neighboring businesses and community members cooperated with law enforcement in getting the word out about the attack. Brown was arrested two days after the assault and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work performed by those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit. He also praised those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
13-370British Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for 2009 Hammer Attack on College Campus-Defendant Fled United States for Four Years After Assault-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON Mohammed Niazi, 46, of the United Kingdom, was sentenced today to five years in prison on charges stemming from a hammer attack on a George Washington University student in a campus bathroom, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Niazi was found guilty in August 2013 by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, and carrying a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced by the Honorable Stuart G. Nash.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on Oct. 9, 2009, at about 3 p.m., Niazi entered Duques Hall, an academic building in the 2200 block of G Street NW. He entered a men’s bathroom on the second floor and began striking the victim in the back of the head with a metal hammer. The victim attempted to defend himself against Niazi, who continued the attack inside a foyer located between the hallway and the main bathroom. As the bleeding victim stumbled out of the bathroom, students rushed to his aid. Niazi fled down the stairs and out of the building.
Detectives with the George Washington University Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) obtained images of the suspect from security video taken in Duques Hall and issued a campus-wide e-mail alert. A response to the alert led police to a coffee shop nearby where Niazi had been seen shortly before the attack. Using security video and credit card transaction records from the coffee shop, police were able to obtain Niazi=s name and his Virginia driver=s license photo.
The day after the attack, Niazi purchased an airline ticket to London, and he fled the country the very next day. On April 4, 2013, Niazi was apprehended when he tried to travel through Panama and was returned to the United States to face charges. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed his appreciation to the Metropolitan Police Department, the George Washington University Police Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. U.S. Attorney Machen also commended the work of Paralegals Allison Gregory Daniels, Victim Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. Finally, he commended former Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Scruggs, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Sroka, who indicted and tried the case.
13-367Maryland Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder While Armed in 2012 Shooting Death in Southeast Washington-Victim and Defendant Were Close Family Friends-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Grant Johnson, 39, of Bladensburg, Md., was found guilty by a jury today of first-degree premeditated murder while armed for the May 2012 slaying of a Maryland man, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition to the first-degree murder charge, the jury found Johnson guilty of second-degree murder while armed, armed robbery, and several firearms offenses. The Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. scheduled sentencing for Feb. 21, 2014.
According to the government’s evidence, the victim, Ricardo Lancaster, 32, drove his company truck to the 800 block of Burns Street SE on May 30, 2012. He arrived at 11:22 p.m. with several hundred dollars to purchase a quantity of marijuana from Johnson. Johnson and Mr. Lancaster were old family friends, having grown up together in the 700 block of Adrian Street SE. Since childhood, Johnson was widely known as the best friend of Mr. Lancaster’s brother.
Sitting in the passenger seat of Mr. Lancaster’s company truck, Johnson shot Mr. Lancaster once in the right cheek at close range. He then went to the driver’s side of the vehicle, where Mr. Lancaster was still seated, and through the open window, shot him, again at close range, in the neck. Mr. Lancaster was found dead the next morning, still seated in the driver’s seat of his company vehicle on Burns Street. His personal cell phone was missing and he had $3 on his person. No marijuana was in the car. Hours after the murder, Johnson provided his girlfriend with several hundred dollars in cash for his share of the rent.
When asked by his best friend – Mr. Lancaster’s brother – whether he had seen or spoken to Mr. Lancaster prior to the murder, Johnson lied, claiming that he had not. The government’s evidence included cell phone records that showed that Mr. Lancaster and Johnson were in repeated contact the night of the murder, and Johnson’s DNA was found on a Doritos bag discarded on the passenger side floor of Mr. Lancaster’s company vehicle.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team. He commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Marian Russell, Sandra Lane, Kendra Johnson, and Fern Rhedrick; Lead Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Victim Witness Security Specialist Katina Adams-Washington; Intelligence Specialists Lawrence Grasso and Zachary McMenamin, and Litigation Technology Specialist Thomas “Ron” Royal. Finally, he recognized the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberley Nielsen and Robert Feitel, who investigated the case and prosecuted the case at trial.
13-364District Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for 2010 Murder in Southeast Washington-OnStar Technology Helped Police Locate Victim’s Car and Evidence-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Marlon Williams, 34, Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a prison term of 40 years on a charge of first-degree felony murder stemming from the 2010 slaying of a man in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Williams was found guilty by a jury in July 2013, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan.
According to the evidence at trial, at about 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2010, the victim, Min Soo Kang, was found on the curb in the 3500 block of Croffut Place SE, with multiple gunshot wounds. Detectives found his wallet and contacted his next of kin, who advised them that Mr. Kang, 37, owned a 2010 Cadillac Escalade equipped with OnStar GPS technology. Detectives requested that OnStar assist in tracking the vehicle. At about 5:30 p.m. on that same date, OnStar located the Escalade in the 5200 block of Ames Street NE, and engaged the remote ignition block, which prevented the ignition from re-starting the vehicle once it had been turned off.
Coincidentally, a short time later, a neighborhood resident returned home to find the disabled Escalade stopped in front of her residence. At about 7 p.m., that woman dialed 911 and alerted the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) about the suspicious behavior of a man who, upon hearing sirens approaching in the area, exited the vehicle, quickly slammed the hood, threw something into her yard, and walked away. However, when those sirens went elsewhere, the same man returned, retrieved what he had thrown into her yard, and re-entered the vehicle, making further attempts to get it started.
Once police located Mr. Kang’s vehicle, they had it towed to the Mobile Crime Lab. Technicians lifted a palm print from the hood of the car and several fingerprints from the interior handles of the driver’s door. In addition, a search of the passenger compartment yielded a receipt for the purchase of two cartons of Newport cigarettes by Mr. Kang, in Virginia, less than three hours prior to his body being found. Three unopened packs of Newport cigarettes with Virginia tax stamps remained in the vehicle. The technicians, upon noticing apparent bullet holes in the driver’s seat, recovered three bullets from inside that seat.
Earlier, during the day of Sept.13, 2010, upon performing an autopsy on Mr. Kang, a medical examiner identified three gunshot wounds to the chest with exit wounds from his back. In addition, Mr. Kang suffered a gunshot wound to the face, which exited the left ear, another gunshot wound to the left index finger, exiting the palm of Mr. Kang’s hand, and one gunshot wound perforating his right forearm.
Detectives used the palm-print, lifted from the hood of the Escalade, and identified by the fingerprint examiner, to match that of the defendant, and the description given by the 911 caller, which also matched that of the defendant, to obtain a warrant for a search of Williams’s home. There they found the murder weapon beneath his bed. In that same bedroom, police recovered one empty pack of Newport cigarettes bearing a Virginia tax stamp.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the MPD detectives, officers, crime scene technicians, and forensic specialists who worked on the case. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance of OnStar. In addition, he praised those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alesha Matthews Yette, Litigation Technology Specialists Kimberly Smith, Leif Hickling, and Joshua Ellen, and Interns Arielle Barnett and Malini Malhotra.
Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Wheeler, who secured the indictment in the case and handled the prosecution at trial.
13-362District Man Found Guilty in Stabbing; Attacked Man After Argument over $20 Debt-Defendant Tells Victim, “Get Me My Money”-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Charles Link, 53, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today of a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon stemming from the November 2012 stabbing of a man in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Link was found guilty following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Russell F. Canan scheduled sentencing for Jan. 3, 2014.
According to the government’s evidence at trial, the victim and Link were close friends for more than four years. They socialized together and played chess, and the victim even helped Link at his job at a funeral home. From time to time, Link would loan the victim small amounts of money. Last fall, the two men got into a disagreement over the repayment of a $20 loan. The victim had given Link his food assistance card and had told Link to use it to buy $40 of food, to cover the $20 debt. When Link never used the card and failed to return it, the victim cancelled the card so that he could get a new one and access his food benefits.
On the evening of Nov. 13, 2012, as the victim was walking down a street near his home, he encountered Link and the two began arguing over the debt. When the victim reached the entrance to an alley off the 500 block of Newton Place NW, he was pushed from behind by an unidentified man and fell to the ground. Link joined in the attack and kicked and punched the victim, stating “get me my money.” Link then pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim five times—twice in the chest and rib cage. He and the unidentified man fled, leaving the victim bleeding in an alley.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, including detectives from the Fourth Police District. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Wanda Trice and Debra McPherson. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Vivien Cockburn and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor N. McFadden, who assisted in the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittain Shaw, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-365District Man Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Four Women in Series of Attacks Committed at Knifepoint-Defendant Lured Victims into His SUV, Then Raped Them-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Barrington Bennett, 35, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury on Oct. 9, 2013 of sexually assaulting four victims at knifepoint between December 2011 and August 2012, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Bennett was found guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia jury of four counts of first-degree sexual abuse while armed with aggravating circumstances, four counts of kidnapping while armed, and three counts of armed robbery. The Honorable J. Ramsey Johnson scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2014.
According to the government=s evidence, Bennett lured the victims into his sport utility vehicle in attacks that took place on Dec. 16, 2011; Feb. 18, 2012; July 28, 2012, and Aug. 23, 2012.
One victim joined Bennett after the offer of a ride home. The other victims were prostitutes who believed they would perform sex for money. Bennett had folded down the middle row of seats in the SUV and covered it with a blanket. When victims got into the SUV, from various locations in Northeast and Northwest Washington, Bennett drove them to places in Northeast Washington. He pulled out a folding knife, held it to their throats, and raped them at knifepoint.
Bennett also robbed three of the victims of cell phones and money. He cut the fourth victim on her jaw and head, and she wiped her blood on the blanket. When she finally escaped the SUV, she saw the license plate and reported the tag number immediately. Detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department located the SUV within an hour, impounded it, and searched it after obtaining a warrant.
Inside the SUV, police discovered a folding knife that contained DNA consistent with the fourth victim and the defendant. Police also found a blanket that contained the fourth victim’s blood, along with the DNA of the defendant and the first victim. Finally, the second victim had received a sexual assault kit which contained Bennett’s DNA.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department=s Sexual Assault Unit, the Fifth District, and the Forensic Science Division. He also commended the work of the Consolidated Forensic Sciences Division. He also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson; Paralegal Specialists Jason Manuel and Tiffany Jones, and Victim-Witness Specialists David Foster and Katina Adams-Washington. He particularly commended the work of Claudia Gutierrez, Joe Calvarese, Leif Hickling and the entire Litigation Support Staff for their work on the case. Lastly, Mr. Machen thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Zubrensky, who investigated, indicted and tried the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi Lazarus, who co-tried the case, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Andrews, who also investigated the case.
13-363Two Men Found Guilty of Aggravated Assault While Armed for 2012 Shooting in Northwest Washington-Bullets Fired into A Block Crowded with Adults and Children-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Carlito Bailey, 22, and Rickey Watkins, 22, both of Washington D.C., were found guilty by a jury on Oct. 11, 2013 of charges stemming from a shooting in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Bailey and Watkins were found guilty following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and related firearms offenses. They are to be sentenced on Dec. 10, 2013 by the Honorable Robert I. Richter.
According to the government’s evidence, on the night of May 5, 2012, Bailey, Watkins, and a third unidentified shooter traveled to Northwest Washington armed with firearms. The three men approached the intersection of Johnson Avenue and R Street NW, where they opened fire, shooting at least ten bullets into a block crowded with adults and children gathered to celebrate a birthday party. One of the adults was shot several times in the legs. After firing the shots, the men fled on Johnson Avenue.
Bailey and Watkins were apprehended approximately 24 minutes after the shooting in a car with two firearms. One of the firearms was a ballistics match to six shell casings and a bullet from the crime scene, and a swab from the slide of that weapon yielded DNA that matched the DNA profile of Bailey. Cell site data placed Watkins at the scene of the shooting.
In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department Second District officers who apprehended the defendants and recovered the key evidence shortly after the shooting, as well as the Third District detectives who investigated the case. He also praised FBI Special Agent Kevin Horan for his valuable work analyzing cell phone records and testifying as a government expert at trial. In addition, he commended those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Litigation Technology Specialists Joe Calvarese, Kimberly Smith and Ron Royal and Paralegal Specialists Allison Daniels and Mia Beamon. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ephraim (Fry) Wernick and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Chris Dobbie, who indicted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann Carroll and Jonathan Kravis, who prosecuted the case.
