Southern District of Georgia
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Leader of cocaine trafficking organization admits guiltRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Pooler man who led a drug trafficking organization that transported and distributed significant amounts of cocaine and other drugs into the coastal Georgia area awaits sentencing after admitting guilt.
Omar Griffin, 41, of Pooler, Ga., pled guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood and now faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, along with substantial fines and 10 years of supervised release after completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“For at least six years, Omar Griffin played a key role in bringing cocaine and other poison into the Savannah area for mass distribution, undoubtedly ruining countless lives in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His capture and admission of guilt caps off the outstanding investigation and prosecution of this drug trafficking organization, and serves as a warning to others engaged in such illegal trades: We will find you and shut you down.”
With the recent sentencing of Allen Grady, 43, of Port Wentworth, Ga., to 240 months in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, a dozen members of the conspiracy have been sentenced to prison.
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 was previously convicted of cocaine trafficking, conspired with others in the organization to transport kilogram-quantities of cocaine and other drugs from Texas and California and into the Savannah area from as early as February 2014 until his capture in March 2020. 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. Omar evaded capture by stealing, and then crashing, a police car. After interdicting the drugs, law enforcement executed a number of search and arrest warrants. In total in this investigation, investigators seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana, approximately $900,000 in cash, nearly two dozen firearms – including semi-automatic rifles – and other narcotics.
Griffin continued to distribute cocaine while on the run for two years until U.S. Marshals captured him in Houston in March and returned him to the Southern District for prosecution.
“This once-thriving cocaine distribution network who delivered doses of poison in the Savannah area was ultimately dismantled,” said the DEA Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy. “DEA and its law enforcement partners stand united to shut down drug trafficking organizations.”
Two members of the alleged 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.
Operation Snowplow was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations, 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.
Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison for attempting to lure teen for sexRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Mexican national who attempted to lure a young teen for sexual activity has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison.
Alvaro Hernandez, 36, of Bristol, Ga., a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Herndandez will be required to register as a sex offender and to serve 10 years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Alvaro Hernandez was enjoying his illegal access to the American dream, living and working in rural Georgia, when he tried to pay for sex with someone he believed was a child,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement partners helped protect our community from this predator by intercepting him during the perverted attempt.”
According to court documents and testimony, in March 2019, investigators with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, conducted a joint operation targeting child predators operating near Submarine Base Kings Bay. Hernandez, who responded to an internet message purporting to be from a 14-year-old offering sex for money, was arrested after he drove from his residence in Pierce County, Ga., and arrived at what he believed was the teen’s residence in St. Mary’s, Ga.
“This sentencing should serve as a warning that sexual predators who target vulnerable children will be fully investigated and prosecuted,” said NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Thomas Cannizzo. “NCIS is grateful to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office for its continued partnership in keeping communities where Navy and Marine Corps families live safe.”
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Four Assistant U.S. Attorneys named as elections officers for the Southern District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Four Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Southern District of Georgia have been appointed to serve as District Election Officers (DEOs) for the Nov. 3 General Election.
In consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington, D.C., Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) Jennifer Kirkland, Joshua S. Bearden, Channell Singh and Jason Blanchard will review any complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in the Southern District, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“Led by these AUSAs, our office will act promptly and aggressively to protect the rights of our citizens to vote without interference or discrimination,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Each legally registered voter must be able to freely exercise his or her right to vote, and we will help ensure their votes aren’t stolen because of fraud.”
The Justice Department’s election day program furthers the long-standing goals of deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and of ensuring public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters; buying and selling votes; impersonating voters; altering vote tallies; stuffing ballot boxes; and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, it may be a violation of federal voting rights law for individuals to attempt to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Election Day, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, a District Election Officer will be on call in the Southern District through election day and may be reached by calling 912-652-4422.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, D.C., by phone at 1-800-253-3931, by email to [email protected], or by filling out a complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/.
Operation Rubber Stamp: Major health care fraud investigation results in significant new chargesRead the Press Release
USAO-SDGA From left: Peter M. McCoy, U.S. Attorney, District of South Carolina; Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Georgia; Glen Kessler, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Savannah Office; Will Clarke, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Savannah Office; Douglas Dye, Special Agent, FBI; and Jonathan Porter, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Georgia.SAVANNAH, GA: The third in a nationwide series of telemedicine fraud prosecutions includes cases in the Southern District of Georgia identifying more than $1.5 billion in fraudulent billings to government healthcare insurance programs.
The takedown – dubbed Operation Rubber Stamp, and following two similar nationwide Department of Justice initiatives in 2019 – brings prosecution totals up to 30 defendants now charged in the Southern District of Georgia, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The cases were announced in a joint news conference with District of South Carolina U.S. Attorney Peter M. McCoy.
At its core, this criminal network targeted by these investigations involves individuals and companies that collect patient data and sell it to one or more durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers, pharmacies, or labs. Patients often were lured into the scheme by an international telemarketing network and the co-conspirators promise of often inappropriate durable medical equipment, test results, and medication misled patients and delayed their chance to seek appropriate treatment for medical complaints. As part of these schemes, defendant telemedicine executives allegedly paid doctors and nurse practitioners to order unnecessary durable medical equipment, genetic and other diagnostic testing, and pain medications, either without any patient interaction or with only a brief telephonic conversation with patients they had never met or seen. Durable medical equipment companies, genetic testing laboratories, and pharmacies then purchased those orders in exchange for illegal kickbacks and bribes and submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and other government insurers.
“This coordinated, deliberate and methodical series of investigations and prosecutions in the Southern District represents an ongoing, exhaustive team effort with our law enforcement partners to protect the taxpayers’ safety net programs from fraud and theft,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The warning should now be abundantly clear: Unscrupulous providers will find themselves in hot water if they attempt to illegally enrich themselves from these programs.”
Charges announced today include those against a former compliance officer for a company that facilitated more than $1 billion in fraudulent durable medical equipment billings to the Medicare program and other health benefit programs. Cases brought by the Southern District of Georgia team include prosecutions of Georgia medical professionals, marketers, and telemedicine companies who caused millions in fraudulent claims, including:
- An indictment charging Sherley Leon Beaufils, a Georgia nurse practitioner, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Health Care Fraud; five counts of Health Care Fraud; five counts of False Statements Related to Health Care; and one count of False Statements. Beaufils is alleged to have facilitated orders for more than 3,000 orthotic braces that generated more than $3 million in fraudulent or excessive charges to Medicare.
- An Information charging Toni De Lanoy, the former compliance officer of one of the more prolific facilitators of the overall conspiracy, with Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud. As alleged in the Information, the defendant and her employer provided access to an extensive digital platform that processed more than $1 billion in fraudulent or excessive orders for durable medical equipment billed to Medicare, Medicaid, and others.
“Telemedicine has become a valuable tool for delivering health services in this time of pandemic. However, bad actors are abusing these tools to commit health care fraud,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “When marketing and so-called telehealth services are misused, alleged violators can expect aggressive investigation and swift prosecution.”
“Fraudulent billing schemes cost every taxpayer and our healthcare system, and when it targets programs like Medicare that assist the elderly and poor, it potentially threatens their health care needs,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our partnerships within law enforcement are so important in uncovering such abuse by individuals driven by thoughtless greed and we remain determined to expose it.”
“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,” said Resident Agent in Charge Glen M. Kessler, U.S. Secret Service. “Our nation’s healthcare system cannot tolerate kickbacks to physicians and pharmacies while criminals line their pockets with taxpayer-funded healthcare dollars.”
The most recent takedown – dubbed Operation Rubber Stamp, and following two similar nationwide Department of Justice initiatives in 2019 – brings prosecution totals up to 30 defendants now charged in the Southern District of Georgia. Across the nation, the most recent takedown brings the total charges and guilty pleas in 19 judicial districts involving the submission of over $4.5 billion in false billings from fraudulent telemedicine schemes for 86 criminal defendants.
Defendants include telemedicine executives, more than two dozen licensed medical professionals, marketers, and the owners of durable medical equipment (DME) companies, genetic testing laboratories, and pharmacies. As part of the takedown, guilty pleas by more than 30 individuals will be entered or unsealed, including those by more than a dozen medical professionals.
In conjunction with the takedown, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services/Center for Program Integrity separately took the largest number of adverse administrative actions resulting from a single administrative health care fraud investigative initiative in history in revoking the Medicare billing privileges of over 250 additional medical professionals for their involvement in telemedicine schemes.
Criminal indictments and informations contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases brought today in the Southern District of Georgia are part of the joint FBI and HHS Operation Rubber Stamp and the 2020 telemedicine takedown, coordinated by the recently-announced National Rapid Response Strikeforce of the Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, led by Assistant Chief Jacob Foster and Trial Attorney Catherine Wagner.
The cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General; the FBI; and the U.S. Secret Service. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Jonathan Porter in the Southern District of Georgia and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim May, Derek A. Shoemake, and Will Lewis in the District of South Carolina.
Rapper scammers admit faking association with musical group in conspiracy to cheat hotels, bank, limo serviceRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two men have admitted guilt in a scheme in which they fraudulently claimed to be part of a famed musical group to steal from hotels and a limousine company.
Aaron Barnes-Burpo, 29, of Crestview, Fla., and Walker Washington, 52, of Augusta, each pled guilty in U.S. District Court before Judge Dudley H. Bowen to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, followed by up to five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“These men play-acted as bigshots so they could rip off hospitality providers for luxury treatment, but their scam fell apart thanks to an alert Augusta hotel clerk,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “It didn’t take Nick Cannon to figure out the defendants were lip-synching, and they’ll be disappointed to learn that their future accommodations in federal prison won’t be as swanky as those hotels.”
In court documents and testimony, Barnes-Burpo and Washington admitted that they portrayed themselves as affiliated with the Roc Nation production company and the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, and used those fictitious representations along with fraudulent and stolen credit cards to rent luxury limousines and defraud hotels of thousands of dollars in goods and services in cities including Augusta, Atlanta, and Florence, Ala.
The scam unraveled when staff at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Augusta became suspicious and alerted authorities.
“Facing up to 20 years in federal prison, these two defendants might question whether their short-lived scheme to live like rap stars was worth it,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “As this case demonstrates, law enforcement and the community will not tolerate anyone who fraudulently steals or takes anything that they do not earn or deserve.”
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.
Significant prison sentence wraps up prosecutions in massive south Georgia drug trafficking schemeRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A convicted drug trafficker was sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison Friday, wrapping up a federal prosecution that indicted 36 defendants in a major coast-to-coast narcotics distribution network.
Lashadre Smith, a/k/a “Shafa,” a/k/a “Shaffa Billythekid Smith,” 30, of Waycross, Ga., was sentenced to 190 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Smith also must serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.
The final defendant, Phillip Johnson, a/k/a “Gunplay,” 29, of Waycross, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine. The remaining defendants in the investigation previously pled guilty and were sentenced to prison terms of up to 268 months.
“Not only did this wide-ranging investigation and prosecution shut down major meth distributors in the Waycross area and beyond, it also has removed from the streets three dozen criminals and gang members with a sickening total of nearly 70 felony convictions on their substantial records,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The many law enforcement agencies who risk their lives to protect our communities from such career criminals deserve our gratitude and unwavering support.”
The defendants, identified during a year-long undercover investigation, were named in two separate federal indictments in August 2017, alleging a conspiracy that spread from Georgia, to Florida, and to California to import methamphetamine and other drugs into the south Georgia area. Led by the FBI, the joint federal and local investigation into violent gang and drug trafficking activities in Ware, Pierce and Glynn counties led to the seizure of kilos of methamphetamine along with quantities of cocaine and marijuana, thousands of dollars in cash and multiple firearms.
