Southern District of Illinois
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Sovereign Citizen's Failure to Surrender, Courtroom Antics Lead to Increased Prison SentenceRead the Press Release
The sovereign citizen playbook has backfired once again. Evelyn Johnson, 57, from East St. Louis, Illinois, operated an area tax preparation service that guaranteed a refund. In January 2018, she was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on 29 counts of aiding in the preparation of false federal income tax returns. In February, she failed to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving her prison sentence. She was then charged with a new crime for failing to surrender for service of a sentence while on release.
In her defense, Johnson claimed she was not a U.S. citizen subject to the laws of the United States, that she was not the defendant, and that she was not "Evelyn Johnson." She also contested the jurisdiction of the United States District Court.
Johnson took her case to trial, and the jury found her guilty of failing to surrender. Earlier today, she was sentenced on that conviction to an additional 30-month term of imprisonment, which must run consecutively to her original 18-month sentence. At the sentencing hearing, the district court found that Johnson had engaged in repeated acts of obstructive, contumacious conduct and had committed perjury when she testified at trial, both of which were considered aggravating factors.
The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigations, United States Probation, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Eight Illegal Aliens Involved in Alien Smuggling near New Baden, IllinoisRead the Press Release
Guatemala Man Charged With Smuggling 13 Illegal Aliens in Southern Illinois
An alien smuggling enterprise has been disrupted in the Southern District of Illinois. A Guatemalan citizen has been indicted for smuggling 13 illegal aliens from Guatemala and Ecuador through southern Illinois, seven of whom have been charged with illegally reentering the country after deportation, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
The case began on February 25, 2019, when a task force officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration made a traffic stop on an SUV travelling eastbound on Interstate 64 near New Baden, Illinois. During the traffic stop, the officer quickly saw that the vehicle was overloaded with numerous people crammed in the seats and on the floor. The driver of the vehicle, Domingo Tomas-Zacarias, 20, was discovered to be a citizen of Guatemala who was unlawfully present in the United States.
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responded to the scene, with assistance from local police officers from Lebanon and New Baden. The officers discovered a total of fourteen people, including six who were found hiding under a blanket in the back of the SUV. All fourteen men were taken into administrative ICE custody.
The driver, Tomas-Zacarias, has been charged with alien smuggling, which alleges that he knowingly transported illegal aliens for financial gain. He faces a maximum possible punishment of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
Seven of the passengers in the vehicle had been previously arrested in the United States and deported. Those seven individuals are now also under federal indictment for illegally reentering the country after deportation, which is a federal crime punishable by up to two years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and one year of supervised release. They are Segundo Porfirio Ordonez-Japon, 34, of Ecuador, and Alejandro Mejia-Hernandez, 24, Silvestre Bopp-Mendoza, 30, Miguel Raymundo Velasco, 19, Rigoberto Heredia-Lopez, 30, Fidencio Quizar-Sharshente, 32, and Diego Brito-Bernal, 24 – all of Guatemala.
The remaining six passengers were determined to have illegally entered the United States through various locations in Arizona or Texas at various times. None of these six had been previously deported, and so they remain in administrative ICE custody pending deportation proceedings.
All eight charged defendants appeared in federal district court on March 13, 2019, for Initial appearances following the filing of a criminal complaint against them. Now that they have been indicted, the eight are expected to be arraigned on the indictment on March 20, 2019, at which time a trial date will be set.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Williamson County Woman Charged with Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
Cari L. Madson of Johnston City, Illinois, has been charged in a one-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offense occurred between February 2018 and January 2019, in Williamson and Jefferson Counties.
Madson, 37, made her initial appearance in federal court on March 11 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. She was ordered held without bond pending trial, which is currently scheduled for May 13, 2019.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of 5 to 40 years imprisonment, four years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Herrin Police Department, Marion Police Department, and Johnston City Police Department also assisted in the investigation.
Williamson County Man Charged with Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacob R. Diefenbach of Marion has been charged by indictment with two counts of unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred on December 12, 2018, and February 4, 2019, in Williamson County.
Earlier this month, Diefenbach, 30, made his initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is being held without bond pending a May 13, 2019, jury trial.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Marion Police Department. The Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
Union County Man Charged with Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Carl A. Stadelbacher of Cobden, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and one count of unlawful possession of pseudoephedrine knowing that it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred between 2016 and February 2019, in Union and Jackson Counties.
Stadelbacher, 52, made his initial appearance in federal court on March 13 and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending a May 20, 2019 jury trial.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Union County State’s Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation.
Two Jackson County Men Indicated on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
Two Jackson County, Illinois, men have been indicted on federal methamphetamine-related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Jonathan R. Moore, a/k/a "J-Mo," 33, of Carbondale, and Elijah S. Lacy, a/k/a "E," 34, of Murphysboro, were indicted in a three-count indictment. Count 1 charges that, between December 2018 and January 28, 2019, Moore and Lacy conspired to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Count 2 charges that, on January 28, 2019, Moore knowingly and intentionally attempted to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Count 3 charges that, on January 28, 2019, Lacy knowingly and intentionally attempted to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The offenses are alleged to have occurred in Jackson County. Each violation carries a maximum penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years.
The indictment was returned on March 5, 2019. On March 13 and March 14, Lacy and Moore appeared in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Both Moore and Lacy have been ordered held without bond pending a May 20, 2019, jury trial.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service are conducting the ongoing investigation. The Murphysboro Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Carbondale Police Department, and Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Man Responsible for Centralia Robberies Gets Six and a Half Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Dazhai Q. Brumfield, 20, has been sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison for his role in a string of violent robberies committed in 2017 in Centralia, Illinois, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Brumfield and a co-defendant, Ernestine Fields, 31, were named in a four-count superseding indictment filed in May 2018. Fields, a Chicago native, pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this year to one year and one day in prison. Brumfield, who is from Centralia, pleaded guilty last November to charges of conspiracy and interference with commerce by robbery.
Evidence presented in court established that Brumfield had participated in six armed robberies beginning in September 2017 and ending with his arrest on December 17, 2017. The victim businesses include Fuel-Vend, Huck’s Food Store, Domino’s Pizza, Hunan House and Lincoln Liquor. In three of the robberies, business employees were threatened at gunpoint and then struck in the face or head with the butt of a handgun. Brumfield specifically admitted that during the Huck’s robbery, he struck the cashier in the face with a pistol and then took all the money out of the cash register. Brumfield also admitted that the robberies were planned over Facebook.
As part of his sentence, Brumfield was ordered to repay $2,177 in restitution to the victim businesses. After his prison term is completed, Brumfield will serve three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI with assistance from the Centralia Police Department.
Centralia, Illinois Woman Sentenced to 20 Years on Methamphetamine-Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Anthonette Strowder, a/k/a "Big Mama," 59, of Centralia, Illinois, was sentenced this afternoon to 240 months in federal prison on methamphetamine related charges.
Strowder’s sentence follows her guilty plea late last year to six counts of a seven-count federal indictment. Count 2 charged that on June 15, 2017, Strowder possessed with the intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine. Counts 3 and 4 charged her with distribution of methamphetamine on June 13 and 14, 2017. Counts 5, 6, and 7 charged her with distribution of cocaine on November 18, 2014 (twice) and November 21, 2014. All of the events occurred in Marion County, Illinois.
Strowder has been in custody since December 7, 2018. After her prison sentence is completed, Strowder will begin serving a five-year term of supervised release.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Centralia Police Department.
Jefferson County Man Gets 14 Years in Prison for Meth OffenseRead the Press Release
Joshua A. Pearce, a/k/a "Josh," and "Junior," 32, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, has been sentenced to 168 months imprisonment for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Pearce previously pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The indictment alleged that the offense occurred between 2017 and September 2018, in Williamson and Jefferson Counties. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Pearce was involved with others in the unlawful distribution of ice. Ice is methamphetamine, which has a purity level of at least 80%. Pearce routinely transported dealer amounts of ice from Mt. Vernon to Herrin for distribution. At sentencing, the district court found that Pearce was responsible for the distribution of 1.7 kilograms of ice.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group. The Mt. Vernon Police Department and Herrin Police Department assisted in the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Child Pornography Leads to 10 Year Sentence for Centralia ManRead the Press Release
William P. Keller, 42, of Centralia, Illinois, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing and receiving child pornography over the internet. Chief United States District Judge Michael J. Reagan handed down the sentence, which includes five years of supervised release and a $15,000 restitution award to the victims.