13-361District Woman Found Guilty of Charges in Shooting at Northwest Washington Restaurant-Defendant Shot Victim Once in the Chest-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Lashawn Carson, 28, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on Oct. 11, 2013 of aggravated assault while armed and related firearms offenses stemming from a shooting at a Northwest Washington restaurant, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
The jury’s verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for Dec. 9, 2013.
According to the government’s evidence, at 5:30 a.m. on March 11, 2012, two groups of friends were eating at the IHOP restaurant in the 3100 block of 14th Street NW. The victim’s group of friends was seated at one table and Carson’s group was at another.
As the victim was attempting to walk to the cash register to pay his bill, Carson and a male friend inadvertently stood directly in his way. The victim attempted to squeeze by and accidently bumped into Carson. Words were exchanged, and the defendant’s male friend used a homophobic slur. A fight ensued, and an off-duty police detective, who was seated nearby, jumped up to break it up. At that point, according to the government’s evidence, Carson walked over, adjusted her hair, pulled out a firearm and shot the victim once in the chest.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Finkelman and Lauren Dickie, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Cannon, who investigated the case and prosecuted it at trial.
13-360District Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Related to Embezzlement of Indonesian Airline- Admits Failure to Report over $448,000 in Income -Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Jon C. Cooper, 64, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty on Oct. 9, 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of tax evasion related to his failure to report over $448,000 in income he received in 2006.
The guilty plea, which took place on Oct. 9, 2013, was announced today by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Thomas J. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
As part of his guilty plea, Cooper admitted that, in December 2006, he and Alan Messner induced an Indonesian airline company to pay them a $1 million security deposit to lease two aircraft using various false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises – including forged and fraudulent documents. Cooper admitted that, after he received the $1 million security deposit, he transferred $284,500 to Messner in December 2006 and January 2007. Cooper spent the balance of the security deposit for his own personal benefit. Cooper and Messner did not provide the promised aircraft and did not return any funds to the Indonesian airline company.
Cooper admitted that he did not report at least $448,727 of those proceeds on his federal income tax return for 2006. Instead, by under-reporting his income, Cooper claimed a tax refund that year. As a result of Cooper’s tax evasion, Cooper caused a tax loss of at least $133,464 to the United States.
Cooper is to be sentenced on Jan. 23, 2014, before the Honorable Amy Berman Jackson. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, as part of his guilty plea, Cooper agreed to pay $133,464 owed to the United States. Cooper further agreed to make restitution of $1 million to the victimized Indonesian airline company.
In a related case, Messner, 41, of Rolling Meadows, Ill., pled guilty in August 2013 to one count of tax evasion, admitting that he failed to report any portion of the $284,500 he received on his federal income tax returns. Messner is to be sentenced on Dec. 13, 2013. Messner faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. As part of his guilty plea, Messner agreed to pay the full $62,231 which he owed to the United States.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave, and Special Agent in Charge Kelly expressed appreciation for the work done by those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Washington Field Office of the IRS-CI. They also acknowledged the efforts of Trial Attorney Jessica Moran, of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division. Finally, they commended the work of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Krishawn Graham, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard DiZinno and Jonathan Hooks, who investigated and indicted the case.
13-359Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty to Submitting More Than $164,000 of False Insurance Claims to the U.S. Postal Service-Falsely Claimed That Parcels Were Damaged or Lost in the Mail-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Levette J. Douglas, 35, of Toledo, Ohio, pled guilty today to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud for her role in a scheme that defrauded the U.S. Postal Service out of over $164,000 through the submission of false insurance claims.
The guilty plea, which took place in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Paul L. Bowman, Special Agent in Charge, Capital Metro Area Field Office, U.S. Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General.
As part of the plea agreement, Douglas agreed to $164,859 in criminal forfeiture and restitution. Under voluntary federal sentencing guidelines, she faces between 21 and 27 months in prison. The Honorable Rudolph Contreras scheduled sentencing for Jan 16, 2014.
According to the government’s evidence, from April 2010 to July 2013, Douglas and her co-conspirators submitted false claims to the Postal Service for allegedly damaged or lost parcels. As part of this scheme, Douglas and others purchased insurance for approximately 325 parcels that were sent through the mail. They later falsely claimed that the parcels were damaged or lost, often submitting forged or fictitious documents to support their claims.
For example, on one occasion, Douglas submitted a false affidavit purporting to be from a postal letter carrier in support of a claim that a parcel was not delivered. The affiant, allegedly a postal letter carrier with the initials M.M., stated that she had not delivered any parcels to the recipient for several months. The affiant also provided a phone number in case there were questions. That phone number was Douglas’s phone number. In fact, the parcel in question was delivered and the recipient signed a delivery receipt.
As a final part of this scheme, Douglas also mailed to the Postal Service’s accounting department forged internal postal forms purporting to be from Postal Service employees verifying the false claims. In total, the Postal Service paid $164,859 based on these false claims.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Special Agent in Charge Bowman commended the investigative work of Special Agent Jason Manning of the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. They also praised the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Corinne Kleinman and Nicole Wattelet; Criminal Investigator Matthew Kutz; Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas, who worked on forfeiture issues, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Johnson, who is prosecuting the case.
13-355Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge in June 2013 Incident at White House ComplexDefendant Hoped to Spray-Paint the White House, Crashed Unattended Jeep in Hopes of Diverting Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Joseph Clifford Reel, 32, of Kettering, Ohio, pled guilty on Oct. 4, 2013 to a federal charge stemming from an incident in which he rigged his Jeep to travel, unattended, toward the White House, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Kathy A. Michalko, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service.
Reel pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of assaulting, impeding, intimidating, and interfering with an officer or employee of the United States with a dangerous weapon. The plea agreement, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for Reel to be sentenced to 35 months of incarceration, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The plea agreement also calls for Reel to pay $5,345 in restitution to the U.S. Park Service for the damage he caused in the incident. The Honorable Rudolph Contreras scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2014.
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendant as well as the government, Reel left his residence in Ohio on June 6, 2013, in his 2008 Jeep Patriot, heading to Washington, D.C. for the purpose of spray-painting the “Don’t Tread on Me” snake on the White House residence, believing the action would lead others to “stand up against government.”
On June 9, 2013, shortly after 3 a.m., Reel rigged his Jeep to crash into the White House complex. The vehicle was traveling at about 40 mph upon impact.
Reel, who was not in the Jeep, had affixed a wooden block to the accelerator and reached into the vehicle to shift it into drive. The vehicle, which Reel had parked on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, then began moving toward the White House complex, specifically, a Secret Service guard post. At the time, an officer was on-duty and inside the guard booth. At collision, the Jeep hit a light post, a steel bollard, and a steel bike rack, causing $5,345 in damage to property of the U.S. Park Service.
Just before he set the Jeep in motion, Reel called 911 and warned that something was about to be staged at the White House. He made the call in hopes of causing members of law enforcement to convene at the White House complex, intending to create a distraction that would increase his chances of gaining access to the White House residence and spray-painting the “Don’t’ Tread on Me” snake on the building. Instead, Reel was arrested inside the White House Complex, within minutes of the Jeep’s impact.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement searched the Jeep and found hundreds of rounds of ammunition, eight knives of various sizes, two machetes, a hand-held spotting scope, and other items. A spray-paint can was found on the White House complex grounds, near the area where Reel was apprehended.
Reel has been in custody since his arrest.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Secret Service, which swiftly responded to the incident and investigated the case. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the Dayton Resident Agency of the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Legal Assistants Ashley Kellam and Donice Adams, Paralegal Specialist Selena Zuhoski, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maia L. Miller, who is prosecuting the case.
13-356Former Office Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $400,000 from Law Firm-Defendant Handled Payroll and Accounts Payable for Firm-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Bernard Chung, 31, of Falls Church, Va., pled guilty on Oct. 7, 2013 to a federal wire fraud charge stemming from his embezzlement of more than $400,000 from the law firm where he worked as an office manager, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Chung entered the plea in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Honorable Thomas F. Hogan scheduled sentencing for Jan. 16, 2014. The charge carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison and financial penalties. The parties have agreed that, under federal sentencing guidelines, Chung faces a likely range of 30 to 37 months of incarceration and a fine of up to $60,000. He also will be required to pay restitution.
According to facts presented to the Court by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Schornstein, Chung worked from 2009 until August 2012 as the office manager for North Star Intellectual Property Law, LLC, a law firm that is based in downtown Washington, D.C. His duties included setting up the firm’s computer systems and network, creating a paperless environment, payroll, and bill payments.
Beginning in February 2010, and continuing until July 2012, Chung devised a scheme to defraud the firm, ultimately embezzling $407,062. He generated the money by issuing excessive salary payments to himself, inflating his regular paychecks, and other means. He was able to hide his activities in large part because his employment position authorized him to handle the payroll and accounts payable, creating a mechanism that he could exploit for his own financial benefit.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director in Charge Parlave commended the work of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which investigated the case. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Schornstein, who is investigating and prosecuting the case.
13-357District Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in 2012 Killing of His Cousin-Victim Died of Head Injuries Suffered in Attack-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Arvel Wills, 24, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty on Oct. 10, 2013 to charges stemming from the killing of his cousin, Dwayne Wills, last year in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Wills pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to involuntary manslaughter and a firearms offense. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2013.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 26, 2012, at about 4 a.m., Wills and his cousin, Dwayne Wills, 25, engaged in a verbal dispute that turned into a physical altercation at Abbey Place and L Street NE. They had been drinking alcohol at the time of the incident.
Dwayne Wills took two punches at the defendant. Arvel Wills picked up his cousin by his neck and leg, held him over his head, and then forcefully slammed his head into a concrete street, causing a skull fracture. Dwayne Wills was unconscious, but was revived and taken to Washington Hospital Center, where he claimed that he had fallen and hurt himself. He lapsed into a coma. On June 4, 2012, he died as a result of head injuries suffered on May 26, 2012.
The District of Columbia medical examiner=s office ruled the case a homicide. The evidence indicates that the cause of death was blunt impact trauma to the head.
Wills was arrested on Sept. 27, 2012. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a 9 mm Ruger, which had an extended magazine clip with 13 rounds of ammunition and was capable of holding 50 rounds. He has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen expressed appreciation to the detectives, officers and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for its assistance on the case. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Investigators Stephen Cohen, Tommy Miller, Melissa Matthews, Durand Odom, Nelson Rhone, Juan Juarez, Matt Kutz, and interns Ian Irlander and Brian Edgerton; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Paralegal Specialist Kelley Blakeney. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright who prosecuted the case.
13-358Virginia Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Richard Mark Abbott, 62, of Chesterfield, Va., was sentenced today to a 2 ½-year prison term on a federal charge of possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Abbott pled guilty to the charge in July 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Upon completion of his prison term, Abbott will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on March 15, 2013, Abbott contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social network site frequented by individuals with a sexual interest in children. Over the next few days, Abbott engaged in online e-mail and instant messaging with the undercover officer, whom Abbott believed was the father of an under-aged girl.
During the course of their communications, Abbott sent the undercover officer ten images of child pornography. On May 2, 2013, Abbott was arrested at his residence in Virginia. Pursuant to a search warrant for the residence, law enforcement recovered various electronic devices including two computers and various external storage devices. After a forensic review of those items, law enforcement recovered over 600 images of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-353Maryland Man Sentenced to More Than 30 Years in Prison for 2010 Killing Inside Downtown Office Building-Defendant Later Disposed of Body in Frederick County, Md.-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Marvin Palencia, 37, of Hyattsville, Md., was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2013 to a total of 31 years and four months in prison on charges stemming from the slaying of a man in a downtown office building, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced
Palencia was found guilty by a jury in June 2013 of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, and tampering with evidence. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson.
According to the government’s evidence, on Nov. 11, 2010, Palencia shot the victim, Jacobo Vazquez, 36, in the chest and in the back of the head in the laundry room of a ten-story office building in the 100 block of Constitution Avenue NW, where both of the men worked. Palencia was angry because Mr. Vazquez was in a relationship with the defendant’s wife. Palencia and his wife were separated but he hoped for reconciliation.
