Central District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Champaign County Pair Charged with Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against an Urbana, Illinois, man, Kevin C. Beasley, 21, currently of the 300 block of North Drive in Rantoul, Illinois, on March 1, 2022, for allegedly possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The grand jury also indicted Ahzhnae D. Vassar, 21, of the 2000 block of Cynthia Drive in Champaign, Illinois, for allegedly making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer while purchasing a firearm.
The indictment further alleges that Vassar unlawfully obtained possession of a Glock 17 semiautomatic pistol from Rural King in Champaign, Illinois by falsely certifying that she was the true purchaser of that firearm.
Beasley was arrested on February 16, 2022. A summons was issued for Vassar to appear in court on March 17, 2022 on these charges.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties facing Beasley and Vassar for their alleged crimes are a maximum of ten years’ imprisonment; three years of supervised release; and a $250,000 fine.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Champaign Police Department; and the Champaign Street Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Ritzer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Canton Man Sentenced to 5 years in Prison for Solicitation of an Obscene Visual Depiction of a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Canton, Illinois, man, Joseph M. Graham, 29, of the 500 block of Baxter Court, was sentenced on February 24, 2022, to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor.
U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid heard the case. Graham was indicted in January 2020 and pleaded guilty in October 2021.
During the change-of-plea hearing, the government presented evidence that Graham used an online application to request sexually explicit images of an individual whom he believed to be eight years old. In December 2019, Graham initiated messages with an individual on a mobile application. During messaging conversations that took place over several weeks, Graham believed that he was communicating with the father of an eight-year-old boy. Graham expressed interest in engaging in sex acts with the child and indicated that he wanted to be the child’s boyfriend. Graham requested sexually explicit images in December 2020. Graham also arranged to meet with the child and his father and, in January 2020, traveled to a coffee shop on N. Prospect Road, in Peoria, Illinois, where he was taken into custody by federal agents. Graham agreed to speak with agents and admitted that he was the person conversing with the individual he believed to be the father of an eight-year-old boy.
“The Department of Justice is committed to the safety and well-being of children and will continue to aggressively identify, investigate, and prosecute online sexual predators,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna.
“The FBI is committed to investigating crimes against children with a sense of urgency to protect every child from the devastating and life-long impact of online victimization.” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “The FBI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work with unwavering dedication to ensure that criminals like Graham are investigated and arrested.”
The statutory penalties for solicitation of an obscene visual depiction of a minor are five to 20 years imprisonment, a maximum life term of supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Springfield Division with assistance from the Peoria Police Department and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna and Paul B. Morris represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Graham was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.Quincy, Illinois Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois, man, Earl Wierschem, 53, of the 600 Block of South 21st Street, was sentenced on February 25, 2022 to 120 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, for possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that in February 2018, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Wierschem’s residence in Quincy. During the search, officers seized multiple computer and video related devices, including Wierschem’s cell phone. The phone contained 30 images and one video of child pornography.
Also at the hearing, U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough found that Wierschem had a prior Illinois state conviction for indecent solicitation of a child with the intent to commit aggravated sexual abuse.
Wierschem was indicted in February 2019 and pleaded guilty in April 2021.
The statutory penalties for possession of child pornography are a minimum of 10 years and up to 20 years of imprisonment, a minimum five-year term and up to a life term of supervised release, and not more than a $250,000 fine.
The Quincy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Bass represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former Springfield Resident Pleads Guilty to Use of Interstate Facilities to Attempt to Transmit Information about a MinorRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –Chenmin Xie, 25, formerly of the 500 block of West Herndon Street in Springfield, Illinois, pleaded guilty on February 22, 2022 to the charge of knowingly using a facility and means of interstate commerce – the Internet and a cellular telephone – with the intent to transmit the name and address of another individual who had not attained the age of sixteen and doing so with the intent to attempt to entice, encourage, offer, and solicit that person to engage in sexual activity.
At the change-of-plea hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Schanzle-Haskins, Xie admitted that on August 29, 2020, he used a cellular phone to converse with a boy he believed was fifteen years old. During the conversation, they agreed to meet for sexual intercourse at the minor’s residence. Xie then requested and received the child’s address.
Since being arrested on August 29, 2020, Xie has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2022, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield.
Xie faces statutory penalties of not more than five years’ imprisonment, not more than a $250,000 fine, not more than three years of supervised release, a $100 mandatory special assessment, and a $5,000 special assessment unless deemed indigent.
The charges were the result of investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; the Springfield Police Department; and the Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Jacobs is representing the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Ice Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Thomas A. Wright, 44, of the 1400 block of Hazel Street, was sentenced on February 22, 2022, to 300 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of ice methamphetamine.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid found that Wright was a career offender due to his criminal history and that he had trafficked a substantial amount of ice methamphetamine during the conspiracy. Judge Shadid noted that Wright had a poor upbringing but that his actions dealing drugs contributed to a cycle of drug use in the community. Judge Shadid recommended that Wright be housed in a facility with drug treatment capabilities while in the Bureau of Prisons.
Also at the hearing, the government presented evidence that Wright worked with associates to pool money to buy larger quantities of methamphetamine and would redistribute the methamphetamine to a network of customers throughout Peoria and Tazewell Counties. Evidence established that Wright was responsible for trafficking approximately 193 ounces of ice methamphetamine throughout the course of the conspiracy. The government detailed Wright’s criminal history, which included three methamphetamine manufacturing-related convictions in Tazewell County in 2003, 2006, and 2015, each of which involved prison sentences.
Wright was indicted in September 2020, and pleaded guilty in July 2021. Wright has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in September 2020.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of ice methamphetamine are a minimum term of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum term of life imprisonment, a minimum five-year term of supervised release and a maximum life term of supervised release, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. If committed after a prior qualifying conviction, the minimum statutory sentence is 15 years’ imprisonment, the minimum term of supervised release is 10 years, and a fine up to $20,000,000 may be imposed. If committed after two prior qualifying convictions, the minimum statutory sentence is 25 years’ imprisonment.
“The message is clear: if you choose to make a career of dealing highly addictive, community-wrecking drugs, you will be held accountable,” said Assistant United States Attorney Katherine G. Legge. “Our steady pursuit of these cases will continue so that we can keep our communities safe from the top drug dealers who peddle this potent substance.”
“Wright was a significant player in the Pekin area as it relates to meth distribution,” said Pekin Police Department Chief John Dossey. “This conviction exemplifies the consolidated efforts of the Pekin Police Department and the DEA where another dealer is removed from our streets. We all know that meth destroys our families and is the root cause of much of the crime we see. We commend these officers and agents for their hard work in making a positive difference within our communities.”
“The sentencing of Mr. Wright reflects the shared commitment toward combating the proliferation of deadly drugs throughout Peoria and surrounding communities,” said Todd C. Smith, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-Chicago Division. “The DEA, alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecution partners, will continue holding accountable those who seek to inflict harm upon Peoria families through the trafficking of illegal and deadly drugs.”
The Pekin Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
DeKalb Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A DeKalb, Illinois, man, Christopher Simmons, 41, of the 800 block of Edgebrook Drive, was sentenced on February 24, 2022, to concurrent terms of 46 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release for three counts of bank fraud, and a consecutive term of 24 months’ imprisonment for aggravated identity theft. The aggravated identity theft sentence also included one year of supervised release, to run concurrently with the three years supervised release for bank fraud.
At the October 2021 trial, the government presented evidence showing that Simmons provided false information to the Citizens Equity First Credit Union about his earnings, his place of employment, his social security number, and his address for the purpose of obtaining car loans and a Mastercard. Simmons used a northern Illinois woman’s social security number in trying to obtain the loan.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that at the time of his arrest Simmons provided false names to the Chicago Police Department.
In imposing the 70-month sentence, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid noted that Simmons is “interested only in himself while causing harm to others” and said that there was nothing “to indicate that he would do anything other than recidivate.”
Judge Shadid also ordered Simmons to pay restitution in the amount of $49,900 to the credit union.
Simmons’s co-defendant, Adreen Canterberry, previously pleaded guilty. In September 2021, Canterberry was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution of $49,900, joint and severable with Simmons.
The statutory penalties for bank fraud are up to 30 years’ imprisonment, up to a five-year term of supervised release, and up to a $1,000,000 fine. The penalty for aggravated identity theft is a mandatory two-year sentence of imprisonment consecutive to the bank fraud conviction, to be followed by one year of supervised release.
The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss and Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Cedar Rapids, Iowa, man, Joseph Allen Wilcher, 40, of the 1800 block of Western Drive, was sentenced on February 24, 2022, to 120 months in prison for attempted enticement of a minor and a concurrent 120 months in prison for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. Wilcher was also sentenced to concurrent ten-year terms of supervised release for each offense.
Wilcher was found guilty following a jury trial in October 2021 where, the government presented evidence establishing that Wilcher arranged to meet an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old minor for sexual activity on an online dating application. Further evidence showed that Wilcher ultimately traveled from Cedar Rapids to Rock Island, Illinois, to meet the individual and to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid commented on the serious nature of the offense conduct and the distance Wilcher traveled to meet a minor for sex.