The case against Keller began in October 2017, when an online investigation discovered an IP address associated with Keller sharing child pornography over peer-to-peer software. During the execution of a search warrant at Keller’s home, federal agents seized a computer, a cell phone, and multiple external hard drives. An FBI forensic analysis of those devices uncovered over 1,400 images and 26 videos of child pornography. Some of the illicit files depicted the sexual abuse of children as young as toddlers.
On July 31, 2018, Keller pleaded guilty to a two-count felony information charging him with distributing and receiving identified child pornography files. He also agreed to forfeit his computer and an external hard drive that had been used in the commission of the crimes. At sentencing, Keller admitted his criminal conduct but maintained that he had collected the child pornography in a ham-fisted attempt to frame a relative he believed had molested his sister when they were children.
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Southern Illinois Takes Part in Largest-Ever Nationwide Elder Fraud SweepRead the Press Release
Attorney General Focuses on Threats Posed by Technical-Support Fraud
East St. Louis, IL – Attorney General William P. Barr and U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft today announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history, surpassing last year’s nationwide sweep. The cases during this sweep involved more than 260 defendants from around the globe who victimized more than two million Americans, most of them elderly.
The Department took action in every federal district across the country, through the filing of criminal or civil cases or through consumer education efforts. In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of millions of more dollars than last year, putting the total alleged losses at this year’s sweep at over $750 million.
"Crimes against the elderly target some of the most vulnerable people in our society," Attorney General William P. Barr said. "But thanks to the hard work of our agents and prosecutors, as well as our state and local partners, the Department of Justice is protecting our seniors from fraud. The Trump administration has placed a renewed focus on prosecuting those who prey on the elderly, and the results of today’s sweep make that clear. Today we are announcing the largest single law enforcement action against elder fraud in American history. This year’s sweep involves 13 percent more criminal defendants, 28 percent more in losses, and twice the number of fraud victims as last year’s sweep. I want to thank the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which led this effort, together with the Department’s Criminal Division, the more than 50 U.S. Attorneys’ offices, and the state and local partners who helped to make these results possible. Together, we are bringing justice and peace of mind to America’s seniors."
"Fraud is a multi-billion dollar problem that impacts banks, retailers, health care providers, industries, and individuals. Truly, none of us are beyond the reach of these thieves who constantly find new and innovative ways to lie, cheat, and steal," said Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States
Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Weinhoeft also noted that according to a 2018 FTC report, while Americans of all ages are susceptible to fraud schemes, people ages 80 and older reported the highest median losses – over twice the median loss amount reported by those under age 60.
Telemarketing fraud is a primary tool for those who target the elderly. For this reason, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Illinois has made telemarketing fraud a top priority. The Southern District of Illinois is recognized as a national leader in telemarketing fraud prosecutions, particularly on schemes that victimize seniors. This year’s sweep included three Canadian citizens – Fawaz Sebai, 41, Vassilios Klouvatos, 34, and Lefkothea Klouvatos, 27 – charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in the Southern District of Illinois. According to the indictment, Sebai and Vassilios Klouvatos owned and operated a telemarketing business located in Quebec, Canada. Lefkothea Klouvatos managed the call center for the business. The telemarketers employed by the business allegedly made unsolicited telephone calls to elderly victims in the United States. By making false statements and misrepresentations, the telemarketers convinced the U.S. victims to purchase supposed prescription drug discount cards. The fee for these products was typically $299. The Office of International Affairs sought extradition in 2015. Canada extradited Sebai to the United States on Sept. 19, 2018. Vassilios and Lefkothea Klouvatos were surrendered to the United States on Oct. 4, 2018. The trio pleaded guilty earlier this year and are set to be sentenced on March 26, 2019.
This year’s sweep also includes additional Southern Illinois prosecutions and convictions of defendants engaged in tech support scams. In May 2018, two former owners of a Florida-based company, Client Care Experts, LLC (formerly known as First Choice Tech Support, LLC), and a Costa Rican-based company, ABC Repair Tech, Ltd., were indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis with criminal conspiracy and 13 counts of wire fraud. Michael Austin Seward, 31, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, and Kevin James McCormick, 45, of Delray Beach, Florida, were named in a superseding indictment charging them and their former vice president, Grant Clark Wasik, 35, of Boynton Beach, Florida, with running a fraudulent tech support scheme. The inbound call center they operated allegedly generated calls through pop-up messages that falsely claimed consumers had serious viruses or malware on their computers. According to the charging documents, telemarketers convinced consumers to grant remote access and ultimately used false representations and scare tactics to induce consumers to send money. In three years, the scheme allegedly brought in over $25 million, a large portion of which came from older Americans. At least 57 victims of the alleged scams were located in 22 counties within the Southern District of Illinois, with multiple victims in both St. Clair and Madison Counties.
Sixteen other defendants involved in the same fraudulent scheme have been prosecuted in the Southern District of Illinois, including three during the sweep. Michael Cary Lawing, 33, of Lincolnton, North Carolina, Kyle Evan Swinson, 27, of New Bern, North Carolina, and Erica Marie Crowell, 29, of Marlton, New Jersey, were recently charged in separate cases for their
involvement in the conspiracy. The cases against Seward, McCormick, and Crowell are scheduled for trial in the coming months. The other defendants have all entered guilty pleas.
Members of the public are reminded that all charges are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. The Justice Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
Fact sheets with more information on the Department’s tech support fraud cases, mass mailing fraud cases, and cases involving extradition in which the Office of International Affairs played a substantial role can be found here.
More information on the tech support fraud prosecutions being brought in the Southern District of Illinois is available here.
Madison Man Sentenced to 17 1/2 Years for Belleville Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Suntez Pasley, 46, of Madison, Illinois, has been sentenced to 210 months in prison for robbing the Regions Bank on West Main Street in Belleville, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Pasley pleaded guilty to the robbery back in November 2018.
Evidence presented in court showed that on July 22, 2017, Pasley entered the bank and handed the teller a note which read: "I HAVE A GUN PUT MONEY IN BAG." Pasley also threatened the teller, telling her he would "blow her head off." He made off with $2,450 before fleeing the scene. Pasley was apprehended two weeks later based in part on an anonymous tip.
In handing down the above-guidelines sentence, Chief United States District Judge Michael J. Reagan took into consideration Pasley’s criminal history, specifically his "history of violence," calling it "horrendous." Pasley has 14 prior felony convictions for crimes including robbery, aggravated robbery, domestic battery, violating an order of protection, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was on supervised release for a prior aggravated robbery when he committed the instant offense.
As part of his sentence, Pasley was ordered to make full restitution to the bank.
The case was investigated by the Belleville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura Reppert.
Former Rocker Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Defrauding Thousands in Nationwide Real Estate ScamRead the Press Release
Benton, IL – The former bass guitar player for the rock band, The Ataris, is bound for federal prison. Michael S. Davenport, 50, of Santa Barbara, California, was sentenced on Wednesday to serve 84 months behind bars for defrauding thousands of would-be renters and home-buyers throughout the United States from 2009 to 2016. Davenport pled guilty last September to a one-count federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Davenport’s Santa Barbara-based business changed names several times but was known variously as MDSQ Productions LLC, Housing Standard LLC, Anchor House Financial, American Standard, American Standard Online, and Your American Standard. Court documents simply refer to the business as "American Standard."
As part of his guilty plea, Davenport admitted that American Standard posted ads on Craigslist listing certain houses for sale or rent at very favorable prices, when, in fact, the houses described in the ads didn’t exist. Consumers who responded to the ads were told they would have to purchase American Standard’s list of houses before they could see any additional information. Consumers were also told that the houses on American Standard’s list were in "pre-foreclosure," that they could purchase the properties by simply taking over the homeowners’ mortgage payments, and that the deeds to the homes would then be transferred into the customers’ names. The $199 fee that American Standard charged to access the list was purportedly to cover the cost of title searches and deed transfers. No matter what area of the country the consumer lived in, American Standard salespersons told them that the list contained numerous pre-foreclosure properties available in their area.
