Southern District of Georgia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Four individuals indicted on federal firearms feloniesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Four defendants face felony charges including illegal firearms possession after indictment by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia.
The cases are being investigated in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). All of the defendants are prohibited from possessing firearms.
“Along with our law enforcement partners, we will vigorously enforce existing laws to keep guns from the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We especially applaud our continued collaboration with the ATF.”
In the past three years, more than 665 defendants were federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. The charge carries a statutory penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
Those named in federal indictments from the April 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Donald Lorenzo Evans Jr., 43, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, in reference to a prior conviction for domestic violence;
- Matthew James Gordon, 26, of Savannah, charged with Possession of Cocaine and Crack Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Kevin James Allen, 42, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- King Coney, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
In addition to these indictments, convicted felon Jonah Robert Schafner, 33, of Grovetown, was indicted on one count of Escape from Custody. On March 9, Schafner was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Augusta to 108 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon. The new indictment alleges that after his sentencing hearing, Schafner escaped from the Jefferson County Jail while he was awaiting transfer to federal prison. He was taken into custody four days later in Columbia County, and if convicted of Escape faces an additional sentence of up to five years in prison.
These cases also were investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for adjudication of alleged crimes.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF; Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms; Jennifer A. Stanley; Joseph McCool; and Marcela C. Mateo.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Two men indicted in death of Fort Stewart soldier found stabbed to death in installation housingRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two former soldiers have been indicted in U.S. District Court alleging a murder conspiracy after another soldier was found dead in his barracks room in June 2020.
In a newly unsealed federal indictment, Byron Booker, 28, of Ludowici, Ga., and Jordan Brown, 21, of St. Marys, Ga., are charged in the death of Specialist Austin J. Hawk, 24, at Fort Stewart Military Reservation, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Booker is charged with Premeditated Murder, and Murder of a Member of the U.S. Uniformed Services. In addition, both Booker and Brown are charged with Felony Murder; Conspiracy to Commit Assault Upon a Member of the U.S. Uniformed Services and to Commit Burglary; Assault Upon a Member of the U.S. Uniformed Services; Burglary; Conspiracy to Retaliate Against a Witness; and Retaliation Against a Witness. The statutory penalty for each of the murder charges upon conviction is death, or mandatory life in prison.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“It is a high priority for our office to pursue justice for members of the military who are victims of violent crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We commend the FBI and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and other law enforcement partners for their tireless and detailed work on this case.”
The 21-page indictment alleges that Booker and Brown conspired to commit the offenses against Hawk in retaliation for Hawk reporting Booker to U.S. Army leadership for “poor leadership, poor military performance, and maltreatment of subordinates” prior to Booker’s discharge from the U.S. Army, and in retaliation for Hawk reporting Brown for drug use during his service.
The indictment further alleges that Booker and Brown discussed “silencing” Hawk, and discussed Brown providing Booker with a key to access Hawk’s room. The indictment alleges that Booker drove from his home on or about June 17, 2020, to Fort Stewart, and entered the installation on foot before walking approximately one mile to Hawk’s barracks. The indictment then alleges that Booker killed Hawk by “stabbing, cutting, and slashing” him with an edged weapon, and that afterward Booker disposed of the clothing and shoes he was wearing at the time.
Booker has been in custody since June 18, 2020; Brown was taken into custody after a U.S. District Court grand jury returned the indictment during its April 2021 term. Both defendants await further legal proceedings.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and the FBI are investigating the case, which is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Frank Pennington, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard.
Final sentence completes prosecution of vandals who trespassed on restricted Kings Bay naval installationRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: The final sentence of seven defendants in the April 2018 illegal entry and vandalism of Submarine Base Kings Bay draws to a close three years of investigation and criminal prosecution.
Mark Peter Colville, 59, of New Haven, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $33,503.51 in restitution, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Colville, along with six other defendants, was found guilty after a four-day jury trial in October 2019 on charges of Conspiracy, Destruction of Property on a Naval Installation, Depredation of Government Property, and Trespass. Colville was ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.
“Mark Colville’s sentence brings closure to a prosecution that represents the triumph of the rule of law over misguided principles,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Colville and his attention-seeking cohorts attempted to make a grand statement by breaking into and vandalizing a secure government facility, but in the end succeeded only in adding felony convictions to their criminal records.”
As admitted by the defendants during their trial, Colville was among seven co-conspirators who cut a padlock from the gate of an outer security fence at the naval installation in St. Marys, Ga., late in the evening April 4, 2018. Once through the security fence, the trespassers split into two groups and then damaged and vandalized property inside the facility before being taken into custody by naval security personnel.
Colville has a long history of arrests, including eight criminal convictions related to trespassing and damaging government property.
The six other defendants in the case previously were sentenced for their participation in the illegal activities, including Stephen Michael Kelly, 72, of Massachusetts; Patrick O’Neill, 65, of Garner, N.C.; Elizabeth McAlister, 81, of New London, Conn.; Clare Therese Grady, 62, of Ithaca, N.Y.; Martha Hennessy, 65, of Perkinsville, Vt.; and Carmen Trotta, 58, of New York, N.Y.
The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl Knoche, E. Greg Gilluly Jr. and Channell Singh, with assistance from Litigation Technologist Dean Athanasopoulos. The investigation was conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Carjacking conviction sends Savannah man to federal prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man will spend nearly eight years in federal prison after admitting to a carjacking that left the vehicle crashed and the defendant in the hospital.
Jaquan Shakur Singleton, 26, of Savannah, was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Interstate Transportation of a Stolen Vehicle, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore also ordered Singleton to pay $9,652.82 in restitution, and to serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Two of Jaquan Singleton’s siblings died as a result of gun violence, yet that knowledge didn’t deter him from committing violent gun crime on his own,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The community will now be a safer place while he is behind bars, contemplating the bad choices that put him there.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Singleton pointed a handgun at a motorist in a Savannah parking lot in February 2018, stealing the victim’s car and driving away. A short time later, Singleton crashed the vehicle in Hardeeville, S.C., and after being treated at a hospital was taken into custody.
“This kind of threat to any citizen is unacceptable and will be investigated and prosecuted,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “With the help of the Savannah Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Georgia, Singleton will be punished to the fullest extent of our laws.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Statewide robbery spree lands Columbus man in federal prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Columbus man who crisscrossed Georgia while committing a series of robberies has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Lawrence Dominique Franklin, 37, of Columbus, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr. after pleading guilty to Armed Bank Robbery, Bank Robbery, and Interference with Commerce by Robbery, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Franklin will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“A previously convicted armed robber, Lawrence Franklin had been out of prison for barely four months before he took up a weapon and threatened store clerks and bank employees in multiple violent robberies across Georgia,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our law enforcement partners did an outstanding job in identifying Franklin and bringing him to justice, once again removing this menace from our streets.”
“In the course of a week, Lawrence Franklin charted a path of violence and mayhem from one end of Georgia to the other,” said Kurt R. Erskine, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. “Thankfully, quick and collaborative action on the state and federal levels led to the defendant’s capture and has brought him to justice.”
“This violent criminal will be imprisoned for many years, without parole, where he will no longer be able to threaten our communities,” said Peter D. Leary, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “I commend our federal, state and local law enforcement officers for tracking this defendant across the state and bringing him to justice.”
As described in court, documents, and testimony, Franklin was released in July 2019 after serving more than 11 years in state prison for armed robbery. He then began a violent crime spree that started November 25, 2019, when he entered a Wells Fargo Bank in Columbus, Ga. wearing a construction worker vest, pointed a gun at the manager and threatened to “blast” several bank employees. Before departing, he stole thousands of dollars from multiple teller stations.
Three days later, again wearing a construction worker vest, he robbed a Dollar General store in Savannah, forced an employee to open the store safe, and fled with a large amount of cash. The next day, he robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in Newnan, Ga., again by revealing a gun from underneath a construction worker vest and threatening to shoot bank employees.
Franklin told law enforcement officials that, to facilitate his crimes, he kidnapped a woman and threatened to hurt her children unless she drove him from one robbery to the next and helped him escape.
Within three days of the Newnan robbery, Franklin was arrested in Atlanta. After grand juries returned separate federal indictments for the robberies, the cases were consolidated for plea and sentencing in the Southern District of Georgia.
“Franklin decided to continue his life of crime even after serving nearly a dozen years in prison,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “He clearly did not learn his lesson and continued to terrorize innocent civilians who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Hopefully, those victims are able to take some comfort in the fact that he is going back to prison and won't be a threat to them for a long time.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, Savannah Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Newnan Police Department, and Atlanta Police Department. It is being prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia; by Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg; and by Middle District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Williams.
Ex-con who helped destroy evidence in murder investigation sentenced to 10 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former federal prison inmate has been sentenced to another prison term for helping destroy evidence in the murder of the wife of a Fort Stewart soldier.
Devin Ryan, 30, of Hardeeville, S.C., was sentenced to 120 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Use of Fire in Commission of a Federal Felony, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Ryan will be required to pay $26,475.16 in restitution, and after completion of his prison term, he must serve three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Devin Ryan helped a cold-blooded murderer destroy evidence in a homicide investigation – and committed the heinous crime while on supervised release from a previous felony conviction,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Our communities are safer with him and his co-defendant locked away.”
After months of lying to investigators in an attempt to hide his involvement in the case, Ryan eventually admitted that he assisted Stafon Jamar Davis, 28, of Savannah, in destroying a 2018 Honda Accord. The vehicle belonged to Abree Boykin, 24, a resident of post housing at Fort Stewart Army Reservation and the wife of a deployed U.S. Army soldier.
Davis, who is serving a 700-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to Premeditated Murder and to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, shot Boykin twice as she slept in her apartment on July 9, 2018. To destroy evidence in the case, he enlisted the help of Ryan, whom he had met months earlier while the two were serving prison terms. A few hours after the murder, the two doused the vehicle with gasoline and set it on fire in a remote area of Hardeeville, S.C. The car exploded, and the burned vehicle later was hauled to a salvage yard and ultimately scrapped before investigators could track it down.
“Ryan’s sentence brings to an end a tragic story of cold-blooded murder and an attempted cover-up of a crime by two convicted felons,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Ryan joins his partner in the crime back in prison thanks to a determined investigation by the FBI, Army Criminal Investigation Command and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Georgia.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigation Command, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard, and Middle District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.
Three men face federal charges in separate child exploitation casesRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Three men face the possibility of substantial terms in federal prison after their indictments stemming from separate child exploitation investigations.
All three men are in custody pending trial following initial appearance hearings in U.S. Magistrate Court, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Those charged are:
- Jasiri Hutchison, 20, of Bulloch and Liberty counties, is charged with Production of Child Pornography; and, Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity. The indictment alleges that in April 2019, in Bulloch and Liberty counties and in the state of Connecticut, Hutchison persuaded a minor victim “to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction.” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) leads the investigation in the case, and Hutchison also faces charges in the Middle District of Georgia for Possession of Child Pornography.
- William Voss, 38, of Waynesboro, Ga., is charged with Possession of Child Pornography, a charge that upon conviction carries a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The indictment alleges that in May 2020 in Burke County, Voss possessed child pornography. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) leads the investigation in the case.
- Robert Paul Synenberg, 21, of Augusta, is charged with Possession of Child Pornography, a charge that carries upon conviction a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The FBI leads the investigation in the case, which came to agents’ attention after a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in November 2020.