Prior to the murder, Valencia shared with several people how upset he was with Mr. Vazquez. He also threatened Mr. Vazquez about one week before the murder – telling him that he better not see him at work anymore. Over the course of the next week, Palencia purchased a firearm illegally and verified Mr. Vazquez’s work schedule with his superior.
The government’s evidence showed that Palencia carefully planned out the timing and location of the murder by using his knowledge of the building and the various employee schedules. After killing Mr. Vazquez, Palencia put the body in a cardboard box, wrapped the box in duct tape, plastic, and a cord, and then dumped the body on the side of the road on Interstate 70 in Frederick County, Md. However, in his haste to wrap the box, he unknowingly attached his work identification card to the box. Palencia was arrested Nov. 20, 2010 and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers and evidence technicians who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Maryland State Police, the Maryland State Highway Department and the Maryland State Medical Examiner’s Office. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Marian Russell and Kalisha Johnson-Clark; Intern Matt Lamb, and Litigation Technology Specialists Kimberly Smith and Thomas “Ron” Royal. He thanked Assistant U.S Attorney Seth B. Waxman, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Miller, who investigated the case and secured the indictment.
Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Cannon and Kevin Flynn, who prosecuted the case at trial.
13-351Maryland Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Broad Daylight Kidnapping and Assault-Defendant Abducted Girlfriend After High-Speed Chase-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Christopher Devese, 23, of Capitol Heights, Md., was sentenced on Oct. 11, 2013 to five years in prison for abducting his pregnant girlfriend from a gas station, robbing her and then assaulting her, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Devese pled guilty in July 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, robbery, and felony contempt. The plea was contingent upon the approval of the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson, who accepted it and sentenced Devese. Upon completion of his prison term, Devese will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on April 27, 2013, at about 12:30 p.m., Devese chased his girlfriend, the victim, in a car from Capitol Heights, Md., into the District of Columbia, as she sped through red lights trying to get away from him. The victim, who had called 911 for help while being pursued by Devese, was finally cornered in a gas station parking lot in the 4900 block of South Dakota Avenue NE. Devese smashed the car window to get into the car and pulled his girlfriend out. He then put her into his car and drove her to an unknown alley in the District of Columbia, where he repeatedly assaulted her, including beating her in the stomach with his casted fist. During the assault, he also robbed the victim of her cell phone, which police recovered from him when he was arrested. Devese then drove the victim back to Capitol Heights, Md., where he assaulted her again before his mother came to the victim’s aid.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit and the FBI/MPD Violent Crimes Task Force. He also praised those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lezlie Richardson, Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key, and Intern Lucie Enns. Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who investigated and indicted the case.
13-349Four Assailants Sentenced for Robbery of Three Teenage Victims-Victims Were Forced into A Wooded Area at Night-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Four teenagers have been sentenced to prison terms for their roles in the armed robbery of three teenage victims earlier this year in a wooded area of Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.
The defendants, who pled guilty to charges in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, include Emmannuel Avent, 19; Daron Brown, 18; Stephon Christian, 18, and Diquan Lucas, 16. All are from Washington, D.C. Avent pled guilty to a charge of robbery and the others to attempted robbery. The Honorable Stuart G. Nash sentenced Christian on Oct. 11, 2013 to 12 months of incarceration. Avent, Brown, and Lucas were sentenced last month to terms of incarceration of 36 months, 12 months, and 9 months, respectively.
At the plea hearing, the defendants admitted that on March 30, 2013, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Avent, while wearing a ski mask, approached the victims - 14, 15, and 17 - from behind in the 4300 block of Hunt Place NE , saying, “Everybody walk into the woods. If anybody tries to run, he’s going to get shot.” Avent then pulled up his shirt to reveal a black-handled object in his waistband. The victims complied and walked into a wooded area nearby.
Once in the woods, Avent demanded that the victims empty their pockets. The victims turned over a cell phone and $20. As Avent collected these items, Brown, Christian, and Lucas entered the woods from a different direction. Brown and Lucas also were wearing ski masks. Brown, Christian, and Lucas told the victims to give up their tennis shoes. As they gave their shoes to the defendants, Brown checked their pockets for additional proceeds.
After the robbery, Avent told the victims to get on the ground, put their jackets over their heads, and count to 100. The victims complied, and the defendants fled the scene of the robbery together. The victims ran out into a nearby roadway, flagged down a police vehicle, and provided a description of the robbery suspects to the police. Another police vehicle stopped the defendants a short distance away in an alley near Gault Place NE. The police searched the alley and recovered the victims’ shoes, as well as a cell phone belonging to one of the victims. The police also recovered two ski masks in a search of Avent, one ski mask in a search of Lucas, and one ski mask and a black-handled knife on the ground near where the defendants had been stopped.
In announcing the sentencings, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives and officers who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Richard Cheatham. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Schrader, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-350Former Corrections Officer Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison on Federal Bribery Charge-Admitted Taking Money in Return for Smuggling Drugs into D.C. Jail-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jonathan Womble, 37, a former corrections officer at the District of Columbia Jail, was sentenced on Oct. 9, 2013 to 37 months in prison on a federal charge of conspiracy to commit bribery for accepting $400 in cash in return for smuggling drugs and other contraband into the facility, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Womble pled guilty in June 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton. Upon completion of his prison term, Womble will be placed on three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, the FBI received information in January 2013 that a corrections officer was providing narcotics and other contraband to an inmate at the D.C. Jail. An investigation revealed that the inmate was working with co-conspirators outside the jail to assemble, deliver, receive and distribute narcotics intended for inmates at the jail, and that they were paying an individual to get the drugs into the facility.
On Jan. 27, 2013, Womble met with one of the co-conspirators in the parking lot of a carry-out restaurant in the District of Columbia. The co-conspirator gave Womble a plastic bag, which contained a powdery substance consistent with heroin and marijuana. The bag also contained a cellphone, cellphone charger and $400 in cash. Womble understood that the cash was in exchange for him getting the drugs, cell phone and charger to the inmate in the jail. Two days later, he smuggled the items into the jail and provided them to the inmate.
Plans were subsequently made for another delivery of contraband. However, on Feb. 12, 2013, multiple bags of marijuana were discovered and intercepted inside Womble’s locker at the jail by the District of Columbia Department of Corrections and one of its K-9 dogs. The marijuana had been provided to Womble by a person who wanted it delivered to another inmate.
Womble is among four corrections employees convicted of bribery since December 2012.
In December 2012, Daishawn Goodson, a former corrections officer employed by the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), pled guilty to taking money to smuggle contraband into the District’s Correctional Treatment Facility. She was sentenced to eight months of home detention. In March 2013, Jeremiah Moorman, a former corrections officer, was found guilty of accepting money under the promise of bringing contraband into the District of Columbia Jail. He was sentenced to two years of probation. Also in March 2013, April Johnston, a former corrections officer for the District of Columbia Jail, pled guilty to taking money to smuggle contraband into the facility. She was sentenced to three months in jail and six months of home detention and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen and Assistant Director in Charge Parlave commended the work of the three agencies who jointly worked the case, including agents from the FBI’s Washington Field Office, an FBI task force officer from Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and investigators from the District of Columbia Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services and the Department of Corrections K9 Unit. Finally, they commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Lenisse Edloe, Legal Assistant Angela Lawrence, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard E. DiZinno and Christopher R. Kavanaugh, who prosecuted the case.
13-347Executive Director of Non-Profit Sentenced to 2 ½ Years in Prison for Wire Fraud, Admitted Using More Than $200,000 in Grants for Personal Use- Used Money Meant for Youth Programs for Gambling, Other Personal Expenses-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Keely E. Thompson Jr., 48, executive director of Keely’s District Boxing and Youth Center, was sentenced on Oct. 9, 2013 to a 2 ½-–year prison term on a federal charge of wire fraud stemming from a scheme in which he spent District of Columbia and private grant funds, meant for youth programs and activities, on personal goods, entertainment, and services. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Charles J. Willoughby, Inspector General of the District of Columbia.
Thompson, of Accokeek, Md., pled guilty in June 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan. Thompson must pay $205,000 in restitution to the entities that granted the misspent funds and forfeit a money judgment in the amount of $205,000. Upon completion of his prison term, Thompson will be placed on three years of supervised release. During that time, he must complete 500 hours of community service.
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendant as well as the government, Keely’s District Boxing and Youth Center was a non-profit organization based at locations in Northwest and Northeast Washington. The operations were funded with grant money. The funds were to be used to carry out the boxing program’s mission of promoting youth development.
Thompson admitted improperly using $205,000 in funds from 2004 to 2009. The spending included $105,000 for gambling at a casino in Atlantic City, N.J. and on a cruise ship; $50,000 for meals at restaurants, purchases at grocery stores, concerts, speeding tickets and clothing, and an additional $50,000 on other unauthorized expenditures.
Thompson was arrested in November 2010 and has been free on personal recognizance while the case remained pending. In November 2012, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging him and his wife, Bianca Thompson, the non-profit’s deputy director, with wire fraud and other offenses. The plea agreement in Keely Thompson’s case called for the indictment against Bianca Thompson to be dismissed at the time of his sentencing.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, and Inspector General Willoughby commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the District of Columbia Inspector General’s Office. They also expressed appreciation for those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Nicole Wattelet, Krishawn Graham and Diane Hayes, and Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant, and Jelahn Stewart, Chief of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit. Finally, they praised the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth B. Waxman and Lionel André, who prosecuted the case.
13-348District Man Sentenced to 38-Year Prison Term for Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Other Charges for Role in Gun Battles Between Rival Crews - Second Defendant Sentenced Earlier to 12 Years in Prison-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William Spriggs, 25, was sentenced today to 38 years in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and other charges stemming from a violent rivalry between two street crews in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.
Spriggs and Raymond Davis, 21, were found guilty of conspiracy charges in April 2013, following a two-month trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Spriggs also was convicted of charges of first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and other gun-related offenses. He was sentenced by the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson.
Davis also was found guilty of assault with intent to kill while armed and weapons offenses. He was sentenced in June 2013 to a 12-year prison term for his role in the case.
A third defendant, Deante Harding, 25, was found guilty in April 2013 of conspiracy to assault. Harding was sentenced to time served. All three men are from Washington, D.C.
The case centered on a series of shootings that occurred in 2010 in the Benning Terrace neighborhood of Southeast Washington. The rivalry involved individuals from the Avenue, an area in Benning Terrace west of 46th Street SE, and individuals from the Circle, a cul-de-sac in the 600 Block of 46th Place SE. Both crews dealt narcotics, possessed firearms, and sought to evade law enforcement. Spriggs, Davis and Harding were part of the Avenue group.
According to the government’s evidence, during the spring of 2010, individuals from the Avenue traded retaliatory shootings with individuals in the Circle. Davis, for example, on one occasion shot at an individual coming from the Circle. Also, on May 14, 2010, three Avenue members, including Spriggs and Davis, ran into the Circle and fired multiple gunshots, hitting a Circle crew member.
Then, on May 30, 2010, Circle members armed themselves and went to the Avenue and shot at individuals. Several minutes later, several Avenue crew members ran up into the Circle, firing their weapons, where they encountered multiple Circle crew members who fired at them. During the shooting, a bystander from the Circle, Antwan Buckner, 32, was shot and killed.
In its verdict, the jury convicted Spriggs of first-degree murder while armed in the killing of Mr. Buckner, and acquitted Davis of that charge. Harding also was acquitted of some offenses. Harding was arrested in March 2011 and until November 2012 was serving time for a probation violation.