After consumers paid the $199 fee, they learned that the houses on American Standard’s list were not actually available for purchase. A substantial number of the addresses contained on
the list were fictional, or there were simply no houses at those locations. In numerous other instances, the houses were not in pre-foreclosure or any financial distress and were not available to be purchased at below-market prices. If an American Standard customer asked for more information about a specific house advertised on Craigslist, the company’s customer service department always told them that the house was no longer available.
Davenport’s conspiracy and scheme to defraud operated from approximately January 2009 through at least October 5, 2016, over which time American Standard defrauded more than 130,000 people to the tune of more than $25 million. The victims were located in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Over 100 victims of the scam were located within the Southern District of Illinois, spread across 22 counties, with multiple victims in both St. Clair and Madison counties. American Standard’s list included 534 houses located in Southern Illinois.
In handing down the seven-year sentence at the federal district courthouse in Benton, Illinois, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle chastised Davenport for what she characterized as a crime of simple greed. "You were intoxicated with making all this money," she told the ex-rocker. "You did horrible things."
As part of his sentence, Davenport was ordered to forfeit $853,210.11 in fraud proceeds that were recovered from his credit card processing accounts, as well as $79,000 in cash that was seized from him at the Bill and Hillary Clinton Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Four of Davenport’s former employees have also been charged with participating in the American Standard fraud conspiracy. On Wednesday afternoon, just hours after Davenport’s sentencing, Cynthia L. Rawlinson, 52, of Santa Barbara, was sentenced by Judge Yandle to five years of supervised release. Rawlinson was a salesperson who also served as a manager for American Standard for a brief period of time. Earlier this year, two other American Standard sales representatives from Santa Barbara –Mark A. Phillips, 50, and Semjase E. Santana, 37 – were also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release. And last June, Carlynne L. Davis, 34, of Lompoc, California, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with her participation in American Standard. Davis’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 5, 2019.
This case is part of an ongoing investigation by the St. Louis Field Office of the Chicago Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. The Office of the Honorable Joyce E. Dudley, District Attorney for Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Maria Office of the FBI have provided substantial assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
St. Clair County Man Charged with Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Andrew Wigfall, III, of East St. Louis, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with production of child pornography, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The one-count federal indictment alleges that the offense occurred in St. Clair County between December 1, 2018, and January 26, 2019. Wigfall, 47, made his initial appearance in federal district court late last week and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending an April 30, 2019 jury trial.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Because Wigfall has a previous conviction for a sex offense, he is subject to an enhanced sentence. If convicted, Wigfall faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a term of supervised release from five years to life, and a fine of up to $250,000.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the United States Secret Service. The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office and the police departments of East St. Louis, Cahokia, Belleville, Dupo, Granite City, O’Fallon, and Swansea have also assisted in the investigation.
Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to Twenty YearsRead the Press Release
Dandre R. Brown, 30, of Godfrey, Illinois, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Brown, who originally hails from Douglasville, Georgia, had been charged in a six-count federal indictment with five counts of bank robbery and one count of transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines. He pleaded guilty to the charges back in November 2018.
Documents filed in federal district court revealed that over a span of six weeks, Brown committed five bank robberies in Madison County, Illinois
Date
Victim Bank
City
Amount Taken
November 29, 2017
U.S. Bank
Alton
$2,910
December 20, 2017
Reliance Bank
Godfrey
$2,246
December 22, 2017
Regions Bank
East Alton
$13,774
January 2, 2018
U.S. Bank
Wood River
$7,550
January 10, 2018
1st MidAmerica Credit Union
Edwardsville
$8,882
As part of his guilty plea, Brown further admitted robbing a U.S. Bank in Florissant, Missouri, on December 11, 2017. On that occasion, Brown made off with $1,625 and then fled back to Illinois in a stolen car.
Brown’s six bank robberies all followed the same basic modus operandi. Brown would enter the bank alone wearing something covering his head. He would present the teller with a note and then flee with the money to a vehicle parked a block or two away. On four occasions, when demanding money from the bank tellers, Brown told the tellers he knew where they lived, intimating that he might come after them personally if they did anything to thwart his crimes.
Investigators were able to identify Brown because of outstanding police work at the local and federal level. After robbing the U.S. Bank in Alton, Brown dropped the demand note he had presented the teller. The note read, "Give me all the money NO Die Packs I have a weapon." Officers with the Alton Police Department found the note in the grass across the street from the bank and sent it to the FBI crime lab, where four latent fingerprints and one latent palm print were discovered and subsequently matched to Brown. A federal arrest warrant was issued, and the United States Marshals Service tracked Brown to Atlanta, Georgia, where they apprehended him on January 23, 2018.
Before Brown was sentenced, the district court received statements from several of the victim bank tellers, who reported their experiences as "very damaging and traumatizing." One teller was so affected by Brown’s threats that she became uncomfortable in her home and had difficulty sleeping. The experience led another victim to leave her employment at the bank. The woman whose car was stolen told the court that for a week afterward she was too afraid to go home because, along with her car, Brown had stolen her house keys.
Brown’s criminal record includes a 2006 conviction for armed robbery in St. Louis, and he was on parole for theft when he committed the bank robberies. His federal sentence includes a three-year term of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $35,000 in restitution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address violent crime, the Justice Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN ("PSN 2.0") and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
This prosecution is the result of a collaborative investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinois State Police, Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the following police departments: Granite City, Alton, St. Louis County, Godfrey, East Alton, Wood River, and Edwardsville. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys James G. Piper, Jr. and Alexandria M. Burns.
Meth Offense Sends Richland County Man to Prison for 15 YearsRead the Press Release
Harvey L. Ireland, 35, of Olney, Illinois, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Ireland previously pleaded guilty to a one-count federal indictment that also named two co-defendants: Justin R. Mason, 35, and Brianna N. Bare, 26, both also residents of Olney, Illinois. Bare was sentenced on December 27, 2018, to 87 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Mason was sentenced on January 22, 2019, to 262 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release.
The charged conspiracy took place from August 2017 to March 2018, in Richland County and elsewhere, and involved 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice), or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Embezzlement from Doctor's Office Sends Former Office Manager to Federal Prison for Nearly Three YearsRead the Press Release
Cassandra D. Eberhart, age 49, of Moro, Illinois, has been sentenced to serve 33 months in federal prison for her convictions of wire fraud and filing a false federal income tax return, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Eberhart previously pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2018.
Eberhart’s convictions stem from her employment as the office manager at A to Z Pediatrics in Caseyville, Illinois. From 2011 through 2017, she embezzled over $350,000 from the business by making unauthorized personal charges on medical practice credit cards, overpaying herself salary, reimbursing herself for overtime and mileage that was not authorized, fraudulently adding herself and family members to medical insurance, falsifying business journal entries and diverting electronic payments from the medical practice’s bank account to a personal credit card account. Eberhart also failed to report the money she embezzled on her federal income tax returns.
As part of her sentence, Eberhart was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $368,308.99 and to serve three years of supervised release, during which time she will not be permitted to engage in any occupation that involves fiduciary responsibility without obtaining prior approval from the court.
The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Williamson County Man Charged with Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Jonathan P. W. Garrison of Marion, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2 counts), United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The four-count federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred between November 13, 2018, and December 19, 2018, in Williamson and Franklin Counties. Garrison, 28, made his initial appearance in federal court earlier this week and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending an April 8, 2019 jury trial.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offenses carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. The firearm offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Marion Police Department, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force, West Frankfort Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
Pulaski County Woman Sentenced for Bankruptcy FraudRead the Press Release
Jessica A. Browning, 44, of Ullin, Illinois (Pulaski County), has been sentenced to two years of federal probation for her convictions on two counts of bankruptcy fraud, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Browning was indicted in August 2018 as part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s continuing effort to crack down on those who commit fraud in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
At her plea hearing, Browning admitted that during her federal bankruptcy proceedings, she intentionally failed to disclose a $12,765.47 award she had recently received in a workers’ compensation case. Browning also admitted that she testified falsely while under oath at a bankruptcy hearing regarding what she had done with those funds.