“Our law enforcement partners will work relentlessly to protect our most vulnerable citizens from harm and exploitation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “These indictments demonstrate the continued success of those efforts.”
“It takes great partnerships from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, non-government organizations, and the public to make arrests like these,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will always make it a priority to protect children who can’t protect themselves against people who prey on them.”
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. We are grateful for the relationships we maintain with our federal partner agencies.”
“Protecting children from exploitation is one of our most important missions, and we will continue to pursue and arrest these violators to ensure their safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI, the FBI and GBI are investigating the cases, which are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer J. Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Russian national and engineering company admit guilt in scheme to evade U.S. national security trade sanctionsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Russian national and his engineering company have admitted to charges that they violated U.S. national security laws.
Oleg Vladislavovich Nikitin, general director of KS Engineering (KSE), a St. Petersburg, Russia-based energy company, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to evade U.S. export regulations and to defraud the United States, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge was brought in a third superseding indictment, USA v. World Mining and Oil Supply et. al, alleging Nikitin and his co-defendants conspired to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA).
As a result of the plea entered before U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, Nikitin faces up to five years in federal prison and substantial fines and forfeitures, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
“Oleg Nikitin attempted to evade trade sanctions designed to protect the United States from illegal acquisition of industrial equipment by non-aligned powers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We will maximize the use of our nation’s resources to vigorously defend against those who threaten our national security.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Nikitin and KSE admitted conspiring with others to evade U.S. trade sanctions that prohibited export of equipment that could make “a significant contribution to the military potential or nuclear proliferation of other nations, or that could be detrimental to the foreign police or national security of the United States.”
The conspiracy began when an unnamed Russian government-controlled business contracted with Nikitin and KSE to purchase a power turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer for approximately $17.3 million. The Russian company intended to use the turbine on a Russian Arctic deepwater drilling platform, expressly prohibited by the U.S. Department of Commerce without first obtaining a license.
Nikitin admitted that he and another KSE employee, Anton Cheremukhin, conspired with Gabrielle Villone and his Italian-based company, GVA International Oil and Gas Services (GVA); and GVA employee Bruno Caparini, to obtain the turbine on their behalf. Villone, Caprini and GVA then employed the services of Dali Bagrou and World Mining and Oil Supply (WMO) of Dacula, Ga., to procure the turbine from a U.S.-based manufacturer and to have the turbine shipped overseas. The parties conspired to conceal the true end user of the turbine from both the U.S. manufacturer and the U.S. government by submitting false documentation that stated it would be used by a U.S. company in and around Atlanta.
Nikitin, Villone, and Bagrou were all arrested in Savannah, Ga., while attempting to complete the illegal transaction. Villone was sentenced in June 2020 to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to the conspiracy. Bagrou remains in custody pending further legal action, and is considered innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
“Special Agents of the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) are committed to bringing sanctions violators, who have willfully chosen to threaten our nation’s security, to justice,” said Ariel Joshua Leinwand, Special Agent in Charge of OEE’s Miami Field Office. “These guilty pleas represent the results of an intensive and collaborative approach with our law enforcement partners to vigorously enforce our nation’s export control laws.”
“The illegal export of technology poses a great danger to the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge, Cynthia A. Bruce, DCIS Southeast Field Office. “DCIS and our investigative partners will aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who threaten our national security.”
“This was a methodical plan by Nikitin and his partners to undercut United States sanctions and put our goods in the hands of actors that are a direct threat to our national security,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Today’s plea doesn’t mean our work is done. The FBI and our partners will always make threats to our national security a top priority.”
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection takes great pride in working with our partner government agencies to vigorously enforce U.S. export control laws as part of our overall duties and responsibilities in protecting and preserving our national security,” said Henry DeBlock, Area Port Director for CBP Savannah.
The Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, as well as the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Steven H. Lee are prosecuting the case with Trial Attorney William A. Mackie of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
House-flipping fraud sends Savannah man to federal prisonRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Savannah man who concocted a schemed to enrich himself by repeatedly borrowing money against the same pieces of property will go to prison for fraud.
Christopher Grooms, 41, of Savannah, pled guilty to an Information charging him with Wire Fraud. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Grooms to 33 months in federal prison, ordered him to pay $1,645,267.95 in restitution, and a forfeiture money judgment totaling $2,937,881.43, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Grooms must serve four years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Financial fraud temporarily enriches criminals at the long-term expense of legitimate businesses,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “As Christopher Grooms discovered, our law enforcement partners are adept at rooting out these schemes, and his ill-conceived investment in criminal activity is returning a dividend of time behind bars.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Grooms operated several real estate investment companies that acquired and resold real estate. From 2013 to 2018, Grooms devised a scheme in which one of his companies would purchase a property using borrowed funds, and he would then falsify documents to show that the lien against the property had been satisfied. He would then secure additional loans against the property, repeatedly filing fraudulent paperwork to show the property was unencumbered by liens.
Grooms used the scheme at least 24 times for nearly $3 million in fraudulent loans from multiple financial institutions. The properties used in the scheme were located in Georgia cities including Savannah, Hinesville, Glennville, Midway and Allenhurst.
“The Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) is committed to holding accountable those who waste, steal, or abuse the resources of the government-sponsored enterprises regulated by FHFA. We are proud to have partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia in this case,” said Edwin S. Bonano, Special Agent-in-Charge, FHFA-OIG, Southeast Region.
“This sentence should serve as a stark reminder that such greed as seen in this case comes with a bigger cost,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI recognizes the impact on the banking institution and will continue to dedicate investigative resources to target fraud in its many forms.”
“Committing high-level fraud will not be tolerated in Georgia,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Director Vic Reynolds. “The GBI worked hard on this investigation with local and federal partners to bring this case to a successful prosecution.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, the GBI, and the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.
Former Statesboro medical practice employees sentenced for embezzlementRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: Two former employees of a Statesboro pediatrics practice have been sentenced to federal prison for stealing money from the business.
Kristen Hart, 37, of Statesboro, and Alisa Brown, 44, of Statesboro, each pled guilty to an Information charging them with Theft or Embezzlement in Connection with Health Care, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall sentenced Hart to 16 months in prison and ordered her to pay $115,550.69 in restitution, and U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Brown to 21 months in federal prison and ordered her to pay $239,626.86 in restitution and a fine of $1,000. Each must serve 3 years of supervised release after completion of their prison term, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a significant challenge for small businesses, including health care practices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “It’s much more difficult when seemingly trustworthy employees treat their jobs as a license to steal.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Hart and Brown were employees of Bulloch Pediatrics Group who used a variety of methods to steal from their employer. Hart, the office manager, began to make personal purchases on the office’s bank cards in 2015 and eventually spent tens of thousands of dollars at various businesses, including Amazon. Brown, a nurse manager who began to steal from her employer in 2013, and Hart also both purchased thousands of dollars in postal money orders which they would then convert to their own use without their employer’s knowledge or consent. When the thefts were uncovered in 2020, both employees were terminated and prosecuted.
“As this case highlights, the United States Postal Inspection Service will assist its law enforcement partners and help bring individuals to justice who misuse the United States Postal Service or its services, to steal from victim businesses or individuals,” said Juan Vargas, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service-Miami Division.
“Greed is not good,” said U.S. Secret Service Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Steven Baisel. “Those who chase its allure, particularly at the expense of those who trust them, will most often find themselves trapped. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring them to justice.”
The U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which was prosecuted on behalf of the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Swainsboro, Ga., woman admits defrauding government program designed to provide COVID-19 small business reliefRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: An Emanuel County woman has admitted creating a fake business and using it to receive funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief program.
Tracy Kirkland, 40, of Swainsboro, pled guilty to an Information charging her with Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. As a result of the plea, Kirkland agrees to repay $66,400 and will forfeit a 2019 Dodge Charger and $16,250. After any prison term, Kirkland could be required to spend up to three years on supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Congress provided funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Security (CARES) Act specifically to help financially struggling businesses during the pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Tracy Kirkland stole from those funds, and she is being held accountable for that theft.”
As described in court documents and testimony, in August 2020 Kirkland received a federally guaranteed loan for $66,400 under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program comprised of funds appropriated by the CARES Act. In applying for the funding, Kirkland falsely claimed to own a business in Swainsboro with three employees, “Kirklands Hair N Beauty,” that had suffered economic harm because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Soon after receiving the SBA loan proceeds into her personal account, Kirkland, a previously convicted felon, used the funds to purchase a 2019 Dodge Charger R/T; made large cash withdrawals from her bank account; and made other non-business-related purchases.
SBA’s General Counsel Peggy Delinois Hamilton stated, “We commend the work of the U.S. Attorney in prosecuting this case, involving SBA’s EIDL Program, which is designed to provide much-needed economic relief to small businesses that are greatly affected by the current pandemic. Such fraud hurts legitimate small businesses that need financial assistance. We appreciate the work of our Inspector General and other law enforcement partners to uncover and prosecute individuals who commit fraud in the CARES Act loan programs.”
The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General is investigating the case with assistance from the Swainsboro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with prosecution for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Lee and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.
Savannah drug dealer faces up to 20 years in prison after guilty pleaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man who admitted to distributing cocaine and marijuana faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Okemi Mon Lawton, 45, of Savannah, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Lawton forfeited $19,640.31 seized during the investigation, and the charge carries a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Supervised release is designed to allow convicted felons a controlled opportunity to reintegrate into society after completion of a prison sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Okemi Lawton instead reverted to criminal behavior, and now faces the prospect of more hard time in prison.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Lawton was on supervised release following a prison sentence for a federal firearms charge in August 2018 when the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team began investigating suspected drug distribution activity from Lawton’s Savannah residence. With assistance from the FBI, agents documented Lawton’s sale of cocaine, and a subsequent search of the residence discovered drugs, drug manufacturing and packaging materials, nearly $20,000 in cash, and a semi-automatic pistol.
Lawton remains in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled.
“After getting a chance to change his criminal behavior, Okemi Mon Lawton chose to continue his life of crime by spreading drugs in our community,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Now he faces more severe prison time to think about his future, and hopefully doesn’t waste another opportunity to change.”
The case is being investigated by CNT and the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and Noah J. Abrams.
Sylvania, GA man admits distributing child pornographyRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Screven County man faces a minimum of five years in federal prison after admitting that he distributed child pornography.
Daniel Boulineau, 34, of Sylvania, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Distribution of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a statutory maximum of up to 20 years, along with substantial financial penalties, registration as a sex offender, and a period of supervised release following incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The resolution of this case once again serves notice that we and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue predators who prey upon vulnerable children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “As a result of this investigation, Daniel Boulineau will be held accountable for his crime.”
As outlined in court documents and testimony, in early August 2020, Boulineau admitted that he electronically distributed images and videos of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. An investigation by the FBI and the Child Exploitation Task Force into online activity led to Boulineau’s arrest on Sept. 1, 2020.
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
“The distribution of child pornography is an attack against the most vulnerable members of society,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “No sentence for this man will remove the scars left on the children victimized by his crimes, but hopefully it will serve as a warning that the FBI will use any resources necessary to apprehend anyone who carries out these appalling crimes.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Three men admit participation in gambling operationRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two Waynesboro, Ga., men and a Greenwood, S.C., man have admitted to federal charges for participating in a longtime illegal gambling operation.
Grady Brandon Mobley, 44, and Daniel Cates, 50, both of Waynesboro, Ga., and Joel Rees, 59, of Greenwood, S.C, entered guilty pleas to Informations charging each of them with Prohibition of an Illegal Gambling Business, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Mobley also pled guilty to Fraud and False Statements.