“After nearly a year-long investigation and two years of court procedures we can assure citizens of Waycross and south Georgia counties, they are much safer because these criminals and their drugs are off their streets,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The success could not have been achieved without our federal, state and local partners who are part of the FBI’s Coastal Georgia Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force.”
Also involved in the investigation were the Waycross Police Department and the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Glynn County Police Department, the Brunswick Police Department, the Blackshear Police Department, the U. S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Probation Office and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision.
The cases were prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Task Force (OCDETF) Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Richmond Hill man admits concocting 'intricate scheme' to frame a former acquaintance for breach of privacy in health careRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Richmond Hill man has admitted that he created fake email addresses and concocted other information to falsely accuse a former acquaintance of committing violations of patient privacy.
Jeffrey Parker, 43, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of False Statements, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to five years in federal prison.
“Jeffrey Parker tried to portray himself as a ‘whistleblower’ while attempting to frame a former acquaintance,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This fake complaint not only caused potential harm for an innocent victim, but it also unnecessarily diverted resources from federal investigators whose diligent work shredded his web of lies.”
As outlined in court documents, Parker admitted that he “engaged in an intricate scheme” in which 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 these communications to the hospital where the acquaintance worked, to the DOJ, and to the FBI. Parker then claimed to have received threatening messages in retaliation for acting as a whistleblower, prompting FBI agents to ensure his safety and quickly investigate his allegations. When an FBI agent interviewing Parker found inconsistencies in his story, Parker admitted concocting the scheme in an attempt to harm the former acquaintance.
“Many hours of investigative resources were wasted determining Parkers’ whistleblower claims were a scheme to damage a former acquaintance,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Now he will pay for his deliberate transgression and we can affirm that these types of actions will be exposed and punished.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Thomas Clarkson and Patrick Schwedler.
Guilty plea for man accused of importing cocaine hidden in Savannah shipmentRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The second of two men charged in June 2019 after more than 45 pounds of cocaine were seized from a Savannah shipment has admitted guilt to a federal drug trafficking charge.
Jimmy Alexander Pujols, a/k/a “El Gallo,” 35, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine in U.S. District Court, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The co-defendant in the case, Fausto Mendez Ramos, a/k/a “Rudy Reyes Polanco,” 40, earlier pled guilty to Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance. Each of the charges carries a penalty of up to life in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system.
“Safeguarding the integrity of the vital shipments coming through Savannah includes identifying and intercepting illicit and illegal items hidden among the thousands of containers entering the city each day,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We commend the outstanding work of the local and federal law enforcement agencies who caught these traffickers attempting to smuggle poison for distribution into our communities.”
The shipment was intercepted in June 2019 by Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and with assistance from the Augusta Fire Department. Investigators seized packages containing 21.3 kilos of cocaine while serving a federal search warrant at an Augusta warehouse holding a shipping container that had been transported from Savannah. Pujols and Ramos, who arrived to oversee the operation of transferring the hidden packages of drugs from the container to a truck for shipment to Florida, were taken into custody.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division commented on the plea, “This guilty plea is a direct result achieved because of the dedicated efforts between local, state and federal law enforcement. The distribution of cocaine and the negative impact continues to plague many communities. These communities are much safer today because another drug trafficker has been removed from the streets.”
“Drug abuse is a significant public health concern throughout the country,” said James Long, Savannah CBP Acting Area Port Director. “Through vigorous enforcement efforts, CBP will continue to intercept narcotics and prevent it from reaching our communities.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo, and Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr.
Career drug dealer sentenced to federal prison for meth, opioids, marijuanaRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: An Appling County man with multiple prior convictions for selling narcotics has been sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison.
Charlie Williams, 38, of Alma, Ga., was sentenced to 190 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Quantities of Hydromorphone and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Williams must serve four years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Charlie Williams first went to prison as a drug dealer 18 years ago, and time behind bars seemed to be the only time he wasn’t pushing poison on the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement partners have made the community a safer place by getting him back behind bars.”
Williams was on felony probation for convictions in state court on charges of selling cocaine when he was arrested in Oct. 2019 after Appling County Sheriff’s Office investigators served a search warrant at his home. During the search, investigators found large amounts of methamphetamine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid) pills and marijuana, along with more than $1,000 cash and drug-sales paraphernalia.
“This drug trafficker, who happens to be a repeat offender, was arrested because of the great working relationship that DEA has with its federal, state and local counterparts,” said U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Murphy. “Mr. Williams will now spend well-deserved time in prison and his apprehension makes our communities a safer place today.”
“One prison term was not enough for this defendant,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds. “His decision to reoffend brings harsh penalties. We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate drug dealers that threaten the safety of our communities.”
“Much of the crime in our communities is driven by a handful of repeat offenders who continually challenge the efforts of law enforcement to keep our streets safe,” said Appling County Sheriff Mark Melton. “We appreciate the help of our law enforcement partners in getting this drug dealer out of our neighborhoods and back where he belongs: behind bars.”
The case was investigated by the DEA, the GBI, and the Appling County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.
Key defendant in Operation Snowplow drug trafficking investigation sentenced to two decades in federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Port Wentworth man who laundered drug proceeds and helped distribute significant amounts of cocaine for a coastal Georgia drug trafficking organization has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Allen Grady, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 240 months in prison – the statutory maximum – after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Grady will be required to serve three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“A key part of any drug trafficking organization is its ability to move and hide the ill-gotten proceeds of their deadly trade, and Allen Grady played this role for his fellow criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “With a long stint in prison like his poison-pushing partners, Grady at last will make the community safer by no longer being a part of it.”
With the March 2020 apprehension of Omar Griffin, 41, of Pooler, Ga., only two members of the alleged 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 other 11 members of the conspiracy previously were sentenced to federal prison terms of up to 132 months.
Operation Snowplow was the largest single seizure of cocaine to date by CNT. According to court documents and testimony, Grady, who has three previous convictions on state charges of drug trafficking, laundered drug proceeds on behalf of the drug-trafficking organization, and participated in receiving and distributing kilogram-quantities of cocaine and other drugs from Texas and California in February and March 2018. 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 from several Savannah-area residences.
On March 5, 2018, law enforcement 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. After interdicting the drugs, law enforcement executed a number of search and arrest warrants. In total in this investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 35 kilograms of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana, approximately $900,000 in cash, nearly two dozen firearms (including semi-automatic rifles), and other narcotics.
“The individuals who move and hide the proceeds of illegal activity are just as much a danger to our community as the drug traffickers they assist. CNT continues to vigorously investigate all members of drug trafficking organizations in order to keep our community safe,” said CNT Interim Director Mike Izzo. “The success of this long-term narcotics and financial crimes investigation demonstrates the strength of the relationships between CNT and our local, state, and federal partners.”
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Division stated, “DEA places the highest priority of not only removing dangerous drugs from the street, but also on seizing the ill-gotten gains of illegal drug trafficking. DEA’s intent clearly is to put drug traffickers out of business by using every available resource.”
Operation Snowplow was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations, and conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection 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.
Former Savannah finance company employee sentenced to federal prison for bank fraudRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former employee of a Savannah finance company was sentenced to federal prison for committing bank fraud.
Dean Emerson Flake, 58, of Brooklet, Ga., was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison followed by 13 months of home confinement by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore after pleading guilty to one count of Bank Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Flake will be required to serve three years of supervised release.
“Stealing from your own long-time employer displays callous disregard for those who have placed employees in positions of trust,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Dean Flake squandered his opportunity to earn an honest living when he bit the hand that generously fed him, and thus will now dine in a prison cafeteria.”
According to court documents and testimony, Flake was employed for nearly 35 years as an Accounts Payable Processor at a finance company in Chatham County. In 2019, he began forging signatures on checks drawn on the company’s checking account and depositing them in his own account.
By the time his scheme was detected, Flake had stolen more than $1.6 million from his employer. The government identified, seized and forfeited $975,138.79 from the scheme, and after his arrest Flake admitted to stealing the money to feed a gambling addiction.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Savannah man admits 2018 murder of soldier's wife at Fort StewartRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has admitted to killing the wife of a deployed U.S. Army soldier on post at Fort Stewart.
Stafon Jamar Davis, 28, of Savannah, pled guilty to Premeditated Murder and to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in the July 9, 2018 shooting death of Abree Boykin, 24, a resident of post housing at Fort Stewart Army Reservation, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“Stafon Davis’ admission of guilt in the cold-blooded murder of Abree Boykin will help bring some degree of closure in this horrific crime against the spouse of a deployed American soldier,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our law enforcement agencies and prosecutors have performed outstanding work in bringing this killer to justice.”
Abree Boykin was the wife of 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 admitted to being a childhood friend of Abree Boykin and to shooting and killing her in the early morning hours of July 9, 2018, in her on post residence and fleeing Fort Stewart in her vehicle. Davis, who had been released from prison after serving a federal sentence for armed robbery, later was apprehended in West Palm Beach., Fla.
“This was a horrific and senseless murder of a member of our Army family,” said Chris Grey, spokesperson for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. “Our highly-trained special agents worked tirelessly and methodically with our law enforcement partners to bring this individual to justice.”
“The outcome of this case is a direct result of the partnership we have with the U.S. Army and the U.S. Attorney's Office Southern District of Georgia,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Abree Boykin's family and friends will never be rid of the pain and suffering this senseless murder has caused them, but it does give them some sense of resolve to know that justice will be served.”
This case is being investigated by the FBI and the Army Criminal Investigation Command, with assistance from the Savannah Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.
Owner of third cockfighting venue and other defendants arrested in continuing crackdown on animal fighting operationsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: An Emanuel County man has been arrested on federal charges for owning and operating a cockfighting venue that coordinated weekend contests with a nearby venue raided in June.
These coordinated law enforcement actions have now shut down what are believed to be the three largest animal fighting operations in the state of Georgia, with the prosecutions assisted by Georgia’s first dedicated federal animal cruelty prosecutor.
Wendell Allan Strickland, 66, of Swainsboro, Ga., was taken into custody Thursday morning, Sept. 17, for charges in a federal indictment on two counts of Sponsoring and Exhibiting an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture; two counts of Conducting an Illegal Gambling Business; and one count of Possession and Transport of an Animal in an Animal Fighting Venture, all felonies; and one misdemeanor charge of Attending an Animal Fighting Venture, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry penalties of up to five years in prison, along with substantial fines and asset forfeiture.
“Animal fighting operations are concentrated arenas of animal cruelty, and our office will aggressively pursue prosecution of anyone who seeks recreational thrills from such activities,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, we have shut down three of these reprehensible operations and seized more than $220,000 in cash suspected to be illegal gambling proceeds.”
The investigation into animal fighting operations in the Southern District, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG) and in cooperation with multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, determined that Strickland owned and operated The Red Barn on his Swainsboro property. Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in Operation Sunset in the early morning hours on Sept. 17 and arrested Strickland at the site, where the fighting pit was in the process of being dismantled and a box of cockfighting gear was seized.
Cockfights were held at The Red Barn on alternating weekend schedules with those at Little Sunset, a larger venue in nearby Midville, Ga., owned by William Shannon Scott, 48. Scott was arrested on federal charges as part of Operation Sunrise, a multi-agency raid of a cockfighting tournament at his property on June 20 in which nearly 200 possible defendants were identified.
A third cockfighting venue owner, Lanier Augustus Hightower Jr., 64, of Lincolnton, also is under indictment after a December 2019 raid on a cockfighting tournament on his farm. Hightower was arrested on federal warrants on Aug. 5 and has pled not guilty in a court appearance. Two of the defendants indicted for felony animal fighting charges along with Hightower were taken into custody Sept. 15, and more than two dozen defendants facing a misdemeanor charge of Attending an Animal Fighting Venture have had or scheduled initial appearance hearings.