In separate proceedings, other individuals from the Circle were tried and convicted or pled to crimes related to the murder of Mr. Buckner and an additional murder.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Fern Rhedrick, Sharon Newman, and Meridith McGarrity; Litigation Technology Specialists Thomas Royal and Kimberly Smith; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker and the entire staff of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Pearlman and Laura Bach, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-354District Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for 2011 Slaying in Northwest Washington-Defendant Stabbed Victim in the Neck-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON Devon Holmes, 30, also known as “Jamaica,” of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 24 years in prison for the August 2011 slaying of a man in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Holmes was found guilty by a jury in July 2013 of a charge of second-degree murder while armed, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Ronna L. Beck. Upon completion of his prison term, Holmes will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the evidence at trial, at about 2:45 a.m. on Aug. 3, 2011, in the area of 8th and Jefferson Streets NW, Holmes slashed the victim, Marcellus T. Bailey, 24, in the neck with a sharp object, causing a gaping wound and loss of blood. Holmes fled the scene. Mr. Bailey died a short while later. The motive for the attack is unknown. Holmes was arrested on Sept. 9, 2011, and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), including detectives, mobile crime technicians, and others. He also expressed appreciation for the work of Special Agent Kevin R. Horan of the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST). In addition, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Fern Rhedrick and Mia Beamon; Litigation Support Services Specialists Jeanie Latimore-Brown, Kimberly Smith, Claudia Gutierrez, Joshua Ellen, and Joseph Calvarese; Victim/Witness Advocates Marcia Rinker and Tamara Ince; Victim/Witness Services Supervisor David Foster; Witness Security Specialists M. Laverne Forrest and Michael Hailey; Criminal Investigators Mark Crawford and Christopher Brophy, and Intelligence Research Specialists Zachary McMenamin, Sharon Johnson, and Shannon Alexis.
Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert J. Feitel and Kathryn L. Rakoczy, who prosecuted the case at trial.
13-352Former Waiter Sentenced to 38-Month Prison Term, Used Stolen Credit Card Information to Buy Artwork and Jewelry-Defendant Also Carried Out Separate Check-Kiting Scheme-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Kevin T. Washington, 48, of Gaithersburg, Md., was sentenced today to a 38-month prison term and ordered to pay restitution of approximately $39,000 to various businesses and banks that were defrauded in a pair of schemes, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen, Jr., Cathy L. Lanier of the Metropolitan Police Department and Kathy A. Michalko, Special Agent In Charge of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service.
Washington pled guilty in August 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to felony credit card fraud, first-degree felony fraud, and misdemeanor credit card fraud. He was sentenced by the Honorable Robert I. Richter.
According to the plea agreement, in September and October of 2012, Washington obtained the credit card numbers of four different victims while working as a waiter at a restaurant in Georgetown. One victim had treated his niece, who had been attending college in the area, to a meal at the restaurant. Shortly thereafter, he discovered thousands of dollars in fraudulent charges from an art gallery. That victim’s card was used to purchase artwork totaling approximately $46,000 from a Georgetown art gallery, including two Pablo Picasso etchings, as well as Henri Matisse and Damien Hirst etchings.
Members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit enlisted assistance from the Fairfax County, Va. Police Department and together they were able to recover the artwork from a store in Fairfax County where Washington had pawned them. That store suffered roughly $3,000 in losses.
During this same time period, September through October 2012, Washington used the credit card number of another victim who had dined at the restaurant to purchase diamond stud earrings, a wedding band, a diamond cross and a 16-inch gold chain from a jewelry store in Northwest Washington. He also used another victim’s credit card number for storage services and the fourth victim’s credit card number for car repair services. All told, the purchases on these three victims’ cards totaled about $11,300.
Finally, beginning in March 2012 and continuing through February 2013, Washington fraudulently obtained approximately $24,000 in cash in a check-kiting scheme. The investigation showed that Washington opened accounts at six different banks and subsequently deposited bad checks with the intent of artificially inflating his account balances. Washington would then withdraw large sums of money, knowing that the checks would be returned due to insufficient funds or for having been written on closed accounts.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Chief Lanier and Special Agent in Charge Michalko praised the investigative work of the MPD detective assigned to the Financial Crimes and Fraud Unit and the Special Agent assigned to the Secret Service‘s Washington Field Office. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Fairfax County Police Department. Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie G. Miller, who prosecuted the case.
13-346Former Teacher Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography-Exchanged Sexually Explicit Images with Student-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John Solano, 30, a former teacher from Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Oct. 7, 2013 to five years in prison for receiving child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Solano pled guilty in July 2013 to receipt of pornography. He was sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by the Honorable Rosemary M. Collyer. Solano has been incarcerated since his arrest on March 8, 2013. Upon completion of his prison term, Solano will be placed on 10 years of supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of 15 years.
According to the government's evidence, Solano, who was then a teacher at McKinley Tech High School in Northeast Washington, engaged in inappropriate sexual communications with several current and former students. Specifically, in December 2012, Solano engaged in inappropriate and sexually explicit text message communications with a 16-year-old student. During the course of that correspondence, at Solano’s request, the student sent and Solano received images of child pornography.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-345District Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Producing and Selling False Identification DocumentsDefendant Is Among Seven People to Plead Guilty Following Federal Investigation of Ring in Northwest WashingtonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rocio Sanchez-Flores, also known as “Amador,” or “Taliban,” has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in a ring that produced and sold false identification documents in the Columbia Heights area of Northwest Washington.
The sentencing, which took place Oct. 16, 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Scot Rittenberg, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington.
Sanchez-Flores, 30, was among seven defendants indicted in October 2012 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, following an investigation into sales of fraudulent identity documents near the Columbia Heights Metrorail station at 14th and Irving Streets NW. Like Sanchez-Flores, the other six defendants pled guilty to charges in the case.
Sanchez-Flores, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty in March 2013 to a conspiracy charge. He was sentenced by the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan. As part of his plea agreement, Sanchez-Flores agreed to the forfeiture of $5,000.
Others pleading guilty to conspiracy include Jorge Castaneda, 39, also known as “Francisco Mendoza” and “George,” of Washington, D.C.; Victor Bedillo, 42, of Silver Spring, Md.; Juan Guarneros, also known as “Lobo,” 54, of Washington, D.C.; Javier Lopez, also known as “Pumba,” 46, of Washington, D.C.; Juan Lopez-Medina, also known as “Juanito,” 44, of Washington, D.C. , and Carlos Armando Rivas-Rivas, also known as “Paisa,” 42, of Silver Spring, Md. Except for Guarneros, all also pled guilty to a charge of transfer of fraudulent identity documents. Guarneros pled guilty to a charge of production of fraudulent documents.
Castaneda was sentenced in September 2013 to a 27-month prison term. The remaining five defendants were sentenced in June 2013. Bedillo was sentenced to nine months of incarceration. Guarneros was sentenced to 10 months of incarceration. Javier Lopez was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Lopez-Medina was sentenced to 10 months of incarceration, and Rivas-Rivas was sentenced to 405 days of incarceration.
All of the defendants also acknowledged that, because they are not U.S. citizens, they consent to removal from the country upon completion of their sentences.
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendants as well as the government, members of the group participated in the ring from in or around March 2010 until October 2012, when authorities made arrests. The defendants produced and sold false documents, including permanent resident cards, employment authorization cards, Social Security cards, and State licenses and identification cards. Depending on the type and quality of fraudulent identity documents, the defendants charged customers between $40 and $200 per transaction.
Potential customers typically provided their photographs, names, dates of birth and the kinds of fraudulent documents they wanted to purchase. Documents were manufactured at Sanchez-Flores’s home in the 1500 block of Ogden Street NW.
Jorge Castaneda also was charged in a second case involving a separate group of individuals who sold fraudulent identity documents in the Columbia Heights area. Authorities arrested seven other members of that conspiracy, which was led by Maria Campos-Sanchez, 30, also known as “Betty.” Campos-Sanchez received a 24-month prison term, and the other defendants’ sentences were nine months of incarceration or higher.
The cases were investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. field office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frederick Yette, T. Patrick Martin and Mona Sahaf, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
13-342District Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for 2012 Murder in Northeast Washington-Defendant Shot Victim in Broad Daylight at A Busy Metro Bus Stop-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Detrek Baker, 24, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on Oct. 4, 2013 to 23 years in prison for the April 2012 slaying of a man at a Northeast Washington bus stop, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Baker pled guilty in April 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second-degree murder. He was sentenced by the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. Upon completion of his prison term, Baker will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on Saturday, April 28, 2012, the victim, James Sherrod, Jr., and a friend, both 22, walked to the U5 Metro bus stop in front of Mayfair Manor, in the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace NE. Baker, who was carrying a red, black, and grey single-strap book bag, was standing at the bus stop along with several other young men.
For nearly an hour, the victim, Baker, and others stood at the bus stop, talking. At about 1:40 p.m., without provocation or warning, Baker pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Sherrod in the head. When the victim collapsed, Baker stood over him and fired additional bullets into his body.
Immediately after the shooting, Baker ran toward 800 Kenilworth Avenue NE. Eyewitnesses observed him pause beside one of the trash dumpsters there while running away; later they directed the police to those dumpsters. Inside one of the dumpsters was a red, black, and grey single-strap book bag and a .357 revolver. Inside the revolver were five spent casings and one live round. Two bullets were recovered from Mr. Sherrod’s body during an autopsy; police determined that those bullets were fired from the .357 revolver found in the dumpster.
Individuals at the bus stop as well as several members of the community spoke with law enforcement. They reported what they had observed at the bus stop. These eyewitnesses were instrumental not only in helping the police identify Baker as the shooter within hours of the murder, but also in strengthening the evidence against him, ultimately resulting his guilty plea.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Ethel Gregory, Marian Russell, and Kendra Johnson; Lead Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman; Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Intelligence Specialists Lawrence Grasso, Shannon Alexis, Sharon Johnson, and William Hamann. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized former Assistant U.S. Attorney J.P. Cooney and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Nielsen, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-344Delaware Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Traveling into the District of Columbia to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with A Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Powell, 49, of Bridgeville, Del., was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2013, to 10 years in prison on federal charges of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Powell pled guilty to the charges in April 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Reggie B. Walton. Powell was convicted in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 1997 of third-degree sexual abuse in a case that involved a child and was therefore subject to a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence. Following completion of his prison term, Powell will be placed on 20 years of supervised release. He also will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years after his prison term.
According to the government's evidence, on Sept. 10, 2012, Powell contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had entered a social network site frequented by individuals with a sexual interest in children. Over the next few days, Powell engaged in online e-mail, instant message, and text message conversations with the undercover officer, whom Powell believed was the father of an under-aged girl. During this period of time, Powell arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child. During the course of their communications, Powell also sent the undercover officers two images of child pornography.
On Sept. 12, 2012, Powell traveled from Delaware to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived at the meeting place, he was arrested. He has been in custody ever since.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agent of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-343Alleged Al-Qaeda Member Extradited to U.S. to Face Charges in Terrorism ConspiracyDefendant and Others Planned Suicide Bomb Attack Against Americans in EuropeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Nizar Trabelsi, a Tunisian national, has been extradited to the United States to face charges in federal court in the District of Columbia stemming from a conspiracy to carry out a suicide bomb attack against Americans in Europe.
Trabelsi was arrested in Belgium on Sept. 13, 2001, before he carried out the planned attack. After 12 years in custody there, where he served time on Belgian charges, Trabelsi was extradited and transported today to face charges in the United States. Trabelsi was indicted in 2006 by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and a superseding indictment was filed the following year. The charges were unsealed today.
The indictment alleges that Trabelsi personally met in the spring of 2001, with Osama bin Laden to volunteer for a suicide bomb attack against U.S. interests. Preparations unfolded over the next several months, according to the indictment, with Trabelsi allegedly obtaining chemicals in Europe and subsequently joining others to scout a potential target: a military facility that was used by the United States and the United States Air Force.
The charges were announced by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, John P. Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Trabelsi, 43, is charged with conspiracy to kill U.S Nationals outside of the United States; conspiracy and attempt to use weapons of mass destruction; conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization; and providing material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to the indictment, Trabelsi was residing in Germany in 2000, when he met with other conspirators and made preparations to travel to Afghanistan to train for jihad.
In the spring of 2001, the indictment alleges, he met with bin Laden in Afghanistan, and offered to carry out a suicide bomb attack. According to the indictment, he later spoke with Muhammed Atef, a high-ranking member and chief military planner of al-Qaeda, at bin Laden’s direction. Additionally, the indictment states, he met with others with whom he was to form a cell for the purpose of carrying out a suicide attack.