The statutory penalties for the attempted enticement charge include a minimum of 10 years and maximum life term of imprisonment. The statutory penalties for the traveling charge include a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment.
"This sentence sends a message to our community that this behavior is unacceptable and comes at a great cost to those seeking to target children," said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. "We all must work together to keep our children safe. And that is exactly what our law enforcement agencies did through their successful investigation of the offense in this case."
Wilcher was arrested in November of 2020 as part of a Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, operation conducted in Rock Island, Illinois. The operation was conducted with the assistance of the Rock Island Police Department, the Macomb Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the East Moline Police Department, the Galesburg Police Department, the Davenport Police Department, and the Knox County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant Hodges and Jennifer Mathew represented the government at trial.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Taylorville, Illinois, Man Sentenced to Forty-Eight Months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Taylorville, Illinois, man, Daniel S. Ward, 54, of the 1300 block of S. Cardinal Street, was sentenced on February 10, 2022, to 48 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for knowingly possessing 50 or more grams of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with intent to distribute.
Ward was indicted in March 2020 and pleaded guilty in June 2021.
The statutory penalties for possession of 50 or more grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute are a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment to a maximum of life imprisonment, a minimum five-year to a maximum life term of supervised release, and up to a $10,000,000 fine. Ward was eligible for a lower sentence because he was sentenced pursuant to the “safety-valve” provision of 18 U.S.C. §3553(f).
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police Central Illinois Enforcement Group, Taylorville Police Department, and Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass represented the government in the prosecution.
Hillsboro Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Hillsboro, Illinois, man, Andrew Collins, 32, of the 200 Block of Main Street, was sentenced on February 14, 2022, to 120 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for enticement of a minor. The sentencing hearing was held before U.S. District Court Judge Sue E. Myerscough,
The defendant pleaded guilty on October 14, 2021. At that time, the government presented evidence that online chats between Collins and the sixteen-year-old minor indicated that Collins persuaded the minor to have sex with him by offering toy gifts, and promises of weekends together, nude massages, and permanently living together in the future.
For the offense of enticement of a minor, the statutory penalties are not less than ten years and up to life in prison, not less than five years and up to a life term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
“We appreciate the work of law enforcement in identifying this predatory online behavior and bringing the perpetrator to justice,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore, who represented the government in the matter.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the United States Secret Service and Central and Southern Illinois Financial and Cyber Crimes Task Force.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Antioch Man Sentenced to 147 Months in Prison for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Matter to a MinorRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – An Antioch, Illinois, man, Carl T. Zwanzig, 56, of the 27000 block of W. Grass Lake Road, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge James Shadid to 147 Months for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Matter to a Minor (Count 1 of the Indictment), and Penalty for Registered Sex Offender (Count 3).
At the February 10, 2022 sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Zwanzig communicated online with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. In discussing meeting with the girl for sex, Zwanzig sent a video of himself masturbating. At the time, he was required to register as a sex offender based on a previous conviction for the Illinois offense of Grooming.
Zwanzig was indicted by the federal grand jury on December 17, 2019, and pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 3 of the indictment in federal court on October 14, 2021.
The statutory penalties for the sentences of imprisonment on each count to which the defendant pleaded guilty must be ordered to be served consecutively (in addition to each other). Consequently, the maximum possible sentence which could be imposed on the combined counts was not more than 20 years in prison, not more than a $500,000 fine, not more than a lifetime of supervised release and a $5,200 mandatory special assessment. Zwanzig will be required to register as a sex offender and keep the registration current under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division-Peoria Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Hollingshead-Cook and Paul B. Morris represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Zwanzig was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Former Ford County Resident Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Domestic TerrorismRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – Emily Claire Hari, formerly known as Michael B. Hari, 50, of the 200 block of First Street in Clarence, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence, attempted arson, unlawful possession of a machinegun, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Sentencing for Hari has been scheduled on June 13, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
In court before Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, Hari admitted guilt to all four charges contained in the indictment. During the hearing, the government stated that, during the latter part of 2017, Hari started a militia group, which called itself the “Patriot Freedom Fighters,” and which sometime later went by the nickname the “White Rabbits.” In addition to Hari, who served as its founder and leader, the militia group included convicted conspirators Michael McWhorter, Joe Morris, Ellis J. Mack, and Wesley Johnson. Around the latter part of 2017, the conspirators began engaging in repeated criminal acts of violence, which they referred to as “jobs.” As part of their militia activities, the conspirators obtained materials used to make incendiary devices, provided weapons and uniforms to the conspirators, and assigned rank to the conspirators To assist in their militia activities, the conspirators acquired and/or assembled four shotguns and four assault rifles, some of which were fully automatic. The weapons, as well as thermite (a pyrotechnic composition), were stored in a locked safe in the militia group’s “office” in Clarence.
On November 7, 2017, Hari, McWhorter, Morris, and Johnson travelled to the Women’s Health Practice located in Champaign, Illinois. The Women’s Health Practice provided medical services at that location and purchased and distributed medical supplies. The conspirators went to the Women’s Health Practice for the purpose of using an incendiary device (i.e., a pipe bomb) constructed by Hari to set the building on fire. Hari rented a truck in which the conspirators traveled to the Women’s Health Practice. Once there, Morris broke a window and placed the pipe bomb in the building; the pipe bomb did not ignite, however. On the morning of November 7, 2017, a receptionist at the Women’s Health Practice found the pipe bomb on the floor and called law enforcement officers.
On December 16, 2017, with Hari’s approval, the conspirators traveled from Clarence to a residence in Ambia, Indiana, for the purpose of robbing a Hispanic individual they believed to be involved in drug trafficking. The conspirators wore their “White Rabbit” uniforms and were each armed with firearms. Pretending to be law enforcement officers executing a search warrant, the conspirators forced entry to the residence. The conspirators handcuffed and zip-tied the residents, causing injury to the wrists of one of the zip-tied individuals. After searching for cash and drugs, the conspirators left the residence and returned to Clarence.
On two occasions in December 2017, several conspirators traveled to WalMart stores in Illinois (one in Watseka, and one in Mt. Vernon) with Hari’s approval to attempt to obtain money. The conspirators entered the stores armed with dangerous weapons and confronted cashiers.
On January 17, 2018, Hari, McWhorter, and Morris traveled from Clarence to a location near Effingham, Illinois, where they attempted to sabotage railroad tracks owned by the Canadian National Railway, through the use of an incendiary device. Following the attempted sabotage, the conspirators sent an extortionate demand via anonymous e-mail to the Canadian National Railway threatening that that there would be more damage inflicted by the conspirators to railroad tracks if the railroad did not pay the conspirators approximately $190,000 in cryptocurrency.
On February 18, 2018, the conspirators planted bomb-making materials, including a pipe bomb, on the property of an individual in Clarence to attempt to get the individual in trouble with law enforcement prior to a court hearing in Ford County where Hari faced criminal charges for allegedly assaulting the individual in June 2017. Hari then e-mailed an anonymous “tip” to federal authorities that explosive devices were contained in a suitcase and gray bag in a shed at the individual’s property. On the same day, the FBI responded to the address and found multiple explosive devices, including a pipe bomb attached to a small green propane tank, in a shed at the back of the residence.
Following the Clarence search, the conspirators became concerned that the FBI might search the militia group’s office and seize their weapons, including the machineguns. Therefore, Hari and McWhorter moved the weapons, including the machineguns, to the residence of another member of the militia group located in Clarence, where they were later seized by the FBI. The same day the FBI seized the conspirators’ machineguns, the defendant, McWhorter, Morris, and Mack fled Clarence, Illinois, on foot and stayed in the woods and in abandoned barns. While they were “on the run,” the conspirators made a video where they wore masks and requested assistance from other militia members.
Hari remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing in the Central District of Illinois. In December 2020, following a jury trial, Hari was convicted of charges related to the August 2017 firebombing of a mosque in Minnesota, along with McWhorter and Morris. A federal judge in Minnesota previously sentenced Hari to fifty-three years of imprisonment for those charges.
Hari faces statutory penalties of a minimum five-year to maximum twenty-year term of imprisonment for the attempted arson of the Women’s Health Practice, a maximum twenty-year term of imprisonment for conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence, and a maximum ten-year term of imprisonment for the firearms charges.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Office. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller is representing the government in the Central District of Illinois prosecution.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Savoy Man on Sexual Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A federal grand jury has indicted a Savoy, Illinois, man, David I. Berry, 21, of the 800 block of Hartwell, for alleged sexual exploitation of a minor on October 4 and 5, 2021. Berry appeared in federal court in Urbana today in front of Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long for an initial appearance and arraignment, at which the indictment against him was unsealed.
Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long ordered that Berry remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending a detention hearing on February 15, 2022.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are no less than 15 years up to 30 years in prison.