"I am grateful to U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft and our law enforcement partners for their strong commitment to combating fraud and abuse in bankruptcy cases as evidenced by yesterday’s proceedings," stated Nancy J. Gargula, U.S. Trustee for Southern and Central Illinois and Indiana (Region 10). The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois.
The charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by agents from the Fairview Heights, Illinois, Office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William E. Coonan and Scott A. Verseman.
Belleville Resident Pleads Guilty to Falsifying a Record in Bankruptcy ProceedingRead the Press Release
Dehavalon Cook, age 46, of Belleville, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to falsifying records in a federal bankruptcy proceeding. Cook previously filed a petition for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. In March of 2018, Cook doctored a fake letter from the Chapter 13 trustee authorizing him to incur new debt for the purchase of an automobile. The bogus letter included the name and signature of the trustee.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 16, 2019. The offense carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
"Forging documents of a trustee is a significant bankruptcy fraud that causes harm and strikes directly at the integrity of the bankruptcy system," stated Nancy J. Gargula, United States Trustee for Indiana and Southern and Central Illinois (Region 10). "This prosecution reflects the cooperative efforts among several federal law enforcement agencies that work together to combat fraud and abuse in the bankruptcy system."
The charges resulted from a referral by the U.S. Trustee for Region 10 to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Bankruptcy Fraud Working Group coordinated by the U.S. Trustee. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith.
Meth Conspiracy Sends Richland County Man to Prison for More Than 20 YearsRead the Press Release
Justin R. Mason, 35, of Olney, Illinois, has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison on methamphetamine-related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Mason previously pleaded guilty to a one-count federal indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (Ice) or 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. The conspiracy occurred between August 2017 and March 2018, in Richland County and elsewhere.
Two other Olney residents were also indicted with Mason. Brianna N. Bare, 26, and Harvey L. Ireland, 35, have both pleaded guilty to their role in the charged conspiracy. Bare also pleaded guilty to two counts of meth distribution and was sentenced on December 27, 2018, to 87 months imprisonment. Ireland is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2019.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Former Greenville Inmate Will Remain Behind Bars After Shanking ConvictionRead the Press Release
The federal prison sentence for Detrick L. Layfield just got a lot longer. The 40-year-old inmate has been sentenced to nearly eight more years in custody for assaulting another prisoner with a makeshift weapon at the federal correctional institution in Greenville, Illinois. The 92-month sentence Layfield received this week was ordered to run consecutively to the 110-month sentence he was already serving on a firearms conviction he sustained in the Western District of Kentucky. Layfield had been scheduled for release in July 2019 before the attack.
In October 2017, Layfield was charged in the Southern District of Illinois with the prison assault, possession of contraband by a federal inmate, and attempted obstruction of justice. A federal jury in East St. Louis, Illinois, convicted him on all three charges after a two-day trial last September.
The evidence at trial established that, on September 1, 2017, Layfield was being housed at FCI-Greenville when he assaulted the victim – a fellow inmate identified in court documents only as "S.D." – with a sharp, improvised weapon known as a "shank." The attack was purportedly motivated by the fact that S.D. had been telling other inmates that Layfield did not pay his debts. A portion of the assault was caught on videotape and shown to the jury during the trial. Immediately after the attack, Layfield asked two other inmates to help him hide the weapon. One of the inmates went to the laundry room and hid the shank in a dryer. The weapon was later found after the two men were questioned and confessed their role in the attempted cover up. Shanks and other weapons are considered prison contraband, possession of which constitutes a separate offense.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigations Section and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Alton Man Admits to Producing, Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Travis J. Varble, 42, of Alton, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to producing and distributing child pornography using a minor identified in court documents as "K.M." The offenses were committed between December 2012 and December 2013 in Madison County, Illinois. Varble is currently in state custody at the Danville Correctional Center serving a 17-year sentence for predatory criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor under 13 years old.
According to the stipulation of facts agreed to by the parties, on at least two occasions, Varble employed, persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced K.M. to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. Varble then streamed the two explicit videos of K.M. over the internet to another individual.
Varble’s sentencing is scheduled for April 25, 2019, in Benton, Illinois. He faces 15 to 30 years in prison on counts one and two (production of child pornography), and 5 to 20 years on count three (the distribution charge). All three counts also carry a fine of up to $250,000, and the possibility of a lifetime term of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott is prosecuting the case.
Two Belleville Women Indicted for Fraud for Purchasing New Automobiles in False NamesRead the Press Release
Yesterday, a federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois returned an indictment charging Tamecia C. Buckley, 36, of Belleville, Illinois, and Kyetia M. Hines, 36, also of Belleville, with conspiracy and wire fraud, announced Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The charges arise from a scheme to purchase new automobiles in false names.
The indictment charges that in late October 2018, Buckley and Hines both submitted online credit applications under false names to Jansen Chevrolet in Germantown, Illinois. Then, on separate days, both Buckley and Hines went to Jansen Chevrolet and purchased new Chevy Malibus using those false names. For purposes of obtaining financing to purchase those cars, both Buckley and Hines provided the dealership with fraudulent documents containing the false names, including fake temporary Illinois driver’s licenses.
Both the charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud carry maximum sentences of twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The arraignments for both Buckley and Hines will be conducted on February 8, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the Federal Courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency, the Illinois Secretary of State Police, and the Germantown, Illinois, Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
Fairview Heights Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that on January 24, 2019, Michael Norris, 30, of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was sentenced for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. At the time of his arrest, Norris was on supervised release in a prior federal case involving a conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Person with a Misdemeanor Conviction for a Crime of Domestic Violence. A petition to revoke Norris’s supervised release was filed in that case after his arrest.
Pursuant to a sentencing agreement, the Honorable Michael J. Reagan sentenced Robinson to a total of 3 years in federal prison combining the new conviction as well as the supervised release revocation case for sentencing purposes. Norris’s prison sentence will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Norris also agreed to forfeit the firearm that he illegally possessed.
Court proceedings revealed that on April 7, 2018, a Fairview Heights police officer conducted a traffic stop on Norris’s vehicle for expired plates and excessive window tint. A records search indicated that Norris’s driver’s license was suspended. He was arrested for driving while his license was suspended. A search of his vehicle led to the discovery of a loaded 9mm handgun in the center console, as well as multiple baggies of marijuana.
The case was investigated by the Fairview Heights, Illinois, Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Man for Illegal Possession of a Firearm and DrugsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury has indicted Demetrius O. Ward, 42, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Controlled Substance in connection with his illegal possession of a stolen, loaded 9mm Taurus handgun and a bag of heroin, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Documents filed in the U.S. District Court allege that Ward was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm and baggie of heroin after he fled from a St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputy and crashed into a pole on January 19, 2019.
Felon in Possession of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted of the drug offense, Ward faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.
"I recognize that we live in a time, and in a region, where officer-involved shootings are flashpoints that are capable of sparking extremely emotional reactions," said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "In moments like these, it is particularly important to calmly and objectively assess the facts to separate right from wrong."
US Attorney Weinhoeft continued, "The facts in this case show that Demetrius Ward created an incredibly dangerous situation by crashing his car while speeding away from the police, and then fleeing on foot, before reaching for a stolen .9 mm handgun in front of an officer who was forced to make a decision that no police officer should have to make. Thankfully, no one was killed. But the case reminds us why it is important to deter people from unlawfully possessing and using firearms, and of the dangers faced by the men and women in law enforcement who put their personal safety at risk on every shift to keep the rest of us safe."
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This prosecution is the result of a collaborative investigation by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois States Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Former Pharmacy Owner Headed to Prison for Bogus Claims to Health InsurersRead the Press Release
The pharmacist and former owner of Gibson’s Discount Drugs in Red Bud, Illinois, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for engaging in a scheme to defraud federal health care benefit programs and private insurance companies. Steven P. Gibson, 30, pleaded guilty to federal charges back in August 2018.
Court records establish that Gibson purchased the pharmacy in October 2016 and began defrauding health insurers just two months later. From December 2016 to February 2018, Gibson submitted nearly 1,000 claims for "make believe" prescriptions under the names of his wife, his family members, and his pharmacy customers. To maximize his fraudulent gains, Gibson deliberately chose the most expensive drugs, such as Creon, a drug used to treat chronic pancreatitis, Pentasa, a drug used to treat ulcerative colitis, and hydroxychloroquine, a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. The fictitious prescriptions were not authorized by a licensed medical practitioner and were never actually filled. Gibson’s total take from Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies exceeded $620,000 – money he has now been ordered to pay back in restitution.