According to the indictment, Trabelsi and other conspirators discussed various possible targets for a suicide bomb attack and he undertook training in how to place explosives. In June 2001, the indictment states, Trabelsi traveled to Pakistan, where he obtained money from an al-Qaeda associate for use in carrying out his mission. The following month, he rented an apartment in Brussels, Belgium. While in Belgium, Trabelsi bought quantities of chemicals to be used in manufacturing a 1,000-kilogram bomb, the indictment alleges. Additionally, according to the indictment, he traveled at night with conspirators to scout the military base.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. The Department of Justice, Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. The Department of Justice expressed appreciation to the government of Belgium and the Belgian Federal Police for their assistance. The prosecutors handling the case are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan M. Malis and Opher Shweiki of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Mara Kohn of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
If convicted of the charges filed in the indictment, Trabelsi faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has violated a criminal law. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
13-341Metropolitan Police Department Receives $1.25 Million Grant from Department of Justice for Hiring 10 Police OfficersU.S. Attorney Machen and Department of Justice Announce Award; Officers to Focus on Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has awarded the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) a grant of $1.25 million for the hiring of 10 police officers to address violent crime, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and the Department of Justice announced today.
Overall, the COPS Office today announced the funding of awards to 263 cities and counties, aimed at creating 937 law enforcement positions nationwide. More than $125 million will be awarded nationally, including nearly $45 million to fund 356 new school resource officer positions. The grant for the Metropolitan Police Department, effective this month, is to be used to address street crime, specifically, robberies involving electronics.
Last year, MPD received $625,000 under the COPS hiring program.
“In the wake of past tragedies, it's clear that we need to be willing to take all possible steps to ensure that our kids are safe when they go to school,” said Attorney General Eric Holder. “These critical investments represent the Justice Department's latest effort to strengthen key law enforcement capabilities, and to provide communities with the resources they need to protect our young people. Especially in a time of increased challenges and limited budgets, our top priority must always be the safety and well-being of our children.”
“While we have made dramatic progress in fighting violent crime in the District of Columbia over the past decade, we have seen a troubling increase in street robberies targeting smartphones and other electronics,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “This $1.25 million grant will allow our partners at the Metropolitan Police Department to more effectively confront this threat with 10 additional police officers. This year’s grant doubles what MPD received last year and demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting the people of the District of Columbia from violent crime.”
“In cities around the country, criminals are focused on the robbery and theft of small personal electronics, which are almost as good as cash,” said Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. “The Obama Administration has already provided critical support in our effort to get cellular service providers to change their practices to discourage the easy resale of stolen phones. This COPS grant will be invaluable in helping us to put more officers on the street to address this crime that all too often turns violent.”
“The COPS Office is pleased to assist local law enforcement agencies throughout the country address their most critical public safety issues,” said Joshua Ederheimer, Acting Director of the COPS Office. “Funding from this year’s program will allow many cities and counties to apply new sworn personnel to issues related to violent crime, property crime, and school safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program offers grants to state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire or rehire community policing officers. The program provides the salary and benefits for officer and deputy hires for three years.
Grantees for the 2013 hiring program were selected based on their fiscal needs, local crime rates, and their community policing plans. There was an additional focus this year on agencies requesting assistance in developing school safety programs that would include the hiring of a school resource officer. School resource officer positions funded by the COPS Office are sworn law enforcement positions that work within a school district or facility, interacting directly with school administrators and students.
The COPS Office is a federal agency responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has awarded over $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 125,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training, and technical assistance.
For the entire list of grantees and additional information about the 2013 COPS Hiring Program, visit the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj.gov.
13-340Former EPA Senior Policy Advisor Pleads Guilty to Theft in Scheme That Cost Government Nearly $900,000-Admits Collecting Pay for Hundreds of Days He Wasn’t Working-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – John C. Beale, a former senior policy advisor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pled guilty today to a federal charge stemming from a long-running scheme in which he cheated the government of nearly $900,000 in pay and expenses.
The guilty plea, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, was announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and Arthur A. Elkins, Jr., Inspector General for the EPA.
Among other things, Beale admitted today that he kept collecting pay from the EPA after claiming he was working on a project for the CIA’s Directorate of Operations and on other efforts that kept him out of the office. In fact, Beale was not working for the CIA or for the EPA on the many days he was away. All told, between January 2000 and April 2013, Beale was absent from his duties at the EPA for about 2 ½ years in which he was drawing a salary and benefits.
For more than a dozen years, Beale engaged in a pattern and scheme of deception during which he lied to the U.S. government, his supervisors, friends, and his family to avoid performing his job at the EPA.
Beale, 64, of New York, N.Y., pled guilty to theft of government property, which carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and other penalties. The parties have agreed that, under federal sentencing guidelines, the likely range is a prison sentence of 30 to 37 months and a fine of up to $60,000. In addition, Beale has agreed to pay a total of $886,186 to the EPA in restitution and to a forfeiture money judgment of another $507,207.
The plea took place before the Honorable Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola. Beale is to appear Oct. 9, 2013 for a status hearing before the Honorable Ellen S. Huvelle. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
“John Beale stole from the government for more than a decade by telling lies of outlandish proportions,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “He dodged his work at the EPA for extended periods by claiming that he was away working on operations for the CIA. He even got a parking space for three years by falsely claiming that he had malaria. Today’s guilty plea is proof positive that lies do catch up with you and that eventually fraudsters will be held accountable for ripping off the American taxpayer.”
“The details of this remarkable story are unfathomable -- and yet they happened. An absence of even basic internal controls at the EPA allowed an individual to commit multiple frauds over a long period of time,” said Inspector General Elkins. “Thanks to the diligence of the special agents on this case, monetary restitution finally will be paid to the taxpayers. Hopefully, exposing the lax agency practices that enabled Mr. Beale to construct and prosper from a web of lies also will lead to swift reforms so such abuses can never recur.”
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendant as well as the government, Beale was employed by the EPA from 1989 until April 30, 2013. He was assigned to the Office of Air and Radiation, a division responsible for the development of national programs, policies and regulations designed to control air pollution and radiation exposure. For much of his time at the EPA, Beale was a senior policy advisor. His duties included assisting in the planning, policy implementation, direction, and control of EPA programs. He also attended and participated in several international conferences regarding air quality issues, many in foreign countries.
In August 2000, Beale was promoted to a senior-level employee, making him among the highest-paid non-elected federal government employees.
According to the statement of offense, Beale collected $886,186 that he was not entitled to receive in various ways:
Unauthorized Absences:
From in or around 2000, continuing until April 30, 2013, Beale failed to report to work for extended periods of time and failed to submit required requests for leave for these absences. Rather, Beale falsely claimed that he was working on a project at the CIA and other matters.
According to the statement of offense, starting in approximately 2000 until in or around June 2008, Beale took about 102 days off under the auspices of his work with the CIA. From 2005 to 2007, Beale claimed to be working on a research project for the EPA. For example, the statement of offense details payments of $57,235 in travel expenses for five trips to the Los Angeles area. Beale did not need to travel to California, where he visited family members, and could have done the research work at home or at his EPA office. In fact, he never produced any written work regarding the research project, which was never completed.
Starting in June 2008, Beale failed to report to the EPA offices for about six months, either claiming to be working on the research project or spending time working for “Langley.” He never submitted a leave request for this time and continued to receive his EPA salary.
From in or around January 2010 until in or around May 2011, Beale failed to report to work at the EPA for approximately nine days, claiming he was working with the CIA. He never submitted a leave request for these days, but was paid his salary from the EPA.
In or around May 2011, Beale announced that he was retiring from the EPA. In September 2011, he and two other long-term EPA employees celebrated a retirement party on a dinner cruise on the Potomac River. Following the party, an EPA manager believed that Beale had actually retired, and the manager did not see him at the EPA offices afterward.
However, in November 2012, the manager discovered that Beale was still receiving a paycheck.
Retention Incentive Bonus:
In or around June 2000, Beale was awarded a 25 percent retention incentive bonus for three years. The purpose of the bonus was to ensure that Beale remained with the EPA, rather than leave the federal government and seek employment elsewhere. It was supposed to expire after 2003, but Beale continued to receive it through 2013.
Fraudulently Obtained Parking Benefits:
In or around January 2002, Beale claimed that, because he had contracted malaria while serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, he needed a parking space for work. He was awarded a parking spot, and the EPA subsidized payment for it at a rate of about $200 a month. In fact, Beale never served in Vietnam and never contracted malaria. He held onto and used the parking spot until about June 2005, at a cost of about $8,000 to the EPA.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen and Inspector General Elkins praised the work of those who investigated the case from the EPA Office of the Inspector General. They also acknowledged the work of those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Smith, who is prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine K. Connelly, who is assisting with forfeiture aspects of the investigation.
13-339District Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder in Death of Girlfriend’s Four-Year-Old Son-Defendant Beat Child While Babysitting-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Peter I. Hendy, II, 33, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend’s four-year-old son, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Hendy pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled sentencing for Nov. 22, 2013.
According to a proffer of facts presented at today’s plea hearing, on Aug. 5, 2013, Hendy was babysitting his girlfriend’s son, Kamari Zavon Taylor, at an apartment in Northeast Washington while she went to work. Sometime around noon, he called his girlfriend and reported that he had disciplined the four-year-old boy. He told her that he had given Kamari a “body shot” and that the child’s legs were wobbly.
According to Hendy’s own admissions, he became upset when Kamari disobeyed his restriction about how far the boy could ride his scooter. According to Hendy, when he admonished the child, Kamari responded that he did not have to listen to him. Hendy admitted to punching Kamari in the mid-section four to five times, including one direct punch to the stomach.
Once back inside, according to Hendy, the child fell to the floor and could not stand. When offered food or water, Kamari declined the food but drank the water. Hendy carried the child to bed and then went outside to sell marijuana.
After an hour, he returned to the apartment. He noted that Kamari had a “blank look” on his face and appeared “spent.” Hendy then went outside again for another hour to sell marijuana. When he returned, Kamari was not breathing. Hendy called 911 at about 2:05 p.m. and reported that his girlfriend’s son was unconscious and not breathing. The 911 operator advised Hendy to give the child cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and he did.
When they arrived, members of the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department found Kamari to be unconscious and unresponsive. The child was taken to Children’s National Medical Center and pronounced dead.
The District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner determined that Kamari died from multiple injuries to the torso. The forcefulness of the defendant’s punches caused the child’s liver to lacerate in three places. There was also bruising on his stomach, consistent with multiple fist prints. Finally, Kamari had a couple of broken ribs.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also expressed appreciation to the D.C. Office of the Medical Examiner for its assistance. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, Intern Brian Edgerton, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who is prosecuting the case.
13-338Teenager Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder While Armed in Slaying at Woodley Park Metro Station-Defendant Is Latest of Those Charged to Plead Guilty; He Admits Stabbing 18-Year-Old Victim-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Chavez Myers, 18, pled guilty today to a charge of first-degree murder while armed in the slaying of 18-year-old Olijawon Griffin at the Woodley Park Metro station, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and Ron Pavlik, Chief of the Metro Transit Police.
Myers, of District Heights, Md., entered the plea in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a 30-year prison sentence for the crime. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled a hearing for Dec. 13, 2013. If she accepts the plea, she will sentence Myers at that time.
Myers, who was 17 at the time of the murder, is the latest defendant to plead guilty to charges in the murder and related crimes. The others include Muquan Cawthorne, 16, of Mount Ranier, Md.; Deon Jefferson, 18, of Landover, Md.; Gary Maye, 17, of Hyattsville, Md.; Immanuel Swann, 18, of Brentwood, Md., and Gary Whittaker, 20, of Hyattsville, Md. Cawthorne, Jefferson, Maye and Swann, like Myers, were under 18 at the time of the murder; the U.S. Attorney’s Office obtained their indictments after deciding to prosecute them as adults.
Cawthorne pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, armed robbery, and a firearms offense. Jefferson pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and armed robbery. Maye pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, armed robbery, and robbery. Swann pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and two counts of armed robbery. Whittaker pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy, and a firearms offense. They have been in custody since their arrests last year and are to be sentenced on Dec. 13, 2013.