“The cruel and inhumane practice of animal fighting has no place in a civilized society and is against federal law,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Williams of USDA-OIG. “The outstanding work of the USDA-OIG agents who investigated this case made it possible to bring these operators of a major animal fighting venture to justice. This agency has made animal fighting a high priority in order to demonstrate that these vicious acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”
Indictments are only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases are being investigated by the USDA-OIG and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandro V. Pascual IV and Xavier A. Cunningham, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Rock and Edwin Caban Jr.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia Animal fighting ring inside The Red Barn in Swainsboro, Ga., surrounded by stadium-style bleacher seating. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia Office of The Red Barn animal fighting venue in Swainsboro, Ga., includes whiteboards for tallying fight results.Chicago woman sentenced to federal prison for stealing identities of Savannah residents, corporationRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Chicago woman will spend the next five years in federal prison for stealing information from Savannah residents and using it to open credit accounts that funded a fraudulent, criminal lifestyle.
Ayondela Moore, 46, of Chicago, was sentenced to the statutory maximum 60 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank, Mail and Wire Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. She will be required to pay $68,558.91 in restitution to her victims, and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“In the words of one of her many traumatized victims, Ayondela Moore is a ‘habitual thief’ who stole thousands of dollars from innocent people – and undoubtedly would have continued her thefts if not for her arrest and her victims’ persistence in policing their own credit information,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Thanks to our diligent law enforcement partners, Moore will pay a personal price for her crimes by losing her liberty, just as she stole her victims’ peace of mind.”
According to court documents and testimony, Moore was a serial con artist who admitted to fraudulently obtaining debit and credit cards in the names of at least three Savannah residents and a Savannah business, and using those accounts to make purchases that included a roundtrip flight to Jamaica, flights for family members from Atlanta to Chicago, purchases at an amusement park, and multiple purchases of gift cards and merchandise at retail stores. She also used a Savannah resident’s bank account to pay for car insurance on Moore’s Mercedes-Benz SUV.
Moore, who was on probation for a state of Illinois conviction for identity theft at the time of her February 2020 arrest on federal charges. She has a total of three convictions on state felony charges, all for identity theft or aggravated identity theft.
“Technology has forever changed the way we do business, making every-day financial transactions a prime target for fraud,” said U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Glen Kessler. “Consumers are always urged to monitor their bank accounts, credit history and credit cards closely for fraudulent transactions and to use automated banking alerts available at most financial institutions. This defendant has made a criminal career out of destroying other people’s lives, and the Secret Service, in conjunction with its many law enforcement partners, continues to successfully combat these crimes by adapting our investigative methodologies and educating the public.”
“The United States Postal Inspection Service prides itself in collaborating with its law enforcement partners on cases such as this, and this case proves that individuals who defraud victims will be identified and prosecuted, no matter how far away they are,” said Antonio Gomez, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division of the USPIS.
This investigation began with a report by one of the victims to the Savannah Office of the U.S. Secret Service. Victims of identity theft are encouraged to reach out to the Secret Service so that the perpetrators can be investigated and prosecuted.
This investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Porter.
Half-million-dollar federal grant will enable regional expansion of domestic violence shelter's programsRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A significant U.S. Department of Justice grant will allow a Jesup domestic violence shelter to expand its educational and crisis support programs into nearby rural communities in partnership with a Brunswick shelter.
The $495,357 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) will fund services provided by the Safe Harbor Children’s Center and the Fair Haven Domestic Violence Shelter, announced Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The program will establish a domestic violence/rape crisis center in Jeff Davis County to provide regional services for Appling, Jeff Davis, and Wayne Counties.
“Like all sparsely populated areas, the rural communities of the Southern District often face challenges in providing vital services to their residents,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Safe Harbor and Fair Haven’s collaboration, fueled by this substantial OVW funding, will bring crisis assistance to those in need while assisting law enforcement in protecting these communities.”
“It is absolutely essential, as a society, to work together to prevent violence,” said OVW Principal Deputy Director Laura Rogers. “We are proud to do our part to support the people of Georgia as we all join together to keep victims safe and hold offenders accountable for their crimes.”
Safe Harbor, in Brunswick, is a sanctuary for abused, tormented and neglected children and older youths. Fair Haven is a domestic violence shelter in Jesup, Ga.
“Domestic violence and sexual assault against women is a steadily increasing concern in our community because of how COVID-19 has forced women and children to stay home with their abusers,” said Leslie Hartman, Executive Director of Safe Harbor Center. “We are thrilled to partner with Fair Haven Domestic Violence Shelter to ensure that all survivors receive the resources they need to ensure their safety and well-being. This unique partnership allows both organizations to leverage its expertise to effectively meet the needs of and enhance the response to domestic violence and sexual assault victims in the community.”
“We are honored to be able to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Justice and Safe Harbor to assist individuals who are suffering in sexual and domestic violence situations,” said Dana Mathis, Executive Director of Fair Haven. “Through this effort we will be able to work together to help those living in abusive situations to secure the services they need so their cases are investigated properly, and to ensure justice is served for the horrendous acts that they endured.”
The OVW funding, provided through a competitive grant process, is a component of the federal Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program. Safe Harbor and Fair Haven plan to use the funding to establish a regional domestic violence/rape crisis center in Jeff Davis County; provide two full-time and one part-time staff positions to provide client services; provide client transportation to the center; provide training to local law enforcement personnel; and to provide outreach events and increase community awareness.
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for, and strengthen services to, victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. For more information about grants, contact the Office on Violence Against Women at 202-307-6026 and ask for the Outreach and Communications Division.
Texas family sentenced for scheme to obtain multiple Masters Tournament tickets for resaleRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Ga: The four members of a Texas family who crafted an elaborate scheme to fraudulently obtain multiple Masters Tournament tickets have been sentenced, with the ringleader getting federal prison time.
Stephen Michael Freeman, 42, of Athens, Ga., was sentenced to 28 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Freeman’s parents, Steven Lee Freeman, 67, and Diane Freeman, 66, of Helotes, Texas, and sister, Christine Oliverson, 37, of San Antonio, Texas, were each sentenced to three years of probation after also pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud.
As part of their plea agreements, Stephen Michael Freeman paid community restitution of $157,493.70, while Steven Lee Freeman and Diane Freeman agreed to pay community restitution of $59,000 each. Judge Hall directed that $50,000 of the funds from the restitution be directed to First Tee of Augusta, with the remainder to the Community Foundation of the CSRA.
“Long before COVID-19 temporarily prevented patrons from visiting the Masters Tournament, these profiteering con artists managed to steal hundreds of tickets from the Augusta National’s generous ticket lottery and sell them for enormous profits,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “In the end, their greed-fueled scheme unraveled thanks to an alert Augusta National staff member and excellent investigative work from the FBI.”
“The FBI will go to great lengths to disrupt any scheme that would circumvent a fair process by denying our citizens the right to compete for tickets to any public or private event,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This scheme was designed to profit off legitimate citizens’ fair chance to obtain tickets to a prestigious golf tournament, and they must pay the price for their greed.”
As admitted in court documents and testimony, Stephen Michael Freeman created the scheme in which he purchased a bulk mailing list and used those individuals’ identities without their knowledge to create multiple fraudulent accounts that he then entered in the Augusta National Golf Club’s online ticket application system as far back as 2013. He then recruited his parents and sister into assisting in the conspiracy.
When any fraudulently created applications received notice of ticket awards via the email addresses provided for them, Stephen Michael Freeman or others acting at his direction would create fake identification documents including driver’s licenses, utility bills and credit card statements to persuade the Augusta National to change the winner’s mailing address to one that was under control of the conspiracy. An Augusta National employee detected the scam by noticing similarities in some of the applications for address changes.
During an approximate three-year period before the conspiracy was detected, the defendants received the tickets via U.S. Mail and would then resell them at a substantial profit. The payment of community restitution, negotiated through the Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, recognizes that the defendants are returning the proceeds of their crime. The funds from community restitution are dispersed under federal guidelines to qualifying non-profit organizations.
The case was investigated by the FBI, and was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons and AUSA Xavier A. Cunningham, Section Chief of the Asset Forfeiture Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Previously convicted felons sentenced to federal prison for crimes including illegal possession of firearmsRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two men will serve federal prison terms after being sentenced as convicted felons for crimes including illegal possession of firearms.
Shakur Wafi Abdullah, a/k/a Antonio Griffin, 37, of Augusta, was sentenced to 70 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Jesse Daniel Roberts, 51, of Augusta, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by Chief Judge Hall after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of their prison terms, each defendant will be required to serve three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Our streets are safer when repeat offenders with illegally possessed firearms are taken off our streets, and our office will continue to make them a high priority for prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “In accordance with the U.S. Attorney General’s priorities announced as part of Project Guardian, our law enforcement partners likewise are committed to protecting our citizens from gun criminals.”
As described in court documents and testimony, Abdullah was arrested in February 2019 after being involved in a vehicle crash on Peach Orchard Road in Augusta. Witnesses saw him hide items from his vehicle behind a nearby business, and Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies later found a bundle containing packages of cocaine and a pistol that Abdullah admitted belonged to him. Abdullah was on probation after serving 11 years of an 18-year sentence on a state charge of aggravated assault.
Roberts, who had recently been released on parole from state prison, was arrested in August 2019 when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and officers from the Georgia Department of Supervision (DCS) conducted a probation visit to Roberts’ motel room and found an AR-15 rifle and ammunition.
“These defendants 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. “These sentences have made the Augusta area safer.”
The cases were investigated by the ATF, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the DCS and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Caban and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Syms.
Sentences, multiple indictments highlight Project Guardian’s collaborative law enforcement strategyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Two men have been sentenced to prison and more than a dozen defendants charged in separate cases in the Southern District of Georgia relating to illegal possession of firearms.
While many of the charges target drug trafficking, all of the indictments include previously convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms, several of them on felony probation for state charges at the time of their arrest, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The sentences and indictments are under the umbrella of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal firearms, and in coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF).
“We continue to make our community safer by identifying and removing offenders who illegally possess and use firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we are committed to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.”
Two men were sentenced to federal prison for crimes involving illegal firearms possession:
- Janard James Coney, 26, of Port Wentworth, was sentenced to the maximum 120 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Coney, while on state probation for a domestic assault charge, was arrested in July 2019 after fleeing from a Port Wentworth home where he was reported as trespassing. He was later found hiding in the attic of his mother’s residence, and also faces multiple state charges.
- James Chapman, 31, of Savannah, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. after pleading guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm. Chapman, who has multiple prior convictions on state felony charges, was found in possession of a pistol after his arrest in August 2019 by Pooler Police.
Those named in federal indictments from the September term of the U.S. District Court grand jury include:
- Treyvious Jean Baptiste, 29, of Birmingham, Ala., charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Eutylone (Bath Salts); Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The charges are a result of a items found in Baptiste’s vehicle during a May 2, 2020 traffic stop in Laurens County by Laurens County Sheriff’s deputies, and a May 19, 2020 Georgia State Patrol investigation into Baptiste’s crash of his car in Laurens County. Baptiste faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
- Maurice Diggs, 41, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Heroin and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Diggs was implicated when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found drugs, cash, and drug distribution paraphernalia, along with four firearms, during a search of an apartment where Diggs was present. Diggs faces up to 40 years in prison.
- David Alexander Harris, 40, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intention to Distribute Eutylone (Bath Salts) and Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Harris, who faces up to 40 years in prison, came to the attention of Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies in March 2020 when he was discovered with a pistol in his lap while asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle at a traffic light.