In accordance with the plea agreement, Mobley faces a negotiated sentence of 12 months plus one day in federal prison, and has forfeited $340,084. He also agrees to pay $207,716 in restitution to the IRS and Georgia Department of Revenue, and a fine of $2,000. Cates agreed to the forfeiture of $100,000.
After plea hearings before U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, each of the three men were released on bond pending sentencing and formal acceptance of the plea agreement at a later date.
“These men participated in an illegal gambling operation for at least a decade in the Waynesboro area, eventually funneling business through a foreign-based website,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “But even that offshore venture wouldn’t keep them out of the reach of diligent law enforcement professionals who turned the tables on this illicit operation.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Mobley operated as a “bookie” for an illegal sports betting operation for at least the past 10 years in Burke County, at first collecting bets and paying out winnings himself, and later through a sports betting website operated from Costa Rica.
In 2015, Mobley merged his operation and began splitting his profits with a smaller gambling ring operated by Jones. From 2015 to 2017, Mobley cashed bettor’s checks totaling approximately $220,000 at his parent’s check cashing business which operated out of the Mobley Package Shop in Girard, Ga. To help conceal the growing amount of cash involved in the transactions, Mobley enlisted the assistance of Cates, who admitted that he funneled approximately $250,000 in gambling proceeds through his Waynesboro tire store, Cates Firestone, in return for money and favors from Mobley.
During this period, Mobley admitted filing false information on his income tax returns to conceal the amount of proceeds from the illegal gambling operation.
“No matter how hard these defendants tried to hide their illegal operation, their greed ultimately caught up with them,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “FBI agents will pursue criminal activity that violates our Constitution, no matter where an investigation takes them, and along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold them accountable.”
“Schemes concealing funds in order to evade income tax, such as those utilized by Mobley, are unfair to every taxpayer who obeys the law and pays their fair share,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey. “The public should know that IRS-Criminal Investigation will do everything we can to hold individuals accountable for their actions.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. Lyons and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Xavier A. Cunningham.
Two felons admit guilt in scheme to steal thousands in COVID-19 unemployment insurance fundsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two Florida residents have admitted they colluded in a scheme to steal pandemic unemployment funds.
Tamesha Lashelle Brown, 41, of Dade City, Fla., and Malik Abdul McCaully, 43, of Tampa, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Informations charging each of them with conspiring to commit various offenses, including mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, disaster relief fraud, and access device fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a maximum statutory penalty of up to five years in federal prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“COVID-19 relief funds approved by Congress were intended specifically to help unemployed citizens struggling financially during the pandemic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “These defendants created a scheme to steal those funds for their own enrichment – but that scheme came to an end in Georgia.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Brown and McCaully were both convicted felons who obtained personal identifying information of other individuals, without those individuals’ knowledge or consent, and then used that information to file fraudulent applications for unemployment assistance, including with the State of Pennsylvania. The two posed as the applicants when communicating with banks distributing the payments. After fraudulently obtaining bank cards preloaded with more than $100,000 in unemployment insurance funds, Brown and McCaully travelled to various ATMs in Pennsylvania, withdrawing thousands of dollars.
The two came to the attention of law enforcement in the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2020, when a vehicle driven by McCaully sped from an attempted traffic stop by Jasper County, S.C., sheriff’s deputies on Interstate 95. McCaully eventually crashed the vehicle in Pooler, Georgia, and he — and his passenger, Brown — were taken into custody. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement recovered more than $20,000 in cash, dozens of prepaid debit cards issued by states’ unemployment insurance funds in the names of others, as well as several false identifications that the two had used.
“It is disheartening to see the willingness of some individuals to take advantage of people in need during a national and world crisis,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Their personal greed affects every taxpaying citizen, in particular those who need help most. The FBI will make every effort to make sure federal funds are used as intended.”
The FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the Pooler Police Department, Port Wentworth Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol investigated the case. It was prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or go to justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.
Accused Iraqi gun smuggler arraigned in U.S. District Court in SavannahRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: An Iraqi national has appeared in U.S. District Court in Savannah after his indictment on charges related to the attempted smuggling of firearms to Iraq.
Nihad Al Jaberi, 41, a Clarkston, Ga., resident, is charged with Smuggling, Failure to Notify a Common Carrier, and Submitting False or Misleading Export Information, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The smuggling charge carries upon conviction a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and substantial financial penalties. There is no parole in the federal system.
Al Jaberi, an Iraqi citizen and legal permanent resident of the United States, was arraigned Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher L. Ray. Al Jaberi previously was ordered detained after a hearing in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Georgia.
“The Port of Savannah is exceptionally valuable to the coastal region, and the high volume of traffic presents an ongoing challenge to law enforcement agencies enforcing import-export laws,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Customs and Border Protection officers perform outstanding work in interdicting illegal shipments and maintaining border security.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Al Jaberi is charged with attempting in August 2020 to export three handguns and six .308-caliber long-range rifles in a shipment in which the contents were listed as “71 Pieces of Spare Auto Parts with No License Required.” The firearms, which were discovered disassembled along with used auto parts in a container at the Port of Savannah, had been obtained through straw purchases at various Atlanta-area sporting goods stores.
“This weapons seizure clearly illustrates how closely Customs and Border Protection inspects export manifests and identifies anomalies that could potentially harm others,” said Henry DeBlock, Area Port Director for CBP Savannah.
“Special Agents of The Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement will aggressively investigate and disrupt the illicit smuggling of controlled commodities in violation of U.S. export laws,” said Ariel Joshua Leinwand, acting Special Agent in Charge Miami Field Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE). “Working cooperatively with our law enforcement partners, OEE Special Agents are committed to preventing firearms, firearms parts, and ammunition from potentially falling into the wrong hands overseas.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security and by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Darron J. Hubbard, and by Northern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg.
A photo introduced as evidence in the detention hearing for Nihad Al Jaberi includes nine firearms from a shipment interdicted in the Port of Savannah and reassembled, along with other firearms removed during a search of the defendant’s residence.Rapper scammer sentenced to prison for faking association with musical group in conspiracy to cheat hotels, studios, limo servicesRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Florida man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after admitting his participation in a scheme to steal hospitality services by claiming to be part of a famed rap group.
Aaron Barnes-Burpo, 29, of Crestview, Fla., was sentenced to 84 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Barnes also was ordered to pay nearly $300,000 to 19 businesses defrauded in the scheme, and must serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Barnes-Burpo’s co-defendant, Walker Washington, 52, of Augusta, awaits sentencing in the case after also pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
“For several weeks, these men defrauded multiple businesses by posing as famous musical artists and their retinue,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Thanks to an alert hotel clerk, their phony hit parade came to an abrupt halt.”
In court documents and testimony, Barnes-Burpo and Washington admitted that they falsely portrayed themselves as affiliated with the Roc Nation production company and the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan as early as September 2019, and used those fictitious representations along with fraudulent and stolen credit cards to rent luxury limousines and defraud hotels, caterers and production studios of thousands of dollars in goods and services in multiple cities, primarily in the Southeast.
The scam unraveled Nov. 21, 2019, when staff at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Augusta became suspicious and alerted the FBI and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
“Hopefully, some of the businesses that were defrauded by this scam will be able to recoup some of their losses as a result of this sentence,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This is what happens when you seek a fleeting moment of fame at the expense of others. Neither law enforcement nor the community will tolerate it.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI and other state and local authorities, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia G. Rhodes.
Superseding federal indictment implicates Augusta woman in child exploitation investigationRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: An Augusta woman has been charged with sex trafficking in a newly unsealed federal indictment that files additional charges against the man to whom she was married at the time of the alleged offenses.
The superseding federal indictment unsealed this week charges Amanda Gunn, 34, of Augusta, with Sex Trafficking Conspiracy and Obstruction of a Child Sex Trafficking Investigation, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The conspiracy charge carries a penalty upon conviction of a minimum of 15 years in prison, up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Brian K. Epps ordered Gunn to remain in jail pending further proceedings after a lengthy detention hearing Thursday.
“This investigation is an exemplary demonstration of the relentless pursuit of our law enforcement partners in their work to protect vulnerable children,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The FBI continues to find disturbing new information as the threads of this complex case unwind.”
Gunn’s then-husband, Michael Gunn, 36, of Evans, initially was indicted by a U.S. District Court Grand Jury one year ago, in March 2020, on four counts of Production of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography. The superseding indictment additionally charges Michael Gunn with Sex Trafficking Conspiracy; Sex Trafficking of a Child; Coercion and Enticement of a Child to Engage in Sexual Activity; and Obstruction of a Child Sex Trafficking Investigation. He remains in custody pending further court proceedings.
According to court documents and testimony, an FBI investigation in another state led agents to Michael Gunn as a source of child pornography, resulting in the discovery of child pornography on electronic devices in his home.
In a related case, Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., is named in a four-count federal indictment charging him with Sex Trafficking of a Minor; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct; and Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. FBI agents initiated the investigation of Grantham with information derived from the Gunn investigation.
“As our investigation of this case unfolded it became more and more disturbing as charges are now filed against both a husband and wife,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We must protect our children by identifying and apprehending accused predators who take advantage of their innocence to commit such atrocious acts.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated under the Department of Justice Project Safe Childhood by the FBI and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania M. Groover and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Miami Man Charged with Multiple Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
Miami, Florida – Federal prosecutors have charged 43-year-old Christopher C. Pinkston of Miami with robbing two banks in South Florida last month.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint affidavit, at about 1:30 p.m. on February 11, 2020, Pinkston entered the Chase Bank located at 13745 S.W. 152nd Street in Miami, approached a teller window, and handed the teller a note saying: "I need 30,000 Dollars or everybodys [sic] Dead." The victim teller gave Pinkston $1,000 in cash, after which Pinkston exited the bank, leaving the demand note behind, says the affidavit.
The complaint charges Pinkston with robbing a second bank at about 1:30 p.m. on February 19, 2020. On that day, according to the affidavit, Pinkston entered the City National Bank located at 13780 S.W. 88th St. in Miami, approached a teller window, and handed the teller a note saying: "Goodmorning this is a robbery Handover $30,000 you have less than one min no ink bombs or trackers Thank you [sic]." The victim teller handed Pinkston $5,100 in cash, after which Pinkston exited the bank, leaving the demand note behind, according to the affidavit.
Following an investigation, law enforcement arrested Pinkston on March 11, 2021. He will make his initial appearance today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan, who sits in Miami.
U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro made the announcement.
FBI Miami investigated this case, with cooperation and assistance from Miami Dade Police Department and City of Miami Police Department, Special Investigations Section. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Egozi is prosecuting this case.
Each bank robbery charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until found guilty in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.
You may find related court documents and information on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 21-mj-20462.
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Coffee County man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamineRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: A Coffee County man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison after admitting to trafficking methamphetamine.
Israel Moreno, 56, of Wray, Ga., was sentenced to 70 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of a Substance Containing Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Moreno will be required to serve four years of supervised release and will be referred for deportation proceedings. There is no parole in the federal system.
“As these meth merchants continue to earn hard time in federal prison, they should be getting an unmistakable warning,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “With the relentless efforts of our law enforcement partners, we will track down and remove drug traffickers like Israel Moreno from our communities.”
As described in court documents and testimony, investigators with the Coffee County Drug Unit and the South-Central Drug Task Force in June 2019 identified Moreno as a major drug distributor in the Coffee County area.