Gibson’s crimes first came to light in late 2017, after a pharmacy customer recognized that her son had been billed for expensive medications he had not received and called to complain. The pharmacist who took that call then discovered Gibson’s fraud, quit her job, and notified authorities. A federal search warrant was executed at the pharmacy on February 8, 2018. Shortly thereafter, Gibson agreed to cooperate in the investigation and plead guilty.
As part of his plea deal with the United States, Gibson agreed to repay all of the money and to make restitution payments in advance of sentencing to the fullest extent possible. At sentencing, however, Gibson had repaid only $30,000 and had otherwise failed to account for the rest of the money he stole. In imposing sentence, United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle found Gibson’s failure to pay back more of the money incompatible with his expressions of remorse and refused to award him credit for acceptance of responsibility. "Talk is cheap," Judge Yandle told the defendant, quoting an opinion from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. "The remorseful or repentant criminal would want to do everything possible to rectify the harmful consequences of his crime, and so if he still has any of the loot he will return it."
Judge Yandle was also troubled by statements made by Gibson’s wife in an online post to the pharmacy’s public Facebook account. The post, which was made on the same day Gibson pleaded guilty but was recently taken down, attempted to downplay his criminal conduct to the pharmacy’s customers:
Everything that was wrote about us receiving 630,000 or whatever the number that was put out there, is laughable to me and completely false. I SEE our bank accounts , I KNOW. * * * Everything that was wrote about him running claims and collecting money on multiple people that is a complete LIE. I know all the details of the investigation.
Although Gibson’s attorney maintained that his client had not known about his wife’s Facebook post and did not condone it, Judge Yandle found that position not credible and specifically cited the Facebook post as further indication that Gibson had not adequately accepted responsibility for his crimes. In handing down the nearly three-year sentence, Judge Yandle also emphasized the seriousness of so-called "white collar crimes" such as this one. "Some people minimize these kinds of crime," she said. "This court does not.
Steve Hanson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Kansas City Region, stated, "Individuals in trusted positions who submit false claims to our healthcare programs for personal enrichment will be pursued to the fullest and brought to justice."
Gibson was released on bond with special conditions pending the start of his prison term. His sentence also includes two years of supervised release. Because of the large amount of restitution he still owes, Gibson was not ordered to pay a fine.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the Illinois State Police, Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Postal Inspection Service; and the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Quinley and Nathan D. Stump.
If you suspect or know of an individual or company that is not complying with healthcare laws or public aid programs, you may report this activity to the local office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, or you may call 1.800.447.8477.
Gun Crime Sends Belleville Man to Federal Prison for Eight YearsRead the Press Release
Anthony J. LeFlore, 54, of Belleville, Illinois, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. LeFlore pleaded guilty to the charge without a plea agreement in October 2018.
At his plea hearing, LeFlore admitted that on November 6, 2017, he illegally possessed and sold a .22 caliber rifle to another person in Cahokia, Illinois. LeFlore also admitted that he illegally possessed a magazine with 10 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, a plastic bag with 20 more rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, and another plastic bag with one round of 9mm caliber ammunition.
Federal law prohibits LeFlore from possessing any firearms or ammunition because of a 2011 conviction he sustained in St. Clair County for second-degree murder.
Upon release from imprisonment, LeFlore will be required to serve three years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William E. Coonan.
Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Loaded Assault Rifle During Officer-Involved Shooting at East St. Louis McDonaldsRead the Press Release
Antoine D. Johnson, Jr., 28, of East St. Louis, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded firearm after sustaining a felony conviction, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Johnson faces up to 10 years in prison on the charge. Sentencing is scheduled for April 16, 2019, before United States District Judge Staci M. Yandle.
The federal case against Johnson arose on February 18, 2018, after police received a report of multiple shots fired into a family-occupied home in Washington Park earlier that morning, with injuries to two adults. During the ensuing investigation, officers with the East St. Louis Police Department surrounded a vehicle as it sat idling in the drive thru of the McDonald’s restaurant on State Street. Johnson was sitting in the front passenger seat of the vehicle holding a loaded Norinco SKS semi-automatic assault rifle. After Johnson and the driver refused to comply with commands to exit the vehicle, and upon observing Johnson’s rifle pointed in their direction, the officers opened fire. The driver attempted to flee but crashed the car into a pole beside the restaurant. Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested at the scene. Johnson sustained a gunshot wound to his hip and shrapnel damage to one of his eyes. The driver and the responding officers were uninjured.
At the time of his offense, Johnson was on probation in St. Clair County for a 2015 aggravated robbery conviction. Investigators were able to link both Johnson and the rifle to the Washington Park shooting, and as part of his plea deal with the United States, Johnson admitted firing 11 rounds into the residence on February 18 and agreed to plead guilty in St. Clair County Circuit Court to one count of aggravated battery with a firearm. His sentence in that case is expected to run consecutively to his federal sentence.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders
work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This prosecution is the result of a collaborative investigation by the East St. Louis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Piper, Jr.
Marion Resident Sentenced for Robbery of Valero Gas StationRead the Press Release
On January 7, 2019, Travis J. Taylor, 38, of Marion, Illinois was sentenced for the April 25, 2018, robbery of the Valero Gas Station in Marion, Illinois, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Taylor, who had previously pled guilty to the one-count indictment charging Interference with Commerce by Robbery, in violation of the Hobbs Act, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The district court also ordered Taylor to pay $1,118.00 in restitution.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that on April 25, 2018, Taylor entered the Valero Gas Station and forcibly ordered the clerk to remove money from the cash registers. Taylor was wearing a mask over his face and told the clerk that he had a gun. Marion police officers and a Marion K-9 located and arrested Taylor after a vehicle and foot pursuit. The district judge imposed a sentence above the advisory sentencing guidelines range based on Taylor’s criminal history and the fact that Taylor had previously violated the terms of his supervised release on a prior federal conviction. The Marion Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.
Former Director of East St. Louis Public Library Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Marlon P. Bush, age 47, of East St. Louis, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of wire fraud and embezzlement from the City of East St. Louis Public Library, a unit of city government that received federal funds. Bush formerly served as the Library’s director, and from 2014 through 2016 took excess salary and charged personal purchases to the Library’s credit card.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2019. The offenses carry a maximum sentence of up to 30 years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Bush may also be ordered to make restitution for his crimes.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation, and the Illinois State Police. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicions of public corruption to the Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force Tip Line at (618) 589-7373.
Federal Inmate Hit with More Time for Prison AssaultRead the Press Release
Federal inmate Michael Griesinger, 24, has been sentenced to serve 46 additional months in prison for assaulting and seriously injuring another inmate, United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today. The assault occurred in November 2017, when both Griesinger and the victim, identified only as J.B. in court records, were incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution in Greenville, Illinois. Griesinger pleaded guilty to the charge earlier this year.
During the proceedings, the district court heard evidence that Griesinger became upset because J.B. was watching TV on a particular television. Griesinger struck J.B. with his fists, and other inmates rushed in, resulting in a multiple inmate brawl. Correctional officers were able to break up the fight by spraying a mace-like substance. J.B. emerged with a broken jaw. No other inmate suffered any serious injuries.
Griesinger was serving time for knowingly possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. His 46-month sentence was ordered to run consecutively to the sentence he is currently serving on that charge. Griesinger is now projected for release in early 2021.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons’ Special Investigations Section. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angela Scott.
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker Applauds Significant Reduction in Violent Crime in Southern Illinois Achieved Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
America’s Highest Per Capita Murder Rate Down 42 Percent
EAST ST. LOUIS, IL – One year ago, the U.S. Attorney’s Office joined with its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to implement Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) in East St. Louis, Illinois. The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime strategy, PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, along with community leaders, to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and to develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
According to numerous reports, since 2015, East St. Louis has had among the top per capita murder rates in the country. According to an analysis by the city of East St. Louis, from Dec. 4, 2016 to Dec. 4, 2017 there were 36 homicides in East St. Louis. Exactly one year after the implementation of PSN on Dec. 4, 2017, that number was reduced to 21 homicides. That represents a 42 percent decrease in homicides.