- William Austin Hunter, 24, of Martinez, Ga., charged with Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; and Patrick Allen Scott, 27, of Martinez, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies went to Hunter’s residence in February 2020 while investigating a drive-by shooting at another location. As deputies were questioning Hunter, they noticed Scott climbing over a backyard fence while in possession of a bag containing a sawed-off shotgun, an SKS rifle, ammunition and magazines. A search of the residence discovered another sawed-off shotgun, a shortened rifle and a pistol. Each of the charges carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Michael Jerry Nasworthy, 30, of Martinez, Ga., and Ivey Elizabeth Clements, 26, of Martinez, Ga., both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Nasworthy also is charged with Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Nasworthy and Clements were both on probation for prior state felony convictions and subject to search when officers from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision visited their residence along with agents from the ATF. Both were taken into custody when the search discovered drugs and bullets. The charges carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
- Letrail Jerome West, 42, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. West was arrested by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies in July 2019 after he fled from an attempted traffic stop. In a subsequent search of his hotel room, investigators found drugs and an SKS rifle with a high-capacity magazine. Because of prior felony convictions on state charges involving narcotics, West faces up to 30 years in prison.
- Carlos Terrell Keith, 29, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found Keith in possession of a pistol during an August 2019 traffic stop. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
- Devonta Armon Stallings, 27, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies spotted Stallings when he ran from a group loitering in a known drug area and tossed a pistol before being captured. Stallings, who was on state probation at the time of his arrest, faces up to 10 years in prison.
- Travis Dennon Palmer, 29, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Palmer was arrested in March 2019 when the Savannah Police Department and U.S. Marshals searched for him in a section of apartments while responding to a report of a man with a gun. Palmer was taken into custody after falling through an attic ceiling, and officers found three firearms. Palmer faces up to 10 years in prison.
- Delvon Brown, 34, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in September 2019 after Savannah Police officers found him in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop and brief foot chase. Brown, who was on probation on a state conviction for illegal firearms possession, faces up to 10 years in prison.
- Sundiadaa Miller, 32, of Savannah, charged with Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Miller was arrested in January 2020 by Savannah Police officers. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Matthew Moore, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Moore was arrested in June 2019 after running from Savannah Police officers responding to a report of an armed man threatening people at a hotel. He was found in possession of a bag containing three pistols, and faces up to 10 years in prison.
- Darryl Kinloch, 29, of Savannah, charged in February 2020 when Savannah Police officers found two pistols in his car during a traffic stop. He faces up to 10 years in prison.
- Darnell Miller, 21, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Miller was arrested in September 2019 when Savannah Police officers found him in possession of a pistol during a traffic stop. Miller faces up to 10 years in prison.
In another firearms-related case, Christian Eduardo Flores-Garcia, 31, of Honduras, is charged by Information with Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien, and with Illegal Reentry After Deportation. Flores-Garcia was arrested after a traffic stop in January 2020 by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating a disturbance at a restaurant. Flores-Garcia has been deported from the United States on two prior occasions, and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Criminal indictments and Informations contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“The value of these types of cases can be measured in human lives,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF. “These cases involve illegally possessed firearms in the hands of criminals. They demonstrate the cooperation that exists between ATF and our state, local and federal law enforcement partners.”
The cases are investigated under Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and 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 involved in investigation of the cases include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, 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; Alejandro V. Pascual IV; Marcela C. Mateo; Joseph McCool; Joshua S. Bearden; Patricia G. Rhodes; Channell Singh; Steven Lee; Tara Lyons; Jennifer Stanley; and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron Hubbard, Edwin Caban and Noah Abrams.
So-called 'sovereign citizen' sentenced to federal prison for illegal possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A man who claimed his status as a “sovereign citizen” made him exempt from obeying the law will spend the next nine years in federal prison for illegally carrying a gun.
Michael Levant Williams, 36, of Savannah, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 110 months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Williams was found guilty in March after a two-day trial when the jury took just 15 minutes to reach a verdict. After completion of his prison sentence, Williams also must serve three years on supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Michael Williams ludicrously claims that the laws of the United States don’t apply to him,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His phony legal status won’t keep him from being held accountable for violating those laws, and his sentence should warn any other play-acting ‘sovereign citizens’ to abandon such legalistic charades.”
Williams, who had a previous federal felony conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, was arrested by Savannah Police officers Nov. 22, 2018, for a traffic violation. Officers recovered a firearm during a subsequent search of his vehicle. As a convicted felon, Williams is prohibited from possessing weapons.
After his arrest, and during subsequent legal proceedings, Williams acted as his own attorney and claimed to be a “sovereign citizen” who was immune from the law. His case represents the second time this year in the Southern District in which a defendant has asserted the claim that “sovereign citizen” status shielded him from prosecution. In that unrelated case, an Augusta man was sentenced in January in U.S. District Court to 25 years in prison for fraudulent legal filings that targeted federal officials.
“This case involves an illegally possessed firearm in the hands of a criminal,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “It demonstrates the cooperation that exists between Savannah Police Department and ATF.”
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Bearden and Karl Knoche.
Gang-member rapper who glorified guns sentenced to federal prison for illegal possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A gang member and self-styled rapper with a felony criminal record has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for illegally possessing a gun.
Antonio Dondrell Bell, 29, of Grovetown, Ga., was sentenced to 84 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Bell will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Antonio Bell knew that as a convicted felon he is not allowed to carry firearms, yet he chose not only to violate the law but to brazenly glorify gun possession in his videos posted online,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Now, inside a prison, he might have a live audience – but he won’t be able to flash firearms in his performances.”
According to court documents and information shared in court, Bell was arrested in Dec.7, 2018, after a traffic stop in Augusta by Richmond County sheriff’s deputies who found a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun with high-capacity magazine under the driver’s seat of the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Bell was driving.
In online videos in which he performs under the name “Yayo,” Bell is seen holding a firearm while also flashing large stacks of cash. He claimed the videos were staged for his budding music career, while also admitting that he was a member of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the violent Bloods criminal street gang. Bell faces additional state charges, including indictments on multiple counts of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Bell has previous felony convictions, which make it illegal for him to possess a firearm.
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) considers Richmond County Sheriff’s Office a critical partner in its long-term mission of removing criminals and gangs from our communities in the Augusta area,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF.
U.S. Army major convicted on federal charge of producing 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 admitted to producing child pornography.
Jason Michael Musgrove, 40, of Grovetown, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to an Information charging him with Production of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 30 years in prison along with substantial fines and restitution to victims in the case, followed by a period of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
According to court testimony and documents, Musgrove admitted using a hidden camera to film juvenile victims in a bathroom of his residence.
“We’re grateful to our FBI partners for their work in identifying and removing this threat to children. Their diligent and fast action in this case is inspiring,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “There is no place in the Southern District where such a despicable predator will be allowed to hide from justice.”
“The production of child pornography is one of the most horrendous crimes we deal with in our society. It is even more concerning when the crime is allegedly committed by a member of our armed forces who is sworn to protect the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Hacker of the FBI Atlanta field office. “The FBI is committed to protecting our children and working with our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend predators who carry out these appalling crimes.”
The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara M. Lyons.
International money laundering, drug trafficking and illegal wildlife trade operation dismantledRead the Press Release
Operation Apex imageSAVANNAH, GA: An international conspiracy that profited from drug trafficking and the illegal wildlife trade and conspired to hide the illegal nature of the proceeds has been shut down in a multi-agency law enforcement operation.
Initiated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Operation Apex brought together multiple agencies under the umbrella of the Organized Crime Drug Task Forces (OCDETF) to target two businesses, in Florida and California, and a dozen individual defendants whose activities included international trade in illegal wildlife products, trafficking in marijuana, and a money laundering conspiracy to disguise the massive proceeds of the unlawful activities that spanned at least a 10-year period, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Following the unsealing of an indictment in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested 12 defendants and conducted 22 federal search warrants from coast to coast, including the Southern District of Georgia, the Northern District of Georgia, the Northern District of Florida, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Central District of California, and the Northern District of California.
“Fearless and aggressive law enforcement brought an end to this sprawling, transnational conspiracy. In the end, the size of the conspiracy was overwhelmed by a coordinated law enforcement effort to infiltrate, document and dismantle it,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “United with our partner agencies, we have shut down an operation that fed a seemingly insatiable overseas appetite for illegally traded wildlife, and seized ill-gotten assets derived from that despicable criminal enterprise.”
The indictment in Operation Apex charges 12 defendants and two businesses with Mail and Wire Fraud Conspiracy; Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances; and Money Laundering Conspiracy. The charges carry potential penalties of up to life in federal prison, where there is no parole.
As alleged in the 37-page indictment, conspirators in multiple locations in the United States, including the Southern District of Georgia, and in Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere, were involved in the Wu transnational criminal organization that engaged in wildlife trafficking, shark finning, drug trafficking and money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began as early as 2010 as members of the conspiracy submitted false documents and used sham businesses and dozens of bank accounts to hide proceeds from the illegal activities. The indictment states that members of the conspiracy would deposit bulk cash from illegal activities, including wildlife trafficking and drug trafficking, into third-party business accounts that dealt in gold, precious metals, and jewels, to hide the illegal activities. Conspirators also deposited millions of dollars from illegal activities into third-party business accounts located in the United States, Mexico, and Hong Kong, in an effort to hide the illegal profits.
Shark finning is the barbaric practice of catching sharks at sea, cutting off their fins and throwing the injured shark back into the ocean to die. Shark finning is aimed at supporting the demand for shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy. Certain species of sharks are protected wildlife under federal and state law to ensure their continued sustainability.
During the arrests of the defendants and searches of their homes and workplaces, agents seized more than $3.9 million in multiple bank accounts; approximately $3 million in gold, silver, and other precious metals, along with $1 million in diamonds; approximately 18,000 marijuana plants and 34.5 pounds of processed marijuana; multiple firearms; and documented the harvest of more than six tons of shark fins. Agents also seized 18 totoaba fish bladders, a delicacy in Asia harvested illegally from an endangered species. Defendants charged in the case are:
- Serendipity Solutions LLC, of San Bruno, Calif.;
- Phoenix Fisheries LLC, of Southport, Fla.;
- Terry Xing Zhao Wu, 45, of Burlingame, Calif.;
- Natalie Ye Man Chan Wu, 38, of Burlingame, Calif.;
- Woonjin Lam, 43, of San Francisco;
- Anthony Wu, 24, of San Francisco;
- Billy Chen, 61, of Walnut, Calif.;
- Ying Le Pang, 47, of San Lorenzo, Calif.;
- Mark Leon Harrison, 59, of Southport, Fla.;
- Heather Huong Ngoc Luu, 46, of Westminster, Calif.;
- Lam Phuoc Quang, 47, of Pasadena, Calif,;
- Kevin Chinh Nguyen, 40, of Tucker, Ga.;
- Elias Samuel Castellanos, 54, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and,
- Terry Louis Shook, 56, of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.
“The Trump Administration believes in law enforcement and tackling wildlife trafficking. By successfully dismantling this criminal operation, we are unveiling the true nature of criminal syndicates, in which species like sharks and totoaba are the silent victims,” said Aurelia Skipwith, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “I applaud and thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance with this case. Together, we will continue to protect imperiled species for future generations.
“Removing dangerous drugs from the streets and hitting drug traffickers in their ‘pockets’ are both integral parts of dismantling sophisticated drug distribution networks, as was the case in this investigation,” said the Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “Their money is their lifeline and without it, their drug distribution activities cannot survive. This investigation was a success because of the investigative efforts by a collection of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the subsequent prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“Transnational criminal organizations continue to pose a significant threat to national and international security,” said Christopher Kennally, Savannah CBP Area Port Director. “Our officers’ expertise, along with the utilization of available tools, and valuable partnerships resulted in the arrest of these criminals. Our communities can feel safer knowing that the men and women of CBP are securing their borders.”