Berry was previously arrested and charged by the Champaign County State’s Attorney in October 2021. The case was brought as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement to address the rise in child exploitation since March 2020.
Agencies participating in the investigation include U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, the Champaign County Sherriff’s Office, the Urbana Police Department, and the Champaign County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Ford County Man Sentenced to over Ten Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – Robert Shawn Anderson, 52, of the 300 block of Spruce Street in Paxton, Illinois, was sentenced today to 121 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for one count of attempted enticement of a minor.
Anderson was convicted following a jury trial in October 2021. The government presented evidence at trial to establish that Anderson arranged to meet an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old minor for sexual activity on the dating application MeetMe.
The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor are 10 years to life imprisonment.
Anderson was arrested over Valentine’s Day weekend 2020 as part of an FBI operation conducted in Kankakee County, Illinois. The operation was conducted with the assistance of the Bradley Police Department, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon O’Brien and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson represented the government at trial.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Danville Man Sentenced to Eight-and-a-Half Years in Prison for Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Money Laundering in Two Different JurisdictionsRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Danville, Illinois, man, Jeffery T. Henson (also known by the alias, Matthew Burns), 44, was sentenced on February 7, 2022, to eight-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, to be followed by an aggregate three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering in both Central Illinois and the Chicago area.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Henson had obtained high-paying jobs by using stolen identities to avoid his prospective employers learning of his long criminal history involving multiple prior convictions for theft and computer fraud. In addition to the sentence of imprisonment, Judge Bruce ordered Henson to pay restitution of $436,496 to a Danville employer and $2,047,424 to a Chicago-area employer.
According to court documents, in 2016, Henson pretended to be an online job recruiter to obtain the personal identifying information of a job seeker. He then used the stolen personal information to obtain a job in that person’s name as the Director of Accounting at a Schaumburg, Illinois, consulting firm. Once employed, Henson set up fraudulent companies with names similar to legitimate vendors of the consulting firm and used his position to forge company checks and direct them to his fraudulently created companies. Henson defrauded the firm of over $2 million before he fled the Chicago area and moved to Danville in 2018.
Also according to court documents, in 2018, Henson then stole the identity of an individual in Indiana with whom he made podcasts. Henson used the stolen identity to open up a fraudulent bank account and to obtain a job in that person’s name as the Comptroller of Watchfire Signs, LLC, in Danville, Illinois. As the Comptroller, Henson defrauded Watchfire by causing Watchfire’s legitimate payments for tax liabilities to be routed to the fraudulent bank account Henson had opened with the stolen identity. Henson also laundered some of the fraud money by purchasing a $50,000 cashier’s check, which he used to purchase a Mercedes-Benz for over $100,000. Watchfire discovered Henson’s scheme in November of 2019, when the victim of Henson’s identity theft contacted Watchfire after discovering that Henson was using his identity. By then, however, Henson had defrauded Watchfire of over $400,000.
Authorities arrested Henson on November 25, 2019, at a bank in Indianapolis, Indiana, when he attempted to access the fraudulent account he had set up. At the time, he was in possession of numerous stolen identity documents. Henson has remained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since that time.
The case investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Danville Police Department. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
Coles County Man Resentenced to Fourteen Years and Three Months in Prison for Armed Robbery of Team Wireless StoreRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – Alfred E. Jerry, 30, of Charleston, Illinois, was sentenced today to fourteen years and three months’ imprisonment, to be followed by an aggregate five-year term of supervised release, for the armed robbery of the Team Wireless store in Charleston. Jerry was originally sentenced on February 11, 2020, but was resentenced after the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago vacated his initial twenty-two-year sentence based on a change in federal law.
Jerry pleaded guilty in September 2019 to all three counts as charged in the indictment: obstructing commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges stemmed from Jerry’s May 2019, robbery of the Woodfall Drive Team Wireless store, which was recorded by the store’s security system.
The security recording, which was played at Jerry’s original sentencing, showed a masked man wielding a revolver enter the store and order its two employees into a back room. The gunman threatened to shoot the employees if they did not comply. After the employees filled a trash bin with merchandise, the gunman took cash and keys from one of the employees. After more than five minutes in the store, the gunman left through the back door with the stolen merchandise and keys.
Police officers with the Charleston Police Department and the Eastern Illinois University Police Department arrested Jerry minutes after the robbery as he fled on foot. Police recovered a loaded revolver, stolen merchandise, and a ski mask containing DNA evidence linking Jerry to the robbery nearby.
Jerry has remained in federal custody since his arrest. Jerry has prior convictions for robbery and attempted murder.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Charleston Police Department, the Eastern Illinois University Police Department, and the Coles County Sheriff’s Office, collaborated in the investigation. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government at the resentencing.
Springfield-Area Dentist Charged with Tampering with Drugs Administered to Patients and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. –A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Phillip Jensen, DMD, 61, of Rochester, Illinois, on February 1, 2022, charging him with eight counts of drug diversion, eight counts of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, one count of tampering with consumer products, and three counts of false statements related to health care matters. Jensen was arrested today and appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois, for an initial appearance, at which the indictment against him was unsealed.
The indictment alleges that starting as early as December 2019 and continuing to at least August 17, 2020, Jensen, a registrant authorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense controlled substances, adulterated the fentanyl that was supposed to be used as anesthesia during his patients’ surgeries. Specifically, the indictment alleges that prior to surgery, Jensen pierced the fentanyl vials, removed half the fentanyl, and set it aside for his personal use. He then refilled the vials of fentanyl with another solution and administered the adulterated fentanyl, which was now at half its labeled strength, to his patients.
The indictment alleges Jensen committed multiple additional federal offenses related to this conduct, including eight different incidents of drug diversion in which he knowingly distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, outside the scope of professional practice and not for legitimate medical purpose. It also alleges eight incidents of Jensen acquiring fentanyl by fraud in that he obtained fentanyl from the vials and concealed his removal of fentanyl by refilling the vials with another substance and replacing the safety caps. The indictment further alleges one count of tampering with consumer products in that Jensen administered the fentanyl he adulterated to a specific patient which resulted in serious bodily injury to that patient. Finally, the indictment includes three counts alleging that Jensen knowingly and willfully, falsified, concealed, and covered up the nature and extent of the services he provided to patients of his practice, in connection with the delivery of health care benefits involving a health care benefit program.
At today’s initial appearance, the government requested that Jensen be detained. Magistrate Judge Schanzle-Haskins issued a temporary order of detention for Jensen pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on February 9, 2022.
If convicted, the statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for drug diversion, up to four years’ imprisonment for acquiring a controlled substance by fraud, up to twenty years’ imprisonment for tampering with consumer products, and up to five years’ imprisonment for a false statement related to health care matters.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas McMeyer and Sierra Senor-Moore are representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Four Men Sentenced to Prison for Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Four men charged with federal firearms offenses in late 2020 and 2021 have been sentenced to prison by U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough.
Kai R. Estomo-Encallado, 21, of Grayson, Texas, was sentenced on February 4, 2022, to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possession of a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long.
Donovan Hoover, 26, of the 600 block of Wood St. in Springfield, Illinois, was sentenced on January 31, 2022, to 30 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Eric Allison, 26, of the 2200 block of E. Laurel St. in Springfield, was sentenced on January 24, 2022, to 18 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year-term of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a felon.
Latayveon Wells, 22, of the 200 block of N. State St. in Springfield, was sentenced on October 18, 2021, to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a felon.
All of the men had previously pleaded guilty to the offenses of conviction.
The statutory penalties for the offenses of conviction are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a three-year term of supervised release.
“Even one gun in the hands of someone who should not possess a weapon can lead to fatal consequences,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore. “The collaboration between local and federal agencies as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods is essential to reducing gun violence in our community.”
The Department of Justice’s recent renewed commitment to Project Safe Neighborhoods establishes four fundamental principles to guide efforts to reduce violent crime: (1) build trust and legitimacy within communities; (2) invest in community-based prevention and intervention programs; (3) target enforcement and priorities to focus resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of gun violence and other violent crime; and (4) measure results with the goal of reducing the level of violence in our communities, not increasing the number of arrests and prosecutions as if they were ends in and of themselves.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; the Springfield Police Department; and the Illinois State Police investigated the cases as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Senor-Moore and Sarah Seberger represented the government in the prosecutions.
Federal Complaint Charges Bloomington Man with Possession of MachinegunRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Bloomington, Illinois, man, Javares L. Hudson, 21, of the 600 block of Monroe Street, was charged by federal criminal complaint on January 27, 2022, with possessing a machinegun. Hudson appeared in federal court in Peoria today in front of Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley for an initial appearance, at which the complaint against him was unsealed.
Hudson is specifically charged with possessing a device that is used to convert a conventional semi-automatic pistol into a fully automatic firearm. Such devices are commonly referred to as “switches”, “auto-sears,” or “conversion devices,” among other names.