"PSN is about empowering people in their communities," said Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. "Rather than having Washington, D.C. dictate a uniform approach, PSN directs our U.S. Attorneys to work with their communities to develop a customized crime reduction plan to target the most violent criminals in the most violent areas, and to prevent and deter violent crimes before they happen. That is what we have done in East St. Louis—and it is working. In this city, where murder and violent crime rates are some of the highest in the country, crime is going down and public confidence is going up. I want to thank U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft, all of our prosecutors and federal officers and especially our state, local, and community partners. Their hard work is achieving incredible results that we want to replicate across America."
The United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, joined St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly, Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz,
East St. Louis Police Chief Jerry Simon, and United States Marshal Brad Maxwell, along with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in announcing the development.
US Attorney Weinhoeft said, "One year ago, the city of East St. Louis experienced the highest per capita murder rate in America, for the third straight year. Today, on the one-year anniversary of the local implementation of the Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy, I’m happy to report that the homicide rate has been cut by 42 percent. There is still much to do. But, today, we can be very proud of the progress that has been made."
PSN is built on three foundational principles. First, it is community based. The initiative recognizes that different communities have different dynamics. As such, each US Attorney is tasked with tailoring a strategy that makes sense for that particular district. Second, PSN is a targeted program that uses law enforcement and community resources to identify the most violent offenders for criminal enforcement. This second principle recognizes that the majority of violent crimes are perpetrated by a small number of persistent violent offenders. Third, the program is comprehensive. It seeks to sustain relationships between local, state, and federal law enforcement, together with community groups, and with a focus on prevention and reentry strategies to disrupt the cycle of violence.
The US Attorney’s primary local PSN strategy has focused on leading bi-weekly case reviews at the East St. Louis police department with the law enforcement personnel who directly investigate violent crime cases. At those meetings, state, local, and federal law enforcement officials review every shooting incident and prioritize resources to focus on cases against the most persistent, repeat, violent offenders. State and federal prosecutors participate in the case reviews to help guide the investigations.
The Illinois State Police has supported law enforcement efforts for decades in the East St. Louis and Metro East areas. Over the past year, however, they have significantly increased their commitment by supporting the PSN initiative. The Illinois State Police has committed additional manpower to conduct proactive patrols, and they send crime scene investigators to process any scene involving a gun crime, whether or not the crime results in a fatality. This is a significant commitment considering East St. Louis receives roughly 1,300 calls each year for shots fired.
St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said, "This is the kind of effort, with all the key agencies, consistently involved, that must be sustained over the long term if we are going to continue to move in the right direction. Law enforcement helps set the table for economic development by other parts of the community."
East St. Louis Police Chief Jerry Simon said, "I appreciate the support of the US Attorney’s Office and the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, as well as the support of each of the law
enforcement agencies. This work is directly responsible for the decrease in the overall crime rate and for the significant reduction in the homicide rate. I look forward to continuing these relationships in the future."
US Attorney Weinhoeft said, "The challenges we face are great, but our resolve to meet those challenges is greater. One neighborhood at a time, and one shooter at a time, we are making the community safer. Today, that impact is most dramatically demonstrated by the 42% reduction in the homicide rate."
Marion Prison Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing MarijuanaRead the Press Release
Raydale R. Mitchell, 48, currently a Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate, pled guilty today in United States District Court in Benton to possessing marijuana in November 2017 in the United States Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, when he was an inmate confined to that facility. Mitchell was charged with that offense by a Federal Grand Jury in August 2018.
Sentencing is currently set for March 20, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Benton. Mitchell faces up to an additional 5 years in prison for the marijuana offense which must be imposed consecutively to the 168-month sentence for distributing heroin, imposed in 2013, that he was serving at the time he possessed the marijuana.
Mitchell was returned to the custody of the United States Marshal to await sentencing in this case.
The investigation leading to the charge in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James M. Cutchin.
Kinmundy, IL Man Sentenced to 6 1/2 Years in Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Alfred L. Cross, 75, of Kinmundy, IL, (originally from Mattoon, IL), was sentenced to 78 months in prison on his federal conviction on five counts of bank fraud, announced Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. The evidence presented in court established that Cross defrauded seven southern Illinois banks out of more than $500,000.
Cross pled guilty to the charges in the indictment on March 16, 2018. Facts presented at the plea hearing established that Cross opened checking accounts at the following banks: Bradford National Bank in Greenville, Illinois; Community First Bank of the Heartland in Mount Vernon, Illinois; the Farmers and Merchants National Bank in Nashville, Illinois; First Southern Bank in Carbondale, Illinois; Midland States Bank in Effingham, Illinois; State Bank of Whittington, in Benton, Illinois; and Washington Savings Bank, located in Effingham, Illinois. After these accounts had been open for a short period of time, Cross deposited into each of the accounts very large checks, ranging from $18,875 to $148,000. These checks were drawn on out-of-state bank accounts in the names of businesses that Cross controlled. At the time he deposited these checks, Cross knew there were insufficient funds in the out-of-state accounts to cover the checks. Before the checks could be returned as NSF, Cross withdrew almost all of the funds he had deposited.
Cross gave some of these funds to his relatives and used the remainder to pay for personal expenses. Cross conducted this fraud scheme from April 14, 2011, through March 25, 2015.
At sentencing, Cross asked the court to impose a lenient sentence, due to his advanced age and medical conditions. The court indicated that other factors warranted a sentence of significant prison time. Noting that Cross had 16 prior convictions, many of which were for similar conduct, the court was "not confident he can be deterred" from future criminal conduct. The court observed that Cross is "a con artist, plain and simple" who "supports himself by ripping people off."
In addition to the 6 ½ year prison sentence, the court ordered Cross to serve a five year period of supervised release and pay restitution of $111,698.98 to two of the banks he defrauded. (Restitution was not ordered for the banks that obtained judgments against Cross and/or had recovered funds they were owed by other means).
In commenting on yesterday’s sentence, U.S. Attorney Weinhoeft stated: "Cross may have conned several banks, but he couldn’t game the federal justice system. These criminals will not avoid lengthy prison sentences by pointing to their age, medical issues, or other excuses to escape responsibility for their crimes. Our office will continue to seek significant prison time for financial criminals who rip off businesses and other individuals."
The investigation was conducted by agents from the Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
Richland County, Illinois Man Sentenced on Methamphetamine Related ChargesRead the Press Release
Robert A. Harden, 45, of Calhoun, IL, was sentenced today to federal prison on methamphetamine related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
On December 10, 2018, Harden was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment and four years’ supervised release following his imprisonment. Harden had previously pleaded guilty to two counts in a federal indictment.
Count 1 charged that from on or about 2016, until on or about August 2017, in Richland County, Harden conspired to knowingly and intentionally distribute more than 5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, commonly referred to as "Ice." Count 2 charged that on or about January 20, 2017, in Effingham County, Harden knowingly and intentionally possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Former Waterloo Resident Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Mark A. Brueggemann, 60, of Waterloo, Illinois, has been convicted of knowingly receiving child pornography, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Brueggemann pleaded guilty to a one-count federal indictment without a plea agreement. He faces a prison sentence of 5 to 20 years on the charge. Sentencing is set for March 27, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service’s Springfield Electronic Crime Unit-Southern Illinois Cyber Group. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura V. Reppert.
Williamson County Man Charged with Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Randall L. Walker, a/k/a "Pork Chop," and "Chop," of Marion, Illinois, has been charged by indictment with unlawful distribution of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. The two-count federal indictment alleges that the offenses occurred in November 2018, in Williamson County. Walker, 39, made his initial appearance in federal court earlier today and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was ordered held without bond pending a February 11, 2019 jury trial.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The drug offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. If convicted, Walker also faces up to 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 on the firearm offense.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Marion Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office also assisted in the investigation.