“It’s a sad day when not even the sharks in the ocean are safe from the greed of criminal organizations,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI Atlanta is a proud to have been a part of this operation and to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to protect our communities and oceans.”
“The United States Postal Inspection Service stands ready and committed to assist its local, state and federal law enforcement partners in any type of investigation,” said USPIS-Miami Division Inspector in Charge Antonio Gomez. “This case highlights the great working relationships between all of the involved agencies, and serves as a reminder that criminal activity involving the mail will be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of a crime. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
Operation Apex is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations that threaten the citizens of the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach to combat transnational organized crime. The OCDETF program facilitates complex, joint operations by focusing its partner agencies on priority targets, by managing and coordinating multi-agency efforts, and by leveraging intelligence across multiple investigative platforms.
Agencies conducting the investigation include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Investigations Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations, in conjunction with state and local agencies including the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly Jr., Tania Groover, Xavier Cunningham, and Joshua Bearden, with assistance from Trial Attorney Joseph Palazzo and the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Liberty County man sentenced to federal prison for enticing a child for sexual activityRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Liberty County man will spend more than 12 years in federal prison for persuading a 12-year-old child to engage in sexual activity.
Casey Austin Desmuke, 31, of Hinesville, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to one count of Coercion and Enticement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Desmuke also must pay $50,000 in restitution, and after completion of his prison term must serve 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“It is the depth of depravity than for an adult to coerce a pre-teen child for his sexual gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our community’s most vulnerable citizens will be protected from this predator for at least the next dozen years while he’s locked away from society.”
Desmuke was arrested in July 2019 after an investigation determined he had communicated with a 12-year-old and later transported the child to his home to engage in sexual activity. He also faces pending state charges for similar activity that occurred in 2010 in Waco, Texas.
“We must diligently pursue any adult who would take advantage of a young child for sex,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “No sentence could ever erase the trauma that scars a child for life. We can only take solace in the fact that Desmuke won't be able to harm another child for a long time.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.
Violent criminal sentenced to federal prison for multiple armed robberies, carjacking and home invasionRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man will spend 25 years in federal prison after sentencing for the violent robberies of two convenience stores, an armed home invasion, and car theft in 2018.
Brian Alexander Brooks, 23, of Savannah, was sentenced in U.S. District Court by Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 300 months in prison for Interference with Commerce by Robbery; Using, Carrying and Discharging a Firearm During a Violent Crime; and Carjacking, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Brooks was order to pay $15,000 in restitution, and after completion of his prison sentence, he must serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Brian Brooks is a violent, serial criminal who robbed and threatened innocent victims at gunpoint, stole a car, ran from police and fired shots to avoid apprehension,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Hard prison time will protect the community from further victimization by this violent predator.”
As spelled out in court proceedings and filings, the progressively escalating series of crimes for which Brooks is being incarcerated include:
- The July 12, 2018 robbery at gunpoint of the Murphy Express convenience store on Abercorn Street, in which Brooks pointed a pistol at the lone female clerk while demanding and receiving cash before fleeing;
- The July 15, 2018 robbery of the Parker’s convenience store on Abercorn Street, during which Brooks fired one round from a semi-automatic pistol into the ceiling to threaten the female clerk for taking too long in collecting cash from the register; and,
- A July 31, 2018 home invasion in Georgetown in which Brooks awakened and robbed a sleeping woman at gunpoint, then stole her car and led police on a chase through an apartment complex before crashing into a canal and firing shots during his escape from the vehicle. Brooks fled on foot but was apprehended days later with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
As a previously convicted felon, Brooks is prohibited from possessing a firearm.
“The only thing to be thankful for after Brooks’ reign of terror in July 2018 is that no one was killed, even though he showed a disregard for human life,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Once again it was our partnerships with federal and local law enforcement agencies that helped take this threat off our streets.”
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Southeast Georgia Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Savannah Police Department, and the Chatham County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Last remaining member of drug trafficking organization sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA – The final remaining defendant among two dozen people indicted for operating a drug distribution ring in south Georgia and northern Florida has been sentenced to federal prison.
Jose Salguero, 32, of Brunswick, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 121 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, MDMA, and Marijuana, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Salguero will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Along with his now-convicted and sentenced co-defendants, Jose Salguero was responsible for distributing significant amounts of recreational poison throughout a large area of south Georgia and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are committed to coordinating with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to make our neighborhoods safer by eradicating these criminal drug dealers.”
According to court documents and in information shared in court proceedings, the federal, state and local investigation into violent gang and drug trafficking activities in the greater Glynn County area determined that Robert Johnson, 54, of Jacksonville, Fla., supplied Salguero and other members of the conspiracy with illegal narcotics that they in turn distributed throughout the area. Johnson, who has a prior federal conviction in federal court for drug trafficking, is serving a 78-month sentence in federal prison.
All of the defendants in the conspiracy have now been sentenced in U.S. District Court. Together they have more than 60 previous felony convictions in state court.
“Salguero is the last of more than 20 defendants, part of a major drug trafficking organization, to be sentenced for inflicting a scourge of drugs and crime in our communities,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Forces, comprised of federal, state and local law enforcement officers, remain committed to dismantling these types of criminal organizations.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force, along with the Glynn County Police Department and the Brunswick Police Department, and was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland.
Drug-trafficking gang member sentenced to prison for leading narcotics distribution conspiracyRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Liberty County man who brought kilos of methamphetamine to the community for redistribution has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison.
Stacey White, 33, of Hinesville, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 246 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. White also must serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous, highly addictive drug that destroys lives and damages communities, and Stacey White is responsible for distributing it throughout the Southern District,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Thanks to the dedicated work of our law enforcement partners, his days of spreading poison are over.”
According to court documents and testimony, starting as early as July 2016 through December 2018, White made multiple trips each month to the Atlanta area to obtain up to two kilograms at a time of methamphetamine from a supplier. He then would return to the Southern District where he recruited other defendants to assist him in selling the drugs.
White, a certified member of the violent Bloods criminal street gang, was arrested along with another conspirator in December 2018 while retrieving stolen methamphetamine in Florida. Of the other five members of the conspiracy who were indicted with White in February 2019, three are serving prison terms after entering guilty pleas, while two are in custody and awaiting trial.
White’s criminal record includes multiple arrests over the past decade, with three prior felony convictions in state court. He was on probation on state charges at the time of his arrest.
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “The successful results of this investigation should let criminals who flood our communities with methamphetamine know that DEA and its law enforcement partners will not hesitate to use all its resources to destroy their drug distribution networks. These defendants will no longer be able to feed the addicts who struggle with this toxic substance.”
“Illegal drugs and gangs have no place in Georgia,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “We will continue to work diligently along with our local and federal partners to investigate and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our communities.”
This drug-trafficking conspiracy was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Solari.
Historic prosecutor appointments enhance Southern District U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: The first-ever dedicated prosecutor from Fort Stewart and a specialized animal cruelty prosecutor represent historic appointments bolstering the ranks of the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Capt. Darron Hubbard, of Savannah, and Jessica Rock, of Jackson, Ga., have been sworn into office to serve the United States in the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Hubbard will serve as a full-time Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Savannah Office, while Rock will serve as an SAUSA dedicated to animal cruelty cases.
“Our office’s resounding prosecutorial success in leveraging outstanding U.S. Army JAG Corps attorneys to serve full-time assignments in the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to reap benefits for our law enforcement efforts while providing valuable experience to military attorneys,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “In addition, a prosecutor specializing in animal cruelty cases adds tremendous firepower in our work to eradicate animal fighting operations in the Southern District and beyond.”
The new appointees are:
- Capt. Darron Hubbard, a six-year veteran of the U.S. Army, served as trial defense counsel for the Army in Kaiserslautern, Germany, before joining the JAG Corps at Fort Stewart. A summa cum laude graduate of DePaul University College of Law, Hubbard served in the Army as a criminal prosecutor and defense counsel, and as personal civil counsel for soldiers. He previously served as a SAUSA for the Western District of Oklahoma U.S. Attorney’s Office, and is the first full-time dedicated SAUSA appointed from Fort Stewart.
- Jessica Rock represents only the second time in the nation that a dedicated animal cruelty prosecutor has joined a U.S. Attorney’s Office. In 2019, she was appointed as Georgia’s Statewide Animal Crimes Prosecutor and Trainer and serves as an Assistant District Attorney with the Towaliga Judicial Circuit. Rock provides statewide animal cruelty and animal fighting case assistance for law enforcement and prosecutors, and statewide and national training to law enforcement, animal control officers, prosecutors, judges and veterinarians. In 2004, she became Georgia’s first dedicated animal cruelty prosecutor, creating Georgia's first animal cruelty task force with law enforcement. For more than 16 years, Jessica has dedicated her career to the prosecution of animal crimes and education on the closely connected link between animal abuse and human violence. Rock is a graduate of the Emory University School of Law and a former clerk for a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She currently is assisting in the prosecution of two major cockfighting cases in the Southern District.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, led by U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine, prosecutes cases involving violations of federal laws, and represents the interests of the United States government and its agencies in criminal and civil matters.in the 43 counties of the Southern District.
Drug trafficker implicated in overdose death sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: The second of two men charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy implicated in a woman’s overdose death has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Makeda Atkinson, 46, of Brunswick, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 186 months in prison by Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Previously, Judge Wood sentenced Donald Adams, 63, of Brunswick, to 126 months in prison on the same charge. Each man also must serve three years of supervised release after completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Makeda Atkinson and Donald Adams were small-time drug dealers until their poison fueled the overdose death of a young mother whose body was found by her 5-year-old daughter,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Her death should serve as a wakeup call for other drug users to seek help – and as a warning to drug traffickers that we will find and prosecute them.”
According to court documents and testimony, investigators with the Glynn County Police Department and the FBI determined that Atkinson and Adams were selling heroin laced with Fentanyl throughout the Brunswick, Ga., area. During the investigation, a 32-year-old woman who purchased drugs from the men on Dec. 28, 2017, was found dead the next day in her parent’s home, and an autopsy determined the woman died from acute Fentanyl toxicity. Glynn County Criminal Investigator Stephen Lowery took the lead in investigating the woman’s death and, working with the FBI, linked it to Fentanyl-tainted heroin sold by Atkinson and Adams.
“Atkinson and his co-defendant played a significant role in the death of a young mother poisoned by the drugs they were pushing,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “No sentence is harsh enough to bring solace to the woman's family, but thanks to the assistance from the Glynn County Police Department we were able to make sure these defendants were held accountable under the law.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Glynn County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys E. Greg Gilluly and Jennifer Kirkland.
Former Camden County Public Service Authority Executive Director sentenced to federal prison for tax evasionRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: The former executive director of the Camden County Public Service Authority is going to federal prison for misappropriating funds intended for payment of employees’ federal payroll taxes.
Willliam Brunson, 53, of Kingsland, Ga., was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to one count of Tax Evasion, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Judge Wood also ordered Brunson to pay restitution of $677,768.40 and to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Such blatant theft as the scheme perpetrated by William Brunson strains the already fragile trust in public service,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This investigation and the ensuing prison sentence should be a stark reminder to other public servants that they are accountable to the taxpayers they serve.”
According to court documents and testimony, Brunson was responsible for paying over to the Internal Revenue Service employment taxes on behalf of the Public Service Authority (PSA). Federal taxes were withheld from employees’ paychecks from 2014 to 2016, but Brunson failed to remit more than $677,000 that was due to the IRS. In addition to not filing his personal tax returns during that period, Brunson also used a Camden County PSA credit card and other funds for his personal use, including the purchase of antique cars and car parts.