According to the government’s evidence, Myers and the other defendants were part of a group of nine people who conspired on Nov. 16, 2012 and Nov. 17, 2012 to commit robberies in the District of Columbia. Plans called for robbing people of their iPhones and other items of value. The group took a Metro train on the night of Nov. 16, 2012, from the West Hyattsville, Md. station to the Gallery Place/Chinatown station in Northwest Washington. From there, they took another train to the Woodley Park Metro station to begin their crimes. Within a matter of hours, Mr. Griffin would become a victim of the group twice: once, during a robbery in the Adams Morgan area, and finally, the attack at the Metro Station that ended with his death.
“In an act of pure cowardice, 17-year-old Chavez Myers snuck up behind Olijawon Griffin as he was fighting off three of Myers’s associates and stabbed him in the heart inside the Woodley Park Metro station,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “Today Myers pled guilty to first-degree murder for his crime, and five others have also recently accepted responsibility for their roles in this brutal act of violence and the armed robberies that preceded it. We hope this prosecution sends an unambiguous message to young people tempted to join their friends to carry out robberies and other acts of violence in our city: think before you act because you will be prosecuted as an adult and held responsible for the destruction your actions bring to the lives of others.”
“This was a senseless crime, in which a young man lost his life at the hands of a group of thugs who were determined to rob and steal personal items from unsuspecting victims,” said Police Chief Lanier. “The Metropolitan Police Department and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate this in our city, and these criminals will be held accountable for their actions.”
“Thanks to our strong partnership with Metropolitan Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office, we were able to ensure that the suspects were apprehended and would face justice,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Pavlik. “In this case, quick response and state-of-the-art digital evidence served the community well.”
According to the government’s evidence, after leaving the Metro station, Myers and the others in the group crossed the Duke Ellington Bridge to the Adams Morgan area to find targets.
The group decided to target Mr. Griffin shortly after midnight, early Nov. 17, 2012, attacking him near a gas station in the 1800 block of Adams Mill Road NW. Mr. Griffin was robbed of his Helly Hansen coat, hat, and iPhone. The nine assailants then walked back toward the Woodley Park Metro station, intending to take a train back to West Hyattsville.
Mr. Griffin and his two companions arrived at the Metro station shortly after the assailants. They approached the assailants in an attempt to get Mr. Griffin’s property back. According to the government’s evidence, the various assailants repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped one of Mr. Griffin’s companions while he was lying prone and defenseless on the floor of the station platform. Once this friend rose to his feet, the group again took him to the ground and repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped him.
Shortly after the attack on the friend ended, Myers went up to the mezzanine level of the station, where the kiosk and fare machines are located. Jefferson, Maye, Whittaker and Swann were among those who also went to the mezzanine level. Mr. Griffin had been attempting to draw the defendants to that level in an effort to get them away from his injured friend. As the confrontation continued, Myers came up from behind Mr. Griffin and stabbed Mr. Griffin, who was unarmed, once in the heart. Mr. Griffin died a short time later.
In announcing the pleas, U.S. Attorney Machen, Chief Lanier and Chief Pavlik commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Metro Transit Police Department. They also expressed appreciation to those who worked on the case from the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General, including Deputy Attorney General Andrew Fois; Jennifer White, Chief of the Juvenile Section; Barbara Chesser and Linda Monroe, Assistant Chiefs of the Juvenile Section; Assistant Attorney General Marybeth Manfreda, and former Assistant Attorney General Anthony Crispino. The District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General handled the part of this case that involved charges against some of the juveniles who were apprehended after the attack.
U.S. Attorney Machen, Chief Lanier and Chief Pavlik also acknowledged the efforts of those who provided assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Alesha Matthews, Kwasi Fields, and Ethel Noble; Criminal Investigator John Marsh; Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling, Will Henderson, and Paul Howell; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, and former interns Ryan Lipes, Flynn Burke, and Lauren Sparks.
Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Dillon, Kathleen A. Connolly, and Kevin F. Flynn, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
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New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Colleague During Business Trip to the District of Columbia-Defendant and Victim Were Here for A Trade Show-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – William A. Sipper, 46, of Ramsey, N.J., pled guilty today to sexually assaulting an intoxicated business colleague while in the District of Columbia on a business trip, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Sipper pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of misdemeanor sexual abuse in an Alford plea. Under such a plea, the defendant does not admit the allegations, but agrees that the government has enough evidence to secure a conviction. In this case, Sipper contended that he did not recall what had happened at the time of the offense, but conceded that the government had sufficient evidence with which to convict him. He is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan on Dec. 13, 2013.
According to the government’s factual proffer, as of Nov. 12, 2010, Sipper was the chief operating officer of a beverage company. That company had hired the victim to work as a model at a trade show that was taking place in the District of Columbia. Sipper, the victim and others from the company were in the area to attend that trade show, and some of them, including Sipper and the victim, were staying at a hotel in the 1200 block of K Street NW.
After a night of eating and drinking on the part of the defendant, the victim and some of the company’s other employees, Sipper asked the victim whether she wanted to work at two upcoming trade shows in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. When she said that she did, he asked her to come to his hotel room so that he could book her airline tickets for those events. She agreed, and sat on one of the beds in Sipper’s hotel room as he booked those tickets. That was the last thing the victim remembered until she awoke to find Sipper sexually assaulting her.
When the victim finally succeeded in getting the defendant off of her, she fled to her own hotel room on another floor and called her mother and boyfriend to report what had happened. They encouraged her to call 911, which she did.
As part of the victim’s medical examination, her blood alcohol content was determined to be quite high. Initially, Sipper denied that he had engaged in any sexual contact with the victim. However, DNA testing of semen found in the victim’s underwear showed that – at each pertinent location that could be tested – there was a match with the defendant’s DNA.
In announcing today’s plea, U.S. Attorney Machen acknowledged the work of officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit. He also thanked those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Jason Manuel and Victim/Witness Advocate Melissa Milam. Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heide Herrmann, Lindsay Suttenberg and Peter V. Taylor, who prosecuted this case; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon A. Sprague, who handled an interlocutory appeal in this case.
13-337American Citizen Arrested and Charged with Bribery, Visa Fraud and Conspiracy-Scheme Allegedly Yielded Millions of Dollars in Bribes-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Binh Vo, 39, an American citizen living in Vietnam, has been arrested and charged with bribery, visa fraud and conspiracy to commit those offenses as well as to defraud the United States, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. and U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Director Gregory B. Starr announced today.
Vo appeared this afternoon before the Honorable Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where a criminal indictment was pending against him. He was arrested on Sept. 24, 2013, at Washington Dulles International Airport. Magistrate Judge Facciola ordered that he remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
According to the indictment, Vo conspired with co-defendant Michael Sestak and others to obtain visas to the United States for Vietnamese citizens. Sestak, 42, was the Non-Immigrant Visa Chief in the Consular Section of the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from August 2010 to September 2012.
According to the indictment, Vo and Sestak conspired with other U.S. citizens and Vietnamese citizens who worked to recruit customers – or to recruit other recruiters - to the visa scheme. Co-conspirators reached out to people in Vietnam and the United States and advertised the scheme by creating a website and by spreading the word through emails and telephone calls.
According to the indictment, co-conspirators assisted visa applicants with their applications and prepared them for their consular interviews. Upon submitting an application, the applicants would receive an appointment at the Consulate, be interviewed by Sestak, and approved for a visa. Applicants or their families paid Vo between $20,000 and $70,000 per visa.
Applicants paid for their visas in Vietnam, or by routing money to co-conspirators in the United States. According to affidavits filed in this case, Vo received millions of dollars for arranging for Sestak to approve the visas. He ultimately moved some of the money out of Vietnam by using money launderers through off-shore banks. Co-conspirators also had money laundered through off-shore banks to bank accounts in the United States.
To date, the investigation has seized over $2 million from conspirators’ accounts in the United States.
Three others have been charged in the scheme.They are Hong Vo, 27, an American citizen, Truc Tranh Huynh, 29, a Vietnamese citizen, and Anhdao Dao Nguyen, 30, a Vietnamese citizen, all of whom are charged with conspiring with Sestak and Binh Vo. Hong Vo is Binh Vo’s sister. She allegedly assisted with the recruitment of visa applicants and communicated with others about the payment for the fraudulent visas.
According to charging documents, fraudulent visas granted by Sestak were connected to an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address controlled by Hong Vo. Huynh allegedly participated in the visa scheme by obtaining documents necessary for the visa applications, collecting money and providing model questions and answers for visa applicants. Sestak also allegedly approved a visa for Huynh to the United States, the application for which was submitted by the IP address controlled by Hong Vo. Anhdao Thuy Nguyen is Binh Vo’s wife. She allegedly assisted with recruiting applicants and laundering funds during the course of the conspiracy.
Sestak and Hong Vo were arrested in May 2013 and Huynh was arrested the following month. All remain held without bond pending further proceedings. Nguyen remains at large, and a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brenda J. Johnson, Christopher Kavanaugh, and Mona N. Sahaf of the National Security Section and Catherine K. Connelly of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
13-335
District Man Sentenced to More Than 14 Years in Prison for Fatally Stabbing Woman in Southeast Washington-Victim Ordered Defendant to Leave Her Apartment Building-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Earl Johnson, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a prison sentence of 14 years and three months for fatally stabbing a woman at an apartment building in Southeast Washington last year, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Johnson pled guilty in April 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to a charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed in the August 2012 killing of Antionette Mitchell. He was sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan. Upon completion of his prison term, Johnson will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of Aug. 22, 2012, Johnson was inside an upstairs apartment in the 3200 block of 13th Street SE, where Ms. Mitchell, 29, and her relatives, including the defendant’s ex-girlfriend, resided. Johnson did not live in the apartment or in any other apartments in the multi-unit building.
Once inside the apartment, Johnson began arguing with his ex-girlfriend. Ms. Mitchell eventually got involved and told Johnson to leave, warning that she would call the police if he refused. Johnson finally left the apartment, angrily slamming the door behind him. As he proceeded downstairs to the building’s exit, Ms. Mitchell followed him, carrying a clothes iron.
Johnson walked a few feet away, then turned and started walking back toward the building. At this point, Ms. Mitchell stood inside the building hallway, near the front door. While wielding the iron, she told Johnson that he could not come back inside. Johnson then approached the doorway, walking toward Ms. Mitchell. As he pulled the door open, Ms. Mitchell attempted to prevent him from entering and swung the iron and struck him in the head.
Shortly thereafter, Johnson began stabbing Ms. Mitchell multiple times with the knife, continuing even after she was wounded and helpless. Ms. Mitchell died from the wounds. Johnson was arrested later in the day.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Sandra Lane and Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Liebman, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
13-333District Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Adult RelativeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - A 20-year-old man pled guilty today to sexually assaulting an adult relative while she slept at a home in Southwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
The defendant, of Washington, D.C., is not named here to protect the privacy of the victim. He pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to attempted second-degree sexual abuse, a felony. He is scheduled to be sentenced by the Honorable Russell F. Canan on Nov. 22, 2013.
According to the government’s factual proffer at today’s plea hearing, at about 5 a.m. on Aug. 6, 2013, the defendant slipped into the victim’s bed while she slept. He then attempted to engage in a sexual act with her. The pain caused by the act caused the victim to wake up. She immediately reported the matter to other family members. The defendant’s mother ordered him to apologize for what he’d done, and the man did so.
In announcing today’s plea, U.S. Attorney Machen acknowledged the excellent work of officers from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit. He also thanked those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Jason Manuel and Victim/Witness Advocate Elsa Resendiz. Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who is prosecuting this case.
13-334
Maryland Man Sentenced to 46-Month Prison Term for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cornelius Magee, 37, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced today to 46 months of incarceration for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Magee pled guilty to the charge in February 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Amy Berman Jackson. Upon completion of his prison term, Magee will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on Oct. 24, 2012, Magee contacted a man he believed to be the father of a 12-year-old girl on a social network site. That man turned out to be an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force.