America's Highest per Capita Murder Rate Down 42% Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILL. – Today marks the one-year anniversary of the local implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) in East St. Louis, Illinois. The centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime strategy, PSN is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, along with community leaders, to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and to develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
On December 4, 2018, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, held a press conference in conjunction with St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly, Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz, East St. Louis Police Chief Jerry Simon, and United States Marshal Brad Maxwell, along with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
US Attorney Weinhoeft said, "One year ago, the city of East St. Louis experienced the highest per capita murder rate in America, for the third straight year. Today, on the one-year anniversary of the local implementation of the Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy, I’m happy to report that the homicide rate has been cut by 42%. There is still much to do. But, today, we can be very proud of the progress that has been made."
PSN is built on three foundational principles. First, it is community based. The initiative recognizes that different communities have different dynamics. As such, each US Attorney is tasked with tailoring a strategy that makes sense for that particular district. Second, PSN is a targeted program that uses law enforcement and community resources to identify the most violent offenders for criminal enforcement. This second principle recognizes that the majority of violent crimes are perpetrated by a small number of persistent violent offenders. Third, the program is comprehensive. It seeks to sustain relationships between local, state, and federal law enforcement,
together with community groups, and with a focus on prevention and reentry strategies to disrupt the cycle of violence.
The US Attorney’s primary local PSN strategy has focused on leading bi-weekly case reviews at the East St. Louis police department with the law enforcement personnel who directly investigate violent crime cases. At those meetings, state, local, and federal law enforcement officials review every shooting incident and prioritize resources to focus on cases against the most persistent, repeat, violent offenders. State and federal prosecutors participate in the case reviews to help guide the investigations.
The Illinois State Police has supported law enforcement efforts for decades in the East St. Louis and Metro East areas. Over the past year, however, they have significantly increased their commitment by supporting the PSN initiative. The Illinois State Police has committed additional manpower to conduct proactive patrols, and they send crime scene investigators to process any scene involving a gun crime, whether or not the crime results in a fatality. This is a significant commitment considering East St. Louis receives roughly 1,300 calls each year for shots fired.
St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly said, "This is the kind of effort, with all the key agencies, consistently involved, that must be sustained over the long term if we are going to continue to move in the right direction. Law enforcement helps set the table for economic development by other parts of the community."
East St. Louis Police Chief Jerry Simon said, "I appreciate the support of the US Attorney’s Office and the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, as well as the support of each of the law enforcement agencies. This work is directly responsible for the decrease in the overall crime rate and for the significant reduction in the homicide rate. I look forward to continuing these relationships in the future."
US Attorney Weinhoeft said, "The challenges we face are great, but our resolve to meet those challenges is greater. One neighborhood at a time, and one shooter at a time, we are making the community safer. Today, that impact is most dramatically demonstrated by the 42% reduction in the homicide rate."
United States Attorney's Office to Hold Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Press EventRead the Press Release
Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, in conjunction with St. Clair County State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly, East St. Louis Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks, Illinois State Police Director Leo Schmitz, United States Marshal Brad Maxwell, along with representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced today that there will be a press event held on Tuesday, December 4, 2018, at 10:00 am, at the Office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, located at Nine Executive Drive, Fairview Heights, IL, 62208, concerning progress made on the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.
Members of the Media are advised to have press credentials and to arrive in sufficient time to allow for security screening prior to the event.
Williamson County Man Sentenced to More than 16 Years for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
Jackie C. Buckner, 38, of Johnston City, Illinois, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced today. Buckner previously pleaded guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
The indictment alleged that the offense occurred between December 2016 and May 2018, in Williamson County. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings established that Buckner was involved with other persons in the distribution of ice. Ice is methamphetamine with a purity level of at least 80%. At sentencing, the district court found that Buckner was responsible for the distribution of approximately 615.30 grams of ice.
The investigation was conducted by the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group and Drug Enforcement Administration. The Energy Police Department also assisted in the investigation.
Federal Jury Finds Florida Man Guilty of Traveling to Southern Illinois to Engage in Sex with a 13 Year Old ChildRead the Press Release
Abdon faces 10 years to life
Emmanuel D. Abdon, 31, a resident of Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury of enticement of minor (Count 1) and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct (Count 2). On Count 1, Abdon faces a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years’ imprisonment, but not more than life, a term of supervised release of at least five years to life, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a special assessment of $100. On Count 2, Abdon faces a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 years, a term of supervised release of at least five years to life, a fine of not more than $250,000, and a special assessment of $100.
The evidence at trial established that, on January 13, 2018, Emmanuel Abdon, then 30 years old, traveled from Florida to Troy, Illinois, to meet and engage in sexual intercourse with a 13 year old female. Abdon visited the minor female’s house on 3 separate occasions. He was arrested in her driveway on his last visit to her house. The offense came to light when a 14 year old friend of the victim, who was present during the first meeting between Abdon and the victim at the victim’s house, told her foster mother about her concern that an adult male would travel from Florida to Illinois to meet a 13 year old girl. The foster mother than contacted the Troy Police Department who immediately launched an investigation. The evidence also established that, from
on or about December 22, 2017, until on or about January 13, 2018, the defendant, met the victim online and through text messaging, Facetime, and Snapchat, attempted to persuade, induce, entice and coerce the minor victim to engage in sexual activity with him when he arrived in Illinois.
"State and federal law enforcement will use every available resource to protect the community from those who lurk in the shadows of the internet seeking to prey upon children," said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. Weinhoeft credited the work of the Troy Police Department and the Bureau of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations for their work in this case.
The case is being prosecuted byAssistant United States Attorneys Angela Scott and George Norwood.
Guilty Plea for Carbondale Man Who Threatened to Blow up a U.S. Military Recruiting CenterRead the Press Release
George Rita II, 42, of Carbondale, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to making a false threat to blow up a military recruiting center in Carbondale. Rita had been named in a one-count indictment returned on July 11, 2018, charging him with intentionally conveying false information about a bomb threat, which is a federal offense. According to the indictment, on June 28, 2018, Rita sent a threatening anonymous message to an FBI tip line in Clarksburg, West Virginia, claiming that he was heading to a recruitment center to blow it up and that no one could stop him.
Although no location was originally given for the threatened recruitment center, the FBI was able to determine that the message had come from Southern Illinois and ultimately tracked the source of the message to an IP address assigned to Rita’s apartment, which is in close proximity to the U.S. Army Recruiting Office in Carbondale. During his plea hearing, the defendant admitted sending the threatening message and confirmed the information discovered during the FBI’s rapid response and investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 27, 2018. Rita, who is currently being held without bond, faces up to five years imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Information leading to the charges against Rita was obtained in an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Carbondale, Illinois Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.
Pulling A Gun Out During an Argument Lands Godfrey Man Back in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Brenden T. Cepaitas, 31, of Godfrey, Illinois, was sentenced today to nearly five years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm while on federal supervised release. United States District Judge David R. Herndon sentenced Cepaitas to a total of 58 months in federal prison for the offense, to be followed by 30 months of supervised release.
Court proceedings revealed that in the early morning hours of August 4, 2017, officers with the Alton, Illinois Police Department responded to a 911 call at the Riverside Bar & Grill. According to witnesses, Cepaitas was involved in a minor verbal altercation with another patron at the bar, after which Cepaitas went outside and retrieved a handgun from his car. He then brandished the gun and threatened another individual. Surveillance video recovered during the investigation shows Cepaitas reentering the bar with the handgun in his hand and then going into the restaurant’s bathroom as the police arrived on scene. Officers searched the bathroom and found a loaded Glock 42 handgun in the trash can.
A trace on the gun showed that it had been stolen during an August 28, 2014 residential burglary in Granite City, Illinois. There was no evidence implicating Cepaitas in the burglary.
At the time of his arrest, Cepaitas was on federal supervised release for a 2014 conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A petition to revoke his supervised release was promptly filed after his arrest, and a federal indictment was returned against him on August 23, 2017. Cepaitas pleaded guilty to the charges on April 23, 2018, and agreed not to contest forfeiture of the gun.
The case was investigated by the Alton Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Alleged Mexican Drug Dealer Extradited to Southern District of IllinoisRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS, Mo., – On Wednesday, November 7, 2018 Armando Medina-Hernandez was extradited from Mexico to the United States by DEA Special Agents and U.S. Marshals to face federal drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of Illinois.