Magistrate Judge Hawley ordered that Hudson be detained. He remains in state custody pending further proceedings.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crime charged are up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
Hudson was previously arrested and charged by state authorities earlier this week. The case was brought as part of an ongoing, collaborative effort between federal and local law enforcement to curb possession of these illegal conversion devices. Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Bloomington Police Department; and the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Peoria Man Charged with Host of Felony Offenses in Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A grand jury indicted Chad D. Campen, 32, of the 6100 block of Pfeiffer Road, in Peoria, Illinois on January 19, 2022, with 17 felony counts related to a bank fraud scheme. Campen was arrested on January 24, 2022, and appeared in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley at the federal courthouse in Peoria today for an initial appearance.
The indictment, which was unsealed at the hearing, charged Campen with five counts of bank fraud; eight counts of wire fraud; two counts of illegal monetary transaction; one count of bankruptcy fraud; and one count of false statements under oath. The indictment alleges that beginning as early as January 2013, Campen engaged in a scheme to defraud in which he made a number of false and fraudulent statements to banks and others. Specifically, the indictment alleges that he obtained funds by falsely claiming his success in multiple business ventures and falsely representing to others the amount of land he was farming, that he sold agricultural inputs, that he had substantial amounts of grain stored, his assets, and his overall financial status.
At today’s initial appearance, the government requested that Campen be detained pending trial. Magistrate Judge Hawley issued a temporary order of detention for Campen pending a detention hearing that is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on January 26, 2022.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are:
- Bank Fraud, Counts 1-5: up to thirty years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release for each count;
- Wire Fraud, Counts 6-13: up to twenty years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release for each count;
- Illegal Monetary Transaction, Counts 14-15: up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine (or twice the amount of the criminally derived property), and 3 years of supervised release for each count; and
- Bankruptcy Fraud and False Statement Under Oath, Counts 16-17: up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years supervised release for each count.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Peoria Woman Arrested with Nine Pounds of Ice Methamphetamine in Morton, Ill. Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, woman, Donna N. Mark, 39, of the 2000 block of North California Street, was sentenced on January 20, 2022 to 168 months’ imprisonment (14 years), to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The Court also ordered forfeiture of $21,578.95 seized at the time of the arrest.
At Mark’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid stated that Mark was “one of the most prolific” drug dealers, noting that she was arrested with over $21,000 and 9 pounds of ice methamphetamine destined for the communities of central Illinois. The judge weighed the substantial amount of methamphetamine found against Mark’s relatively short criminal history and positive upbringing. The judge noted that, while Mark did struggle with drug addiction during her 30s, the amount of drugs and cash she possessed showed that she was a drug dealer of “extraordinary” proportions.
At the hearing, the government explained that Mark’s offense conduct arose on March 2, 2021 when an officer with Morton Police Department was conducting warrant checks at the OYO Hotel in Morton, Illinois. Mark provided a fake name to police, who eventually contacted her again, along with two others to whom she had sold drugs. The investigation revealed Mark attempted to switch hotel rooms and hide bundles of ice methamphetamine in the toilet tank of the hotel room after giving the fake name to police. In total, law enforcement seized 8.2 pounds of ice methamphetamine from the toilet tank, an additional 818 grams of ice methamphetamine, $21,578.95 in U.S. Currency, drug paraphernalia, 71.3 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and a small amount of heroin and THC wax. Analysis by the DEA laboratory indicated the methamphetamine seized from Mark was 99% pure methamphetamine.
“This case results from the great work and collaboration of the Morton Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration to keep this highly-addictive drug off the streets of Tazewell and surrounding counties,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge. “This highly potent, readily available drug brings out the absolute worst in people and wreaks havoc in our communities. Our focus to keep communities safe by disrupting drug dealers at the top of the food chain will continue.”
According to public records, Mark was on probation in Tazewell County for two methamphetamine-related felonies at the time of this offense and had an active warrant at the time.
Mark was indicted in March 2021 and pleaded guilty in August 2021. Mark has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since her arrest on March 2, 2021.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in this case were not less than ten years and up to a life term of imprisonment, a five-year to life term of supervised release, and up to $10 million dollar fine.
The Morton Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, with assistance of the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Urbana Man Charged with Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A grand jury today indicted an Urbana, Illinois, man, John Schreyer, 47, of the 300 block of Spring Circle, for allegedly transporting and possessing of child pornography between June and December 2021.
The indictment alleges that Schreyer transported visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on June 14, 2021, and possessed child pornography on December 16, 2021. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Schreyer used an Internet-based peer-to-peer network to traffic videos of prepubescent children engaged in sex acts with adult men.
Schreyer was arrested in Urbana on December 16, 2021, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long for a detention hearing on December 21, 2021, at which the judge ordered that he be detained. Schreyer has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest.
If covicted, the offense of transportation of child pornography carries a statutory penalty of at least five years to a maximum of 20 years in prison; for possession of child pornography, the penalty is up to 10 years in prison.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Office and the Urbana Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly M. Peirson is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Urbana Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – An Urbana, Illinois, man, Curtis Coleman, 38, of the 1800 block of Oliver Drive, pleaded guilty on January 14, 2022, to possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. Sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. in the Urbana federal courthouse.
In court before Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long, Coleman admitted that he had been distributing drugs out of an apartment in the 1800 block of Oliver Drive in Urbana and that he had possessed multiple firearms. During the hearing, the government stated that during the execution of a search warrant at the apartment, officers with the Champaign County Street Crimes Task Force recovered just under 200 grams of cocaine, as well as marijuana and crack cocaine. Coleman also had two firearms, an extended magazine for one of the guns, and ammunition in various calibers near the drugs. Coleman was on parole for a separate felony offense at the time.
Coleman remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing.
Coleman was charged via indictment in July 2017 with possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute and possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment including those same charges in November 2019.
Coleman faces up to 20 years of imprisonment on the drug trafficking charge and at least 10 years of imprisonment on the firearms charge. However, if he is determined to be an Armed Career Criminal, he will face a mandatory minimum of 15 years' imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the firearms charge.
The Urbana Police Department, Champaign Police Department, and Champaign County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Champaign County State’s Attorney Office also worked in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in bringing these charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Freres represents the government in the prosecution.
Rock Island Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Robbery of a Credit Union Followed by High-Speed Chase in Illinois and IowaRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Rock Island, Illinois, man, Roman Thomas Lloyd, 34, of the 400 block of 19th Avenue, was sentenced on January 11, 2021, to a total of 72 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for credit union robbery and interstate transportation of stolen money.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Lloyd had fled from the police following the robbery, driving at speeds approaching 100 mph on both highways and residential streets. The government further highlighted that the chase had gone through four school zones and that law enforcement attempted to use “stop sticks” on five occasions before they were ultimately successful on their sixth attempt. The government noted that even after the stop sticks deflated Lloyd’s tires, law enforcement still had to use a “PIT maneuver” to force Lloyd’s car into a ditch before he was apprehended.
Based on this evidence, Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow found that an upward variance from the sentencing guidelines was appropriate because Lloyd had shown reckless disregard for the health and safety of others during the more than 20-minute high-speed chase. Judge Darrow noted that the fact there were no injuries or accidents during the chase was miraculous.
"The defendant's apprehension is a prime example of the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions working together," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer. "We are thankful for the skill, dedication, and professionalism they demonstrated in the face of his dangerous flight."
“Mr. Lloyd’s actions are an example of bold disregard for the law, public safety, and the safety of law enforcement officers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public while apprehending a dangerous criminal,” said David Nanz, the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Office. “This sentence is the result of teamwork among our partners to hold Lloyd accountable and prevent future violence.”
Lloyd received concurrent sentences of 72 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on the credit union robbery count and the interstate transportation of stolen money count. Judge Darrow further ordered that his sentence run consecutively to any sentence that is imposed in Henry County, Illinois, Case No. 2018CF216, in which he is charged with burglary of a pharmacy, theft, and aggravated fleeing or eluding a peace officer, and Clinton County, Iowa, Case No. FECR077034, in which he is charged with second-degree burglary; second-degree theft; and possession of a controlled substance, first offense.
The statutory penalties for credit union robbery are up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The statutory penalties for interstate transportation of stolen money are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release.
Lloyd was indicted in July 2021 and pleaded guilty September 2021.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Moline Police Department investigated the case and were assisted by law enforcement officers from Rock Island and Davenport, Iowa. Assistant U.S. Attorney McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution.
Central Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Robbery Charges and Attempted EscapeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Mechanicsburg, Illinois man, John W. Beck, 55, of the 500 block of East Main Street, pleaded guilty on January 12, 2022, to four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of bank robbery, one count of armed bank robbery, and one count of attempted escape from the Livingston County Jail. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25, 2022, at the federal courthouse in Peoria, Illinois.