Brunson was terminated from the PSA in May 2018 after an audit of PSA finances and an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
“It is our hope that holding Brunson accountable for his greed will help regain some of the public’s trust that was eroded by his actions,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “When public officials abuse their positions of trust by stealing from the taxpayers they serve, it is a priority for the FBI and our federal, state and local partners to root them out and bring them to justice.”
“Government officials should be held to a higher ethical standard and it was obvious that Brunson chose greed over doing the honest thing,” said James E. Dorsey, IRS Criminal Investigations, Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-CI will continue to put resources on these investigations in an effort to rebuild public trust in our government officials.”
“This investigation and outcome shows that no one is above the law,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “Trust and accountability is of utmost importance when it comes to handling public funds. Public servants will be held accountable for their actions should that trust be violated.”
The case was investigated by the IRS, the FBI and the GBI, and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Government obtains more than $5 million in judgments to resolve healthcare fraud allegations against Georgia chiropractor, practiceRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Brunswick, Ga. chiropractor and her medical practice have been ordered to pay more than $5 million to resolve a civil fraud complaint filed by the federal government.
The judgment, approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, awards the United States more than $4.3 million against Brunswick-based Heller Family Medicine, LLC and $700,000 against its owner, Dr. Jennifer Heller, D.C., a Brunswick chiropractor, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“There is no room in healthcare for medical practices to game the system to collect money that should go to providers performing legitimate procedures,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “This office is committed to using all available tools to investigate anyone who defrauds federally funded health care programs.”
According to court documents, the United States alleges that Dr. Heller and her medical practice violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to the Medicare Program for hundreds of surgical procedures involving implantable neurostimulators, when in actuality the practice used an acupuncture device commonly referred to as a “P-Stim.” The “P-Stim” device provides stimulation by electrical impulses when affixed with an adhesive behind a patient’s ear.
While Medicare pays thousands of dollars for the surgical neurostimulator procedure, it does not cover acupuncture services. In court documents, the United States alleged the medical practice falsely certified that they were performing the surgical procedure, rather than using the acupuncture device. In total, Medicare paid Dr. Heller’s medical practice more than $1.4 million for the false claims during a two-year period.
“Falsely submitting claims for non-covered services and thereby bilking Medicare out of more than a million dollars is inexcusable,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue the fight to safeguard the Medicare Trust Fund.”
U.S. Attorney Christine commended Dr. Heller for working with federal authorities after being approached with this investigation. The investigation into others involved in this scheme remains ongoing.
U.S. Attorney Christine lauded the hard work of the investigative team, which was led by Special Agent David Graupner of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Investigative Analyst Charles Sikes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. Schwedler and Jonathan A. Porter.
Firearms thief sentenced to prison for pawning dozens of stolen gunsRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Glynn County woman will spend nearly five years in federal prison for stealing and selling dozens of firearms.
Elaina Carter, 38, of Brunswick, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Carter also will be required to serve three years of supervised release after completion of her prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Elaina Carter could be the poster child for demonstrating that theft is the typical route for firearms making it into the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “It’s fortunate that she sold these stolen guns to licensed dealers, and that vigilant law enforcement officers brought an end to her serial thefts.”
According to court documents and testimony, Carter stole and pawned numerous items from June 2018 to January 2019, including 37 firearms. She has previous convictions on state charges in Glynn County for burglary, theft by receiving, and theft by deception.
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will continue to dedicate federal resources to eradicate criminal activities in communities we serve,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF.
The case was investigated by the ATF and the Glynn County Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Camden County man snared in child sex-trafficking sting sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A Camden County man snagged in a child sex-trafficking sting will spend more than five years in federal prison.
Charles Barreras, 49, of Kingsland, Ga., was sentenced to 62 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Barreras will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“As predators attempt to use cyberspace to contact children for evil intentions, our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in identifying and stopping pedophiles like Barreras,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Any adult who intends to contact children for illicit purposes should live in fear that their crimes will be uncovered – and like Barreras, they will go to prison.”
Barreras is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Submarine Base Kings Bay in Kingsland. He and eight other men were indicted in July 2019 as a result of Operation Do You Know Your Neighbor, coordinated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Three of the remaining defendants in the operation have been sentenced to federal prison, while others await sentencing after entering guilty pleas, or are awaiting trial.
“The sentences that continue to be handed down as a result of this successful multiagency operation should serve as a stern warning for sexual predators who target children where Department of the Navy personnel live and work,” said NCIS Southeast Field Office Special Agent in Charge Tom Cannizzo. “NCIS and our state and local partners are dedicated to working together to keep our communities safe for children.”
“This sentence demonstrates that no matter who you are, even a ranking official in the armed forces, you will be held accountable for preying on children,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “We value our law enforcement partnerships to be able to work together in these type operations to catch the criminals who seek to harm one of our most vulnerable populations.”
The sting was set up by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the GBI’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force for the purpose of identifying adults who were seeking out children for indecent purposes. Other agencies participating in the investigation included the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the Kingsland Police Department, the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Savannah Police Department.
This case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela Mateo and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Semales.
Paroled murderer from New York sentenced to federal prison for robbing Brunswick bankRead the Press Release
BRUNSWICK, GA: A New York man will spend the next six and half years in federal prison for an October 2019 bank robbery.
Lionel Valenzuela, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood to 78 months in prison on one count of Bank Robbery, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his sentence, Valenzuela must serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Bank robbery is a terrifying, dangerous crime, and no one should have to fear for their lives while in their workplace,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We’re grateful to the alert bystander and the Brunswick Police officers who stopped Valenzuela’s brief and foolish crime spree. The great work of the FBI will send the repeat offender Valenzuela to a system where there is no parole.”
In pleading guilty to the crime, Valenzuela admitted robbing the Ameris Bank at 3440 Cypress Road in Brunswick on Oct. 30, 2019. He threatened the clerk by saying he had a firearm and demanding money, and then ran from the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was quickly captured by Brunswick Police officers after a private citizen identified him. While the cash from the robbery was recovered, no weapon was found.
Valenzuela was on lifetime parole from New York State at the time of his arrest after having been released from a prison sentence for second-degree murder.
“Without the help of our partners in law enforcement, and our citizens, our job of protecting American citizens and upholding the Constitution would be more difficult,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This bank robber was captured and will now be held accountable because a citizen witness stepped up and helped police.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Brunswick Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Joshua Bearden.
Meth-trafficking gang member sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: An admitted methamphetamine trafficker and criminal street gang member has been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison.
Christopher Wells, a/k/a “Jugg,” 32, of Waycross, was sentenced to 210 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Wells will be required to serve five years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“Christopher Wells has been involved in criminal activity for his entire adult life, and despite ample, multiple opportunities to walk away from crime, he chose to immerse himself in a violent, lawless lifestyle,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “While he’s locked away to protect society, he’ll have more than a decade to rethink his illegal choices and criminal associates.”
A leader in the “G-Shine” sect of the notorious Bloods criminal street gang, Wells was arrested in August 2017 as part of an FBI operation targeting a methamphetamine-trafficking operation in the Waycross area and beyond. He was named in a 47-count indictment in 2017 along with 34 other defendants targeted in the wide-ranging operation. Two of the defendants are awaiting sentencing; the remaining defendants all pled guilty, and have been sentenced to an average of 88 months in prison.
Wells’ criminal record started at age 15 and includes at least 25 arrests, with eight felony convictions as an adult.
“Waycross citizens are safer with Wells off the streets,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Unfortunately he decided, after many opportunities, not to turn his life around. He now has 17 years in federal prison to think that over once again.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. It was investigated by the FBI, the Coastal Georgia Violent Gang Task Force, the Ware County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, the Glynn County Police Department, and the Brunswick Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kirkland.
Man who fired on law enforcement helicopter sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Blythe man who shot a helicopter being used in support of a law enforcement operation has been sentenced to more than 15 years in federal prison.
Terry Kielisch, 56, was sentenced to 183 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen on two counts of Assaulting a Person Assisting an Officer of the United States, and one count of Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Kielisch will serve five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“When Terry Kielisch aimed and fired a high-powered rifle at a police helicopter, he callously endangered the lives of the officers aboard the aircraft and of any people on the ground,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The resulting sentence appropriately reflects the senselessness of this attack.”
As he admitted in pleading guilty to the charges, Kielisch used a .308 caliber rifle to fire two shots at a Georgia State Patrol helicopter piloted by a GSP trooper, with a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigator as a passenger, on March 12, 2019. The aircraft was providing support for Operation Gunsmoke, searching for fugitives accused of drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession in Georgia and South Carolina, and coordinated by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Kielisch was not a target in the operation, but told investigators he fired at the helicopter because he didn’t like it flying near his home. Bullets struck the helicopter near its fuel lines, and Judge Bowen ordered Kielisch to pay $54,960 in restitution for the resulting damage.
The pilot was able to land the aircraft safely, and neither he nor the passenger were injured.
“The Georgia State Patrol is grateful the crew and those on the ground weren’t injured as a result of Kielisch’s careless actions,” said Lt. Stephanie L. Stallings, Public Information Director for the Georgia State Patrol. “This agency is equally grateful to U.S. Attorney Christine for the swift resolution in this case.”
The case was investigated by the ATF, the Georgia State Patrol and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Syms Jr.
Ex-correctional officer sentenced to federal prison for accepting bribesRead the Press Release
WAYCROSS, GA: A former correctional officer has been sentenced to federal prison for accepting bribes in return for smuggling contraband to an inmate.
Micheal Eaddy, 25, of Blackshear, Ga., was sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of Bribery, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. At the time of the offense, Eaddy was a correctional officer at D. Ray James Correctional Facility, a private prison operated under federal contract in Folkston, Ga. After completion of his prison term, Eaddy must serve three years of supervised release.
“Michael Eaddy sold out his fellow corrections staff and forfeited his own freedom when he accepted money in return for smuggling contraband into the prison,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “His crime endangered other prison guards and the security of the entire facility, and as a result he’ll now spend time on the wrong side of the prison bars.”
In his guilty plea, Eaddy admitted accepting a bribe of $246.25 from inmate Jean Civil, 25, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in return for smuggling cigarettes into the prison. Investigators discovered the activity after seizing a contraband phone from Civil and reading electronic conversations between Civil and Eaddy.
After pleading guilty to Possession of Contraband, Civil received one month added to his current sentence of 78 months for Conspiracy to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine.
“Eaddy put his own interests above his duties when he accepted bribes from an inmate and smuggled contraband into the prison he was supposed to secure,” said Special Agent in Charge James F. Boyersmith, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office. “He will rightly serve time for his actions, which put his fellow correctional officers, prison staff, and the entire institution at risk.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcela C. Mateo.
Georgia man and his company charged with selling misbranded drug advertised to treat COVID-19Read the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Georgia man and his company have been charged with violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by selling a drug claiming to treat COVID-19.
Matthew Ryncarz, and his company, Fusion Health and Vitality, LLC d/b/a/ Pharm Origins, are accused of selling a misbranded drug called “Immune Shot” that they falsely claimed would lower consumer’s risk of contracting COVID-19 by nearly 50 percent, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
In March 2020, during the midst of the global COVID-19 public health crisis, Ryncarz, through his company, Pharm Origins, created a website and began selling “Immune Shot” for $19 a bottle. Among other things, the website represented that “YOU will learn in JUST MINUTES … how to LOWER your risk of COVID-19 by nearly 50%.” Further, to sell “Immune Shot,” Ryncarz and Pharm Origins targeted individuals, ages 50 and older, with heavy-handed sales pitches, such as “The NEXT FIVE MINUTES could save your life,” “We are offering you the exclusive price of only $19 per bottle because we know that Immune Shot could be the most important formula in the WORLD right now due to the new pandemic,” “Immune Shot is Not a Luxury, It is a Necessity Right Now,” “Point Blank, if YOU Leave, YOU are at Risk,” and “Is Your Life Worth $19? Seriously, Is It?”