Over the next two days, Magee engaged in online e-mail and instant message conversations with the undercover officer. During this period of time, Magee sent the undercover officer two videos of child pornography which depicted adult men engaged in sexual acts with children. Following the defendant’s arrest on Oct. 26, 2012, members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force conducted a search of Magee’s residence and found approximately 16 additional videos of child pornography on the defendant’s computer.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave, and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-331Former Federal Contractor Petitions to Plead Guilty to Unlawfully Disclosing National Defense Information and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Donald John Sachtleben, a former FBI bomb technician who later worked as a government contractor for the agency, has filed a petition to plead guilty to newly filed charges of unlawfully disclosing national defense information relating to a disrupted terrorist plot. Sachtleben previously had filed a petition to plead guilty to charges of possessing and distributing child pornography resulting from a separate investigation.
Sachtleben, 55, of Carmel, Ind., has signed plea agreements in both cases. The documents were filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Charges in the national security case were filed today, and charges in the child pornography case were filed in May 2012.
The developments were announced by Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole; Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Joseph H. Hogsett, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, and Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
The plea agreements signed by the parties would resolve both cases in court proceedings in Indiana. The agreements, which are contingent upon the Court’s approval, call for Sachtleben to plead guilty to the two national security charges as well as the two child pornography offenses. The plea agreements call for Sachtleben to be sentenced to a total of 140 months of incarceration, including a 43-month prison term for the national security offenses and a consecutive 97-month term for the child pornography charges.
The statements of offense related to both the national defense charges and the child pornography charges are attached.
“This unauthorized and unjustifiable disclosure severely jeopardized national security and put lives at risk,” Deputy Attorney General Cole said. “To keep the country safe, the department must enforce the law against such critical and dangerous leaks, while respecting the important role of the press under the department’s media guidelines and any shield law enacted by Congress. I am grateful to the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys’ offices in both Washington, D.C., and Indiana for their excellent and dedicated work on this case.”
“Fifteen months ago, we were given the task of uncovering who had threatened a sensitive intelligence operation and endangered lives by illegally disclosing classified information relating to a disrupted al-Qaeda suicide bomb plot,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “That plot could not have been more serious, as it targeted a plane bound for the United States. After unprecedented investigative efforts by prosecutors and FBI agents and analysts, today Donald Sachtleben has been charged with this egregious betrayal of our national security. This prosecution demonstrates our deep resolve to hold accountable anyone who would violate their solemn duty to protect our nation’s secrets and to prevent future, potentially devastating leaks by those who would wantonly ignore their obligations to safeguard classified information.”
“The allegations in this case describe the defendant’s repeated violation of a sacred trust that the public had placed in him,” said U.S. Attorney Hogsett. “With these charges, a message has been sent that this type of behavior is completely unacceptable and no person is above the law.”
“Today, Mr. Sachtleben has been charged with knowingly and willfully disclosing national defense information to a member of the media,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “These charges are the result of a careful and thorough investigation by FBI Special Agents and analysts who, together with federal prosecutors, systematically conducted more than 500 interviews and, following that exhaustive process, analyzed relevant telephone records obtained by subpoena. After analysis of the telephone records, investigators identified him as the source of this unlawful disclosure. The FBI will continue to take all necessary steps to pursue such individuals who put the security of our nation and the lives of others at risk by their disclosure of sensitive information.”
National Security Case:
According to a criminal information filed today, on May 2, 2012, nine days before Sachtleben was arrested in Indiana on child pornography charges, Sachtleben knowingly and willfully disclosed national defense information to a reporter for a national news organization not entitled to receive it. The charging document alleges that Sachtleben had reason to believe that this information could be used to the injury of the United States and to the advantage of a foreign nation. The criminal information also charges him with willfully retaining documents relating to the national defense without authorization.
Sachtleben worked for the FBI from 1983 through 2008. During his career, he was a Special Agent Bomb Technician and was assigned to work on many major cases involving terrorist attacks. In his work as an FBI employee, Sachtleben held a Top Secret security clearance and had regular access to classified and national defense information relating to the FBI’s activities, as well as the activities of other members of the U.S. intelligence community.
In 2008, Sachtleben retired from the FBI and was rehired as a contractor. Because of his official responsibilities, he maintained his Top Secret security clearance as an FBI contractor. As a result, he continued to have regular access to classified and national defense information relating to the FBI’s activities, as well as the activities of other members of the U.S. intelligence community. As a contractor, he routinely visited the FBI Lab in Quantico, Va.
One of the criminal charges involves Sachtleben’s contacts with the reporter relating to the disruption of a plot to conduct a suicide bomb attack on a U.S.-bound airliner by the Yemen-based terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the recovery by the United States of a bomb in connection with that plot. As a result of Sachtleben’s disclosure of national defense information to the reporter, the national security of the United States was compromised, a significant international intelligence operation was placed in jeopardy, and lives were put at risk.
Sachtleben was identified as a suspect in the case of this unauthorized disclosure only after toll records for phone numbers related to the reporter were obtained through a subpoena and compared to other evidence collected during the leak investigation. This allowed investigators to obtain a search warrant authorizing a more exhaustive search of Sachtleben’s cell phone, computer, and other electronic media, which were in the possession of federal investigators due to the child pornography investigation.
Sachtleben was employed as an FBI contractor until on or about May 11, 2012. The following day, he was arrested in Indiana and charged by complaint with the federal child pornography charges.
Child Pornography Case:
According to a criminal complaint filed in Indiana in May 2012, federal and state investigators became aware of an individual trading images of child pornography online in September 2010. An extensive investigation into that individual led to the arrest of a defendant in Illinois in January 2012. Upon arrest, a forensic search of that defendant’s computer equipment and email accounts allegedly revealed that he had been actively trading the explicit materials online with numerous other people.
Based on that information, law enforcement traced the alleged online activity to Sachtleben’s home in Carmel. After conducting several days of surveillance, a search warrant was executed on May 11, 2012, by law enforcement officers from the Indiana State Police and the FBI Cyber Crime Task Force. Sachtleben was charged in the Southern District of Indiana with possession and distribution of child pornography.
The complaint alleges that an initial forensic examination of Sachtleben’s laptop computer revealed the presence of approximately 30 images and video files containing child pornography. It is alleged that a number of files identified during this initial search matched those that had been found in the course of investigating the Illinois defendant. The complaint further alleges that the laptop’s hard drive contained references to other files known to have been in the possession of the Illinois defendant.
A criminal complaint and a criminal information are only charges and are not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The national security investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office with assistance from the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan M. Malis and G. Michael Harvey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Richard S. Scott of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona N. Sahaf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Senior Litigation Counsel Steven D. DeBrota of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, who is also prosecuting the child pornography case.
The child pornography investigation was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
13-332District Man Sentenced to 23-Year Prison Term for 2011 Strangling at Northeast Washington Park-Victim Was Stabbed, Choked and Robbed in Late-Night Attack-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mark Coates, 28, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 23-year prison term on a charge of second-degree murder while armed for the slaying of a man at a park in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Coates pled guilty in July 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Herbert B. Dixon, Jr. Upon completion of his prison term, Coates will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, between 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, and 1 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, Coates and an accomplice forced the victim, Leroy Studevant, 56, into the Marvin Gaye Park in the 4200 block of Hunt Place NE, where they punched and kicked him.
During the assault, Mr. Studevant managed to escape, and he ran across the park. However, Coates and the accomplice chased Mr. Studevant through the park, until Coates ultimately cut off Mr. Studevant’s flight path. Using a knife, Coates and his accomplice then stabbed Mr. Studevant. After forcing Mr. Studevant to the ground, Coates and his accomplice kicked him, and Coates was able to unhook and remove Mr. Studevant’s belt from around his waist. The belt was placed around Mr. Studevant’s neck as a noose, and he was choked with the belt until he no longer resisted. During the altercation, a wallet and cell phone were removed from Mr. Studevant’s pockets. Coates and his accomplice split the money in the wallet.
An autopsy determined that Mr. Studevant died as a result of the strangling and assault in the park. The reason for the attack was because the victim would not share his cigarettes.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers, and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also commended the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kendra Johnson, Ethel Nobel, Marian Russell, and Sandra Lane; Lead Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman; Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince; Victim Witness Security Specialist Katina Adams-Washington; Investigator Nelson Rhone; and Intelligence Specialists Lawrence Grasso, Zachary McMenamin, Shannon Alexis, and Sharon Johnson. Finally, U.S. Attorney Machen recognized the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Nielsen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Feitel, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
13-330Two Singapore Men Sentenced in Connection with Plot to Illegally Export Military AntennasRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON –Lim Kow Seng, also known as “Eric Lim” and Hia Soo Gan Benson, also known as “Benson Hia,” were sentenced today in federal court in the District of Columbia to serve 37 and 34 months in prison, respectively, for the unlawful export of 55 military antennas from the United States to Singapore and Hong Kong, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. Hia and Seng entered guilty pleas on June 26, 2013, to conspiracy to defraud the United States by dishonest means.
The sentence was announced by Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; John P. Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security; James Dinkins, Executive Associate Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations; Andrew McCabe, Acting Executive Assistant Director of the FBI’s National Security Branch; and Eric L. Hirschhorn, Under Secretary for Industry and Security at the Commerce Department.
Seng, 44, and Hia, 46, both of Singapore, were sentenced this afternoon before the Honorable Judge Emmett G. Sullivan. They have been detained since their provisional arrest in Singapore in October of 2011. According to court documents filed in this case, Hia and Seng conspired to defraud the United States by causing a total of 55 cavity-backed spiral antennas and biconical antennas to be illegally exported from a Massachusetts company to Singapore and Hong Kong without the required State Department license. These military antennas are controlled for export as U.S. munitions and are used in airborne and shipboard environments.
Seng and Hia, among other things, conspired to undervalue the antennas to circumvent U.S. regulations on the filing of shipper’s export declarations to the U.S. government. They also allegedly used false names and front companies to obtain the antennas illegally from the United States.
Corezing International, a company based in Singapore, was also charged in the District of Columbia in connection with the export of these particular military antennas to Singapore and Hong Kong. Corezing and its principals have also been charged in connection with the export of 6,000 radio frequency modules from the United States to Iran via Singapore, some of which were later found in Improvised Explosive Devices in Iraq. Seng and Hia pled guilty to the sole charge on which they were extradited from Singapore.
This investigation was jointly conducted by ICE agents in Boston and Los Angeles; FBI agents in Minneapolis; and Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security agents in Chicago and Boston. Substantial assistance was provided by the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Asuncion of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Richard S. Scott of the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
13-329Maryland Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Traveling into the District of Columbia to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with A MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Scott Richard Swirling, 62, of Silver Spring, Md., was sentenced today to 42 months in prison for traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Swirling pled guilty to the charge in April 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable John D. Bates. Upon completion of his prison term, Swirling will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on Jan. 7, 2013, Swirling contacted a man he believed to be the father of an under-aged girl on a social network site. That man turned out to be an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force. Over the next few days, Swirling engaged in graphic online email and instant message conversations with the undercover officer. During these conversations, Swirling arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child. Swirling traveled from Silver Spring to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C., where he was arrested.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-327Maryland Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison for Traveling into the District of Columbia to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with A Minor and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Frederick Singletary, 42, of Parkville, Md., was sentenced today to 28 months in prison on federal charges of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Singletary pled guilty in June 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell. Upon completion of his prison term, Singletary will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on Feb. 12, 2013, Singletary contacted an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social network site. Over the next few days, Singletary engaged in online e-mail, instant message, text message, and telephone conversations with the undercover officer, whom he believed was the father of an under-aged girl. During this period of time, Singletary arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.
During the course of their communications, Singletary also sent the undercover officer 10 images of child pornography. On Feb. 14, 2013, Singletary traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived, he was arrested.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the work of the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
13-324District Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Sexually Assaulting Woman After Entering Her Apartment-Cellphone and Other Evidence Tied Him to the Crime-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Domingo Martinez, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to eight years in prison on charges stemming from a home invasion in which he sexually assaulted a woman who had been asleep in her apartment, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Martinez pled guilty in June 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count each of second-degree burglary and assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced by the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson. Martinez also will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
According to the government’s evidence, at about 2:30 a.m. on May 16, 2013, Martinez appeared inside a woman’s apartment in the 6700 block of 14th Street NW. The woman woke up to see him, wearing a shirt wrapped around his head that served as a mask. He held what at first appeared to be a gun and sexually accosted her.