In federal court before U.S. District Judge Joe Billy McDade, Beck admitted to robbing the following businesses and banks:
- Dollar General in Buffalo, Illinois, on April 8, 2021
- Bank of Pontiac, doing business as Odell Bank, in Odell, Illinois, on April 9, 2021
- Fast Stop Store in Odell on April 17, 2021
- Village Pantry in Paxton, Illinois, on April 18, 2021
- Subway in Danville, Illinois, on April 19, 2021
- Elmwood Bank, a division of Morton Community Bank, in Elmwood, Illinois, on April 20,
2021
During the change-of-plea hearing, the government stated that in committing the robberies, Beck used stolen cars, including one stolen from an individual in Mechanicsburg on April 7, 2021; a Green Hyundai from Springfield, Illinois, on April 16, 2021; and a car from Central Illinois Motors in Springfield on April 17, 2021. He also stole license plates from other individuals, which he then used on the stolen cars.
Beck was arrested on the current charges in April 2021 and has remained in the U.S. Marshals’ custody. According to court documents, while in custody in September 2021, Beck attempted to escape from the Livingston County Jail, where he was being held.
At the time of his arrest, Beck was on supervised release for a bank robbery he committed in 2007, for which he was sentenced to the Bureau of Prisons for 151 months. He was released from prison in January 2019.
At sentencing, Beck faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release for each of the four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, as well as the bank robbery of the Bank of Pontiac. He faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release for the armed robbery of the Elmwood Bank. The attempted escape charge carries a possible penalty of up to five years imprisonment and three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Sheriff’s Departments in DeWitt, Edgar, Livingston, Peoria, and Sangamon Counties; the Danville, Elmwood, Paxton, and Springfield Police Departments; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Darilynn Knauss is representing the government in the prosecution.
Peoria Man Sentenced to 190 Months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Dustin R. Test, 39, of the 1900 block of South Stanley Street, was sentenced on January 6, 2022, to 15 years and 10 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
At Test’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid stated that Test had a troubled upbringing and noted he was in foster care for part of his childhood. The judge also considered Test’s criminal history, which included several convictions for aggravated battery, forgery, and residential burglary.
At the hearing, the government explained that Test’s offense conduct included Test working with other drug associates to purchase and resell large amounts of ice methamphetamine. At the height of his drug trafficking, Test and an associate purchased three pounds of ice methamphetamine.
Test was indicted in September 2020 and pleaded guilty in July 2021.
The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine for a person with prior felony convictions are not less than ten years and up to forty years of imprisonment, an 8-year to life term of supervised release, and an up to $8 million dollar fine.
The Pekin Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Iowa Sex Offender Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Child Enticement CrimesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Muscatine, Iowa, man, Nicholas Bryan Swank, 32, was sentenced on January 6, 2022, to a total of 210 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor, traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and soliciting an obscene visual depiction of a minor.
Swank pleaded guilty in July 2021. According to court documents, Swank began communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old child. After arranging to meet with the intended victim and asking for explicit photographs, Swank traveled from Muscatine, Iowa, to Rock Island, Illinois, where he was ultimately arrested by federal agents and local law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Swank was under the supervision of the court in relation to sentences out of the state of Iowa for Theft – Third Degree, Domestic Abuse Assault with Strangulation (1st Offense, No Injury), and two separate instances of a Violation of Sex Offender Registry Requirements (First Offense).
Swank has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in November 2020.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who seek to sexually exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “These are serious crimes that inflict great harm on some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and they merit serious sentences. We also urge parents and guardians to remain vigilant and monitor their children’s online activities.”
This sentence reflects the serious nature of the offense and acts as tangible proof of our commitment to safeguard the children in our communities. The FBI appreciates our collaborative law enforcement partnerships as we work together to stop those who seek to harm our children. said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Office.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow imposed concurrent 210-month sentences of imprisonment on each count. In pronouncing Swank’s sentence, Chief Judge Darrow commented on the real danger Swank posed to the community and noted her hope that his sentence would deter others from engaging in the same conduct.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, with assistance from Rock Island Police and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Mathew represented the federal government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Geneseo Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Five MinorsRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Geneseo, Illinois, man, Tristan Blank, 24, of the 0-100 block of Tulip Court, pleaded guilty today to five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Sentencing for Blank has been scheduled for May 12, 2022, at the U.S. Courthouse in Davenport, Iowa.
In court before Chief U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, Blank admitted that he pretended to be a female to entice minors to send him sexually explicit photos and videos online. During the hearing, the government stated that Blank was arrested after posing as a female online and arranging to meet a minor to perform oral sex on the minor. Further investigation revealed that Blank used a female persona to entice over 20 victims to send him nude photographs and videos. Blank then threatened to distribute the images if the victims did not continue sending images or perform sexual acts with Blank.
Blank remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Blank faces a mandatory minimum term of 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 150 years’ imprisonment.
The case investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service, the Illinois State Police, the Geneseo Police Department, the Colona Police Department, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kewanee Police Department, with assistance of the Braveheart Children’s Advocacy Center. Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Raya is representing the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), to marshal federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Iowa Sex Offender Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Child Enticement CrimesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A West Liberty, Iowa, man, Charles Walter Christopher, 43, was sentenced on December 15, 2021, to a total of 264 months in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor and committing a sex offense while a registered sex offender.
Christopher had pleaded guilty in August of 2021. According to court documents, Christopher began communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old child. After arranging to meet with the intended victim, Christopher traveled from West Liberty, Iowa, to Rock Island, Illinois. Upon his arrival, Christopher was arrested by federal agents and local law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, Christopher was on federal supervised release out of the Southern District of Iowa for attempted enticement of a minor.
Christopher has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in November 2020.
“We will continue to prosecute those who intend to sexually harm children by working with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Hopefully, this case and others like it will serve to remind anyone with the inclination to prey upon children to think twice and to stop. Children and parents need to remain constantly vigilant and exercise caution when accessing the internet, communication apps, and similar platforms.”
"The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to track, locate, and arrest those who seek to victimize our children," said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Springfield Office.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow’s 264-month sentence was comprised of 144 months’ imprisonment for attempted enticement of a minor and 120 months’ imprisonment for committing a sex offense while a registered sex offender, to run consecutively.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, with assistance from Rock Island Police and Illinois State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Mathew represented the federal government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Iowa Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. –Michael E. Shell, 52, of Melrose, Iowa, was sentenced on December 21, 2021, to to 27 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for production of child pornography. Shell must also register as a sex offender once he is released.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Shell sexually abused a minor victim for approximately five years – when the victim was between 9 and 14 years old. Shell took photographs and videos of the abuse, which occurred while the victim lived within the Central District of Illinois. Photographs from the search warrant at Shell’s residence in Iowa revealed a child-sized sex doll and school pictures of the minor victim on Shell’s refrigerator. Law enforcement also seized multiple devices that contained dozens of images and videos of the abuse. Evidence presented in court included testimony that the abuse occurred hundreds of times and only ended when the minor victim demanded the abuse stop at the age of 14.
A statement prepared by the minor victim was read to the court, describing how damaging Shell’s manipulation and abuse was.
Also at the sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm found that Shell intentionally groomed the minor victim and questioned whether he was really remorseful. The judge noted the disconnect between the letters of support for Shell written by family and friends and the conduct at issue: the lengthy and intentional molestation of the victim. The judge found that the victim had suffered irreparable harm from the abuse, both psychologically and physically.
Shell was indicted in May 2019 and pleaded guilty in April 2021.
The statutory penalties for production of child pornography are at least 15 years and up to 30 years’ imprisonment; a maximum lifetime term of supervised release; a fine of up to $250,000; and restitution, if requested.
“This case exemplifies our active and tireless pursuit of justice on behalf of minor victims,” said United States Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Predators who groom and sexually exploit our community’s most vulnerable will be investigated and prosecuted, just as Shell was.”
The United States Secret Service investigated the case, with direct assistance of the Canton Police Department and Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine G. Legge and Paul B. Morris represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Shell was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
“Glizzy Gang” Members Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Distribution of Heroin, and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Four individuals engaged in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in the Quad Cities were sentenced on December 16, 2021, to multi-year terms in federal prison.
Adell Moore, 31, of the 1400 block of 38th Street, in Rock Island, Illinois, was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Mandell Moore, 25, of the 600 block of West 61st Street in Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Diontae Brown, 33, of the 3000 block of 26th Street in Rock Island was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
Kendrick Prince, 31, of the 1800 block of West Vienna Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 81 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute heroin and distribution of heroin.
Each of the defendants previously pleaded guilty to the offenses. At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Moore, Moore, Brown, Prince, and others, who referred to themselves as the “Glizzy Gang,” conspired together to sell heroin in the Quad Cities between 2016 and 2019 and regularly and illegally carried firearms.
At the hearing, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sara Darrow found that Adell Moore was the leader of the conspiracy and stated that the defendants created a “path of destruction in this community,” referencing their involvement with guns and drugs and other violent acts. Chief Judge Darrow stated that the defendants found a “lucrative market” in the Quad Cities and profited from “others’ pain, misery, and addiction.”