“Methamphetamine is not only toxic, but it destroys families, communities and lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division. “Because of spirited law enforcement cooperation, this defendant will no longer be able to distribute this poison and will spend well-deserved time in prison.”
“This is just the latest in what will, undoubtedly, continue to be a very long string of convictions and long prison sentences for meth pushers in Coffee County,” said Coffee County Sheriff Doyle Wooten. “We are extremely grateful, as always, for the assistance from other local, state, and federal agencies who work alongside us to rid our area of this epidemic.”
The case was investigated by the DEA, the Coffee County Drug Unit, and the South-Central Drug Task Force, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Ten individuals indicted on federal firearms charges as part of agencies' collaborative effortRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Ten defendants face federal felony firearms charges after indictment by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia.
All of those charged are prohibited from possessing firearms. The cases are being investigated under the Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal firearms, and in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and local law enforcement agencies.
“A fundamental requirement for safe streets is keeping guns out of the hands of individuals who are prohibited from possessing them,” said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We applaud our collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and our state and local law enforcement partners in enforcing laws to remove illegally possessed firearms from our communities.”
In the past three years, more than 660 defendants were federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for carrying a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. The charge carries a penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“ATF will continue to dedicate federal resources in conjunction with those crucial law enforcement contributions of local agencies to target defendants that have no business carrying firearms, given their previous criminal conduct,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF.
Those named in federal indictments from the March 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Malcolm Robinson Brown, 38, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person, referring to a prior conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence;
- Matthew Kearse, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Brandon Demarcus Reedy, 34, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Kijordan Markel Ceaser, 21, of Thomson, Ga., charged with Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment;
- Timetrius Dontrel Neal, 23, of Thomson, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, referring to a prior conviction on a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful Drug User; and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment;
- Telly Green, 33, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Marcus Rashad Allen, 33, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Dameon Duncan, 21, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Darius Edwards, 33, of Pembroke, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and,
- John Calvin Young Jr., 35, of Rincon, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
The charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person carries a possible penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
These cases also are investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for adjudication of alleged crimes.
In addition to these cases, at least three defendants recently have appeared in U.S. District Court on federal firearms charges, including:
- Courtney Raynard Spann, 29, of Statesboro, sentenced to 96 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon;
- Onesimo Ochoa-Santos, 35, of Brunswick, sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to serve one year of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.
- Alexander Wallace, 36, of Savannah, sentenced to 95 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF; Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; the McDuffie County Sheriff’s Office; the Rincon Police Department; the Brunswick Police Department; and the Port Wentworth Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.
The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms; Jennifer Stanley; Tara M. Lyons; Alejandro V. Pascual IV; Joshua S. Bearden; Tania D. Groover; Jennifer Kirkland; Edwin Caban; Joseph McCool; Marcela C. Mateo; John P. Harper III; and Noah Abrams.
Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Movie special effects coordinator sentenced to probation for illegally possessing explosive materialsRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A California man has been sentenced to probation for illegally possessing explosive materials on a Savannah movie set.
Robert Christopher Bailey, 51, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to 30 months of probation by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Possession of Explosive Materials as a Prohibited Person, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Bailey also was ordered to pay a fine of $5,500.
“The film industry is a robust and growing part of the economy in Savannah and in Georgia, and we welcome those who come to the state to work in movie production,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “However, we will fully enforce the law so that dangerous explosives are not in the hands of those who are prohibited from handling them.”
As described in court documents and testimony, on or about July 9, 2018, Bailey was working as a special effects and pyrotechnics coordinator on the Savannah movie set for The Poison Rose starring John Travolta and Morgan Freeman. After an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Bailey admitted in court that he was prohibited from possessing explosive materials because of a prior criminal conviction.
“ATF is tasked with regulating the explosives industry and to promote public safety in the Southern District of Georgia,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “The defendant had no business possessing explosives, given his previous criminal conduct.”
This case was investigated by Special Agent Lee Hoover of the ATF, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Frank Pennington.
Final defendant sentenced to federal prison for role in Augusta area meth-trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: An Augusta man has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison for a scheme that distributed methamphetamine in the Augusta area.
Christopher Allen Marshall, 34, of Augusta, was sentenced to 118 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Marshall must serve three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Christopher Marshall’s sentence wraps up the investigation and disruption of a meth-distribution ring that spread this deadly poison throughout the Augusta area,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The community is now safer with him and his cohorts behind bars.”
Marshall was among four defendants named in an eight-count indictment returned by a U.S. District Court grand jury in January 2020, identifying a conspiracy dating back at least to February 2018 that distributed large amounts of methamphetamine throughout the Augusta area.
The investigation, which included controlled purchases and federal search warrants, seized large quantities of methamphetamine, 15 firearms and more than $44,000 in cash.
“The sentencing of the final defendant in this investigation closes the door on this organization who peddled large quantities of ‘meth’ on the streets in the Augusta area,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division. “This case is a prime example of how DEA works with its law enforcement partners to confront, engage and eliminate drug trafficking and is committed to protecting the community from the perils of drug abuse.”
“Methamphetamine trafficking is a real scourge to the Augusta-Richmond County community,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “Methamphetamine has ruined a lot of lives and continues to be a high threat drug. These prosecutions with our federal partners strengthen our enforcement efforts and send a clear message methamphetamine trafficking will not be tolerated.”
Marshall’s co-defendants all have been sentenced after entering guilty pleas. Bjorn Michael Wiley, 42, of Martinez, is serving 168 months in prison; Bridget Lydell Biggam, 36, of Appling, Ga., is serving 98 months in prison; and John Tillman Durst, 29, of Waynesboro, Ga., was sentenced to time served.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr.
Arsonist who set fire that destroyed Savannah's Code Enforcement Office sentenced to five years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man who admitted deliberately setting the May 3, 2020, fire that destroyed the city of Savannah’s Code Enforcement Office has been sentenced to federal prison.
Stephen Charles Setter, 19, of Savannah, was sentenced to 60 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to one count of Arson, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Judge Baker also ordered Setter to pay restitution totaling $1,277,647.66, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“By deliberately setting this fire, Stephen Setter senselessly destroyed a significant Savannah government building and as a result has well-earned his sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “It’s fortunate that none of the Savannah firefighters were hurt while fighting this massive blaze.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Setter admitted starting the fire at the Code Enforcement Office at 1700 Drayton Street in downtown Savannah shortly after 3 a.m. on May 3, 2020. The fire quickly spread into the attic and roof of the building, causing damage estimated at nearly $1 million and rendering it a total loss.
Setter told investigators that he activated a fire alarm at the Landings marina that same night, requiring the Chatham County Fire Department to respond, and while the station was unoccupied he then stole a fire department radio so he could listen to fire department communications.
“This is another example of how ATF has partnered with our state and local agencies to investigate the crime of arson,” said Lenwood S. Reeves, Resident Agent in Charge of the Savannah Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Not only does arson destroy millions of dollars’ worth of property each year, it endangers the lives of our first responders and the citizens of the community.”
“We are pleased with the outcome of this case,” said Fred Anderson, Chief Fire Investigator for the Savannah Fire Department. “This is a prime example of the benefit that comes from the strong relationship between the Savannah Fire Department and our federal partners at the ATF and U.S Attorney’s Office.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.
Statesboro man sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing ammunitionRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A Statesboro man arrested after a shooting on a residential street has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison while still facing state charges.
Courtney Raynard Spann, 29, of Statesboro, was sentenced to 96 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Spann also was ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Previously convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition - period,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Courtney Spann’s record makes it abundantly clear why these laws are in place, and our office will relentlessly enforce these laws to keep firearms out of the hands of violent criminals.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Spann came to the attention of officers from the Statesboro Police Department who were investigating reports of gunfire in a high-density residential area on Jan. 25, 2020, that resulted in damage to multiple homes and vehicles. Spann was located and later arrested, and officers found four firearms, including assault-style weapons, along with multiple rounds of ammunition, extended magazines and drum magazines in his vehicle.
Investigators also determined that Spann is a member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, with a criminal history that includes a felony conviction for drug trafficking. He faces additional state charges related to the incident that led to his arrest.
“Keeping guns out of the hands of repeat felony offenders is a priority for the FBI because of offenders like Spann,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “But we couldn't do it without the partnerships with our fellow local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, in particular in this case, the Statesboro Police Department.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the Statesboro Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Stanley and Tara M. Lyons.
Federal indictment brings additional charges against Graniteville man accused of transporting a minor for sexual activityRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A federal grand jury has indicted a Graniteville, S.C. teacher on additional federal charges related to the initial allegation that charged him with transporting a minor across state lines for sex.
Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., is named in a four-count indictment charging him with Sex Trafficking of a Minor; Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity; Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct; and Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The sex trafficking charge carries a minimum penalty upon conviction of 15 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The protection of innocent and vulnerable children is of paramount importance to our office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We applaud the hard work of the FBI agents in diligently investigating these difficult cases.”
At the time of his arrest in February, Grantham was employed as a teacher at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School in Ridge Spring, S.C. A U.S. District Court grand jury returned the indictment with the additional charges this week.
Grantham is accused of knowingly picking up a minor in Columbia County on or about July 20, 2019, and taking the minor across state lines to engage in prostitution. The indictment alleges that Grantham “recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, maintained, patronized, and solicited, by any means, in and affecting interstate commerce, Minor Victim 1, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Minor Victim 1 had not attained the age of 18 years and that Minor Victim 1 would be caused to engage in a commercial sex act.”
Grantham remains in federal custody.
“It is extremely disheartening that these charges are against a teacher who parents trusted to have the best interests of their children at heart,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “These additional charges are the result of hard-working FBI investigators dedicated to protecting our children.”
An indictment contains only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tania G. Groover and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons
Burke County man admits operating illegal pill factoryRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Burke County man has admitted taking part in an operation that distributed methamphetamine after investigators discovered the scheme through delivery of a commercial pill press.
Telly Savalas Carswell, 47, of Midville, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our law enforcement partners, particularly the investigators from the Drug Enforcement administration, did an outstanding job in discovering and shutting down this meth-trafficking operation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Whether it’s in the larger cities or smaller towns of the Southern District, we are determined to eradicate this poison from our communities.”
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began the investigation in January 2020 while investigating the delivery of a commercial pill press to the home Savalas shared with a co-defendant. In conjunction with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, DEA agents conducted a search on May 7, 2020 of the residence and found a pill press, along with methamphetamine, heroin and other drugs; nearly $9,000 in cash; and paraphernalia related to drug trafficking.
“Criminals like Mr. Carswell rely on pill presses to create dangerous counterfeit medications which contain toxic substances such as methamphetamine, as was the case in this investigation,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “DEA and its law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe from dangerous drugs.”
The case is being investigated by the DEA and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Josephson.
Savannah man sentenced to federal prison for violent armed robbery that left Samaritan soldier woundedRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man who participated in the March 2019 robbery of a bar during which a U.S. Army serviceman was wounded has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison.
Justin Alexander Campbell, 21, was sentenced to 121 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Interference with Commerce by Robbery, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Campbell also must serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Campbell’s co-defendant in the robbery, Anthony Curtis Raife, 24, of Savannah, is serving a 120-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to Possessing a Short-Barreled Shotgun in Furtherance of a Violent Crime. The two also are required to pay $35,523.83 in restitution to the victims in the case.
“This violent robbery by two criminals forever changed the lives of several victims, including the badly wounded soldier and the innocent business owners, and patrons,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Justin Campbell and Anthony Raife are justly locked away for their well-deserved punishment, and for our community’s protection.”