Ryncarz and Pharm Origins sold “Immune Shot” to consumers in the Southern District of Georgia and outside of the state of Georgia. The defendants were charged by way of an Information, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The Information alleges that “Immune Shot” was a misbranded drug within the meaning of 21 U.S.C. § 352(a)(1), in that it bore false and misleading labeling.
“Our office is committed to ensuring that businesses do not take advantage of a global health crisis and people’s fears in order to unlawfully make a buck,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make sure consumers are not exploited during these challenging times.”
U.S. Attorney Christine expressed appreciation to investigators in the U.S. Attorney's Office, and to David A. Frank, Senior Litigation Counsel with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, Lynn M. Marshall, Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement, Office of the Chief Counsel, FDA, and to the FBI for their assistance in this prosecution.
“Americans expect and deserve treatments that are safe, effective and meet appropriate standards. The FDA is actively monitoring the marketplace for misbranded products represented as preventing, curing, or treating COVID-19,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “Today’s announcement should serve as a reminder that we will take action against those who take advantage of a crisis by potentially jeopardizing the health of Americans.”
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners will not allow anyone to take advantage of our citizens’ fears during a pandemic like COVID-19,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It is especially concerning because this alleged scheme targeted citizens who are most vulnerable to the virus.”
Criminal informations contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Please report COVID-19 fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud’s National Hotline at (866) 720-5721, or go to justice.gov/disastercomplaintform.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Patrick J. Schwedler are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
St. Simons man indicted for bomb threat to IRS office in New YorkRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A St. Simons Island, Ga., man has been indicted in U.S. District Court on federal charges for allegedly threatening to blow up an IRS office in New York.
Benjamin Stasko, 32, is charged with Willful Threat to Kill Using Firearms or Explosives, and Interstate Transmission of a Threat to Injure, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a period of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Threats against the safety and security of our nation’s government offices and their personnel are deadly serious, and our office will work with our law enforcement partners to find and prevent such perpetrators from carrying out their threats,” said U.S. Attorney Christine.
A threat alleging that a pipe bomb had been planted in the Ted Weiss Federal Building in New York was found July 6, posted in a comment on a federal agency’s website and directed toward the Internal Revenue Service. Federal protective police officers with bomb sniffing dogs and officers from the New York Police Department searched the facility and found no explosives. Investigators later located and arrested Stasko in St. Simons.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, the New York Police Department and the Brunswick Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden.
Savannah man indicted for aiming laser at police helicopterRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been indicted for pointing a powerful laser at a helicopter being used in a police search.
Antonio Rodrecus Johnson Sr., 45, of Savannah, is charged with one count of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Savannah Police Department officers identified and questioned Johnson on June 22 after the pilot of a Chatham County helicopter, which was being used to assist Savannah Police officers in the search for a fugitive, was repeatedly targeted from the ground by a powerful laser.
Similar lasers have been used during recent violent protests, resulting in eye damage to police officers.
“Interference with police operations is a serious crime, particularly when the consequences could cause debilitating injuries to the officers,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are fortunate that Savannah Police were able to eliminate this threat without injury to either of the officers on board the helicopter.”
“When aimed at an aircraft, a beam of light from a handheld laser can illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding the pilot or pilots of the craft,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “It's not a game. It's a federal felony that the FBI and our law enforcement partners take very seriously.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Savannah Police Department with assistance from the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.
Multiple firearms-related indictments continue Project Guardian's collaborative law enforcement initiativeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Nine defendants have been indicted by a U.S. District Court grand jury on federal charges including illegal possession of firearms.
All of the indictments target previously convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
“Identifying and removing gun criminals from our communities is a key component of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice initiative to fight gun crime,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target offenders who illegally possess and use firearms.”
Those named in the federal indictments include:
- Terry Key, 33, of Jesup, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Key was arrested in January after an investigation by the Jesup Police Department led to a search of his motel room in which drugs and firearms were found. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to life in prison.
- Reginald Terry, a/k/a “Pete,” 37, of Jesup, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, MDMA and Cocaine; Distribution of Heroin; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Terry was arrested in November 2019 when Jesup Police searched his motel room and found drugs and firearms, including a pistol, an SKS rifle and an AR-15 rifle. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to life in prison.
- Khallid Marquese Wright, 24, of Augusta, charged with Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wright, who was stopped in February by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies for questioning in an unrelated case, was found in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- John Thomas Barnes III, 32, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Barnes was arrested in March when Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in his vehicle during a traffic stop. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Kinsey Lanier Jackson, 50, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jackson was charged in February after Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found a pistol in his pocket during a traffic stop. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Shaquaries Alexis Kimble, 25, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Kimble was arrested in February after a he was found in possession of a pistol by Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies investigating a report of a stolen weapon. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Zachary Brent Sadler, 27, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Sadler was charged by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in October 2019 after he pawned a handgun. When he later returned to repurchase the gun, the purchase was denied during a background check. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Damien Lamont Wimberly, 40, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wimberly initially was found in possession of a firearm at a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office traffic checkpoint, and was later arrested when he was determined to be a convicted felon. The charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
- Larry Jackson III, 30, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Jackson was arrested in July 2019 by Savannah Police officers investigating reports of gunshots found him in possession of a pistol. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“This inter-agency collaboration and the resulting indictments goes a long way towards addressing gun violence by removing from our streets firearms and those willing to obtain them illegally and potentially use them,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the ATF.
The cases are investigated under Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and 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 involved in investigation of the cases include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Jesup Police Department, the Savannah Police Department, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
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; Alejandro V. Pascual IV; Joshua S. Bearden; Patricia G. Rhodes; and Frank M. Pennington II.
Leader of conspiracy that manufactured illegal drugs on an industrial scale sentenced to 20 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Georgia man who operated an industrial-scale illegal pill-manufacturing operation has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, representing the final sentence among the major members of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
Walker Christian Forrester, 25, of Loganville, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Forrester, who pled guilty to a charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and marijuana), also must serve five years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“The criminals in this drug trafficking conspiracy distributed massive amounts of dangerous illegal drugs, including deadly synthetic opioids, on the streets of Georgia and beyond through the Dark Web,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies did outstanding work in investigating and shutting down these manufacturers of misery and bringing them to justice.”
Other defendants in the conspiracy also pled guilty and have been sentenced:
- Kolbie Hadden Watters, 23, of Augusta, Ga., was sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. He also must serve five years of supervised release after completion of his term.
- Jonathan Britt Lester, 23, of Loganville, Ga.; was sentenced to 210 months in prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Carfentanil, Alprazolam and marijuana), followed by five years of supervised release.
- Morgan McKenzie Slaton, 23, of Hoschton, Ga., was sentenced to three years’ probation for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Alprazolam), followed by years of supervised release.
Another defendant in the case, Armand Sananda Saedi, 28, of Atlanta, Ga., is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Controlled Substances (Alprazolam).
According to court documents and testimony, the co-defendants participated in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2016 that imported large amounts of drugs purchased with cryptocurrency on the Dark Web, used industrial-grade machinery to manufacture pills, and sold the drugs on the Dark Web and throughout Georgia. At its peak, the operation produced as many as 200,000 pills per month, yielding profits of up to $18,000 per month.
In addition to profiting from drug sales, Forrester testified that a Canadian drug trafficker paid him $10,000 per month to receive packages of Fentanyl shipped from China and then reship it to addresses in Canada and elsewhere. That trafficker is under federal indictment in the Northern District of Georgia.
Forrester first came to the attention of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration around Sept. 2017 after he purchased an industrial-grade pill press. Two months later, Forrester, Watters and a juvenile were arrested on state charges in Harlem, Ga., in November 2017 after a traffic stop in which Harlem police officers found more than 5,200 counterfeit Xanax pills, marijuana and a sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle.
Watters and Lester also face state charges in Walton County of felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of Chase David Loffler, 25, whose body was found buried in the backyard of Lester’s Loganville home in April 2018. The two are accused of beating and suffocating Loffler, a suspected co-conspirator, and burying his body in a shallow grave.
Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “Drug Trafficking knows no boundaries and is driven by greed and power. These guilty pleas should serve as a reminder to drug traffickers that DEA and its law enforcement partners will expend the necessary resources to dismantle, disrupt and destroy those who distribute poison throughout our communities. Many thanks to the collaboration of law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who made this investigation a success.”
“This sentencing ends an exhaustive investigation that stopped a conspiracy that compounded an epidemic that is killing our citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The lengthy sentences received by Forrester and three other defendants in this case serve as an example of the FBI and our law enforcement partners commitment to end the opioid crisis.”
“These criminals’ days of selling poison, destroying lives and spreading violence are over,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and its law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to bring an end to this criminal organization that profited by flooding the community with dangerous drugs. “
“The illegal manufacture and distribution of opioids can result in overdoses and deaths, fueling the national opioid crisis,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin C. Fielder, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “The FDA remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle illegal prescription drug manufacturing and distribution networks, including those that import illicit raw materials from overseas to make counterfeit drugs, and misuse the internet to distribute those drugs with reckless disregard of the risk to public health and safety.”
“This is yet another case of individuals distributing poison in our communities,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Illegal drug distribution continues to plague our communities, leaving catastrophic physical, emotional, and financial effects. IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to follow the money trail and work with our law enforcement partners to eradicate illegal drug distribution operations and protect our communities, even if it leads to the Dark Web.”
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), the premier U.S. Department of Justice program to dismantle multi-jurisdictional drug trafficking organizations. Agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Harlem Department of Public Safety.
The case was prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Rhodes.
Grovetown men named in separate indictments alleging possession of child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: Two Grovetown men have been charged in separate federal indictments alleging possession of child pornography.
Jordan Logan, 35, and Johnathan Malone, 22, have been indicted by a U.S. District Court Grand Jury on one count each of Possession of Child Pornography, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, followed by registration as a sex offender and a period of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Cyber exploitation of children is at epidemic levels, and we commend our law enforcement partners for their diligence in finding those who would engage in such abhorrent behavior,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We likewise will be diligent in prosecuting these cases to the fullest extent of the law.”
In both of these cases, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) received information that led to online investigations and subsequent searches that found illegal images on devices in possession of the defendants.
“This indictment illustrates the hard work of law enforcement to investigate crimes against children,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds. “The GBI is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure that child sexual exploitation cases are aggressively pursued. We are especially grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication to prosecute these cases.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases were investigated by the GBI and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Project Safe Childhood Coordinator Tara Lyons.
Former Fort Stewart resident indicted on federal charges for sexual abuse of a childRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A former resident of Fort Stewart faces up to life in prison on charges of sexually abusing a child.
Meighan O’Donnell, 28, of Huntington, N.Y., was indicted by a U.S. District Court grand jury on one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child Under 12, and Abusive Sexual Contact With a Child Under 12, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Along with our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue anyone who would exploit or endanger the most vulnerable members of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We commend the investigators and child advocates who help protect these young citizens from harm.”
Redmond, Ore., police contacted the FBI after a juvenile reported to a child advocate that sexual abuse had occurred when the juvenile was a resident of Fort Stewart. O’Donnell later was located and charged in New York.
“Ending child sexual abuse takes strong partnerships between law enforcement, child advocacy groups and citizens,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case is a perfect example of how that works. An arrest would not have been possible without the courage of a young child, the awareness of a child advocate, and the strong law enforcement partnerships that cross this country.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command (CID), and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Bearden.
Florida man charged in drug distribution indictmentRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Florida man arrested after a high-speed chase in Liberty County has been indicted on a federal drug charge.
Sherick Sharari Leshane Brinson, 26, of Eatonville, Fla., is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Because the amount of cocaine seized is alleged to be greater than 500 grams, the charge carries a possible sentence of life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
“We are grateful that our law enforcement partners safely brought the defendant into custody,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We applaud their vigilance in helping to keep illegal drugs out of our communities.”