Chief Judge Darrow previously sentenced co-defendant Anthony McGhee, 23, of the 6200 block of Brown Street in Bettendorf, Iowa, to 180 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute heroin and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
“This case is another example of the collaborative efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies to target major drug organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “These organizations poison our communities with illegal drugs and increase the likelihood of violent crime in our neighborhoods. The sentences imposed reflect the serious nature of the defendants’ offenses.”
“The opioid epidemic is a public crisis fueled by criminals like these four individuals who spread toxins into our communities to feed addictions,” said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Office. “Additionally, drug activity is a gateway to other crimes like gun violence, homicide, and robbery. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, takes an all-encompassing approach to investigating drug trafficking, targeting and dismantling the most significant source of drug operations. These combined sentence of 540 months will significantly impact the quantity of drugs flowing through our neighborhoods and keep dangerous criminals off our streets for quite some time.”
The statutory penalty for conspiracy to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin is a mandatory minimum of ten years and up to life in prison. The statutory penalty for distribution of heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin is not more than twenty years’ imprisonment. The statutory penalty for possession of a firearm as a felon is up to ten years’ imprisonment. The statutory penalty for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is a mandatory minimum five years imprisonment, to be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Quad Cities Federal Gang Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of the East Moline Police Department, the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock Island Police Department, and the Silvis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyssa Raya represented the government in the prosecution.
Moline, Illinois, Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Theft of Public MoneyRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – A Moline, Illinois woman, Michelle Crowell, 48, of the 200 block of 31st Avenue, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on December 14, 2021, for stealing public money, specifically Social Security and Disability benefit payments.
Crowell had pleaded guilty to the offense on August 5, 2021. The government presented evidence at sentencing establishing that Crowell had accessed her deceased mother’s bank account on a recurring basis over a four-year period and had stolen Social Security and Disability benefits meant for her mother, resulting in a total loss of $36,087 to the Social Security Administration.
At Crowell’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Sara Darrow stated that Crowell’s offense was a crime of opportunity that came at a great cost to the public.
“Programs such as Social Security serve an important purpose in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “When individuals such as the defendant defraud these types of programs, they harm those who are most in need.”
The statutory penalties for theft of public money include up to ten years in prison and not more than three years of supervised release.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant Hodges and Jennifer Mathew represented the government in the prosecution.
Eldridge, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – An Eldridge, Iowa, man, Marius Avant, 26, of the 0-100 block of Manor Drive, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on December 14, 2021, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
Avant had pleaded guilty to the offense on August 12, 2021. The government presented evidence at his sentencing establishing that authorities arrested Avant after he escaped from federal custody. Task force officers with the U.S. Marshals Service located Avant at a residence in Rock Island, Illinois, and boxed in his car as he and another individual attempted to flee. When investigators took Avant into custody, they found a stolen revolver on his car seat and multiple boxes of ammunition on the floorboard.
At Avant’s sentencing hearing, the government sought a sentence of 60 months (five years) – above Avant’s advisory guideline range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines – based on Avant’s offense conduct and criminal history, which included a prior federal firearms conviction.
In imposing the five-year sentence, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Sara Darrow stated that Avant had put himself in a volatile situation and posed “an absolute risk to the public.”
The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a felon up to ten years in prison and no more than three years of supervised release.
The Rock Island Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grant Hodges and Alyssa Raya represented the government in the prosecution.
Peoria Man Charged with Burglarizing a Bloomington Gun Store and Possessing Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Dajuan Edwards-Melton, 20, of the 2100 block of Antoinette Street, appeared in federal court today in relation to a criminal complaint that charged him with burglarizing a gun store and possessing stolen firearms on December 13, 2021.
The complaint alleges that in the early morning hours of December 12, 2021, Bloomington Police Officers were dispatched to “Smiley’s Sports Shop”, a federal firearms licensee located at 2049 Ireland Grove Road, in Bloomington, Illinois, for a reported burglary. Upon arrival, the officers observed evidence of forced entry to the business and shattered glass firearm display cases. It was later determined that 25 firearms were stolen during the burglary.
The complaint further alleges that additional investigation led officers to Edwards-Melton, who was found in possession of a firearm stolen from Smiley’s. He was arrested on December 13, 2021. Today in court, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley ordered him temporarily detained pending a detention hearing on December 17, 2021, at 1 p.m.
If convicted, the maximum statutory penalties for the alleged crimes charged are up to ten years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.
Agencies participating in the investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco & Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; and the Bloomington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna is representing the government in the prosecution.
Members of the public are reminded that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Two Kankakee Men Sentenced in Separate Child Enticement CasesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – Two Kankakee, Illinois, men were sentenced on December 13, 2021, in separate child enticement cases. They were Kyren Williams, 31, of the 1000 block of S. Osborn Ave., and Jazzie Simmons, 30, of the 200 block of Greenwood Ave.
Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Mihm sentenced Simmons to 87 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release. Simmons pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of attempted enticement of a minor.
Judge Mihm sentenced Williams to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of supervised release. Williams pleaded guilty in July 2021 to one count of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a child.
Previously, in March 2020, a federal grand jury had charged each of the men by indictment following their February 2020 arrests pursuant to criminal complaints. Also in February, U.S. Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long ordered that the men be detained pending trial. They have remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrests.
“This operation and other similar ones show our continued commitment, along with the FBI and our other law enforcement partners, to uncover and prosecute sexual predators,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Parents and other care givers need to continually monitor their children’s electronic communications to protect them from such offenders.”
“The online environment can be a dangerous place,” said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Springfield Office. “That’s why the FBI will never give up the exhaustive work of rooting out those who prey on innocent children. These sentences demonstrate the importance of the collaborative work among our law enforcement partners to hold sexual predators accountable.”
Simmons, and Williams were arrested over Valentine’s Day weekend 2020 as part of a related FBI Springfield Division Operation conducted in Kankakee County. The operation was conducted with the coordination and assistance of the Bradley Police Department, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Rantoul Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Champaign County man, Alan L. Dodd, 38, of the 100 block of Shady Lawn Drive in Rantoul, Illinois, was sentenced on December 13, 2021, to 10 years’ imprisonment for distribution and possession of child pornography.
At Dodd’s sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Mihm found that Dodd traded child pornography images depicting prepubescent children on multiple social media applications, including Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and Discord.
On August 12, 2021, Dodd entered a plea of guilty to the indictment, which charged him with one count of distribution of child pornography on October 25, 2020, and one count of possession of child pornography, on February 11, 2021. Dodd has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest on February 12, 2021.
Following Dodd’s release from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for 10 years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
“This office will continue to vigorously protect the safety of children from those who would seek to exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris.
The charges were investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office; and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force led by the Illinois Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Justice Department Secures Agreement to Improve Web Accessibility for Public Transportation Users with Disabilities in Champaign-Urbana, IllinoisRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) to resolve alleged violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Under the agreement, the MTD must make its website and mobile applications accessible for users with visual and manual impairments. Public transportation users rely on the MTD’s website and mobile applications to plan trips, check arrival times, and find fare information. The agreement requires the MTD to conform its website – www.mtd.org – and mobile applications to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Version 2.1, Level AA. WCAG is a set of voluntary industry guidelines for making information on a website accessible to users with disabilities, particularly those with visual and manual impairments. Additionally, the MTD will invest a minimum of $100,000 to improve its services for passengers with disabilities.
“Equal access to public transit systems is critically important for the independence of people with disabilities and is required by law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This settlement brings us one step closer to realizing the ADA’s promise of equal opportunity for all people regardless of disability status. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously enforce federal law to root out discrimination against people with disabilities.”
“This agreement reflects the MTD’s longtime commitment to serving individuals with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris for the Central District of Illinois. “We appreciate the MTD’s cooperation throughout the investigation and its commitment to quickly make its website and related tools fully accessible. Roughly 30 years after being enacted, the ADA continues to be a very important law protecting the rights of all individuals living and working in our community and its provisions remain relevant as technology and the needs of individuals with disabilities evolve.”
This matter was handled jointly by the Disability Rights Section of the department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua I. Grant of the Central District of Illinois. Title II of the ADA requires state and local governmental entities like public transportation providers to provide individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their services, programs and activities.
For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit http://www.justice.gov/crt. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at http://www.ada.gov/complaint/. Individuals in the Central District of Illinois may also report civil rights violations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois by calling 217-492-4450.
Gregory K. Harris Is Sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of IllinoisRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gregory K. Harris was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois by Chief United States District Judge Sara Darrow on December 13, 2021, at the federal courthouse in Davenport, Iowa.
U.S. Attorney Harris was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on October 27, 2021, and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on December 7, 2021, for the Central District of Illinois United States Attorney position. President Biden signed Harris’s commission on December 10, 2021.
“It is an honor to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois,” Harris said. “This Office has a long history of excellence and integrity and has demonstrated its strong commitment to community safety. I look forward to leading this group of talented and dedicated attorneys and support staff. We will continue to partner with law enforcement to address current and future challenges in the Central District and to pursue equal justice under the law. I also look forward to working closely with defense counsel and the court. I am eager to get to work.”