According to court documents and testimony, Campbell and Raife entered the rear door of Brewer’s Sports Pub and Grill on Ogeechee Road on March 24, 2019. Both carried firearms and pointed the weapons at patrons and threatened them during the robbery. One of the customers, an active-duty U.S. Army serviceman, witnessed the robbery and helped other patrons escape. The soldier then went unarmed to the rear of the bar and was shot after he punched Raife in the face. Both robbers then fled. The soldier was treated for a bullet wound to the chest and has since recovered.
Raife was located and arrested in Savannah in September 2019, while Campbell was taken into custody in Virginia and returned to Georgia for prosecution in March 2020.
“This sentence completes the judicial process for two men who left permanent scars, both physical and mental, on several innocent victims, including a heroic soldier,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The victims will never fully overcome the trauma those scars remind them of, but hopefully the fact that these two criminals can’t harm them or any others for a long time, brings them some sort of comfort.”
“This is a powerful example of the determination and professionalism that our officers and detectives bring to every crime investigation,” said Chatham County Police Chief Jeffrey M. Hadley. “They followed every lead and did not rest until the two perpetrators were behind bars, and the victims and community had some resolution in this case.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Chatham County Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Petersburg (VA) Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Camden County jail inmate admits providing drugs that caused fellow inmate's overdose deathRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: An inmate at the Camden County Detention Facility has admitted providing the drugs resulting in another inmate’s death by overdose.
Joshua Swing, 36, of Woodbine, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Distribution of Fentanyl, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“The law enforcement and medical community face an unprecedented fight against the epidemic of opioid abuse, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl add fuel to that raging inferno,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The corrupting influence of illegal narcotics distribution makes it especially disturbing that this deadly poison was provided to a jail inmate by another inmate.”
The investigation began May 17, 2020, when an inmate at the Camden County Detention Facility, identified in court documents as J.D., was found unresponsive in his cell. J.D. later died, and a subsequent autopsy found that his cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity. Swing admitted he provided the fentanyl J.D. consumed.
Swing previously was convicted in April 2018 in state court in Nassau County, Fla., for sale of methamphetamine.
“I was honored that our agency was able to investigate this case and bring it to conclusion on behalf of the people of Camden County and Sheriff Jim Proctor, and perhaps bring a sense of closure for the people involved,” said Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
The case is being investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office at the request of the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Josephson and E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Admitted methamphetamine trafficker sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Charlton County man who admitted trafficking methamphetamine in south Georgia has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison.
Phillip Yarbrough, 39, of Folkston, Ga., was sentenced to 264 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Yarbrough will be required to serve four years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“As methamphetamine abuse continues to threaten the security and health of citizens throughout the Southern District, our law enforcement partners are relentless in identifying and shutting down suppliers of this illegal narcotic,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Phillip Yarbrough now faces stiff consequences for spreading this poison in our communities.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Yarbrough was arrested after a traffic stop in March 2018 when Willacoochee, Ga., Police officers found two large bags of methamphetamine hidden in Yarbrough’s vehicle.
Yarbrough, a member of the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang with a documented history of drug distribution and domestic violence, admitted acting as a drug courier and dealer, transporting large quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs from an Atlanta supplier into communities in south Georgia.
“The manufacture of methamphetamine poses an imminent danger to everyone,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division. “The precursor chemicals used to manufacture ‘meth’ are toxic and can be extremely volatile. This Ghost Face Gangster can no longer feed the addicts who craved this addictive substance. This case is a great example of how spirited law enforcement collaboration keeps our communities safe from ‘meth’ dealers who seek to do harm by distributing this poison.”
“This sentence is the direct result of the effective partnership between our local, state, and federal agencies,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We will work tirelessly together to hold accountable gang members and drug dealers who terrorize our neighborhoods. The GBI is dedicated to thoroughly investigate violent offenses to lead to successful prosecution.”
The case was investigated by the DEA, the GBI, the Willacoochee Police Department and the Charlton County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Coffee County man pleads guilty to methamphetamine distributionRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Coffee County man faces up to 20 years in federal prison after admitting to distribution of methamphetamine.
Demetrius Brown, a/k/a “Jersey,” 42, of Douglas, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Brunswick before Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to one count of Distribution of a Mixture or Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Brown’s admission to the charge carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in prison, followed by at least three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our law enforcement partners did outstanding work in uncovering and shutting down Demetrius Brown’s poison pill factory,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We applaud their work in eradicating the illegal drug trade in our community.”
Brown previously has been convicted of multiple felonies, including assault on a law enforcement officer and drug distribution on school property – all occurring in New Jersey prior to his relocation to south Georgia.
The investigation of Brown began in 2019 when the Coffee County Drug Unit determined Brown was selling pills purportedly containing ecstasy. Law enforcement conducted two controlled purchases before executing a search warrant at Brown’s home, discovering a pill press, other materials used for manufacturing methamphetamine pills, and four firearms.
“We hope the conviction of Demetrius Brown will serve as a major wake-up call to those attempting to manufacture and distribute illegal drugs in Coffee County,” Sheriff Doyle Wooten stated. “We are actively partnering with state and federal officials and law enforcement agencies to aggressively target the sources of drug distribution in our area, and we will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent the law allows.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Coffee County Drug Unit, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Harper III.
Fake whistleblower sentenced to federal prison for trying to frame a former acquaintance for violating patient privacyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Rincon man who portrayed himself as a whistleblower while falsely accusing a former acquaintance of violating patient privacy has been sentenced to federal prison.
Jeffrey Parker, 44, of Rincon, Ga., was sentenced to six months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to one count of False Statements, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Parker also was fined $1,200 and after completion of his prison term must serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to protect the community by solving real crimes, and cases like this only divert time and resources from critical tasks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Jeffrey Parker’s fake complaint needlessly alarmed the victim and health care workers, but his scheme ultimately unraveled under the questioning of a perceptive FBI agent.”
As outlined in court documents and testimony, Parker admitted that he “engaged in an intricate scheme” in October 2019 when he contacted the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to claim that a former acquaintance had violated privacy provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Parker created email addresses using the names of real individuals and pretended to be these individuals to make it appear as if the acquaintance committed a crime. He sent the emails to the hospital where the acquaintance worked, to the DOJ, and to the FBI, and then claimed to have received threatening messages in retaliation for acting as a whistleblower. FBI agents quickly responded by acting to ensure Parker’s safety and investigate his allegations, and under subsequent questioning, Parker admitted concocting the scheme in an attempt to harm the former acquaintance.
“Many hours of investigation and resources were wasted determining that Parker's whistleblower complaints were fake, meant to do harm to another citizen,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Before he could do more damage, his elaborate scheme was uncovered by a perceptive agent and now he will serve time for his deliberate transgression.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Schwedler.
Leader of cocaine trafficking organization sentenced to two decades in federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: An Atlanta man born and raised in Savannah who led a drug trafficking organization that transported and distributed cocaine and other drugs into the coastal Georgia area has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Omar Griffin, 41, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Griffin also must serve 10 years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Omar Griffin was a major importer of cocaine and other drugs into the Savannah area, a wholesaler who delivered illegal drugs for widespread distribution in the coastal area,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We commend the tireless investigation and relentless pursuit by the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies in Operation Snowplow, who identified, pursued, and captured Griffin and his co-conspirators, shutting down their organization.”
Twelve other defendants in the investigation have been sentenced to prison terms of up to 240 months after all pleading guilty to related charges. Two other defendants are fugitives.
Operation Snowplow was the largest single seizure of cocaine to date by the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT). According to court documents and testimony, Griffin, who has several prior Chatham County convictions for drug trafficking, managed an organization that trafficked more than 35 kilograms of cocaine and other drugs from Texas and California destined for the Savannah area, from as early as February 2014 until his capture in March 2020. Some of the drugs were packaged in children’s toys and DVD players, concealed in cargo vans and truck trailers for shipment to Savannah, and distributed to mid-level dealers operating from several Savannah-area residences.
On March 5, 2018, law enforcement officers intercepted a shipment of 25 kilograms of cocaine that had been driven from Texas to a hotel in Richmond Hill, Ga., concealed inside a cargo trailer. Officers also seized more than $387,000 in cash that had been exchanged for the cocaine. Griffin evaded capture by stealing, and then crashing, a police car.
Following his escape, Griffin fled to Texas where he continued to traffic significant quantities of narcotics. In January 2020, he attempted to transport approximately four kilograms of cocaine in a commercial flight from Texas to Georgia. On March 31, 2020, law enforcement arrested Griffin in Houston and seized nearly seven kilograms of cocaine and more than a kilogram of ecstasy (MDMA) in connection with arrest.
In total in this investigation, investigators seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana, nearly 2 kilograms of MDMA, approximately $900,000 in cash, nearly two dozen firearms – including semi-automatic rifles – and other narcotics.
“Drug traffickers who distribute illegal and dangerous drugs are a menace to society,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “The cocaine distributor in this case has been removed from the streets and will now serve well-deserved time in prison. The success of this investigation hinged upon the collaborative efforts between all law enforcement agencies involved. The citizens of the Savannah area can rest better at night knowing that this criminal is headed to federal prison.”
Two defendants indicted in the conspiracy are still being sought: Kia Hickman, 49, of Savannah, and Jamaal Singleton, 42, of Savannah. Individuals with information on their whereabouts can anonymously contact the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT) at 912-652-3900, or Savannah Crime Stoppers at 912-234-2020.
The case was investigated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach, and conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, Savannah Police Department, Chatham County Police Department, and the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit and the Chatham County Aviation Unit, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Brunswick woman to repay Social Security after continuing to receive deceased grandmother's checksRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Brunswick woman who continued to receive her grandmother’s Social Security payments for 18 years after the relative’s death has been sentenced in U.S. District Court.
Stephanie Taylor, 60, of Brunswick, Ga., was sentenced to five months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to one count of Theft of Government Property, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Taylor must repay $146,342 to account for proceeds illegally obtained from October 1998 to October 2016, and was ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term.
The excess payments were discovered during a routine review by the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, and charged and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S Attorney Steven H. Lee.
Michigan man admits producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Michigan man has admitted producing child pornography while previously residing in Savannah.
Bobby Fields, 40, of Lansing, Mich., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of Production of Child Pornography, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and restitution, registration as a sex offender, and a period of supervised release after completion of the prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Bobby Fields eluded justice for nearly three years, but his crimes have found him out thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “The significant prison sentence that awaits should serve as a stark warning to anyone who would exploit vulnerable children.”
Fields was indicted in July 2020 after an FBI investigation into child pornography discovered on a laptop linked him to the illegal material’s creation through images that captured distinctive tattoos on Field’s arm.
A date for Field’s sentencing has not yet been set.
“The GBI will continue to work tirelessly to protect innocent victims of online exploitation,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We are grateful for the partnerships we maintain with our local and federal agencies to bring these predators to justice.”
The case was investigated by the Savannah Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Convicted drug trafficker sentenced to nearly 25 years in federal prison in operation that sold large amounts of cocaine and marijuanaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: One of the leaders of a conspiracy that imported large amounts of cocaine and marijuana into Georgia has been sentenced to nearly 25 years in federal prison.
Karteau Omar Jenkins, a/k/a “Yay,” 43, of Stone Mountain, Ga., was sentenced to 290 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. A jury in 2019 convicted Jenkins for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine and 50 Kilograms or More of Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine.