Brinson was taken into custody after allegedly leading Georgia State Patrol troopers and Liberty County Sheriff’s deputies in a chase on Georgia highways 405 and 38 that reached speeds of up to 127 mph.
“Transporting illegal drugs leads to only one destination, prison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division Robert J. Murphy. “DEA, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office stand united and will not allow traffickers to turn our roads into cocaine and meth highways.”
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer G. Solari.
Hephzibah man sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for producing child pornographyRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, GA: A Hephzibah man arrested at an Augusta motel when a 14-year-old boy signaled that he was in danger has been sentenced to federal prison for production of child pornography.
Richard Hunt Moore Jr., 49, of Hephzibah, Ga., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall to 264 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $1 million, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his prison term, Moore will be required to serve 20 years on supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This monstrous predation came to an end when a child in danger reached out to a motel worker, and that alert staff member quickly notified authorities,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “The act of seeing something and saying something allowed law enforcement to do something by shutting down Moore and his fellow predators before another child could be harmed.”
According to court documents and testimony, the investigation began when Moore was found with a minor at a motel in Augusta. After questioning Moore, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office investigators and the FBI discovered child pornography on electronic devices in Moore’s possession. Those images led to other defendants in the case, and to their indictment on federal charges.
Moore pled guilty to one count of Production of Child Pornography, as did Charles Casey Garner, 40, of Brooklet, Ga., and Carl Scott Ruger, 40, of Guyton, Ga. Garner previously was sentenced to 15 years in prison, ordered to pay $1 million in restitution, and to serve 15 years of supervised release after completion of his prison term, which is to run concurrently with any sentence for state charges he faces in Effingham County. Ruger is awaiting sentencing.
A fourth target in the investigation committed suicide in Illinois before questioning. Moore faces prosecution for additional charges in state court.
“Predators like Moore have no place in a civilized society. Their victims are re-victimized every time their images are shared or viewed,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains committed to protecting our young citizens and is thankful for the law enforcement partnerships that make it possible to stop people like Moore from victimizing any more children.”
“This case sends a message not just to those who look to prey on our children, but also reiterates ‘If You See Something, Say Something.’ In this case, an observant worker helped save a child from unimaginable evil,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “I am pleased by the results in this case as well as the great work that HSI and its partners are doing to protect our youth.”
The cases were investigated by HSI and the FBI, along with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Lyons and Marcela C. Mateo.
Former deputy director of Signal Network Enterprise Center at Fort Gordon sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
AUGUSTA, Ga: A former official at Fort Gordon has been sentenced to federal prison for lying to investigators about his disclosure of confidential information used to award competitive bids.
Vaughn Moffett, 63, of Sharpsburg, Ga., was sentenced to 20 months in prison and fined $15,000 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall after pleading guilty to False Statement or Representation Made to a Department or Agency of the United States, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. After completion of his sentence, Moffett will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Vaughn Moffett used insider information to steer business toward a specific, corrupt vendor,” said Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “Moffett and the other defendants disgraced their oaths to their country, and accordingly are being held accountable for their greed.”
According to information provided in court documents and proceedings, Moffett, as deputy director of the U.S. Army Signal Network Enterprise Center (NEC) at Fort Gordon, used his access to contract bid and proposal information to assist the Communications Research, Engineering and Consultants (CREC) Group with winning a contract for upgrading the Army’s communications infrastructure at Fort Gordon in 2014. When investigators later questioned Moffett, he falsely and fraudulently denied knowing how CREC was awarded the contract.
Moffett, who retired from the Army as a major in 1996, began federal service as a civilian employee in 2005.
Other defendants in the investigation each are serving federal sentences of 60 months in prison after entering guilty pleas in the investigation of bribery, bid-rigging and Small Business Administration fraud:
- Calvin Devear Lawyer, a retired U.S. Army colonel, owned the CREC Group, which had fraudulently received Small Business Administration (SBA) status as a small, disadvantaged business;
- Anthony R. Williams, while serving as a colonel in the U.S. Army, admitted he accepted bribes to steer federal procurement contracts to the CREC Group;
- Dwayne Oswald Fulton, then an employee of a defense contractor, joined Lawyer in securing small, disadvantaged status for the CREC Group.
- Anthony Roper, a former active duty U.S. Army colonel at Fort Gordon, was a co-conspirator with Lawyer. His wife, Audra Roper, was sentenced to probation for her role in the scheme.
The cases were investigated by the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Inspector General, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
“Today’s sentencing is a strong reminder that there is a price to pay for anyone who tries to defraud the government or lie to federal investigators,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Commands Major Procurement Fraud Unit (MPFU). “It will not be tolerated, and we will work tirelessly with our legal and law enforcement partners to bring to justice anyone who violates the law.”
“Our office and its law enforcement partners will aggressively investigate false statements made in attempt to receive funds from SBA’s programs,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kupperbusch. “It is unconscionable to fraudulently attempt to gain access to SBA funds for personal gain and profit. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”
“Government officials who use their positions for personal gain and undermine the public trust need to be held to the highest standards of justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Cynthia A. Bruce, DCIS Southeast Field Office. “The sentencing of Vaughn Moffett sends a strong message to those who seek to undermine the Department of Defense procurement process.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Lyons prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Richmond Hill man admits attempted child sexual coercionRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Bryan County man admitted in federal court to attempting to persuade a minor to engage in sex.
Michael Wilson, 37, of Richmond Hill, Ga., pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Attempted Coercion of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and a minimum of five years of supervised release after completion of the prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Previously, Wilson’s wife, Lori Wilson, a/k/a “Loretta Lightningbolt,” 35, also of Richmond Hill, pled guilty in U.S. District Court to Tampering with a Victim or Witness for attempting to persuade a victim to recant the accusations against Michael Wilson and withhold information from investigators. She awaits sentencing.
“The Wilsons represent a vile tag-team of abhorrent behavior that has no place in civilized society,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will work relentlessly to protect potential victims from predators and their enablers.”
According to court documents and testimony, Michael Wilson admitted attempting to coerce a minor victim to engage in sexual activity from 2017 through early 2019. Michael Wilson, an active duty member of the military, also is charged with seven violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Article 120(b), Rape and Sexual Assault of a Child. These charges are pending and relate to multiple minor victims.
“No sentence for this man will wipe away the scars left on the child he victimized,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Wilson harmed a defenseless child for life. Our only hope is that his punishment will act as a deterrent to anyone who contemplates preying on our most vulnerable citizens.”
The cases are being investigated by the FBI and by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katelyn Semales and Jennifer G. Solari.
Durable medical equipment company owner admits participation in kickback schemeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Florida man who operated a durable medical equipment company has admitted participating in a Medicare kickback and telemedicine fraud scheme.
Patrick Wolfe, 48, of Belleair Beach, Fla., the operator of Wilmington Island Medical Inc., which does business as WI Medical Inc., a Georgia company, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court to one count of Conspiracy as charged in an Information, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Wolfe admits paying kickbacks in return for “leads,” which were in actuality signed orders from physicians and nurse practitioners, and then billing those orders to Medicare Part B and Medicare Part C 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.
The charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, plus substantial financial penalties and forfeitures, followed by three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison sentence. There is no parole in the federal system.
“When the delivery of health care turns from providing comfort to patients to padding the pockets of greedy criminals, our office and those of our law enforcement partners will be there to protect our federal treasury,” said U.S. Attorney Christine.
This prosecution, arising out of the related “Operation Brace Yourself” and “Operation Double Helix,” together with 25 other cases, involve the largest fraud operation in the history of the Southern District of Georgia. Those charged in this string of cases include eight physicians, two nurse practitioners, three operators of different telemedicine companies, three brokers of patient data, and several other owners of durable medical equipment companies. The Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries whose identities were used as part of the scheme are located throughout the country, including throughout the Southern District of Georgia.
The combined $480 million in fraud charged in the Southern District of Georgia is part of nationwide operations by the Department of Justice that thus far has included allegations involving billions of fraudulent claims for genetic testing, orthotic braces, pain creams, and other items.
“Wolfe's admission of guilt is the first step in accountability for the damage he caused to Medicare and the tax payers of this country,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We must send the message that the FBI and our federal partners are dedicated to protecting the health care needs of deserving Americans that our government-subsidized programs provide.”
“It’s an outright crime when health care decisions are based on illegal kickbacks instead of what’s in the best interest of the patient,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General in Atlanta. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard both the Medicare Trust Fund, as well as the health of our nation’s senior citizens.”
“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 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.”
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. U.S. Attorney Christine 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. Attorneys J. Thomas Clarkson and Jonathan A. Porter are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the United States.
Savannah man indicted for setting fire that damaged city's Code Enforcement OfficeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: A Savannah man has been indicted for setting a May 3 fire that burned the city’s Code Enforcement Office.
Stephen Charles Setter, 18, of Savannah, was indicted on one count of Arson by a U.S. District Court grand jury, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The charge carries a minimum possible sentence of five years in prison, up to 20 years, along with substantial financial fines and penalties and up to five years of supervised release after completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Protection of life and property is paramount in our service to the community,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “We are grateful that the exceptional efforts of the Savannah Fire Department safely secured the facility and surrounding structures from further harm, with no injuries to firefighters or other citizens.”
According to the indictment, on May 3, 2020, Setter is alleged to have “maliciously damaged and destroyed, by means of fire,” the City of Savannah Code Enforcement Office at 1700 Drayton Street.
“Through a collaborative effort with the ATF, we achieved a swift resolution to this devastating crime,” said Savannah Fire Department Chief Fire Investigator Fred Anderson.
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tania D. Groover.
Firearms-related indictments continue Project Guardian's collaborative law enforcement initiativeRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, GA: Ten defendants were indicted this week on felony charges, including federal firearms violations, under the umbrella of the Department of Justice’s Project Guardian.
In addition to firearms charges, many of the 10 indictments charge a range of federal crimes including drug trafficking, said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Most of the indictments target previously convicted felons, several of whom were on state parole or probation at the time of their indictment.
“As a key Department of Justice initiative, Project Guardian leverages the cooperative relationship between our office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to protect our communities by identifying and removing gun criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Christine. “Together we will continue working to keep our communities safer by targeting repeat offenders who illegally possess and use firearms.”
Those named in the federal indictments include:
- John Wesley Boone, a/k/a “Boone,” a/k/a “J,” 33, of Brunswick, Ga., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Ecstasy and Crack Cocaine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
- Joseph Jay Gartrell III, 36, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
- Tron Smith, 33, of Savannah, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.
- Dominique Johnson, 32, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and Possession of Cocaine and Marijuana.
- Courtney Spann, 28, of Statesboro, Ga., charged with Possession of Ammunition and Firearms by a Convicted Felon.
- Chance Derrell Christian, 41, of Kingstree, S.C., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Samuel Powell III, 37, of Augusta, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Arkeem Collins, 24, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Clifford Stone, 28, of Wrens, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
- Delvon Brown, 34, 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.
“ATF will continue to focus its resources on this results-driven initiative to curb firearms-related violent crime in the Southern District of Georgia,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the ATF.
The cases are investigated under Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws, and the Prosecutor to Prosecutor Program (P3), which provides collaboration between federal and state prosecutors to determine the most appropriate venue for prosecuting crimes.
In addition to the ATF, agencies involved in investigation of the cases include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia State Patrol, the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, the Brunswick Police Department, the Savannah Police Department, the Hinesville Police Department, the Glynn County Police Department, and the Statesboro 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; Joshua Bearden; Jennifer Stanley; Jennifer Kirkland; John P. Harper III; and Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edwin Caban and Noah Abrams.