Harris is an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, where he has served since 2001. He has held various leadership positions in the office, including Chief of the Criminal Division. From 1988 to 2001, Harris was a partner at the law firm Giffin, Winning, Cohen & Bodewes, P.C. in Illinois. Harris served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois from 1980 to 1988. From 1978 to 1980, Harris was Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Governor’s Office of Manpower and Human Development and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Development. Harris served as an Assistant Appellate Defender in the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender from 1976 until 1978.
Harris received his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly known as The John Marshall Law School) in 1976 and his B.A. from Howard University in 1971.The swearing-in occurred in the Davenport courthouse because the Rock Island, Illinois, federal courthouse has been closed; construction is set to begin shortly on a new federal courthouse in that city.
Decatur Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Decatur, Illinois, man, Tyler D. Jeffrey, 29, of the 2100 block of East Roosevelt Ave., was sentenced on December 13, 2021, to 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography.
At Jeffrey’s sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Mihm found that Jeffrey faced enhanced penalties based on his prior 2011 conviction for criminal sexual abuse in Macon County.
In August 2020, Jeffrey entered a plea of guilty to the indictment, which charged him with one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, both on November 28, 2019. Jeffrey has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in July 2020.
Following Jeffrey’s release from prison, he will be on federal supervised release for eight years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
“The investigation and prosecution in this case was the culmination of the collective hard work of several state and federal law enforcement agencies,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “This is another example of the success that can be achieved from this effort.”
The charges were investigated by Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Decatur Police Department; and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force led by the Illinois Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elly Peirson represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Quincy Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois, man, James Payne, 76, of the 600 block of College Avenue was sentenced on December 3, 2021, to a ten-year prison term for possession of child pornography.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Sue Myerscough found that Payne’s prior criminal conviction for predatory criminal sexual abuse meant that he qualified for an enhanced sentence. The judge further found that Payne possessed over 1,000 images of child pornography, including images of children under the age of twelve and images depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct involving an infant or toddler.
Payne had previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on May 28, 2021, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tom Schanzle-Haskins pursuant to a written agreement.
The statutory penalty for possession of child pornography is generally up to ten years’ imprisonment; however, where, as here, an individual has a prior conviction involving sexual abuse the penalty is not less than ten years’ imprisonment and not more than twenty.
"Child pornography is not a victimless crime, can be predictive of other hands-on offenses, and continues to plague our society," said acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. "We appreciate the hard work of the Quincy Police Department and our other law enforcement partners who work diligently every day to locate, investigate, and apprehend the people who perpetuate the child-pornography industry."
The prosecution was the result of an investigation by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner K. Jacobs represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Payne was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Decatur Man Convicted of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a FelonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Thursday, December 9, 2021, against DeAngelo Banks, 31, of Decatur, Illinois, for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Sentencing for Banks has been set for May 9, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois.
During two days of testimony, the government presented evidence regarding Decatur Police Department officers’ traffic stop of Banks’s car in May 2020. Banks was the sole occupant and driver at that time. During the stop, officers located a loaded Glock Model 43 handgun in a hidden compartment where Banks had been sitting. As a previously convicted felon, Banks was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Banks remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. At sentencing, Banks faces statutory penalties of up to ten years in the Bureau of Prisons.
The case investigation was conducted by the Decatur Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William J. Lynch and Ronald L. Hanna represented the government at trial.
Department of Justice and Dunlap School District Reach Agreement to Provide Fully Accessible Elementary School PlaygroundRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Department of Justice has reached a settlement pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with Dunlap Community Unit School District No. 323, located in Dunlap, Illinois, ensuring that Banner Elementary School’s outdoor playground is accessible to all children, including children with disabilities.
The settlement agreement resolves an ADA complaint filed by parents of a child with a disability at Banner Elementary. The complaint alleged that a child with a disability was routinely unable to access Banner’s existing playground to play with peers and had to play alone, outside of the play area and separate from peers without disabilities. The complaint prompted an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Title II of the ADA prohibits places of public accommodation, including school districts, from discriminating against individuals with disabilities and requires them to remove architectural barriers to access. The ADA requires a school’s outdoor playgrounds to be readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.
Under the settlement agreement, the school district has agreed to create a new outdoor playground by integrating new, accessible equipment into the existing area, effectively creating a single outdoor playground with accessible equipment and surfaces. As part of the agreement, the district will also remove all existing barriers to access, including railroad ties and other barriers, as well as remove and replace all existing pea gravel and mulch with ADA-compliant surfaces. Without admitting violating the ADA, the district also agreed to a monetary payment to the parents fully resolving the matter.
“Children and other individuals with disabilities are entitled to full access to our community, including a school’s playground,” said Douglas J. Quivey, Acting United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. “This settlement demonstrates the Dunlap Community School District’s commitment to providing equal access to all students it serves. We appreciate both the parents and the School District’s cooperation in resolving this matter and their dedication to ensuring all students enjoy full access. I encourage all school districts in Central Illinois to review their facilities to make sure they are accessible and fully usable by all.”
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua I. Grant represented the government during the investigation and settlement process. For more information about the ADA, please visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.
Pekin Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Daniel W. Dawe, 48, of the 1600 block of Crescent Drive has been sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that on or about November 5, 2019, Dawe was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Dawe was searched due to his status on parole, and officers located several individual baggies of suspected ice methamphetamine hidden on his person. A lab report later revealed the methamphetamine weighed 17.584 grams and was 100% pure. Dawe admitted he had been released from prison approximately six months prior in June 2019 and had purchased approximately eight ounces of ice methamphetamine in the time frame since his release. Dawe was on mandatory supervised release for the State of Illinois at the time of this offense.
Dawe pleaded guilty to the sole count of the indictment on June 25, 2021, pursuant to a written plea agreement.
Dawe faced enhanced statutory penalties for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute due to his prior 2012 conviction for robbery, a serious violent felony offense - specifically, a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a minimum of eight years to life term of supervised release, and a maximum $8,000,000 fine.
Dawe has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest November 5, 2019. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pekin Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Four People Plead Guilty to Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Four individuals have pleaded guilty over the past three months to mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering charges that were related to schemes involving the submissions of fraudulent claims for childcare services to the Illinois Department of Human Services that resulted in a loss of approximately $1,300,000 to the State of Illinois and the United States. The individuals are: Tarnavis Lee, 42, of the 6200 block of W. 80th Street in Burbank, Illinois; Demetra Jackson, 42, of the 2700 block of W. 64th Street in Chicago, Illinois; LaShanda Hudson, 40, of the 6700 block of S. Maplewood in Chicago; and Elizabeth McFarland, 47, of the 600 block of Rothwood Avenue in Madison, Tennessee.
According to the three indictments charging the defendants, as well as their plea agreements, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) administered the Child Care Assistance Program, which was partially funded by the federal government. The program paid for childcare services for low-income parents while they worked or participated in approved educational programs. Each of the individuals charged engaged in schemes to defraud DHS by submitting claims for childcare services that were not provided or not provided to the extent claimed. As part of their schemes, Lee and Hudson also paid a total of more than $160,000 in kickback payments to parents participating in the program in exchange for the parents allowing their personal information and that of their children to be used to submit false and fraudulent childcare claims to DHS.
On September 8, 2021, Lee pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering, as charged in two separate indictments. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed that she caused a loss to the United States and the State of Illinois of $913,390.66. Lee’s sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2022.
On October 12, 2021, Jackson pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to one count of wire fraud. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed that she caused a loss to the United States and the State of Illinois of approximately $250,000. Her sentencing is scheduled for February 9, 2022.
On October 25, 2021, McFarland pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to one count of wire fraud. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed that she caused a loss to the United States and the State of Illinois of $228,301.31. Her sentencing is scheduled for February 24, 2022.
On November 3, 2021, Hudson pleaded guilty pursuant to a plea agreement to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed that she caused a loss to the United States and the State of Illinois of $421,875.97. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 4, 2022.
The statutory penalties for each count of mail and wire fraud are up to 20 years of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment. The statutory penalties for each count of money laundering are up to 20 years of imprisonment; up to 3 years of supervised release; a fine up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions, whichever is greater, or both; and a mandatory $100 special assessment.
All defendants remain free on bond pending sentencing. The scheduled sentencings are set to take place at the federal courthouse in Springfield, Illinois.
The cases were the result of a joint investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, St. Louis Field Office, and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau, Central Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy A. Bass represented the government in the prosecution.
Alton Man Convicted at Trial of Drug and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Qwanell S. Jones, 27, of the 3000 block of Alby Street in Alton, Illinois, was convicted on November 30, 2021, following a two-day trial in Peoria of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled on April 11, 2022, in Urbana, Illinois.