After completion of his prison term, Jenkins will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“From investigation, to trial, to conviction, our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to produce a case that provided our prosecutors with the essential tools and evidence to put Jenkins and his co-conspirators behind bars,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “This relentless pursuit in Operation Five Hole makes the community safer by removing these importers of poison from our community.”
Eugene Markeith Allen, a/k/a “Poncho,” 43, a former Savannah resident convicted of leading the drug trafficking conspiracy, awaits sentencing after a jury also convicted him in 2019 of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine and 50 Kilograms or More of Marijuana.
Allen, a leader in the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, was serving a life sentence at Autry State Prison for a 2006 murder conviction when he used smuggled contraband phones to direct Jenkins and other members of the extensive drug trafficking conspiracy that imported marijuana and cocaine from California into Atlanta and throughout the Savannah area.
Jenkins and Allen were among 20 defendants indicted in August 2017 in Operation Five Hole, a multi-agency investigation targeting the drug trafficking organization that hid cash proceeds from drug sales in cotton candy machines for shipment by U.S. Mail and in vehicles with hidden compartments. The operation netted the seizure of pounds of marijuana and kilos of cocaine, along with nearly $400,000 in cash and multiple firearms.
Of the other 18 defendants indicted in the conspiracy, 16 have pled guilty and have been sentenced or await sentencing, with cases dismissed against two defendants. Twelve other defendants pled guilty to federal charges related to the operation and have been sentenced.
“Not only did this extensive investigation and prosecution shut down major cocaine distributors across the state of Georgia, but it now has put one of the conspiracy leaders behind bars for a substantial amount of time,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This successful sentence could not have been achieved without the hard work and cooperation of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, a part of the Southeast Georgia Violent Crimes Task Force.”
“Using the collective resources of local, state, and federal agencies is critical to targeting criminal organizations trafficking drugs across the country and into our community. The multi-agency cooperation throughout the investigation and prosecution of this case was essential to its success,” Director Michael G. Sarhatt of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team said. “CNT is proud to be a part of this joint operation which shows the strength of the law enforcement partnerships in the Chatham County area.”
The case was investigated as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the Chatham County Narcotics Unit (CNT), the Savannah Police Department, the Chatham and Effingham County Sheriffs’ Offices, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah Abrams and Frank Pennington, with assistance from Litigation Technologist Dean Athanasopoulos.
Durable medical equipment company owner sentenced to federal prison for bribery conspiracyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Florida man who operated a durable medical equipment company has been sentenced to federal prison for participating in a commercial bribery conspiracy that involved a health care program.
Patrick Wolfe, 48, of Belleair Beach, Fla., the operator of Wilmington Island Medical Inc., which does business as WI Medical Inc., was sentenced to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. after pleading guilty to one count of Conspiracy, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Wolfe also is ordered to pay $549,476.17 in restitution, and after completion of his prison term must serve three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“After ripping off taxpayer-provided health care benefits to fuel his own greed, Patrick Wolfe had the audacity to flaunt his ill-gotten gains by fueling up and driving around in a Maserati,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “A stint behind bars will put the brakes on this conspiracy.”
In pleading guilty to Conspiracy, Wolfe admitted paying kickbacks in return for “leads,” which were in actuality signed orders from physicians and nurse practitioners, and then billing those orders to a Medicare Advantage plan using WI Medical.
The financial total for orders facilitated through this scheme is alleged to be in the millions of dollars. Medicare beneficiaries were located in the Southern District of Georgia and elsewhere.
“This sentence will hold Wolfe accountable for the damage he caused to Medicare and every taxpayer in this country,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Government-subsidized programs like Medicare help protect the healthcare needs of deserving Americans, and the FBI is determined to stop people like Wolfe from illegally profiting off of them.”
“This sentence is a warning to those who enrich themselves through fraud scams at the expense of taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to crack down on such schemes, which waste taxpayer funds designed to care for vulnerable patients.”
“Our nation’s healthcare system cannot tolerate kickbacks to physicians and pharmacies while criminals line their pockets with taxpayer-funded healthcare dollars, particularly in light of our nation’s current struggles with the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Savannah Resident Agent in Charge Glen M. Kessler, U.S. Secret Service. “Cases of this magnitude can only be tackled using a strategy that recognizes that the most effective way to fight these large criminal networks is by combining the strengths, resources, and expertise of our federal agencies.”
The Southern District of Georgia has now charged 31 individuals and companies as part of the nationwide crackdown on fraudulent genetic testing, and prescribing of orthotic braces and pain creams, identifying more than $1.5 billion in losses to Medicare and Medicaid for defendants charged int the Southern District alone.
This investigation is ongoing. As telemedicine becomes an increasing part of our healthcare system, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, vigilance in ensuring that fraud and kickbacks do not usurp the legitimate practice of medicine by electronic means is more important than ever. If you are aware of any fraud or kickbacks relating to telemedicine, including COVID-19 fraud, please call the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
This particular prosecution resulted from a joint investigation of multiple agencies and offices. Acting U.S. Attorney Estes acclaimed the hard work of the investigatory team, led by FBI - Savannah, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Porter prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Six Waycross-area defendants indicted for conspiracy to traffic drugs, including Fentanyl and heroinRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: An indictment recently unsealed in U.S. District Court alleges a drug trafficking conspiracy was responsible for distributing deadly addictive drugs that led to overdoses.
As alleged in USA vs. Hayes, et. al, the indictment charges six people with participating in the conspiracy to distribute a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin, said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes. The indictment includes sentencing enhancements for two of the defendants that could mean up to life in prison upon conviction, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“As the number of victims of opioid addiction continues to rise, our office will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt the illegal networks that distribute these drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “We are committed to ending this deadly crisis.”
As described in the indictment, the indictment alleges the drug trafficking conspiracy started as early as March 2020 in Pierce and Ware counties, and that “serious bodily injury resulted from the distribution of the controlled substance.” Those charged in the indictment include:
- Eric LeShawn Hayes, a/k/a “Pee Wee,” 27, of Blackshear, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute a Controlled Substance (40 grams or more of a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; three counts of Distribution of Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl;
- Davey Green, a/k/a “Little Dave,” 35, of Waycross, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute a Controlled Substance (40 grams or more of a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin); two counts of Distribution of Fentanyl; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl;
- Cyrlus LaShawn Hayes, a/k/a “Dubo,” 44, of Waycross, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute a Controlled Substance (40 grams or more of a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin);
- Renalba Jamar Green, a/k/a “Reno,” 34, of Waycross, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute a Controlled Substance (40 grams or more of a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin);
- Crystal Champagne, 33, of Waycross, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute a Controlled Substance (40 grams or more of a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin); and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl; and,
- Preston Connor Luke, 26, of Blackshear, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and To Distribute a Controlled Substance (40 grams or more of a mixture of Fentanyl and heroin).
Because of specific prior felony convictions, Eric LaShawn Hayes, Cyrlus LaShawn Hayes, and Renalba Jamar Green each face enhanced punishment if convicted on any one of the drug charges alleged in the indictment which could result in additional prison time for these defendants, including sentences of up to life imprisonment if they are convicted on the Conspiracy charge.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to expend its time, energy and resources in an effort to stem the tide against the growing opioid epidemic,” said the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division, Robert J. Murphy. “These defendants are alleged to have delivered countless doses of poison to the Waycross community. DEA and its law enforcement partners stand united to protect our communities from the scourge of drug abuse.”
The cases are being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Blackshear Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and Noah J. Abrams.
Savannah man who murdered wife of deployed soldier sentenced to nearly 60 years in prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man who admitted killing the wife of a deployed U.S. Army soldier on post at Fort Stewart has been sentenced to nearly 60 years in federal prison.
Stafon Jamar Davis, 28, was sentenced to 700 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Premeditated Murder and Possession of a Firearm, said David H. Estes, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Davis will be required to serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Stafon Davis is a cold-blooded murderer who shot and killed the wife of a deployed soldier in her sleep and burned her car to cover his tracks,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “Army CID, the FBI and the Savannah Police did an exemplary job of bringing this cowardly killer to justice.”
Abree Boykin, 24, was a resident of post housing at Fort Stewart Army Reservation, married to SGT Shawn Boykin, a member of the U.S. Army who was assigned to Fort Stewart’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. At the time of the murder, SGT Boykin was deployed in South Korea. Davis, who had known Abree Boykin since childhood, was a fugitive from federal supervised release after having served a nearly eight-year federal prison sentence for armed robbery.
In pleading guilty to the murder, Davis admitted to shooting and killing Abree Boykin as she slept in her post residence in the early morning hours of July 9, 2018. Davis then fled Fort Stewart in her vehicle. He gave the murder weapon to an acquaintance who later sold it, and engaged the assistance of an accomplice to burn the vehicle in a remote area outside Hardeeville, S.C.
“Although glad to see today’s sentencing, it will never bring back Abree Boykin, the wife of a deployed soldier when she was killed. She was needlessly gunned down in her sleep by this career criminal,” said Army CID Special Agent Joseph Thompson, who was the CID agent in charge at the time of the murder. “We sincerely appreciate all the hard work and cooperation from our fellow law enforcement agencies on this lengthy investigation.”
“The tireless work of the FBI Savannah Resident Agency, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and other law enforcement partners has brought this tragic and senseless case to a conclusion that will hopefully provide some solace to Abree Boykin’s family,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Justice has been served.”
Two other defendants also are implicated in the case:
- Jenard Patilla, 36, of Savannah, was found in possession of the murder weapon, a 9mm Taurus PT111 semi-automatic handgun, and was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He pled guilty and was sentenced May 28, 2020, to 45 months in federal prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
- Devin Ryan, 30, of Hardeeville, S.C. awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Use of Fire in Commission of a Federal Felony. Ryan, who met Davis while the two were in a halfway house serving federal supervised release, admitted helping Davis destroy Abree Boykin’s 2018 Honda Accord by dousing the interior with gasoline and setting it on fire.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Army CID, and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer G. Solari and Katelyn Semales with assistance from Trial Attorney Jared Hosid of the U.S. Department of Justice Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section, and Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Investigative Analyst Karen Hartley.
David H. Estes named as Acting U.S. Attorney for Southern District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
By virtue of the Vacancies Reform Act, David H. Estes is officially Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. He formally served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney prior to the departure Feb. 9 of then-U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine.
Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes, Southern District of GeorgiaTen defendants charged with drug trafficking conspiracy alleging prescription drug fraudRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Ten people have been charged in a federal indictment alleging a conspiracy to obtain and sell large amounts of opioids through fraudulent prescriptions.
The indictment charges eight men and two women with taking part in a scheme to use forged and fraudulent prescriptions to obtain large amounts of the highly addictive opioid Oxycodone, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. All 10 defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Oxycodone, which carries a possible prison term of up to 20 years upon conviction.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“As the opioid addiction crisis continues to rage across our nation, law enforcement agencies welcome the assistance of vigilant prescribers and pharmacists in detecting potentially illegal activity,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes. “This cooperation is vital in battling the damage from illegally obtained opioids.”
A pharmacist in Savannah first raised an alarm in April 2020 when she questioned the authenticity of a prescription for Oxycodone-Acetaminophen and contacted the Savannah Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Savannah Tactical Diversion Squad. As alleged in the indictment, the conspiracy involves the defendants forging the signatures of at least seven doctors on prescriptions and then filling these fraudulent prescriptions in at least three counties across Georgia – Chatham, Richmond and Columbia. The indictment alleges that defendants filled more than 25 fraudulent prescriptions to procure in excess of 2,000 pills.