Once Martinez was close enough to touch her, the victim realized that the object in his hand was a cellphone, not a gun. At this point, she decided to fight back and she bit him on the shoulder during a struggle. He pushed her, causing her to fall, and then ran away.
The victim pursued Martinez through a hallway and grabbed the shirt from his head. As he continued fleeing, he dropped the cellphone, which the victim also picked up. She then ran back to her apartment, locked the door behind her, and called 911 for help.
Based upon the telephone records for the abandoned cellphone, and its contents, including time-stamped photographs and video, police identified Martinez as a suspect and arrested him on May 21, 2013. He lived in the building where the attack took place. At the time of his arrest, Martinez had a bite mark, not yet fully healed, on his left shoulder.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department. He also praised the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Investigator John Marsh, Victim/Witness Advocate Melissa Milam, and Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Heide L. Herrmann, who prosecuted the matter.
13-325District Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for 2012 Slaying in Northwest Washington-Defendant Stabbed Victim During Confrontation on Street-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Herbert G. Hayes, 41, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 40 years in prison for fatally stabbing a man last year in Northwest Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Hayes was found guilty by a jury in July 2013, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Russell F. Canan sentenced him today. Upon completion of his prison term, Hayes will be placed on five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, on May 18, 2012 at about 9:30 p.m., Hayes chased the victim, John Wesley Griffin, 42, down the sidewalk in the 1200 block of North Capitol Street NW. As the chase continued, Mr. Griffin yelled, “Police, police!” Mr. Griffin ran into the street and Hayes followed him. Mr. Griffin then turned and faced Hayes, putting up his fists to fight. At that point, Hayes stabbed him. Mr. Griffin staggered to the sidewalk and then collapsed. Hayes stood over him, and with knife in hand, shouted an expletive about the police before fleeing the scene. Mr. Griffin died as a result of his wounds.
Hayes was arrested on May 21, 2012, and has been in custody ever since.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the detectives, officers and mobile crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Mia Beamon, Victim/Witness Advocate Tamara Ince; Litigation Technology Specialists Kimberly Smith and Ron Royal, and Interns Daniel Fletcher and Lauren Sparks. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Melinda Williams and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Chris Dobbie, who secured the indictment in the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne Dedjinou, who prosecuted the case.
13-326District Man Found Guilty of Series of Car Loan Scams That Cheated Victims Out of More Than $185,000- Posed as Car Dealer to Swindle Victims to Buy Cars He Did Not Own -Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON -- Benjamin Grey, 33, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury today of a total of 21 federal charges, including five counts of bank fraud and seven counts of wire fraud, in connection with a scheme in which he posed as a car dealer to defraud individuals and banks of more than $185,000.
The verdicts, which followed a trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, were announced by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Kathy A. Michalko,Special Agent in Charge, Washington Field Office, U.S. Secret Service, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges. The Honorable Ellen S. Huvelle scheduled sentencing for Dec. 17, 2013. Grey faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on each bank fraud and wire fraud charge.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Grey claimed to run car dealerships named Planet Cars and GreyMaxx. He persuaded various individuals to apply for car loans to buy luxury cars, such as BMWs, from him and Planet Cars. After each bank or credit union granted the loan, and gave the applicant a loan check to buy the car, Grey took the money and spent it. Afterwards, however, Grey never produced the promised car, and avoided contact with the victim. In fact, Grey never owned the cars in question.
As the evidence showed, each auto loan was between $29,000 and $35,000. After the scheme, each victim was left without the car – but with the car loan coming due. Some victims tried to pay the loans, even though they had been swindled; another declared bankruptcy, devastating her credit. The lending institutions lost the amounts loaned. The individual victims included an Army veteran who had served in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Grey spent the loan checks at bars, nightclubs, and retail establishments in and around the D.C. area, running up bar tabs in the thousands of dollars.
In addition, the evidence at trial showed that Grey executed other, similar confidence schemes. In August and September 2010, Grey defrauded a would-be business partner out of $34,000 by pretending that the money would finance their purchase and re-sale of luxury cars. Similarly, in April 2010, Grey – holding himself out as the owner of Planet Cars – pretended to buy a car from a legitimate car dealership in Bethesda, Md., using a worthless check drawn on a Planet Cars bank account that had been closed for a year.
In announcing the verdicts, U.S. Attorney Machen, Special Agent in Charge Michalko and Chief Lanier expressed appreciation for the work done by those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and Secret Service. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Krishawn Graham, Lenisse Edloe, and Tasha Harris, and Legal Assistant Angela Lawrence. Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Friedman, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Hooks and Christopher Kavanaugh, who investigated and tried the case.
13-328Virginia Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison in Shooting of Security Guard at Family Research CouncilDefendant Targeted Organization in Planned AttackRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Floyd Lee Corkins, II, 29, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison on three felony charges, including a terrorism offense, in the August 2012 shooting of a security guard at the Family Research Council in downtown Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Corkins, of Herndon, Va., pled guilty in February 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to charges of committing an act of terrorism while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition. The Honorable Chief Judge Richard W. Roberts sentenced him. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release.
Corkins has been in custody since his arrest after the Aug. 15, 2012 shooting.
This marked the first time that a defendant has been charged with and convicted of committing an act of terrorism under a provision of the District of Columbia’s Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002 that covers criminal actions committed with the intent to “intimidate or coerce a significant portion of the civilian population of the District of Columbia or the United States.”
According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 15, 2012, at about 10:45 a.m., Corkins entered the office of the Family Research Council (FRC), at 801 G Street NW, and encountered an unarmed security guard. Corkins retrieved a firearm from his backpack and pointed it at the security guard. The security guard charged Corkins and a struggle ensued, during which Corkins fired three shots, striking the guard in the arm. Despite the gunshot wound and Corkins’s subsequent discharges of the gun, the security guard, Leonardo Johnson, heroically succeeded in disarming the defendant and forcing him to the ground and onto his belly.
According to a statement of offense, signed by the defendant as well as the government, Corkins targeted the Family Research Council because of its views, including its advocacy against recognition of gay marriage. He entered the building with the intention of shooting and killing as many employees of the organization as he could.
“A security guard’s heroism is the only thing that prevented Floyd Corkins, II from carrying out a mass shooting intended to kill as many people as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Machen. “Our entire community is thankful to the hero who stood up to this heinous attack. Today’s 25-year prison sentence demonstrates the steep price to be paid for turning to violence to terrorize your political enemies.”
“Acts of terrorism, like the one that Mr. Corkins admitted to committing in pursuit of political aim, are horrific events that instill a sense of fear on our community,” said Assistant Director in Charge Parlave. “The FBI applauds the heroic acts of the security guard who deterred Mr. Corkins from inflicting harm on additional victims. With our law enforcement partners, the FBI will respond to, secure and investigate scenes and bring violent actors to justice.”
“I want to commend FRC employee Leonardo Johnson for his heroism and the first responding officers for their quick assessment of the situation, which brought stability and control to the chaos,” said Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. “As recent events have shown us, quick thinking and bravery during incidents like this can save many lives.”
According to the statement of offense, Corkins purchased a semiautomatic pistol from a store in Virginia on Aug. 9, 2012, and picked up the weapon the following day. On the afternoon of Aug. 13, he rehearsed his planned trip to the Family Research Council. On the night before the shooting, Corkins returned to the gun store and engaged in shooting practice.
On the morning of Aug. 15, 2012, Corkins rode Metrorail from Virginia and into the District of Columbia, got off at the Gallery Place stop, and went to the Family Research Council. To gain access into the building, he falsely told the security guard, Mr. Johnson, that he was there for an interview as a prospective intern. Upon gaining entry, Corkins approached the receptionist desk, which Mr. Johnson was manning, intending to shoot and kill him. However, Mr. Johnson fought back and, as the two men scuffled, Corkins fired his gun three times, striking Mr. Johnson once in his left arm in the process. After Mr. Johnson subdued Corkins, Corkins stated, “It’s not about you,” but about the organization’s policies. He also was heard making remarks such as, “I don’t like these people, and I don’t like what they stand for.”
In a search after the shooting, MPD officers discovered two fully loaded magazine clips in one of Corkins’s front pants pockets, as well as a Metro card and a handwritten list containing the names of the Family Research Council and three other organizations that openly identify themselves as having socially conservative agendas. A search of Corkins’s backpack turned up, among other items, a box of 50 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. They also found 15 individually wrapped sandwiches that Corkins had purchased the previous day from Chick-fil-A.
Corkins later made statements to the FBI in which he said that he was a political activist and considered the Family Research Council to be a lobbying group. He also stated that he intended to kill as many people as possible and smother the Chick-fil-A sandwiches into their faces. Among other things, he said, “Chick-fil-A came out against gay marriage so I was going to use that as a statement.”
Corkins also revealed the steps he took in planning the attack, saying that he had been thinking about perpetrating similar violence for years but never carried out an attack. Had he not been stopped at the Family Research Council, he stated, he planned to go to the second organization on the list he was carrying and wage a similar shooting there.
Mr. Johnson, who also was the building’s manager, underwent emergency surgery in which metal plates were inserted into his left arm so that shattered bones could heal. Numerous bullet fragments remain in his arms, and he was unable to work for months.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director in Charge Parlave and Chief Lanier expressed their appreciation to all those who investigated the case from the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the MPD. They also expressed appreciation to those who provided assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan M. Malis; Special Assistant U.S. Attorney George P. Varghese; Paralegal Specialists Selena Zuhoski and Devron Elliott; Legal Assistant Donice Adams; Litigation Technology Specialist Paul Howell, and Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant.
Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann H. Petalas and T. Patrick Martin, of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who prosecuted the case.
13-322District Man Found Guilty of Kidnapping and Sexual Abuse Charges in 2012 Attack in Northeast Washington-Defendant Sexually Assaulted Woman, Then Threw Her Down the Steps-Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cornell “Man” Shumate, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of charges stemming from the kidnapping and sexual assault of a woman in March of 2012, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced today.
Shumate was found guilty on Sept. 18, 2013, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of charges of kidnapping, attempted sexual abuse, and assault. He is to be sentenced on Nov. 22, 2013 by the Honorable John Ramsey Johnson. Shumate faces up to 12 ½ years in prison for the offenses, and lifetime sex-offender registration.
According to the government’s evidence, in March 2012, the victim met Shumate’s friend and they exchanged phone numbers. A few days later, on March 25, 2012, the victim agreed to get together with Shumate’s friend. The friend brought the victim to Shumate’s house in Northeast Washington, and they, along with several others, drank and had casual conversation.
Unbeknownst to the victim, Shumate and his friend were using her as part of a game to see if they could get a woman to have sex with every man in the apartment. After a night of drinking and socializing, the victim had consensual sex with Shumate’s friend in the apartment. After she rejected the defendant, he pushed her into his bedroom, locked the door and started to rape her. After she was able to get away, he threw her out of the apartment and down two flights of stairs. The victim reported the assault immediately and Shumate was apprehended that night.
In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sexual Assault Unit. He also praised those who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan, Paralegal Specialist D’Yvonne Key, and Litigation Technology Specialist Kimberly Smith. Finally, he commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy H. Zubrensky, who indicted the case, and Assistant United States Attorney Mervin A. Bourne, Jr., who prosecuted the case.
13-323Virginia Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Traveling into the District of Columbia to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with A MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – George G. Kahl, 42, was sentenced today to 40 months in prison for traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr., Valerie Parlave, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Kahl, of Alexandria, Va., pled guilty in April 2013 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was sentenced by the Honorable Rosemary M. Collyer. Upon completion of his prison term, Kahl will be placed on 10 years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, on Feb. 9, 2013, Kahl contacted a man he believed to be the father of an under-aged female child on a social network site. That man turned out to be an undercover officer with the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force. Over the next few days, Kahl engaged in graphic online e-mail and text message conversations with the undercover officer. During these conversations, Kahl arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the purported child. On Feb. 22, 2013, Kahl traveled from Alexandria to Washington, D.C. for that purpose and was arrested.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative and investigated by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of the FBI's Washington Field Office and MPD. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen, Assistant Director Parlave and Chief Lanier praised the MPD Detectives and Special Agents of the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force. They also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Ari Redbord, who prosecuted the case.
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