According to the Superseding Indictment unsealed on November 16, 2018, Medina has been charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Medina is accused of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms or more of a mixture or substances containing a detectable amount of cocaine to the Southern District of Illinois and elsewhere.
"This extradition is further evidence of the partnership between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials to bring narcotic traffickers to face the American justice system," according to DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge William Callahan. SAC Callahan and United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft recently met with high-level Mexican Government counterparts in Chicago to discuss efforts to combat Mexican drug trafficking organizations supplying the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area and Southern Illinois. "This extradition is the result of an international partnership where U.S. and Mexican law enforcement officials are a unified force committed to combat international drug trafficking," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft said. "The US Attorney’s Office is committed to identifying and prosecuting offenders who directly impact the St. Louis Metropolitan area and Southern Illinois, even when we have to cross international borders to apprehend them."
SAC Callahan and US Attorney Weinhoeft credit the DEA agents and prosecutors who tracked the source of supply of the drugs to Mexico. "We are seeing record heroin and fentanyl deaths throughout the St. Louis Metro region and methamphetamine continues to plague the Midwest," explained SAC Callahan. "In this case, our investigation tracked the source of this poison to Mexico, so that is where we went to begin to infiltrate this specific organization. The extradition of Medina back to the Southern District of Illinois is the first step in that direction."
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, that charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
St Louis Man Indicted for Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jace Faugno, 23, of St. Louis, Missouri, has been charged with knowingly distributing videos depicting child pornography, Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. The two-count indictment alleges that the offenses occurred in St. Clair County, Illinois, on or about September 30, and October 5, 2018.
Earlier today, Faugno made his initial appearance in federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released on bond with house arrest, electronic location monitoring and other special conditions. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2018.
The distribution of child pornography offense carries a prison sentence of 5-20 years, a fine not to exceed $250,000, and a possible lifetime term of supervised release.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The case was investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Hoell.
Mexican Citizen Arraigned on Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Earlier today, Armando Medina, 32, a citizen of Mexico, made his initial appearance and arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced. According to the indictment, the criminal conspiracy operated from approximately May to September 2014 and involved at least 19 named defendants, including Medina. The controlled substances alleged are cocaine and methamphetamine.
If convicted,Medina faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was extradited from Mexico earlier this month to face prosecution in the Southern District of Illinois. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on November 27. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica A. Stump.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is simply a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
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Earlier today, Armando Medina, 32, a citizen of Mexico, made his initial appearance and arraignment on a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Steven D. Weinhoeft, announced. According to the indictment, the criminal conspiracy operated from approximately May to September 2014 and involved at least 19 named defendants, including Medina. The controlled substances alleged are cocaine and methamphetamine.
If convicted,Medina faces 10 years to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Medina was extradited from Mexico earlier this month to face prosecution in the Southern District of Illinois. He has entered a plea of not guilty and is being held without bond pending a detention hearing on November 27. Trial is currently set for January 15, 2019, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Evidence in support of this prosecution was obtained in an investigation conducted under the auspices of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF initiative is designed to bring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and resources together to identify, target and dismantle large national and international drug trafficking organizations. The investigation is being conducted by agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica A. Stump.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is simply a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Three Richland County Men Indicted on Methamphetamine-Related chargesRead the Press Release
Three men from Richland County, Illinois, have been indicted on federal methamphetamine-related charges, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today.
Michael F. Jones, 41, of Olney, Illinois, was indicted in a five-count indictment. Count 1 charges that from April 2018, until on or about October 27, 2018, in Richland County, Jones conspired to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Counts 2 through 5 charge that Jones knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine in Richland County on four separate dates in October 2018. With respect to Count 1, Jones faces a penalty of 10 years to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and supervised release of not less than 5 years. With respect to Counts 2 through 5, Jones faces on each count up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 3 years.
Brian E. Jordan, 51, of Olney, Illinois, was indicted in a three-count indictment. Counts 1 and 2 charge Jordan with knowingly and intentionally distributing methamphetamine in Richland County on two dates in October 2018. Count 3 charges that Jordan knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine on October 27, 2018. With respect to all three counts, Jordan faces on each count up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 3 years.
Bradley J. Williams, 33, of Olney, Illinois, was indicted in a three-count indictment. Count 1 charges that Williams knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute more than 5 grams of methamphetamine on July 2, 2018, in Richland County. Counts 2 and 3 charge that Williams knowingly and intentionally distributed methamphetamine in Richland County on two dates in October 2018. With respect to Count 1, Williams faces 5 to 40 years in prison, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 4 years. With respect to Counts 2 and 3, Williams faces on each count up to 20 years imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and supervised release not less than 3 years.
All three indictments were returned on November 6. Jones, Jordan, and Williams all appeared in federal district court today for initial appearances and arraignments. All three are scheduled for separate jury trials in Benton, Illinois, on January 14, 2019.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
The investigations of these cases were conducted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty, Admits Knocking over Six Banks in Six WeeksRead the Press Release
The federal prosecution of a serial bank robber who briefly terrorized the St. Louis metropolitan area took an important step forward today. Dandre R. Brown, 30, of Godfrey, Illinois, pleaded guilty to a six-count federal indictment charging him with five counts of bank robbery and one count of transporting a stolen vehicle across state lines. The five charged robberies all took place in Madison County, Illinois, during a six-week span from November 2017 to January 2018:
As part of his guilty plea, Brown further admitted committing a sixth robbery involving the U.S. Bank in Florissant, Missouri, on December 11, 2017, and afterward fleeing in a stolen car back to Illinois. It is that conduct which formed the basis for Brown’s stolen vehicle conviction on count six.
All told, Brown stole nearly $37,000 from the six victim banks.
Brown’s bank robberies all followed the same basic modus operandi. Brown would enter the bank alone wearing something covering his head. He would present the teller with a note and then flee with the money to a vehicle parked a block or two away. On multiple occasions, when demanding money from the bank tellers, Brown would tell them he knew where they lived, intimating that he might come after them personally if they did anything to thwart his crimes.
Investigators were able to identify Brown because of outstanding police work at the local and federal level. After robbing the U.S. Bank in Alton, Brown dropped the demand note he had presented the teller. The note read, "Give me all the money NO Die Packs I have a weapon." Officers with the Alton Police Department found the note in the grass across the street from the bank and sent it to the FBI crime lab, where four latent fingerprints and one latent palm print were discovered and subsequently matched to Brown. After a federal arrest warrant was issued, the United States Marshals Service tracked Brown to Atlanta, Georgia, where they apprehended him on January 23, 2018.
During today’s plea hearing, the United States recounted additional evidence tying Brown to the crimes, including identifying characteristics visible in bank surveillance video and Brown’s connection to the various vehicles used in the robberies. One of those vehicles – a 2016 Chrysler 300 – Brown admitted stealing from a parking lot at the Gateway Regional Hospital in Granite City, Illinois, shortly before robbing the U.S. Bank in Florissant, Missouri. In exchange for Brown’s admission and guilty plea, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri agreed to forego prosecution of the Florissant robbery.
Brown is being held without bond pending his sentencing hearing, which is set for February 26, 2019, at 1:30 pm, at the federal courthouse in Benton, Illinois. He faces up to 20 years imprisonment on each of his five robbery convictions, and up to 10 years imprisonment on his conviction for transporting a stolen vehicle. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and up to 3 years supervised release. Brown may also be ordered to pay restitution to the victims.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address violent crime, the Justice Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN ("PSN 2.0") and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
"The prosecution of this serial bank robber demonstrates the success of the PSN program by the tremendous collaborative effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies," said United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. "The full weight of federal law enforcement must be brought to fight this type of violent crime."
This case is the result of a joint investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, and the Alton Police Department, in concert with the Illinois State Police, Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the following police departments: Granite City, St. Louis County, Godfrey, East Alton, Wood River, and Edwardsville. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James G. Piper, Jr.
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft Announces Election Day Anti-Fraud EffortsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Norman Smith will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2018, general election. AUSA Smith has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Illinois, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2018, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Weinhoeft stated that AUSA/DEO Smith will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (618) 628-3700.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (618) 397-4401.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to [email protected] or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.
United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft said, "Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division."