The defendants named in the indictment, and their charges, are:
- Raheem Hardy, 28, of Lithonia, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone);
- Ke’Vontae Jenkins, 23, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone);17 counts of Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge; two counts of Attempt to Acquire Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon;
- Denzil Shaw, 24, of Beech Island, S.C., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone); seven counts of Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge; two counts of Attempt to Acquire Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Antonio Wideman, 27, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone);
- Ronald Clements, 29, of Lithonia, Ga., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone);
- Darien Grant, 27, of North Augusta, S.C., charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone);
- Kentrell Thomas, 20, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone); and two counts of Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge;
- Marquaill Leverett, 22, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone); and Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge;
- Destiny Thompson, 20, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone); two counts of Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge; and one count of Attempt to Acquire Possession of a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge; and,
- Kitana Long, 22, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substance (Oxycodone); and three counts of Acquiring or Obtaining a Controlled Substance (Oxycodone) by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception or Subterfuge.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Atlanta Division said, “Addressing the country’s opioid addiction continues to be a top priority for DEA. In this case, the pharmacist’s vigilance was an integral part of this investigation. DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will not stand idly by and allow criminals to profit off of the addictions of others.”
“The opioid crisis in this country is real and we are experiencing the harmful effects in this area firsthand. The alleged actions of these 10 individuals to use forgery and fraud to illegally obtain prescription medication and then funnel those toxins into our community is despicable,” said Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team Director Michael G. Sarhatt. “CNT remains dedicated to identifying and investigating the individuals who are illegally supplying these highly addictive substances to our community. We are working closely with our partner law enforcement agencies to use our collective resources to stem the tide of the addiction crisis impacting this area.”
The case is being investigated by the DEA, the Chatham Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the Pooler Police Department, and the Savannah Police Department, with assistance from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew A. Josephson and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine reflects on success for Southern District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announces his resignation from the presidentially appointed position where he has served since Nov. 22, 2017. Christine will return to the private practice of law in the Augusta, Ga., area.
The resignation, previously announced internally, is effective Tuesday, Feb. 9.
“It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve the people of the 43 counties of the Southern District as their chief federal prosecutor and law enforcement officer,” said Christine. “I am proud to have worked alongside an unparalleled team of lawyers and staff in assisting our law enforcement partners to make our communities safer.”
Leaders in the law enforcement community offered accolades regarding Christine’s service.
“I want to thank U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine on behalf of FBI Atlanta and our resident agencies in the Southern District of Georgia for his dedication and partnership in our efforts to protect and serve the citizens of his district,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “His commitment and accomplishments are something Georgians and all Americans can be proud of. It has been an honor and privilege to work with him and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
“The citizens of the Southern District of Georgia were well-served by U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine,” said Robert Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Bobby epitomizes public service. He is guided by the principles of doing what is right and making the community a safer place. Bobby worked hand in hand with law enforcement on a daily basis to make sure we were bringing to justice those who preyed on our community. I am honored to have had a chance to work alongside Bobby, but more importantly I am proud to call him a friend. I wish Bobby well in all of his future endeavors. I look forward to working with him in the future in service of this great nation.”
“U.S. Attorney Bobby Christine has done much to reduce violent crime in our Southern Georgia communities. He has served with honor and distinction because at his core, he values faith, honor, family and commitment above all else,” said Arthur D. Peralta, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “As the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia, U.S. Attorney Christine has inspired all of us to go further and do more with the resources we have. Our mission to reduce violent crime will continue unabated, due in large part to the path that U.S. Attorney Christine has put us on. I join all members of the ATF Atlanta Field Division in wishing U.S. Attorney Christine all the best.”
“I have known Bobby Christine for more than 20 years in his capacity as prosecutor/judge and consider him a great friend,” said Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree. “U.S. Attorney Christine has been a consummate professional in every position that he has ever held, and I look forward to what the future has in store for him. We all know that he will continue to be a great advocate for law enforcement and the justice system. Again, I want to thank U.S. Attorney Christine for his many contributions.”
“Shortly after being appointed U.S. Attorney three years ago, Bobby Christine visited our office in Thomson to let us know that he was ready to use the resources of the federal government to help make our communities a safer place to live, work and raise a family,” said William Doupe, District Attorney for the Toombs Judicial Circuit. “Through Bobby’s cooperative venture program of Prosecutor to Prosecutor, we were able to send some of the most violent convicted felons who still chose to illegally possess firearms in our circuit to federal court where they received lengthy sentences without parole. Without a doubt, this program saved lives. These prosecutions also allowed our office to try the cases with victims who were anxiously awaiting resolution. Thank you, Bobby, for all you have done for the citizens of the Toombs Circuit.”
As U.S. Attorney, Christine implemented the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program, or P3, a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, state and local law enforcement, and the 11 state District Attorneys’ offices that intersect the Southern District. The U.S. Attorney’s Office under Christine generated a dramatic increase in prosecutions – including the pursuit of felony illegal firearms charges against an additional 650 defendants in three years. Coupled with invigorated efforts to combat violent crime, the last three years has witnessed the office consistently being among the most productive in the nation per lawyer in prosecution of violent crime.
Christine lauds the success of the office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Division in pursuing civil proceedings against criminal defendants in recovering nearly $160 million in taxpayers’ money lost to fraud or other misconduct. The office’s Criminal Health Care Fraud Unit rose to third-ranking status among the nation’s 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices as it prosecuted a ring of more than 30 defendants responsible for more than $1.5 billion in fraudulent health care claims. By cutting staff sections and unifying leadership, Christine created the Asset Recovery Unit, resulting in the recovery of additional tens of millions of dollars for victims and the United States.
With the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence and an NSA facility located on Fort Gordon in the Southern District, Christine was honored in 2017 to be amongst the first of a small group of U.S. Attorneys to be named to help lead the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on Cyber and Intellectual Property. Christine has participated in providing essential guidance and counsel to the U.S. Department of Justice relative to cyber initiatives during his entire tenure.
A graduate of Georgia Military College (Milledgeville), the University of Georgia, Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, and the U.S. Army War College, Christine worked for a decade in the District Attorney’s Office in Augusta, where he became the first Chief of the Columbia County Division. He is one of only a few prosecutors in modern Georgia to win a conviction for murder in a case where the body of the victim has never been located.
Appointed Judge of Columbia County Magistrate Court in 2005, he held that post continuously until his appointment as U.S. Attorney, serving as Chief Magistrate from 2009-2012. From 2005 to 2017, Bobby also maintained a private practice concentrating in domestic, probate, personal injury, and criminal litigation.
Bobby has been an Army reservist since the age of 17, both as a Combat Engineer and a Judge Advocate. It is in uniformed military service where Christine first received education in cyber legal issues. A Brigadier General in the Army National Guard with duty at the Pentagon, he currently serves as the National Guard Advisor to the Judge Advocate General and Assistant to the General Counsel of the National Guard Bureau. He is a veteran of the war in Iraq.
He and his wife Sheri, an elementary school teacher for Columbia County where they make their home, have two daughters and one son.
U.S. Army major sentenced to three decades in federal prison for production of child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A U.S. Army major assigned to the U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, Ga., has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.
Jason Michael Musgrove, 41, of Grovetown, was sentenced to 360 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Musgrove also was ordered to pay restitution of $9,000 to the victims and to register as a sex offender.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“While the timing is entirely coincidental, it nonetheless bears noting that Musgrove’s sentence comes just days after two FBI agents in Florida were killed while attempting to search the home of a child pornographer,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The disturbing and despicable nature of such predators only increases their danger to the community, and Musgrove’s long sentence immediately makes the community safer.”
At the time of his December 2019 arrest, Musgrove was an Integrated Threat Operations Officer with Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmentalized Information clearance, assigned to the Army Cyber Joint Headquarters at Fort Gordon. Musgrove currently is facing administrative separation from the U.S. Army.
According to court testimony and documents, Musgrove admitted that he produced and attempted to share child pornography on the internet. His crimes were uncovered by the FBI.
“It is beyond comprehension that someone in a position sworn to protect American citizens would take advantage and traumatize vulnerable children,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is committed to protecting our children by identifying and apprehending predators who commit such abhorrent crimes.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
Seven individuals indicted on federal firearms charges under agencies' collaborative effortRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Seven defendants face federal felony firearms charges after indictment by a U.S. District Court grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia.
All of those charged are prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions or illegal drug use. The cases are being investigated under the Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal firearms, and in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF) and local law enforcement agencies.
“Getting illegally possessed firearms out of the hands of convicted felons is a high priority of our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “This collaborative effort to enforce existing law makes our streets safer.”
In the past three years, more than 650 defendants were federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for carrying a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. The charge carries a penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system. Nationwide, more than 14,200 defendants were charged with federal firearms violations in the past year – 180 of them in the Southern District.
Those named in federal indictments from the February 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- William Thomas Nealous III, 30, of Martinez, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Methamphetamine.
- Julian Theophilus Moffett, 39, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Robert Kenneth Williams, 32, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Timothy Mario Mitchell, 23, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Deonte Brown, 26, of Port Wentworth, Ga., charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Burney Cobb, 40, of Port Wentworth, Ga, charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Clifford Pevey, 39, of Gainesville, Ga., charged with Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
The charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon carries a possible penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
In addition to these cases, at least three defendants recently have appeared in court on firearms charges, including:
- Dominque Johnson, 32, of Augusta, sentenced to 60 months in prison, fined $1,500 and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Ivan Hughes, 35, of Augusta, sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Patrick Allen Scott, 28, of Hephzibah, Ga., who pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and awaits sentencing; and,
- Matthew Kyle Brazell, 34, of Grovetown, Ga., who pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, related to a prior conviction for domestic violence. Brazell awaits sentencing.
These cases also are investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for prosecuting crimes.
In addition to the ATF, agencies investigating the cases include the Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; the Rincon Police Department; and the Port Wentworth Police Department.
The cases are being investigated for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms; Jennifer Stanley; Alejandro V. Pascual IV; John Harper; and Noah Abrams.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.
Owner of Savannah-area clinic charged for role in providing access to notorious 'pill mill' doctorRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Garden City, Ga., clinic owner and CEO has been indicted for operating a clinic that provided a base from which a notorious “pill mill” doctor dispensed massive amounts of controlled substances.
In a five-count indictment returned by a U.S. District Court grand jury, Jamesetta Whipple-Duncan, 58, of Savannah, is charged with Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Solicitation and Receipt of Kickbacks; False Statements in a Loan and Credit Application; Falsification of Records; and False Statements, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible sentence upon conviction of up to 30 years in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and up to four years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“The fight against the opioid addiction crisis must attack the full illegal supply pipeline, from street-corner dealers, to white-coated prescribers, to enabling businesses providing storefront space,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “With our law enforcement partners, we will bring unrelenting pressure to every avenue that fuels the illegal drug trade.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Whipple-Duncan, as owner of the now-closed Georgia Laboratory Diagnostics LLC, in Garden City, Ga., was an employer of Dr. Frank Bynes Jr., 69, of Savannah, who was sentenced in February 2020 to 240 months in prison and ordered to pay $615,145 in restitution to Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare after being found guilty by a federal jury on 13 counts of Unlawful Dispensation of Controlled Substances and three counts of Health Care Fraud.