Evidence presented at trial established that on March 12, 2020, the Raymond, Illinois Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Jones in Raymond (approximately 60 miles from Alton) while he was driving a Cadillac car with no valid registration and with a suspended driver’s license. During a search of the car following the stop and a later search of Jones at the county jail, officers located a total of approximately 858 methamphetamine pills in the car and on Jones’ person and a Smith and Wesson, Governor model, .45 Long Colt caliber/.410 gauge revolver that was fully loaded with six rounds of .410 shotgun ammunition and located in the glove compartment of the car along with most of the methamphetamine. Evidence further established that Jones had previously been convicted of three felony offenses in 2011 and 2013 in Madison County, Illinois for attempted armed robbery, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, and armed robbery, for which he received sentences of probation and eight years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
At sentencing, Jones faces statutory penalties of up to 30 years imprisonment for the drug offense, up to 10 years of imprisonment for the felon-in-possession offense, and a mandatory consecutive term of 5 years to life imprisonment for the possession of a firearm in the furtherance of the drug trafficking crime offense; a fine of up to $750,000; and a minimum of 6 years to life of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Raymond, Illinois Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Bass is representing the United States in the prosecution.
Pekin Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Daniel W. Dawe, 48, of the 1600 block of Crescent Drive has been sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in the Bureau of Prisons, to be followed by 8 years of supervised release for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that on or about November 5, 2019, Dawe was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Dawe was searched due to his status on parole, and officers located several individual baggies of suspected ice methamphetamine hidden on his person. A lab report later revealed the methamphetamine weighed 17.584 grams and was 100% pure. Dawe admitted he had been released from prison approximately six months prior in June 2019 and had purchased approximately eight ounces of ice methamphetamine in the time frame since his release. Dawe was on mandatory supervised release for the State of Illinois at the time of this offense.
Dawe pleaded guilty to the sole count of the indictment on June 25, 2021, pursuant to a written plea agreement.
Dawe faced enhanced statutory penalties for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute due to his prior 2012 conviction for robbery, a serious violent felony offense - specifically, a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a minimum of eight years to life term of supervised release, and a maximum $8,000,000 fine.
Dawe has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest November 5, 2019. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pekin Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Federal and State Authorities Reach Settlement with Quincy Medical Group over Medicare and Medicaid Fraud ClaimsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Quincy Medical Group in Quincy, Illinois, has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims for medically unnecessary cardiac catheterization procedures performed by a physician who was formerly employed by the group. Today’s settlement comes on the heels of a related settlement in August with Blessing Hospital for approximately $2.82 million.
The settlement will be apportioned as follows: the United States will receive approximately $459,000, the State of Illinois will receive nearly $40,000, and the States of Iowa and Missouri will receive the remainder. The settlement resolves allegations that Quincy Medical Group obtained payments from Medicare and Medicaid for the professional services component of cardiac catheterization procedures performed between August 1, 2012, and August 30, 2018, in which the physician implanted medically unnecessary coronary arterial stents.
“This second part of the combined over 3 million dollar settlement is fair to both sides and demonstrates what should occur when alleged fraud is uncovered,” said Acting United States Attorney Douglas J. Quivey for the Central District of Illinois. “It is very important that all medical providers institute quality control and billing safeguards to protect both patient safety and billing integrity.”
“The physician performing these allegedly needless procedures exploited patients and the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” stated Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of federal health programs and hold accountable those individuals or entities responsible for compromising our programs.”
"The Illinois State Police is dedicated to investigating healthcare fraud and to ensuring that tax dollars are used appropriately for the care of patients," said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the Inspector General’s Office of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hoelzer and Department of Justice Senior Trial Counsel Laurie Oberembt represented the government during the settlement process. To learn more about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil.
Department of Justice Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Central District of Illinois, Danville, Illinois was awarded funding totaling $750,000.
“We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs.”
“Numerous studies show that professional community policing improves community-police relationships and reduces violent crime. Trust and the community coming forward when they witness crime is instrumental in reducing crime rates,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Doug Quivey. “It requires officers being present in neighborhoods daily and interacting in ways large and small to make a difference. I commend Police Chief Yates and the other City of Danville officials for taking the time to submit a quality application and for being forward looking.”
“I want to thank Attorney General Garland, Acting U.S. Attorney Quivey, and everyone at the Department of Justice who made this award possible.” said Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. “While we have greatly improved public safety, we believe the COPS initiative will allow us to be more effective, especially in building even stronger relationships with our citizens and combatting domestic violence through a special initiative. The funds provided will undoubtedly be a good return on investment because the people of Danville will be safer as a result.”
“There were many people involved in the application process. From Mayor Williams, City Council, Comptroller Massey, members of the community, as well as current and former police personnel, all played a role and did their part in making the award possible.” said Chief Christopher Yates of the Danville Police Department. “I want to thank all of them as well as members of the DOJ involved and those who assisted from the COPS Office. This award will assist us with additional officers to continue the mission to better serve the community and increase public safety.”
The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate and domestic extremism or police-based response to persons in crisis.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applications requesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537.0 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
Burlington Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, IA – On Monday, November 22, 2021, two Burlington men were sentenced to prison by United States District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey for their involvement in a drug conspiracy dating back to 2001.
Kendrick Ramon Page, age 39, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 340 months in prison and Breon Raquon Armstrong, age 20, also originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Page, Armstrong, and six other co-defendants were federally charged in November 2019 following the execution of numerous search warrants in Burlington and elsewhere. Page and Armstrong were convicted by a jury in July 2021 of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including ice methamphetamine and cocaine base (a.k.a. crack cocaine). Page led this drug trafficking organization that operated primarily out of Burlington since approximately 2001, according to the evidence presented at trial. The evidence also showed Page recruited others, including Armstrong, to travel to Burlington from Shreveport to sell drugs for him.
At sentencing, the district court found Page was responsible for the distribution of over 100 pounds of ice methamphetamine. Both Page and Armstrong were found to have possessed firearms related to their drug trafficking activities and the district court found Page used credible threats of violence to further his drug trafficking activities.
Others charged included Alphonso Edmond, Jr., who pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing; Tristan Kareem Davis, who was found guilty by jury and is awaiting sentencing; Lavelle Harris, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 262 months in prison; Lamar Harris, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment; Frederrick Dewayne Reed, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 160 months imprisonment; and Michael Rees, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 151 months of imprisonment. Other individuals associated with this drug trafficking organization have also been federally charged in the Southern District of Iowa, the Central District of Illinois, and the Northern District of Texas.
Southern District of Iowa United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal made the announcement. These charges stem from an investigation conducted by numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including: the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Taskforce; Burlington Police Department; Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office; Federal Bureau of Investigation; West Central Illinois Taskforce; Quincy, Illinois Police Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; Henry County Sheriff’s Office; Mt. Pleasant Police Department; West Burlington Police Department; Keokuk Police Department; Ft. Madison Police Department; Lee County Sheriff’s Office; Iowa City Police Department; Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; North Liberty Police Department; Coralville Police Department; Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office; Louisa County Sheriff’s Office; Washington County Sheriff’s Office; Bettendorf Police Department; Illinois State Police; Monmouth, Illinois Police Department; Macomb, Illinois Police Department; Galesburg, Illinois Police Department; Adams County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office; and Fulton County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office.
East Peoria Ice Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Fifteen Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. –Joshua A. Ward, 35, of East Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
Ward, who pleaded guilty on March 25, 2021, admitted that he possessed and sold methamphetamine to others on several occasions from July to September 2020. Ward was also found with ice methamphetamine packaged for resale and digital scales at the time of his arrest in September 2020. Evidence presented in court at sentencing showed that Ward’s methamphetamine was the highly pure methamphetamine, commonly referred to as “ice” methamphetamine.
During sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid noted that Ward had a poor upbringing but that his criminal history placed Ward in the position he was in.
“Our ongoing focus to disrupt and deter ice methamphetamine dealers is working,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Douglas J. Quivey. “This case is an excellent example of how the Drug Enforcement Administration can enhance the efforts of our state and local departments to target those at the top.”
Ward has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals since his arrest in September 2020. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pekin Police Department investigated this case, with assistance of the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police’s West Central Illinois Task Force and Peoria Multi-County Enforcement Group. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)’s National Methamphetamine Strategic Initiative, spearheaded locally out of the Pekin Police Department. The primary goal of this initiative is to address methamphetamine trafficking and its attendant consequences by using a coordinated, multi-agency approach targeting the highest levels of drug trafficking leadership. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Former Peoria County Resident Sentenced to 7 ½ Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
Peoria, Ill. –Benjamin J. Wilson, 42, previously of Peoria, Ill, was sentenced on November 18, 2021, to 90 months’ imprisonment for possession of child pornography.
At Wilson’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge James E. Shadid noted the significant and long-lasting impact to the child victims depicted in the videos Wilson possessed.
In September 2021, Wilson pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, with the offense alleged to have occurred in November 2019. Wilson was detained following arraignment on the indictment and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals where he has remained since.
The statutory penalty for possession of child pornography is up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Following Wilson’s release from the Bureau of Prisons, he will be on federal supervised release for ten years and will be required to register as a sex offender.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service Central Illinois Cyber Crime Unit with assistance from the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Paul Morris and Katherine G. Legge represented the government in the prosecution.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.