As noted in the indictment, from approximately January 2017 to September 2017, Whipple-Duncan “profited significantly from this clinic, both in the form of cash from many addicted patients and kickbacks paid to Whipple-Duncan from a laboratory that processed the clinic’s urine tests. Whipple-Duncan used the proceeds of the pill mill for her own use and enjoyment; yet, when Whipple-Duncan filed for bankruptcy protections shortly after the pill mill was shut down, Whipple-Duncan concealed the fact (that) she received the pill mill income and kickbacks she received, while making a series of false statements to the United States and others.”
With Bynes prescribing thousands of controlled substances, including the “Holy Trinity” drug cocktail favored by opioid addicts, Whipple-Duncan and Georgia Diagnostics Laboratory accepted only cash for office visits and refused to accept insurance, requiring Bynes’ patients to pay hundreds of dollars per visit – yet facilitated payments from the patients’ health care benefit programs for prescriptions and lab tests. Whipple-Duncan “obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars” as part of the clinic’s proceeds, according to the indictment.
The indictment also alleges that Whipple-Duncan solicited and received kickbacks by falsely claiming to be an employee of an Oklahoma laboratory that paid Whipple-Duncan to submit referrals for urine tests that the laboratory then billed to Medicare and Georgia Medicaid for nearly $500,000.
Regarding the financial crimes counts, the indictment alleges that on Sept. 27, 2017, Whipple-Duncan applied for and later received a $75,000 loan from a Savannah-based credit union, claiming income of “$10,000 monthly” from Georgia Diagnostic Laboratory despite knowing that the clinic already had been shut down following the execution of a federal search warrant. Whipple-Duncan later filed for federal bankruptcy protection, claiming that during that same period her income was $13,262 – despite her prior claims of making “$10,000 monthly” from Georgia Diagnostic Laboratory.
“In this case, the dispensing of addictive prescription pain medication (often-times opiate-based) under the guise of a doctor’s care, was not about the good of the community or an individual’s specific health needs; it was about the alleged greed of a clinic owner and CEO,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Atlanta Field Division. “This clinic owner was indicted for soliciting kickbacks and related financial crimes. DEA and its law enforcement partners will continue to investigate allegations of misconduct by clinic owners. If the allegations are found to be true, these unlawful acts fuel our country’s raging opioid epidemic.”
“The OIG will continue to pursue cases against those who fraudulently profit from the nation’s opioid epidemic,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that society’s most vulnerable are protected from such nefarious schemes.”
“After allegedly profiting from the illegal dispensation of large amounts of controlled substances, Whipple-Duncan is accused of obtaining loans based on lies,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to bring the full extent of the law to bear on such alleged illegal actions.”
“Jamesetta Whipple-Duncan is essentially charged with hiding behind what appeared to be a legitimate medical business in order to profit off of the illegal distribution of poisonous drugs by Dr. Bynes. The indictment also alleges Whipple-Duncan participated in various forms of fraudulent activity involving the clinic she owned,” said Michael G. Sarhatt, Director of the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team. “The type of behavior Whipple-Duncan has been accused of violates the trust of our citizens and CNT is committed to investigating those who take advantage of our community in this fashion. I am thankful for the cooperation of our law enforcement partners in investigating all aspects of this case, as well as the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in prosecuting the case.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the DEA, HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Georgia Medicaid Control Fraud Unit, and CNT, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Porter.
Teacher charged in federal complaint for transporting minor for sexRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Graniteville, S.C. man has been charged in a federal complaint alleging he transported a minor across state lines for sex.
Jonathan Eugene Grantham, 45, of Graniteville, S.C., appeared today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps after his arrest on a federal complaint charging him with Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Sexual Activity, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Grantham is employed as a teacher at Ridge Spring-Monetta High School in Ridge Spring, S.C.
As described in court testimony, Grantham is accused of knowingly picking up a minor in Columbia County on or about July 20, 2019, and taking the minor across state lines to engage in prostitution.
Grantham remains in custody pending a detention hearing before Judge Epps.
A criminal complaint is only a charge; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons
Georgia man sentenced after admitting fraud in attempt to sell 50 million non-existent N-95 face masks to foreign governmentRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Georgia man has been sentenced after admitting he attempted to sell 50 million non-existent facemasks to a foreign government.
Paul Penn, 64, of Johns Creek, Ga., was sentenced to five months and 29 days of home confinement by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Judge Baker also fined Penn $1,500 and ordered him to serve three years of probation.
“If not for the vigilance of the U.S. Secret Service, Paul Penn and his co-conspirators likely would have lit the fuse on an international scandal by ripping off a friendly foreign government for more than $300 million,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Instead, they halted the scheme before the criminals got a dime, and prevented these crooks from profiting from pandemic fear.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Penn, through his company, Spectrum Global Holdings, LLC, agreed with unnamed co-conspirators to act as a middleman in the attempted sale of 50 million 3M Model 1860 Respirator Masks that he and his co-conspirators did not actually possess. Under the deal, Penn was to broker the sale in exchange for a cut of the $317 million sales price, which was more than 500 percent higher than the previous normal market value for N-95 masks.
Based on representations from Penn and others, the buyer, a foreign government, wired the funds to complete the purchase, which was disrupted by the U.S. Secret Service just before the transaction could be completed. All of the funds were returned to the foreign government.
“This case should serve as a strong deterrent to those considering exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to enrich themselves through fraud. The nation’s citizens, businesses and our international partners are counting on the U.S. Secret Service and its federal law enforcement and private sector partners to safeguard it and maintain the public trust,” said Glen M. Kessler, Resident Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Savannah Office. “Tackling the threat of cyber-enabled COVID-19 scams requires an immediate response to safeguard our nation during these unprecedented times.”
Please report COVID-19 fraud, hoarding or price-gouging to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or go to justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.
U.S. Attorney Christine acclaimed the hard work of the investigatory team, led by the U.S. Secret Service, for disrupting the scheme.
The case was prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Heroin, fentanyl trafficking targeted in Operation Jump's Start, with seven indicted on federal chargesRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: Seven people have been charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy in an indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court.
Operation Jump's Start, an investigation under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, took aim at distribution of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs in south Georgia, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Each defendant in the 12-count indictment is charged with conspiracy, which carries upon conviction a penalty of up to 20 years in prison – and there is no parole in the federal system.
“Opioids – particularly synthetic analogues like fentanyl – are highly addictive and frequently deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are proud to collaborate with our network of law enforcement partners to target those who would distribute this poison in our communities.”
The investigation began in early 2019 when a source for the Glynn County Sheriff's Office identified distributors of heroin, cocaine and prescription pills in the Glynn and McIntosh County area.
With assistance from other law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), investigators conducted controlled purchases of drugs, searched homes and vehicles, and charged seven defendants in the now-unsealed indictment. Each of the seven defendants in U.S.A. vs. Joseph, et. al, is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine. The defendants, and any additional charges, include:
- Nickson Joseph, a/k/a “Cujo,” 55, of Brunswick, also charged with three counts of Distribution of Heroin; Distribution of Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute Alprazolam (Xanax); Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl; Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
- Edwuardo Moran, 56, of Townsend, Ga., also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
- Danielle Moran, 43, of Brunswick, also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Alprazolam;
- Yasmine Joseph, a/k/a “Midget,” 30, of Miami, Fla., also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Alprazolam;
- Kirk Westberry, 28, of Brunswick, Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl;
- Kelsey Little, 26, of Evans, Ga., Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl; and,
- Tina Kalter, 42, of St. Simons Island, Ga.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each of the defendants has had an initial appearance hearing in U.S. District Court and awaits further legal proceedings.
“It was through hard work and dedicated law enforcement. I am proud of the operation Jump's Start between the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office and DEA to bring these individuals to justice,” said Glynn County Sheriff E. Neal Jump. “We cannot allow individuals to sell drugs in our community. The joint operation was a success and I promise the citizens of Glynn County that we will continue to be proactive in our duties to protect and serve. As your Sheriff, I am very proud of my deputy assigned to DEA, our relationship with DEA, and the citizens who call and give us information to combat drugs in our county.”
“The dangerous substance Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine and 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. The combination of these deadly substances has claimed many lives,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Because of the true spirit of law enforcement cooperation, we will halt the distribution of these dangerous and potentially deadly substances.”
“Illegal drugs have no place in Georgia. They are dangerous and threaten the safety of our communities,” said Vic Reynolds, Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.”
Operation Jump's Start is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The case is being investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the GBI, the Georgia State Patrol, the Glynn County Sheriff’s Office, the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, and the Darien Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noah J. Abrams and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Tax preparer sentenced after admitting to preparing fraudulent federal income tax returnsRead the Press Release
STATESBORO, GA: A tax preparer has been sentenced to probation after she admitted preparing fraudulent federal income tax returns that resulted in illegally excessive refunds for multiple clients.
Shawree A. Hagins, 59, of Millen, Ga., was sentenced to three years’ probation by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Fraud and False Statements Related to Tax Filings, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Hagins also was ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution.
“Tax preparers have a responsibility to legally and accurately prepare tax returns on behalf of their clients,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Shawree Hagins instead scammed all American taxpayers to enrich herself by illegally inflating the amount of tax refunds due to her clients, and will pay the price for that fraud.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Hagins prepared at least 36 tax returns on behalf of 12 clients, fraudulently claiming deductions in excess of the amount to which the taxpayers were entitled. The fraudulent claims resulted in a loss of $75,000 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
“Unscrupulous return preparers truly undermine the American tax system and the trust of taxpayers relying on their expertise” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey. “Don’t just look at the refund or the amount you owe, always ask questions and review your entire tax return with your return preparer. As we approach tax filing season, those who might consider preparing false tax returns should be aware there will be consequences as evidenced today.”
“Hagins showed a complete disrespect for the law with her flagrant actions and abused her position of trust for her own personal greed,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Let this sentencing be a warning with tax season approaching, that claiming money that doesn't belong to you at the expense of every American taxpayer will not be allowed.”
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations and the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.
Seven individuals indicted on federal firearms charges under agencies' Project Guardian collaborationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Seven defendants face federal felony firearms after their indictments by a grand jury in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
All of those charged are previously convicted felons, which prohibits them from possessing firearms. The cases are being investigated under the umbrella of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal firearms, and in coordination with local law enforcement agencies and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF).
“It couldn’t be more clear: Convicted felons are prohibited from possessing firearms - period,” said U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to enforce existing law.”
In the past three years, more than 650 defendants were federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses – most often for carrying a firearm after having been convicted of a previous felony. The charge carries a penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system. Nationwide, more than 14,200 defendants were charged with federal firearms violations in the past year – 168 of them in the Southern District.
Those named in federal indictments from the first 2021 term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- April Nina Hawthorne, 32, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Jamerson Brandon Turner, 27, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Blake McDuffie, 26, of Winder, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- James Stallings III, 28, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Kenneth Wayne Jones III, 26, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Joseph Edward Palmer, 28, of Thomson, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Marquise Grant, 31, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
The charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon carries a possible penalty upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
These Project Guardian cases also are investigated under the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), in which federal and state prosecutors collaborate to determine the most appropriate venue for prosecuting crimes.
In addition to the ATF, agencies investigating the cases include the Savannah Police Department; the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office; and the Pooler Police Department.
The cases are being investigated for the United States by Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office Assistant U.S. Attorneys, including Project Guardian Coordinator Henry W. Syms; Patricia G. Rhodes; Frank Pennington III; Edwin Caban; and Steven Lee.
Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense.
For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.